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Zhou Z, Yan Y, Gu H, Sun R, Liao Z, Xue K, Tang C. Dopamine in the prefrontal cortex plays multiple roles in the executive function of patients with Parkinson's disease. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1759-1767. [PMID: 38103242 PMCID: PMC10960281 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.389631] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease can affect not only motor functions but also cognitive abilities, leading to cognitive impairment. One common issue in Parkinson's disease with cognitive dysfunction is the difficulty in executive functioning. Executive functions help us plan, organize, and control our actions based on our goals. The brain area responsible for executive functions is called the prefrontal cortex. It acts as the command center for the brain, especially when it comes to regulating executive functions. The role of the prefrontal cortex in cognitive processes is influenced by a chemical messenger called dopamine. However, little is known about how dopamine affects the cognitive functions of patients with Parkinson's disease. In this article, the authors review the latest research on this topic. They start by looking at how the dopaminergic system, is altered in Parkinson's disease with executive dysfunction. Then, they explore how these changes in dopamine impact the synaptic structure, electrical activity, and connection components of the prefrontal cortex. The authors also summarize the relationship between Parkinson's disease and dopamine-related cognitive issues. This information may offer valuable insights and directions for further research and improvement in the clinical treatment of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihang Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yalong Yan
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Heng Gu
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ruiao Sun
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zihan Liao
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ke Xue
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chuanxi Tang
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
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2
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Varela RB, Boschen SL, Yates N, Houghton T, Blaha CD, Lee KH, Bennet KE, Kouzani AZ, Berk M, Quevedo J, Valvassori SS, Tye SJ. Anti-manic effect of deep brain stimulation of the ventral tegmental area in an animal model of mania induced by methamphetamine. Bipolar Disord 2024; 26:376-387. [PMID: 38558302 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.13423] [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] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment of refractory bipolar disorder (BD) is extremely challenging. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) holds promise as an effective treatment intervention. However, we still understand very little about the mechanisms of DBS and its application on BD. AIM The present study aimed to investigate the behavioural and neurochemical effects of ventral tegmental area (VTA) DBS in an animal model of mania induced by methamphetamine (m-amph). METHODS Wistar rats were given 14 days of m-amph injections, and on the last day, animals were submitted to 20 min of VTA DBS in two different patterns: intermittent low-frequency stimulation (LFS) or continuous high-frequency stimulation (HFS). Immediately after DBS, manic-like behaviour and nucleus accumbens (NAc) phasic dopamine (DA) release were evaluated in different groups of animals through open-field tests and fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Levels of NAc dopaminergic markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS M-amph induced hyperlocomotion in the animals and both DBS parameters reversed this alteration. M-amph increased DA reuptake time post-sham compared to baseline levels, and both LFS and HFS were able to block this alteration. LFS was also able to reduce phasic DA release when compared to baseline. LFS was able to increase dopamine transporter (DAT) expression in the NAc. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that both VTA LFS and HFS DBS exert anti-manic effects and modulation of DA dynamics in the NAc. More specifically the increase in DA reuptake driven by increased DAT expression may serve as a potential mechanism by which VTA DBS exerts its anti-manic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger B Varela
- Functional Neuromodulation and Novel Therapeutics Laboratory, Asia Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Suelen L Boschen
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Neural Engineering Laboratories, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Applied Computational Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nathanael Yates
- Functional Neuromodulation and Novel Therapeutics Laboratory, Asia Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tristan Houghton
- Functional Neuromodulation and Novel Therapeutics Laboratory, Asia Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Charles D Blaha
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Neural Engineering Laboratories, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kendall H Lee
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Neural Engineering Laboratories, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kevin E Bennet
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Neural Engineering Laboratories, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Abbas Z Kouzani
- School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Berk
- School of Medicine, IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - João Quevedo
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Interventional Psychiatry, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, Texas, USA
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Translational Psychiatry Program, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Samira S Valvassori
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Susannah J Tye
- Functional Neuromodulation and Novel Therapeutics Laboratory, Asia Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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3
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Hynes T, Fouyssac M, Puaud M, Joshi D, Chernoff C, Stiebahl S, Michaud L, Belin D. Pan-striatal reduction in the expression of the astrocytic dopamine transporter precedes the development of dorsolateral striatum dopamine-dependent incentive heroin seeking habits. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2502-2521. [PMID: 38650303 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16354] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of compulsive drug-seeking habits, a hallmark feature of substance use disorder, has been shown to be predicated on the engagement of dorsolateral striatal control over behaviour. This process involves the dopamine-dependent functional coupling of the anterior dorsolateral striatum (aDLS) with the nucleus accumbens core, but the mechanisms by which this coupling occurs have not been fully elucidated. The striatum is tiled by a syncytium of astrocytes that express the dopamine transporter (DAT), the level of which is altered in individuals with heroin use disorder. Astrocytes are therefore uniquely placed functionally to bridge dopamine-dependent mechanisms across the striatum. Here we tested the hypothesis that exposure to heroin influences the expression of DAT in striatal astrocytes across the striatum before the development of DLS-dependent incentive heroin seeking habits. Using Western-blot, qPCR, and RNAscope™, we measured DAT protein and mRNA levels in whole tissue, culture and in situ astrocytes from striatal territories of rats with a well-established cue-controlled heroin seeking habit and rats trained to respond for heroin or food under continuous reinforcement. Incentive heroin seeking habits were associated with a reduction in DAT protein levels in the anterior aDLS that was preceded by a heroin-induced reduction in DAT mRNA and protein in astrocytes across the striatum. Striatal astrocytes were also shown to be susceptible to direct dopamine- and opioid-induced downregulation of DAT expression. These results suggest that astrocytes may critically regulate the striatal dopaminergic adaptations that lead to the development of incentive heroin seeking habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Hynes
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maxime Fouyssac
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mickaël Puaud
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dhaval Joshi
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chloe Chernoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sonja Stiebahl
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lola Michaud
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Belin
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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4
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Rohner VL, Lamothe-Molina PJ, Patriarchi T. Engineering, applications, and future perspectives of GPCR-based genetically encoded fluorescent indicators for neuromodulators. J Neurochem 2024; 168:163-184. [PMID: 38288673 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
This review explores the evolving landscape of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-based genetically encoded fluorescent indicators (GEFIs), with a focus on their development, structural components, engineering strategies, and applications. We highlight the unique features of this indicator class, emphasizing the importance of both the sensing domain (GPCR structure and activation mechanism) and the reporting domain (circularly permuted fluorescent protein (cpFP) structure and fluorescence modulation). Further, we discuss indicator engineering approaches, including the selection of suitable cpFPs and expression systems. Additionally, we showcase the diversity and flexibility of their application by presenting a summary of studies where such indicators were used. Along with all the advantages, we also focus on the current limitations as well as common misconceptions that arise when using these indicators. Finally, we discuss future directions in indicator engineering, including strategies for screening with increased throughput, optimization of the ligand-binding properties, structural insights, and spectral diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Lu Rohner
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Tommaso Patriarchi
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Seib DR, Tobiansky DJ, Meitzen J, Floresco SB, Soma KK. Neurosteroids and the mesocorticolimbic system. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105356. [PMID: 37567491 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105356] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The mesocorticolimbic system coordinates executive functions, such as working memory and behavioral flexibility. This circuit includes dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex. In this review, we summarize evidence that cells in multiple nodes of the mesocorticolimbic system produce neurosteroids (steroids synthesized in the nervous system) and express steroid receptors. Here, we focus on neuroandrogens (androgens synthesized in the nervous system), neuroestrogens (estrogens synthesized in the nervous system), and androgen and estrogen receptors. We also summarize how (neuro)androgens and (neuro)estrogens affect dopamine signaling in the mesocorticolimbic system and regulate executive functions. Taken together, the data suggest that steroids produced in the gonads and locally in the brain modulate higher-order cognition and executive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Désirée R Seib
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Daniel J Tobiansky
- Department of Biology and Neuroscience Program, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MD, USA
| | - John Meitzen
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Stan B Floresco
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kiran K Soma
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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6
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Salinas AG, Lee JO, Augustin SM, Zhang S, Patriarchi T, Tian L, Morales M, Mateo Y, Lovinger DM. Distinct sub-second dopamine signaling in dorsolateral striatum measured by a genetically-encoded fluorescent sensor. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5915. [PMID: 37739964 PMCID: PMC10517008 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41581-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of genetically encoded dopamine sensors such as dLight has provided a new approach to measuring slow and fast dopamine dynamics both in brain slices and in vivo, possibly enabling dopamine measurements in areas like the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) where previously such recordings with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) were difficult. To test this, we first evaluated dLight photometry in mouse brain slices with simultaneous FSCV and found that both techniques yielded comparable results, but notable differences in responses to dopamine transporter inhibitors, including cocaine. We then used in vivo fiber photometry with dLight in mice to examine responses to cocaine in DLS. We also compared dopamine responses during Pavlovian conditioning across the striatum. We show that dopamine increases were readily detectable in DLS and describe transient dopamine kinetics, as well as slowly developing signals during conditioning. Overall, our findings indicate that dLight photometry is well suited to measuring dopamine dynamics in DLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando G Salinas
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
| | - Jeong Oen Lee
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Shana M Augustin
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shiliang Zhang
- Confocal and Electron Microscopy Core, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tommaso Patriarchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lin Tian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Marisela Morales
- Neuronal Networks Section, Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yolanda Mateo
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - David M Lovinger
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
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7
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Sagheddu C, Devoto P, Aroni S, Saba P, Pistis M, Gessa GL. Combined α 2- and D 2-receptor blockade activates noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons, but extracellular dopamine in the prefrontal cortex is determined by uptake and release from noradrenergic terminals. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1238115. [PMID: 37680715 PMCID: PMC10482411 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1238115] [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: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental and clinical evidence indicates a deficit of release and function of dopamine in schizophrenia and suggests that α2-adrenoceptor antagonists rescue dopamine deficit and improve the antipsychotic efficacy of D2-receptor antagonists. In anesthetized male rats, we investigated how the blockade of α2- and D2-receptors by atipamezole and raclopride, respectively, modified the firing of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) and dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In freely moving rats, we studied how atipamezole and raclopride modified extracellular noradrenaline, dopamine, and DOPAC levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) through microdialysis. When administered alone, atipamezole activated LC noradrenaline but not VTA dopamine cell firing. Combined with raclopride, atipamezole activated dopamine cell firing above the level produced by raclopride. Atipamezole increased extracellular dopamine to the same level, whether administered alone or combined with raclopride. In the presence of the noradrenaline transporter (NET) inhibitor, atipamezole combined with raclopride increased extracellular dopamine beyond the level produced by either compound administered alone. The results suggest that a) the D2-autoreceptor blockade is required for LC noradrenaline to activate VTA cell firing; b) the level of dopamine released from dopaminergic terminals is determined by NET; c) the elevation of extracellular dopamine levels in the mPFC is the resultant of dopamine uptake and release from noradrenergic terminals, independent of dopaminergic cell firing and release; and d) LC noradrenergic neurons are an important target for treatments to improve the prefrontal deficit of dopamine in neuropsychiatric pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Devoto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- The Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sonia Aroni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Saba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- The Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Pistis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute of CNR, Cagliari, Italy
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- The Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute of CNR, Cagliari, Italy
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8
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Suri D, Zanni G, Mahadevia D, Chuhma N, Saha R, Spivack S, Pini N, Stevens GS, Ziolkowski-Blake A, Simpson EH, Balsam P, Rayport S, Ansorge MS. Dopamine transporter blockade during adolescence increases adult dopamine function, impulsivity, and aggression. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3512-3523. [PMID: 37532798 PMCID: PMC10618097 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02194-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Sensitive developmental periods shape neural circuits and enable adaptation. However, they also engender vulnerability to factors that can perturb developmental trajectories. An understanding of sensitive period phenomena and mechanisms separate from sensory system development is still lacking, yet critical to understanding disease etiology and risk. The dopamine system is pivotal in controlling and shaping adolescent behaviors, and it undergoes heightened plasticity during that time, such that interference with dopamine signaling can have long-lasting behavioral consequences. Here we sought to gain mechanistic insight into this dopamine-sensitive period and its impact on behavior. In mice, dopamine transporter (DAT) blockade from postnatal (P) day 22 to 41 increases aggression and sensitivity to amphetamine (AMPH) behavioral stimulation in adulthood. Here, we refined this sensitive window to P32-41 and identified increased firing of dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo as a neural correlate to altered adult behavior. Aggression can result from enhanced impulsivity and cognitive dysfunction, and dopamine regulates working memory and motivated behavior. Hence, we assessed these behavioral domains and found that P32-41 DAT blockade increases impulsivity but has no effect on cognition, working memory, or motivation in adulthood. Lastly, using optogenetics to drive dopamine neurons, we find that increased VTA but not SNc dopaminergic activity mimics the increase in impulsive behavior in the Go/NoGo task observed after adolescent DAT blockade. Together our data provide insight into the developmental origins of aggression and impulsivity that may ultimately improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies for related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Suri
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Giulia Zanni
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Darshini Mahadevia
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nao Chuhma
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Rinki Saha
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Stephen Spivack
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nicolò Pini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Gregory S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Annette Ziolkowski-Blake
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Eleanor H Simpson
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Peter Balsam
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Stephen Rayport
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Mark S Ansorge
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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9
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Requie LM, Gómez-Gonzalo M, Speggiorin M, Managò F, Melone M, Congiu M, Chiavegato A, Lia A, Zonta M, Losi G, Henriques VJ, Pugliese A, Pacinelli G, Marsicano G, Papaleo F, Muntoni AL, Conti F, Carmignoto G. Astrocytes mediate long-lasting synaptic regulation of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:1639-1650. [PMID: 36396976 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01193-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The plasticity of glutamatergic transmission in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) represents a fundamental mechanism in the modulation of dopamine neuron burst firing and phasic dopamine release at target regions. These processes encode basic behavioral responses, including locomotor activity, learning and motivated behaviors. Here we describe a hitherto unidentified mechanism of long-term synaptic plasticity in mouse VTA. We found that the burst firing in individual dopamine neurons induces a long-lasting potentiation of excitatory synapses on adjacent dopamine neurons that crucially depends on Ca2+ elevations in astrocytes, mediated by endocannabinoid CB1 and dopamine D2 receptors co-localized at the same astrocytic process, and activation of pre-synaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors. Consistent with these findings, selective in vivo activation of astrocytes increases the burst firing of dopamine neurons in the VTA and induces locomotor hyperactivity. Astrocytes play, therefore, a key role in the modulation of VTA dopamine neuron functional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Maria Requie
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marta Gómez-Gonzalo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Michele Speggiorin
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Managò
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience Area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
| | - Marcello Melone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience & Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, and Center for Neurobiology of Aging, Ancona, Italy
| | - Mauro Congiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | - Angela Chiavegato
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Annamaria Lia
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Micaela Zonta
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gabriele Losi
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.,Nanoscienze Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Modena, Italy
| | - Vanessa Jorge Henriques
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Arianna Pugliese
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience & Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, and Center for Neurobiology of Aging, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giada Pacinelli
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience Area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Marsicano
- University of Bordeaux and Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (CNRS), Bordeaux, France
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Neuroscience Area, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Lisa Muntoni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Conti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience & Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, and Center for Neurobiology of Aging, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giorgio Carmignoto
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Padova, National Research Council (CNR) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.
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10
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Canonica T, Zalachoras I. Motivational disturbances in rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:940672. [PMID: 36051635 PMCID: PMC9426724 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.940672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivated behavior is integral to the survival of individuals, continuously directing actions toward rewards or away from punishments. The orchestration of motivated behavior depends on interactions among different brain circuits, primarily within the dopaminergic system, that subserve the analysis of factors such as the effort necessary for obtaining the reward and the desirability of the reward. Impairments in motivated behavior accompany a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, decreasing the patients’ quality of life. Despite its importance, motivation is often overlooked as a parameter in neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we review motivational impairments in rodent models of schizophrenia, depression, and Parkinson’s disease, focusing on studies investigating effort-related behavior in operant conditioning tasks and on pharmacological interventions targeting the dopaminergic system. Similar motivational disturbances accompany these conditions, suggesting that treatments aimed at ameliorating motivation levels may be beneficial for various neuropsychiatric disorders.
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11
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Zalachoras I, Astori S, Meijer M, Grosse J, Zanoletti O, de Suduiraut IG, Deussing JM, Sandi C. Opposite effects of stress on effortful motivation in high and low anxiety are mediated by CRHR1 in the VTA. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj9019. [PMID: 35319997 PMCID: PMC8942367 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj9019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Individuals frequently differ in their behavioral and cognitive responses to stress. However, whether motivation is differently affected by acute stress in different individuals remains to be established. By exploiting natural variation in trait anxiety in outbred Wistar rats, we show that acute stress facilitates effort-related motivation in low anxious animals, while dampening effort in high anxious ones. This model allowed us to address the mechanisms underlying acute stress-induced differences in motivated behavior. We show that CRHR1 expression levels in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA)-a neuronal type implicated in the regulation of motivation-depend on animals' anxiety, and these differences in CRHR1 expression levels explain the divergent effects of stress on both effortful behavior and the functioning of mesolimbic DA neurons. These findings highlight CRHR1 in VTA DA neurons-whose levels vary with individuals' anxiety-as a switching mechanism determining whether acute stress facilitates or dampens motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Zalachoras
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (C.S.); (I.Z.); (S.A.)
| | - Simone Astori
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (C.S.); (I.Z.); (S.A.)
| | - Mandy Meijer
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jocelyn Grosse
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Zanoletti
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan M. Deussing
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry/Molecular Neurogenetics, Munich, Germany
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (C.S.); (I.Z.); (S.A.)
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12
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Reactivating a positive feedback loop VTA-BLA-NAc circuit associated with positive experience ameliorates the attenuated reward sensitivity induced by chronic stress. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100370. [PMID: 34381852 PMCID: PMC8334743 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Both genetic predisposition and life events, particularly life stress, are thought to increase the risk for depression. Reward sensitivity appears to be attenuated in major depressive disorder (MDD), suggesting deficits in reward processing in these patients. We identified the VTA-BLA-NAc circuit as being activated by sex reward, and the VTA neurons that respond to sex reward are mostly dopaminergic. Acute or chronic reactivation of this circuit ameliorates the reward insensitivity induced by chronic restraint stress. Our histological and electrophysiological results show that the VTA neuron subpopulation responding to restraint stress, predominantly GABAergic neurons, inhibits the responsiveness of VTA dopaminergic neurons to reward stimuli, which is probably the mechanism by which stress modulates the reward processing neural circuits and subsequently disrupts reward-related behaviours. Furthermore, we found that the VTA-BLA-NAc circuit is a positive feedback loop. Blocking the projections from the BLA to the NAc associated with sex reward increases the excitability of VTA GABAergic neurons and decreases the excitability of VTA dopaminergic neurons, while activating this pathway decreases the excitability of VTA GABAergic neurons and increases the excitability of VTA dopaminergic neurons, which may be the cellular mechanism by which the VTA-BLA-NAc circuit associated with sex reward ameliorates the attenuated reward sensitivity induced by chronic stress.
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13
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Escobar AP, Martínez-Pinto J, Silva-Olivares F, Sotomayor-Zárate R, Moya PR. Altered Grooming Syntax and Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release in EAAT3 Overexpressing Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:661478. [PMID: 34234648 PMCID: PMC8255620 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.661478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT3 plays an important role in the neuronal uptake of glutamate regulating the activation of glutamate receptors. Polymorphisms in the gene-encoding EAAT3 have been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), although the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unknown. We recently reported that mice with increased EAAT3 expression in forebrain neurons (EAAT3 g lo /CMKII) display behavioral and synaptic features relevant to OCD, including increased grooming, higher anxiety-like behavior and altered cortico-striatal synaptic function. The dopamine neurotransmitter system is implicated in ritualistic behaviors. Indeed, dopaminergic neurons express EAAT3, and mice lacking EAAT3 exhibit decreased dopamine release and decreased expression of the dopamine D1 receptor. Moreover, EAAT3 plays a role on the effect of the psychostimulant amphetamine. As such, we sought to determine if the OCD-like behavior in EAAT3 g lo /CMKII mice is accompanied by altered nigro-striatal dopaminergic transmission. The aim of this study was to analyze dopamine transmission both in basal conditions and after an acute challenge of amphetamine, using behavioral, neurochemical, molecular, and cellular approaches. We found that in basal conditions, EAAT3 g lo /CMKII mice performed more grooming events and that they remained in phase 1 of the grooming chain syntax compared with control littermates. Administration of amphetamine increased the number of grooming events in control mice, while EAAT3 g lo /CMKII mice remain unaffected. Interestingly, the grooming syntax of amphetamine-control mice resembled that of EAAT3 g lo /CMKII mice in basal conditions. Using in vivo microdialysis, we found decreased basal dopamine levels in EAAT3 g lo /CMKII compared with control mice. Unexpectedly, we found that after acute amphetamine, EAAT3 g lo /CMKII mice had a higher release of dopamine compared with that of control mice, suggesting that EAAT3 overexpression leads to increased dopamine releasability. To determine postsynaptic effect of EAAT3 overexpression over dopamine transmission, we performed Western blot analysis of dopaminergic proteins and found that EAAT3 g lo /CMKII mice have higher expression of D2 receptors, suggesting a higher inhibition of the indirect striatal pathway. Together, the data indicate that EAAT3 overexpression impacts on dopamine transmission, making dopamine neurons more sensitive to the effect of amphetamine and leading to a disbalance between the direct and indirect striatal pathways that favors the performance of repetitive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica P Escobar
- Facultad de Ciencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Jonathan Martínez-Pinto
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Neurobiología y Fisiopatología Integrativa (CENFI), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Francisco Silva-Olivares
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Neurobiología y Fisiopatología Integrativa (CENFI), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Ramón Sotomayor-Zárate
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Neurobiología y Fisiopatología Integrativa (CENFI), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Pablo R Moya
- Facultad de Ciencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
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14
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Wills L, Kenny PJ. Addiction-related neuroadaptations following chronic nicotine exposure. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1652-1673. [PMID: 33742685 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The addiction-relevant molecular, cellular, and behavioral actions of nicotine are derived from its stimulatory effects on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central nervous system. nAChRs expressed by dopamine-containing neurons in the ventral midbrain, most notably in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), contribute to the reward-enhancing properties of nicotine that motivate the use of tobacco products. nAChRs are also expressed by neurons in brain circuits that regulate aversion. In particular, nAChRs expressed by neurons in the medial habenula (mHb) and the interpeduncular nucleus (IPn) to which the mHb almost exclusively projects regulate the "set-point" for nicotine aversion and control nicotine intake. Different nAChR subtypes are expressed in brain reward and aversion circuits and nicotine intake is titrated to maximally engage reward-enhancing nAChRs while minimizing the recruitment of aversion-promoting nAChRs. With repeated exposure to nicotine, reward- and aversion-related nAChRs and the brain circuits in which they are expressed undergo adaptations that influence whether tobacco use will transition from occasional to habitual. Genetic variation that influences the sensitivity of addiction-relevant brain circuits to the actions of nicotine also influence the propensity to develop habitual tobacco use. Here, we review some of the key advances in our understanding of the mechanisms by which nicotine acts on brain reward and aversion circuits and the adaptations that occur in these circuits that may drive addiction to nicotine-containing tobacco products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Wills
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Zubair M, Murris SR, Isa K, Onoe H, Koshimizu Y, Kobayashi K, Vanduffel W, Isa T. Divergent Whole Brain Projections from the Ventral Midbrain in Macaques. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:2913-2931. [PMID: 33558867 PMCID: PMC8107798 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the connectome of the axonal arborizations of dopaminergic midbrain neurons, we investigated the anterograde spread of highly sensitive viral tracers injected into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and adjacent areas in 3 macaques. In 2 monkeys, injections were centered on the lateral VTA with some spread into the substantia nigra, while in one animal the injection targeted the medial VTA with partial spread into the ventro-medial thalamus. Double-labeling with antibodies against transduced fluorescent proteins (FPs) and tyrosine hydroxylase indicated that substantial portions of transduced midbrain neurons were dopaminergic. Interestingly, cortical terminals were found either homogeneously in molecular layer I, or more heterogeneously, sometimes forming patches, in the deeper laminae II-VI. In the animals with injections in lateral VTA, terminals were most dense in somatomotor cortex and the striatum. In contrast, when the medial VTA was transduced, dense terminals were found in dorsal prefrontal and temporal cortices, while projections to striatum were sparse. In all monkeys, orbitofrontal and occipito-parietal cortex received strong and weak innervation, respectively. Thus, the dopaminergic ventral midbrain sends heterogeneous projections throughout the brain. Furthermore, our results suggest the existence of subgroups in meso-dopaminergic neurons depending on their location in the primate ventral midbrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Zubair
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven Medical School, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Sjoerd R Murris
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven Medical School, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Kaoru Isa
- Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Onoe
- Human Brain Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Koshimizu
- Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Wim Vanduffel
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven Medical School, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02144, USA
| | - Tadashi Isa
- Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Human Brain Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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16
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Dynamic control of the dopamine transporter in neurotransmission and homeostasis. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2021; 7:22. [PMID: 33674612 PMCID: PMC7935902 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-021-00161-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The dopamine transporter (DAT) transports extracellular dopamine into the intracellular space contributing to the regulation of dopamine neurotransmission. A reduction of DAT density is implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) by neuroimaging; dopamine turnover is dopamine turnover is elevated in early symptomatic PD and in presymptomatic individuals with monogenic mutations causal for parkinsonism. As an integral plasma membrane protein, DAT surface expression is dynamically regulated through endocytic trafficking, enabling flexible control of dopamine signaling in time and space, which in turn critically modulates movement, motivation and learning behavior. Yet the cellular machinery and functional implications of DAT trafficking remain enigmatic. In this review we summarize mechanisms governing DAT trafficking under normal physiological conditions and discuss how PD-linked mutations may disturb DAT homeostasis. We highlight the complexity of DAT trafficking and reveal DAT dysregulation as a common theme in genetic models of parkinsonism.
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17
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Amphetamines signal through intracellular TAAR1 receptors coupled to Gα 13 and Gα S in discrete subcellular domains. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1208-1223. [PMID: 31399635 PMCID: PMC7038576 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0469-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The extensive use of amphetamines to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorders in children provides a compelling rationale for understanding the mechanisms of action of amphetamines and amphetamine-related drugs. We have previously shown that acute amphetamine (AMPH) regulates the trafficking of both dopamine and glutamate transporters in dopamine neurons by increasing activation of the small GTPase RhoA and of protein kinase A. Here we demonstrate that these downstream signaling events depend upon the direct activation of a trace amine-associated receptor, TAAR1, an intracellular G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that can be activated by amphetamines, trace amines, and biogenic amine metabolites. Using cell lines and mouse lines in which TAAR1 expression has been disrupted, we demonstrate that TAAR1 mediates the effects of AMPH on both RhoA and cAMP signaling. Inhibition of different Gα signaling pathways in cell lines and in vivo using small cell-permeable peptides confirms that the endogenous intracellular TAAR1 couples to G13 and to GS α-subunits to increase RhoA and PKA activity, respectively. Results from experiments with RhoA- and PKA-FRET sensors targeted to different subcellular compartments indicate that AMPH-elicited PKA activation occurs throughout the cell, whereas G13-mediated RhoA activation is concentrated near the endoplasmic reticulum. These observations define TAAR1 as an obligate intracellular target for amphetamines in dopamine neurons and support a model in which distinct pools of TAAR1 mediate the activation of signaling pathways in different compartments to regulate excitatory and dopaminergic neurotransmission.
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18
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Sex and strain differences in dynamic and static properties of the mesolimbic dopamine system. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:2079-2086. [PMID: 32663840 PMCID: PMC7547712 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0765-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Sex is a biological variable that contributes to the incidence, clinical course, and treatment outcome of brain disorders. Chief among these are disorders associated with the dopamine system. These include Parkinson's disease, ADHD, schizophrenia, and mood disorders, which show stark differences in prevalence and outcome between men and women. In order to reveal the influence of biological sex as a risk factor in these disorders, there is a critical need to collect fundamental information about basic properties of the dopamine system in males and females. In Long Evans rats, we measured dynamic and static properties related to the mesolimbic dopamine system. Static measures included assessing ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine cell number and volume and expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter. Dynamic measures in behaving animals included assessing (1) VTA neuronal encoding during learning of a cue-action-reward instrumental task and (2) dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens in response to electrical stimulation of the VTA, vesicular depletion of dopamine, and amphetamine. We found little or no sex difference in these measures, suggesting sexual congruency in fundamental static and dynamic properties of dopamine neurons. Thus, dopamine related sex-differences are likely mediated by secondary mechanisms that flexibly influence the function of the dopamine cells and circuits. Finally, we noted that most behavioral sex differences had been reported in Sprague-Dawley rats and repeated some of the above measures in that strain. We found some sex differences in those animals highlighting the importance of considering strain differences in experimental design and result interpretation.
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19
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Wiencke K, Horstmann A, Mathar D, Villringer A, Neumann J. Dopamine release, diffusion and uptake: A computational model for synaptic and volume transmission. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008410. [PMID: 33253315 PMCID: PMC7728201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational modeling of dopamine transmission is challenged by complex underlying mechanisms. Here we present a new computational model that (I) simultaneously regards release, diffusion and uptake of dopamine, (II) considers multiple terminal release events and (III) comprises both synaptic and volume transmission by incorporating the geometry of the synaptic cleft. We were able to validate our model in that it simulates concentration values comparable to physiological values observed in empirical studies. Further, although synaptic dopamine diffuses into extra-synaptic space, our model reflects a very localized signal occurring on the synaptic level, i.e. synaptic dopamine release is negligibly recognized by neighboring synapses. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that cognitive performance can be predicted by signal variability of neuroimaging data (e.g. BOLD). Signal variability in target areas of dopaminergic neurons (striatum, cortex) may arise from dopamine concentration variability. On that account we compared spatio-temporal variability in a simulation mimicking normal dopamine transmission in striatum to scenarios of enhanced dopamine release and dopamine uptake inhibition. We found different variability characteristics between the three settings, which may in part account for differences in empirical observations. From a clinical perspective, differences in striatal dopaminergic signaling contribute to differential learning and reward processing, with relevant implications for addictive- and compulsive-like behavior. Specifically, dopaminergic tone is assumed to impact on phasic dopamine and hence on the integration of reward-related signals. However, in humans DA tone is classically assessed using PET, which is an indirect measure of endogenous DA availability and suffers from temporal and spatial resolution issues. We discuss how this can lead to discrepancies with observations from other methods such as microdialysis and show how computational modeling can help to refine our understanding of DA transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Wiencke
- IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annette Horstmann
- IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki
| | - David Mathar
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany
- Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Germany
- Mind & Brain Institute, Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jane Neumann
- IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences, Jena, Germany
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20
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Perez DM. α 1-Adrenergic Receptors in Neurotransmission, Synaptic Plasticity, and Cognition. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:581098. [PMID: 33117176 PMCID: PMC7553051 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.581098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
α1-adrenergic receptors are G-Protein Coupled Receptors that are involved in neurotransmission and regulate the sympathetic nervous system through binding and activating the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, and the neurohormone, epinephrine. There are three α1-adrenergic receptor subtypes (α1A, α1B, α1D) that are known to play various roles in neurotransmission and cognition. They are related to two other adrenergic receptor families that also bind norepinephrine and epinephrine, the β- and α2-, each with three subtypes (β1, β2, β3, α2A, α2B, α2C). Previous studies assessing the roles of α1-adrenergic receptors in neurotransmission and cognition have been inconsistent. This was due to the use of poorly-selective ligands and many of these studies were published before the characterization of the cloned receptor subtypes and the subsequent development of animal models. With the availability of more-selective ligands and the development of animal models, a clearer picture of their role in cognition and neurotransmission can be assessed. In this review, we highlight the significant role that the α1-adrenergic receptor plays in regulating synaptic efficacy, both short and long-term synaptic plasticity, and its regulation of different types of memory. We will also present evidence that the α1-adrenergic receptors, and particularly the α1A-adrenergic receptor subtype, are a potentially good target to treat a wide variety of neurological conditions with diminished cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianne M Perez
- The Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
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21
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Abstract
The present study examined the influence on motor performance of key variables described in the OPTIMAL (Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory of motor learning: enhanced expectancies for future performance, autonomy support, and an external focus. Participants performed a nine-pin bowling task. In the optimized group, enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and an external focus were implemented on three successive blocks of 12 trials. In the control group, participants performed all trials under “neutral” conditions. The optimized group outperformed the control group on all blocks. The findings corroborate the importance of key variables in the OPTIMAL theory by demonstrating immediate benefits of their implementation for motor performance.
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22
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Martel JC, Gatti McArthur S. Dopamine Receptor Subtypes, Physiology and Pharmacology: New Ligands and Concepts in Schizophrenia. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1003. [PMID: 32765257 PMCID: PMC7379027 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine receptors are widely distributed within the brain where they play critical modulator roles on motor functions, motivation and drive, as well as cognition. The identification of five genes coding for different dopamine receptor subtypes, pharmacologically grouped as D1- (D1 and D5) or D2-like (D2S, D2L, D3, and D4) has allowed the demonstration of differential receptor function in specific neurocircuits. Recent observation on dopamine receptor signaling point at dopamine-glutamate-NMDA neurobiology as the most relevant in schizophrenia and for the development of new therapies. Progress in the chemistry of D1- and D2-like receptor ligands (agonists, antagonists, and partial agonists) has provided more selective compounds possibly able to target the dopamine receptors homo and heterodimers and address different schizophrenia symptoms. Moreover, an extensive evaluation of the functional effect of these agents on dopamine receptor coupling and intracellular signaling highlights important differences that could also result in highly differentiated clinical pharmacology. The review summarizes the recent advances in the field, addressing the relevance of emerging new targets in schizophrenia in particular in relation to the dopamine - glutamate NMDA systems interactions.
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23
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Collins AL, Saunders BT. Heterogeneity in striatal dopamine circuits: Form and function in dynamic reward seeking. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:1046-1069. [PMID: 32056298 PMCID: PMC7183907 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The striatal dopamine system has long been studied in the context of reward learning, motivation, and movement. Given the prominent role dopamine plays in a variety of adaptive behavioral states, as well as diseases like addiction, it is essential to understand the full complexity of dopamine neurons and the striatal systems they target. A growing number of studies are uncovering details of the heterogeneity in dopamine neuron subpopulations. Here, we review that work to synthesize current understanding of dopamine system heterogeneity across three levels, anatomical organization, functions in behavior, and modes of action, wherein we focus on signaling profiles and local mechanisms for modulation of dopamine release. Together, these studies reveal new and emerging dimensions of the striatal dopamine system, informing its contribution to dynamic motivational and decision-making processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L. Collins
- University of Minnesota, Department of Neuroscience, Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Benjamin T. Saunders
- University of Minnesota, Department of Neuroscience, Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Dopamine Evokes a Trace Amine Receptor-dependent Inward Current that is Regulated by AMP Kinase in Substantia Nigra Dopamine Neurons. Neuroscience 2019; 427:77-91. [PMID: 31883822 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We reported recently that activators of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) slow the rundown of current evoked by the D2 autoreceptor agonist quinpirole in rat substantia nigra compacta (SNC) dopamine neurons. The present study examined the effect of AMPK on current generated by dopamine, which unlike quinpirole, is a substrate for the dopamine transporter (DAT). Using whole-cell patch-clamp, we constructed current-voltage (I-V) plots while superfusing brain slices with dopamine (100 μM) for 25 min. Two minutes after starting superfusion, dopamine evoked a peak current with an average slope conductance of 0.97 nS and an estimated reversal potential (Erev) of -113 mV, which is near that expected for K+. But after 10 min of superfusion, dopamine-evoked currents had shifted to more depolarized values with a slope conductance of 0.64 nS and an Erev of -83 mV. This inward shift in current was completely blocked by the DAT inhibitor GBR12935. However, an AMPK blocking agent (dorsomorphin) permitted the emergence of inward current despite the continued presence of the DAT inhibitor. When D2 autoreceptors were blocked by sulpiride, I-V plots showed that dopamine evoked an inward current with an estimated slope conductance of 0.45 nS with an Erev of -57 mV. Moreover, this inward current was completely blocked by the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) antagonist EPPTB. These results suggest that dopamine activates a TAAR1-dependent non-selective cation current that is regulated by AMPK.
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Cook JL, Swart JC, Froböse MI, Diaconescu AO, Geurts DEM, den Ouden HEM, Cools R. Catecholaminergic modulation of meta-learning. eLife 2019; 8:e51439. [PMID: 31850844 PMCID: PMC6974360 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The remarkable expedience of human learning is thought to be underpinned by meta-learning, whereby slow accumulative learning processes are rapidly adjusted to the current learning environment. To date, the neurobiological implementation of meta-learning remains unclear. A burgeoning literature argues for an important role for the catecholamines dopamine and noradrenaline in meta-learning. Here, we tested the hypothesis that enhancing catecholamine function modulates the ability to optimise a meta-learning parameter (learning rate) as a function of environmental volatility. 102 participants completed a task which required learning in stable phases, where the probability of reinforcement was constant, and volatile phases, where probabilities changed every 10-30 trials. The catecholamine transporter blocker methylphenidate enhanced participants' ability to adapt learning rate: Under methylphenidate, compared with placebo, participants exhibited higher learning rates in volatile relative to stable phases. Furthermore, this effect was significant only with respect to direct learning based on the participants' own experience, there was no significant effect on inferred-value learning where stimulus values had to be inferred. These data demonstrate a causal link between catecholaminergic modulation and the adjustment of the meta-learning parameter learning rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Cook
- School of PsychologyUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUnited Kingdom
| | - Jennifer C Swart
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive NeuroimagingRadboud UniversityNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Monja I Froböse
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive NeuroimagingRadboud UniversityNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Andreea O Diaconescu
- Translational Neuromodeling Unit, Institute for Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Zurich and ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics,CAMHUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Dirk EM Geurts
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive NeuroimagingRadboud UniversityNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of PsychiatryRadboud University Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Hanneke EM den Ouden
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive NeuroimagingRadboud UniversityNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Roshan Cools
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive NeuroimagingRadboud UniversityNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of PsychiatryRadboud University Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
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Fuller JA, Burrell MH, Yee AG, Liyanagama K, Lipski J, Wickens JR, Hyland BI. Role of homeostatic feedback mechanisms in modulating methylphenidate actions on phasic dopamine signaling in the striatum of awake behaving rats. Prog Neurobiol 2019; 182:101681. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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27
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Cools R. Chemistry of the Adaptive Mind: Lessons from Dopamine. Neuron 2019; 104:113-131. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Lozano-Montes L, Astori S, Abad S, Guillot de Suduiraut I, Sandi C, Zalachoras I. Latency to Reward Predicts Social Dominance in Rats: A Causal Role for the Dopaminergic Mesolimbic System. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:69. [PMID: 31024272 PMCID: PMC6460316 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Reward signals encoded in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system guide approach/seeking behaviors to all varieties of life-supporting stimuli (rewards). Differences in dopamine (DA) levels have been found between dominant and submissive animals. However, it is still unclear whether these differences arise as a consequence of the rewarding nature of the acquisition of a dominant rank, or whether they preexist and favor dominance by promoting reward-seeking behavior. Given that acquisition of a social rank determines animals' priority access to resources, we hypothesized that differences in reward-seeking behavior might affect hierarchy establishment and that modulation of the dopaminergic system could affect the outcome of a social competition. We characterized reward-seeking behaviors based on rats' latency to get a palatable-reward when given temporary access to it. Subsequently, rats exhibiting short (SL) and long (LL) latency to get the rewards cohabitated for more than 2 weeks, in order to establish a stable hierarchy. We found that SL animals exhibited dominant behavior consistently in social competition tests [for palatable-rewards and two water competition tests (WCTs)] after hierarchy was established, indicating that individual latency to rewards predicted dominance. Moreover, because SL animals showed higher mesolimbic levels of DA than LL rats, we tested whether stimulation of mesolimbic DA neurons could affect the outcome of a social competition. Indeed, a combination of optical stimulation of mesolimbic DA neurons during individual training and during a social competition test for palatable rewards resulted in improved performance on this test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lozano-Montes
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simone Astori
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sonia Abad
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis Zalachoras
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Ly V, Wang KS, Bhanji J, Delgado MR. A Reward-Based Framework of Perceived Control. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:65. [PMID: 30809112 PMCID: PMC6379460 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceived control can be broadly defined as the belief in one's ability to exert control over situations or events. It has long been known that perceived control is a major contributor toward mental and physical health as well as a strong predictor of achievements in life. However, one issue that limits a mechanistic understanding of perceived control is the heterogeneity of how the term is defined in models in psychology and neuroscience, and used in experimental settings across a wide spectrum of studies. Here, we propose a framework for studying perceived control by integrating the ideas from traditionally separate work on perceived control. Specifically, we discuss key properties of perceived control from a reward-based framework, including choice opportunity, instrumental contingency, and success/reward rate. We argue that these separate reward-related processes are integral to fostering an enhanced perception of control and influencing an individual's behavior and well-being. We draw on select studies to elucidate how these reward-related elements are implicated separately and collectively in the investigation of perceived control. We highlight the role of dopamine within corticostriatal pathways shared by reward-related processes and perceived control. Finally, through the lens of this reward-based framework of perceived control, we consider the implications of perceived control in clinical deficits and how these insights could help us better understand psychopathology and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Ly
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University – Newark, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Kainan S. Wang
- Behavioral and Neural Sciences Graduate Program, Rutgers University – Newark, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Jamil Bhanji
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University – Newark, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Mauricio R. Delgado
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University – Newark, Newark, NJ, United States
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Radke AK, Zweifel LS, Holmes A. NMDA receptor deletion on dopamine neurons disrupts visual discrimination and reversal learning. Neurosci Lett 2019; 699:109-114. [PMID: 30726715 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The dopamine (DA) system is critical for various forms of learning about salient environmental stimuli. Prior work has shown that deletion of the obligatory NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor on neurons expressing the DA transporter (DAT) in mice results in reduced phasic release from DA-containing neurons. To further investigate the contribution of phasic DA release to reward-related learning and cognitive flexibility, the current study evaluated DAT-NR1 null mutant mice in a touchscreen-based pairwise visual discrimination and reversal learning paradigm. Results showed that these mutants were slower to attain a high level of choice accuracy on the discrimination task, but showed improved late reversal performance on sessions where correct choice was above chance. A number of possible interpretations are offered for this pattern of effects, including the opposing possibilities that discrimination memory was either stronger by the completion of training (overtraining effect) or weaker (learning deficit), both of which could potentially produce faster reversal. These data add to the extensive literature ascribing a critical role for DAergic neurotransmission in cognitive functions and the regulation of reward-related behaviors of relevance to addictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science & Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Age-Related Trajectories of Functional Coupling between the VTA and Nucleus Accumbens Depend on Motivational State. J Neurosci 2018; 38:7420-7427. [PMID: 30030394 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3508-17.2018] [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: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Over-engagement of the mesolimbic dopamine system is thought to enhance motivation in adolescents. Whereas human neuroimaging has characterized event-evoked responses of the mesolimbic system in adolescents, research has yet to characterize state-dependent engagement (i.e., seconds to minutes) of this system in goal-relevant contexts. In the current longitudinal study, we characterized age-related changes in state-dependent coupling in male and female human participants ranging in age from adolescence to adulthood. Analyses focused on two key regions of the mesolimbic dopamine system, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Although there were no differences in VTA-NAcc functional coupling in a resting-state context, VTA-NAcc functional coupling was enhanced in preadolescence/early adolescence and decreased into adulthood in a motivational context, in which individuals had to translate goal-relevant cues into instrumental actions. Furthermore, we found that task-related activation in orbitofrontal cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and visual association cortex partially mediated age-related changes in state-dependent VTA-NAcc functional coupling. These results extend prior models of neurodevelopment by showing a relationship between cortical event-evoked activation and state-dependent increases in subcortical engagement of mesolimbic systems.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Adolescence is characterized by increased motivated behavior, which is thought to result from an over-engagement of mesolimbic dopamine systems. Rodent models show increases in state-dependent engagement of mesolimbic systems in adolescence. However, human neuroimaging research has mainly focused on event-evoked responses (i.e., reward cues). We show that in motivational contexts, there is increased state-dependent coupling across mesolimbic systems in preadolescence/early adolescence that decreases into adulthood and is further predicted by event-evoked cortical responses. Critically, these developmental trajectories were specific to motivationally relevant contexts and were not apparent during resting state. These findings extend emerging models of human development and suggest that state-dependent increases in dopamine signaling may underlie heightened motivation.
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