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Akter M, Fu Z, Zheng X, Iqbal Z, Zhang N, Karim A, Li Y. Astrocytic GPCR signaling in the anterior cingulate cortex modulates decision making in rats. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 3:kvae010. [PMID: 38915791 PMCID: PMC11194462 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvae010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Decision making is a process of selecting a course of action by assessing the worth or value of the potential consequences. Rat Gambling Task (RGT) is a well-established behavioral paradigm that allows for assessment of the decision-making performance of rats. Astrocytes are emerging as key players in modulating cognitive functions. Using repeated RGTs with short intersession time intervals (48 h), the current study demonstrates that Gi pathway activation of astrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) leads to impaired decision-making in consistently good decision-making rats. On the other hand, ACC astrocytic Gq pathway activation improves decision-making in a subset of rats who are not consistently good decision-makers. Furthermore, we show that astrocytic Gq activation is associated with an increase in the L-lactate level in the extracellular fluid of the ACC. Together, these results expand our knowledge of the role of astrocytic GPCR signaling in modulating cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mastura Akter
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Zhongqi Fu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Xianlin Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Zafar Iqbal
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 17W, Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Anwarul Karim
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 17W, Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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2
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Driskill CM, Childs JE, Phensy AJ, Rodriguez SR, O'Brien JT, Lindquist KL, Naderi A, Bordieanu B, McGinty JF, Kroener S. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Modulates Synaptic Plasticity in the Infralimbic Cortex via Trk-B Receptor Activation to Reduce Drug-Seeking in Male Rats. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0107242024. [PMID: 38719446 PMCID: PMC11154660 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0107-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Drugs of abuse cause changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and associated regions that impair inhibitory control over drug-seeking. Breaking the contingencies between drug-associated cues and the delivery of the reward during extinction learning reduces relapse. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has previously been shown to enhance extinction learning and reduce drug-seeking. Here we determined the effects of VNS-mediated release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on extinction and cue-induced reinstatement in male rats trained to self-administer cocaine. Pairing 10 d of extinction training with VNS facilitated extinction and reduced drug-seeking behavior during reinstatement. Rats that received a single extinction session with VNS showed elevated BDNF levels in the medial PFC as determined via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Systemic blockade of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptors during extinction, via the TrkB antagonist ANA-12, decreased the effects of VNS on extinction and reinstatement. Whole-cell recordings in brain slices showed that cocaine self-administration induced alterations in the ratio of AMPA and NMDA receptor-mediated currents in Layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the infralimbic cortex (IL). Pairing extinction with VNS reversed cocaine-induced changes in glutamatergic transmission by enhancing AMPAR currents, and this effect was blocked by ANA-12. Our study suggests that VNS consolidates the extinction of drug-seeking behavior by reversing drug-induced changes in synaptic AMPA receptors in the IL, and this effect is abolished by blocking TrkB receptors during extinction, highlighting a potential mechanism for the therapeutic effects of VNS in addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Driskill
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Jessica E Childs
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Aarron J Phensy
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Sierra R Rodriguez
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - John T O'Brien
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Kathy L Lindquist
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Aurian Naderi
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Bogdan Bordieanu
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Jacqueline F McGinty
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Sven Kroener
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
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3
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Driskill CM, Childs JE, Phensy AJ, Rodriguez SR, O’Brien JT, Lindquist KL, Naderi A, Bordieanu B, McGinty JF, Kroener S. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) modulates synaptic plasticity in the rat infralimbic cortex via Trk-B receptor activation to reduce drug-seeking. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.25.577293. [PMID: 38328140 PMCID: PMC10849650 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.25.577293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Drugs of abuse cause changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and associated regions that impair inhibitory control over drug-seeking. Breaking the contingencies between drug-associated cues and the delivery of the reward during extinction learning reduces relapse. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has previously been shown to enhance extinction learning and reduce drug-seeking. Here we determined the effects of VNS-mediated release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on extinction and cue-induced reinstatement in rats trained to self-administer cocaine. Pairing 10 days of extinction training with VNS facilitated extinction and reduced drug-seeking behavior during reinstatement. Rats that received a single extinction session with VNS showed elevated BDNF levels in the medial PFC as determined via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Systemic blockade of Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptors during extinction, via the TrkB antagonist ANA-12, decreased the effects of VNS on extinction and reinstatement. Whole-cell recordings in brain slices showed that cocaine self-administration induced alterations in the ratio of AMPA and NMDA receptor-mediated currents in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the infralimbic cortex (IL). Pairing extinction with VNS reversed cocaine-induced changes in glutamatergic transmission by enhancing AMPAR currents, and this effect was blocked by ANA-12. Our study suggests that VNS consolidates extinction of drug-seeking behavior by reversing drug-induced changes in synaptic AMPA receptors in the IL, and this effect is abolished by blocking TrkB receptors during extinction, highlighting a potential mechanism for the therapeutic effects of VNS in addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Driskill
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Jessica E. Childs
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Aarron J. Phensy
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Sierra R. Rodriguez
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
| | - John T. O’Brien
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Kathy L. Lindquist
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Aurian Naderi
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Bogdan Bordieanu
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Jacqueline F. McGinty
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Sven Kroener
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
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Okonogi T, Kuga N, Yamakawa M, Kayama T, Ikegaya Y, Sasaki T. Stress-induced vagal activity influences anxiety-relevant prefrontal and amygdala neuronal oscillations in male mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:183. [PMID: 38195621 PMCID: PMC10776769 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44205-y] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The vagus nerve crucially affects emotions and psychiatric disorders. However, the detailed neurophysiological dynamics of the vagus nerve in response to emotions and its associated pathological changes remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the spike rates of the cervical vagus nerve change depending on anxiety behavior in an elevated plus maze test, and these changes were eradicated in stress-susceptible male mice. Furthermore, instantaneous spike rates of the vagus nerve were negatively and positively correlated with the power of 2-4 Hz and 20-30 Hz oscillations, respectively, in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. The oscillations also underwent dynamic changes depending on the behavioral state in the elevated plus maze, and these changes were no longer observed in stress-susceptible and vagotomized mice. Chronic vagus nerve stimulation restored behavior-relevant neuronal oscillations with the recovery of altered behavioral states in stress-susceptible mice. These results suggested that physiological vagal-brain communication underlies anxiety and mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toya Okonogi
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Nahoko Kuga
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Musashi Yamakawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Tasuku Kayama
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yuji Ikegaya
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Institute for AI and Beyond, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Center for Information and Neural Networks, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita City, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takuya Sasaki
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
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5
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Frasch MG, Yoon BJ, Helbing DL, Snir G, Antonelli MC, Bauer R. Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Neuro-Immunometabolic Hypothesis of the Developmental Origins. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:914. [PMID: 37508346 PMCID: PMC10375982 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Fetal neuroinflammation and prenatal stress (PS) may contribute to lifelong neurological disabilities. Astrocytes and microglia, among the brain's non-neuronal "glia" cell populations, play a pivotal role in neurodevelopment and predisposition to and initiation of disease throughout lifespan. One of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders manifesting between 1-4 years of age is the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A pathological glial-neuronal interplay is thought to increase the risk for clinical manifestation of ASD in at-risk children, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood, and integrative, multi-scale models are needed. We propose a model that integrates the data across the scales of physiological organization, from genome to phenotype, and provides a foundation to explain the disparate findings on the genomic level. We hypothesize that via gene-environment interactions, fetal neuroinflammation and PS may reprogram glial immunometabolic phenotypes that impact neurodevelopment and neurobehavior. Drawing on genomic data from the recently published series of ovine and rodent glial transcriptome analyses with fetuses exposed to neuroinflammation or PS, we conducted an analysis on the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) Gene database. We confirmed 21 gene hits. Using unsupervised statistical network analysis, we then identified six clusters of probable protein-protein interactions mapping onto the immunometabolic and stress response networks and epigenetic memory. These findings support our hypothesis. We discuss the implications for ASD etiology, early detection, and novel therapeutic approaches. We conclude with delineation of the next steps to verify our model on the individual gene level in an assumption-free manner. The proposed model is of interest for the multidisciplinary community of stakeholders engaged in ASD research, the development of novel pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, early prevention, and detection as well as for policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin G Frasch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Byung-Jun Yoon
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Dario Lucas Helbing
- Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Gal Snir
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marta C Antonelli
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 2 a, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Reinhard Bauer
- Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
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6
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Driskill CM, Childs JE, Itmer B, Rajput JS, Kroener S. Acute Vagus Nerve Stimulation Facilitates Short Term Memory and Cognitive Flexibility in Rats. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091137. [PMID: 36138873 PMCID: PMC9496852 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) causes the release of several neuromodulators, leading to cortical activation and deactivation. The resulting preparatory cortical plasticity can be used to increase learning and memory in both rats and humans. The effects of VNS on cognition have mostly been studied either in animal models of different pathologies, and/or after extended VNS. Considerably less is known about the effects of acute VNS. Here, we examined the effects of acute VNS on short-term memory and cognitive flexibility in naïve rats, using three cognitive tasks that require comparatively brief (single session) training periods. In all tasks, VNS was delivered immediately before or during the testing phase. We used a rule-shifting task to test cognitive flexibility, a novel object recognition task to measure short-term object memory, and a delayed spontaneous alternation task to measure spatial short-term memory. We also analyzed exploratory behavior in an elevated plus maze to determine the effects of acute VNS on anxiety. Our results indicate that acute VNS can improve memory and cognitive flexibility relative to Sham-stimulation, and these effects are independent of unspecific VNS-induced changes in locomotion or anxiety.
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7
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Matisz C, Gruber A. Neuroinflammatory remodeling of the anterior cingulate cortex as a key driver of mood disorders in gastrointestinal disease and disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 133:104497. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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8
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Broncel A, Bocian R, Konopacki J. Vagal Nerve Stimulation: The Effect on the Brain Oscillatory Field Potential. Neuroscience 2021; 483:127-138. [PMID: 34952159 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.12.023] [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: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
More than thirty years of medical treatment with the use of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown that this therapeutic procedure works in a number of homeostatic disturbances. Although the clinical usage of VNS has a long history, our knowledge about the central mechanisms underlying this treatment is still limited. In the present paper we review the effects of VNS on brain oscillations as a possible electrophysiological bio-marker of VNS efficacy. The review was prepared mainly on the basis of data delivered from clinical observations and the outcomes of electrophysiological experiments conducted on laboratory animals that are available in PubMed. We consciously did not focus on epileptiform activity understood as a pathologic oscillatory activity, which was widely discussed in the numerous previously published reviews. The main conclusion of the present paper is that further, well-designed experiments on laboratory animals are absolutely necessary to address the electrophysiological issues. These will fill a number of gaps in our present knowledge of the central mechanisms underlying VNS therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Broncel
- Medical Technology Centre, Natolin 15, 92-701 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Renata Bocian
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, The University of Lodz, Pomorska St. No. 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Jan Konopacki
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, The University of Lodz, Pomorska St. No. 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland.
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9
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Rembado I, Song W, Su DK, Levari A, Shupe LE, Perlmutter S, Fetz E, Zanos S. Cortical Responses to Vagus Nerve Stimulation Are Modulated by Brain State in Nonhuman Primates. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:5289-5307. [PMID: 34151377 PMCID: PMC8567998 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been tested as therapy for several brain disorders and as a means to modulate cortical excitability and brain plasticity. Cortical effects of VNS, manifesting as vagal-evoked potentials (VEPs), are thought to arise from activation of ascending cholinergic and noradrenergic systems. However, it is unknown whether those effects are modulated by brain state at the time of stimulation. In 2 freely behaving macaque monkeys, we delivered short trains of 5 pulses to the left cervical vagus nerve at different frequencies (5-300 Hz) while recording local field potentials (LFPs) from sites in contralateral prefrontal, sensorimotor and parietal cortical areas. Brain states were inferred from spectral components of LFPs and the presence of overt movement: active awake, resting awake, REM sleep and NREM sleep. VNS elicited VEPs in all sampled cortical areas. VEPs comprised early (<70 ms), intermediate (70-250 ms) and late (>250 ms) components. The magnitude of the intermediate and late components was largest during NREM sleep and smallest during wakefulness, whereas that of the early component was not modulated by brain state. VEPs during NREM were larger for stimuli delivered at the depolarized phase of ongoing delta oscillations. Higher pulsing frequencies generated larger VEPs. These short VNS trains did not affect brain state transitions during wakefulness or sleep. Our findings suggest that ongoing brain state modulates the evoked effects of VNS on cortical activity. This has implications for the role of ongoing cortical activity and brain state in shaping cortical responses to peripheral stimuli, for the modulation of vagal interoceptive signaling by cortical activity, and for the dose calibration of VNS therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Rembado
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, 615 Westlake Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Weiguo Song
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - David K Su
- Providence Regional Medical Center Cranial Joint and Spine Clinic, Everett, WA 98201, USA
| | - Ariel Levari
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Larry E Shupe
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Steve Perlmutter
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Eberhard Fetz
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stavros Zanos
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
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10
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Murugappan SK, Hasan M, Lei Z, Iqbal Z, Ramkrishnan AS, Wong HY, Li Y. Trigeminal neuropathy causes hypomyelination in the anterior cingulate cortex, disrupts the synchrony of neural circuitry, and impairs decision-making in male rats. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2721-2742. [PMID: 34323312 PMCID: PMC8596863 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Infraorbital nerve‐chronic constriction injury (ION‐CCI) has become the most popular chronic trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) injury animal model which causes prolonged mechanical allodynia. Accumulative evidence suggests that TNP interferes with cognitive functions, however the underlying mechanisms are not known. The aim of this study was to investigate decision‐making performance as well as synaptic and large‐scale neural synchronized alterations in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (SpV) circuitry and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neural circuitry in male rats with TNP. Rat gambling task showed that ION‐CCI led to decrease the proportion of good decision makers and increase the proportion of poor decision makers. Electrophysiological recordings showed long‐lasting synaptic potentiation of local field potential in the trigeminal ganglia‐SpV caudalis (SpVc) synapses in TNP rats. In this study, TNP led to disruption of ACC spike timing and basolateral amygdala (BLA) theta oscillation associated with suppressed synchronization of theta oscillation between the BLA and ACC, indicating reduced neuronal communications. Myelination is critical for information flow between brain regions, and myelin plasticity is an important feature for learning. Neural activity in the cortical regions impacts myelination by regulating oligodendrocyte (OL) proliferation, differentiation, and myelin formation. We characterized newly formed oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, and mature OLs are reduced in TNP and are associated with reduced myelin strength in the ACC region. The functional disturbances in the BLA‐ACC neural circuitry is pathologically associated with the myelin defects in the ACC region which may be relevant causes for the deficits in decision‐making in chronic TNP state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh K Murugappan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Mahadi Hasan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Zhuogui Lei
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Zafar Iqbal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Aruna S Ramkrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Heung Y Wong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China.,Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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11
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Murugappan SK, Xie L, Wong HY, Iqbal Z, Lei Z, Ramkrishnan AS, Li Y. Suppression of Pain in the Late Phase of Chronic Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain Failed to Rescue the Decision-Making Deficits in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157846. [PMID: 34360612 PMCID: PMC8346079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) led to vital cognitive functional deficits such as impaired decision-making abilities in a rat gambling task. Chronic TNP caused hypomyelination in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) associated with decreased synchronization between ACC spikes and basal lateral amygdala (BLA) theta oscillations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pain suppression on cognitive impairment in the early or late phases of TNP. Blocking afferent signals with a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-ELVAX implanted immediately following nerve lesion suppressed the allodynia and rescued decision-making deficits. In contrast, the TTX used at a later phase could not suppress the allodynia nor rescue decision-making deficits. Intra-ACC administration of riluzole reduced the ACC neural sensitization but failed to restore ACC-BLA spike-field phase synchrony during the late stages of chronic neuropathic pain. Riluzole suppressed allodynia but failed to rescue the decision-making deficits during the late phase of TNP, suggesting that early pain relief is important for recovering from pain-related cognitive impairments. The functional disturbances in ACC neural circuitry may be relevant causes for the deficits in decision making in the chronic TNP state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Kanna Murugappan
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (S.K.M.); (L.X.); (H.Y.W.); (Z.I.); (Z.L.); (A.S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Xie
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (S.K.M.); (L.X.); (H.Y.W.); (Z.I.); (Z.L.); (A.S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Heung Yan Wong
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (S.K.M.); (L.X.); (H.Y.W.); (Z.I.); (Z.L.); (A.S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zafar Iqbal
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (S.K.M.); (L.X.); (H.Y.W.); (Z.I.); (Z.L.); (A.S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhuogui Lei
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (S.K.M.); (L.X.); (H.Y.W.); (Z.I.); (Z.L.); (A.S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Aruna Surendran Ramkrishnan
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (S.K.M.); (L.X.); (H.Y.W.); (Z.I.); (Z.L.); (A.S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (S.K.M.); (L.X.); (H.Y.W.); (Z.I.); (Z.L.); (A.S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3442-2669
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12
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Okonogi T, Sasaki T. Optogenetic Manipulation of the Vagus Nerve. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1293:459-470. [PMID: 33398833 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-8763-4_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The vagus nerve plays a pivotal role in communication between the brain and peripheral organs involved in the sensory detection and the autonomic control of visceral activity. While the lack of appropriate experimental techniques to manipulate the physiological activity of the vagus nerve has been a long-standing problem, recent advancements in optogenetic tools, including viral vectors and photostimulation devices, during the late 2010s have begun to overcome this technical hurdle. Furthermore, identifying promoters for expressing transgenes in a cell-type-specific subpopulation of vagal neurons enables the selective photoactivation of afferent/efferent vagal neurons and specific visceral organ-innervating vagal neurons. In this chapter, we describe recent optogenetic approaches to study vagus nerve physiology and describe how these approaches have provided novel findings on the roles of vagus nerve signals in the cardiac, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. Compared with studies of the central nervous system, there are still few insights into vagus nerve physiology. Further studies with optogenetic tools will be useful for understanding the fundamental characteristics of vagus nerve signals transferred throughout the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toya Okonogi
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Sasaki
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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13
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Gorantla VR, Tedesco S, Chandanathil M, Maity S, Bond V, Lewis C, Millis RM. Associations of Alpha and Beta Interhemispheric EEG Coherences with Indices of Attentional Control and Academic Performance. Behav Neurol 2020; 2020:4672340. [PMID: 32089751 PMCID: PMC7025044 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4672340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Heretofore, research on optimizing academic performance has suffered from an inability to translate what is known about an individual's learning behaviors to how effectively they are able to use the critical nodes and hubs in their cerebral cortex for learning. A previous study from our laboratory suggests that lower theta-beta ratios (TBRs) measured by EEG may be associated with higher academic performance in a medical school curriculum. METHODS In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TBR and academic performance may be correlated with EEG coherence, a measure of brain connectivity. We analyzed the interhemispheric coherences of the subjects involved in our prior study. TBR and coherence measurements were made at 19 scalp electrode recording sites and 171 electrode combinations with eyes open and closed (EO, EC). Control data were acquired during a session of acclimation to the research protocol 3 d before an initial examination in anatomy-physiology (control exam) and were repeated five weeks later, 3 d before a second exam covering different anatomy-physiology topics (comparison exam). RESULTS Between the control and comparison exams, beta coherences increased significantly at the frontal pole, frontal, parietal, midtemporal, posterior temporal, and occipital recording sites under the EO condition and at the inferior frontal, central, midtemporal, and posterior temporal sites under the EC condition. Alpha coherences increased significantly at the same sites and under the same EO/EC conditions as found for the beta coherences. The beta coherences were negatively correlated with the TBR and were positively correlated with the comparison exam score at the midfrontal electrode site (F3-F4) but only under the EO condition. Beta and alpha coherences at the midfrontal, inferior frontal midtemporal, posterior temporal, and occipital sites were also negatively correlated with the average TBR under the EO condition. CONCLUSIONS Lower TBR, an indicator of attentional control, was associated with higher alpha and beta interhemispheric coherences measured with eyes open at sites overlying the frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices. Changes in EEG coherences and TBRs might be useful as neurophysiological measures of neuroplasticity and the efficacy of strategies for preventing academic underachievement and treatments for improving academic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasavi R. Gorantla
- Department of Basic Sciences, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Sarah Tedesco
- Department of Basic Sciences, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Merin Chandanathil
- Department of Basic Sciences, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Sabyasachi Maity
- Department of Basic Sciences, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Vernon Bond
- Exercise and Nutritional Sciences Laboratory, Howard University Cancer Center and the Department of Human Performance and Leisure Studies, Washington DC 20060, USA
| | - Courtney Lewis
- Department of Clinical Medicine, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Richard M. Millis
- Department of Basic Sciences, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
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Alonso L, Peeva P, Ramos-Prats A, Alenina N, Winter Y, Rivalan M. Inter-individual and inter-strain differences in cognitive and social abilities of Dark Agouti and Wistar Han rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 377:112188. [PMID: 31473288 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Healthy animals displaying extreme behaviours that resemble human psychiatric symptoms are relevant models to study the natural psychobiological processes of maladapted behaviours. Using a Rat Gambling Task, healthy individuals spontaneously making poor decisions (PDMs) were found to co-express a combination of other cognitive and reward-based characteristics similar to symptoms observed in human patients with impulse-control disorders. The main goals of this study were to 1) confirm the existence of PDMs and their unique behavioural phenotypes in Dark Agouti (DA) and Wistar Han (WH) rats, 2) to extend the behavioural profile of the PDMs to probability-based decision-making and social behaviours and 3) to extract key discriminative traits between DA and WH strains, relevant for biomedical research. We have compared cognitive abilities, natural behaviours and physiological responses in DA and WH rats at the strain and at the individual level. Here we found that the naturally occurring PDM's profile was consistent between both rat lines. Then, although the PDM individuals did not take more risks in probability discounting task, they seemed to be of higher social ranks. Finally and despite their similarities in performance, WH and DA lines differed in degree of reward sensitivity, impulsivity, locomotor activity and open space-occupation. The reproducibility and conservation of the complex phenotypes of PDMs and GDMs (good decision makers) in these two genetically different strains support their translational potential. Both strains, present large phenotypic variation in behaviours pertinent for the study of the underlying mechanisms of poor decision making and associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucille Alonso
- Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Polina Peeva
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Arnau Ramos-Prats
- Department of Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Natalia Alenina
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - York Winter
- Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marion Rivalan
- Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
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15
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Hasan M, Kanna MS, Jun W, Ramkrishnan AS, Iqbal Z, Lee Y, Li Y. Schema-like learning and memory consolidation acting through myelination. FASEB J 2019; 33:11758-11775. [PMID: 31366238 PMCID: PMC6902718 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900910r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Memory is a dynamic brain function that is continually processed after encoding. Although psychologic concepts of mental schema are now well established, they have rarely been considered in animal studies. We used a behavior paradigm of multiple flavor-place paired associates (PAs) and showed that memory schema facilitates fast acquisition of new PAs in a single trial. The hippocampus is necessary for the encoding of new PAs and for memory retrieval within a certain time window—24 h following new PA consolidation. Whereas the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a critical role for dynamic PA learning and consolidation during training sessions, ACC is essential in schema representation and activation. New myelin generation is essential for learning. Neural activity in the cortical regions impacts myelination by regulating oligodendrocyte (OL) proliferation, differentiation, and myelin formation. Here, we show that newly formed OL progenitor cells and mature OLs are increased following repeated PA learning and that establishment of the memory schema is associated with enhanced myelin strength in the ACC region. Furthermore, to ensure that myelination is necessary for the acquisition of paired-associate learning, ACC lysolecithin-induced demyelination revealed impaired PA learning associated with decrease in ACC θ band power and reduced spike-field coherence and phase-locking in ACC.—Hasan, M., Kanna, M. S., Jun, W., Ramkrishnan, A. S., Iqbal, Z., Lee, Y., Li, Y. Schema-like learning and memory consolidation acting through myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahadi Hasan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | | | - Wang Jun
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | | | - Zafar Iqbal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Youngjin Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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16
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Cognition-Enhancing Vagus Nerve Stimulation Alters the Epigenetic Landscape. J Neurosci 2019; 39:3454-3469. [PMID: 30804093 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2407-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been shown to enhance learning and memory, yet the mechanisms behind these enhancements are unknown. Here, we present evidence that epigenetic modulation underlies VNS-induced improvements in cognition. We show that VNS enhances novelty preference (NP); alters the hippocampal, cortical, and blood epigenetic transcriptomes; and epigenetically modulates neuronal plasticity and stress-response signaling genes in male Sprague Dawley rats. Brain-behavior analysis revealed structure-specific relationships between NP test performance (NPTP) and epigenetic alterations. In the hippocampus, NPTP correlated with decreased histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11), a transcriptional repressor enriched in CA1 cells important for memory consolidation. In the cortex, the immediate early gene (IEG) ARC was increased in VNS rats and correlated with transcription of plasticity genes and epigenetic regulators, including HDAC3. For rats engaged in NPTP, ARC correlated with performance. Interestingly, blood ARC transcripts decreased in VNS rats performing NPTP, but increased in VNS-only rats. Because DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) facilitate transcription of IEGs, we investigated phosphorylated H2A.X (γH2A.X), a histone modification known to colocalize with DSBs. In agreement with reduced cortical stress-response transcription factor NF-κB1, chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed reduced γH2A.X in the ARC promoter. Surprisingly, VNS did not significantly reduce transcription of cortical or hippocampal proinflammatory cytokines. However, TNFRSF11B (osteoprotegerin) correlated with NPTP as well as plasticity, stress-response signaling, and epigenetic regulation transcripts in both hippocampus and cortex. Together, our findings provide the first evidence that VNS induces widespread changes in the cognitive epigenetic landscape and specifically affects epigenetic modulators associated with NPTP, stress-response signaling, memory consolidation, and cortical neural remodeling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Recent studies have implicated vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in enhanced learning and memory. However, whereas epigenetic modifications are known to play an important role in memory, the particular mechanisms involved in VNS-enhanced cognition are unknown. In this study, we examined brain and behavior changes in VNS and sham rats performing a multiday novelty preference (NP) task. We found that VNS activated specific histone modifications and DNA methylation changes at important stress-response signaling and plasticity genes. Both cortical and hippocampal plasticity changes were predictive of NP test performance. Our results reveal important epigenetic alterations associated with VNS cognitive improvements, as well as new potential pharmacological targets for enhancing cortical and hippocampal plasticity.
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17
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Pais-Roldán P, Edlow BL, Jiang Y, Stelzer J, Zou M, Yu X. Multimodal assessment of recovery from coma in a rat model of diffuse brainstem tegmentum injury. Neuroimage 2019; 189:615-630. [PMID: 30708105 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.01.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the association between brainstem lesions and coma, a mechanistic understanding of coma pathogenesis and recovery is lacking. We developed a coma model in the rat mimicking human brainstem coma, which allowed multimodal analysis of a brainstem tegmentum lesion's effects on behavior, cortical electrophysiology, and global brain functional connectivity. After coma induction, we observed a transient period (∼1h) of unresponsiveness accompanied by cortical burst-suppression. Comatose rats then gradually regained behavioral responsiveness concurrent with emergence of delta/theta-predominant cortical rhythms in primary somatosensory cortex. During the acute stage of coma recovery (∼1-8h), longitudinal resting-state functional MRI revealed an increase in functional connectivity between subcortical arousal nuclei in the thalamus, basal forebrain, and basal ganglia and cortical regions implicated in awareness. This rat coma model provides an experimental platform to systematically study network-based mechanisms of coma pathogenesis and recovery, as well as to test targeted therapies aimed at promoting recovery of consciousness after coma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Pais-Roldán
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Department, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany; Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, International Max Planck Research School, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, 72074, Germany
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Department, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Johannes Stelzer
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Department, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Ming Zou
- Department of Geriatrics & Neurology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Xin Yu
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Department, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
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18
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D'Souza MS. Brain and Cognition for Addiction Medicine: From Prevention to Recovery Neural Substrates for Treatment of Psychostimulant-Induced Cognitive Deficits. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:509. [PMID: 31396113 PMCID: PMC6667748 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Addiction to psychostimulants like cocaine, methamphetamine, and nicotine poses a continuing medical and social challenge both in the United States and all over the world. Despite a desire to quit drug use, return to drug use after a period of abstinence is a common problem among individuals dependent on psychostimulants. Recovery for psychostimulant drug-dependent individuals is particularly challenging because psychostimulant drugs induce significant changes in brain regions associated with cognitive functions leading to cognitive deficits. These cognitive deficits include impairments in learning/memory, poor decision making, and impaired control of behavioral output. Importantly, these drug-induced cognitive deficits often impact adherence to addiction treatment programs and predispose abstinent addicts to drug use relapse. Additionally, these cognitive deficits impact effective social and professional rehabilitation of abstinent addicts. The goal of this paper is to review neural substrates based on animal studies that could be pharmacologically targeted to reverse psychostimulant-induced cognitive deficits such as impulsivity and impairment in learning and memory. Further, the review will discuss neural substrates that could be used to facilitate extinction learning and thus reduce emotional and behavioral responses to drug-associated cues. Moreover, the review will discuss some non-pharmacological approaches that could be used either alone or in combination with pharmacological compounds to treat the above-mentioned cognitive deficits. Psychostimulant addiction treatment, which includes treatment for cognitive deficits, will help promote abstinence and allow for better rehabilitation and integration of abstinent individuals into society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoranjan S D'Souza
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH, United States
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19
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Shikano Y, Nishimura Y, Okonogi T, Ikegaya Y, Sasaki T. Vagus nerve spiking activity associated with locomotion and cortical arousal states in a freely moving rat. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 49:1298-1312. [PMID: 30450796 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The vagus nerve serves as a central pathway for communication between the central and peripheral organs. Despite traditional knowledge of vagus nerve functions, detailed neurophysiological dynamics of the vagus nerve in naïve behavior remain to be understood. In this study, we developed a new method to record spiking patterns from the cervical vagus nerve while simultaneously monitoring central and peripheral organ bioelectrical signals in a freely moving rat. When the rats transiently elevated locomotor activity, the frequency of vagus nerve spikes was correspondingly increased, and this activity was retained for several seconds after the increase in running speed terminated. Spike patterns of the vagus nerve were not robustly associated with which arms the animals entered on an elevated plus maze. During sniffing behavior, vagus nerve spikes were nearly absent. During stopping, the vagus nerve spike patterns differed considerably depending on external contexts and peripheral activity states associated with cortical arousal levels. Stimulation of the vagus nerve altered rat's running speed and cortical arousal states depending on running speed at the instant of stimulation. These observations are a new step for uncovering the physiological dynamics of the vagus nerve modulating the visceral organs such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shikano
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuya Nishimura
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toya Okonogi
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Ikegaya
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Center for Information and Neural Networks, Suita City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takuya Sasaki
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama, Japan
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20
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Abstract
Rhythmicity and oscillations are common features in nature, and can be seen in phenomena such as seasons, breathing, and brain activity. Despite the fact that a single neuron transmits its activity to its neighbor through a transient pulse, rhythmic activity emerges from large population-wide activity in the brain, and such rhythms are strongly coupled with the state and cognitive functions of the brain. However, it is still debated whether the oscillations of brain activity actually carry information. Here, we briefly introduce the biological findings of brain oscillations, and summarize the recent progress in understanding how oscillations mediate brain function. Finally, we examine the possible relationship between brain cognitive function and oscillation, focusing on how oscillation is related to memory, particularly with respect to state-dependent memory formation and memory retrieval under specific brain waves. We propose that oscillatory waves in the neocortex contribute to the synchronization and activation of specific memory trace ensembles in the neocortex by promoting long-range neural communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhan Luo
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100871, China
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ji-Song Guan
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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21
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Neurocognitive effects of umami: association with eating behavior and food choice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:2009-2016. [PMID: 29599485 PMCID: PMC6098010 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0044-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Free glutamate, a key substance underlying the umami taste of foods, fulfills a number of physiological functions related to energy balance. Previous experimental studies have shown that intake of a broth or soup supplemented with monosodium glutamate (MSG) prior to a meal can decrease appetite and food intake, particularly in women with propensity to overeat and gain weight. In this study, we examined potential neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this effect. We evaluated changes after intake of a chicken broth with or without MSG added (MSG+/MSG-) in a sample of healthy young women. Subjects were assessed with a food-modified computerized inhibitory control task, a buffet meal test with eye-tracking, and brain responses during a food choice paradigm evaluated with functional neuroimaging. We found evidence for improvement in key parameters related to inhibitory control following intake of the MSG+ broth, particularly in subjects with high levels of eating disinhibition, who also showed lower intake of saturated fat during the meal. Additionally, consumption of the MSG+ broth led to a reduction of the rate of fixation switches between plates at the meal, and increased engagement of a brain region in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex previously associated with successful self-control during dietary decisions. Altogether, these results, while preliminary, suggest potential facilitating effects of glutamate (MSG) on cognitive executive processes that are relevant for the support of healthy eating behaviors and food choice.
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Mercante B, Ginatempo F, Manca A, Melis F, Enrico P, Deriu F. Anatomo-Physiologic Basis for Auricular Stimulation. Med Acupunct 2018; 30:141-150. [PMID: 29937968 DOI: 10.1089/acu.2017.1254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Stimulation of cranial nerves modulates central nervous system (CNS) activity via the extensive connections of their brainstem nuclei to higher-order structures. Clinical experience with vagus-nerve stimulation (VNS) demonstrates that it produces robust therapeutic effects, however, posing concerns related to its invasiveness and side-effects. Discussion: Trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) has been recently proposed as a valid alternative to VNS. The ear presents afferent vagus and trigeminal-nerve distribution; its innervation is the theoretical basis of different reflex therapies, including auriculotherapy. An increasing number of studies have shown that several therapeutic effects induced by invasive VNS and TNS, can be reproduced by noninvasive auricular-nerve stimulation. However, the sites and neurobiologic mechanisms by which VNS and TNS produce their therapeutic effects are not clear yet. Conclusions: Accumulating evidence suggests that VNS and TNS share multiple levels and mechanisms of action in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beniamina Mercante
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari Italy
| | - Francesca Ginatempo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari Italy
| | - Andrea Manca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari Italy
| | - Francesco Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari Italy
| | - Paolo Enrico
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari Italy
| | - Franca Deriu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari Italy
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Shikano Y, Ikegaya Y, Sasaki T. Monitoring brain neuronal activity with manipulation of cardiac events in a freely moving rat. Neurosci Res 2018; 136:56-62. [PMID: 29454657 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral and cognitive studies have demonstrated that brain functions are affected by the activity states of the peripheral organs, such as the cardiac and respiratory systems. However, detailed neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the body-brain interactions remain unknown. In this study, we developed a method for manipulating activity levels of the heart using direct cardiac stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation that can be combined with recording cerebral local field potentials using a microdrive system, electrocardiograms, electromyograms, in a freely moving rat. With this method, the electrical stimulation to the heart increases heart rates up to 14 Hz, whereas the vagus nerve stimulation decreases heart rates to 3 Hz. Transient electrical artifacts arising from the peripheral stimulation are not contaminated in cortical local field potential signals low-pass filtered at 150 Hz and distinguishable from extracellular multiunit signals. The technique will contribute to understanding the neurophysiological correlate of mind-body associations in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shikano
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yuji Ikegaya
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Center for Information and Neural Networks, Suita City, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takuya Sasaki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
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Poppa T, Bechara A. The somatic marker hypothesis: revisiting the role of the ‘body-loop’ in decision-making. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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25
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Wang J, Tu J, Cao B, Mu L, Yang X, Cong M, Ramkrishnan AS, Chan RH, Wang L, Li Y. Astrocytic l -Lactate Signaling Facilitates Amygdala-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Synchrony and Decision Making in Rats. Cell Rep 2017; 21:2407-2418. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Revised: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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