Transgenerational transmission of aspartame-induced anxiety and changes in glutamate-GABA signaling and gene expression in the amygdala

[1H-13C]-NMR-Based Metabolic Kinetics Reveals Brain Neurochemical Alterations in Mice After Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) is a pathological process that occurs in various blinding eye diseases and is often accompanied by anxiety and depression. However, the underlying metabolic mechanism of mood disorders remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic dynamics of the brain after RIRI. C57BL/6 J mice were used to establish the RIRI model and assessed after 1 and 7 days. Mood-related behaviors were examined using open-field, elevated plus-maze, and forced swimming tests. Retinal injury histology was assessed using retinal hematoxylin and eosin staining. Retinal apoptosis was measured via the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining. The 13C-labeled metabolite information for six brain regions of interest was obtained using the [1H-13C]-NMR technique. Retinal tissue damage and cell apoptosis in the retina were observed 1 and 7 days after RIRI. One day after RIRI, mice displayed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, and multiple metabolites involved in the glutamine (Gln)/glutamate (Glu)-γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycles exhibited reductions in all studied brain regions, with frontal cortex (FC) and temporal cortex (TC) being the most markedly altered. Metabolites and behavioral indicators nearly returned to normal after 7 days. Significant positive correlations between Gln/Glu-GABA and TCA cycle metabolites were observed in the RIRI brain. The results revealed that within a short period after RIRI, there was a reduction in brain metabolites and a disruption of the Gln/Glu-GABA and TCA cycles, which may contribute to mood disorders in mice.

Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced depression and anxiety behavior in mice

This study investigates the therapeutic effectiveness of intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles pretreatment to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pathological inflammation and synapse destruction and depressive and anxiety behavior in mice. B6SJLF1/J adult mice were pretreated with intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles (dantrolene: 5mg/kg), daily, Monday to Friday, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. Then, mice were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (5mg/kg) for one time. Behavioral tests for depression and anxiety were performed 24 hours after a one-time LPS injection. Biomarkers for pyroptosis-related inflammation cytokines (IL-1β and IL-18) in the blood and brain were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting, respectively. The changes of primary proteins activation inflammatory pyroptosis (NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3, Caspase-1, N-GSDMD: N terminal protein gasdermin D) and synapse proteins (PSD-95 and synpatin-1) in brains were measured using immunoblotting. Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles robustly inhibited LPS-induced depression and anxiety behavior. Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles significantly inhibited LPS-induced pathological elevation of IL-1β and IL-18 in the blood and brain and inhibited LPS-induced activation of pyroptosis. Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles significantly ameliorated decrease of PSD-95 and synpatin-1 proteins in brains. Thus, intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles have demonstrated neuroprotection against inflammation-mediated depression and anxiety behaviors and should be studied further as a future effective drug treatment of major depression disorder or anxiety psychiatric disorder.

Fam172a Mediates the Stimulation of Hypothalamic Oxytocin Neurons to Suppress Obesity-Induced Anxiety

Anxiety disorder is the most common mental disorder worldwide. Although human studies have demonstrated a positive association between obesity and anxiety disorder, the exact mechanism linking these conditions is unclear. Interestingly, oxytocin (Oxt) neurons, predominantly expressed in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), play a crucial role in both obesity and anxiety. In this study, obesity can induce anxiety-like behavior in mice, which can be ameliorated by the activation of PVN Oxt neurons. Conversely, inhibiting PVN Oxt neurons accelerate the progression of anxiety. Moreover, the family with sequence similarity 172, member A (Fam172a), an anxiety susceptibility gene, is highly expressed in the hypothalamic PVN Oxt neuron but reduce in the PVN Oxt neuron of mice in the high-fat diet and acute restraint stress conditions. Significantly, overexpression of Fam172a in PVN Oxt neurons improve obesity-anxiety-like behavior in mice. In contrast, disruption of Fam172a in PVN Oxt neurons exacerbate obesity-anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that Fam172a is involved in mRNA degradation in Oxt neurons by regulating the intranuclear transport of Argonaute 2, thereby influencing Oxt secretion and ultimately impacting obesity-anxiety-like behavior. These findings suggest that Fam172a serves as a key target of PVN Oxt neurons in the regulation of obesity-induced anxiety.

External stress, formaldehyde, and schizophrenia: a new mouse model for mental illness research

Although MK801-induced NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction mimics schizophrenia symptoms, the exact factors causing NMDAR inhibition are unknown. Unexpectedly, external stress elicits formaldehyde (FA) generation; FA can induce depression and cognitive impairments by blocking NMDARs. This study explores using FA injection to establish a schizophrenia-like model in mice. Here, we reported that external stress-derived FA induces schizophrenia-like behaviors. Four experimental methods were used to induce schizophrenia-like symptoms in wild-type mice: double electrode stimulation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), microinjection of FA or tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) into the VTA, and intraperitoneal injection of MK801. Then the metabolic levels of FA and dopamine (DA) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and VTA were quantified using ELISA kits. We found that external stress-electrical stimulation via VTA caused schizophrenia-like behaviors, including despairing behavior as measured by the tail suspension test, anhedonia as evaluated by the sucrose preference test, stereotypical behavior as assessed by the marble burying test (MBT), anxiety-like behavior as measured by the open-field test and memory deficit as detected by the Y-maze. These behaviors correlated with increased DA and TIQ levels in the VTA and decreased DA levels in the PFC. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed TIQ formation from FA and DA. Furthermore, injecting TIQ into the VTA induced schizophrenia-like symptoms in mice, marked by higher FA and lower DA levels in the PFC than control mice. Strikingly, injecting FA into the VTA as well as administering MK-801 induced schizophrenia-like behaviors associated with reduced DA levels and low activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the PFC. Hence, microinfusion of FA into the VTA can be used to prepare schizophrenia-like changes mouse model, suggesting that stress-derived FA may act as an endogenous trigger of schizophrenia-like changes.

Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced helplessness and anxiety behavior in mice

This study investigates the therapeutic effectiveness of intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles pretreatment to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pathological inflammation and synapse destruction and depressive and anxiety behavior in mice. B6SJLF1/J adult mice were pretreated with intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles (dantrolene: 5mg/kg), daily, Monday to Friday, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. Then, mice were treated with intraperitoneal injection of LPS (5mg/kg) for one time. Behavioral tests for depression and anxiety were performed 24 hours after a one-time LPS injection. Biomarkers for pyroptosis-related inflammation cytokines (IL-1β and IL-18) in blood and brains were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting, respectively. The changes of primary proteins activation inflammatory pyroptosis (NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3, Caspase-1, N-GSDMD: N terminal protein gasdermin D) and synapse proteins (PSD-95 and synpatin-1) in brains were measured using immunoblotting. Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles robustly inhibited LPS-induced depression and anxiety behavior. Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles significantly inhibited LPS-induced pathological elevation of IL-1β and IL-18 in the blood and brain and inhibited LPS induced activation of pyroptosis. Intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles significantly ameliorated decrease of PSD-95 and synpatin-1 proteins in brains. Thus, intranasal dantrolene nanoparticles has demonstrated neuroprotection against inflammation mediated depression and anxiety behaviors and should be studied furthermore as a future effective drug treatment of major depression disorder or anxiety psychiatric disorder.

Nicotinamide riboside alleviates sweeteners-induced brain and cognitive impairments in immature mice

The consumption of sweeteners is high around the world. Sweet beverages are one of the most important and popular sources of sweeteners. Previous studies have reported that excessive sweeteners might cause health hazards, including cognitive impairment. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a precursor of NAD+, has been found to alleviate several cognitive impairments. However, the protective effects of NR against sweetener-induced cognitive impairment remain unclear. Hence, we evaluated the effects of sweeteners and NR (400 mg kg-1 d-1) on the brain and cognition of mice by simulating an extreme lifestyle of completely replacing water with sugar-sweetened beverage (simulated with 10% sucrose solution) or sugar-free sweet beverage (simulated with 0.05% aspartame solution) from weaning to adulthood. The results revealed that continuous exposure to sucrose or aspartame for eight weeks did not significantly cause differences in body weight but significantly induced cognitive impairments, including anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours, impairments in learning, memory and sociability. Moreover, sucrose or aspartame exposure induced neuronal injury, reduction of Nissl bodies, overactivation of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway and increased downstream inflammatory cytokines in mouse hippocampus, and also induced an imbalance of oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy, large consumptions of intracellular antioxidant factors, and overactivation of the PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways in mouse brain. NR treatment increased NAD+ in the brain, and prevented and alleviated these impairments effectively. In summary, we found that NR supplementation protected against cognitive impairment caused by sucrose or aspartame in immature mice, which might be related to increased brain NAD+ level, relieved neuroinflammation and pyroptosis in the hippocampus, and maintained a balance of oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy in the brain.

Food additives for the central nervous system, useful or harmful? An evidence-based review

OBJECTIVES

This review examines how food additives impact the central nervous system (CNS) focusing on the effects of sugars, artificial sweeteners, colorings, and preservatives.

METHODS

A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted for studies published since 2010. Key search terms included, food additives, neurotoxicity, cognition, and behavior.

RESULTS

It summarizes research findings on additives such as aspartame, stevia, methylene blue, azo dyes, sodium benzoate, and monosodium glutamate. It also covers mechanisms such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruptions in neurotransmitter systems. Furthermore, it emphasizes the properties of natural compounds such as garlic (Allium sativum), tetramethylpyrazine, curcumin, licorice root extract (glycyrrhizin), and polyphenols in mitigating CNS damage caused by food additives.

DISCUSSION

Although ongoing studies are expanding our knowledge on the effects of these additives, future CNS research should focus on long-term investigations involving subjects to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the cumulative impacts of different additives and update regulatory standards based on new scientific findings.

Intricate mechanism of anxiety disorder, recognizing the potential role of gut microbiota and therapeutic interventions

Anxiety is a widespread psychological disorder affecting both humans and animals. It is a typical stress reaction; however, its longer persistence can cause severe health disorders affecting the day-to-day life activities of individuals. An intriguing facet of the anxiety-related disorder can be addressed better by investigating the role of neurotransmitters in regulating emotions, provoking anxiety, analyzing the cross-talks between neurotransmitters, and, most importantly, identifying the biomarkers of the anxiety. Recent years have witnessed the potential role of the gut microbiota in human health and disorders, including anxiety. Animal models are commonly used to study anxiety disorder as they offer a simpler and more controlled environment than humans. Ultimately, developing new strategies for diagnosing and treating anxiety is of paramount interest to medical scientists. Altogether, this review article shall highlight the intricate mechanisms of anxiety while emphasizing the emerging role of gut microbiota in regulating metabolic pathways through various interaction networks in the host. In addition, the review will foster information about the therapeutic interventions of the anxiety and related disorder.

GPR17 modulates anxiety-like behaviors via basolateral amygdala to ventral hippocampal CA1 glutamatergic projection

Anxiety disorders are one of the most epidemic and chronic psychiatric disorders. An incomplete understanding of anxiety pathophysiology has limited the development of highly effective drugs against these disorders. GPR17 has been shown to be involved in multiple sclerosis and some acute brain injury disorders. However, no study has investigated the role of GPR17 in psychiatric disorders. In a well-established chronic restraint stress (CRS) mouse model, using a combination of pharmacological and molecular biology techniques, viral tracing, in vitro electrophysiology recordings, in vivo fiber photometry, chemogenetic manipulations and behavioral tests, we demonstrated that CRS induced anxiety-like behaviors and increased the expression of GPR17 in basolateral amygdala (BLA) glutamatergic neurons. Inhibition of GPR17 by cangrelor or knockdown of GPR17 by adeno-associated virus in BLA glutamatergic neurons effectively improved anxiety-like behaviors. Overexpression of GPR17 in BLA glutamatergic neurons increased the susceptibility to anxiety-like behaviors. What's more, BLA glutamatergic neuronal activity was required for anxiolytic-like effects of GPR17 antagonist and GPR17 modulated anxiety-like behaviors via BLA to ventral hippocampal CA1 glutamatergic projection. Our study finds for the first and highlights the new role of GPR17 in regulating anxiety-like behaviors and it might be a novel potential target for therapy of anxiety disorders.

Non-nutritive Sweetener Aspartame Disrupts Circadian Behavior and Causes Memory Impairment in Mice

As a non-nutritive sweetener, aspartame is widely used in everyday life. However, its safety is highly controversial, especially its effects on neurobehavior. We evaluated the effects of chronic daily oral administration of aspartame-containing drinking water (at doses equivalent to 7-28% of the FDA-recommended human DIV) on memory and rhythm behaviors in mice and further investigated changes at the molecular level in the brains. Our results demonstrated that mice exposed to aspartame exhibited memory impairment. Disorders of hippocampal neurotransmitter metabolism and pathological damage may be responsible for the aspartame-induced memory impairment via inhibition of the BDNF/TrkB pathway. Furthermore, our findings suggested that disturbed clock gene expression in the hypothalamus after aspartame exposure led to altered rest-activity behavior, and this disruption of the circadian rhythm may exacerbate memory impairment. This study highlights the negative neurobehavioral effects of aspartame and provides valuable insights into its rational and safe use.

Isoflurane anesthesia decreases excitability of inhibitory neurons in the basolateral amygdala leading to anxiety‑like behavior in aged mice

Anxiety after surgery can be a major factor leading to postoperative cognitive dysfunction, particularly in elderly patients. The role of inhibitory neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in anxiety-like behaviors in aged mice following isoflurane anesthesia remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of inhibitory neurons in isoflurane-treated mice. A total of 30 C57BL/6 mice (age, 13 months) were allocated into the control and isoflurane anesthesia groups (15 mice/group) and were then subjected to several neurological assessments. Behavioral testing using an elevated plus maze test showed that aged mice in the isoflurane anesthesia group displayed significant anxiety-like behavior, since they spent more time in the closed arm, exhibited more wall climbing behavior and covered more distance. In addition, whole-cell patch-clamp recording revealed that the excitability of the BLA excitatory neurons was notably increased following mice anesthesia with isoflurane, while that of inhibitory neurons was markedly reduced. Following mice treatment with diazepam, the excitability of the BLA inhibitory neurons was notably increased compared with that of the excitatory neurons, which was significantly attenuated. Overall, the results of the current study indicated that anxiety-like behavior could occur in aged mice after isoflurane anesthesia, which could be caused by a reduced excitability of the inhibitory neurons in the BLA area. This process could enhance excitatory neuronal activity in aged mice, thus ultimately promoting the onset of anxiety-like behaviors.

Early-Life Gut Microbiota: A Possible Link Between Maternal Exposure to Non-Nutritive Sweeteners and Metabolic Syndrome in Offspring

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is recognized as a group of metabolic abnormalities, characterized by clustered interconnected traits that elevate the risks of obesity, cardiovascular and atherosclerotic diseases, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are commonly consumed by those with imbalanced calorie intake, especially in the perinatal period. In the past, accumulating evidence showed the transgenerational and mediated roles of human microbiota in the development of early-life MetS. Maternal exposure to NNS has been recognized as a risk factor for filial metabolic disturbance through various mechanisms, among which gut microbiota and derived metabolites function as nodes linking NNS and MetS in early life. Despite the widespread consumption of NNS, there remain growing concerns about their transgenerational impact on metabolic health. There is growing evidence of NNS being implicated in the development of metabolic abnormalities. Intricate complexities exist and a comprehensive understanding of how the gut microbiota interacts with mechanisms related to maternal NNS intake and disrupts metabolic homeostasis of offspring is critical to realize its full potential in preventing early-life MetS. This review aims to elucidate the effects of early-life gut microbiota and links to maternal NNS exposure and imbalanced offspring metabolic homeostasis and discusses potential perspectives and challenges, which may provide enlightenment and understanding into optimal perinatal nutritional management.

Jiannao pills mitigate chronic restraint stress-induced anxiety in mice through the regulation of intestinal microflora

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of Jiannao pills on mice with chronic restraint stress-induced anxiety and its mechanisms.

METHODS

Anxiety-like behaviors were induced in mice by exposing them to chronic restraint stress (8 h/day for 21 days). Subsequently, Jiannao pills were given to these mice for the treatment of the induced anxiety. Following treatment, the intestinal microflora of the mice were analyzed using the 16S rRNA sequencing method.

RESULTS

Under positive electrospray ionization mode, a total of 68 chemical compositions were found in Jiannao pills, and under negative electrospray ionization mode, the number was 18. With these chemical compositions in effect, it was observed that Jiannao pills alleviated chronic restraint induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice by extending their dwelling time, standing time, and grooming time in the central area, as well as the percentage of entries and time spent in the open arms. This effect was similar to that of alprazolam. In addition, Jiannao pills significantly improved neural functions in mice with chronic restraint-induced anxiety, diminished the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and glutamate, and increased the levels of γ-aminobutyric acid. Furthermore, Jiannao pills decreased the expressions of the corticotropin-releasing factor and cholecystokinin protein, while elevating neuropeptide Y protein levels. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed both Jiannao pills and alprazolam altered the composition of intestinal microflora in mice, with Jiannao pills exhibiting a more pronounced effect. Specifically, there was a significant increase in the abundance of S24-7 in mice following treatment. Besides, significant differences were observed in a total of 632 operational taxonomic units in mice after Jiannao pill treatment. The functions of the intestinal microflora of mice were primarily associated with their betalain biosynthesis and classification levels.

CONCLUSION

Jiannao pills effectively ameliorated chronic restraint anxiety-like behaviors in mice and enhanced their neural functions potentially through the regulation of their intestinal microflora.

GABAergic implications in anxiety and related disorders

Evidence indicates that anxiety disorders arise from an imbalance in the functioning of brain circuits that govern the modulation of emotional responses to possibly threatening stimuli. The circuits under consideration in this context include the amygdala's bottom-up activity, which signifies the existence of stimuli that may be seen as dangerous. Moreover, these circuits encompass top-down regulatory processes that originate in the prefrontal cortex, facilitating the communication of the emotional significance associated with the inputs. Diverse databases (e.g., Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar) were searched for literature using a combination of different terms e.g., "anxiety", "stress", "neuroanatomy", and "neural circuits", etc. A decrease in GABAergic activity is present in both anxiety disorders and severe depression. Research on cerebral functional imaging in depressive individuals has shown reduced levels of GABA within the cortical regions. Additionally, animal studies demonstrated that a reduction in the expression of GABAA/B receptors results in a behavioral pattern resembling anxiety. The amygdala consists of inhibitory networks composed of GABAergic interneurons, responsible for modulating anxiety responses in both normal and pathological conditions. The GABAA receptor has allosteric sites (e.g., α/γ, γ/β, and α/β) which enable regulation of neuronal inhibition in the amygdala. These sites serve as molecular targets for anxiolytic medications such as benzodiazepine and barbiturates. Alterations in the levels of naturally occurring regulators of these allosteric sites, along with alterations to the composition of the GABAA receptor subunits, could potentially act as mechanisms via which the extent of neuronal inhibition is diminished in pathological anxiety disorders.

Behavioral, neurotransmitter and transcriptomic analyses in male and female Fmr1 KO mice

Introduction

Fragile X syndrome is an inherited X-linked disorder associated with intellectual disabilities that begin in childhood and last a lifetime. The symptoms overlap with autism spectrum disorder, and the syndrome predominantly affects males. Consequently, FXS research tends to favor analysis of social behaviors in males, leaving a gap in our understanding of other behavioral traits, especially in females.

Methods

We used a mouse model of FXS to analyze developmental, behavioral, neurochemical, and transcriptomic profiles in males and females.

Results

Our behavioral assays demonstrated locomotor hyperactivity, motor impulsivity, increased "approach" behavior in an approach-avoidance assay, and deficits in nest building behavior. Analysis of brain neurotransmitter content revealed deficits in striatal GABA, glutamate, and serotonin content. RNA sequencing of the ventral striatum unveiled expression changes associated with neurotransmission as well as motivation and substance use pathways. Sex differences were identified in nest building behavior, striatal neurotransmitter content, and ventral striatal gene expression.

Discussion

In summary, our study identified sex differences in specific behavioral, neurotransmitter, and gene expression phenotypes and gene set enrichment analysis identified significant enrichment of pathways associated with motivation and drug reward.

Frontiers and hotspots in anxiety disorders: A bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2024

Objective

This study aimed to analyze research on anxiety disorders using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to identify research hotspots and future directions.

Methods

We conduct ed a comprehensive search on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for relevant studies about anxiety disorders published within the past two decades (from 2004 to 2024). VOSviewer and CiteSpace were mainly used to analyze the authors, institutions, countries, publishing journals, reference co-citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and other aspects to construct a knowledge atlas.

Results

A total of 22,267 publications related to anxiety disorders were retrieved. The number of publications about anxiety disorders has generally increased over time, with some fluctuations. The United States emerged as the most productive country, with Harvard University identified as the most prolific institution and Brenda W. J. H. Penninx as the most prolific author in the field.

Conclusion

This research identified the most influential publications, authors, journals, institutions, and countries in the field of anxiety research. Future research directions are involved advanced treatments based on pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and digital interventions, mechanism exploration to anxiety disorders based on neurobiological and genetic basis, influence of social and environmental factors on the onset of anxiety disorders.

The influence of exercise intensity on comorbid anxious behavior in psychiatric conditions

Many experts have extensively studied the potential of exercise as a treatment option for psychiatric conditions, including depression and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite their core symptoms, these conditions exhibits comparable component traits, an anxiety. In this study, we explored the effect of exercise on behavioral abnormalities in psychiatric conditions, focusing on its intensity and emotional resilience. Shank3B knockout (KOSED) mice displaying self-injurious repetitive behavior and C57BL/6J mice, susceptible to stress as ASD and depression model, respectively, were subjected to moderate-intensity exercise (ME) for 2 weeks. ME mitigated the core symptoms (excessive grooming traits and behavioral despair) but did not exert a significant anxiolytic effect. Notably, exercise intensity has emerged as a critical determinant of its efficacy, as evidenced by a lower ventilation threshold and anxiolytic effect mediated by low-intensity exercise. The findings substantiate the notion that exercise is promising as a disease-modifying treatment, but intensity matters for emotional resilience.

Shen Yuan extract exerts a hypnotic effect via the tryptophan/5-hydroxytryptamine/melatonin pathway in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sleep plays a critical role in several physiologic processes, and sleep disorders increase the risk of depression, dementia, stroke, cancer, and other diseases. Stress is one of the main causes of sleep disorders. Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Polygalae Radix have been reported to have effects of calming the mind and intensifying intelligence in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions composed of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Polygalae Radix (Shen Yuan, SY) are commonly used to treat insomnia, depression, and other psychiatric disorders in clinical practice. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms of the SY extract's effect on sleep are still unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the hypnotic effect of the SY extract in normal mice and mice with chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced sleep disorders and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The SY extract (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) was intragastrically administered to normal mice for 1, 14, and 28 days and to CRS-treated mice for 28 days. The open field test (OFT) and pentobarbital sodium-induced sleep test (PST) were used to evaluate the hypnotic effect of the SY extract. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were utilized to detect the levels of neurotransmitters and hormones. Molecular changes at the mRNA and protein levels were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis to identify the mechanisms by which SY improves sleep disorders.

RESULTS

The SY extract decreased sleep latency and increased sleep duration in normal mice. Similarly, the sleep duration of mice subjected to CRS was increased by administering SY. The SY extract increased the levels of tryptophan (Trp) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) in the cortex of normal mice. The SY extract increased the Trp level, transcription and expression of estrogen receptor beta and TPH2 in the cortex in mice with sleep disorders by decreasing the serum corticosterone level, which promoted the synthesis of 5-HT. Additionally, the SY extract enhanced the expression of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, which increased the melatonin level and upregulated the expressions of melatonin receptor-2 (MT2) and Cryptochrome 1 (Cry1) in the hypothalamus of mice with sleep disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

The SY extract exerted a hypnotic effect via the Trp/5-HT/melatonin pathway, which augmented the synthesis of 5-HT and melatonin and further increased the expressions of MT2 and Cry1.

Identification of Novel Genomic Loci for Anxiety and Extensive Genetic Overlap with Psychiatric Disorders

Background

Anxiety disorders are prevalent and anxiety symptoms co-occur with many psychiatric disorders. We aimed to identify genomic risk loci associated with anxiety, characterize its genetic architecture, and genetic overlap with psychiatric disorders.

Methods

We used the GWAS of anxiety symptoms, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We employed MiXeR and LAVA to characterize the genetic architecture and genetic overlap between the phenotypes. Conditional and conjunctional false discovery rate analyses were performed to boost the identification of genomic loci associated with anxiety and those shared with psychiatric disorders. Gene annotation and gene set analyses were conducted using OpenTargets and FUMA, respectively.

Results

Anxiety was polygenic with 12.9k estimated genetic risk variants and overlapped extensively with psychiatric disorders (4.1-11.4k variants). MiXeR and LAVA revealed predominantly positive genetic correlations between anxiety and psychiatric disorders. We identified 114 novel loci for anxiety by conditioning on the psychiatric disorders. We also identified loci shared between anxiety and major depression (n = 47), bipolar disorder (n = 33), schizophrenia (n = 71), and ADHD (n = 20). Genes annotated to anxiety loci exhibit enrichment for a broader range of biological pathways and differential tissue expression in more diverse tissues than those annotated to the shared loci.

Conclusions

Anxiety is a highly polygenic phenotype with extensive genetic overlap with psychiatric disorders. These genetic overlaps enabled the identification of novel loci for anxiety. The shared genetic architecture may underlie the extensive cross-disorder comorbidity of anxiety, and the identified genetic loci implicate molecular pathways that may lead to potential drug targets.

Chronic exposure to PM10 induces anxiety-like behavior via exacerbating hippocampal oxidative stress

As one of the most environmental concerns, inhaled particulate matter (PM10) causes numerous health problems. However, the associations between anxiety behavior and toxicity caused by PM10 have rarely been reported so far. To investigate the changes of behavior after PM10 exposure and to identify the potential mechanisms of toxicity, PM10 samples (with doses of 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) were intratracheally instilled into rats to simulate inhalation of polluted air by the lungs. After instillation for eight weeks, anxiety-like behavior was evaluated, levels of oxidative stress and morphological changes of hippocampus were measured. The behavioral results indicated that PM10 exposure induced obvious anxiety-like behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. Both PM10 concentrations tested could increase whole blood viscosity and trigger hippocampal neuronal damage and oxidative stress by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde levels, and decreasing the expressions of antioxidant-related proteins (e.g., nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), SOD1 and heme oxygenase 1). Furthermore, through collecting and analyzing questionnaires, the data showed that the participants experienced obvious anxiety-related emotions and negative somatic responses under heavily polluted environments, especially PM10 being the main pollutant. These results show that PM10 exposure induces anxiety-like behavior, which may be related to suppressing the Nrf2/Keap1-SOD1 pathway.

Obesogenic potentials of environmental artificial sweeteners with disturbances on both lipid metabolism and neural responses

Artificial sweeteners (ASs) entered the environments after application and emissions. Recent studies showed that some ASs had obesogenic risks. However, it remained unclear whether such risks are common and how they provoke such effects. Presently, the effects of 8 widely used ASs on lipid accumulation were measured in Caenorhabditis elegans. Potential mechanisms were explored with feeding and locomotion behavior, lipid metabolism and neural regulation. Results showed that acesulfame (ACE), aspartame (ASP), saccharin sodium (SOD), sucralose (SUC) and cyclamate (CYC) stimulated lipid accumulation at μg/L levels, showing obesogenic potentials. Behavior investigation showed that ACE, ASP, SOD, SUC and CYC biased more feeding in the energy intake aspect against the locomotion in the energy consumption one. Neotame (NEO), saccharin (SAC) and alitame (ALT) reduced the lipid accumulation without significant obesogenic potentials in the present study. However, all 8 ASs commonly disturbed enzymes (e.g., acetyl-CoA carboxylase) in lipogenesis and those (e.g., carnitine palmitoyl transferase) in lipolysis. In addition, ASs disturbed PPARγ (via expressions of nhr-49), TGF-β/DAF-7 (daf-7) and SREBP (sbp-1) pathways. Moreover, they also interfered neurotransmitters including serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh), with influences in Gsα (e.g., via expressions of gsα-1, ser-7), glutamate (e.g., mgl-1), and cGMP-dependent signaling pathways (e.g., egl-4). In summary, environmental ASs commonly disturbed neural regulation connecting behavior and lipid metabolism, and 5 out of 8 showed clear obesogenic potentials. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Artificial sweeteners (ASs) are become emerging pollutants after wide application and continuous emission. Recent studies showed that some environmental ASs had obesogenic risks. The present study employed Caenorhabditis elegans to explore the influences of 8 commonly used ASs on lipid metabolisms and also the underlying mechanisms. Five out of 8 ASs stimulated lipid accumulation at μg/L levels, and they biased energy intake against energy consumption. The other three ASs reduced the lipid accumulation. ASs commonly disturbed lipogenesis and lipolysis via PPARγ, TGF-β and SREBP pathways, and also influenced neurotransmitters with Gsα, glutamate and cGMP-dependent signaling pathways.

Natural Sweetener, Glycyrrhetinic Acid 3-O-Mono-beta-d-glucuronide, for Postprandial Hyperglycemia Management

This study examines the inhibitory effects of a range of sweeteners on α-glucosidase. Our findings revealed that only one natural sweetener, namely, glycyrrhetinic acid 3-O-mono-beta-d-glucuronide (GAMG), derived from licorice, exhibited a mixed-type inhibition against α-glucosidase with a IC50 value of 0.73 ± 0.05 mg/mL. The fluorescence intensity of α-glucosidase was quenched by GAMG in the formation of an α-glucosidase-GAMG complex. GAMG has been shown to induce conformational changes in α-glucosidase, likely through hydrogen bonding, van der Waals force, and alkyl-alkyl interactions with amino acid residues, including Arg 281, Leu 283, Trp 376, Asp 404, Asp 443, Trp 481, Asp 518, Phe 525, Ala 555, and Asp 616. Additional animal validation experiments demonstrated that GAMG slowed starch digestion, thereby attenuating the postprandial glycemic response. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that GAMG is a natural sweetener with potent inhibitory activity that selectively targets α-glucosidase. This study supports the use of GAMG as a natural sweetener, which holds a high biological value and may be beneficial for managing postprandial hyperglycemia.

Nutritional Criminology: Why the Emerging Research on Ultra-Processed Food Matters to Health and Justice

There is mounting concern over the potential harms associated with ultra-processed foods, including poor mental health and antisocial behavior. Cutting-edge research provides an enhanced understanding of biophysiological mechanisms, including microbiome pathways, and invites a historical reexamination of earlier work that investigated the relationship between nutrition and criminal behavior. Here, in this perspective article, we explore how this emergent research casts new light and greater significance on previous key observations. Despite expanding interest in the field dubbed 'nutritional psychiatry', there has been relatively little attention paid to its relevancy within criminology and the criminal justice system. Since public health practitioners, allied mental health professionals, and policymakers play key roles throughout criminal justice systems, a holistic perspective on both historical and emergent research is critical. While there are many questions to be resolved, the available evidence suggests that nutrition might be an underappreciated factor in prevention and treatment along the criminal justice spectrum. The intersection of nutrition and biopsychosocial health requires transdisciplinary discussions of power structures, industry influence, and marketing issues associated with widespread food and social inequalities. Some of these discussions are already occurring under the banner of 'food crime'. Given the vast societal implications, it is our contention that the subject of nutrition in the multidisciplinary field of criminology-referred to here as nutritional criminology-deserves increased scrutiny. Through combining historical findings and cutting-edge research, we aim to increase awareness of this topic among the broad readership of the journal, with the hopes of generating new hypotheses and collaborations.

Perinatal environmental enrichment changes anxiety-like behaviours in mice and produces similar intergenerational benefits in offspring

Environmental enrichment implemented in early life is able to induce long-term changes in gene expression, synaptic function and behavioural responses. In this study, we evaluated the adult behavioural effects of perinatal environment enrichment in male and female mice (PEE), as well as the males and females of PEE male offspring (OPEE). For this purpose, animals were submitted to the following battery of behavioural analyses: elevated plus maze, open field test, light-dark box and novelty suppression feeding test. The frontal cortex and ventral hippocampus of PEE mice were collected for the evaluation of the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-related genes. The PEE animals showed an increase in exploratory activity, associated with a reduction in anxiety-like behaviours on the elevated plus maze; this effect was mainly observed in males. Additionally, the male OPEE showed a reduction in anxiety-like behaviours on the elevated plus maze, mainly observed in a reduction of risk assessment-related behaviours. The PEE male mice also showed reduced expression of Gabra3 in the ventral hippocampus when compared to the control group. These results demonstrate that perinatal environmental enrichment promotes a reduction in anxiety-like behaviour that can be transferred intergenerationally.

Identification of ethyl vanillin in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) using a targeted metabolomics strategy: From artificial to natural

Improving flavor can be an important goal of strawberry through breeding that is enhanced through the accurate identification and quantification of flavor compounds. Herein, a targeted metabolomics strategy was developed using liquid-liquid extraction, an in-house standard database, and GC-MS/MS analysis. The database consisted of key food odorants (KFOs), artificial flavor compounds (AFCs) and volatiles. A total of 131 flavor compounds were accurately identified in Medallion® 'FL 16.30-128' strawberry. Importantly, ethyl vanillin was identified for the first time in natural food. Multiple techniques, including GC-MS, GC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS were applied to ensure the identification. The ethyl vanillin in the Medallion® samples were determined in a range of concentrations from 0.070 ± 0.0006 µg/kg to 0.1372 ± 0.0014 µg/kg by using stable isotope dilution analysis. The identification of ethyl vanillin in strawberry implys the future commercial use a natural flavor compound and the potential to identify genes and proteins associated with its biosynthesis.

The Impact of Free and Added Sugars on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A relationship between excessive sugar consumption and cognitive function has been described in animal models, but the specific effects of sugars in humans remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the current knowledge, research characteristics, and quality of evidence of studies investigating the impacts of free and added sugars on human cognition in healthy participants. The review identified 77 studies (65 experimental trials, n = 3831; 9 cross-sectional studies, n = 11,456; and 3 cohort studies, n = 2059). All cohort studies and eight of the nine cross-sectional studies found significant positive correlations between added sugar consumption and risk of cognitive impairment. Four studies identified reduced risk of cognitive impairment associated with natural fructose-containing foods. The majority of randomised control trials assessed short-term glucose facilitation effects on cognitive outcomes. The results from these studies suggest the need for a tightly regulated blood glucose level, dependent on individualised physiological factors, for optimal cognitive function. A meta-analysis of a subset of studies that assessed the impact of glucose on recall found improvements in immediate free recall compared to controls (p = 0.002). The findings highlight the potentially detrimental effect of excessive, long-term, or prenatal added sugar consumption on cognitive function. Further research is needed to examine the specific effects of free and added sugars on cognitive function.

Recent advances in anxiety disorders: Focus on animal models and pathological mechanisms

Anxiety disorders have become one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, and the incidence is increasing every year. They impose an extraordinary personal and socioeconomic burden. Anxiety disorders are influenced by multiple complex and interacting genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors, which contribute to disruption or imbalance in homeostasis and eventually cause pathologic anxiety. The selection of a suitable animal model is important for the exploration of disease etiology and pathophysiology, and the development of new drugs. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages and limitations of existing animal models of anxiety disorders is helpful to further study the underlying pathological mechanisms of the disease. This review summarizes animal models and the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, and discusses the current research status to provide insights for further study of anxiety disorders.

Learning and memory deficits produced by aspartame are heritable via the paternal lineage

Environmental exposures produce heritable traits that can linger in the population for one or two generations. Millions of individuals consume substances such as artificial sweeteners daily that are declared safe by regulatory agencies without evaluation of their potential heritable effects. We show that consumption of aspartame, an FDA-approved artificial sweetener, daily for up to 16-weeks at doses equivalent to only 7-15% of the FDA recommended maximum daily intake value (equivalent to 2-4 small, 8 oz diet soda drinks per day) produces significant spatial learning and memory deficits in mice. Moreover, the cognitive deficits are transmitted to male and female descendants along the paternal lineage suggesting that aspartame's adverse cognitive effects are heritable, and that they are more pervasive than current estimates, which consider effects in the directly exposed individuals only. Traditionally, deleterious environmental exposures of pregnant and nursing women are viewed as risk factors for the health of future generations. Environmental exposures of men are not considered to pose similar risks. Our findings suggest that environmental exposures of men can produce adverse impact on cognitive function in future generations and demonstrate the need for considering heritable effects via the paternal lineage as part of the regulatory evaluations of artificial sweeteners.

On the Inheritance of Microbiome-Deficiency: Paediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, the Immune System and the Gut–Brain Axis

Like the majority of non-communicable diseases that have recently gained attention, functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (FGID) in both children and adults are caused by a variety of medical conditions. In general, while it is often thought that common conditions such as obesity may cause other problems, for example, asthma or mental health issues, more consideration needs to be given to the possibility that they could both be brought on by a single underlying problem. Based on the variations in non-communicable disease, in recent years, our group has been revisiting the exact role of the intestinal microbiome within the Vertebrata. While the metabolic products of the microbiome have a role to play in the adult, our tentative conclusion is that the fully functioning, mutualistic microbiome has a primary role: to transfer antigen information from the mother to the neonate in order to calibrate its immune system, allowing it to survive within the microbial environment into which it will emerge. Granted that the microbiome possesses such a function, logic suggests the need for a robust, flexible, mechanism allowing for the partition of nutrition in the mature animal, thus ensuring the continued existence of both the vertebrate host and microbial guest, even under potentially unfavourable conditions. It is feasible that this partition process acts by altering the rate of peristalsis following communication through the gut–brain axis. The final step of this animal–microbiota symbiosis would then be when key microbes are transferred from the female to her progeny, either live offspring or eggs. According to this scheme, each animal inherits twice, once from its parents’ genetic material and once from the mother’s microbiome with the aid of the father’s seminal microbiome, which helps determine the expression of the parental genes. The key point is that the failure of this latter inheritance in humans leads to the distinctive manifestations of functional FGID disorders including inflammation and gut motility disturbances. Furthermore, it seems likely that the critical microbiome–gut association occurs in the first few hours of independent life, in a process that we term handshaking. Note that even if obvious disease in childhood is avoided, the underlying disorders may intrude later in youth or adulthood with immune system disruption coexisting with gut–brain axis issues such as excessive weight gain and poor mental health. In principle, investigating and perhaps supplementing the maternal microbiota provide clinicians with an unprecedented opportunity to intervene in long-term disease processes, even before the child is born.

Feature-Based Molecular Networking Facilitates the Comprehensive Identification of Differential Metabolites in Diabetic Cognitive Dysfunction Rats

Cognitive dysfunction is a frequent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), usually accompanied by metabolic disorders. However, the metabolic changes in diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) patients, especially compared to T2DM groups, are not fully understood. Due to the subtle differences in metabolic alterations between DCD groups and T2DM groups, the comprehensive detection of the untargeted metabolic profiles of hippocampus and urine samples of rats was conducted by LC-MS, considering the different ionization modes and polarities of the examined compounds, and feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) was performed to help identify differential metabolites from a comprehensive perspective in this study. In addition, an association analysis of the differential metabolites in hippocampus and urine was conducted by the O2PLS model. Finally, a total of 71 hippocampal tissue differential metabolites and 179 urine differential metabolites were identified. The pathway enrichment results showed that glutamine and glutamate metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, glycerol phospholipid metabolism, TCA cycle, and arginine biosynthesis in the hippocampus of DCD animals were changed. Seven metabolites (AUC > 0.9) in urine appeared as key differential metabolites that might reflect metabolic changes in the target tissue of DCD rats. This study showed that FBMN facilitated the comprehensive identification of differential metabolites in DCD rats. The differential metabolites may suggest an underlying DCD and be considered as potential biomarkers for DCD. Large samples and clinical experiments are needed for the subsequent elucidation of the possible mechanisms leading to these alterations and the verification of potential biomarkers.