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Ghaw A, Chunduri A, Chang A, Ortiz RJ, Kozlowska M, Kulkarni PP, Ferris CF. Dose-dependent LSD effects on cortical/thalamic and cerebellar activity: brain oxygen level-dependent fMRI study in awake rats. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae194. [PMID: 38863575 PMCID: PMC11166175 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide is a hallucinogen with complex neurobiological and behavioural effects. This is the first study to use MRI to follow functional changes in brain activity in response to different doses of lysergic acid diethylamide in fully awake, drug-naive rats. We hypothesized that lysergic acid diethylamide would show a dose-dependent increase in activity in the prefrontal cortex and thalamus while decreasing hippocampal activity. Female and male rats were given intraperitoneal injections of vehicle or lysergic acid diethylamide in doses of 10 or 100 µg/kg while fully awake during the imaging session. Changes in blood oxygen level-dependent signal were recorded over a 30-min window. Approximately 45-min post-injection data for resting-state functional connectivity were collected. All data were registered to rat 3D MRI atlas with 173 brain regions providing site-specific increases and decreases in global brain activity and changes in functional connectivity. Treatment with lysergic acid diethylamide resulted in a significant dose-dependent increase in negative blood oxygen level-dependent signal. The areas most affected were the primary olfactory system, prefrontal cortex, thalamus and hippocampus. This was observed in both the number of voxels affected in these brains regions and the changes in blood oxygen level-dependent signal over time. However, there was a significant increase in functional connectivity between the thalamus and somatosensory cortex and the cerebellar nuclei and the surrounding brainstem areas. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was an acute dose-dependent increase in negative blood oxygen level-dependent signal that can be interpreted as a decrease in brain activity, a finding that agrees with much of the behavioural data from preclinical studies. The enhanced connectivity between thalamus and sensorimotor cortices is consistent with the human literature looking at lysergic acid diethylamide treatments in healthy human volunteers. The unexpected finding that lysergic acid diethylamide enhances connectivity to the cerebellar nuclei raises an interesting question concerning the role of this brain region in the psychotomimetic effects of hallucinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Ghaw
- Center for Translational Neuroimaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alisha Chunduri
- Center for Translational Neuroimaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Arnold Chang
- Center for Translational Neuroimaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richard J Ortiz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Milena Kozlowska
- Center for Translational Neuroimaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Praveen P Kulkarni
- Center for Translational Neuroimaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Craig F Ferris
- Department of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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2
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Mandino F, Vujic S, Grandjean J, Lake EMR. Where do we stand on fMRI in awake mice? Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad478. [PMID: 38100331 PMCID: PMC10793583 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging awake animals is quickly gaining traction in neuroscience as it offers a means to eliminate the confounding effects of anesthesia, difficulties of inter-species translation (when humans are typically imaged while awake), and the inability to investigate the full range of brain and behavioral states in unconscious animals. In this systematic review, we focus on the development of awake mouse blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Mice are widely used in research due to their fast-breeding cycle, genetic malleability, and low cost. Functional MRI yields whole-brain coverage and can be performed on both humans and animal models making it an ideal modality for comparing study findings across species. We provide an analysis of 30 articles (years 2011-2022) identified through a systematic literature search. Our conclusions include that head-posts are favorable, acclimation training for 10-14 d is likely ample under certain conditions, stress has been poorly characterized, and more standardization is needed to accelerate progress. For context, an overview of awake rat fMRI studies is also included. We make recommendations that will benefit a wide range of neuroscience applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mandino
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Stella Vujic
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Joanes Grandjean
- Donders Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognition, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department for Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Evelyn M R Lake
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
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3
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Sakthivel R, Criado-Marrero M, Barroso D, Braga IM, Bolen M, Rubinovich U, Hery GP, Grudny MM, Koren J, Prokop S, Febo M, Abisambra JF. Fixed Time-Point Analysis Reveals Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Effects on Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Connectivity and Neuro-Spatial Protein Profiles. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:2037-2049. [PMID: 37051703 PMCID: PMC10541943 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBIs) are serious trauma events responsible for the development of numerous neurodegenerative disorders. A major challenge in developing diagnostics and treatments for the consequences of rmTBI is the fundamental knowledge gaps of the molecular mechanisms responsible for neurodegeneration. It is both critical and urgent to understand the neuropathological and functional consequences of rmTBI to develop effective therapeutic strategies. Using the Closed-Head Impact Model of Engineered Rotational Acceleration, or CHIMERA, we measured neural changes following injury, including brain volume, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging coupled with graph theory and functional connectivity analyses. We determined the effect of rmTBI on markers of gliosis and used NanoString-GeoMx to add a digital-spatial protein profiling analysis of neurodegenerative disease-associated proteins in gray and white matter regions. Our analyses revealed aberrant connectivity changes in the thalamus, independent of microstructural damage or neuroinflammation. We also identified distinct changes in the levels of proteins linked to various neurodegenerative processes including total and phospho-tau species and cell proliferation markers. Together, our data show that rmTBI significantly alters brain functional connectivity and causes distinct protein changes in morphologically intact brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Sakthivel
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Marangelie Criado-Marrero
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Daylin Barroso
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Isadora M. Braga
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Mackenzie Bolen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Uriel Rubinovich
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Gabriela P. Hery
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Matteo M. Grudny
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John Koren
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Marcelo Febo
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jose Francisco Abisambra
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Neuroresilience (BRAIN) Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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4
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Poplawsky AJ, Cover C, Reddy S, Chishti HB, Vazquez A, Fukuda M. Odor-evoked layer-specific fMRI activities in the awake mouse olfactory bulb. Neuroimage 2023; 274:120121. [PMID: 37080347 PMCID: PMC10240534 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Awake rodent fMRI is increasingly common over the use of anesthesia since it permits behavioral paradigms and does not confound normal brain function or neurovascular coupling. It is well established that adequate acclimation to the loud fMRI environment and head fixation reduces stress in the rodents and allows for whole brain imaging with little contamination from motion. However, it is unknown whether high-resolution fMRI with increased susceptibility to motion and lower sensitivity can measure small, but spatially discrete, activations in awake mice. To examine this, we used contrast-enhanced cerebral blood volume-weighted (CBVw) fMRI in the mouse olfactory bulb for its enhanced sensitivity and neural specificity. We determined that activation patterns in the glomerular layer to four different odors were spatially distinct and were consistent with previously established histological patterns. In addition, odor-evoked laminar activations were greatest in superficial layers that decreased with laminar depth, similar to previous observations. Interestingly, the fMRI response strengths in the granule cell layer were greater in awake mice than our previous anesthetized rat studies, suggesting that feedback neural activities were intact with wakefulness. We finally determined that fMRI signal changes to repeated odor exposure (i.e., olfactory adaptation) attenuated relatively more in the feedback granule cell layer compared to the input glomerular layer, which is consistent with prior observations. We, therefore, conclude that high-resolution CBVw fMRI can measure odor-specific activation patterns and distinguish changes in laminar activity of head and body restrained awake mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander John Poplawsky
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States.
| | - Christopher Cover
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sujatha Reddy
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States
| | - Harris B Chishti
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alberto Vazquez
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Mitsuhiro Fukuda
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States
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5
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Ferris CF. Applications in Awake Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:854377. [PMID: 35450017 PMCID: PMC9017993 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.854377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There are numerous publications on methods and applications for awake functional MRI across different species, e.g., voles, rabbits, cats, dogs, and rhesus macaques. Each of these species, most obviously rhesus monkey, have general or unique attributes that provide a better understanding of the human condition. However, much of the work today is done on rodents. The growing number of small bore (≤30 cm) high field systems 7T- 11.7T favor the use of small animals. To that point, this review is primarily focused on rodents and their many applications in awake function MRI. Applications include, pharmacological MRI, drugs of abuse, sensory evoked stimuli, brain disorders, pain, social behavior, and fear.
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Ren W, Ji B, Guan Y, Cao L, Ni R. Recent Technical Advances in Accelerating the Clinical Translation of Small Animal Brain Imaging: Hybrid Imaging, Deep Learning, and Transcriptomics. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:771982. [PMID: 35402436 PMCID: PMC8987112 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.771982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Small animal models play a fundamental role in brain research by deepening the understanding of the physiological functions and mechanisms underlying brain disorders and are thus essential in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic imaging tracers targeting the central nervous system. Advances in structural, functional, and molecular imaging using MRI, PET, fluorescence imaging, and optoacoustic imaging have enabled the interrogation of the rodent brain across a large temporal and spatial resolution scale in a non-invasively manner. However, there are still several major gaps in translating from preclinical brain imaging to the clinical setting. The hindering factors include the following: (1) intrinsic differences between biological species regarding brain size, cell type, protein expression level, and metabolism level and (2) imaging technical barriers regarding the interpretation of image contrast and limited spatiotemporal resolution. To mitigate these factors, single-cell transcriptomics and measures to identify the cellular source of PET tracers have been developed. Meanwhile, hybrid imaging techniques that provide highly complementary anatomical and molecular information are emerging. Furthermore, deep learning-based image analysis has been developed to enhance the quantification and optimization of the imaging protocol. In this mini-review, we summarize the recent developments in small animal neuroimaging toward improved translational power, with a focus on technical improvement including hybrid imaging, data processing, transcriptomics, awake animal imaging, and on-chip pharmacokinetics. We also discuss outstanding challenges in standardization and considerations toward increasing translational power and propose future outlooks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuwei Ren
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy Efficient and Custom AI IC, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Ji
- Department of Radiopharmacy and Molecular Imaging, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihui Guan
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Cao
- Shanghai Changes Tech, Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Brain Cholesterol Biosynthetic Pathway Is Altered in a Preclinical Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063408. [PMID: 35328827 PMCID: PMC8955806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent form of inherited X-linked pathology, associated with an intellectual and developmental disability, and currently considered the first monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Low levels of total cholesterol reported in the serum of FXS patients, and evidence that FMRP targets a subset of mRNAs encoding proteins of lipid synthesis and transport suggests that the cholesterol metabolism impairments could be involved in FXS. Thus, the aim of the presented work was to investigate the modulations of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway and its end-products in a recently developed Fmr1-Δexon 8 rat model of FXS. Here, we show that this experimental model mimics what is found in FXS patients, exhibiting a lower serum cholesterol content, accompanied by a reduction in food intake and body weight compared to WT animals. Moreover, alterations of proteins committed to cholesterol synthesis and uptake have been observed in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Interestingly, the end-products show a brain region-dependent modulation in Fmr1-Δexon 8 rats. Overall, our results demonstrate that the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway is altered in some brain regions of this preclinical model of FXS. This finding has relevance for future studies to delve deeper into the involvement of this metabolic process in FXS, and thus its possible role as a therapeutic target.
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8
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Dichter GS, Rodriguez-Romaguera J. Anhedonia and Hyperhedonia in Autism and Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 58:237-254. [PMID: 35397066 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by impaired social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, ASD is also characterized by impaired motivational processes. The "social motivation theory of autism" describes how social motivation disruptions in ASD in early childhood may impede the drive to engage in reciprocal social behaviors and ultimately interfere with the development of neural networks critical for social communication (Chevallier et al., Trends Cogn Sci 16:231-239, 2012b). Importantly, clinical studies and preclinical research using model organisms for ASD indicate that motivational impairments in ASD are not constrained to social rewards but are evident in response to a range of nonsocial rewards as well. Additionally, translational studies on certain genetically defined neurodevelopmental disorders associated with ASD indicate that these syndromic forms of ASD are also characterized by motivational deficits and mesolimbic dopamine impairments. In this chapter we summarize clinical and preclinical research relevant to reward processing impairments in ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders. We also propose a nosology to describe reward processing impairments in these disorders that uses a three-axes model. In this triaxial nosology, the first axis defines the direction of the reward response (i.e., anhedonic, hyperhedonic); the second axis defines the construct of the reward process (e.g., reward liking, reward wanting); and the third axis defines the context of the reward response (e.g., social, nonsocial). A more precise nosology for describing reward processing impairments in ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders will aid in the translation of preclinical research to clinical investigations which will ultimately help to speed up the development of interventions that target motivational systems for ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel S Dichter
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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9
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Germann J, Gouveia FV, Brentani H, Bedford SA, Tullo S, Chakravarty MM, Devenyi GA. Involvement of the habenula in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21168. [PMID: 34707133 PMCID: PMC8551275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00603-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The habenula is a small epithalamic structure with widespread connections to multiple cortical, subcortical and brainstem regions. It has been identified as the central structure modulating the reward value of social interactions, behavioral adaptation, sensory integration and circadian rhythm. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social communication deficits, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and is frequently associated with altered sensory perception and mood and sleep disorders. The habenula is implicated in all these behaviors and results of preclinical studies suggest a possible involvement of the habenula in the pathophysiology of this disorder. Using anatomical magnetic resonance imaging and automated segmentation we show that the habenula is significantly enlarged in ASD subjects compared to controls across the entire age range studied (6-30 years). No differences were observed between sexes. Furthermore, support-vector machine modeling classified ASD with 85% accuracy (model using habenula volume, age and sex) and 64% accuracy in cross validation. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) significantly differed between groups, however, it was not related to individual habenula volume. The present study is the first to provide evidence in human subjects of an involvement of the habenula in the pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Germann
- grid.231844.80000 0004 0474 0428University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Flavia Venetucci Gouveia
- grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Helena Brentani
- grid.11899.380000 0004 1937 0722Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Medical School, São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil ,grid.500696.cNational Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents, CNPq, São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Saashi A. Bedford
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.5335.00000000121885934Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Tullo
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - M. Mallar Chakravarty
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Gabriel A. Devenyi
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
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10
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Yang Z, Zhu T, Pompilus M, Fu Y, Zhu J, Arjona K, Arja RD, Grudny MM, Plant HD, Bose P, Wang KK, Febo M. Compensatory functional connectome changes in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab244. [PMID: 34729482 PMCID: PMC8557657 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Penetrating cortical impact injuries alter neuronal communication beyond the injury epicentre, across regions involved in affective, sensorimotor and cognitive processing. Understanding how traumatic brain injury reorganizes local and brain wide nodal interactions may provide valuable quantitative parameters for monitoring pathological progression and recovery. To this end, we investigated spontaneous fluctuations in the functional MRI signal obtained at 11.1 T in rats sustaining controlled cortical impact and imaged at 2- and 30-days post-injury. Graph theory-based calculations were applied to weighted undirected matrices constructed from 12 879 pairwise correlations between functional MRI signals from 162 regions. Our data indicate that on Days 2 and 30 post-controlled cortical impact there is a significant increase in connectivity strength in nodes located in contralesional cortical, thalamic and basal forebrain areas. Rats imaged on Day 2 post-injury had significantly greater network modularity than controls, with influential nodes (with high eigenvector centrality) contained within the contralesional module and participating less in cross-modular interactions. By Day 30, modularity and cross-modular interactions recover, although a cluster of nodes with low strength and low eigenvector centrality remain in the ipsilateral cortex. Our results suggest that changes in node strength, modularity, eigenvector centrality and participation coefficient track early and late traumatic brain injury effects on brain functional connectivity. We propose that the observed compensatory functional connectivity reorganization in response to controlled cortical impact may be unfavourable to brain wide communication in the early post-injury period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Tian Zhu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Marjory Pompilus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Yueqiang Fu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jiepei Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kefren Arjona
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Rawad Daniel Arja
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Matteo M Grudny
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - H Daniel Plant
- VA Research Service, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Prodip Bose
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- VA Research Service, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kevin K Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- VA Research Service, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility (AMRIS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Lawson CM, Rentrup KFG, Cai X, Kulkarni PP, Ferris CF. Using multimodal MRI to investigate alterations in brain structure and function in the BBZDR/Wor rat model of type 2 diabetes. Animal Model Exp Med 2020; 3:285-294. [PMID: 33532703 PMCID: PMC7824967 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This is an exploratory study using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to interrogate the brain of rats with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) as compared to controls. It was hypothesized there would be changes in brain structure and function that reflected the human disorder, thus providing a model system by which to follow disease progression with noninvasive MRI. METHODS The transgenic BBZDR/Wor rat, an animal model of T2MD, and age-matched controls were studied for changes in brain structure using voxel-based morphometry, alteration in white and gray matter microarchitecture using diffusion weighted imaging with indices of anisotropy, and functional coupling using resting-state BOLD functional connectivity. Images from each modality were registered to, and analyzed, using a 3D MRI rat atlas providing site-specific data on over 168 different brain areas. RESULTS There was an overall reduction in brain volume focused primarily on the somatosensory cortex, cerebellum, and white matter tracts. The putative changes in white and gray matter microarchitecture were pervasive affecting much of the brain and not localized to any region. There was a general increase in connectivity in T2DM rats as compared to controls. The cerebellum presented with strong functional coupling to pons and brainstem in T2DM rats but negative connectivity to hippocampus. CONCLUSION The neuroradiological measures collected in BBBKZ/Wor rats using multimodal imaging methods did not reflect those reported for T2DB patients in the clinic. The data would suggest the BBBKZ/Wor rat is not an appropriate imaging model for T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xuezhu Cai
- Center for Translational NeuroImagingNortheastern UniversityBostonMAUSA
| | | | - Craig F. Ferris
- Center for Translational NeuroImagingNortheastern UniversityBostonMAUSA
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12
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Contextual experience modifies functional connectome indices of topological strength and efficiency. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19843. [PMID: 33199790 PMCID: PMC7670469 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76935-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Stimuli presented at short temporal delays before functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can have a robust impact on the organization of synchronous activity in resting state networks. This presents an opportunity to investigate how sensory, affective and cognitive stimuli alter functional connectivity in rodent models. In the present study we assessed the effect on functional connectivity of a familiar contextual stimulus presented 10 min prior to sedation for imaging. A subset of animals were co-presented with an unfamiliar social stimulus in the same environment to further investigate the effect of familiarity on network topology. Rats were imaged at 11.1 T and graph theory analysis was applied to matrices generated from seed-based functional connectivity data sets with 144 brain regions (nodes) and 10,152 pairwise correlations (after excluding 144 diagonal edges). Our results show substantial changes in network topology in response to the familiar (context). Presentation of the familiar context, both in the absence and presence of the social stimulus, strongly reduced network strength, global efficiency, and altered the location of the highest eigenvector centrality nodes from cortex to the hypothalamus. We did not observe changes in modular organization, nodal cartographic assignments, assortative mixing, rich club organization, and network resilience. We propose that experiential factors, perhaps involving associative or episodic memory, can exert a dramatic effect on functional network strength and efficiency when presented at a short temporal delay before imaging.
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13
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Schiavi S, Carbone E, Melancia F, Buzzelli V, Manduca A, Campolongo P, Pallottini V, Trezza V. Perinatal supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids corrects the aberrant social and cognitive traits observed in a genetic model of autism based on FMR1 deletion in rats. Nutr Neurosci 2020; 25:898-911. [PMID: 32912100 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2020.1819107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder for which no treatments exist. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited mental retardation and the most frequent monogenic cause of ASD. Given the lack of pharmacological treatments for ASD, increasing interest is devoted to non-pharmacological approaches, including dietary interventions. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are critical for neurobehavioraldevelopment. This study had two aims: 1. To validatethe recently developed Fmr1-Δexon 8 rat model of FXS; 2. To assess the impact of omega-3 PUFAs dietary supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the altered behavior displayed by Fmr1-Δexon 8 rats.Methods: Female Fmr1-Δexon 8 and wild-type Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with either an omega-3 PUFAs enriched diet or with an isocaloric control diet during pregnancy and lactation. Behavioral experiments were carried out on the infant (Postnatal days (PNDs) 9 and 13), juvenile (PND 35) and adult (PND 90) male offspring.Results: Fmr1-Δexon 8 pups showed hypolocomotion, reduced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emission and impaired social discrimination compared to wild-type controls. Juvenile and adult Fmr1-Δexon 8 rats showed deficits in the social and cognitive domains, that were counteracted by perinatal omega-3 PUFAs supplementation.Conclusion: Our results support the validity of the Fmr1-Δexon 8 rat model to mimic key autistic-like features and support an important role of omega-3 PUFAs during of neurodevelopment. Although the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFAs supplementation in ASD needs to be clarified, this dietary intervention holds promise to mitigate core and comorbid autistic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Schiavi
- Department of Science, University 'Roma Tre', Rome Italy
| | - Emilia Carbone
- Department of Science, University 'Roma Tre', Rome Italy
| | | | | | | | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, University 'Roma Tre', Rome Italy
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14
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Golden CEM, Breen MS, Koro L, Sonar S, Niblo K, Browne A, Burlant N, Di Marino D, De Rubeis S, Baxter MG, Buxbaum JD, Harony-Nicolas H. Deletion of the KH1 Domain of Fmr1 Leads to Transcriptional Alterations and Attentional Deficits in Rats. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:2228-2244. [PMID: 30877790 PMCID: PMC6458915 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the FMR1 gene. It is a leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder and inherited intellectual disability and is often comorbid with attention deficits. Most FXS cases are due to an expansion of CGG repeats leading to suppressed expression of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein involved in mRNA metabolism. We found that the previously published Fmr1 knockout rat model of FXS expresses an Fmr1 transcript with an in-frame deletion of exon 8, which encodes for the K-homology (KH) RNA-binding domain, KH1. Notably, 3 pathogenic missense mutations associated with FXS lie in the KH domains. We observed that the deletion of exon 8 in rats leads to attention deficits and to alterations in transcriptional profiles within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which map to 2 weighted gene coexpression network modules. These modules are conserved in human frontal cortex and enriched for known FMRP targets. Hub genes in these modules represent potential therapeutic targets for FXS. Taken together, these findings indicate that attentional testing might be a reliable cross-species tool for investigating FXS and identify dysregulated conserved gene networks in a relevant brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla E M Golden
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael S Breen
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lacin Koro
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sankalp Sonar
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristi Niblo
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Browne
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalie Burlant
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniele Di Marino
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Computational Science, Center for Computational Medicine in Cardiology, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland.,Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark G Baxter
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Prounis GS, Ophir AG. One cranium, two brains not yet introduced: Distinct but complementary views of the social brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 108:231-245. [PMID: 31743724 PMCID: PMC6949399 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Social behavior is pervasive across the animal kingdom, and elucidating how the brain enables animals to respond to social contexts is of great interest and profound importance. Our understanding of 'the social brain' has been fractured as it has matured. Two drastically different conceptualizations of the social brain have emerged with relatively little awareness of each other. In this review, we briefly recount the history behind the two dominant definitions of a social brain. The divide that has emerged between these visions can, in part, be attributed to differential attention to cortical or sub-cortical regions in the brain, and differences in methodology, comparative perspectives, and emphasis on functional specificity or generality. We discuss how these factors contribute to a lack of communication between research efforts, and propose ways in which each version of the social brain can benefit from the perspectives, tools, and approaches of the other. Interface between the two characterizations of social brain networks is sure to provide essential insight into what the social brain encompasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- George S Prounis
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Alexander G Ophir
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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16
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Life without a brain: Neuroradiological and behavioral evidence of neuroplasticity necessary to sustain brain function in the face of severe hydrocephalus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16479. [PMID: 31712649 PMCID: PMC6848215 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53042-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A two-year old rat, R222, survived a life-time of extreme hydrocephaly affecting the size and organization of its brain. Much of the cortex was severely thinned and replaced by cerebrospinal fluid, yet R222 had normal motor function, could hear, see, smell, and respond to tactile stimulation. The hippocampus was malformed and compressed into the lower hindbrain together with the hypothalamus midbrain and pons, yet R222 showed normal spatial memory as compared to age-matched controls. BOLD MRI was used to study the reorganization of R222’s brain function showing global activation to visual, olfactory and tactile stimulation, particularly in the brainstem/cerebellum. The results are discussed in the context of neuroadaptation in the face of severe hydrocephaly and subsequent tissue loss, with an emphasis on what is the “bare minimum” for survival.
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17
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Cai X, Qiao J, Knox T, Iriah S, Kulkarni P, Madularu D, Morrison T, Waszczak B, Hartner JC, Ferris CF. In search of early neuroradiological biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease: Alterations in resting state functional connectivity and gray matter microarchitecture in PINK1 −/− rats. Brain Res 2019; 1706:58-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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18
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Iriah SC, Trivedi M, Kenkel W, Grant SE, Moore K, Yee JR, Madularu D, Kulkarni P, Ferris CF. Oxycodone Exposure: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Response to Acute and Chronic Oxycodone Treatment in Rats. Neuroscience 2018; 398:88-101. [PMID: 30550747 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to use blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) imaging to "fingerprint" the change in activity in response to oxycodone (OXY) in drug naïve rats before and after repeated exposure to OXY. It was hypothesized that repeated exposure to OXY would initiate adaptive changes in brain organization that would be reflected in an altered response to opioid exposure. Male rats exposed to OXY repeatedly showed conditioned place preference, evidence of drug-seeking behavior and putative neuroadaptation. As these studies were done on awake rats we discovered it was not possible to image rats continuously exposed to OXY due to motion artifact judged to be withdrawal while in the scanner. To circumvent this problem manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) was used to map the distributed integrated activity pattern resulting from continuous OXY exposure. Rats were administered OXY (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) during image acquisition and changes in BOLD signal intensity were recorded and the activation and deactivation of integrated neural circuits involved in olfaction and motivation were identified. Interestingly, the circuitry of the mesencephalic dopaminergic system showed little activity to the first exposure of OXY. In the MEMRI study, rats received OXY treatments (2.5 mg/kg, twice daily) for four consecutive days following intraventricular MnCl2. Under isoflurane anesthesia, T1-weighted images were acquired and subsequently analyzed showing activity in the forebrain limbic system, ventral striatum, accumbens, amygdala and hippocampus. These results show brain activity is markedly different when OXY is presented to drug naïve rats versus rats with prior, repeated exposure to drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sade C Iriah
- Northeastern Univ., Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Malav Trivedi
- NOVA Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - William Kenkel
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Simone E Grant
- Northeastern Univ., Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelsey Moore
- Northeastern Univ., Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jason R Yee
- Northeastern Univ., Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dan Madularu
- Northeastern Univ., Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Boston, MA, USA; Douglas Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Praveen Kulkarni
- Northeastern Univ., Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Craig F Ferris
- Northeastern Univ., Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Boston, MA, USA.
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19
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Stenroos P, Paasonen J, Salo RA, Jokivarsi K, Shatillo A, Tanila H, Gröhn O. Awake Rat Brain Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Standard Radio Frequency Coils and a 3D Printed Restraint Kit. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:548. [PMID: 30177870 PMCID: PMC6109636 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a powerful noninvasive tool for studying spontaneous resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in laboratory animals. Brain function can be significantly affected by generally used anesthetics, however, rendering the need for awake imaging. Only a few different awake animal habituation protocols have been presented, and there is a critical need for practical and improved low-stress techniques. Here we demonstrate a novel restraint approach for awake rat RSFC studies. Our custom-made 3D printed restraint kit is compatible with a standard Bruker Biospin MRI rat bed, rat brain receiver coil, and volume transmitter coil. We also implemented a progressive habituation protocol aiming to minimize the stress experienced by the rats, and compared RSFC between awake, lightly sedated, and isoflurane-anesthetized rats. Our results demonstrated that the 3D printed restraint kit was suitable for RSFC studies of awake rats. During the short 4-day habituation period, the plasma corticosterone concentration, movement, and heart rate, which were measured as stress indicators, decreased significantly, indicating adaptation to the restraint protocol. Additionally, 10 days after the awake MRI session, rats exhibited no signs of depression or anxiety based on open-field and sucrose preference behavioral tests. The RSFC data revealed significant changes in the thalamo-cortical and cortico-cortical networks between the awake, lightly sedated, and anesthetized groups, emphasizing the need for awake imaging. The present work demonstrates the feasibility of our custom-made 3D printed restraint kit. Using this kit, we found that isoflurane markedly affected brain connectivity compared with that in awake rats, and that the effect was less pronounced, but still significant, when light isoflurane sedation was used instead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petteri Stenroos
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I.V. Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jaakko Paasonen
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I.V. Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Raimo A Salo
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I.V. Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kimmo Jokivarsi
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I.V. Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Artem Shatillo
- Charles River Discovery Research Services Finland Oy, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heikki Tanila
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I.V. Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Gröhn
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I.V. Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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20
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Seewoo BJ, Etherington SJ, Feindel KW, Rodger J. Combined rTMS/fMRI Studies: An Overlooked Resource in Animal Models. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:180. [PMID: 29628873 PMCID: PMC5876299 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, which has brain network-level effects in healthy individuals and is also used to treat many neurological and psychiatric conditions in which brain connectivity is believed to be abnormal. Despite the fact that rTMS is being used in a clinical setting and animal studies are increasingly identifying potential cellular and molecular mechanisms, little is known about how these mechanisms relate to clinical changes. This knowledge gap is amplified by non-overlapping approaches used in preclinical and clinical rTMS studies: preclinical studies are mostly invasive, using cellular and molecular approaches, while clinical studies are non-invasive, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), TMS electroencephalography (EEG), positron emission tomography (PET), and behavioral measures. A non-invasive method is therefore needed in rodents to link our understanding of cellular and molecular changes to functional connectivity changes that are clinically relevant. fMRI is the technique of choice for examining both short and long term functional connectivity changes in large-scale networks and is becoming increasingly popular in animal research because of its high translatability, but, to date, there have been no reports of animal rTMS studies using this technique. This review summarizes the main studies combining different rTMS protocols with fMRI in humans, in both healthy and patient populations, providing a foundation for the design of equivalent studies in animals. We discuss the challenges of combining these two methods in animals and highlight considerations important for acquiring clinically-relevant information from combined rTMS/fMRI studies in animals. We believe that combining rTMS and fMRI in animal models will generate new knowledge in the following ways: functional connectivity changes can be explored in greater detail through complementary invasive procedures, clarifying mechanism and improving the therapeutic application of rTMS, as well as improving interpretation of fMRI data. And, in a more general context, a robust comparative approach will refine the use of animal models of specific neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhedita J Seewoo
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Centre for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis, Research Infrastructure Centers, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Sarah J Etherington
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kirk W Feindel
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis, Research Infrastructure Centers, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jennifer Rodger
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Brain Plasticity Group, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Research, Perth, WA, Australia
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21
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Dahlhaus R. Of Men and Mice: Modeling the Fragile X Syndrome. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:41. [PMID: 29599705 PMCID: PMC5862809 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is one of the most common forms of inherited intellectual disability in all human societies. Caused by the transcriptional silencing of a single gene, the fragile x mental retardation gene FMR1, FXS is characterized by a variety of symptoms, which range from mental disabilities to autism and epilepsy. More than 20 years ago, a first animal model was described, the Fmr1 knock-out mouse. Several other models have been developed since then, including conditional knock-out mice, knock-out rats, a zebrafish and a drosophila model. Using these model systems, various targets for potential pharmaceutical treatments have been identified and many treatments have been shown to be efficient in preclinical studies. However, all attempts to turn these findings into a therapy for patients have failed thus far. In this review, I will discuss underlying difficulties and address potential alternatives for our future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Dahlhaus
- Institute for Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer Centre, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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22
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Madularu D, Yee JR, Kulkarni P, Ferris CF. System-specific activity in response to Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study in awake male rats. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 46:2893-2900. [PMID: 29057576 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of two doses of Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, cannabis' main psychoactive agent) and vehicle on blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) activity in drug-naïve, awake rats, in an effort to obtain a THC-specific map of activation in clinically-relevant regions and systems. Intraperitoneal injections of low dose of THC resulted in increased positive and negative BOLD signals compared to vehicle and high dose in areas rich in cannabinoid receptor 1, as well as throughout the pain and hippocampal neural systems. These results offer unique maps of activity, or 'fingerprints', associated with systemic THC administration, allowing for further comparisons with either additional doses or compounds, or between THC administration modalities (i.e. systemic vs. ingested vs. inhaled), which ultimately adds to the translatability assessment of THC-induced BOLD between animal and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Madularu
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Brain Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, 6875 Lasalle Blvd., Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.,Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jason R Yee
- Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Praveen Kulkarni
- Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Craig F Ferris
- Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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23
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Madularu D, Mathieu AP, Kumaragamage C, Reynolds LM, Near J, Flores C, Rajah MN. A non-invasive restraining system for awake mouse imaging. J Neurosci Methods 2017. [PMID: 28634149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical neuroimaging allows for the assessment of brain anatomy, connectivity and function in laboratory animals, such as mice and rats. Most of these studies are performed under anesthesia to avoid movement during the scanning sessions. METHOD Due to the limitations associated with anesthetized imaging, recent efforts have been made to conduct rodent imaging studies in awake animals, habituated to the restraint systems used in these instances. As of now, only one such system is commercially available for mouse scanning (Animal Imaging Research, Boston, MA, USA) integrating the radiofrequency coil electronics with the restraining element, an approach which, although effective in reducing head motion during awake imaging, has some limitations. In the current report, we present a novel mouse restraining system that addresses some of these limitations. RESULTS/COMPARISON TO OTHER METHODS The effectiveness of the restraining system was evaluated in terms of three-dimensional linear head movement across two consecutive functional MRI scans (total 20min) in 33 awake mice. Head movement was minimal, recorded in roughly 12% of the time-series. Respiration rate during the acclimation procedure dropped while the bolus count remained unchanged. Body movement during functional acquisitions did not have a significant effect on magnetic field (B0) homogeneity. CONCLUSION/NOVELTY Compared to the commercially available system, the benefit of the current design is two-fold: 1) it is compatible with a range of commercially-available coils, and 2) it allows for the pairing of neuroimaging with other established techniques involving intracranial cannulation (i.e. microinfusion and optogenetics).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Madularu
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Brain Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Axel P Mathieu
- Brain Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Chathura Kumaragamage
- Brain Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lauren M Reynolds
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jamie Near
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cecilia Flores
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - M Natasha Rajah
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Brain Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Yee JR, Kenkel WM, Kulkarni P, Moore K, Perkeybile AM, Toddes S, Amacker JA, Carter CS, Ferris CF. BOLD fMRI in awake prairie voles: A platform for translational social and affective neuroscience. Neuroimage 2016; 138:221-232. [PMID: 27238726 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The advancement of neuroscience depends on continued improvement in methods and models. Here, we present novel techniques for the use of awake functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) - an important step forward in minimally-invasive measurement of neural activity in a non-traditional animal model. Imaging neural responses in prairie voles, a species studied for its propensity to form strong and selective social bonds, is expected to greatly advance our mechanistic understanding of complex social and affective processes. The use of ultra-high-field fMRI allows for recording changes in region-specific activity throughout the entire brain simultaneously and with high temporal and spatial resolutions. By imaging neural responses in awake animals, with minimal invasiveness, we are able to avoid the confound of anesthesia, broaden the scope of possible stimuli, and potentially make use of repeated scans from the same animals. These methods are made possible by the development of an annotated and segmented 3D vole brain atlas and software for image analysis. The use of these methods in the prairie vole provides an opportunity to broaden neuroscientific investigation of behavior via a comparative approach, which highlights the ethological relevance of pro-social behaviors shared between voles and humans, such as communal breeding, selective social bonds, social buffering of stress, and caregiving behaviors. Results using these methods show that fMRI in the prairie vole is capable of yielding robust blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal changes in response to hypercapnic challenge (inhaled 5% CO2), region-specific physical challenge (unilateral whisker stimulation), and presentation of a set of novel odors. Complementary analyses of repeated restraint sessions in the imaging hardware suggest that voles do not require acclimation to this procedure. Taken together, awake vole fMRI represents a new arena of neurobiological study outside the realm of traditional rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Yee
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States; Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, United States.
| | - W M Kenkel
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States; Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, United States
| | - P Kulkarni
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States
| | - K Moore
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States
| | - A M Perkeybile
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States
| | - S Toddes
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States
| | - J A Amacker
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States
| | - C S Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, United States
| | - C F Ferris
- Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern University, United States
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