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Alcaide J, Gramuntell Y, Klimczak P, Bueno-Fernandez C, Garcia-Verellen E, Guicciardini C, Sandi C, Castillo-Gómez E, Crespo C, Perez-Rando M, Nacher J. Long term effects of peripubertal stress on the thalamic reticular nucleus of female and male mice. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106642. [PMID: 39173845 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106642] [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: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Adverse experiences during infancy and adolescence have an important and enduring effect on the brain and are predisposing factors for mental disorders, particularly major depression. This impact is particularly notable in regions with protracted development, such as the prefrontal cortex. The inhibitory neurons of this cortical region are altered by peripubertal stress (PPS), particularly in female mice. In this study we have explored whether the inhibitory circuits of the thalamus are impacted by PPS in male and female mice. This diencephalic structure, as the prefrontal cortex, also completes its development during postnatal life and is affected by adverse experiences. The long-term changes induced by PPS were exclusively found in adult female mice. We have found that PPS increases depressive-like behavior and induces changes in parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) cells of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). We observed reductions in the volume of the TRN, together with those of parameters related to structures/molecules that regulate the plasticity and connectivity of PV+ cells: perineuronal nets, matricellular structures surrounding PV+ neurons, and the polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM). The expression of the GluN1, but not of GluN2C, NMDA receptor subunit was augmented in the TRN after PPS. An increase in the fluorescence intensity of PV+ puncta was also observed in the synaptic output of TRN neurons in the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus. These results demonstrate that the inhibitory circuits of the thalamus, as those of the prefrontal cortex, are vulnerable to the effects of aversive experiences during early life, particularly in females. This vulnerability is probably related to the protracted development of the TRN and might contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Alcaide
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain; Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Yaiza Gramuntell
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain; Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Patrycja Klimczak
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain; Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Clara Bueno-Fernandez
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain; Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Erica Garcia-Verellen
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Chiara Guicciardini
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Esther Castillo-Gómez
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain; Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Crespo
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Marta Perez-Rando
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain; Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Juan Nacher
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain; Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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Palmier-Claus J, Golby R, Stokes LJ, Saville CWN, Velemis K, Varese F, Marwaha S, Tyler E, Taylor P. The relationship between childhood adversity and affective instability across psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2024. [PMID: 39128865 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Affective instability represents an important, transdiagnostic biobehavioural dimension of mental ill health and clinical outcome. The causes of affective instability remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the extent to which exposure to childhood adversity is associated with affective instability across psychiatric disorders, and which forms of adversity are most strongly associated with affective instability. METHODS The review followed a published protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42020168676). Searches in Medline, Embase and PsychInfo identified studies using quantitative measures of childhood adversity and affective instability, published between January 1980 and July 2023. Data were analysed using a random effects meta-analysis separately for each outcome, namely affective lability, emotion dysregulation, and rapid cycling. The Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool was used to appraise the quality of the literature. RESULTS The search identified 36 studies involving 8431 participants. All reports focused on cross-sectional associations. We did not identify any prospective longitudinal research. The analysis showed small, but statistically significant effects of childhood adversity on affective lability (r = 0.09, 95% CI 0.02, 0.17), emotion dysregulation (r = 0.25, 95% CI 0.19, 0.32), and rapid cycling (OR = 1.39; 95% CI 1.14, 1.70). When considering adversity subtypes, emotional abuse showed the strongest effect on affective lability (r = 0.16, 95% CI 0.07, 0.24) and emotion dysregulation (r = 0.32, 95% CI 0.19, 0.44). Quality assessment scores were generally low. Most studies failed to control for confounding factors or offer assurances around the representativeness of the samples. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that childhood adversity, particularly emotional abuse, is associated emotional instability in adulthood, but further prospective longitudinal research is needed to confirm causality. The findings have implications for the prevention and treatment of affective instability across psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Palmier-Claus
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, Lancashire, UK
| | - Rebecca Golby
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, Lancashire, UK
| | - Laura-Jean Stokes
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Science & Technology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | | | - Kyriakos Velemis
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Filippo Varese
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Steven Marwaha
- Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Elizabeth Tyler
- Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Peter Taylor
- Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
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Perez-Caballero L, Guillot de Suduiraut I, Romero LR, Grosse J, Sandi C, Andero R. Corticosterone administration immediately after peripuberty stress exposure does not prevent protracted stress-induced behavioral alterations. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 170:107164. [PMID: 39146600 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Stress-related disorders are commonly associated with abnormalities in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Preliminary studies with cortisol administration in the aftermath of trauma suggest that this HPA axis hormone can potentially prevent maladaptive behavioral and biological stress responses. However, the efficacy of glucocorticoid administration during the peripuberty period has not been tested yet, although this lifetime is a critical time window in brain development and is highly sensitive to the harmful effects of stress. To further examine the short and long-lasting impact of glucocorticoids treatment given during the post-peripubertal stress period, the present study utilized a rat model of peripubertal stress-induced psychopathology and animals were subjected to a battery of tests to assess anxiety-like behaviors, exploratory behavior and reactivity to novelty at late adolescence and sociability, anhedonia and stress coping behaviors at adulthood. All the experiments were performed in males and females to evaluate the potential behavioral sex differences. Overall, our results demonstrated that rats exposed to peripubertal stress show decreased sociability in adulthood without differences in anxiety and depression-like behaviors. Moreover, this study shows that the administration of corticosterone after stress exposure at peripuberty does not prevent stress-induced behavioral alterations. However, we observed that some stress-induced behavioural alterations and corticosterone responses are sex-specific. Thus, the data obtained highlight that delineating sex differences in stress-related studies may ultimately contribute to the development of effective therapeutic interventions for each sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Perez-Caballero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leire R Romero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Jocelyn Grosse
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raul Andero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain; ICREA, Pg Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain.
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Mbiydzenyuy NE, Joanna Hemmings SM, Shabangu TW, Qulu-Appiah L. Exploring the influence of stress on aggressive behavior and sexual function: Role of neuromodulator pathways and epigenetics. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27501. [PMID: 38486749 PMCID: PMC10937706 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27501] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that can significantly influence both aggressive behavior and sexual function. This review explores the intricate relationship between stress, neuromodulator pathways, and epigenetics, shedding light on the various mechanisms that underlie these connections. While the role of stress in both aggression and sexual behavior is well-documented, the mechanisms through which it exerts its effects are multifarious and not yet fully understood. The review begins by delving into the potential influence of stress on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, glucocorticoids, and the neuromodulators involved in the stress response. The intricate interplay between these systems, which encompasses the regulation of stress hormones, is central to understanding how stress may contribute to aggressive behavior and sexual function. Several neuromodulator pathways are implicated in both stress and behavior regulation. We explore the roles of norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin, and androgens in mediating the effects of stress on aggression and sexual function. It is important to distinguish between general sexual behavior, sexual motivation, and the distinct category of "sexual aggression" as separate constructs, each necessitating specific examination. Additionally, epigenetic mechanisms emerge as crucial factors that link stress to changes in gene expression patterns and, subsequently, to behavior. We then discuss how epigenetic modifications can occur in response to stress exposure, altering the regulation of genes associated with stress, aggression, and sexual function. While numerous studies support the association between epigenetic changes and stress-induced behavior, more research is necessary to establish definitive links. Throughout this exploration, it becomes increasingly clear that the relationship between stress, neuromodulator pathways, and epigenetics is intricate and multifaceted. The review emphasizes the need for further research, particularly in the context of human studies, to provide clinical significance and to validate the existing findings from animal models. By better understanding how stress influences aggressive behavior and sexual function through neuromodulator pathways and epigenetic modifications, this research aims to contribute to the development of innovative protocols of precision medicine and more effective strategies for managing the consequences of stress on human behavior. This may also pave way for further research into risk factors and underlying mechanisms that may associate stress with sexual aggression which finds application not only in neuroscience, but also law, ethics, and the humanities in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngala Elvis Mbiydzenyuy
- Basic Science Department, School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, P.O Box 71191, Ndola, Zambia
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Cape Town South Africa
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Division of Molecular Biology & Human Genetics, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Cape Town South Africa
| | - Thando W. Shabangu
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Cape Town South Africa
| | - Lihle Qulu-Appiah
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Cape Town South Africa
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Xian Z, Liu H, Gu Y, Hu Z, Li G. EEG biomarkers of behavioral inhibition in patients with depression who committed violent offenses: a Go/NoGo ERP study. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae010. [PMID: 38306653 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae010] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the neurobiological correlates of behavioral inhibition in patients with depression who committed violent offenses could contribute to the prediction and prevention of violence. The present study recruited 29 depressed patients with violent offenses (VD group), 27 depressed patients without violent behavior (NVD group), and 28 healthy controls (HC group) to complete a visual Go/NoGo task, during which their responses and electroencephalography were simultaneously recorded using an event-related potentiometer. The results showed that the VD group made more commission errors and responded more slowly relative to the NVD and HC groups. The P3 amplitude of the VD group was reduced in the frontal and central brain regions compared to the HC group and increased in the parietal regions compared to the NVD group. In comparison to Go stimuli, NoGo stimuli induced longer P3 latencies in frontal regions in both the VD and NVD groups; however, this difference was not statistically significant in the HC group. These results provide electrophysical evidence of behavioral inhibition deficits in patients with depression, especially in those with violent behaviors. The reduced P3 amplitude in the frontal-central regions, increased P3 amplitude in the parietal regions, and increased NoGo P3 latency may be potential electrophysiological features that can predict violent behavior in patients with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuohang Xian
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Subbureau of East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan Public Security Bureau, 430073 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Gu
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zeqing Hu
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Gangqin Li
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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6
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Oak S, Nguyen C, Rodney-Hernández P, Rincón-Cortés M. Behavioral responses to natural rewards in developing male and female rats. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22448. [PMID: 38131245 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22448] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Reward deficits are a hallmark feature of multiple psychiatric disorders and often recapitulated in rodent models useful for the study of psychiatric disorders, including those employing early life stress. Moreover, rodent studies have shown sex differences during adulthood in response to natural and drug rewards under normative conditions and in stress-based rodent models. Yet, little is known about the development of reward-related responses under normative conditions, including how these may differ in rats of both sexes during early development. Comparing reward-related behavioral responses between developing male and female rats may be useful for understanding how these processes may be affected in rodent models relevant to psychiatric disorders. To this end, we tested behavioral responses to natural rewards in male and female rats using sucrose consumption, sweet palatable food intake and social play tests at two timepoints (peripuberty, adolescence). Our results suggest comparable responses to consummatory and social rewards in male and female rats during peripuberty and adolescence as no sex differences were found for sucrose preference, chocolate candy intake or a subset of play behaviors (dorsal contacts, pins). These findings suggest that sex differences in response to these natural rewards emerge and may be more robust during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Oak
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Christine Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | | | - Millie Rincón-Cortés
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
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Li Z, Lee CS, Chen S, He B, Chen X, Peng HY, Lin TB, Hsieh MC, Lai CY, Chou D. Blue light at night produces stress-evoked heightened aggression by enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the basolateral amygdala. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 28:100600. [PMID: 38187456 PMCID: PMC10767493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100600] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Light is an underappreciated mood manipulator. People are often exposed to electronic equipment, which results in nocturnal blue light exposure in modern society. Light pollution drastically shortens the night phase of the circadian rhythm. Preclinical and clinical studies have reported that nocturnal light exposure can influence mood, such as depressive-like phenotypes. However, the effects of blue light at night (BLAN) on other moods and how it alters mood remain unclear. Here, we explored the impact of BLAN on stress-provoked aggression in male Sprague‒Dawley rats, focusing on its influence on basolateral amygdala (BLA) activity. Resident-intruder tests, extracellular electrophysiological recordings, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed. The results indicated that BLAN produces stress-induced heightened aggressive and anxiety-like phenotypes. Moreover, BLAN not only potentiates long-term potentiation and long-term depression in the BLA but also results in stress-induced elevation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), mature BDNF, and phosphorylation of tyrosine receptor kinase B expression in the BLA. Intra-BLA microinfusion of BDNF RNAi, BDNF neutralizing antibody, K252a, and rapamycin blocked stress-induced heightened aggressive behavior in BLAN rats. In addition, intra-BLA application of BDNF and 7,8-DHF caused stress-induced heightened aggressive behavior in naïve rats. Collectively, these results suggest that BLAN results in stress-evoked heightened aggressive phenotypes, which may work by enhancing BLA BDNF signaling and synaptic plasticity. This study reveals that nocturnal blue light exposure may have an impact on stress-provoked aggression. Moreover, this study provides novel insights into the BLA BDNF-dependent mechanism underlying the impact of the BLAN on mood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenlong Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Chau-Shoun Lee
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Si Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Benyu He
- School of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinya Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Hsien-Yu Peng
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzer-Bin Lin
- Institute of New Drug Development, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chun Hsieh
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yuan Lai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Dylan Chou
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
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Ohta KI, Araki C, Ujihara H, Iseki K, Suzuki S, Otabi H, Kumei H, Warita K, Kusaka T, Miki T. Maternal separation early in life induces excessive activity of the central amygdala related to abnormal aggression. J Neurochem 2023; 167:778-794. [PMID: 38037675 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have indicated that child maltreatment, such as neglect, is a risk factor of escalated aggression, potentially leading to delinquency and violent crime in the future. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which an early adverse environment may later cause violent behavior. In this study, we aimed to thoroughly examine the association between aggression against conspecific animals and the activity of amygdala subnuclei using the maternal separation (MS) model, which is a common model of early life stress. In the MS group, pups of Sprague-Dawley rats were separated from their dam during postnatal days 2-20 (twice a day, 3 h each). We only included 9-week-old male offspring for each analysis and compared the MS group with the mother-reared control group; both groups were raised by the same dam during postnatal days 2-20. The results revealed that the MS group exhibited higher aggression and excessive activity of only the central amygdala (CeA) among the amygdala subnuclei during the aggressive behavior test. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between higher aggression and CeA activation. While CeA activity is known to be involved in hunting behavior for prey, some previous studies have also indicated a relationship between CeA and intraspecific aggression. It remains unclear, however, whether excessive CeA activity directly induces intraspecific aggression. Therefore, we stimulated the CeA using optogenetics with 8-week-old rats to clarify the relationship between intraspecific aggression and CeA activity. Notably, CeA activation resulted in higher aggression, even when the opponent was a conspecific animal. In particular, bilateral CeA activation resulted in more severe displays of aggressive behavior than necessary, such as biting a surrendered opponent. These findings suggest that an adverse environment during early development intensifies aggression through excessive CeA activation, which can increase the risk of escalating to violent behavior in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken-Ichi Ohta
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Chihiro Araki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Ujihara
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Keizo Iseki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Shingo Suzuki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hikari Otabi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Haruki Kumei
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Warita
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Takashi Kusaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Takanori Miki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
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Santos-Silva T, Hazar Ülgen D, Lopes CFB, Guimarães FS, Alberici LC, Sandi C, Gomes FV. Transcriptomic analysis reveals mitochondrial pathways associated with distinct adolescent behavioral phenotypes and stress response. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:351. [PMID: 37978166 PMCID: PMC10656500 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02648-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent individuals exhibit great variability in cortical dynamics and behavioral outcomes. The developing adolescent brain is highly sensitive to social experiences and environmental insults, influencing how personality traits emerge. A distinct pattern of mitochondrial gene expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during adolescence underscores the essential role of mitochondria in brain maturation and the development of mental illnesses. Mitochondrial features in certain brain regions account for behavioral differences in adulthood. However, it remains unclear whether distinct adolescent behavioral phenotypes and the behavioral consequences of early adolescent stress exposure in rats are accompanied by changes in PFC mitochondria-related genes and mitochondria respiratory chain capacity. We performed a behavioral characterization during late adolescence (postnatal day, PND 47-50), including naïve animals and a group exposed to stress from PND 31-40 (10 days of footshock and 3 restraint sessions) by z-normalized data from three behavioral domains: anxiety (light-dark box tests), sociability (social interaction test) and cognition (novel-object recognition test). Employing principal component analysis, we identified three clusters: naïve with higher-behavioral z-score (HBZ), naïve with lower-behavioral z-score (LBZ), and stressed animals. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling unveiled differences in the expression of mitochondria-related genes in both naïve LBZ and stressed animals compared to naïve HBZ. Genes encoding subunits of oxidative phosphorylation complexes were significantly down-regulated in both naïve LBZ and stressed animals and positively correlated with behavioral z-score of phenotypes. Our network topology analysis of mitochondria-associated genes found Ndufa10 and Cox6a1 genes as central identifiers for naïve LBZ and stressed animals, respectively. Through high-resolution respirometry analysis, we found that both naïve LBZ and stressed animals exhibited a reduced prefrontal phosphorylation capacity and redox dysregulation. Our findings identify an association between mitochondrial features and distinct adolescent behavioral phenotypes while also underscoring the detrimental functional consequences of adolescent stress on the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamyris Santos-Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Doğukan Hazar Ülgen
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Caio Fábio Baeta Lopes
- Ribeirão Preto Pharmaceutical Sciences School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luciane Carla Alberici
- Ribeirão Preto Pharmaceutical Sciences School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Felipe V Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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10
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Cook A, Beckmann H, Azap R, Ryu S. Acute Stress Modulates Social Approach and Social Maintenance in Adult Zebrafish. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0491-22.2023. [PMID: 37620148 PMCID: PMC10493981 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0491-22.2023] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress alters social functioning in a complex manner. An important variable determining the final effects of stress is stressor intensity. However, the precise relationship between stressor intensity and social behavior is not well understood. Here, we investigate the effects of varying acute stressor intensity exposure on social behavior using adult zebrafish. We first establish a novel test using adult zebrafish that allows distinguishing fish's drive to approach a social cue and its ability to engage and maintain social interaction within the same behavioral paradigm. Next, we combined this test with a new method to deliver an acute stress stimulus of varying intensities. Our results show that both social approach and social maintenance are reduced in adult zebrafish on acute stress exposure in an intensity-dependent manner. Interestingly, lower stress intensity reduces social maintenance without affecting the social approach, while a higher stress level is required to alter social approach. These results provide evidence for a direct correlation between acute stressor intensity and social functioning and suggest that distinct steps in social behavior are modulated differentially by the acute stress level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Cook
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55116, Mainz, Germany
| | - Holger Beckmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55116, Mainz, Germany
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Rutkay Azap
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55116, Mainz, Germany
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
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11
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Cooper MA, Grizzell JA, Whitten CJ, Burghardt GM. Comparing the ontogeny, neurobiology, and function of social play in hamsters and rats. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105102. [PMID: 36804399 PMCID: PMC10023430 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Syrian hamsters show complex social play behavior and provide a valuable animal model for delineating the neurobiological mechanisms and functions of social play. In this review, we compare social play behavior of hamsters and rats and underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Juvenile rats play by competing for opportunities to pin one another and attack their partner's neck. A broad set of cortical, limbic, and striatal regions regulate the display of social play in rats. In hamsters, social play is characterized by attacks to the head in early puberty, which gradually transitions to the flanks in late puberty. The transition from juvenile social play to adult hamster aggression corresponds with engagement of neural ensembles controlling aggression. Play deprivation in rats and hamsters alters dendritic morphology in mPFC neurons and impairs flexible, context-dependent behavior in adulthood, which suggests these animals may have converged on a similar function for social play. Overall, dissecting the neurobiology of social play in hamsters and rats can provide a valuable comparative approach for evaluating the function of social play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Cooper
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA.
| | - J Alex Grizzell
- Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Conner J Whitten
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Gordon M Burghardt
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA; Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
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12
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Mancini GF, Meijer OC, Campolongo P. Stress in adolescence as a first hit in stress-related disease development: Timing and context are crucial. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 69:101065. [PMID: 37001566 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
The two-hit stress model predicts that exposure to stress at two different time-points in life may increase or decrease the risk of developing stress-related disorders later in life. Most studies based on the two-hit stress model have investigated early postnatal stress as the first hit with adult stress as the second hit. Adolescence, however, represents another highly sensitive developmental window during which exposure to stressful events may affect programming outcomes following exposure to stress in adulthood. Here, we discuss the programming effects of different types of stressors (social and nonsocial) occurring during adolescence (first hit) and how such stressors affect the responsiveness toward an additional stressor occurring during adulthood (second hit) in rodents. We then provide a comprehensive overview of the potential mechanisms underlying interindividual and sex differences in the resilience/susceptibility to developing stress-related disorders later in life when stress is experienced in two different life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia F Mancini
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Onno C Meijer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy.
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13
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Maletta T, Palummieri M, Correa J, Holahan MR. Preadolescent exposure to a sexually mature, unrelated male rat reduces postadolescent social recognition memory and CA2 c-Fos labeling. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1104866. [PMID: 36778132 PMCID: PMC9908592 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1104866] [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: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Social memory involves social recognition: the ability to discriminate between two or more conspecifics when one has been previously encountered. The CA2 region of the hippocampus has been implicated in social memory, as lesions and dysfunction to this area lead to social memory impairments. A variety of psychogenic manipulations during postnatal sensitive developmental periods are associated with social memory impairments later in life. Methods In this study, we exposed preadolescent rats to a sexually, mature unrelated male and examined whether this was associated with changes in postadolescent social memory and c-Fos labeling in the CA2 region. Male and female Long-Evans rats were exposed to a male, adult rat on postnatal days 19-21 (P19-21). Social memory was measured during the postadolescent period and defined as increased interactions towards a novel age-matched rat in contrast to a previously-encountered age-matched rat. After the test, rats were euthanized and brain tissue was then collected to quantify c-Fos labeling within the CA2 region. Results Compared to home cage controls and controls not exposed to the adult male, male and female rats exposed to the unrelated adult during preadolescence were unable to discriminate between a novel and previously encountered conspecific during the postadolescent test showing social memory deficits. The groups that showed social recognition deficits also had significantly fewer c-Fos-positive cells within the CA2 region compared to the control groups. Discussion These findings indicate that threatening psychogenic encounters during preadolescence can have detrimental long-term effects on social memory potentially via disrupted activity in the CA2 hippocampal region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Maletta
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jeff Correa
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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14
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Harris EP, Villalobos-Manriquez F, Melo TG, Clarke G, O'Leary OF. Stress during puberty exerts sex-specific effects on depressive-like behavior and monoamine neurotransmitters in adolescence and adulthood. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 21:100494. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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15
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Li X, Sun H, Zhu Y, Wang F, Wang X, Han L, Cui D, Luo D, Zhai Y, Zhuo L, Xu X, Yang J, Li Y. Dysregulation of prefrontal parvalbumin interneurons leads to adult aggression induced by social isolation stress during adolescence. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1010152. [PMID: 36267698 PMCID: PMC9577330 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1010152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social isolation during the juvenile stage results in structural and functional impairment of the brain and deviant adult aggression. However, the specific subregions and cell types that underpin this deviant behavior are still largely unknown. Here, we found that adolescent social isolation led to a shortened latency to attack onset and extended the average attack time, accompanied by anxiety-like behavior and deficits in social preference in adult mice. However, when exposed to social isolation during adulthood, the mice did not show these phenotypes. We also found that the structural plasticity of prefrontal pyramidal neurons, including the dendritic complexity and spine ratio, was impaired in mice exposed to adolescent social isolation. The parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the prefrontal infralimbic cortex (IL) are highly vulnerable to juvenile social isolation and exhibit decreased cell numbers and reduced activation in adulthood. Moreover, chemogenetic inactivation of IL-PV interneurons can mimic juvenile social isolation-induced deviant aggression and social preference. Conversely, artificial activation of IL-PV interneurons significantly attenuated deviant aggression and rescued social preference during adulthood in mice exposed to adolescent social isolation. These findings implicate juvenile social isolation-induced damage to IL-PV interneurons in long-term aggressive behavior in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huan Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Feidi Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaodan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lin Han
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dongqi Cui
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Danlei Luo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yifang Zhai
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lixia Zhuo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiangzhao Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Jian Yang,
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Li,
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16
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Mahmoodkhani M, Ghasemi M, Derafshpour L, Amini M, Mehranfard N. Developmental effects of early-life stress on dopamine D2 receptor and proteins involved in noncanonical D2 dopamine receptor signaling pathway in the prefrontal cortex of male rats. JOURNAL OF COMPLEMENTARY & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 19:697-703. [PMID: 33962496 DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2020-0539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Dopamine neurotransmission is implicated in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, most strikingly in Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia. In addition to canonical pathway, D2-receptor (D2R) exerts some of its biological actions through regulating the activity of Akt and GSK3, which in turn were found to be altered in several psychiatric illnesses. The present study examined the impacts of maternal separation, an early-life stress model which has been associated with disturbed neurodevelopment and appearance of many psychiatric disorders, on developmental changes in dopamine concentration and the expression of D2Rs, Akt and GSK-3β in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC; a key target of stress) in adolescent and young adult male rats. METHODS Maternal separation was performed 3 h per day from postnatal days 2 to 11. The PFC protein and dopamine contents were determined using western blotting analysis and Eliza, respectively. RESULTS Results indicated long-term increases in the prefrontal dopamine levels in stressed adolescent and young adult male rats, accompanied by significant downregulation of D2R as well as upregulation of p-Akt and GSK-3β contents in stressed adolescence compared to controls, with all protein levels that returned to control values in stressed adult rats. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that early-life stress differentially modulates prefrontal D2R/Akt/GSK-3β levels during development. Since adolescence period is susceptible to the onset of specific mental illnesses, disruption of noncanonical components of D2R signaling during this critical period may have an important role in programming neurobehavioral phenotypes in adulthood and manipulations influencing Akt/GSK-3β pathway may improve the expression of specific dopamine-related behaviors and the effects of dopaminergic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Mahmoodkhani
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Maedeh Ghasemi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Leila Derafshpour
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amini
- School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Nasrin Mehranfard
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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17
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Kuniishi H, Nakatake Y, Sekiguchi M, Yamada M. Adolescent social isolation induces distinct changes in the medial and lateral OFC-BLA synapse and social and emotional alterations in adult mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1597-1607. [PMID: 35697823 PMCID: PMC9283446 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01358-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Early-life social isolation is associated with social and emotional problems in adulthood. However, neural mechanisms underlying how social deprivation impairs social and emotional development are poorly understood. Recently, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) have been highlighted as key nodes for social and emotional functions. Hence, we hypothesize that early social deprivation disrupts the information processing in the OFC-BLA pathway and leads to social and emotional dysfunction. Here, we examined the effects of adolescent social isolation on the OFC-BLA synaptic transmission by optogenetic and whole-cell patch-clamp methods in adult mice. Adolescent social isolation decreased social preference and increased passive stress-coping behaviour in adulthood. Then, we examined excitatory synaptic transmissions to BLA from medial or lateral subregions of the OFC (mOFC or lOFC). Notably, adolescent social isolation decreased the AMPA/NMDA ratio in the mOFC-BLA synapse in adulthood, while the ratio was increased in the lOFC-BLA synapse. Furthermore, we optogenetically manipulated the mOFC-BLA or lOFC-BLA transmission in behaving mice and examined the effects on social and stress-coping behaviours. Optogenetic manipulation of the mOFC-BLA transmission altered social behaviour without affecting passive stress-coping behaviour, while optogenetic manipulation of the lOFC-BLA transmission altered passive stress-coping behaviour without affecting social behaviour. Our results suggest that adolescent social isolation induces distinct postsynaptic changes in the mOFC-BLA and lOFC-BLA synapses, and these changes may separately contribute to abnormalities in social and emotional development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kuniishi
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan. .,United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. .,Division of Development of Mental Functions, Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
| | - Yuko Nakatake
- grid.419280.60000 0004 1763 8916Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo Japan
| | - Masayuki Sekiguchi
- grid.419280.60000 0004 1763 8916Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo Japan ,grid.419280.60000 0004 1763 8916Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo Japan
| | - Mitsuhiko Yamada
- grid.419280.60000 0004 1763 8916Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo Japan
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18
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Takahashi A. The role of social isolation stress in escalated aggression in rodent models. Neurosci Res 2022:S0168-0102(22)00212-7. [PMID: 35917930 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Anti-social behavior and violence are major public health concerns. Globally, violence contributes to more than 1.6 million deaths each year. Previous studies have reported that social rejection or neglect exacerbates aggression. In rodent models, social isolation stress is used to demonstrate the adverse effects of social deprivation on physiological, endocrinological, immunological, and behavioral parameters, including aggressive behavior. This review summarizes recent rodent studies on the effect of social isolation stress during different developmental periods on aggressive behavior and the underlying neural mechanisms. Social isolation during adulthood affects the levels of neurosteroids and neuropeptides and increases aggressive behavior. These changes are ethologically relevant for the adaptation to changes in local environmental conditions in the natural habitats. Chronic deprivation of social interaction after weaning, especially during the juvenile to adolescent periods, leads to the disruption of the development of appropriate social behavior and the maladaptive escalation of aggressive behavior. The understanding of neurobiological mechanisms underlying social isolation-induced escalated aggression will aid in the development of therapeutic interventions for escalated aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Takahashi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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19
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Haller J. Aggression, Aggression-Related Psychopathologies and Their Models. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:936105. [PMID: 35860723 PMCID: PMC9289268 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.936105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural mechanisms of aggression and violence are often studied in the laboratory by means of animal models. A multitude of such models were developed over the last decades, which, however, were rarely if ever compared systematically from a psychopathological perspective. By overviewing the main models, I show here that the classical ones exploited the natural tendency of animals to defend their territory, to fight for social rank, to defend themselves from imminent dangers and to defend their pups. All these forms of aggression are functional and adaptive; consequently, not necessarily appropriate for modeling non-natural states, e.g., aggression-related psychopathologies. A number of more psychopathology-oriented models were also developed over the last two decades, which were based on the etiological factors of aggression-related mental disorders. When animals were exposed to such factors, their aggressiveness suffered durable changes, which were deviant in the meaning that they broke the evolutionarily conserved rules that minimize the dangers associated with aggression. Changes in aggression were associated with a series of dysfunctions that affected other domains of functioning, like with aggression-related disorders where aggression is just one of the symptoms. The comparative overview of such models suggests that while the approach still suffers from a series of deficits, they hold the important potential of extending our knowledge on aggression control over the pathological domain of this behavior.
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Abstract
The effects of glucocorticoids on aggression can be conceptualized based on its mechanisms of action. These hormones can affect cell function non-genomically within minutes, primarily by affecting the cell membrane. Overall, such effects are activating and promote both metabolic preparations for the fight and aggressive behavior per se. Chronic increases in glucocorticoids activate genomic mechanisms and are depressing overall, including the inhibition of aggressive behavior. Finally, excessive stressors trigger epigenetic phenomena that have a large impact on brain programming and may also induce the reprogramming of neural functions. These induce qualitative changes in aggression that are deemed abnormal in animals, and psychopathological and criminal in humans. This review aims at deciphering the roles of glucocorticoids in aggression control by taking in view the three mechanisms of action often categorized as acute, chronic, and toxic stress based on the duration and the consequences of the stress response. It is argued that the tripartite way of influencing aggression can be recognized in all three animal, psychopathological, and criminal aggression and constitute a framework of mechanisms by which aggressive behavior adapts to short-term and log-term changes in the environment.
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21
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Oliveira VEDM, de Jong TR, Neumann ID. Synthetic Oxytocin and Vasopressin Act Within the Central Amygdala to Exacerbate Aggression in Female Wistar Rats. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:906617. [PMID: 35663559 PMCID: PMC9158429 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.906617] [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: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Exacerbated aggression is a high-impact, but poorly understood core symptom of several psychiatric disorders, which can also affect women. Animal models have successfully been employed to unravel the neurobiology of aggression. However, despite increasing evidence for sex-specificity, little is known about aggression in females. Here, we studied the role of the oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) systems within the central amygdala (CeA) on aggressive behavior displayed by virgin female Wistar rats using immunohistochemistry, receptor autoradiography, and neuropharmacology. Our data show that CeA GABAergic neurons are activated after an aggressive encounter in the female intruder test. Additionally, neuronal activity (pERK) negatively correlated with the display of aggression in low-aggressive group-housed females. Binding of OXT receptors, but not AVP-V1a receptors, was increased in the CeA of high-aggressive isolated and trained (IST) females. Finally, local infusion of either synthetic OXT or AVP enhanced aggression in IST females, whereas blockade of either of these receptors did not affect aggressive behavior. Altogether, our data support a moderate role of the CeA in female aggression. Regarding neuropeptide signaling, our findings suggest that synthetic, but not endogenous OXT and AVP modulate aggressive behavior in female Wistar rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius E. de M. Oliveira
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
- Department of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Trynke R. de Jong
- Department of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Medische Biobank Noord-Nederland B.V., Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Inga D. Neumann
- Department of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Inga D. Neumann,
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22
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Liu N, Li B, Zhang L, Yang D, Yang F. Basolateral Amygdala Mediates Central Mechanosensory Feedback of Musculoskeletal System. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:834980. [PMID: 35250478 PMCID: PMC8889035 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.834980] [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: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia, are tremendous and growing public health concerns. Considering the intimate functional relationship between muscle and bone throughout development, growth, and aging, muscle provides the primary source of skeletal loading through contraction force. However, significant gaps exist in our knowledge regarding the role of muscle in bone homeostasis and little is known regarding the mechanism through which the central nervous system responds and regulates unloading-induced bone loss. Here, we showed that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial part of the central nucleus (CeM) are anatomically connected with the musculoskeletal system. Unloading-induced bone loss is accompanied by a decrease in serum semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) levels as well as sensory denervation. In vivo fiber photometry recordings indicated that the mechanical signal is integrated by the BLA and CeM within 24 h and subsequently regulates bone remodeling. Moreover, chemogenetic activation of BLACaMKII neurons mitigates severe bone loss caused by mechanical unloading via increased serum levels of Sema3A and sensory innervation. These results indicate that the BLA integrates the mechanosensory signals rapidly and mediates the systemic hormonal secretion of Sema3A to maintain bone homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Liu
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Botai Li
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dazhi Yang
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Dazhi Yang,
| | - Fan Yang
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Fan Yang,
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23
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Brás JP, Guillot de Suduiraut I, Zanoletti O, Monari S, Meijer M, Grosse J, Barbosa MA, Santos SG, Sandi C, Almeida MI. Stress-induced depressive-like behavior in male rats is associated with microglial activation and inflammation dysregulation in the hippocampus in adulthood. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 99:397-408. [PMID: 34793941 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in depression. Early-life stress exposure and constitutive differences in glucocorticoid responsiveness to stressors are two key risk factors for depression, but their impacts on the inflammatory status of the brain is still uncertain. Moreover, there is a need to identify specific molecules involved in these processes with the potential to be used as alternative therapeutic targets in inflammation-related depression. Here, we studied how peripubertal stress (PPS) combined with differential corticosterone (CORT)-stress responsiveness (CSR) influences depressive-like behaviors and brain inflammatory markers in male rats in adulthood, and how these alterations relate to microglia activation and miR-342 expression. We found that high-CORT stress-responsive (H-CSR) male rats that underwent PPS exhibited increased anhedonia and passive coping responses in adulthood. Also, animals exposed to PPS showed increased hippocampal TNF-α expression, which positively correlated with passive coping responses. In addition, PPS caused long-term effects on hippocampal microglia, particularly in H-CSR rats, with increased hippocampal IBA-1 expression and morphological alterations compatible with a higher degree of activation. H-CSR animals also showed upregulation of hippocampal miR-342, a mediator of TNF-α-driven microglial activation, and its expression was positively correlated with TNF-α expression, microglial activation and passive coping responses. Our findings indicate that individuals with constitutive H-CSR are particularly sensitive to developing protracted depression-like behaviors following PPS exposure. In addition, they show neuro-immunological alterations in adulthood, such as increased hippocampal TNF-α expression, microglial activation and miR-342 expression. Our work highlights miR-342 as a potential therapeutic target in inflammation-related depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo Brás
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde/Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (i3S/INEB), University of Porto (UP), Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Olivia Zanoletti
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Monari
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mandy Meijer
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jocelyn Grosse
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mário Adolfo Barbosa
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde/Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (i3S/INEB), University of Porto (UP), Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Susana Gomes Santos
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde/Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (i3S/INEB), University of Porto (UP), Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maria Inês Almeida
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde/Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (i3S/INEB), University of Porto (UP), Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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24
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Oliveira VEDM, Bakker J. Neuroendocrine regulation of female aggression. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:957114. [PMID: 36034455 PMCID: PMC9399833 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.957114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Classically the neurobiology of aggression has been studied exclusively in males. Thus, females have been considered mildly aggressive except during lactation. Interestingly, recent studies in rodents and humans have revealed that non-lactating females can show exacerbated and pathological aggression similarly to males. This review provides an overview of recent findings on the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating aggressive behavior in females. In particular, the focus will be on novel rodent models of exaggerated aggression established in non-lactating females. Among the neuromodulatory systems influencing female aggression, special attention has been given to sex-steroids and sex-steroid-sensitive neuronal populations (i.e., the core nuclei of the neural pathway of aggression) as well as to the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin which are major players in the regulation of social behaviors.
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25
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OUP accepted manuscript. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:4619-4639. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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26
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Dion A, Muñoz PT, Franklin TB. Epigenetic mechanisms impacted by chronic stress across the rodent lifespan. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 17:100434. [PMID: 35198660 PMCID: PMC8841894 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposures to stress at all stages of development can lead to long-term behavioural effects, in part through changes in the epigenome. This review describes rodent research suggesting that stress in prenatal, postnatal, adolescent and adult stages leads to long-term changes in epigenetic regulation in the brain which have causal impacts on rodent behaviour. We focus on stress-induced epigenetic changes that have been linked to behavioural deficits including poor learning and memory, and increased anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviours. Interestingly, aspects of these stress-induced behavioural changes can be transmitted to offspring across several generations, a phenomenon that has been proposed to result via epigenetic mechanisms in the germline. Here, we also discuss evidence for the differential impact of stress on the epigenome in males and females, conscious of the fact that the majority of published studies have only investigated males. This has led to a limited picture of the epigenetic impact of stress, highlighting the need for future studies to investigate females as well as males.
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27
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Harris EP, McGovern AJ, Melo TG, Barron A, Nola YM, O'Leary OF. Juvenile Stress Exerts Sex-independent Effects on Anxiety, Antidepressant-like Behaviours and Dopaminergic Innervation of the Prelimbic Cortex in Adulthood and Does Not Alter Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Behav Brain Res 2021; 421:113725. [PMID: 34929235 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113725] [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: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Stress, particularly during childhood, is a major risk factor for the development of depression. Depression is twice as prevalent in women compared to men, which suggests that that biological sex also contributes to depression susceptibility. However, the neurobiology underpinning sex differences in the long-term consequences of childhood stress remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether stress applied during the prepubertal juvenile period (postnatal day 27-29) in rats induces sex-specific changes in anxiety-like behaviour, anhedonia, and antidepressant-like behaviour in adulthood in males and females. The impact of juvenile stress on two systems in the brain associated with these behaviours and that develop during the juvenile period, the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system and hippocampal neurogenesis, were also investigated. Juvenile stress altered escape-oriented behaviours in the forced swim test in both sexes, decreased latency to drink a palatable substance in a novel environment in the novelty-induced hypophagia test in both sexes, and decreased open field supported rearing behavior in females. These behavioural changes were accompanied by stress-induced increases in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the prefrontal cortex of both sexes, but not other regions of the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. Juvenile stress did not impact anhedonia in adulthood as measured by the saccharin preference test and had no effect hippocampal neurogenesis across the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus. These results suggest that juvenile stress has long-lasting impacts on antidepressant-like and reward-seeking behaviour in adulthood and these changes may be due to alterations to catecholaminergic innervation of the medial prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin P Harris
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Andrew J McGovern
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Thieza G Melo
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Aaron Barron
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Yvonne M Nola
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Olivia F O'Leary
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland.
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28
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Zutshi I, Gupta S, Zanoletti O, Sandi C, Poirier GL. Early life adoption shows rearing environment supersedes transgenerational effects of paternal stress on aggressive temperament in the offspring. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:533. [PMID: 34657124 PMCID: PMC8520526 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01659-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal experience and transgenerational influences are increasingly recognized as critical for defining the socio-emotional system, through the development of social competences and of their underlying neural circuitries. Here, we used an established rat model of social stress resulting from male partner aggression induced by peripubertal (P28-42) exposure to unpredictable fearful experiences. Using this model, we aimed to first, characterize adult emotionality in terms of the breadth of the socio-emotional symptoms and second, to determine the relative impact of prenatal vs postnatal influences. For this purpose, male offspring of pairs comprising a control or a peripubertally stressed male were cross-fostered at birth and tested at adulthood on a series of socio-emotional tests. In the offspring of peripubertally stressed males, the expected antisocial phenotype was observed, as manifested by increased aggression towards a female partner and a threatening intruder, accompanied by lower sociability. This negative outcome was yet accompanied by better social memory as well as enhanced active coping, based on more swimming and longer latency to immobility in the forced swim test, and less immobility in the shock probe test. Furthermore, the cross-fostering manipulation revealed that these adult behaviors were largely influenced by the post- but not the prenatal environment, an observation contrasting with both pre- and postnatal effects on attacks during juvenile play behavior. Adult aggression, other active coping behaviors, and social memory were determined by the predominance at this developmental stage of postnatal over prenatal influences. Together, our data highlight the relative persistence of early life influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ipshita Zutshi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neurology, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Sonakshi Gupta
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Pharmacy Department, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
| | - Olivia Zanoletti
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Guillaume L Poirier
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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29
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Duclot F, Kabbaj M. Epigenetics of Aggression. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2021; 54:283-310. [PMID: 34595741 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aggression is a complex behavioral trait modulated by both genetic and environmental influences on gene expression. By controlling gene expression in a reversible yet potentially lasting manner in response to environmental stimulation, epigenetic mechanisms represent prime candidates in explaining both individual differences in aggression and the development of elevated aggressive behaviors following life adversity. In this manuscript, we review the evidence for an epigenetic basis in the development and expression of aggression in both humans and related preclinical animal models. In particular, we discuss reports linking DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, as well as non-coding RNA, to the regulation of a variety of genes implicated in the neurobiology of aggression including neuropeptides, the serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems, and stress response related systems. While clinical reports do reveal interesting patterns of DNA methylation underlying individual differences and experience-induced aggressive behaviors, they do, in general, face the challenge of linking peripheral observations to central nervous system regulations. Preclinical studies, on the other hand, provide detailed mechanistic insights into the epigenetic reprogramming of gene expression following life adversities. Although the functional link to aggression remains unclear in most, these studies together do highlight the involvement of epigenetic events driven by DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA in the neuroadaptations underlying the development and expression of aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Duclot
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
| | - Mohamed Kabbaj
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
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30
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Eachus H, Choi MK, Ryu S. The Effects of Early Life Stress on the Brain and Behaviour: Insights From Zebrafish Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:657591. [PMID: 34368117 PMCID: PMC8335398 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.657591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The early life period represents a window of increased vulnerability to stress, during which exposure can lead to long-lasting effects on brain structure and function. This stress-induced developmental programming may contribute to the behavioural changes observed in mental illness. In recent decades, rodent studies have significantly advanced our understanding of how early life stress (ELS) affects brain development and behaviour. These studies reveal that ELS has long-term consequences on the brain such as impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, altering learning and memory. Despite such advances, several key questions remain inadequately answered, including a comprehensive overview of brain regions and molecular pathways that are altered by ELS and how ELS-induced molecular changes ultimately lead to behavioural changes in adulthood. The zebrafish represents a novel ELS model, with the potential to contribute to answering some of these questions. The zebrafish offers some important advantages such as the ability to non-invasively modulate stress hormone levels in a whole animal and to visualise whole brain activity in freely behaving animals. This review discusses the current status of the zebrafish ELS field and its potential as a new ELS model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Min-Kyeung Choi
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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31
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Costa DF, Moita MA, Márquez C. Novel competition test for food rewards reveals stable dominance status in adult male rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14599. [PMID: 34272430 PMCID: PMC8285491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93818-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social hierarchy is a potent modulator of behavior, that is typically established through overt agonistic interactions between individuals in the group. Once established, social ranks are maintained through subtler interactions allowing the redirection of energy away from agonistic interactions towards other needs. The available tasks for assessing social rank in rats allow the study of the mechanisms by which social hierarches are formed in early phases but fail to assess the maintenance of established hierarchies between stable pairs of animals, which might rely on distinct neurobiological mechanisms. Here we present and validate a novel trial-based dominancy assay, the modified Food Competition test, where established social hierarchies can be identified in the home cage of non-food deprived pairs of male rats. In this task, we introduce a small conflict in the home cage, where access to a new feeder containing palatable pellets can only be gained by one animal at a time. We found that this subtle conflict triggered asymmetric social interactions and resulted in higher consumption of food by one of the animals in the pair, which reliably predicted hierarchy in other tests. Our findings reveal stable dominance status in pair-housed rats and provide a novel tool for the evaluation of established social hierarchies, the modified Food Competition test, that is robust and easy to implement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana F Costa
- Neural Circuits of Social Behavior Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias (CSIC-UMH), Avenida Ramon y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain
| | - Marta A Moita
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Av. Brasilia, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristina Márquez
- Neural Circuits of Social Behavior Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias (CSIC-UMH), Avenida Ramon y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain.
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32
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Arnsten AFT, Condon EM, Dettmer AM, Gee DG, Lee KS, Mayes LC, Stover CS, Tseng WL. The prefrontal cortex in a pandemic: Restoring functions with system-, family-, and individual-focused interventions. AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2021; 76:729-743. [PMID: 33983754 PMCID: PMC8589866 DOI: 10.1037/amp0000823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unanticipated and uncontrollable chronic stressor that is detrimental to the mental and behavioral health of children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged and marginalized backgrounds. Chronic stress impairs a myriad of prefrontal cortical functions, important for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, and has consequences on dyadic parent-child functioning. Informed by neuroscience and clinical evidence, sensitive parenting is a vital avenue of intervention that buffers against the toxic effects of COVID-19 on parent-child mental health. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we first discuss the neurobiological, psychological, and behavioral mechanisms behind exacerbated mental health risks in families. We then highlight the role of sensitive parenting as a buffer against stress-related mental health problems, and conclude with recommendations for systemic-, family-, and individual-interventions to most effectively address stress-related mental health problems and their impact on children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy F. T. Arnsten
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine
- Kavli Institute of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | - Ka Shu Lee
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
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33
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Lee RS, Song SQ, Garrison-Desany HM, Carey JL, Lasutschinkow P, Zabel A, Bressler J, Gropman A, Samango-Sprouse C. DNA methylation and behavioral dysfunction in males with 47,XXY and 49,XXXXY: a pilot study. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:136. [PMID: 34210361 PMCID: PMC8252231 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01123-4] [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: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Equal dosage of X-linked genes between males and females is maintained by the X-inactivation of the second X chromosome in females through epigenetic mechanisms. Boys with aneuploidy of the X chromosome exhibit a host of symptoms such as low fertility, musculoskeletal anomalies, and cognitive and behavioral deficits that are presumed to be caused by the abnormal dosage of these genes. The objective of this pilot study is to assess the relationship between CpG methylation, an epigenetic modification, at several genes on the X chromosome and behavioral dysfunction in boys with supernumerary X chromosomes. Results Two parental questionnaires, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), were analyzed, and they showed expected differences in both internal and external behaviors between neurotypical (46,XY) boys and boys with 49,XXXXY. There were several CpGs in AR and MAOA of boys with 49,XXXXY whose methylation levels were skewed from levels predicted from having one active (Xa) and three inactive (Xi) X chromosomes. Further, methylation levels of multiple CpGs in MAOA showed nominally significant association with externalizing behavior on the CBCL, and the methylation level of one CpG in AR showed nominally significant association with the BRIEF Regulation Index. Conclusions Boys with 49,XXXXY displayed higher levels of CpG methylation at regulatory intronic regions in X-linked genes encoding the androgen receptor (AR) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), compared to that in boys with 47,XXY and neurotypical boys. Our pilot study results suggest a link between CpG methylation levels and behavior in boys with 49,XXXXY. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01123-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Lee
- The Mood Disorders Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sophia Q Song
- Department of Research, The Focus Foundation, Davidsonville, MD, USA
| | - Henri M Garrison-Desany
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jenny L Carey
- The Mood Disorders Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Andrea Gropman
- Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.,Division of Neurogenetics and Developmental Pediatrics, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Carole Samango-Sprouse
- Department of Research, The Focus Foundation, Davidsonville, MD, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. .,Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
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34
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Cui F, Zhu Y, Di S, Wang X, Zhang Y, Chai T. Toxicological Study on Chiral Fluoxetine Exposure to Adult Zebrafish ( Danio rerio): Enantioselective and Sexual Mechanism on Disruption of the Brain Serotonergic System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:7479-7490. [PMID: 34002605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The increasing number of people with depression worldwide has led to concerns regarding antidepressant contamination in aquatic environments, which could have the risk of negative effects on aquatic organisms. Chirality increases its toxicity potentials. Accordingly, we investigated the negative effects of racemic (rac-), R-, and S-FX at environmental levels (100 ng/L) on the brain serotonergic system in zebrafish (Danio rerio) for 42 days. Additionally, we measured the whole-body concentrations of FX and norfluoxetine (NFX). We found that S-FX exposure disrupted the brain serotonergic system more severely than rac- and R-FX exposure. The mechanism underlying this disruption induced by S-FX was sex-specific, with female zebrafish showing disruption of the serotonin (5-HT) release process but male zebrafish showing disruption of the 5-HT synthesis process. In addition, enantioselective enrichment and biotransformation (R-FX to R-NFX and S-FX to S-NFX) occurred in zebrafish. Sex-specific accumulation was also observed, with higher concentrations in females. Our study provides evidence for enantiomer- and sex-specific effects of FX exposure at biologically relevant concentrations. More broadly, our study demonstrated that SSRI antidepressants, such as FX, can affect aquatic life by causing important shifts in not only their active sites of the serotonin transporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Cui
- Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Green Pesticide, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yunlong Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Shanshan Di
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products/Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xinquan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products/Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Tingting Chai
- Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
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35
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Bueno-Fernandez C, Perez-Rando M, Alcaide J, Coviello S, Sandi C, Castillo-Gómez E, Nacher J. Long term effects of peripubertal stress on excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the prefrontal cortex of male and female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100322. [PMID: 33869684 PMCID: PMC8045050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of stressful events is especially important during early life, because certain cortical regions, especially the prefrontal cortex (PFC), are still developing. Consequently, aversive experiences that occur during the peripubertal period can cause long-term alterations in neural connectivity, physiology and related behaviors. Although sex influences the stress response and women are more likely to develop stress-related psychiatric disorders, knowledge about the effects of stress on females is still limited. In order to analyze the long-term effects of peripubertal stress (PPS) on the excitatory and inhibitory circuitry of the adult PFC, and whether these effects are sex-dependent, we applied an unpredictable chronic PPS protocol based on psychogenic stressors. Using two strains of transgenic mice with specific fluorescent cell reporters, we studied male and diestrus females to know how PPS affects the structure and connectivity of parvalbumin expressing (PV+) interneurons and pyramidal neurons. We also studied the expression of molecules related to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, as well as alterations in the expression of plasticity-related molecules. The structure of pyramidal neurons was differentially affected by PPS in male and female mice: while the former had a decreased dendritic spine density, the latter displayed an increase in this parameter. PPS affected the density of puncta expressing excitatory and inhibitory synaptic markers exclusively in the female mPFC. Similarly, only in female mice we observed an increased complexity of the dendritic tree of PV+ neurons. Regarding the perisomatic innervation on pyramidal and PV + neurons by basket cells, we found a significant increase in the density of puncta in stressed animals, with interesting differences between the sexes and the type of basket cell analyzed. Finally, the PPS protocol also altered the total number of somata expressing the polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) when we analyzed both sexes together. These results highlight the strong programming effects of aversive experiences during early life for the establishment of cortical circuitry and the special impact of these stressful events on females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bueno-Fernandez
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Marta Perez-Rando
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Julia Alcaide
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Simona Coviello
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Esther Castillo-Gómez
- Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Valencia, Spain.,Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain
| | - Juan Nacher
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain.,Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain.,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain
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36
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Tan T, Wang W, Liu T, Zhong P, Conrow-Graham M, Tian X, Yan Z. Neural circuits and activity dynamics underlying sex-specific effects of chronic social isolation stress. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108874. [PMID: 33761364 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to prolonged stress in critical developmental periods induces heightened vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, which may have sex-specific consequences. Here we investigate the neuronal circuits mediating behavioral changes in mice after chronic adolescent social isolation stress. Escalated aggression is exhibited in stressed males, while social withdrawal is shown in stressed females. In vivo multichannel recordings of free-moving animals indicate that pyramidal neurons in prefrontal cortex (PFC) from stressed males exhibit the significantly decreased spike activity during aggressive attacks, while PFC pyramidal neurons from stressed females show a blunted increase of discharge rates during sociability tests. Chemogenetic and electrophysiological evidence shows that PFC hypofunctioning and BLA principal neuron hyperactivity contribute to the elevated aggression in stressed males, while PFC hypofunctioning and VTA dopamine neuron hypoactivity contribute to the diminished sociability in stressed females. These results establish a framework for understanding the circuit and physiological mechanisms underlying sex-specific divergent effects of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Tiaotiao Liu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Megan Conrow-Graham
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Xin Tian
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
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Li A, Jing D, Dellarco DV, Hall BS, Yang R, Heilberg RT, Huang C, Liston C, Casey BJ, Lee FS. Role of BDNF in the development of an OFC-amygdala circuit regulating sociability in mouse and human. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:955-973. [PMID: 30992540 PMCID: PMC6883137 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0422-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Social deficits are common in many psychiatric disorders. However, due to inadequate tools for manipulating circuit activity in humans and unspecific paradigms for modeling social behaviors in rodents, our understanding of the molecular and circuit mechanisms mediating social behaviors remains relatively limited. Using human functional neuroimaging and rodent fiber photometry, we identified a mOFC-BLA projection that modulates social approach behavior and influences susceptibility to social anxiety. In humans and knock-in mice with a loss of function BDNF SNP (Val66Met), the functionality of this circuit was altered, resulting in social behavioral changes in human and mice. We further showed that the development of this circuit is disrupted in BDNF Met carriers due to insufficient BDNF bioavailability, specifically during a peri-adolescent timeframe. These findings define one mechanism by which social anxiety may stem from altered maturation of orbitofronto-amygdala projections and identify a developmental window in which BDNF-based interventions may have therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anfei Li
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deqiang Jing
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Danielle V Dellarco
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Baila S Hall
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruirong Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ross T Heilberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chienchun Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Conor Liston
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - B J Casey
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Francis S Lee
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Synergistic inhibition of histone modifiers produces therapeutic effects in adult Shank3-deficient mice. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:99. [PMID: 33542189 PMCID: PMC7862604 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01233-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disorder characterized by social deficits and other behavioral abnormalities. Dysregulation of epigenetic processes, such as histone modifications and chromatin remodeling, have been implicated in ASD pathology, and provides a promising therapeutic target for ASD. Haploinsufficiency of the SHANK3 gene is causally linked to ASD, so adult (3-5 months old) Shank3-deficient male mice were used in this drug discovery study. We found that combined administration of the class I histone deacetylase inhibitor Romidepsin and the histone demethylase LSD1 inhibitor GSK-LSD1 persistently ameliorated the autism-like social preference deficits, while each individual drug alone was largely ineffective. Another behavioral abnormality in adult Shank3-deficient male mice, heightened aggression, was also alleviated by administration of the dual drugs. Furthermore, Romidepsin/GSK-LSD1 treatment significantly increased transcriptional levels of NMDA receptor subunits in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult Shank3-deficient mice, resulting in elevated synaptic expression of NMDA receptors and the restoration of NMDAR synaptic function in PFC pyramidal neurons. These results have offered a novel pharmacological intervention strategy for ASD beyond early developmental periods.
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Soga T, Teo CH, Parhar I. Genetic and Epigenetic Consequence of Early-Life Social Stress on Depression: Role of Serotonin-Associated Genes. Front Genet 2021; 11:601868. [PMID: 33584798 PMCID: PMC7874148 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.601868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity caused by poor social bonding and deprived maternal care is known to affect mental wellbeing and physical health. It is a form of chronic social stress that persists because of a negative environment, and the consequences are long-lasting on mental health. The presence of social stress during early life can have an epigenetic effect on the body, possibly resulting in many complex mental disorders, including depression in later life. Here, we review the evidence for early-life social stress-induced epigenetic changes that modulate juvenile and adult social behavior (depression and anxiety). This review has a particular emphasis on the interaction between early-life social stress and genetic variation of serotonin associate genes including the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT; also known as SLC6A4), which are key molecules involved in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Soga
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
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40
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Tzanoulinou S, Gantelet E, Sandi C, Márquez C. Programming effects of peripubertal stress on spatial learning. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100282. [PMID: 33344733 PMCID: PMC7739188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to adversity during early life can have profound influences on brain function and behavior later in life. The peripubertal period is emerging as an important time-window of susceptibility to stress, with substantial evidence documenting long-term consequences in the emotional and social domains. However, little is known about how stress during this period impacts subsequent cognitive functioning. Here, we assessed potential long-term effects of peripubertal stress on spatial learning and memory using the water maze task. In addition, we interrogated whether individual differences in stress-induced behavioral and endocrine changes are related to the degree of adaptation of the corticosterone response to repeated stressor exposure during the peripubertal period. We found that, when tested at adulthood, peripubertally stressed animals displayed a slower learning rate. Strikingly, the level of spatial orientation in the water maze completed on the last training day was predicted by the degree of adaptation of the recovery -and not the peak-of the corticosterone response to stressor exposure (i.e., plasma levels at 60 min post-stressor) across the peripubertal stress period. In addition, peripubertal stress led to changes in emotional and glucocorticoid reactivity to novelty exposure, as well as in the expression levels of the plasticity molecule PSA-NCAM in the hippocampus. Importantly, by assessing the same endpoints in another peripubertally stressed cohort tested during adolescence, we show that the observed effects at adulthood are the result of a delayed programming manifested at adulthood and not protracted effects of stress. Altogether, our results support the view that the degree of stress-induced adaptation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis responsiveness at the important transitional period of puberty relates to the long-term programming of cognition, behavior and endocrine reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tzanoulinou
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - E Gantelet
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C Márquez
- Laboratory of Neural Circuits of Social Behavior, Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), San Juan de Alicante, Spain
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41
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Wei J, Cheng J, Waddell NJ, Wang ZJ, Pang X, Cao Q, Liu A, Chitaman JM, Abreu K, Jasrotia RS, Duffney LJ, Zhang J, Dietz DM, Feng J, Yan Z. DNA Methyltransferase 3A Is Involved in the Sustained Effects of Chronic Stress on Synaptic Functions and Behaviors. Cereb Cortex 2020; 31:1998-2012. [PMID: 33230530 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms regulate aberrant gene transcription in stress-associated mental disorders. However, it remains to be elucidated about the role of DNA methylation and its catalyzing enzymes, DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), in this process. Here, we found that male rats exposed to chronic (2-week) unpredictable stress exhibited a substantial reduction of Dnmt3a after stress cessation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a key target region of stress. Treatment of unstressed control rats with DNMT inhibitors recapitulated the effect of chronic unpredictable stress on decreased AMPAR expression and function in PFC. In contrast, overexpression of Dnmt3a in PFC of stressed animals prevented the loss of glutamatergic responses. Moreover, the stress-induced behavioral abnormalities, including the impaired recognition memory, heightened aggression, and hyperlocomotion, were partially attenuated by Dnmt3a expression in PFC of stressed animals. Finally, we found that there were genome-wide DNA methylation changes and transcriptome alterations in PFC of stressed rats, both of which were enriched at several neural pathways, including glutamatergic synapse and microtubule-associated protein kinase signaling. These results have therefore recognized the potential role of DNA epigenetic modification in stress-induced disturbance of synaptic functions and cognitive and emotional processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wei
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jia Cheng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Nicholas J Waddell
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Xiaodong Pang
- Department of Statistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Aiyi Liu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Javed M Chitaman
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Kristen Abreu
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Rahul Singh Jasrotia
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Lara J Duffney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jinfeng Zhang
- Department of Statistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jian Feng
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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42
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Popa N, Boyer F, Jaouen F, Belzeaux R, Gascon E. Social Isolation and Enrichment Induce Unique miRNA Signatures in the Prefrontal Cortex and Behavioral Changes in Mice. iScience 2020; 23:101790. [PMID: 33294798 PMCID: PMC7701176 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101790] [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: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
An extensive body of evidence supports the notion that exposure to an enriched/impoverished environment alters brain functions via epigenetic changes. However, how specific modifications of social environment modulate brain functions remains poorly understood. To address this issue, we investigate the molecular and behavioral consequences of briefly manipulating social settings in young and middle-aged wild-type mice. We observe that, modifications of the social context, only affect the performance in socially related tasks. Social enrichment increases sociability whereas isolation leads to the opposite effect. Our work also pointed out specific miRNA signatures associated to each social environment. These miRNA alterations are reversible and found selectively in the medial prefrontal cortex. Finally, we show that miRNA modifications linked to social enrichment or isolation might target rather different intracellular pathways. Together, these observations suggest that the prefrontal cortex may be a key brain area integrating social information via the modification of precise miRNA networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Popa
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, UMR7289, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Flora Boyer
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, UMR7289, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Florence Jaouen
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, UMR7289, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- NeuroBioTools Facility (NeuroVir), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Raoul Belzeaux
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, UMR7289, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Sainte Marguerite Hospital, Pôle de Psychiatrie Universitaire Solaris, Marseille, France
| | - Eduardo Gascon
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, UMR7289, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Corresponding author
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43
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Kolla NJ, Bortolato M. The role of monoamine oxidase A in the neurobiology of aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior: A tale of mice and men. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 194:101875. [PMID: 32574581 PMCID: PMC7609507 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, research has revealed that genetic factors shape the propensity for aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior. The best-documented gene implicated in aggression is MAOA (Monoamine oxidase A), which encodes the key enzyme for the degradation of serotonin and catecholamines. Congenital MAOA deficiency, as well as low-activity MAOA variants, has been associated with a higher risk for antisocial behavior (ASB) and violence, particularly in males with a history of child maltreatment. Indeed, the interplay between low MAOA genetic variants and early-life adversity is the best-documented gene × environment (G × E) interaction in the pathophysiology of aggression and ASB. Additional evidence indicates that low MAOA activity in the brain is strongly associated with a higher propensity for aggression; furthermore, MAOA inhibition may be one of the primary mechanisms whereby prenatal smoke exposure increases the risk of ASB. Complementary to these lines of evidence, mouse models of Maoa deficiency and G × E interactions exhibit striking similarities with clinical phenotypes, proving to be valuable tools to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying antisocial and aggressive behavior. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the knowledge on the involvement of MAOA in aggression, as defined by preclinical and clinical evidence. In particular, we show how the convergence of human and animal research is proving helpful to our understanding of how MAOA influences antisocial and violent behavior and how it may assist in the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies for aggressive manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J Kolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Research Imaging Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Violence Prevention Neurobiological Research Unit, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada; Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada; Translational Initiative on Antisocial Personality Disorder (TrIAD); Program of Research on Violence Etiology, Neurobiology, and Treatment (PReVENT).
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Translational Initiative on Antisocial Personality Disorder (TrIAD); Program of Research on Violence Etiology, Neurobiology, and Treatment (PReVENT).
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44
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Nordman J, Li Z. The Dorsal Raphe Regulates the Duration of Attack through the Medial Orbitofrontal Cortex and Medial Amygdala. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0331-20.2020. [PMID: 33055195 PMCID: PMC7665904 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0331-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The dorsal raphe (DR) is an evolutionarily conserved brain structure that is involved in aggressive behavior. It projects onto numerous cortical and limbic areas underlying attack behavior. The specific neurocircuit through which the DR regulates aggression, however, is largely unclear. In this study we show that DR neurons expressing CaMKIIα are activated by attack behavior in mice. These neurons project to the medial aspect of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; MeOC) and the medial amygdala (MeA), two key regions within the neural circuit known to control aggressive behavior. Using an in vivo optogenetic approach, we show that attack bouts are shortened by inhibiting CaMKIIα+ neurons in the DR and their axons at the MeOC and prolonged by stimulating the DR-MeOC axons during an attack. By contrast, stimulating the axons of CaMKIIα+ DR neurons at the MeA shortens attack. Notably, neither the DR-MeOC or DR-MeA pathway initiates attack when stimulated. These results indicate that the DR-MeOC and DR-MeA pathways regulate the duration of attack behavior in opposite directions, revealing a circuit mechanism for the control of attack by the DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Nordman
- Section on Synapse Development Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Zheng Li
- Section on Synapse Development Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
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45
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Becoming Stressed: Does the Age Matter? Reviewing the Neurobiological and Socio-Affective Effects of Stress throughout the Lifespan. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165819. [PMID: 32823723 PMCID: PMC7460954 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165819] [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: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Social and affective relations occur at every stage of our lives. Impairments in the quality of this “social world” can be exceptionally detrimental and lead to psychopathology or pathological behavior, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, affective disorders, social phobia or violence, among other things. Exposure to highly stressful or traumatic events, depending on the stage of life in which stress exposure occurs, could severely affect limbic structures, including the amygdala, and lead to alterations in social and affective behaviors. This review summarizes recent findings from stress research and provides an overview of its age-dependent effects on the structure and function of the amygdala, which includes molecular and cellular changes, and how they can trigger deviant social and affective behaviors. It is important to highlight that discoveries in this field may represent a breakthrough both for medical science and for society, as they may help in the development of new therapeutic approaches and prevention strategies in neuropsychiatric disorders and pathological behaviors.
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46
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Traumatic Stress Induces Prolonged Aggression Increase through Synaptic Potentiation in the Medial Amygdala Circuits. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0147-20.2020. [PMID: 32651265 PMCID: PMC7385664 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0147-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic stress can lead to heightened aggression which may be a symptom of psychiatric diseases such as PTSD and intermittent explosive disorder. The medial amygdala (MeA) is an evolutionarily conserved subnucleus of the amygdala that regulates attack behavior and behavioral responses to stressors. The precise contribution of the MeA in traumatic stress-induced aggression, however, requires further elucidation. In this study, we used foot shock to induce traumatic stress in mice and examine the mechanisms of prolonged aggression increase associated with it. Foot shock causes a prolonged increase in aggression that lasts at least one week. In vivo electrophysiological recordings revealed that foot shock induces potentiation of synapses formed between the MeA and the ventromedial hypothalamus (VmH) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). This synaptic potentiation lasts at least one week. Induction of synaptic depotentiation with low-frequency photostimulation (LFPS) immediately after foot shock suppresses the prolonged aggression increase without affecting non-aggressive social behavior, anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors, or fear learning. These results show that potentiation of the MeA-VmH and MeA-BNST circuits is essential for traumatic stress to cause a prolonged increase in aggression. These circuits may be potential targets for the development of therapeutic strategies to treat the aggression symptom associated with psychiatric diseases.
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Guerrero TP, Fickel J, Benhaiem S, Weyrich A. Epigenomics and gene regulation in mammalian social systems. Curr Zool 2020; 66:307-319. [PMID: 32440291 PMCID: PMC7233906 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Social epigenomics is a new field of research that studies how the social environment shapes the epigenome and how in turn the epigenome modulates behavior. We focus on describing known gene-environment interactions (GEIs) and epigenetic mechanisms in different mammalian social systems. To illustrate how epigenetic mechanisms integrate GEIs, we highlight examples where epigenetic mechanisms are associated with social behaviors and with their maintenance through neuroendocrine, locomotor, and metabolic responses. We discuss future research trajectories and open questions for the emerging field of social epigenomics in nonmodel and naturally occurring social systems. Finally, we outline the technological advances that aid the study of epigenetic mechanisms in the establishment of GEIs and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania P Guerrero
- Department Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin, D-10315, Germany
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, Freiburg, D-79085, Germany
| | - Jörns Fickel
- Department Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin, D-10315, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, Potsdam, 14476, Germany
| | - Sarah Benhaiem
- Department Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin, D-10315, Germany
| | - Alexandra Weyrich
- Department Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin, D-10315, Germany
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Mertens S, Gass P, Palme R, Hiebl B, Chourbaji S. Effect of a partial cage dividing enrichment on aggression-associated parameters in group-housed male C57BL/6NCrl mice. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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LPA 1 receptor and chronic stress: Effects on behaviour and the genes involved in the hippocampal excitatory/inhibitory balance. Neuropharmacology 2020; 164:107896. [PMID: 31811875 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The LPA1 receptor, one of the six characterized G protein-coupled receptors (LPA1-6) through which lysophosphatidic acid acts, is likely involved in promoting normal emotional behaviours. Current data suggest that the LPA-LPA1-receptor pathway may be involved in mediating the negative consequences of stress on hippocampal function. However, to date, there is no available information regarding the mechanisms whereby the LPA1 receptor mediates this adaptation. To gain further insight into how the LPA-LPA1 pathway may prevent the negative consequences of chronic stress, we assessed the effects of the continuous delivery of LPA on depressive-like behaviours induced by a chronic restraint stress protocol. Because a proper excitatory/inhibitory balance seems to be key for controlling the stress response system, the gene expression of molecular markers of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission was also determined. In addition, the hippocampal expression of mineralocorticoid receptor genes and glucocorticoid receptor genes and proteins as well as plasma corticosterone levels were determined. Contrary to our expectations, the continuous delivery of LPA in chronically stressed animals potentiated rather than inhibited some (e.g., anhedonia, reduced latency to the first immobility period), though not all, behavioural effects of stress. Furthermore, this treatment led to an alteration in the genes coding for proteins involved in the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the ventral hippocampus and to changes in corticosterone levels. In conclusion, the results of this study reinforce the assumption that LPA is involved in emotional regulation, mainly through the LPA1 receptor, and regulates the effects of stress on hippocampal gene expression and hippocampus-dependent behaviour.
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Xiao B, Han F, Shi Y. Administration of moclobemide facilitates fear extinction and attenuates anxiety-like behaviors by regulating synaptic-associated proteins in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Synapse 2020; 74:e22146. [PMID: 31869485 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a long-lasting mental disorder and accompanied by worse fear extinction. Enhanced fear memory or poor fear extinction are typical features of PTSD. Dysfunction of the serotonergic neurotransmitter system is involved in numerous mental and behavioral disorders. Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) is important in the metabolism of serotonin and play an important role in behavious. The aim of this study was to explore the change of MAOA and effect of MAOA on fear memory in PTSD. We used single prolonged stress (SPS) to create animal model of PTSD. A startle/fear box and elevated plus maze were used to observe fear memory and anxiety level, respectively. We examined the expression of MAOA and synaptic marker protein, as well as the immunological activity of MAOA in the infralimbic cortex (IL) area, which is a critical brain region involved in emotions, especially fear regulation. We found increased anxiety-like behavior, dysfunction in fear extinction, and increased MAOA in SPS rats. After treatment with moclobemide (a selective inhibitor of MAOA), SPS rats showed significantly improved fear memory and decreased anxiety-like behavior, which indicated that moclobemide could reverse fear extinction deficit and attenuate abnormally increased levels of anxiety caused by SPS in short term. On the contrary, decreased PSD-95 and SYN1 expression in the IL region were also reversed by moclobemide. These results suggest that increased MAOA play a negative role in fear extinction and levels of anxiety in PTSD, which may be involved in change in PSD-95 and SYN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Xiao
- Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fang Han
- Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuxiu Shi
- Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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