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Scarpa G, Antonoudiou P, Weiss G, Stone B, Maguire JL. Sex-dependent effects of early life stress on network and behavioral states. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.10.593547. [PMID: 38766016 PMCID: PMC11100797 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.10.593547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with numerous detriments in health, including increased vulnerability to psychiatric illnesses. Early life stress (ELS) in rodents has been shown to effectively model several of the behavioral and endocrine impacts of ACEs and has been utilized to investigate the underlying mechanisms contributing to disease. However, the precise neural mechanisms responsible for mediating the impact of ELS on vulnerability to psychiatric illnesses remain largely unknown. Methods We use behavior, immunoassay, in vivo LFP recording, histology, and patch clamp to describe the effects of ELS on stress behaviors, endocrinology, network states, protein expression, and cellular physiology in male and female mice. Results We demonstrate that a murine maternal separation (MS) ELS model causes sex-dependent alterations in behavioral and hormonal responses following an acute stressor. Local field potential (LFP) recordings in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and frontal cortex (FC) reveal similar sex-dependent alterations at baseline, in response to acute ethological stress, and during fear memory extinction, supporting a large body of literature demonstrating that these network states contribute to stress reactivity and vulnerability to psychiatric illnesses. Sex differences were accompanied by altered physiology of BLA principal neurons in males and BLA PV interneurons in females. Conclusions Collectively, these results implicate novel, sex-dependent mechanisms through which ACEs may impact psychiatric health, involving altered cellular physiology and network states involved in emotional processing.
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de Oliveira-Júnior BA, Marques DB, Rossignoli MT, Prizon T, Leite JP, Ruggiero RN. Multidimensional behavioral profiles associated with resilience and susceptibility after inescapable stress. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9699. [PMID: 38678053 PMCID: PMC11055923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59984-7] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Clinical depression is characterized by multiple concurrent symptoms, manifesting as a complex heterogeneous condition. Although some well-established classical behavioral assessments are widespread in rodent models, it remains uncertain whether rats also display stress-induced depression-related phenotypes in a multidimensional manner, i.e., simultaneous alterations in multiple behavioral tests. Here, we investigated multivariate patterns and profiles of depression-related behavioral traits in male Wistar rats subjected to inescapable footshocks (IS) or no-shocks (NS), followed by a comprehensive battery of behavioral tests and ethological characterization. We observed generalized stronger intra-test but weaker inter-test correlations. However, feature clustering of behavioral measures successfully delineated variables linked to resilience and susceptibility to stress. Accordingly, a noteworthy covariation pattern emerged, characterized by increased open field locomotion, reduced time in the elevated plus maze open arms, lower sucrose preference, and increased shuttle box escape failures that consistently differentiated IS from NS. Surprisingly there is little contribution from forced swim. In addition, individual clustering revealed a diversity of behavioral profiles, naturally separating NS and IS, including subpopulations entirely characterized by resilience or susceptibility. In conclusion, our study elucidates intricate relationships among classical depression-related behavioral measures, highlighting multidimensional individual variability. Our work emphasizes the importance of a multivariate framework for behavioral assessment in animal models to understand stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedito Alves de Oliveira-Júnior
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Danilo Benette Marques
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus Teixeira Rossignoli
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tamiris Prizon
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Pereira Leite
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael Naime Ruggiero
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Finn DA, Clark CD, Ryabinin AE. Traumatic stress-enhanced alcohol drinking: Sex differences and animal model perspectives. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2024; 11:327-341. [PMID: 38915732 PMCID: PMC11196023 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-023-00540-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of review Stress is associated with alcohol drinking, and epidemiological studies document the comorbidity of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with higher comorbid prevalence in females than in males. The aim of this paper is to highlight information related to sex differences in stress-enhanced alcohol drinking from clinical studies and from preclinical studies utilizing an animal model of traumatic stress. Recent findings Stress is associated with alcohol drinking and relapse in males and females, but there are sex differences in the alcohol-related adaptation of stress pathways and in the association of different prefrontal regions with stress-induced anxiety. The predator stress model of traumatic stress produced enhanced alcohol drinking in a subgroup of stress-sensitive male and female animals, which could be associated with sex and subgroup differences in stress axis responsivity, behavioral responses to predator odors, and epigenetic mechanisms engaged by traumatic experiences. Summary While additional studies in females are necessary, existing clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that biological mechanisms underlying stress-enhanced drinking likely differ between males and females. Thus, effective treatment strategies may differ between the sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A. Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Crystal D. Clark
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Andrey E. Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Chan DC, Kim C, Kang RY, Kuhn MK, Beidler LM, Zhang N, Proctor EA. Cytokine expression patterns predict suppression of vulnerable neural circuits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.17.585383. [PMID: 38559177 PMCID: PMC10979954 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.17.585383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive amyloid plaque accumulation, tau tangle formation, neuroimmune dysregulation, synapse an neuron loss, and changes in neural circuit activation that lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Early molecular and cellular disease-instigating events occur 20 or more years prior to presentation of symptoms, making them difficult to study, and for many years amyloid-β, the aggregating peptide seeding amyloid plaques, was thought to be the toxic factor responsible for cognitive deficit. However, strategies targeting amyloid-β aggregation and deposition have largely failed to produce safe and effective therapies, and amyloid plaque levels poorly correlate with cognitive outcomes. However, a role still exists for amyloid-β in the variation in an individual's immune response to early, soluble forms of aggregates, and the downstream consequences of this immune response for aberrant cellular behaviors and creation of a detrimental tissue environment that harms neuron health and causes changes in neural circuit activation. Here, we perform functional magnetic resonance imaging of awake, unanesthetized Alzheimer's disease mice to map changes in functional connectivity over the course of disease progression, in comparison to wild-type littermates. In these same individual animals, we spatiotemporally profile the immune milieu by measuring cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors across various brain regions and over the course of disease progression from pre-pathology through established cognitive deficit. We identify specific signatures of immune activation predicting hyperactivity followed by suppression of intra- and then inter-regional functional connectivity in multiple disease-relevant brain regions, following the pattern of spread of amyloid pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis C Chan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - ChaeMin Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Rachel Y Kang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Madison K Kuhn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Lynne M Beidler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Proctor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Engineering Science & Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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Fleming LL, Harnett NG, Ressler KJ. Sensory alterations in post-traumatic stress disorder. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 84:102821. [PMID: 38096758 PMCID: PMC10922208 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102821] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
PTSD is characterized by difficulties in accurately evaluating the threat value of sensory stimuli. While the role of canonical fear and threat neural circuitry in this ability has been well studied, recent lines of evidence suggest a need to include more emphasis on sensory processing in the conceptualization of PTSD symptomology. Specifically, studies have demonstrated a strong association between variability in sensory processing regions and the severity of PTSD symptoms. In this review, we summarize recent findings that underscore the importance of sensory processing in PTSD, in addition to the structural and functional characteristics of associated sensory brain regions. First, we discuss the link between PTSD and various behavioral aspects of sensory processing. This is followed by a discussion of recent findings that link PTSD to variability in the structure of both gray and white matter in sensory brain regions. We then delve into how brain activity (measured with task-based and resting-state functional imaging) in sensory regions informs our understanding of PTSD symptomology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leland L Fleming
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
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Mandino F, Vujic S, Grandjean J, Lake EMR. Where do we stand on fMRI in awake mice? Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad478. [PMID: 38100331 PMCID: PMC10793583 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging awake animals is quickly gaining traction in neuroscience as it offers a means to eliminate the confounding effects of anesthesia, difficulties of inter-species translation (when humans are typically imaged while awake), and the inability to investigate the full range of brain and behavioral states in unconscious animals. In this systematic review, we focus on the development of awake mouse blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Mice are widely used in research due to their fast-breeding cycle, genetic malleability, and low cost. Functional MRI yields whole-brain coverage and can be performed on both humans and animal models making it an ideal modality for comparing study findings across species. We provide an analysis of 30 articles (years 2011-2022) identified through a systematic literature search. Our conclusions include that head-posts are favorable, acclimation training for 10-14 d is likely ample under certain conditions, stress has been poorly characterized, and more standardization is needed to accelerate progress. For context, an overview of awake rat fMRI studies is also included. We make recommendations that will benefit a wide range of neuroscience applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mandino
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Stella Vujic
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Joanes Grandjean
- Donders Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognition, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department for Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Evelyn M R Lake
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
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Li Q, Zhang N. Sex differences in resting-state functional networks in awake rats. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1411-1423. [PMID: 37261489 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02657-4] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Sex-related differences can be found in many brain disorders and psychophysiological traits, highlighting the importance to systematically understand the sex differences in brain function in humans and animal models. Despite emerging effort to address sex differences in behaviors and disease models in rodents, how brain-wide functional connectivity (FC) patterns differ between male and female rats remains largely unknown. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) to investigate regional and systems-level differences between female and male rats. Our data show that female rats display stronger hypothalamus connectivity, whereas male rats exhibit more prominent striatum-related connectivity. At the global scale, female rats demonstrate stronger segregation within the cortical and subcortical systems, while male rats display more prominent cortico-subcortical interactions, particularly between the cortex and striatum. Taken together, these data provide a comprehensive framework of sex differences in resting-state connectivity patterns in the awake rat brain, and offer a reference for studies aiming to reveal sex-related FC differences in different animal models of brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, USA.
- Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, 16802, USA.
- Center for Neural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, 16802, USA.
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Brunert D, Quintela RM, Rothermel M. The anterior olfactory nucleus revisited - an emerging role for neuropathological conditions? Prog Neurobiol 2023:102486. [PMID: 37343762 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102486] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Olfaction is an important sensory modality for many species and greatly influences animal and human behavior. Still, much about olfactory perception remains unknown. The anterior olfactory nucleus is one of the brain's central early olfactory processing areas. Located directly posterior to the olfactory bulb in the olfactory peduncle with extensive in- and output connections and unique cellular composition, it connects olfactory processing centers of the left and right hemispheres. Almost 20 years have passed since the last comprehensive review on the anterior olfactory nucleus has been published and significant advances regarding its anatomy, function, and pathophysiology have been made in the meantime. Here we briefly summarize previous knowledge on the anterior olfactory nucleus, give detailed insights into the progress that has been made in recent years, and map out its emerging importance in translational research of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Brunert
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Markus Rothermel
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
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On making (and turning adaptive to) maladaptive aversive memories in laboratory rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105101. [PMID: 36804263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Fear conditioning and avoidance tasks usually elicit adaptive aversive memories. Traumatic memories are more intense, generalized, inflexible, and resistant to attenuation via extinction- and reconsolidation-based strategies. Inducing and assessing these dysfunctional, maladaptive features in the laboratory are crucial to interrogating posttraumatic stress disorder's neurobiology and exploring innovative treatments. Here we analyze over 350 studies addressing this question in adult rats and mice. There is a growing interest in modeling several qualitative and quantitative memory changes by exposing already stressed animals to freezing- and avoidance-related tests or using a relatively high aversive training magnitude. Other options combine aversive/fearful tasks with post-acquisition or post-retrieval administration of one or more drugs provoking neurochemical or epigenetic alterations reported in the trauma aftermath. It is potentially instructive to integrate these procedures and incorporate the measurement of autonomic and endocrine parameters. Factors to consider when defining the organismic and procedural variables, partially neglected aspects (sex-dependent differences and recent vs. remote data comparison) and suggestions for future research (identifying reliable individual risk and treatment-response predictors) are discussed.
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Li Q, Zhang N. Sex differences in resting-state functional networks in awake rats. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2684325. [PMID: 36993730 PMCID: PMC10055639 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2684325/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Sex-related differences can be found in many brain disorders and psychophysiological traits, highlighting the importance to systematically understand the sex differences in brain function in humans and animal models. Despite emerging effort to address sex differences in behaviors and disease models in rodents, how brain-wide functional connectivity (FC) patterns differ between male and female rats remains largely unknown. Here we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) to investigate regional and systems-level differences between female and male rats. Our data show that female rats display stronger hypothalamus connectivity, whereas male rats exhibit more prominent striatum-related connectivity. At the global scale, female rats demonstrate stronger segregation within the cortical and subcortical systems, while male rats display more prominent cortico-subcortical interactions, particularly between the cortex and striatum. Taken together, these data provide a comprehensive framework of sex differences in resting-state connectivity patterns in the awake rat brain, and offer a reference for studies aiming to reveal sex-related FC differences in different animal models of brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Li
- The Pennsylvania State University
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Venkataraman A, Dias BG. Expanding the canon: An inclusive neurobiology of thalamic and subthalamic fear circuits. Neuropharmacology 2023; 226:109380. [PMID: 36572176 PMCID: PMC9984284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Appropriate expression of fear in the face of threats in the environment is essential for survival. The sustained expression of fear in the absence of threat signals is a central pathological feature of trauma- and anxiety-related disorders. Our understanding of the neural circuitry that controls fear inhibition coalesces around the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. By discussing thalamic and sub-thalamic influences on fear-related learning and expression in this review, we suggest a more inclusive neurobiological framework that expands our canonical view of fear. First, we visit how fear-related learning and expression is influenced by the aforementioned canonical brain regions. Next, we review emerging data that shed light on new roles for thalamic and subthalamic nuclei in fear-related learning and expression. Then, we highlight how these neuroanatomical hubs can modulate fear via integration of sensory and salient stimuli, gating information flow and calibrating behavioral responses, as well as maintaining and updating memory representations. Finally, we propose that the presence of this thalamic and sub-thalamic neuroanatomy in parallel with the tripartite prefrontal cortex-amygdala-hippocampus circuit allows for dynamic modulation of information based on interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Venkataraman
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Brian George Dias
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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Desnouveaux L, Poly B, Edmond M, Aphezberro C, Coulon D, Boutet F, Le Coz C, Fargeau F, Linard C, Caillol P, Duffaud AM, Servonnet A, Ferhani O, Trousselard M, Taudon N, Canini F, Claverie D. Steady electrocorticogram characteristics predict specific stress-induced behavioral phenotypes. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1047848. [PMID: 37113159 PMCID: PMC10126346 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1047848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Depending on the individual, exposure to an intense stressor may, or may not, lead to a stress-induced pathology. Predicting the physiopathological evolution in an individual is therefore an important challenge, at least for prevention. In this context, we developed an ethological model of simulated predator exposure in rats: we call this the multisensorial stress model (MSS). We hypothesized that: (i) MSS exposure can induce stress-induced phenotypes, and (ii) an electrocorticogram (ECoG) recorded before stress exposure can predict phenotypes observed after stress. Methods Forty-five Sprague Dawley rats were equipped with ECoG telemetry and divided into two groups. The Stress group (n = 23) was exposed to an MSS that combined synthetic fox feces odor deposited on filter paper, synthetic blood odor, and 22 kHz rodent distress calls; the Sham group (n = 22) was not exposed to any sensorial stimulus. Fifteen days after initial exposure, the two groups were re-exposed to a context that included a filter paper soaked with water as a traumatic object (TO) reminder. During this re-exposure, freezing behavior and avoidance of the filter paper were measured. Results Three behaviors were observed in the Stress group: 39% developed a fear memory phenotype (freezing, avoidance, and hyperreactivity); 26% developed avoidance and anhedonia; and 35% made a full recovery. We also identified pre-stress ECoG biomarkers that accurately predicted cluster membership. Decreased chronic 24 h frontal Low θ relative power was associated with resilience; increased frontal Low θ relative power was associated with fear memory; and decreased parietal β2 frequency was associated with the avoidant-anhedonic phenotype. Discussion These predictive biomarkers open the way to preventive medicine for stress-induced diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Desnouveaux
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Betty Poly
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Mathilde Edmond
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Cathy Aphezberro
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - David Coulon
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Francis Boutet
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Christine Le Coz
- Unité Analyses Biologiques, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Francisca Fargeau
- Unité Analyses Biologiques, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Cyril Linard
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Pierre Caillol
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Anaïs M. Duffaud
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Aurélie Servonnet
- Unité Analyses Biologiques, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Ouamar Ferhani
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Marion Trousselard
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- APEMAC, EA 4360, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Ecole du Val de Grâce, Paris, France
- Réseau ABC des Psychotraumas, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Taudon
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Frédéric Canini
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- Ecole du Val de Grâce, Paris, France
- Réseau ABC des Psychotraumas, Montpellier, France
| | - Damien Claverie
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- Réseau ABC des Psychotraumas, Montpellier, France
- *Correspondence: Damien Claverie
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Demars F, Todorova R, Makdah G, Forestier A, Krebs MO, Godsil BP, Jay TM, Wiener SI, Pompili MN. Post-trauma behavioral phenotype predicts the degree of vulnerability to fear relapse after extinction in male rats. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3180-3188.e4. [PMID: 35705096 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Current treatments for trauma-related disorders remain ineffective for many patients.1,2 Fear extinction deficiency is a prominent feature of these diseases,3 and many behavioral treatments rely on extinction training.4,5 However, in many patients, therapy is followed by a relapse of symptoms, and the underpinnings of such interindividual variations in vulnerability to relapse remain unknown.6-8 Here, we modeled interindividual differences in post-therapy fear relapse with an ethologically relevant trauma recovery paradigm. After fear conditioning, male rats underwent fear extinction while foraging in a large enriched arena, permitting the expression of a wide spectrum of behaviors. An automated multidimensional behavioral assessment revealed that post-conditioning fear response profiles clustered into two groups: some animals expressed fear by freezing more, whereas others darted more, as if fleeing from danger. Remarkably, the tendency of an animal to dart or to freeze after CS presentation during the first extinction session was, respectively, associated with stronger or weaker fear renewal. Moreover, genome-wide transcriptional profiling revealed that these groups differentially regulated specific sets of genes, some of which were previously implicated in anxiety and trauma-related disorders. Our results suggest that post-trauma behavioral phenotypes and the associated gene expression landscapes can serve as markers of fear relapse susceptibility and thus may be instrumental for future development of more effective treatments for psychiatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Demars
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP)-INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie-CNRS GDR3557, GHU Psychiatrie Neurosciences, Université Paris Cité, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Ralitsa Todorova
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Biologie (CIRB)-CNRS UMR 7241-INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Université PSL, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Gabriel Makdah
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Biologie (CIRB)-CNRS UMR 7241-INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Université PSL, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon, Faculté de Médecine Lyon Est, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France
| | - Antonin Forestier
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP)-INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie-CNRS GDR3557, GHU Psychiatrie Neurosciences, Université Paris Cité, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Marie-Odile Krebs
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP)-INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie-CNRS GDR3557, GHU Psychiatrie Neurosciences, Université Paris Cité, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Bill P Godsil
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP)-INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie-CNRS GDR3557, GHU Psychiatrie Neurosciences, Université Paris Cité, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Thérèse M Jay
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP)-INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie-CNRS GDR3557, GHU Psychiatrie Neurosciences, Université Paris Cité, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Sidney I Wiener
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Biologie (CIRB)-CNRS UMR 7241-INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Université PSL, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marco N Pompili
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP)-INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie-CNRS GDR3557, GHU Psychiatrie Neurosciences, Université Paris Cité, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France; Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Biologie (CIRB)-CNRS UMR 7241-INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Université PSL, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France.
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14
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Ivanova D, Li X, Liu Y, McIntyre C, Fernandes C, Lass G, Kong L, O’Byrne KT. Role of Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Urocortin-3 in Pubertal Timing in Female Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:893029. [PMID: 35655799 PMCID: PMC9152449 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.893029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder impedes pubertal development and disrupts pulsatile LH secretion in humans and rodents. The posterodorsal sub-nucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD) is an upstream modulator of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator, pubertal timing, as well as emotional processing and anxiety. Psychosocial stress exposure alters neuronal activity within the MePD increasing the expression of Urocortin3 (Ucn3) and its receptor corticotropin-releasing factor type-2 receptor (CRFR2) while enhancing the inhibitory output from the MePD to key hypothalamic reproductive centres. We test the hypothesis that psychosocial stress, processed by the MePD, is relayed to the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator to delay puberty in female mice. We exposed C57Bl6/J female mice to the predator odor, 2,4,5-Trimethylthiazole (TMT), during pubertal transition and examined the effect on pubertal timing, pre-pubertal LH pulses and anxiety-like behaviour. Subsequently, we virally infected Ucn3-cre-tdTomato female mice with stimulatory DREADDs targeting MePD Ucn3 neurons and determined the effect on pubertal timing and pre-pubertal LH pulse frequency. Exposure to TMT during pubertal development delayed puberty, suppressed pre-pubertal LH pulsatility and enhanced anxiety-like behaviour, while activation of MePD Ucn3 neurons reduced LH pulse frequency and delayed puberty. Early psychosocial stress exposure decreases GnRH pulse generator frequency delaying puberty while inducing anxiety-behaviour in female mice, an effect potentially involving Ucn3 neurons in the MePD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - XiaoFeng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yali Liu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Caitlin McIntyre
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geffen Lass
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lingsi Kong
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Matsukawa M, Yoshikawa M, Katsuyama N, Aizawa S, Sato T. The Anterior Piriform Cortex and Predator Odor Responses: Modulation by Inhibitory Circuits. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:896525. [PMID: 35571276 PMCID: PMC9097892 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.896525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents acquire more information from the sense of smell than humans because they have a nearly fourfold greater variety of olfactory receptors. They use olfactory information not only for obtaining food, but also for detecting environmental dangers. Predator-derived odor compounds provoke instinctive fear and stress reactions in animals. Inbred lines of experimental animals react in an innate stereotypical manner to predators even without prior exposure. Predator odors have also been used in models of various neuropsychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder following a life-threatening event. Although several brain regions have been reported to be involved in predator odor-induced stress responses, in this mini review, we focus on the functional role of inhibitory neural circuits, especially in the anterior piriform cortex (APC). We also discuss the changes in these neural circuits following innate reactions to odor exposure. Furthermore, based on the three types of modulation of the stress response observed by our group using the synthetic fox odorant 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline, we describe how the APC interacts with other brain regions to regulate the stress response. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic application of odors in the treatment of stress-related disorders. A clearer understanding of the odor–stress response is needed to allow targeted modulation of the monoaminergic system and of the intracerebral inhibitory networks. It would be improved the quality of life of those who have stress-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutsumi Matsukawa
- Division of Anatomical Science, Department of Functional Morphology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi, Japan
- *Correspondence: Mutsumi Matsukawa,
| | - Masaaki Yoshikawa
- Division of Anatomical Science, Department of Functional Morphology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi, Japan
| | - Narumi Katsuyama
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Shin Aizawa
- Division of Anatomical Science, Department of Functional Morphology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi, Japan
| | - Takaaki Sato
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ikeda, Japan
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16
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Tamvacakis AN, Lillvis JL, Sakurai A, Katz PS. The Consistency of Gastropod Identified Neurons Distinguishes Intra-Individual Plasticity From Inter-Individual Variability in Neural Circuits. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:855235. [PMID: 35309684 PMCID: PMC8928192 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.855235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastropod mollusks are known for their large, individually identifiable neurons, which are amenable to long-term intracellular recordings that can be repeated from animal to animal. The constancy of individual neurons can help distinguish state-dependent or temporal variation within an individual from actual variability between individual animals. Investigations into the circuitry underlying rhythmic swimming movements of the gastropod species, Tritonia exsulans and Pleurobranchaea californica have uncovered intra- and inter-individual variability in synaptic connectivity and serotonergic neuromodulation. Tritonia has a reliably evoked escape swim behavior that is produced by a central pattern generator (CPG) composed of a small number of identifiable neurons. There is apparent individual variability in some of the connections between neurons that is inconsequential for the production of the swim behavior under normal conditions, but determines whether that individual can swim following a neural lesion. Serotonergic neuromodulation of synaptic strength intrinsic to the CPG creates neural circuit plasticity within an individual and contributes to reorganization of the network during recovery from injury and during learning. In Pleurobranchaea, variability over time in the modulatory actions of serotonin and in expression of serotonin receptor genes in an identified neuron directly reflects variation in swimming behavior. Tracking behavior and electrophysiology over hours to days was necessary to identify the functional consequences of these intra-individual, time-dependent variations. This work demonstrates the importance of unambiguous neuron identification, properly assessing the animal and network states, and tracking behavior and physiology over time to distinguish plasticity within the same animal at different times from variability across individual animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Akira Sakurai
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Paul S. Katz
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Paul S. Katz,
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17
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High trait anxiety in mice is associated with impaired extinction in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 190:107602. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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18
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Watanabe N, Takeda M. Neurophysiological dynamics for psychological resilience: A view from the temporal axis. Neurosci Res 2021; 175:53-61. [PMID: 34801599 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
When an individual is faced with adversity, the brain and body work cooperatively to adapt to it. This adaptive process is termed psychological resilience, and recent studies have identified several neurophysiological factors ("neurophysiological resilience"), such as monoamines, oscillatory brain activity, hemodynamics, autonomic activity, stress hormones, and immune systems. Each factor is activated in an interactive manner during specific time windows after exposure to stress. Thus, the differences in psychological resilience levels among individuals can be characterized by differences in the temporal dynamics of neurophysiological resilience. In this review, after briefly introducing the frequently used approaches in this research field and the well-known factors of neurophysiological resilience, we summarize the temporal dynamics of neurophysiological resilience. This viewpoint clarifies an important time window, the more-than-one-hour scale, but the neurophysiological dynamics during this window remain elusive. To address this issue, we propose exploring brain-wide oscillatory activities using concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG) techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriya Watanabe
- Research Center for Brain Communication, Research Institute, Kochi University of Technology, Kochi, Japan; Center for Information and Neural Networks, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Masaki Takeda
- Research Center for Brain Communication, Research Institute, Kochi University of Technology, Kochi, Japan
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19
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Lguensat A, Boudjafad Z, Giorla E, Bennis M, Baunez C, Garcia R, Ba-M'hamed S. Repeated ethanol exposure following avoidance conditioning impairs avoidance extinction and modifies conditioning-associated prefrontal dendritic changes in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:7710-7732. [PMID: 34670326 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15499] [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: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is complicated by the presence of alcohol use disorder comorbidity. Little is known about the underlying brain mechanisms. We have recently shown, in mice, that the post-traumatic stress disorder-like phenotype is characterised by the increase and decrease in total dendritic number and length in the prelimbic and infralimbic areas of the medial prefrontal cortex, respectively. Here, we examined whether repeated ethanol exposure would exacerbate these changes and whether this would be associated with difficulty to extinguish passive avoidance behaviour, as an indicator of treatment resistance. We also analysed whether other known trauma-associated changes, like increased or decreased corticosterone and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, would also be exacerbated. Male mice underwent trauma exposure (1.5-mA footshock), followed, 8 days later, by a conditioned place preference training with ethanol. Tests for fear sensitization, passive avoidance, anxiety-like behaviour, extinction acquisition and relapse susceptibility were used to assess behaviour changes. Plasma corticosterone and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and prefrontal dendritic changes were subsequently measured. Trauma-susceptible mice exposed to ethanol acquired a strong place preference and behaved differently from those not exposed to ethanol, with delayed avoidance extinction and higher avoidance relapse vulnerability. Ethanol potentiated trauma-associated dendritic changes in the prelimbic area and suppressed trauma-associated dendritic changes in the infralimbic area. However, ethanol had no effect on trauma-induced increased corticosterone and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. These data suggest that the modification of prefrontal trauma-related changes, due to alcohol use, can characterise, and probably support, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmae Lguensat
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Zineb Boudjafad
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Elodie Giorla
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Mohamed Bennis
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Christelle Baunez
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - René Garcia
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.,Graduate School of Life and Health Sciences, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Saadia Ba-M'hamed
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
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20
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Chen Z, Feng P, Becker B, Xu T, Nassar MR, Sirois F, Hommel B, Zhang C, He Q, Qiu J, He L, Lei X, Chen H, Feng T. Neural connectome prospectively encodes the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100378. [PMID: 34430677 PMCID: PMC8371262 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected humans worldwide and led to unprecedented stress and mortality. Detrimental effects of the pandemic on mental health, including risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), have become an increasing concern. The identification of prospective neurobiological vulnerability markers for developing PTSD symptom during the pandemic is thus of high importance. Methods Before the COVID-19 outbreak (September 20, 2019-January 11, 2020), some healthy participants underwent resting-state functional connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI) acquisition. We assessed the PTSD symptomology of these individuals during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic (February 21, 2020-February 28, 2020) in China. This pseudo-prospective cohort design allowed us to test whether the pre-pandemic neural connectome status could predict the risk of developing PTSD symptom during the pandemic. Results A total of 5.60% of participants (n = 42) were identified as being high-risk to develop PTSD symptom and 12.00% (n = 90) exhibited critical levels of PTSD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic measures of functional connectivity (the neural connectome) prospectively classified those with heightened risk to develop PTSD symptom from matched controls (Accuracy = 76.19%, Sensitivity = 80.95%, Specificity = 71.43%). The trained classifier generalized to an independent sample. Continuous prediction models revealed that the same connectome could accurately predict the severity of PTSD symptoms within individuals (r 2 = 0.31p<.0). Conclusions This study confirms COVID-19 break as a crucial stressor to bring risks developing PTSD symptom and demonstrates that brain functional markers can prospectively identify individuals at risk to develop PTSD symptom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Pan Feng
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Chengdu, China
| | - Matthew R Nassar
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, USA.,Robert J. & Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, USA
| | - Fuschia Sirois
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Chenyan Zhang
- Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Qinghua He
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Li He
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Xu Lei
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Tingyong Feng
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, China
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21
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Feng P, Chen Z, Becker B, Liu X, Zhou F, He Q, Qiu J, Lei X, Chen H, Feng T. Predisposing Variations in Fear-Related Brain Networks Prospectively Predict Fearful Feelings during the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:540-553. [PMID: 34297795 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a surge in mental distress and fear-related disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fear-related disorders are characterized by dysregulations in fear and the associated neural pathways. In the present study, we examined whether individual variations in the fear neural connectome can predict fear-related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using machine learning algorithms and back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) deep learning algorithms, we demonstrated that the intrinsic neural connectome before the COVID-19 pandemic could predict who would develop high fear-related symptoms at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in China (Accuracy rate = 75.00%, Sensitivity rate = 65.83%, Specificity rate = 84.17%). More importantly, prediction models could accurately predict the level of fear-related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic by using the prepandemic connectome state, in which the functional connectivity of lvmPFC (left ventromedial prefrontal cortex)-rdlPFC (right dorsolateral), rdACC (right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex)-left insula, lAMY (left amygdala)-lHip (left hippocampus) and lAMY-lsgACC (left subgenual cingulate cortex) was contributed to the robust prediction. The current study capitalized on prepandemic data of the neural connectome of fear to predict participants who would develop high fear-related symptoms in COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that individual variations in the intrinsic organization of the fear circuits represent a neurofunctional marker that renders subjects vulnerable to experience high levels of fear during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Feng
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhiyi Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.,The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xiqin Liu
- Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.,The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.,The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Qinghua He
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xu Lei
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Tingyong Feng
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
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22
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Zhou YG, Shang ZL, Zhang F, Wu LL, Sun LN, Jia YP, Yu HB, Liu WZ. PTSD: Past, present and future implications for China. Chin J Traumatol 2021; 24:187-208. [PMID: 33994278 PMCID: PMC8343811 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been a long history since human beings began to realize the existence of post-traumatic symptoms. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a diagnostic category adopted in 1980 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Ⅲ, described typical clusters of psychiatric symptoms occurring after traumatic events. Abundant researches have helped deepen the understanding of PTSD in terms of epidemiological features, biological mechanisms, and treatment options. The prevalence of PTSD in general population ranged from 6.4% to 7.8% and was significantly higher among groups who underwent major public traumatic events. There has been a long way in the studies of animal models and genetic characteristics of PTSD. However, the high comorbidity with other stress-related psychiatric disorders and complexity in the pathogenesis of PTSD hindered the effort to find specific biological targets for PTSD. Neuroimage was widely used to elucidate the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of PTSD. Functional MRI studies have showed that PTSD was linked to medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and sub-cortical structures like amygdala and hippocampus, and to explore the functional connectivity among these brain areas which might reveal the possible neurobiological mechanism related to PTSD symptoms. For now, cognitive behavior therapy-based psychotherapy, including combination with adjunctive medication, showed evident treatment effects on PTSD. The emergence of more effective PTSD pharmacotherapies awaits novel biomarkers from further fundamental research. Several natural disasters and emergencies have inevitably increased the possibility of suffering from PTSD in the last two decades, making it critical to strengthen PTSD research in China. To boost PTSD study in China, the following suggestions might be helpful: (1) establishing a national psychological trauma recover project, and (2) exploring the mechanisms of PTSD with joint effort and strengthening the indigenized treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Guang Zhou
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhi-Lei Shang
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Li-Li Wu
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China,The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Lu-Na Sun
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China,The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yan-Pu Jia
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China,The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Hai-Bo Yu
- Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Wei-Zhi Liu
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China,The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China,Corresponding author. Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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23
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Malikowska-Racia N, Salat K, Gdula-Argasinska J, Popik P. Sex, Pramipexole and Tiagabine Affect Behavioral and Hormonal Response to Traumatic Stress in a Mouse Model of PTSD. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:691598. [PMID: 34276379 PMCID: PMC8277945 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.691598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland axis (HPA). Women demonstrate a more robust HPA response and are twice as likely to develop PTSD than men. The role of sex hormones in PTSD remains unclear. We investigated whether post-trauma chronic treatment with the GABA-ergic agent tiagabine and dopamine-mimetic pramipexole affected the behavioral outcome and plasma levels of corticosterone, testosterone, or 17β-estradiol in female and male mice. These medications were investigated due to their potential capacity to restore GABA-ergic and dopaminergic deficits in PTSD. Animals were exposed to a single prolonged stress procedure (mSPS). Following 13 days treatment with tiagabine (10 mg/kg) or pramipexole (1 mg/kg) once daily, the PTSD-like phenotype was examined in the fear conditioning paradigm. Plasma hormones were measured almost immediately following the conditioned fear assessment. We report that the exposure to mSPS equally enhanced conditioned fear in both sexes. However, while males demonstrated decreased plasma corticosterone, its increase was observed in females. Trauma elevated plasma testosterone in both sexes, but it had no significant effects on 17β-estradiol. Behavioral manifestation of trauma was reduced by pramipexole in both sexes and by tiagabine in females only. While neither compound affected corticosterone in stressed animals, testosterone levels were further enhanced by tiagabine in females. This study shows sex-dependent efficacy of tiagabine but not pramipexole in a mouse model of PTSD-like symptoms and a failure of steroid hormones’ levels to predict PTSD treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Malikowska-Racia
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.,Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Kinga Salat
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Gdula-Argasinska
- Department of Radioligands, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Piotr Popik
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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24
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Tu W, Ma Z, Zhang N. Brain network reorganization after targeted attack at a hub region. Neuroimage 2021; 237:118219. [PMID: 34052466 PMCID: PMC8289586 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The architecture of brain networks has been extensively studied in multiple species. However, exactly how the brain network reconfigures when a local region, particularly a hub region, stops functioning remains elusive. By combining chemogenetics and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) in an awake rodent model, we investigated the causal impact of acutely inactivating a hub region (i.e. the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) on brain network properties. We found that suppressing neural activity in a hub could have a ripple effect that went beyond the hub-related connections and propagated to other neural connections across multiple brain systems. In addition, hub dysfunction affected the topological architecture of the whole-brain network in terms of the network resilience and segregation. Selectively inhibiting excitatory neurons in the hub further changed network integration. None of these changes were observed in sham rats or when a non-hub region (i.e. the primary visual cortex) was perturbed. This study has established a system that allows for mechanistically dissecting the relationship between local regions and brain network properties. Our data provide direct evidence supporting the hypothesis that acute dysfunction of a brain hub can cause large-scale network changes. These results also provide a comprehensive framework documenting the differential impact of hub versus non-hub nodes on network dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Tu
- Neuroscience Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Zilu Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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25
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Masuo Y, Satou T, Takemoto H, Koike K. Smell and Stress Response in the Brain: Review of the Connection between Chemistry and Neuropharmacology. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092571. [PMID: 33924992 PMCID: PMC8124235 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The stress response in the brain is not fully understood, although stress is one of the risk factors for developing mental disorders. On the other hand, the stimulation of the olfactory system can influence stress levels, and a certain smell has been empirically known to have a stress-suppressing effect, indeed. In this review, we first outline what stress is and previous studies on stress-responsive biomarkers (stress markers) in the brain. Subsequently, we confirm the olfactory system and review previous studies on the relationship between smell and stress response by species, such as humans, rats, and mice. Numerous studies demonstrated the stress-suppressing effects of aroma. There are also investigations showing the effects of odor that induce stress in experimental animals. In addition, we introduce recent studies on the effects of aroma of coffee beans and essential oils, such as lavender, cypress, α-pinene, and thyme linalool on the behavior and the expression of stress marker candidates in the brain. The transfer of volatile components into the brain is also discussed while using the results of thyme linalool as an example. These studies may provide a good opportunity to connect chemical research at the molecular level with neuropharmacological approaches in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Masuo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-47-472-5257
| | - Tadaaki Satou
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara, Tochigi 324-8501, Japan;
| | - Hiroaki Takemoto
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan; (H.T.); (K.K.)
| | - Kazuo Koike
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan; (H.T.); (K.K.)
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26
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Bravo-Rivera H, Rubio Arzola P, Caban-Murillo A, Vélez-Avilés AN, Ayala-Rosario SN, Quirk GJ. Characterizing Different Strategies for Resolving Approach-Avoidance Conflict. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:608922. [PMID: 33716644 PMCID: PMC7947632 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.608922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of animals to maximize benefits and minimize costs during approach-avoidance conflicts is an important evolutionary tool, but little is known about the emergence of specific strategies for conflict resolution. Accordingly, we developed a simple approach-avoidance conflict task in rats that pits the motivation to press a lever for sucrose against the motivation to step onto a distant platform to avoid a footshock delivered at the end of a 30 s tone (sucrose is available only during the tone). Rats received conflict training for 16 days to give them a chance to optimize their strategy by learning to properly time the expression of both behaviors across the tone. Rats unexpectedly separated into three distinct subgroups: those pressing early in the tone and avoiding later (Timers, 49%); those avoiding throughout the tone (Avoidance-preferring, 32%); and those pressing throughout the tone (Approach-preferring, 19%). The immediate early gene cFos revealed that Timers showed increased activity in the ventral striatum and midline thalamus relative to the other two subgroups, Avoidance-preferring rats showed increased activity in the amygdala, and Approach-preferring rats showed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex. This pattern is consistent with low fear and high behavioral flexibility in Timers, suggesting the potential of this task to reveal the neural mechanisms of conflict resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Bravo-Rivera
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Patricia Rubio Arzola
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Albit Caban-Murillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Adriana N. Vélez-Avilés
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Shantée N. Ayala-Rosario
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Gregory J. Quirk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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27
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Tu W, Ma Z, Ma Y, Dopfel D, Zhang N. Suppressing Anterior Cingulate Cortex Modulates Default Mode Network and Behavior in Awake Rats. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:312-323. [PMID: 32820327 PMCID: PMC7727348 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The default mode network (DMN) is a principal brain network in the mammalian brain. Although the DMN in humans has been extensively studied with respect to network structure, function, and clinical implications, our knowledge of DMN in animals remains limited. In particular, the functional role of DMN nodes, and how DMN organization relates to DMN-relevant behavior are still elusive. Here we investigated the causal relationship of inactivating a pivotal node of DMN (i.e., dorsal anterior cingulate cortex [dACC]) on DMN function, network organization, and behavior by combining chemogenetics, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and behavioral tests in awake rodents. We found that suppressing dACC activity profoundly changed the activity and connectivity of DMN, and these changes were associated with altered DMN-related behavior in animals. The chemo-rsfMRI-behavior approach opens an avenue to mechanistically dissecting the relationships between a specific node, brain network function, and behavior. Our data suggest that, like in humans, DMN in rodents is a functional network with coordinated activity that mediates behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Tu
- Neuroscience Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Zilu Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Yuncong Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - David Dopfel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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28
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The synthetically produced predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline increases alcohol self-administration and alters basolateral amygdala response to alcohol in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:67-82. [PMID: 32978649 PMCID: PMC7796942 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05659-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric illness that can increase the risk for developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). While clinical data has been useful in identifying similarities in the neurobiological bases of these disorders, preclinical models are essential for understanding the mechanism(s) by which stressors increase the risk for escalated alcohol consumption. The purpose of these studies was to examine if exposure of male Long-Evans rats to the synthetically derived predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT; a component of fox feces) would increase sweetened alcohol self-administration, potentially by facilitating transfer of salience towards cues, and alter neuronal response to alcohol as measured by the immediate early gene c-Fos. In experiment 1, rats exposed to repeated (4×) TMT showed reductions in port entries in Pavlovian conditioned approach and increases in sweetened alcohol self-administration. In experiment 2, rats exposed to repeated TMT showed blunted basolateral amygdala c-Fos response to alcohol. In experiment 3, rats exposed to single, but not repeated TMT, showed increases in sweetened alcohol self-administration, and no change in anxiety-like behavior or hyperarousal. In experiment 4, rats continued to show a significant corticosterone response to TMT after repeated exposures. In summary, exposure of male rats to TMT can cause escalations in sweetened alcohol self-administration and reduction in BLA response to alcohol. These studies outline and utilize a novel preclinical model that can be used to further neurobiological understanding of the emergence of escalated alcohol consumption following stress exposure.
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29
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Ornelas LC, Tyler RE, Irukulapati P, Paladugu S, Besheer J. Increased alcohol self-administration following exposure to the predator odor TMT in active coping female rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 402:113068. [PMID: 33333108 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid. Additionally, individual differences in response to stress suggest resilient and susceptible populations. The current study exposed male and female Long Evans rats to the synthetically produced predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) to examine individual differences in stress-reactive behaviors (digging and immobility) and whether these differences were related to subsequent alcohol drinking. Male and female Long Evans rats were trained on operant alcohol self-administration. After 9 sessions, rats underwent exposure to TMT or water (Control) in a distinct context. 6 days after TMT exposure, rats underwent re-exposure to the TMT-paired context (without TMT), and a series of behavioral assessments (acoustic startle, zero maze, light/dark box), after which rats resumed alcohol self-administration. TMT subgroups were created using a ratio of digging to immobility behavior during TMT exposure and rats with a ratio score < 1.0 or> 1.0 were grouped into TMT-1 (low digging/high immobility) or TMT-2 (high digging/low immobility), respectively. All male rats exposed to TMT met criteria for TMT-1, while female rats were divided into the two subgroups. In females, high digging/low immobility behavior during TMT exposure (TMT-2) was related to increased alcohol self-administration, but this was not observed in males or females that engaged in low digging/high immobility (TMT-1). These data show that individual differences in stress-reactivity can lead to lasting behavioral changes which may lead to a better understanding of increases in alcohol drinking following stress in females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan E Tyler
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, United States; Neuroscience Curriculum, United States
| | | | | | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, United States; Neuroscience Curriculum, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States.
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30
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Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition with a wide range of behavioral disturbances and serious consequences for both patient and society. One of the main reasons for unsuccessful therapies is insufficient knowledge about its underlying pathomechanism. In the search for centrally signaling molecules that might be relevant to the development of PTSD we focus here on arginine vasopressin (AVP). So far AVP has not been strongly implicated in PTSD, but different lines of evidence suggest a possible impact of its signaling in all clusters of PTSD symptomatology. More specifically, in laboratory rodents, AVP agonists affect behavior in a PTSD-like manner, while significant reduction of AVP signaling in the brain e.g. in AVP-deficient Brattleboro rats, ameliorated defined behavioral parameters that can be linked to PTSD symptoms. Different animal models of PTSD also show alterations in the AVP signaling in distinct brain areas. However, pharmacological treatment targeting central AVP receptors via systemic routes is hampered by possible side effects that are linked to the peripheral action of AVP as a hormone. Indeed, the V1a receptor, the most common receptor subtype in the brain, is implicated in vasoconstriction. Thus, systemic treatment with V1a receptor antagonists would be implicated in hypotonia. This implies that novel treatment concepts are needed to target AVP receptors not only at brain level but also in distinct brain areas, to offer alternative treatments for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Sipos
- Behavioral Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bibiána Török
- Behavioral Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- Janos Szentagothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Barna
- Behavioral Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mario Engelmann
- Institut für Biochemie und Zellbiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioural Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dóra Zelena
- Behavioral Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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31
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Increased wiring cost during development is driven by long-range cortical, but not subcortical connections. Neuroimage 2020; 225:117463. [PMID: 33075559 PMCID: PMC7812615 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain undergoes a protracted, metabolically expensive maturation process from childhood to adulthood. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how network cost is distributed among different brain systems as the brain matures. To address this issue, here we examined developmental changes in wiring cost and brain network topology using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) data longitudinally collected in awake rats from the juvenile age to adulthood. We found that the wiring cost increased in the vast majority of cortical connections but decreased in most subcortico-subcortical connections. Importantly, the developmental increase in wiring cost was dominantly driven by long-range cortical, but not subcortical connections, which was consistent with more pronounced increase in network integration in the cortical network. These results collectively indicate that there is a non-uniform distribution of network cost as the brain matures, and network resource is dominantly consumed for the development of the cortex, but not subcortex from the juvenile age to adulthood.
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32
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Offensive Behavior, Striatal Glutamate Metabolites, and Limbic-Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Responses to Stress in Chronic Anxiety. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207440. [PMID: 33050201 PMCID: PMC7589759 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Variations in anxiety-related behavior are associated with individual allostatic set-points in chronically stressed rats. Actively offensive rats with the externalizing indicators of sniffling and climbing the stimulus and material tearing during 10 days of predator scent stress had reduced plasma corticosterone, increased striatal glutamate metabolites, and increased adrenal 11-dehydrocorticosterone content compared to passively defensive rats with the internalizing indicators of freezing and grooming, as well as to controls without any behavioral changes. These findings suggest that rats that display active offensive activity in response to stress develop anxiety associated with decreased allostatic set-points and increased resistance to stress.
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33
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Liu Y, Perez PD, Ma Z, Ma Z, Dopfel D, Cramer S, Tu W, Zhang N. An open database of resting-state fMRI in awake rats. Neuroimage 2020; 220:117094. [PMID: 32610063 PMCID: PMC7605641 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent models are essential to translational research in health and disease. Investigation in rodent brain function and organization at the systems level using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) has become increasingly popular. Due to this rapid progress, publicly shared rodent rsfMRI databases can be of particular interest and importance to the scientific community, as inspired by human neuroscience and psychiatric research that are substantially facilitated by open human neuroimaging datasets. However, such databases in rats are still rare. In this paper, we share an open rsfMRI database acquired in 90 rats with a well-established awake imaging paradigm that avoids anesthesia interference. Both raw and preprocessed data are made publicly available. Procedures in data preprocessing to remove artefacts induced by the scanner, head motion and non-neural physiological noise are described in details. We also showcase inter-regional functional connectivity and functional networks obtained from the database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Pablo D Perez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Zilu Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Zhiwei Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David Dopfel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Samuel Cramer
- Neuroscience Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Wenyu Tu
- Neuroscience Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Neuroscience Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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34
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Verbitsky A, Dopfel D, Zhang N. Rodent models of post-traumatic stress disorder: behavioral assessment. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:132. [PMID: 32376819 PMCID: PMC7203017 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0806-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the etiology and expression of psychiatric disorders are complex, mammals show biologically preserved behavioral and neurobiological responses to valent stimuli which underlie the use of rodent models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a complex phenotype that is difficult to model in rodents because it is diagnosed by patient interview and influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. However, given that PTSD results from traumatic experiences, rodent models can simulate stress induction and disorder development. By manipulating stress type, intensity, duration, and frequency, preclinical models reflect core PTSD phenotypes, measured through various behavioral assays. Paradigms precipitate the disorder by applying physical, social, and psychological stressors individually or in combination. This review discusses the methods used to trigger and evaluate PTSD-like phenotypes. It highlights studies employing each stress model and evaluates their translational efficacies against DSM-5, validity criteria, and criteria proposed by Yehuda and Antelman's commentary in 1993. This is intended to aid in paradigm selection by informing readers about rodent models, their benefits to the clinical community, challenges associated with the translational models, and opportunities for future work. To inform PTSD model validity and relevance to human psychopathology, we propose that models incorporate behavioral test batteries, individual differences, sex differences, strain and stock differences, early life stress effects, biomarkers, stringent success criteria for drug development, Research Domain Criteria, technological advances, and cross-species comparisons. We conclude that, despite the challenges, animal studies will be pivotal to advances in understanding PTSD and the neurobiology of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Verbitsky
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David Dopfel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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35
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Sbarski B, Akirav I. Cannabinoids as therapeutics for PTSD. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 211:107551. [PMID: 32311373 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex disorder that involves dysregulation of multiple neurobiological systems. The traumatic stressor plays a causal role in producing psychological dysfunction and the pattern of findings suggests that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is instrumental for stress adaptation, is critically dysfunctional in PTSD. Given the lack of understanding of the basic mechanisms and underlying pathways that cause the disorder and its heterogeneity, PTSD poses challenges for treatment. Targeting the endocannabinoid (ECB) system to treat mental disorders, and PTSD in particular, has been the focus of research and interest in recent years. The ECB system modulates multiple functions, and drugs enhancing ECB signaling have shown promise as potential therapeutic agents in stress effects and other psychiatric and medical conditions. In this review, we focus on the interaction between the ECB-HPA systems in animal models for PTSD and in patients with PTSD. We summarize evidence supporting the use of cannabinoids in preventing and treating PTSD in preclinical and clinical studies. As the HPA system plays a key role in the mediation of the stress response and the pathophysiology of PTSD, we describe preclinical studies suggesting that enhancing ECB signaling is consistent with decreasing PTSD symptoms and dysfunction of the HPA axis. Overall, we suggest that a pharmacological treatment targeted at one system (e.g., HPA) may not be very effective because of the heterogeneity of the disorder. There are abnormalities across different neurotransmitter systems in the pathophysiology of PTSD and none of these systems function uniformly among all patients with PTSD. Hence, conceptually, enhancing ECB signaling may be a more effective avenue for pharmacological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Sbarski
- School of Psychological Sciences, Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Irit Akirav
- School of Psychological Sciences, Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
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Demin KA, Lakstygal AM, Volgin AD, de Abreu MS, Genario R, Alpyshov ET, Serikuly N, Wang D, Wang J, Yan D, Wang M, Yang L, Hu G, Bytov M, Zabegalov KN, Zhdanov A, Harvey BH, Costa F, Rosemberg DB, Leonard BE, Fontana BD, Cleal M, Parker MO, Wang J, Song C, Amstislavskaya TG, Kalueff AV. Cross-species Analyses of Intra-species Behavioral Differences in Mammals and Fish. Neuroscience 2020; 429:33-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Abstract
Although often used as a nuisance in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI), the global brain signal in humans and anesthetized animals has important neural basis. However, our knowledge of the global signal in awake rodents is sparse. To bridge this gap, we systematically analyzed rsfMRI data acquired with a conventional single-echo (SE) echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence in awake rats. The spatial pattern of rsfMRI frames during peaks of the global signal exhibited prominent co-activations in the thalamo-cortical and hippocampo-cortical networks, as well as in the basal forebrain, hinting that these neural networks might contribute to the global brain signal in awake rodents. To validate this concept, we acquired rsfMRI data using a multi-echo (ME) EPI sequence and removed non-neural components in the rsfMRI signal. Consistent co-activation patterns were obtained in extensively de-noised ME-rsfMRI data, corroborating the finding from SE-rsfMRI data. Furthermore, during rsfMRI experiments, we simultaneously recorded neural spiking activities in the hippocampus using GCaMP-based fiber photometry. The hippocampal calcium activity exhibited significant correspondence with the global rsfMRI signal. These data collectively suggest that the global rsfMRI signal contains significant neural components that involve coordinated activities in the thalamo-cortical and hippocampo-cortical networks. These results provide important insight into the neural substrate of the global brain signal in awake rodents.
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Liu Y, Zhang N. Propagations of spontaneous brain activity in awake rats. Neuroimage 2019; 202:116176. [PMID: 31513942 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Slow propagations of spontaneous brain activity have been reported in multiple species. However, systematical investigation of the organization of such brain activity is still lacking. In this study, we analyzed propagations of spontaneous brain activity using a reference library of characteristic resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) patterns in awake rodents. We found that transitions through multiple distinct RSFC patterns were reproducible not only in transition sequences but also in transition time delays. In addition, the organization of these transitions and their spatiotemporal dynamic patterns were revealed using a graphical model. We further identified prominent brain regions involved in these transitions. These results provide a comprehensive framework of brainwide propagations of spontaneous activity in awake rats. This study also offers a new tool to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of activity in the resting brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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