1
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Kwee CMB, van der Flier FE, Duits P, van Balkom AJLM, Cath DC, Baas JMP. Effects of cannabidiol on fear conditioning in anxiety disorders: decreased threat expectation during retention, but no enhanced fear re-extinction. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:833-847. [PMID: 38044339 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Preclinical research suggests that pharmacologically elevating cannabinoid levels may attenuate fear memory expression and enhance fear extinction. OBJECTIVES We studied the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on fear memory expression and fear re-extinction in 69 patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia or with social anxiety disorder. Moderation by sex, diagnosis, and serotonergic antidepressant (AD) use was explored. METHODS A cued fear conditioning paradigm was applied before the first treatment session with 300 mg CBD/placebo augmented exposure therapy. Study medication was administered orally preceding 8 weekly sessions. Fear acquisition and suboptimal extinction took place prior to the first medication ingestion (T0). After the first medication ingestion (T1), we investigated effects on fear memory expression at retention and fear re-extinction. Subjective fear, shock expectancy, skin conductance, and startle responses to conditioned (CS+) and safety stimulus (CS-) were measured. RESULTS Across the sample, CBD reduced shock expectancy at retention under low and ambiguous threat of shock, but fear re-extinction at T1 was unaffected by CBD. However, in AD users, re-extinction of subjective fear was impaired in the CBD condition compared to placebo. In female AD users, CBD interfered with safety learning measured with fear-potentiated startle. CONCLUSIONS The current findings provide no evidence for enhanced fear re-extinction by CBD. However, CBD acutely decreased threat expectation at retention, without affecting other indices of fear. More studies are needed to elucidate possible interactions with AD use and sex, as well as potential effects of CBD on threat expectancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M B Kwee
- Department of Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Altrecht Academic Anxiety Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - F E van der Flier
- Department of Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - P Duits
- Altrecht Academic Anxiety Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A J L M van Balkom
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre and GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - D C Cath
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Specialist Trainings, GGZ Drenthe, Assen, The Netherlands
| | - J M P Baas
- Department of Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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2
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Martínez-Torres S, Bergadà-Martínez A, Ortega JE, Galera-López L, Hervera A, de Los Reyes-Ramírez L, Ortega-Álvaro A, Remmers F, Muñoz-Moreno E, Soria G, Del Río JA, Lutz B, Ruíz-Ortega JÁ, Meana JJ, Maldonado R, Ozaita A. Peripheral CB1 receptor blockade acts as a memory enhancer through a noradrenergic mechanism. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:341-350. [PMID: 36088492 PMCID: PMC9750989 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01436-9] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral inputs continuously shape brain function and can influence memory acquisition, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood. Cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) is a well-recognized player in memory performance, and its systemic modulation significantly influences memory function. By assessing low arousal/non-emotional recognition memory in mice, we found a relevant role of peripheral CB1R in memory persistence. Indeed, the peripherally-restricted CB1R specific antagonist AM6545 showed significant mnemonic effects that were occluded in adrenalectomized mice, and after peripheral adrenergic blockade. AM6545 also transiently impaired contextual fear memory extinction. Vagus nerve chemogenetic inhibition reduced AM6545-induced mnemonic effect. Genetic CB1R deletion in dopamine β-hydroxylase-expressing cells enhanced recognition memory persistence. These observations support a role of peripheral CB1R modulating adrenergic tone relevant for cognition. Furthermore, AM6545 acutely improved brain connectivity and enhanced extracellular hippocampal norepinephrine. In agreement, intra-hippocampal β-adrenergic blockade prevented AM6545 mnemonic effects. Altogether, we disclose a novel CB1R-dependent peripheral mechanism with implications relevant for lengthening the duration of non-emotional memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Martínez-Torres
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia. Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Araceli Bergadà-Martínez
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge E Ortega
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Spain; Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Lorena Galera-López
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Hervera
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia. Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucía de Los Reyes-Ramírez
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Ortega-Álvaro
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Floortje Remmers
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Emma Muñoz-Moreno
- Experimental 7T MRI Unit, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Facility (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Soria
- Experimental 7T MRI Unit, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Facility (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Laboratory of Surgical Neuroanatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciencies, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia. Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany
| | | | - J Javier Meana
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Spain; Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Rafael Maldonado
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- IMIM Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Andrés Ozaita
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- IMIM Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
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3
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Circadian regulation of memory under stress: Endocannabinoids matter. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104712. [PMID: 35643119 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104712] [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: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Organisms ranging from plants to higher mammals have developed 24-hour oscillation rhythms to optimize physiology to environmental changes and regulate a plethora of neuroendocrine and behavioral processes, including neurotransmitter and hormone regulation, stress response and learning and memory function. Compelling evidence indicates that a wide array of memory processes is strongly influenced by stress- and emotional arousal-activated neurobiological systems, including the endocannabinoid system which has been extensively shown to play an integral role in mediating stress effects on memory. Here, we review findings showing how circadian rhythms and time-of-day influence stress systems and memory performance. We report evidence of circadian regulation of memory under stress, focusing on the role of the endocannabinoid system and highlighting its circadian rhythmicity. Our discussion illustrates how the endocannabinoid system mediates stress effects on memory in a circadian-dependent fashion. We suggest that endocannabinoids might regulate molecular mechanisms that control memory function under circadian and stress influence, with potential important clinical implications for both neurodevelopmental disorders and psychiatric conditions involving memory impairments.
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4
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Scienza-Martin K, Lotz FN, Zanona QK, Santana-Kragelund F, Crestani AP, Boos FZ, Calcagnotto ME, Quillfeldt JA. Memory consolidation depends on endogenous hippocampal levels of anandamide: CB1 and M4, but possibly not TRPV1 receptors mediate AM404 effects. Neuroscience 2022; 497:53-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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5
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Schiavi S, Carbone E, Melancia F, di Masi A, Jarjat M, Brau F, Cardarelli S, Giorgi M, Bardoni B, Trezza V. Phosphodiesterase 2A inhibition corrects the aberrant behavioral traits observed in genetic and environmental preclinical models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:119. [PMID: 35338117 PMCID: PMC8956682 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01885-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological inhibition of phosphodiesterase 2A (PDE2A), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), has recently been proposed as a novel therapeutic tool for Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the leading monogenic cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Here, we investigated the role of PDE2A in ASD pathogenesis using two rat models that reflect one of either the genetic or environmental factors involved in the human disease: the genetic Fmr1-Δexon 8 rat model and the environmental rat model based on prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA, 500 mg/kg). Prior to behavioral testing, the offspring was treated with the PDE2A inhibitor BAY607550 (0.05 mg/kg at infancy, 0.1 mg/kg at adolescence and adulthood). Socio-communicative symptoms were assessed in both models through the ultrasonic vocalization test at infancy and three-chamber test at adolescence and adulthood, while cognitive impairments were assessed by the novel object recognition test in Fmr1-Δexon 8 rats (adolescence and adulthood) and by the inhibitory avoidance test in VPA-exposed rats (adulthood). PDE2A enzymatic activity in VPA-exposed infant rats was also assessed. In line with the increased PDE2A enzymatic activity previously observed in the brain of Fmr1-KO animals, we found an altered upstream regulation of PDE2A activity in the brain of VPA-exposed rats at an early developmental age (p < 0.05). Pharmacological inhibition of PDE2A normalized the communicative (p < 0.01, p < 0.05), social (p < 0.001, p < 0.05), and cognitive impairment (p < 0.001) displayed by both Fmr1-Δexon 8 and VPA-exposed rats. Altogether, these data highlight a key role of PDE2A in brain development and point to PDE2A inhibition as a promising pharmacological approach for the deficits common to both FXS and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Schiavi
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Deptartment of Science, University “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilia Carbone
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Deptartment of Science, University “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Melancia
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Deptartment of Science, University “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra di Masi
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Deptartment of Science, University “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Marielle Jarjat
- grid.429194.30000 0004 0638 0649Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, IPMC, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Fréderic Brau
- grid.429194.30000 0004 0638 0649Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, IPMC, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Silvia Cardarelli
- grid.7841.aDeptartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Giorgi
- grid.7841.aDeptartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Bardoni
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, IPMC, 06560, Valbonne, France.
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Deptartment of Science, University "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy.
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6
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Ney LJ, Crombie KM, Mayo LM, Felmingham KL, Bowser T, Matthews A. Translation of animal endocannabinoid models of PTSD mechanisms to humans: Where to next? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:76-91. [PMID: 34838529 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is known to be involved in mechanisms relevant to PTSD aetiology and maintenance, though this understanding is mostly based on animal models of the disorder. Here we review how human paradigms can successfully translate animal findings to human subjects, with the view that substantially increased insight into the effect of endocannabinoid signalling on stress responding, emotional and intrusive memories, and fear extinction can be gained using modern paradigms and methods for assessing the state of the endocannabinoid system in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J Ney
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia; School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
| | - Kevin M Crombie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Allison Matthews
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia
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7
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Higginbotham JA, Jones NM, Wang R, Christian RJ, Ritchie JL, McLaughlin RJ, Fuchs RA. Basolateral amygdala CB1 receptors gate HPA axis activation and context-cocaine memory strength during reconsolidation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1554-1564. [PMID: 33452429 PMCID: PMC8280224 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00919-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Re-exposure to a cocaine-associated context triggers craving and relapse through the retrieval of salient context-drug memories. Upon retrieval, context-drug memories become labile and temporarily sensitive to modification before they are reconsolidated into long-term memory stores. The effects of systemic cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) antagonism indicate that CB1R signaling is necessary for cocaine-memory reconsolidation and associated glutamatergic plasticity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA); however, the contribution of BLA CB1R signaling to cocaine-memory reconsolidation is unknown. Here, we assessed whether intra-BLA CB1R manipulations immediately after cocaine-memory retrieval alter cocaine-memory strength indexed by subsequent drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior in an instrumental rodent model of drug relapse. Administration of the CB1R antagonist, AM251 (0.3 µg/hemisphere) into the BLA increased subsequent drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior in a memory retrieval-dependent and anatomically selective manner. Conversely, the CB1R agonist, WIN55,212-2 (0.5 or 5 µg/hemisphere) failed to alter this behavior. In follow-up experiments, cocaine-memory retrieval elicited robust hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, as indicated by a rise in serum corticosterone concentrations. Intra-BLA AM251 administration during memory reconsolidation selectively increased this cocaine-memory retrieval-induced corticosterone response. Intra-BLA corticosterone administration (3 or 10 ng/hemisphere) during memory reconsolidation did not augment subsequent cocaine-seeking behavior, suggesting that CB1R-dependent effects of corticosterone on memory strength, if any, are mediated outside of the BLA. Together, these findings suggest that CB1R signaling in the BLA gates cocaine-memory strength, possibly by diminishing the impact of cue-induced arousal on the integrity of the reconsolidating memory trace or on the efficacy of the memory reconsolidation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Higginbotham
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Nicole M. Jones
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Rong Wang
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Robert J. Christian
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Jobe L. Ritchie
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Ryan J. McLaughlin
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA USA ,grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Washington State University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program, Pullman, WA USA ,grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Translational Addiction Research Collaborative, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Rita A. Fuchs
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA USA ,grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Washington State University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program, Pullman, WA USA ,grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Translational Addiction Research Collaborative, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
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8
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Dudas B, Merchenthaler I. Substance P-Immunoreactive Fiber Varicosities Appear to Innervate Galaninergic Perikarya in the Human Hypothalamus. Brain Connect 2021; 11:493-500. [PMID: 33470178 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Substance P (SP) is a member of the tachykinin family. In the central nervous system, SP participates among others, in the regulation of pain, learning, memory, emotion, and sexual functions. In the periphery, SP affects the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and urinary systems. Galanin, similarly to SP, appears to be involved in wide range of physiologic functions, including cognition, waking and sleep, feeding, mood, blood pressure, reproduction, and development, where acts as a trophic factor. The similar distribution of SP-immunoreactive (SP-IR) fibers and galanin-IR perikarya in the human hypothalamus suggests functional interaction between these neuropeptides. Methods: We have utilized double-label immunohistochemistry to reveal these putative juxtapositions. Results: The majority of galanin-IR neurons receive contacting SP-IR fibers that often cover a significant area of the galaninergic perikarya forming multiple en passant type contacts. These SP-galanin juxtapositions are located mainly in the basal part of the infundibulum/median eminence, populating the basal periventricular region as well as the basal perifornical area. Discussion: The density and the morphology of these associations suggest that these contacts are functional synapses and therefore may represent the morphological substrate of the control of SP on multiple functions regulated/modulated by galanin. SP via galanin may modulate anterior pituitary hormone secretion, as contrary to SP, high density of galanin immunoreactivity is present in the median eminence, and by innervating galanin-IR neurons projecting to other parts of the brain, SP can modulate indirectly their activities. Impact statement The present study is the first describing juxtapositions between the substance P (SP)-immunoreactive (IR) and galanin-IR neurons in the human hypothalamus. These juxtapositions may be functional synapses and they may represent the morphological substrate of the control of SP on the galaninergic system. SP via galanin may modulate anterior pituitary hormone secretion, as contrary to SP, high density of galanin immunoreactivity is present in the median eminence. Galanin, released into the hypothalamo-hypophyseal circulation, can reach the anterior pituitary and function as a hypophysiotropic substance and regulates anterior pituitary hormone secretion. SP by innervating galanin-IR neurons, which project to other parts of the brain, can modulate indirectly their activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertalan Dudas
- Neuroendocrine Organization Laboratory (NEO), Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Istvan Merchenthaler
- Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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9
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Buurstede JC, van Weert LTCM, Colucci P, Gentenaar M, Viho EMG, Koorneef LL, Schoonderwoerd RA, Lanooij SD, Moustakas I, Balog J, Mei H, Kielbasa SM, Campolongo P, Roozendaal B, Meijer OC. Hippocampal glucocorticoid target genes associated with enhancement of memory consolidation. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:2666-2683. [PMID: 33840130 PMCID: PMC9292385 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids enhance memory consolidation of emotionally arousing events via largely unknown molecular mechanisms. This glucocorticoid effect on the consolidation process also requires central noradrenergic neurotransmission. The intracellular pathways of these two stress mediators converge on two transcription factors: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and phosphorylated cAMP response element‐binding protein (pCREB). We therefore investigated, in male rats, whether glucocorticoid effects on memory are associated with genomic interactions between the GR and pCREB in the hippocampus. In a two‐by‐two design, object exploration training or no training was combined with post‐training administration of a memory‐enhancing dose of corticosterone or vehicle. Genomic effects were studied by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP‐seq) of GR and pCREB 45 min after training and transcriptome analysis after 3 hr. Corticosterone administration induced differential GR DNA‐binding and regulation of target genes within the hippocampus, largely independent of training. Training alone did not result in long‐term memory nor did it affect GR or pCREB DNA‐binding and gene expression. No strong evidence was found for an interaction between GR and pCREB. Combination of the GR DNA‐binding and transcriptome data identified a set of novel, likely direct, GR target genes that are candidate mediators of corticosterone effects on memory consolidation. Cell‐specific expression of the identified target genes using single‐cell expression data suggests that the effects of corticosterone reflect in part non‐neuronal cells. Together, our data identified new GR targets associated with memory consolidation that reflect effects in both neuronal and non‐neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus C Buurstede
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa T C M van Weert
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paola Colucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Max Gentenaar
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eva M G Viho
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa L Koorneef
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robin A Schoonderwoerd
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne D Lanooij
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Szymon M Kielbasa
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Center of Expertise, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Onno C Meijer
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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10
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Prieto M, Folci A, Poupon G, Schiavi S, Buzzelli V, Pronot M, François U, Pousinha P, Lattuada N, Abelanet S, Castagnola S, Chafai M, Khayachi A, Gwizdek C, Brau F, Deval E, Francolini M, Bardoni B, Humeau Y, Trezza V, Martin S. Missense mutation of Fmr1 results in impaired AMPAR-mediated plasticity and socio-cognitive deficits in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1557. [PMID: 33692361 PMCID: PMC7946954 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21820-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent form of inherited intellectual disability and the best-described monogenic cause of autism. CGG-repeat expansion in the FMR1 gene leads to FMR1 silencing, loss-of-expression of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), and is a common cause of FXS. Missense mutations in the FMR1 gene were also identified in FXS patients, including the recurrent FMRP-R138Q mutation. To investigate the mechanisms underlying FXS caused by this mutation, we generated a knock-in mouse model (Fmr1R138Q) expressing the FMRP-R138Q protein. We demonstrate that, in the hippocampus of the Fmr1R138Q mice, neurons show an increased spine density associated with synaptic ultrastructural defects and increased AMPA receptor-surface expression. Combining biochemical assays, high-resolution imaging, electrophysiological recordings, and behavioural testing, we also show that the R138Q mutation results in impaired hippocampal long-term potentiation and socio-cognitive deficits in mice. These findings reveal the functional impact of the FMRP-R138Q mutation in a mouse model of FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Prieto
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Marie Pronot
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | | | - Norma Lattuada
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dept. of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Magda Chafai
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | | | - Frédéric Brau
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | - Maura Francolini
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dept. of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Bardoni
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | - Yann Humeau
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Stéphane Martin
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France.
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11
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Colucci P, Santori A, Romanelli L, Zwergel C, Mai A, Scaccianoce S, Campolongo P. Amphetamine Modulation of Long-Term Object Recognition Memory in Rats: Influence of Stress. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:644521. [PMID: 33716754 PMCID: PMC7943736 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.644521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphetamine is a potent psychostimulant that increases brain monoamine levels. Extensive evidence demonstrated that norepinephrine is crucially involved in the regulation of memory consolidation for stressful experiences. Here, we investigated amphetamine effects on the consolidation of long-term recognition memory in rats exposed to different intensities of forced swim stress immediately after training. Furthermore, we evaluated whether such effects are dependent on the activation of the peripheral adrenergic system. To this aim, male adult Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to an object recognition task and intraperitoneally administered soon after training with amphetamine (0.5 or 1 mg/kg), or its corresponding vehicle. Rats were thereafter exposed to a mild (1 min, 25 ± 1°C) or strong (5 min, 19 ± 1°C) forced swim stress procedure. Recognition memory retention was assessed 24-h after training. Our findings showed that amphetamine enhances the consolidation of memory in rats subjected to mild stress condition, while it impairs long-term memory performance in rats exposed to strong stress. These dichotomic effects is dependent on stress-induced activation of the peripheral adrenergic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Colucci
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Santori
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Romanelli
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Clemens Zwergel
- Dept. of Drug Chemistry & Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Dept. of Drug Chemistry & Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Scaccianoce
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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12
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Vaseghi S, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. How do stupendous cannabinoids modulate memory processing via affecting neurotransmitter systems? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 120:173-221. [PMID: 33171142 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we wanted to review the role of cannabinoids in learning and memory in animal models, with respect to their interaction effects with six principal neurotransmitters involved in learning and memory including dopamine, glutamate, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), serotonin, acetylcholine, and noradrenaline. Cannabinoids induce a wide-range of unpredictable effects on cognitive functions, while their mechanisms are not fully understood. Cannabinoids in different brain regions and in interaction with different neurotransmitters, show diverse responses. Previous findings have shown that cannabinoids agonists and antagonists induce various unpredictable effects such as similar effect, paradoxical effect, or dualistic effect. It should not be forgotten that brain neurotransmitter systems can also play unpredictable roles in mediating cognitive functions. Thus, we aimed to review and discuss the effect of cannabinoids in interaction with neurotransmitters on learning and memory. In addition, we mentioned to the type of interactions between cannabinoids and neurotransmitter systems. We suggested that investigating the type of interactions is a critical neuropharmacological issue that should be considered in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Santori A, Morena M, Hill MN, Campolongo P. Hippocampal 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol Signaling Regulates Time-of-Day- and Stress-Dependent Effects on Rat Short-Term Memory. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197316. [PMID: 33023013 PMCID: PMC7582511 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cannabinoids induce biphasic effects on memory depending on stress levels. We previously demonstrated that different stress intensities, experienced soon after encoding, impaired rat short-term recognition memory in a time-of-day-dependent manner, and that boosting endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) levels restored memory performance. Here, we examined if two different stress intensities and time-of-day alter hippocampal endocannabinoid tone, and whether these changes modulate short-term memory. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to an object recognition task and exposed, at two different times of the day (i.e., morning or afternoon), to low or high stress conditions, immediately after encoding. Memory retention was assessed 1 hr later. Hippocampal AEA and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) content and the activity of their primary degrading enzymes, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), were measured soon after testing. Results: Consistent with our previous findings, low stress impaired 1-hr memory performance only in the morning, whereas exposure to high stress impaired memory independently of testing time. Stress exposure decreased AEA levels independently of memory alterations. Interestingly, exposure to high stress decreased 2-AG content and, accordingly, increased MAGL activity, selectively in the afternoon. Thus, to further evaluate 2-AG’s role in the modulation of short-term recognition memory, rats were given bilateral intra-hippocampal injections of the 2-AG hydrolysis inhibitor KML29 immediately after training, then subjected to low or high stress conditions and tested 1 hr later. Conclusions: KML29 abolished the time-of-day-dependent impairing effects of stress on short-term memory, ameliorating short-term recognition memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Santori
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.M.); (M.N.H.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy & Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Matthew N. Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.M.); (M.N.H.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy & Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +0039-06-4991-2450; Fax: +0039-06-4991-2480
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14
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Stasiulewicz A, Znajdek K, Grudzień M, Pawiński T, Sulkowska JI. A Guide to Targeting the Endocannabinoid System in Drug Design. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082778. [PMID: 32316328 PMCID: PMC7216112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the most crucial systems in the human organism, exhibiting multi-purpose regulatory character. It is engaged in a vast array of physiological processes, including nociception, mood regulation, cognitive functions, neurogenesis and neuroprotection, appetite, lipid metabolism, as well as cell growth and proliferation. Thus, ECS proteins, including cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands’ synthesizing and degrading enzymes, are promising therapeutic targets. Their modulation has been employed in or extensively studied as a treatment of multiple diseases. However, due to a complex nature of ECS and its crosstalk with other biological systems, the development of novel drugs turned out to be a challenging task. In this review, we summarize potential therapeutic applications for ECS-targeting drugs, especially focusing on promising synthetic compounds and preclinical studies. We put emphasis on modulation of specific proteins of ECS in different pathophysiological areas. In addition, we stress possible difficulties and risks and highlight proposed solutions. By presenting this review, we point out information pivotal in the spotlight of ECS-targeting drug design, as well as provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on ECS-related pharmacodynamics and show possible directions for needed research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Stasiulewicz
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (T.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (J.I.S.)
| | - Katarzyna Znajdek
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Grudzień
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (T.P.)
| | - Tomasz Pawiński
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (T.P.)
| | - Joanna I. Sulkowska
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (J.I.S.)
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15
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Uniyal A, Singh R, Akhtar A, Dhaliwal J, Kuhad A, Sah SP. Pharmacological rewriting of fear memories: A beacon for post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 870:172824. [PMID: 31778672 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychopathological response that develops after exposure to an extreme life-threatening traumatic event. Its prevalence ranges from 0.5% to 14.5% worldwide. Due to the complex pathophysiology of PTSD, currently available treatment approaches are associated with high chances of failure, thus further research to identify better pharmacotherapeutic approaches is needed. The traumatic event associated with fear memories plays an important role in the development of PTSD and could be considered as the main culprit. PTSD patient feels frightened in a safe environment as the memories of the traumatic event are revisited. Neurocircuit involving normal processing of fear memories get disturbed in PTSD hence making a fear memory to remain to dominate even after years of trauma. Persistence of fear memories could be explained by acquisition, re-(consolidation) and extinction triad as all of these processes have been widely explored in preclinical as well as clinical studies and set a therapeutic platform for fear memory associated disorders. This review focuses on neurocircuit and pathophysiology of PTSD in context to fear memories and pharmacological targeting of fear memory for the management of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Uniyal
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-CAS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.) Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Raghunath Singh
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-CAS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Ansab Akhtar
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-CAS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Jatinder Dhaliwal
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-CAS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Anurag Kuhad
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-CAS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Sangeeta Pilkhwal Sah
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-CAS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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16
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Santori A, Colucci P, Mancini GF, Morena M, Palmery M, Trezza V, Puglisi-Allegra S, Hill MN, Campolongo P. Anandamide modulation of circadian- and stress-dependent effects on rat short-term memory. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 108:155-162. [PMID: 31302498 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in the control of emotional responses to environmental challenges. CB1 receptors are highly expressed within cortico-limbic brain areas, where they modulate stress effects on memory processes. Glucocorticoid and endocannabinoid release is influenced by circadian rhythm. Here, we investigated how different stress intensities immediately after encoding influence rat short-term memory in an object recognition task, whether the effects depend on circadian rhythm and if exogenous augmentation of anandamide levels could restore any observed impairment. Two separate cohorts of male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were tested at two different times of the day, morning (inactivity phase) or afternoon (before the onset of the activity phase) in an object recognition task. The anandamide hydrolysis inhibitor URB597 was intraperitoneally administered immediately after the training trial. Rats were thereafter subjected to a forced swim stress under low or high stress conditions and tested 1 h after training. Control rats underwent the same experimental procedure except for the forced swim stress (no stress). We further investigated whether URB597 administration might modulate corticosterone release in rats subjected to the different stress conditions, both in the morning or afternoon. The low stressor elevated plasma corticosterone levels and impaired 1 h recognition memory performance when animals were tested in the morning. Exposure to the higher stress condition elevated plasma corticosterone levels and impaired memory performance, independently of the testing time. These findings show that stress impairing effects on short-term recognition memory are dependent on the intensity of stress and circadian rhythm. URB597 (0.3 mg kg-1) rescued the altered memory performance and decreased corticosterone levels in all the impaired groups yet leaving memory unaltered in the non-impaired groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Santori
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Colucci
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Depts. of Cell Biology and Anatomy &Psychiatry, University of Calgary, T2N 4N1, Calgary, Canada
| | - Maura Palmery
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Dept. of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University Roma Tre, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Depts. of Cell Biology and Anatomy &Psychiatry, University of Calgary, T2N 4N1, Calgary, Canada
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy; Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.
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17
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Atehortua-Martinez LA, Masniere C, Campolongo P, Chasseigneaux S, Callebert J, Zwergel C, Mai A, Laplanche JL, Chen H, Etheve-Quelquejeu M, Mégarbane B, Benturquia N. Acute and chronic neurobehavioral effects of the designer drug and bath salt constituent 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone in the rat. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:392-405. [PMID: 30644332 DOI: 10.1177/0269881118822151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The substantial increase in use of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a popular recreational synthetic cathinone, has raised legitimate questions about its behavioral consequences and abuse liability. AIMS The aim of this study was to study MDPV-induced neurobehavioral effects in the rat, using different paradigms traditionally developed to study drug-attributed addictive properties. METHODS Different patterns of intraperitoneal 3 mg/kg MDPV administration were investigated. Consequences on rat horizontal locomotion and behavior of acute, intermittent (once daily dosing over 10 days), and binge (three-time daily dosing for 3 days) MDPV administration as well as challenge after 10 day MDPV withdrawal were studied. The dopamine receptor-D1 antagonist, SCH23390, was bilaterally infused in the nucleus accumbens to determine the role of D1-receptors in MDPV-related effects on the associative memory recall using the conditioned place preference paradigm. In addition, in a separate experience using western blot, we investigated the effects of chronic MDPV administration (four injections during 24 h) on ΔFosB expression in the nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, and prefrontal cortex. RESULTS Acute MDPV administration increased stereotypies and open arm entries in the elevated plus maze while SCH23390 abolished MDPV-induced enhancing effects on memory consolidation. Intermittent MDPV administration resulted in sensitization of MDPV-induced locomotor effects and tolerance during the following challenge. With binge MDPV administration, locomotor activity was not altered despite tolerance onset after challenge. SCH23390 abolished MDPV-induced conditioned place preference. Chronic MDPV administration induced ΔFosB accumulation in the nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, and prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS Our findings clearly show that MDPV produces profound behavioral alterations mediated by the activation of the dopaminergic system similarly to other amphetamines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cyriaque Masniere
- 1 Inserm, UMR-S 1144, Paris-Descartes and Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- 2 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome and IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Jacques Callebert
- 1 Inserm, UMR-S 1144, Paris-Descartes and Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Clemens Zwergel
- 3 Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- 3 Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jean-Louis Laplanche
- 1 Inserm, UMR-S 1144, Paris-Descartes and Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Huixiong Chen
- 4 CNRS, UMR8601, Laboratory of Chemistry and Pharmacological and Toxicological Biochemistry, CBNIT, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Etheve-Quelquejeu
- 4 CNRS, UMR8601, Laboratory of Chemistry and Pharmacological and Toxicological Biochemistry, CBNIT, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Mégarbane
- 1 Inserm, UMR-S 1144, Paris-Descartes and Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France.,5 Department of Medical and Toxicological Critical Care, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Benturquia
- 1 Inserm, UMR-S 1144, Paris-Descartes and Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France
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18
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Siller-Pérez C, Fuentes-Ibañez A, Sotelo-Barrera EL, Serafín N, Prado-Alcalá RA, Campolongo P, Roozendaal B, Quirarte GL. Glucocorticoid interactions with the dorsal striatal endocannabinoid system in regulating inhibitory avoidance memory. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 99:97-103. [PMID: 30216767 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is highly stress sensitive and known to modulate memory formation of emotionally arousing experiences across different corticolimbic structures. eCB signaling within these circuits is also essentially involved in regulating non-genomically mediated glucocorticoid hormone effects on memory. It has long been thought that the dorsal striatum, which plays a major role in procedural memory and habit formation, is considerably less impacted by stressful experiences; however, recent findings indicate that stress and glucocorticoids also affect striatal-dependent memory processes. Yet, to what extent eCB signaling within the dorsal striatum may mediate such glucocorticoid effects on memory consolidation is currently unknown. Here we show, in male Wistar rats, that the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 administered into the dorsal striatum immediately after an inhibitory avoidance training experience dose-dependently enhanced 48-h retention performance. Conversely, the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) antagonist AM251 impaired retention when administered into the dorsal striatum after inhibitory avoidance training. Most importantly, antagonism of striatal CB1R activity with AM251 completely abolished the effect of corticosterone or of the membrane-impermeable ligand corticosterone:BSA administered posttraining into the dorsal striatum or injected systemically on enhancement of inhibitory avoidance memory. Further, suppression of glucocorticoid signaling by systemic injection of the corticosterone-synthesis inhibitor metyrapone also impaired the memory-enhancing effect of intra-striatal WIN55, 212-2 administration. These findings indicate that the eCB system, in close interaction with glucocorticoid signaling, is involved in modulating plasticity changes underlying memory consolidation not only in corticolimbic structures but also within the dorsal striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Siller-Pérez
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro, México.
| | - Antonio Fuentes-Ibañez
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro, México.
| | - Erika L Sotelo-Barrera
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro, México.
| | - Norma Serafín
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro, México.
| | - Roberto A Prado-Alcalá
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro, México.
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Gina L Quirarte
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro, México.
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19
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Strewe C, Thieme D, Dangoisse C, Fiedel B, van den Berg F, Bauer H, Salam AP, Gössmann-Lang P, Campolongo P, Moser D, Quintens R, Moreels M, Baatout S, Kohlberg E, Schelling G, Choukèr A, Feuerecker M. Modulations of Neuroendocrine Stress Responses During Confinement in Antarctica and the Role of Hypobaric Hypoxia. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1647. [PMID: 30534078 PMCID: PMC6276713 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic continent is an environment of extreme conditions. Only few research stations exist that are occupied throughout the year. The German station Neumayer III and the French-Italian Concordia station are such research platforms and human outposts. The seasonal shifts of complete daylight (summer) to complete darkness (winter) as well as massive changes in outside temperatures (down to -80°C at Concordia) during winter result in complete confinement of the crews from the outside world. In addition, the crew at Concordia is subjected to hypobaric hypoxia of ∼650 hPa as the station is situated at high altitude (3,233 m). We studied three expedition crews at Neumayer III (sea level) (n = 16) and two at Concordia (high altitude) (n = 15) to determine the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on hormonal/metabolic stress parameters [endocannabinoids (ECs), catecholamines, and glucocorticoids] and evaluated the psychological stress over a period of 11 months including winter confinement. In the Neumayer III (sea level) crew, EC and n-acylethanolamide (NAE) concentrations increased significantly already at the beginning of the deployment (p < 0.001) whereas catecholamines and cortisol remained unaffected. Over the year, ECs and NAEs stayed elevated and fluctuated before slowly decreasing till the end of the deployment. The classical stress hormones showed small increases in the last third of deployment. By contrast, at Concordia (high altitude), norepinephrine concentrations increased significantly at the beginning (p < 0.001) which was paralleled by low EC levels. Prior to the second half of deployment, norepinephrine declined constantly to end on a low plateau level, whereas then the EC concentrations increased significantly in this second period during the overwintering (p < 0.001). Psychometric data showed no significant changes in the crews at either station. These findings demonstrate that exposition of healthy humans to the physically challenging extreme environment of Antarctica (i) has a distinct modulating effect on stress responses. Additionally, (ii) acute high altitude/hypobaric hypoxia at the beginning seem to trigger catecholamine release that downregulates the EC response. These results (iii) are not associated with psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Strewe
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Detlef Thieme
- Institute of Doping Analysis and Sports Biochemistry, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Barbara Fiedel
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | | | - Holger Bauer
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Alex P Salam
- IPEV/PNRA-ESA Antarctic Program, Brest, Antarctica
| | - Petra Gössmann-Lang
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dominique Moser
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Roel Quintens
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCKCEN), Mol, Belgium
| | - Marjan Moreels
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCKCEN), Mol, Belgium
| | - Sarah Baatout
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCKCEN), Mol, Belgium.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eberhard Kohlberg
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Gustav Schelling
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Choukèr
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Feuerecker
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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20
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Modulation of the endocannabinoid system by sex hormones: Implications for posttraumatic stress disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 94:302-320. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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21
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Danandeh A, Vozella V, Lim J, Oveisi F, Ramirez GL, Mears D, Wynn G, Piomelli D. Effects of fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB597 in a rat model of trauma-induced long-term anxiety. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:3211-3221. [PMID: 30251159 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5020-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The endocannabinoid neurotransmitter, anandamide, has been implicated in the central modulation of stress responses. Previous animal experiments have shown that inhibitors of the anandamide-degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), enhance the ability to cope with acute and chronic stress. OBJECTIVES Here, we investigated the effects of the globally active FAAH inhibitor URB597 in a rat model of predator stress-induced long-term anxiety. RESULTS Rats exposed to 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT), a chemical constituent of fox feces, developed a persistent anxiety-like state, which was assessed 7 days after exposure using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Systemic administration of URB597 [0.03-0.1-0.3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (ip)] 2 h before testing suppressed TMT-induced behaviors with a median effective dose (IC50) of 0.075 mg/kg. This effect was strongly correlated with inhibition of brain FAAH activity (r2 = 1.0) and was accompanied by increased brain levels of three FAAH substrates: the endocannabinoid anandamide and the endogenous peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) agonists, oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). The anxiolytic-like effects of URB597 were blocked by co-administration of the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (1 mg/kg, ip), but not of the PPAR-α antagonist GW6471 (1 mg/kg, ip). Finally, when administered 18 h after TMT exposure (i.e., 6 days before the EPM test), URB597 (0.3 mg/kg, ip) prevented the consolidation of anxiety-like behavior in a CB1-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS The results support the hypothesis that anandamide-mediated signaling at CB1 receptors serves an important regulatory function in the stress response, and confirm that FAAH inhibition may offer a potential therapeutic strategy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andalib Danandeh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA
| | - James Lim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA.,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Fariba Oveisi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA
| | - Gina L Ramirez
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA
| | - David Mears
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gary Wynn
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. .,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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22
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Melancia F, Schiavi S, Servadio M, Cartocci V, Campolongo P, Palmery M, Pallottini V, Trezza V. Sex-specific autistic endophenotypes induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid involve anandamide signalling. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:3699-3712. [PMID: 29968249 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more commonly diagnosed in males than in females. Prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) is an environmental risk factor of ASD. Male rats prenatally exposed to VPA show socio-emotional autistic-like dysfunctions that have been related to changes in the activity of the endocannabinoid anandamide. Here, we have investigated if prenatal VPA induced sex-specific autistic endophenotypes involving anandamide signalling. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We studied sex-specific differences in the ASD-like socio-emotional, cognitive and repetitive symptoms displayed during development of Wistar rats of both sexes, prenatally exposed to VPA. The involvement of anandamide was followed by Western blotting of cannabinoid CB1 receptors and by inhibiting its metabolism. KEY RESULTS Female rats were less vulnerable to the deleterious effects of prenatal VPA exposure on social communication, emotional reactivity and cognitive performance than male rats. Conversely, as observed in male rats, prenatal VPA exposure induced selective deficits in social play behaviour and stereotypies in the female rat offspring. At the neurochemical level, prenatal VPA exposure altered phosphorylation of CB1 receptors in a sex-specific, age-specific and tissue-specific manner. Enhancing anandamide signalling through inhibition of its degradation reversed the behavioural deficits displayed by VPA-exposed animals of both sexes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings highlight sexually dimorphic consequences of prenatal VPA exposure that may be related to sex-specific effects of VPA on endocannabinoid neurotransmission in the course of development and introduce a new therapeutic target for reversing autistic-like symptoms in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Melancia
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Schiavi
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Servadio
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Cartocci
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology 'V. Erspamer', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maura Palmery
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology 'V. Erspamer', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Pallottini
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
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23
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Enhancing Endocannabinoid Neurotransmission Augments The Efficacy of Extinction Training and Ameliorates Traumatic Stress-Induced Behavioral Alterations in Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1284-1296. [PMID: 29265107 PMCID: PMC5916373 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to a traumatic event may result in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Endocannabinoids are crucial modulators of the stress response, interfere with excessive retrieval and facilitate the extinction of traumatic memories. Exposure therapy, combined with pharmacotherapy, represents a promising tool for PTSD treatment. We investigated whether pharmacological manipulations of the endocannabinoid system during extinction learning ameliorates the behavioral changes induced by trauma exposure. Rats were exposed to inescapable footshocks paired with social isolation, a risk factor for PTSD. One week after trauma, rats were subjected to three spaced extinction sessions, mimicking human exposure therapy. The anandamide hydrolysis inhibitor URB597, the 2-arachidonoylglycerol hydrolysis inhibitor JZL184 or the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 were administered before or after the extinction sessions. Rats were tested for extinction retention 16 or 36 days after trauma and 24-h later for social interaction. Extinction training alone reduced fear of the trauma-associated context but did not restore normal social interaction. Traumatized animals not exposed to extinction sessions exhibited reductions in hippocampal anandamide content with respect to home-cage controls. Noteworthy, all drugs exerted beneficial effects, but URB597 (0.1 mg/kg) induced the best improvements by enhancing extinction consolidation and restoring normal social behavior in traumatized rats through indirect activation of CB1 receptors. The ameliorating effects remained stable long after treatment and trauma exposure. Our findings suggest that drugs potentiating endocannabinoid neurotransmission may represent promising tools when combined to exposure-based psychotherapies in the treatment of PTSD.
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24
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Sunada H, Watanabe T, Hatakeyama D, Lee S, Forest J, Sakakibara M, Ito E, Lukowiak K. Pharmacological effects of cannabinoids on learning and memory in Lymnaea. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 220:3026-3038. [PMID: 28855319 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.159038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids are hypothesized to play an important role in modulating learning and memory formation. Here, we identified mRNAs expressed in Lymnaeastagnalis central nervous system that encode two G-protein-coupled receptors (Lymnaea CBr-like 1 and 2) that structurally resemble mammalian cannabinoid receptors (CBrs). We found that injection of a mammalian CBr agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN 55) into the snail before operant conditioning obstructed learning and memory formation. This effect of WIN 55 injection persisted for at least 4 days following its injection. A similar obstruction of learning and memory occurred when a severe traumatic stimulus was delivered to L. stagnalis In contrast, injection of a mammalian CBr antagonist AM 251 enhanced long-term memory formation in snails and reduced the duration of the effects of the severe traumatic stressor on learning and memory. Neither WIN 55 nor AM 251 altered normal homeostatic aerial respiratory behaviour elicited in hypoxic conditions. Our results suggest that putative cannabinoid receptors mediate stressful stimuli that alter learning and memory formation in Lymnaea This is also the first demonstration that putative CBrs are present in Lymnaea and play a key role in learning and memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Sunada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1.,Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Sanuki, Kagawa 769-2193, Japan
| | - Takayuki Watanabe
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0811, Japan
| | - Dai Hatakeyama
- Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Sanuki, Kagawa 769-2193, Japan
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1
| | - Jeremy Forest
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1
| | - Manabu Sakakibara
- School of High-Technology for Human Welfare, Tokai University, Numazu, Shizuoka 410-0321, Japan
| | - Etsuro Ito
- Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Sanuki, Kagawa 769-2193, Japan .,Department of Biology, Waseda University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1
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25
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Cannabinoid Modulation of Object Recognition and Location Memory—A Preclinical Assessment. HANDBOOK OF OBJECT NOVELTY RECOGNITION 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-812012-5.00031-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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26
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Balsevich G, Petrie GN, Hill MN. Endocannabinoids: Effectors of glucocorticoid signaling. Front Neuroendocrinol 2017; 47:86-108. [PMID: 28739508 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
For decades, there has been speculation regarding the interaction of cannabinoids with glucocorticoid systems. Given the functional redundancy between many of the physiological effects of glucocorticoids and cannabinoids, it was originally speculated that the biological mechanisms of cannabinoids were mediated by direct interactions with glucocorticoid systems. With the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, additional research demonstrated that it was actually the opposite; glucocorticoids recruit endocannabinoid signaling, and that the engagement of endocannabinoid signaling mediated many of the neurobiological and physiological effects of glucocorticoids. With the development of advances in pharmacology and genetics, significant advances in this area have been made, and it is now clear that functional interactions between these systems are critical for a wide array of physiological processes. The current review acts a comprehensive summary of the contemporary state of knowledge regarding the biological interactions between glucocorticoids and endocannabinoids, and their potential role in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Balsevich
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Gavin N Petrie
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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27
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Aisenberg N, Serova L, Sabban EL, Akirav I. The effects of enhancing endocannabinoid signaling and blocking corticotrophin releasing factor receptor in the amygdala and hippocampus on the consolidation of a stressful event. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 27:913-927. [PMID: 28663121 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Current clinical and pre-clinical data suggest that both cannabinoid agents and blockage of CRF through corticotrophin releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRFr1) may offer therapeutic benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here we aim to determine whether they are more effective when combined when microinjected into the basolateral amygdala (BLA) or CA1 area of the hippocampus after exposure to a stressful event in the shock/reminders rat model for PTSD. Injection of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597 after the shock into either the BLA or CA1 facilitated extinction, and attenuated startle response and anxiety-like behavior. These preventive effects of URB597 were found to be mediated by the CB1 receptor. Intra-BLA and intra-CA1 microinjection of the CRFr1 antagonist, CP-154,526 attenuated startle response. When microinjected into the BLA, CP-154,526 also attenuated freezing behavior during exposure to the first reminder and decreased anxiety-like behavior. The combined treatment of URB597 and CP-154,526 was not more effective than the separate treatments. Finally, mRNA levels of CRF, CRFr1 and CB1r were significantly higher in the BLA of rats exposed to shock and reminders compared to non-shocked rats almost one month after the shock. Taken together, the results show that enhancing endocannabinoid signaling in the amygdala and hippocampus produced a more favorable spectrum of effects than those caused by the CRFr1 antagonist. The findings suggest that FAAH inhibitors may be used as a novel treatment for stress-related anxiety disorders.
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MESH Headings
- Amidohydrolases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Amidohydrolases/metabolism
- Animals
- Anxiety/drug therapy
- Anxiety/metabolism
- Basolateral Nuclear Complex/drug effects
- Basolateral Nuclear Complex/metabolism
- Benzamides/pharmacology
- CA1 Region, Hippocampal/drug effects
- CA1 Region, Hippocampal/metabolism
- Carbamates/pharmacology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Endocannabinoids/metabolism
- Male
- Memory Consolidation/drug effects
- Memory Consolidation/physiology
- Nootropic Agents/pharmacology
- Pyrimidines/pharmacology
- Pyrroles/pharmacology
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism
- Reflex, Startle/drug effects
- Reflex, Startle/physiology
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/drug therapy
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/metabolism
- Stress, Psychological/drug therapy
- Stress, Psychological/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurit Aisenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Lidia Serova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Irit Akirav
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
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28
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Shoshan N, Akirav I. The effects of cannabinoid receptors activation and glucocorticoid receptors deactivation in the amygdala and hippocampus on the consolidation of a traumatic event. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 144:248-258. [PMID: 28818702 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Ample evidence demonstrates that fear learning contributes significantly to many anxiety pathologies including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The endocannabinoid (eCB) system may offer therapeutic benefits for PTSD and it is a modulator of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Here we compared the separated and combined effects of blocking glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) using the GR antagonist RU486 and enhancing CB1r signaling using the CB1/2 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 in the CA1 and basolateral amygdala (BLA) on the consolidation of traumatic memory. Traumatic memory was formed by exposure to a severe footshock in an inhibitory avoidance apparatus followed by exposure to trauma reminders. Intra-BLA RU486 (10ng/side) and WIN55,212-2 (5μg/side) administered immediately after shock exposure dampened the consolidation of the memory about the traumatic event and attenuated the increase in acoustic startle response in rats exposed to shock and reminders. In the CA1, WIN55,212-2 impaired consolidation and attenuated the increase in acoustic startle response whereas RU486 had no effect. The effects of WIN55,212-2 were found to be mediated by CB1 receptors, but not by GRs. Moreover, post-shock systemic WIN55,212-2 (0.5mg/kg) administration prevented the increase in GRs and CB1 receptor levels in the CA1 and BLA in rats exposed to shock and reminders. The findings suggest that the BLA is a locus of action of cannabinoids and glucocorticoids in modulating consolidation of traumatic memory in a rat model of PTSD. Also, the findings highlight novel targets for the treatment of emotional disorders and PTSD in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Shoshan
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Irit Akirav
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
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29
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Ratano P, Palmery M, Trezza V, Campolongo P. Cannabinoid Modulation of Memory Consolidation in Rats: Beyond the Role of Cannabinoid Receptor Subtype 1. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:200. [PMID: 28446875 PMCID: PMC5388693 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects induced by exogenous manipulation of endocannabinoid neurotransmission on emotion and memory are often contradictory. Among the different factors involved, of particular interest is the binding affinity of endocannabinoids, and their analogs, for other receptor families beyond cannabinoid receptors, such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). The aim of this study was to investigate which receptor subtype mediates cannabinoid effects on memory consolidation for emotionally arousing experiences. We tested two cannabinoid compounds with different pharmacological properties in the inhibitory avoidance task, and evaluated whether the observed effects are mediated by cannabinoid, PPARα or TRPV1 receptor activation. We found that the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 and the FAAH inhibitor URB597 both enhanced memory consolidation for inhibitory avoidance training. WIN55,212-22 effects on memory consolidation were predominantly mediated by CB1 receptor activation but CB2 receptors were involved as well. The URB597-induced memory enhancement was dependent on the activation not only of CB1 and CB2 receptors but, notwithstanding, PPAR-α and TRPV1 receptors were involved as well. Our findings drive beyond the classical hypothesis centered on the unique role of CB1 receptor activation for cannabinoid effects on memory, and reveal new insights in the neural mechanisms of memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Ratano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Maura Palmery
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre UniversityRome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
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30
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Robertson JM, Achua JK, Smith JP, Prince MA, Staton CD, Ronan PJ, Summers TR, Summers CH. Anxious behavior induces elevated hippocampal Cb 2 receptor gene expression. Neuroscience 2017; 352:273-284. [PMID: 28392296 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety is differentially expressed across a continuum of stressful/fearful intensity, influenced by endocannabinoid systems and receptors. The hippocampus plays important roles in the regulation of affective behavior, emotion, and anxiety, as well as memory. Location of Cb1/Cb2 receptor action could be important in determining emotional valence, because while the dorsal hippocampus is involved in spatial memory and cognition, the ventral hippocampus has projections to the PFC, BNST, amygdala, and HPA axis, and is important for emotional responses to stress. During repeated social defeat in a Stress-Alternatives Model arena (SAM; an oval open field with escape portals only large enough for smaller mice), smaller C57BL6/N mice are subject to fear conditioning (tone=CS), and attacked by novel larger aggressive CD1 mice (US) over four daily (5min) trials. Each SAM trial presents an opportunity for escape or submission, with stable behavioral responses established by the second day of interaction. Additional groups had access to a running wheel. Social aggression plus fear conditioning stimulates enhanced Cb2 receptor gene expression in the dorsal CA1, dorsal and ventral dentate gyrus subregions in animals displaying a submissive behavioral phenotype. Escape behavior is associated with reduced Cb2 expression in the dorsal CA1 region, with freezing and escape latency correlated with mRNA levels. Escaping and submitting animals with access to running wheels had increased Cb2 mRNA in dorsal DG/CA1. These results suggest that the Cb2 receptor system is rapidly induced during anxiogenic social interactions plus fear conditioning or exercise; with responses potentially adaptive for coping mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Robertson
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Justin K Achua
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA; Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Justin P Smith
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA; Institute of Possibility, 322 E. 8th Street, Suite 302, Sioux Falls, SD 57103, USA; Sanford Health, 2301 E. 60th St. N., Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Melissa A Prince
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Clarissa D Staton
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Patrick J Ronan
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of South Dakota School of Medicine Vermillion, SD, USA; Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Research in Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO 80220, USA
| | - Tangi R Summers
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Cliff H Summers
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA.
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Siller-Pérez C, Serafín N, Prado-Alcalá RA, Roozendaal B, Quirarte GL. Glucocorticoid administration into the dorsolateral but not dorsomedial striatum accelerates the shift from a spatial toward procedural memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 141:124-133. [PMID: 28366865 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid stress hormones are known to enhance the consolidation of hippocampus-dependent spatial and contextual memory. Recent findings indicate that glucocorticoids also enhance the consolidation of procedural memory that relies on the dorsal striatum. The dorsal striatum can be functionally subdivided into the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), which is primarily implicated in shaping procedural memories, and the dorsomedial striatum (DMS), which is engaged in spatial memory. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that posttraining glucocorticoid administration into the DLS promotes the formation of a procedural memory that will normally take place only with extensive training. Male Wistar rats were trained to find a reward in a cross maze that can be solved through either place or response learning. Rats received four trials per day for 5days, a probe trial on Day 6, further training on Days 7-13, and an additional probe trial on Day 14. On Days 2-4 of training, they received posttraining infusions of corticosterone (10 or 30ng) or vehicle into either the DLS or DMS. Rats treated with vehicle into either the DLS or DMS displayed place learning on Day 6 and response learning on Day 14, indicating a shift in control of learned behavior toward a habit-like procedural strategy with extended training. Rats administered corticosterone (10ng) into the DLS displayed response learning on both Days 6 and 14, indicating an accelerated shift to response learning. In contrast, corticosterone administered posttraining into the DMS did not significantly alter the shift from place to response learning. These findings indicate that glucocorticoid administration into the DLS enhances memory consolidation of procedural learning and thereby influences the timing of the switch from the use of spatial/contextual memory to habit-like procedural memory to guide behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Siller-Pérez
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.
| | - Norma Serafín
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.
| | - Roberto A Prado-Alcalá
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Gina L Quirarte
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.
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Melancia F, Servadio M, Schiavi S, Campolongo P, Giusti-Paiva A, Trezza V. Testing the correlation between experimentally-induced hypothyroidism during pregnancy and autistic-like symptoms in the rat offspring. Behav Brain Res 2017; 321:113-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Mhillaj E, Catino S, Miceli FM, Santangelo R, Trabace L, Cuomo V, Mancuso C. Ferulic Acid Improves Cognitive Skills Through the Activation of the Heme Oxygenase System in the Rat. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:905-916. [PMID: 28083818 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0381-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Over the last years, many studies reported on the antioxidant effects of ferulic acid (FA) in preclinical models of dementia through the activation of the heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase (HO/BVR) system. However, only a few studies evaluated whether FA could improve neurological function under milder conditions, such as psychological stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of FA (150 mg/kg intraperitoneal route) on cognitive function in male Wistar rats exposed to emotional arousal. Animals were randomly assigned to two experimental groups, namely not habituated or habituated to the experimental context, and the novel object recognition test was used to evaluate their cognitive performance. The administration of FA significantly increased long-term retention memory in not habituated rats. Ferulic acid increased the expression of HO-1 in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of not habituated rats only, whereas HO-2 resulted differently modulated in these cognitive brain areas. No significant effects on either HO-1 or HO-2 or BVR were observed in the cerebellum of both habituated and not habituated rats. Ferulic acid activated the stress axis in not habituated rats, as shown by the increase in hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels. Pre-treatment with Sn-protoporphyrin-IX [0.25 μmol/kg, intracerebroventricular route (i.c.v.)], a well-known inhibitor of HO activity through which carbon monoxide (CO) and biliverdin (BV) are generated, abolished the FA-induced improvement of cognitive performance only in not habituated rats, suggesting a role for HO-derived by-products. The CO-donor tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) (30 nmol/kg i.c.v.) mimicked the FA-related improvement of cognitive skills only in not habituated rats, whereas BV did not have any effect in any group. In conclusion, these results set the stage for subsequent studies on the neuropharmacological action of FA under conditions of psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Mhillaj
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Catino
- Institute of Pharmacology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella M Miceli
- Institute of Pharmacology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosaria Santangelo
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigia Trabace
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cuomo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cesare Mancuso
- Institute of Pharmacology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
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Brancato A, Lavanco G, Cavallaro A, Plescia F, Cannizzaro C. The use of the Emotional-Object Recognition as an assay to assess learning and memory associated to an aversive stimulus in rodents. J Neurosci Methods 2016; 274:106-115. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Morena M, Leitl KD, Vecchiarelli HA, Gray JM, Campolongo P, Hill MN. Emotional arousal state influences the ability of amygdalar endocannabinoid signaling to modulate anxiety. Neuropharmacology 2016; 111:59-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Effects of the cannabinoid 1 receptor peptide ligands hemopressin, (m)RVD-hemopressin(α) and (m)VD-hemopressin(α) on memory in novel object and object location recognition tasks in normal young and Aβ 1–42 -treated mice. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 134 Pt B:264-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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37
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The endocannabinoid system and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): From preclinical findings to innovative therapeutic approaches in clinical settings. Pharmacol Res 2016; 111:668-678. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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38
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Mohammadmirzaei N, Rezayof A, Ghasemzadeh Z. Activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the ventral hippocampus improved stress-induced amnesia in rat. Brain Res 2016; 1646:219-226. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Kruk-Slomka M, Biala G. CB1 receptors in the formation of the different phases of memory-related processes in the inhibitory avoidance test in mice. Behav Brain Res 2016; 301:84-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Segev A, Akirav I. Cannabinoids and Glucocorticoids in the Basolateral Amygdala Modulate Hippocampal-Accumbens Plasticity After Stress. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:1066-79. [PMID: 26289146 PMCID: PMC4748431 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Acute stress results in release of glucocorticoids, which are potent modulators of learning and plasticity. This process is presumably mediated by the basolateral amygdala (BLA) where cannabinoids CB1 receptors have a key role in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Growing attention has been focused on nucleus accumbens (NAc) plasticity, which regulates mood and motivation. The NAc integrates affective and context-dependent input from the BLA and ventral subiculum (vSub), respectively. As our previous data suggest that the CB1/2 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU-38486 (RU) can prevent the effects of stress on emotional memory, we examined whether intra-BLA WIN and RU can reverse the effects of acute stress on NAc plasticity. Bilateral, ipsilateral, and contralateral BLA administration of RU or WIN reversed the stress-induced impairment in vSub-NAc long-term potentiation (LTP) and the decrease in cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) activity in the NAc. BLA CB1 receptors were found to mediate the preventing effects of WIN on plasticity, but not the preventing effects of RU, after stress. Inactivating the ipsilateral BLA, but not the contralateral BLA, impaired LTP. The possible mechanisms underlying the effects of BLA on NAc plasticity are discussed; the data suggest that BLA-induced changes in the NAc may be mediated through neural pathways in the brain's stress circuit rather than peripheral pathways. The results suggest that glucocorticoid and cannabinoid systems in the BLA can restore normal function of the NAc and hence may have a central role in the treatment of a variety of stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Segev
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Irit Akirav
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel,Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Mt Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel, Tel: +972 4 8288268, Fax: +972 4 8263157, E-mail:
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41
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Maren S, Holmes A. Stress and Fear Extinction. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:58-79. [PMID: 26105142 PMCID: PMC4677122 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Stress has a critical role in the development and expression of many psychiatric disorders, and is a defining feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stress also limits the efficacy of behavioral therapies aimed at limiting pathological fear, such as exposure therapy. Here we examine emerging evidence that stress impairs recovery from trauma by impairing fear extinction, a form of learning thought to underlie the suppression of trauma-related fear memories. We describe the major structural and functional abnormalities in brain regions that are particularly vulnerable to stress, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, which may underlie stress-induced impairments in extinction. We also discuss some of the stress-induced neurochemical and molecular alterations in these brain regions that are associated with extinction deficits, and the potential for targeting these changes to prevent or reverse impaired extinction. A better understanding of the neurobiological basis of stress effects on extinction promises to yield novel approaches to improving therapeutic outcomes for PTSD and other anxiety and trauma-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Morena M, De Castro V, Gray JM, Palmery M, Trezza V, Roozendaal B, Hill MN, Campolongo P. Training-Associated Emotional Arousal Shapes Endocannabinoid Modulation of Spatial Memory Retrieval in Rats. J Neurosci 2015; 35:13962-74. [PMID: 26468197 PMCID: PMC6608184 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1983-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Variations in environmental aversiveness influence emotional memory processes in rats. We have previously shown that cannabinoid effects on memory are dependent on the stress level at the time of training as well as on the aversiveness of the environmental context. Here, we investigated whether the hippocampal endocannabinoid system modulates memory retrieval depending on the training-associated arousal level. Male adult Sprague Dawley rats were trained on a water maze spatial task at two different water temperatures (19°C and 25°C) to elicit either higher or lower stress levels, respectively. Rats trained under the higher stress condition had better memory and higher corticosterone concentrations than rats trained at the lower stress condition. The cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55212-2 (10-30 ng/side), the 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) hydrolysis inhibitor JZL184 (0.1-1 μg/side), and the anandamide (AEA) hydrolysis inhibitor URB597 (10-30 ng/side) were administered bilaterally into the hippocampus 60 min before probe-trial retention testing. WIN55212-2 or JZL184, but not URB597, impaired probe-trial performances only of rats trained at the higher stressful condition. Furthermore, rats trained under higher stress levels displayed an increase in hippocampal 2-AG, but not AEA, levels at the time of retention testing and a decreased affinity of the main 2-AG-degrading enzyme for its substrate. The present findings indicate that the endocannabinoid 2-AG in the hippocampus plays a key role in the selective regulation of spatial memory retrieval of stressful experience, shedding light on the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the impact of stress effects on memory processing. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Endogenous cannabinoids play a central role in the modulation of memory for emotional events. Here we demonstrate that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the hippocampus, a brain region crucially involved in the regulation of memory processes, selectively modulates spatial memory recall of stressful experiences. Thus, our findings provide evidence that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol is a key player in mediating the impact of stress on memory retrieval. These findings can pave the way to new potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, where a previous exposure to traumatic events could alter the response to traumatic memory recall leading to mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Morena
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada,
| | - Valentina De Castro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - J Megan Gray
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Maura Palmery
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University Roma Tre, 00146 Rome, Italy, and
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center and Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy,
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Role of hippocampal β-adrenergic and glucocorticoid receptors in the novelty-induced enhancement of fear extinction. J Neurosci 2015; 35:8308-21. [PMID: 26019344 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0005-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fear extinction forms a new memory but does not erase the original fear memory. Exposure to novelty facilitates transfer of short-term extinction memory to long-lasting memory. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Using a classical contextual fear-conditioning model, we investigated the effect of novelty on long-lasting extinction memory in rats. We found that exposure to a novel environment but not familiar environment 1 h before or after extinction enhanced extinction long-term memory (LTM) and reduced fear reinstatement. However, exploring novelty 6 h before or after extinction had no such effect. Infusion of the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) inhibitor propranolol and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) inhibitor RU486 into the CA1 area of the dorsal hippocampus before novelty exposure blocked the effect of novelty on extinction memory. Propranolol prevented activation of the hippocampal PKA-CREB pathway, and RU486 prevented activation of the hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2)-CREB pathway induced by novelty exposure. These results indicate that the hippocampal βAR-PKA-CREB and GR-Erk1/2-CREB pathways mediate the extinction-enhancing effect of novelty exposure. Infusion of RU486 or the Erk1/2 inhibitor U0126, but not propranolol or the PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMPS, into the CA1 before extinction disrupted the formation of extinction LTM, suggesting that hippocampal GR and Erk1/2 but not βAR or PKA play critical roles in this process. These results indicate that novelty promotes extinction memory via hippocampal βAR- and GR-dependent pathways, and Erk1/2 may serve as a behavioral tag of extinction.
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Atsak P, Hauer D, Campolongo P, Schelling G, Fornari RV, Roozendaal B. Endocannabinoid signaling within the basolateral amygdala integrates multiple stress hormone effects on memory consolidation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:1485-94. [PMID: 25547713 PMCID: PMC4397407 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid hormones are known to act synergistically with other stress-activated neuromodulatory systems, such as norepinephrine and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), within the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) to induce optimal strengthening of the consolidation of long-term memory of emotionally arousing experiences. However, as the onset of these glucocorticoid actions appear often too rapid to be explained by genomic regulation, the neurobiological mechanism of how glucocorticoids could modify the memory-enhancing properties of norepinephrine and CRF remained elusive. Here, we show that the endocannabinoid system, a rapidly activated retrograde messenger system, is a primary route mediating the actions of glucocorticoids, via a glucocorticoid receptor on the cell surface, on BLA neural plasticity and memory consolidation. Furthermore, glucocorticoids recruit downstream endocannabinoid activity within the BLA to interact with both the norepinephrine and CRF systems in enhancing memory consolidation. These findings have important implications for understanding the fine-tuned crosstalk between multiple stress hormone systems in the coordination of (mal)adaptive stress and emotional arousal effects on neural plasticity and memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piray Atsak
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniela Hauer
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gustav Schelling
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Raquel V Fornari
- Núcleo de Cognição e Sistemas Complexos, Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Cannabinoid antagonist in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): design, characterization and in vivo study. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2015; 48:328-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2014.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Revised: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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46
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Endogenous cannabinoid release within prefrontal-limbic pathways affects memory consolidation of emotional training. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:18333-8. [PMID: 25489086 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1420285111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have provided extensive evidence that administration of cannabinoid drugs after training modulates the consolidation of memory for an aversive experience. The present experiments investigated whether the memory consolidation is regulated by endogenously released cannabinoids. The experiments first examined whether the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) are released by aversive training. Inhibitory avoidance training with higher footshock intensity produced increased levels of AEA in the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) shortly after training in comparison with levels assessed in rats trained with lower footshock intensity or unshocked controls exposed only to the training apparatus. In contrast, 2-AG levels were not significantly elevated. The additional finding that posttraining infusions of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597, which selectively increases AEA levels at active synapses, administered into the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA), hippocampus, or mPFC enhanced memory strongly suggests that the endogenously released AEA modulates memory consolidation. Moreover, in support of the view that this emotional training-associated increase in endocannabinoid neurotransmission, and its effects on memory enhancement, depends on the integrity of functional interactions between these different brain regions, we found that disruption of BLA activity blocked the training-induced increases in AEA levels as well as the memory enhancement produced by URB597 administered into the hippocampus or mPFC. Thus, the findings provide evidence that emotionally arousing training increases AEA levels within prefrontal-limbic circuits and strongly suggest that this cannabinoid activation regulates emotional arousal effects on memory consolidation.
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WIN55,212-2 impairs non-associative recognition and spatial memory in rats via CB1 receptor stimulation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2014; 124:58-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2014.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2014] [Revised: 04/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Manduca A, Servadio M, Campolongo P, Palmery M, Trabace L, Vanderschuren LJMJ, Cuomo V, Trezza V. Strain- and context-dependent effects of the anandamide hydrolysis inhibitor URB597 on social behavior in rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 24:1337-48. [PMID: 24933531 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Genetic and environmental factors play an important role in the cannabinoid modulation of motivation and emotion. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test whether anandamide modulation of social behavior is strain- and context-dependent. We tested the effects of the anandamide hydrolysis inhibitor URB597 on social behavior and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in adolescent and adult Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats tested in different emotionally arousing conditions (familiarity/unfamiliarity to the test cage, low/high light). Under all experimental conditions, adolescent and adult Sprague-Dawley rats displayed higher levels of social behavior and emitted more 50-kHz USVs than Wistar rats. URB597 enhanced social play behavior in adolescent Wistar rats under all experimental conditions. However, URB597 only increased social interaction in adult Wistar rats under unfamiliar/high light conditions. URB597 did not affect adolescent social play behavior and adult social interaction in Sprague-Dawley rats under any experimental condition. Moreover, URB597 increased the USVs emitted during social interaction by adolescent Wistar and adult Sprague-Dawley rats tested under familiar/high light and unfamiliar/high light, respectively. These results show that anandamide has distinct roles in adolescent and adult social behaviors. Anandamide modulation of adolescent social play behavior is strain- but not context-dependent. Conversely, anandamide modulation of adult social behavior and USV emission depends upon both strain and experimental context. Furthermore, these results confirm that profound behavioral differences exist between Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats, which may explain the sometimes contradictory effects of cannabinoid drugs on emotionality in different strains of rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Manduca
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Servadio
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maura Palmery
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigia Trabace
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Louk J M J Vanderschuren
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Animals in Science and Society, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vincenzo Cuomo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy.
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Haller J, Aliczki M, Pelczer KG, Spitzer K, Balogh Z, Kantor S. Effects of the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB597 on coping behavior under challenging conditions in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:593-601. [PMID: 24037493 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3273-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Recent evidence suggests that in addition to controlling emotional behavior in general, endocannabinoid signaling is engaged in shaping behavioral responses to challenges. This important function of endocannabinoids is still poorly understood. OBJECTIVES Here we investigated the impact of blockade of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the degrading enzyme of anandamide on behavioral responses induced by challenges of different intensity. METHODS Mice treated with FAAH inhibitor URB597 were either manually restrained on their backs (back test) or received foot-shocks. RESULTS The behavior of mice showed bimodal distribution in the back test: they either predominantly showed escape attempts or equally distributed time between passivity and escape. URB597 increased escapes in animals with low escape scores. No effects were noticed in mice showing high escape scores, which is likely due to a ceiling effect. We hypothesized that stronger stressors would wash out individual differences in coping; therefore, we exposed mice to foot-shocks that decreased locomotion and increased freezing in all mice. URB597 ameliorated both responses. The re-exposure of mice to the shock cage 14 days later without delivering shocks or treatment was followed by reduced and fragmented sleep as shown by electrophysiological recordings. Surprisingly, sleep was more disturbed after the reminder than after shocks in rats receiving vehicle before foot-shocks. These reminder-induced disturbances were abolished by URB597 administered before shocks. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that FAAH blockade has an important role in the selection of behavioral responses under challenging conditions and-judging from its long-term effects-that it influences the cognitive appraisal of the challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jozsef Haller
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 67, 1450, Budapest, Hungary,
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The endocannabinoid system: an emotional buffer in the modulation of memory function. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2013; 112:30-43. [PMID: 24382324 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2013.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Extensive evidence indicates that endocannabinoids modulate cognitive processes in animal models and human subjects. However, the results of endocannabinoid system manipulations on cognition have been contradictory. As for anxiety behavior, a duality has indeed emerged with regard to cannabinoid effects on memory for emotional experiences. Here we summarize findings describing cannabinoid effects on memory acquisition, consolidation, retrieval and extinction. Additionally, we review findings showing how the endocannabinoid system modulates memory function differentially, depending on the level of stress and arousal associated with the experimental context. Based on the evidence reviewed here, we propose that the endocannabinoid system is an emotional buffer that moderates the effects of environmental context and stress on cognitive processes.
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