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Zuckerman A, Siedhoff HR, Balderrama A, Li R, Sun GY, Cifu DX, Cernak I, Cui J, Gu Z. Individualized high-resolution analysis to categorize diverse learning and memory deficits in tau rTg4510 mice exposed to low-intensity blast. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1397046. [PMID: 38948027 PMCID: PMC11212475 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1397046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) resulting from low-intensity blast (LIB) exposure in military and civilian individuals is linked to enduring behavioral and cognitive abnormalities. These injuries can serve as confounding risk factors for the development of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). Recent animal studies have demonstrated LIB-induced brain damage at the molecular and nanoscale levels. Nevertheless, the mechanisms linking these damages to cognitive abnormalities are unresolved. Challenges preventing the translation of preclinical studies into meaningful findings in "real-world clinics" encompass the heterogeneity observed between different species and strains, variable time durations of the tests, quantification of dosing effects and differing approaches to data analysis. Moreover, while behavioral tests in most pre-clinical studies are conducted at the group level, clinical tests are predominantly assessed on an individual basis. In this investigation, we advanced a high-resolution and sensitive method utilizing the CognitionWall test system and applying reversal learning data to the Boltzmann fitting curves. A flow chart was developed that enable categorizing individual mouse to different levels of learning deficits and patterns. In this study, rTg4510 mice, which represent a neuropathology model due to elevated levels of tau P301L, together with the non-carrier genotype were exposed to LIB. Results revealed distinct and intricate patterns of learning deficits and patterns within each group and in relation to blast exposure. With the current findings, it is possible to establish connections between mice with specific cognitive deficits to molecular changes. This approach can enhance the translational value of preclinical findings and also allow for future development of a precision clinical treatment plan for ameliorating neurologic damage of individuals with mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitai Zuckerman
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Heather R. Siedhoff
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Ashley Balderrama
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Runting Li
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Grace Y. Sun
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - David X. Cifu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine, Belmont University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
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Porras A, Rodney-Hernández P, Nguyen C, Rincón-Cortés M. Effects of sensory overstimulation in postpartum rats. Physiol Behav 2024; 280:114547. [PMID: 38614418 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114547] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Research in rodents has shown that exposure to excessive early life audiovisual stimulation leads to altered anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive deficits. Since this period of stimulation typically begins prior to weaning, newborn rodents receive sensory overstimulation (SOS) as a litter within their home cage while the dam is present. However, the effects of SOS during the postpartum period remain unexplored. To this end, we adapted an SOS paradigm for use in rats and exposed rat dams and their litters from postpartum days (PD) 10-23. Maternal observations were conducted to determine whether SOS produced changes in positive and/or negative maternal behaviors. Next, we assessed changes in anxiety-like behavior and cognition by testing dams in the elevated zero maze, open field, and novel object recognition tests. To assess potential effects on HPA-axis function, levels of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) were measured approximately 1-week after the cessation of SOS exposure. Our results indicate increased nursing and licking in SOS dams compared to controls, although SOS dams also exhibited significant increases in pup dragging. Moreover, SOS dams exhibited reduced self-care behaviors and nest-building compared to control dams. No differences were found for anxiety-like behaviors, object recognition memory, or CORT levels. This study is the first to assess the impact of postpartum SOS exposure in rat dams. Our findings suggest an SOS-induced enhancement in positive caregiving, but limited impact in all other measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abishag Porras
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Paolaenid Rodney-Hernández
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Christine Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Millie Rincón-Cortés
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, United States.
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Mansouri M, Pouretemad H, Bigdeli M, Ardalan M. Excessive audio-visual stimulation leads to impaired social behaviour with an effect on amygdala: Early life excessive exposure to digital devices in male rats. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:6174-6186. [PMID: 36215127 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Today, the effect of extreme early-life exposure to digital devices is suggested as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the multitude of factors that influence brain development with subsequent behavioural abnormalities have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we simulated extreme early-life exposure to digital devices in rats by audio and visual stimulation and investigated its effects on autism-related behaviours and brain structural alteration. Male rat pups were exposed to excessive audio-visual stimulation (EAVS) from PND (post-natal day) 12 to PND 35, with and without maternal separation (MS). Autism-related behaviours including abnormal sociability, stereotype behaviours, anxiety and locomotor dysfunction were tested at PND 42. Brain structural alternation was examined by considering the amygdala, mPFC (medial prefrontal cortex) and hippocampal regions while performing 3D quantitative stereological analysis. We found that EAVS led to social behaviour deficit and higher locomotion in rats, which were associated with increases in the number of neurons and volume of the amygdala. We also showed that MS did not exaggerate the effect of extreme sensory stimulation on behaviour and the structure of the brain. This study proposed EAVS in rats as an animal model of early exposure to digital devices for investigating possible neurobiological alternations underlying autistic-like behaviours with an emphasis on the amygdala area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monireh Mansouri
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Pouretemad
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Bigdeli
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.,Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Ardalan
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Translational Neuispschiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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How early media exposure may affect cognitive function: A review of results from observations in humans and experiments in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:9851-9858. [PMID: 30275319 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711548115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now among the most commonly diagnosed chronic psychological dysfunctions of childhood. By varying estimates, it has increased by 30% in the past 20 years. Environmental factors that might explain this increase have been explored. One such factor may be audiovisual media exposure during early childhood. Observational studies in humans have linked exposure to fast-paced television in the first 3 years of life with subsequent attentional deficits in later childhood. Although longitudinal and well controlled, the observational nature of these studies precludes definitive conclusions regarding a causal relationship. As experimental studies in humans are neither ethical nor practical, mouse models of excessive sensory stimulation (ESS) during childhood, akin to the enrichment studies that have previously shown benefits of stimulation in rodents, have been developed. Experimental studies using this model have corroborated that ESS leads to cognitive and behavioral deficits, some of which may be potentially detrimental. Given the ubiquity of media during childhood, these findings in humansand rodents perhaps have important implications for public health.
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Hadar A, Hadas I, Lazarovits A, Alyagon U, Eliraz D, Zangen A. Answering the missed call: Initial exploration of cognitive and electrophysiological changes associated with smartphone use and abuse. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180094. [PMID: 28678870 PMCID: PMC5497985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Smartphone usage is now integral to human behavior. Recent studies associate extensive usage with a range of debilitating effects. We sought to determine whether excessive usage is accompanied by measurable neural, cognitive and behavioral changes. Method Subjects lacking previous experience with smartphones (n = 35) were compared to a matched group of heavy smartphone users (n = 16) on numerous behavioral and electrophysiological measures recorded using electroencephalogram (EEG) combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the right prefrontal cortex (rPFC). In a second longitudinal intervention, a randomly selected sample of the original non-users received smartphones for 3 months while the others served as controls. All measurements were repeated following this intervention. Results Heavy users showed increased impulsivity, hyperactivity and negative social concern. We also found reduced early TMS evoked potentials in the rPFC of this group, which correlated with severity of self-reported inattention problems. Heavy users also obtained lower accuracy rates than nonusers in a numerical processing. Critically, the second part of the experiment revealed that both the numerical processing and social cognition domains are causally linked to smartphone usage. Conclusion Heavy usage was found to be associated with impaired attention, reduced numerical processing capacity, changes in social cognition, and reduced right prefrontal cortex (rPFC) excitability. Memory impairments were not detected. Novel usage over short period induced a significant reduction in numerical processing capacity and changes in social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviad Hadar
- Department of Life Science and the Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- * E-mail: (AH); (AZ)
| | - Itay Hadas
- Department of Life Science and the Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Avi Lazarovits
- Department of Life Science and the Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Uri Alyagon
- Department of Life Science and the Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Daniel Eliraz
- Department of Life Science and the Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Abraham Zangen
- Department of Life Science and the Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- * E-mail: (AH); (AZ)
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Excessive Sensory Stimulation during Development Alters Neural Plasticity and Vulnerability to Cocaine in Mice. eNeuro 2016; 3:eN-NWR-0199-16. [PMID: 27588306 PMCID: PMC4994069 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0199-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life experiences affect the formation of neuronal networks, which can have a profound impact on brain function and behavior later in life. Previous work has shown that mice exposed to excessive sensory stimulation during development are hyperactive and novelty seeking, and display impaired cognition compared with controls. In this study, we addressed the issue of whether excessive sensory stimulation during development could alter behaviors related to addiction and underlying circuitry in CD-1 mice. We found that the reinforcing properties of cocaine were significantly enhanced in mice exposed to excessive sensory stimulation. Moreover, although these mice displayed hyperactivity that became more pronounced over time, they showed impaired persistence of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. These behavioral effects were associated with alterations in glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. Together, these findings suggest that excessive sensory stimulation in early life significantly alters drug reward and the neural circuits that regulate addiction and attention deficit hyperactivity. These observations highlight the consequences of early life experiences and may have important implications for children growing up in today's complex technological environment.
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