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Yang L, Fang LZ, Lynch MR, Xu CS, Hahm HJ, Zhang Y, Heitmeier MR, Costa VD, Samineni VK, Creed MC. Transcriptomic landscape of mammalian ventral pallidum at single-cell resolution. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadq6017. [PMID: 39661664 PMCID: PMC11633743 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq6017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 11/04/2024] [Indexed: 12/13/2024]
Abstract
The ventral pallidum (VP) is critical for motivated behaviors. While contemporary work has begun to elucidate the functional diversity of VP neurons, the molecular heterogeneity underlying this functional diversity remains incompletely understood. We used single-nucleus RNA sequencing and in situ hybridization to define the transcriptional taxonomy of VP cell types in mice, macaques, and baboons. We found transcriptional conservation between all three species, within the broader neurochemical cell types. Unique dopaminoceptive and cholinergic subclusters were identified and conserved across both primate species but had no homolog in mice. This harmonized consensus VP cellular atlas will pave the way for understanding the structure and function of the VP and identified key neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and neurotransmitter receptors that could be targeted within specific VP cell types for functional investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lite Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lisa Z. Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michelle R. Lynch
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NINDS Neuroscience Postbaccalaureate Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chang S. Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hannah J. Hahm
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yufen Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Monique R. Heitmeier
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Vincent D. Costa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vijay K. Samineni
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Meaghan C. Creed
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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2
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Engeln M, Ahmed SH. Remission from addiction: erasing the wrong circuits or making new ones? Nat Rev Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41583-024-00886-y. [PMID: 39663409 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00886-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2024] [Indexed: 12/13/2024]
Abstract
Chronic relapse is a hallmark of substance-use disorders (SUDs), but many people with SUDs do recover and eventually enter remission. Many preclinical studies in this field aim to identify interventions that can precipitate recovery by reversing or erasing the neuronal circuit changes caused by chronic drug use. A better understanding of remission from SUDs can also come from preclinical studies that model factors known to influence recovery in humans, such as the negative consequences of drug use and positive environmental influences. In this Perspective we discuss human neuroimaging studies that have provided information about recovery from SUDs and highlight mechanisms identified in preclinical studies - such as the reconfiguration of neuronal circuits - that could contribute to remission. We also analyse how studies of memory and forgetting can provide insights into the mechanisms of remission. Overall, we propose that remission can be driven by the introduction of new neuronal changes (which outcompete those induced by drugs) as well as by the erasure of drug-induced changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Engeln
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Serge H Ahmed
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
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3
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Yang L, Fang LZ, Lynch MR, Xu CS, Hahm H, Zhang Y, Heitmeier MR, Costa V, Samineni VK, Creed MC. Transcriptomic landscape of mammalian ventral pallidum at single-cell resolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.24.595793. [PMID: 38826431 PMCID: PMC11142225 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.595793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
The ventral pallidum (VP) is critical for motivated behaviors. While contemporary work has begun to elucidate the functional diversity of VP neurons, the molecular heterogeneity underlying this functional diversity remains incompletely understood. We used snRNA-seq and in situ hybridization to define the transcriptional taxonomy of VP cell types in mice, macaques, and baboons. We found transcriptional conservation between all three species, within the broader neurochemical cell types. Unique dopaminoceptive and cholinergic subclusters were identified and conserved across both primate species but had no homolog in mice. This harmonized consensus VP cellular atlas will pave the way for understanding the structure and function of the VP and identified key neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and neuro receptors that could be targeted within specific VP cell types for functional investigations. Teaser Genetic identity of ventral pallidum cell types is conserved across rodents and primates at the transcriptional level.
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4
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Lenoir M, Engeln M, Navailles S, Girardeau P, Ahmed SH. A large-scale c-Fos brain mapping study on extinction of cocaine-primed reinstatement. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1459-1467. [PMID: 38664549 PMCID: PMC11251268 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01867-6] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Individuals with cocaine addiction can experience many craving episodes and subsequent relapses, which represents the main obstacle to recovery. Craving is often favored when abstinent individuals ingest a small dose of cocaine, encounter cues associated with drug use or are exposed to stressors. Using a cocaine-primed reinstatement model in rat, we recently showed that cocaine-conditioned interoceptive cues can be extinguished with repeated cocaine priming in the absence of drug reinforcement, a phenomenon we called extinction of cocaine priming. Here, we applied a large-scale c-Fos brain mapping approach following extinction of cocaine priming in male rats to identify brain regions implicated in processing the conditioned interoceptive stimuli of cocaine priming. We found that cocaine-primed reinstatement is associated with increased c-Fos expression in key brain regions (e.g., dorsal and ventral striatum, several prefrontal areas and insular cortex), while its extinction mostly disengages them. Moreover, while reinstatement behavior was correlated with insular and accumbal activation, extinction of cocaine priming implicated parts of the ventral pallidum, the mediodorsal thalamus and the median raphe. These brain patterns of activation and inhibition suggest that after repeated priming, interoceptive signals lose their conditioned discriminative properties and that action-outcome associations systems are mobilized in search for new contingencies, a brain state that may predispose to rapid relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magalie Lenoir
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Michel Engeln
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
| | | | - Paul Girardeau
- Univ. Bordeaux, UFR des Sciences Odontologiques, Bordeaux, France
| | - Serge H Ahmed
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
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5
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Morais-Silva G, Lobo MK. Refining the circuits of drug addiction: The ventral pallidum. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102883. [PMID: 38815544 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The ventral pallidum is a prominent structure within the basal ganglia, regulating reward and motivational processes. Positioned at the interface between motor and limbic structures, its function is crucial to the development and maintenance of substance use disorders. Chronic drug use induces neuroplastic events in this structure, leading to long-term changes in VP neuronal activity and synaptic communication. Moreover, different neuronal populations within the VP drive drug-seeking behavior in opposite directions. This review explores the role of the VP as a hub for reward, motivation, and aversion, establishing it as an important contributor to the pathophysiology of substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gessynger Morais-Silva
- Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Araraquara, SP, Brazil. https://twitter.com/gessynger
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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6
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Kim J, Vanrobaeys Y, Kelvington B, Peterson Z, Baldwin E, Gaine ME, Nickl-Jockschat T, Abel T. Dissecting 16p11.2 hemi-deletion to study sex-specific striatal phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1310-1321. [PMID: 38278994 PMCID: PMC11189748 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02411-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are polygenic in nature and copy number variants (CNVs) are ideal candidates to study the nature of this polygenic risk. The disruption of striatal circuits is considered a central mechanism in NDDs. The 16p11.2 hemi-deletion (16p11.2 del/+) is one of the most common CNVs associated with NDD, and 16p11.2 del/+ mice show sex-specific striatum-related behavioral phenotypes. However, the critical genes among the 27 genes in the 16p11.2 region that underlie these phenotypes remain unknown. Previously, we applied a novel strategy to identify candidate genes associated with the sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice and highlighted three genes within the deleted region: thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 2 (Taok2), seizure-related 6 homolog-like 2 (Sez6l2), and major vault protein (Mvp). Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated mice carrying null mutations in Taok2, Sez6l2, and Mvp (3 gene hemi-deletion (3g del/+)). Hemi-deletion of these 3 genes recapitulates sex-specific behavioral alterations in striatum-dependent behavioral tasks observed in 16p11.2 del/+ mice, specifically male-specific hyperactivity and impaired motivation for reward seeking. Moreover, RNAseq analysis revealed that 3g del/+ mice exhibit gene expression changes in the striatum similar to 16p11.2 del/+ mice exclusively in males. Subsequent analysis identified translation dysregulation and/or extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling as plausible molecular mechanisms underlying male-specific, striatum-dependent behavioral alterations. Interestingly, ribosomal profiling supported the notion of translation dysregulation in both 3g del/+ and 16p11.2 del/+ male mice. However, mice carrying a 4-gene deletion (with an additional deletion of Mapk3) exhibited fewer phenotypic similarities with 16p11.2 del/+ mice. Together, the mutation of 3 genes within the 16p11.2 region phenocopies striatal sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice. These results support the importance of a polygenic approach to study NDDs and underscore that the effects of the large genetic deletions result from complex interactions between multiple candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaekyoon Kim
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Yann Vanrobaeys
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Benjamin Kelvington
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Zeru Peterson
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Emily Baldwin
- The Iowa Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Marie E Gaine
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Thomas Nickl-Jockschat
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
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7
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Bernat N, Campbell RR, Nam H, Basu M, Odesser T, Elyasaf G, Engeln M, Chandra R, Golden S, Ament S, Lobo MK, Kupchik YM. Multimodal Interrogation of Ventral Pallidum Projections Reveals Projection-Specific Signatures and Effects on Cocaine Reward. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1469232024. [PMID: 38485256 PMCID: PMC11063828 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1469-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The ventral pallidum (VP) is a central hub in the reward circuitry with diverse projections that have different behavioral roles attributed mostly to the connectivity with the downstream target. However, different VP projections may represent, as in the striatum, separate neuronal populations that differ in more than just connectivity. In this study, we performed in mice of both sexes a multimodal dissection of four major projections of the VP-to the lateral hypothalamus (VP→LH), ventral tegmental area (VP→VTA), lateral habenula (VP→LHb), and mediodorsal thalamus (VP→MDT)-with physiological, anatomical, genetic, and behavioral tools. We also tested for physiological differences between VP neurons receiving input from nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that express either the D1 (D1-MSNs) or the D2 (D2-MSNs) dopamine receptor. We show that each VP projection (1) when inhibited during a cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) test affects performance differently, (2) receives a different pattern of inputs using rabies retrograde labeling, (3) shows differentially expressed genes using RNA sequencing, and (4) has projection-specific characteristics in excitability and synaptic input characteristics using whole-cell patch clamp. VP→LH and VP→VTA projections have different effects on CPP and show low overlap in circuit tracing experiments, as VP→VTA neurons receive more striatal input, while VP→LH neurons receive more olfactory input. Additionally, VP→VTA neurons are less excitable, while VP→LH neurons are more excitable than the average VP neuron, a difference driven mainly by D2-MSN-responding neurons. Thus, VP→VTA and VP→LH neurons may represent largely distinct populations of VP neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimrod Bernat
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- IMRIC Center for Addiction Research (ICARe), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Rianne R Campbell
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Hyungwoo Nam
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Mahashweta Basu
- Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Tal Odesser
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Gal Elyasaf
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Michel Engeln
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux F-33000, France
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Shana Golden
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Seth Ament
- Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Yonatan M Kupchik
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- IMRIC Center for Addiction Research (ICARe), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
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8
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Palmer D, Cayton CA, Scott A, Lin I, Newell B, Paulson A, Weberg M, Richard JM. Ventral pallidum neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area reinforce but do not invigorate reward-seeking behavior. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113669. [PMID: 38194343 PMCID: PMC10865898 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Reward-predictive cues acquire motivating and reinforcing properties that contribute to the escalation and relapse of drug use in addiction. The ventral pallidum (VP) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are two key nodes in brain reward circuitry implicated in addiction and cue-driven behavior. In the current study, we use in vivo fiber photometry and optogenetics to record from and manipulate VP→VTA in rats performing a discriminative stimulus task to determine the role these neurons play in invigoration and reinforcement by reward cues. We find that VP→VTA neurons are active during reward consumption and that optogenetic stimulation of these neurons biases choice behavior and is reinforcing. Critically, we find no encoding of reward-seeking vigor, and optogenetic stimulation does not enhance the probability or vigor of reward seeking in response to cues. Our results suggest that VP→VTA activity is more important for reinforcement than for invigoration of reward seeking by cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota Palmer
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christelle A Cayton
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alexandra Scott
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Iris Lin
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Bailey Newell
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Anika Paulson
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Morgan Weberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jocelyn M Richard
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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9
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Campbell RR, Lobo MK. Neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychostimulant use. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 83:102786. [PMID: 37776675 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Rates of individuals struggling with psychostimulant use disorder (PSUD), defined as chronic use of psychostimulants despite negative consequences, are growing rapidly over the last few decades. However, there are no current pharmacotherapeutics to aid individuals in maintaining drug abstinence. Identifying the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that promote persistent craving and taking of psychostimulants is critical to creating novel pharmacological treatments for PSUD. Psychostimulant use dysregulates processes within the brain that are responsible for decision-making, reward, and memory formation to drive future drug-seeking. Here, we describe novel findings and theories on how psychostimulants impact mechanisms related to transcription, mitochondrial function, and synaptic plasticity within the reward system to drive drug-seeking. We also highlight work examining how psychostimulants impact neural networks through rewiring circuitry to drive addiction-related behaviors. Overall, this review aims to feature the latest progress in understanding the biological basis of PSUD and promising mechanisms for PSUD pharmacotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne R Campbell
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. https://twitter.com/RianneThoughts
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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10
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Campbell RR, Lobo MK. Pallidal circuits drive addiction behavior. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:S0166-2236(23)00228-X. [PMID: 39492310 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the neural mechanisms that control addiction processes, including drug-seeking and relapse, is key to finding new targets for substance use disorder (SUD) pharmacotherapies and circuit-based therapies. Addictive drugs alter activity in distinct neural circuits that can lead to SUD symptoms, including compulsive drug craving and taking. This includes the pallidum, a region in the basal ganglia that acts as an integrator of associative, sensorimotor, and limbic information to shape motor responses, promote reward-learning, and regulate habit formation. Here, we review key findings that demonstrate the sub-regional and circuit-specific functions of the pallidum that drive addiction-related behaviors in rodents. We also highlight newly discovered mechanisms within distinct cell types and circuits of the pallidum that drive drug-seeking. Overall, this review serves to emphasize the importance of the pallidum in addiction processes and underscore the need for studying circuit-specific mechanisms in SUD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne R Campbell
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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11
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Vannan A, Dell’Orco M, Perrone-Bizzozero NI, Neisewander JL, Wilson MA. An approach for prioritizing candidate genes from RNA-seq using preclinical cocaine self-administration datasets as a test case. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad143. [PMID: 37433118 PMCID: PMC10542560 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology has led to a surge of neuroscience research using animal models to probe the complex molecular mechanisms underlying brain function and behavior, including substance use disorders. However, findings from rodent studies often fail to be translated into clinical treatments. Here, we developed a novel pipeline for narrowing candidate genes from preclinical studies by translational potential and demonstrated its utility in 2 RNA-seq studies of rodent self-administration. This pipeline uses evolutionary conservation and preferential expression of genes across brain tissues to prioritize candidate genes, increasing the translational utility of RNA-seq in model organisms. Initially, we demonstrate the utility of our prioritization pipeline using an uncorrected P-value. However, we found no differentially expressed genes in either dataset after correcting for multiple testing with false discovery rate (FDR < 0.05 or <0.1). This is likely due to low statistical power that is common across rodent behavioral studies, and, therefore, we additionally illustrate the use of our pipeline on a third dataset with differentially expressed genes corrected for multiple testing (FDR < 0.05). We also advocate for improved RNA-seq data collection, statistical testing, and metadata reporting that will bolster the field's ability to identify reliable candidate genes and improve the translational value of bioinformatics in rodent research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Vannan
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
| | - Michela Dell’Orco
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Nora I Perrone-Bizzozero
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Janet L Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
| | - Melissa A Wilson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
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12
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Kalamakis G, Platt RJ. CRISPR for neuroscientists. Neuron 2023:S0896-6273(23)00306-9. [PMID: 37201524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Genome engineering technologies provide an entry point into understanding and controlling the function of genetic elements in health and disease. The discovery and development of the microbial defense system CRISPR-Cas yielded a treasure trove of genome engineering technologies and revolutionized the biomedical sciences. Comprising diverse RNA-guided enzymes and effector proteins that evolved or were engineered to manipulate nucleic acids and cellular processes, the CRISPR toolbox provides precise control over biology. Virtually all biological systems are amenable to genome engineering-from cancer cells to the brains of model organisms to human patients-galvanizing research and innovation and giving rise to fundamental insights into health and powerful strategies for detecting and correcting disease. In the field of neuroscience, these tools are being leveraged across a wide range of applications, including engineering traditional and non-traditional transgenic animal models, modeling disease, testing genomic therapies, unbiased screening, programming cell states, and recording cellular lineages and other biological processes. In this primer, we describe the development and applications of CRISPR technologies while highlighting outstanding limitations and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Kalamakis
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Randall J Platt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland; NCCR MSE, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Botnar Research Center for Child Health, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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Choi EY, Franco D, Stapf CA, Gordin M, Chow A, Cover KK, Chandra R, Lobo MK. Inducible CRISPR Epigenome Systems Mimic Cocaine Induced Bidirectional Regulation of Nab2 and Egr3. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2242-2259. [PMID: 36849419 PMCID: PMC10072301 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1802-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorder is a chronic disease and a leading cause of disability around the world. The NAc is a major brain hub mediating reward behavior. Studies demonstrate exposure to cocaine is associated with molecular and functional imbalance in NAc medium spiny neuron subtypes (MSNs), dopamine receptor 1 and 2 enriched D1-MSNs and D2-MSNs. We previously reported repeated cocaine exposure induced transcription factor early growth response 3 (Egr3) mRNA in NAc D1-MSNs, and reduced it in D2-MSNs. Here, we report our findings of repeated cocaine exposure in male mice inducing MSN subtype-specific bidirectional expression of the Egr3 corepressor NGFI-A-binding protein 2 (Nab2). Using CRISPR activation and interference (CRISPRa and CRISPRi) tools combined with Nab2 or Egr3-targeted sgRNAs, we mimicked these bidirectional changes in Neuro2a cells. Furthermore, we investigated D1-MSN- and D2-MSN-specific expressional changes of histone lysine demethylases Kdm1a, Kdm6a, and Kdm5c in NAc after repeated cocaine exposure in male mice. Since Kdm1a showed bidirectional expression patterns in D1-MSNs and D2-MSNs, like Egr3, we developed a light-inducible Opto-CRISPR-KDM1a system. We were able to downregulate Egr3 and Nab2 transcripts in Neuro2A cells and cause similar bidirectional expression changes we observed in D1-MSNs and D2-MSNs of mouse repeated cocaine exposure model. Contrastingly, our Opto-CRISPR-p300 activation system induced the Egr3 and Nab2 transcripts and caused opposite bidirectional transcription regulations. Our study sheds light on the expression patterns of Nab2 and Egr3 in specific NAc MSNs in cocaine action and uses CRISPR tools to further mimic these expression patterns.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Substance use disorder is a major societal issue. The lack of medication to treat cocaine addiction desperately calls for a treatment development based on precise understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying cocaine addiction. In this study, we show that Egr3 and Nab2 are bidirectionally regulated in mouse NAc D1-MSNs and D2-MSNs after repeated exposure to cocaine. Furthermore, histone lysine demethylations enzymes with putative EGR3 binding sites showed bidirectional regulation in D1- and D2-MSNs after repeated exposure to cocaine. Using Cre- and light-inducible CRISPR tools, we show that we can mimic this bidirectional regulation of Egr3 and Nab2 in Neuro2a cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Y Choi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Graduate Program in Life Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
| | - Daniela Franco
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Program in Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Life Sciences
| | - Catherine A Stapf
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Program in Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Life Sciences
| | | | | | - Kara K Cover
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Program in Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Life Sciences
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Center for Innovative Biomedical Resources, Virus Vector Core, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland, 21201
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Abel T, Kim J, Vanrobaeys Y, Peterson Z, Kelvington B, Gaine M, Nickl-Jockschat T. Dissecting 16p11.2 hemi-deletion to study sex-specific striatal phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2565823. [PMID: 36824977 PMCID: PMC9949238 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2565823/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are polygenic in nature and copy number variants (CNVs) are ideal candidates to study the nature of this polygenic risk. The disruption of striatal circuits is considered a central mechanism in NDDs. The 16p11.2 hemi-deletion (16p11.2 del) is one of the most common CNVs associated with NDD, and 16p11.2 del/+ mice show sex-specific striatum-related behavioral phenotypes. However, the critical genes among the 27 genes in the 16p11.2 region that underlie these phenotypes remain unknown. Previously, we applied a novel strategy to identify candidate genes associated with the sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice and identified 3 genes of particular importance within the deleted region: thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 2 (Taok2), seizure-related 6 homolog-like 2 (Sez6l2), and major vault protein (Mvp). Using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, we generated 3 gene hemi-deletion (3g del/+) mice carrying null mutations in Taok2, Sez6l2, and Mvp. We assessed striatum-dependent phenotypes of these 3g del/+ mice in behavioral, molecular, and imaging studies. Hemi-deletion of Taok2, Sez6l2, and Mvp induces sex-specific behavioral alterations in striatum-dependent behavioral tasks, specifically male-specific hyperactivity and impaired motivation for reward seeking, resembling behavioral phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice. Moreover, RNAseq analysis revealed that 3g del/+ mice exhibit gene expression changes in the striatum similar to 16p11.2 del/+ mice, but only in males. Pathway analysis identified ribosomal dysfunction and translation dysregulation as molecular mechanisms underlying male-specific, striatum-dependent behavioral alterations. Together, the mutation of 3 genes within the 16p11.2 region phenocopies striatal sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice, unlike single gene mutation studies. These results support the importance of a polygenic approach to study NDDs and our novel strategy to identify genes of interest using gene expression patterns in brain regions, such as the striatum, which are impacted in these disorders.
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Kim J, Vanrobaeys Y, Peterson Z, Kelvington B, Gaine ME, Nickl-Jockschat T, Abel T. Dissecting 16p11.2 hemi-deletion to study sex-specific striatal phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.09.527866. [PMID: 36798381 PMCID: PMC9934710 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.09.527866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are polygenic in nature and copy number variants (CNVs) are ideal candidates to study the nature of this polygenic risk. The disruption of striatal circuits is considered a central mechanism in NDDs. The 16p11.2 hemi-deletion (16p11.2 del) is one of the most common CNVs associated with NDD, and 16p11.2 del/+ mice show sex-specific striatum-related behavioral phenotypes. However, the critical genes among the 27 genes in the 16p11.2 region that underlie these phenotypes remain unknown. Previously, we applied a novel strategy to identify candidate genes associated with the sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice and identified 3 genes of particular importance within the deleted region: thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 2 ( Taok2 ), seizure-related 6 homolog-like 2 ( Sez6l2 ), and major vault protein ( Mvp ). Using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, we generated 3 gene hemi-deletion (3g del/+) mice carrying null mutations in Taok2, Sez6l2 , and Mvp . We assessed striatum-dependent phenotypes of these 3g del/+ mice in behavioral, molecular, and imaging studies. Hemi-deletion of Taok2, Sez6l2 , and Mvp induces sex-specific behavioral alterations in striatum-dependent behavioral tasks, specifically male-specific hyperactivity and impaired motivation for reward seeking, resembling behavioral phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice. Moreover, RNAseq analysis revealed that 3g del/+ mice exhibit gene expression changes in the striatum similar to 16p11.2 del/+ mice, but only in males. Pathway analysis identified ribosomal dysfunction and translation dysregulation as molecular mechanisms underlying male-specific, striatum-dependent behavioral alterations. Together, the mutation of 3 genes within the 16p11.2 region phenocopies striatal sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice, unlike single gene mutation studies. These results support the importance of a polygenic approach to study NDDs and our novel strategy to identify genes of interest using gene expression patterns in brain regions, such as the striatum, which are impacted in these disorders.
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Soares-Cunha C, Heinsbroek JA. Ventral pallidal regulation of motivated behaviors and reinforcement. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1086053. [PMID: 36817646 PMCID: PMC9932340 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1086053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The interconnected nuclei of the ventral basal ganglia have long been identified as key regulators of motivated behavior, and dysfunction of this circuit is strongly implicated in mood and substance use disorders. The ventral pallidum (VP) is a central node of the ventral basal ganglia, and recent studies have revealed complex VP cellular heterogeneity and cell- and circuit-specific regulation of reward, aversion, motivation, and drug-seeking behaviors. Although the VP is canonically considered a relay and output structure for this circuit, emerging data indicate that the VP is a central hub in an extensive network for reward processing and the regulation of motivation that extends beyond classically defined basal ganglia borders. VP neurons respond temporally faster and show more advanced reward coding and prediction error processing than neurons in the upstream nucleus accumbens, and regulate the activity of the ventral mesencephalon dopamine system. This review will summarize recent findings in the literature and provide an update on the complex cellular heterogeneity and cell- and circuit-specific regulation of motivated behaviors and reinforcement by the VP with a specific focus on mood and substance use disorders. In addition, we will discuss mechanisms by which stress and drug exposure alter the functioning of the VP and produce susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. Lastly, we will outline unanswered questions and identify future directions for studies necessary to further clarify the central role of VP neurons in the regulation of motivated behaviors. Significance: Research in the last decade has revealed a complex cell- and circuit-specific role for the VP in reward processing and the regulation of motivated behaviors. Novel insights obtained using cell- and circuit-specific interrogation strategies have led to a major shift in our understanding of this region. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the VP in which we integrate novel findings with the existing literature and highlight the emerging role of the VP as a linchpin of the neural systems that regulate motivation, reward, and aversion. In addition, we discuss the dysfunction of the VP in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jasper A. Heinsbroek
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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