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Neves LT, Paz LV, Wieck A, Mestriner RG, de Miranda Monteiro VAC, Xavier LL. Environmental Enrichment in Stroke Research: an Update. Transl Stroke Res 2024; 15:339-351. [PMID: 36717476 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01132-w] [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: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) refers to different forms of stimulation, where the environment is designed to improve the levels of sensory, cognitive, and motor stimuli, inducing stroke recovery in animal models. Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and neurological disability among older adults, hence the importance of developing strategies to improve recovery for such patients. This review provides an update on recent findings, compiling information regarding the parameters affected by EE exposure in both preclinical and clinical studies. During stroke recovery, EE exposure has been shown to improve both the cognitive and locomotor aspects, inducing important neuroplastic alterations, increased angiogenesis and neurogenesis, and modified gene expression, among other effects. There is a need for further research in this field, particularly in those aspects where the evidence is inconclusive. Moreover, it is necessary refine and adapt the EE paradigms for application in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tartari Neves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular E Molecular, Laboratório deBiologiaCelular ETecidual, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul, PUCRS. Escola de Ciências da Saúde E da Vida, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Prédio 12C, Sala 104, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, CEP, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Lisiê Valéria Paz
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular E Molecular, Laboratório deBiologiaCelular ETecidual, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul, PUCRS. Escola de Ciências da Saúde E da Vida, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Prédio 12C, Sala 104, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, CEP, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Andréa Wieck
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular E Molecular, Laboratório deBiologiaCelular ETecidual, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul, PUCRS. Escola de Ciências da Saúde E da Vida, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Prédio 12C, Sala 104, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, CEP, 90619-900, Brazil
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690 - Jardim Botânico, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Régis Gemerasca Mestriner
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular E Molecular, Laboratório deBiologiaCelular ETecidual, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul, PUCRS. Escola de Ciências da Saúde E da Vida, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Prédio 12C, Sala 104, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, CEP, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Valentina Aguiar Cardozo de Miranda Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular E Molecular, Laboratório deBiologiaCelular ETecidual, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul, PUCRS. Escola de Ciências da Saúde E da Vida, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Prédio 12C, Sala 104, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, CEP, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Léder Leal Xavier
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular E Molecular, Laboratório deBiologiaCelular ETecidual, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul, PUCRS. Escola de Ciências da Saúde E da Vida, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Prédio 12C, Sala 104, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, CEP, 90619-900, Brazil.
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Deng J, Wang H, Fu T, Xu C, Zhu Q, Guo L, Zhu Y. Physical activity improves the visual-spatial working memory of individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1365589. [PMID: 38605880 PMCID: PMC11007231 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1365589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Our network meta-analysis aimed to ascertain the effect of physical activity on the visual-spatial working memory of individuals with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease as well as to propose tailored exercise interventions for each group. Methods Employing a frequentist approach, we performed a network meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of different exercise interventions in improving the visual-spatial working memory of individuals with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Subsequently, we explored the moderating variables influencing the effectiveness of the exercise interventions through a subgroup analysis. Results We included 34 articles involving 3,074 participants in the meta-analysis, comprised of 1,537 participants from studies on mild cognitive impairment and 1,537 participants from studies on Alzheimer's disease. The articles included exhibited an average quality score of 6.6 (score studies) and 6.75 (reaction time [RT] studies), all passing the inconsistency test (p > 0.05). In the mild cognitive impairment literature, mind-body exercise emerged as the most effective exercise intervention (SMD = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.07-1.14). In Alzheimer's disease research, aerobic exercise was identified as the optimal exercise intervention (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.06-0.71). Conclusion The results of the subgroup analysis suggest that the most effective approach to enhancing the visual-spatial working memory of individuals with mild cognitive impairment entails exercising at a frequency of three or more times per week for over 60 min each time and at a moderate intensity for more than 3 months. Suitable exercise options include mind-body exercise, multicomponent exercise, resistance exercise, and aerobic exercise. For individuals with Alzheimer's disease, we recommend moderately intense exercise twice per week for over 90 min per session and for a duration of 3 months or longer, with exercise options encompassing aerobic exercise and resistance exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Deng
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Wang
- College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingting Fu
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chong Xu
- Ministry of Sports and National Defense Education, Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiqi Zhu
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liya Guo
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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González-Rojas A, Valencia-Narbona M. Neurodevelopmental Disruptions in Children of Preeclamptic Mothers: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Consequences. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3632. [PMID: 38612445 PMCID: PMC11012011 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure in the mother, typically occurring after 20 weeks of gestation and posing risks to both maternal and fetal health. PE causes placental changes that can affect the fetus, particularly neurodevelopment. Its key pathophysiological mechanisms encompass hypoxia, vascular and angiogenic dysregulation, inflammation, neuronal and glial alterations, and disruptions in neuronal signaling. Animal models indicate that PE is correlated with neurodevelopmental alterations and cognitive dysfunctions in offspring and in humans, an association between PE and conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and sexual dimorphism has been observed. Considering the relevance for mothers and children, we conducted a narrative literature review to describe the relationships between the pathophysiological mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental alterations in the offspring of PE mothers, along with their potential consequences. Furthermore, we emphasize aspects pertinent to the prevention/treatment of PE in pregnant mothers and alterations observed in their offspring. The present narrative review offers a current, complete, and exhaustive analysis of (i) the pathophysiological mechanisms that can affect neurodevelopment in the children of PE mothers, (ii) the relationship between PE and neurological alterations in offspring, and (iii) the prevention/treatment of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea González-Rojas
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias Aplicadas, Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valparaíso 2340025, Chile;
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Javik Dorantes-Barrios C, Reyes-Meza V, Camacho-Candia JA, Pfaus JG, González-Flores O. Influence of environmental enrichment on sexual behavior and the process of learning and memory in a rat model of autism with valproic acid. Brain Res 2024; 1827:148738. [PMID: 38142724 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a psychiatric disorder with severe behavioral consequences and no specific therapy. Its etiology is multifactorial, as it is caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. In rats, prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) has been associated with an increased risk of autistic-like behaviors in offspring, including social behavior deficits, increased repetitive behaviors, and cognitive impairments. In addition, VPA-treated rats have shown altered sociosexual behaviors. However, the mechanisms underlying these alterations in reproductive processes in VPA-treated rats are not fully understood. Interestingly some abnormal behaviors in VPA autism models are improved by an enriched environment (EE). In the present study, we examined the effects of EE on memory performance and sexual behavior in male rats. We found that on postnatal day 90, EE reduced the time it took for both control and VPA-treated groups to find a hidden platform in the Morris water maze. On PND 100, prenatal exposure to VPA reduced total exploring time in object recognition tests. On PND 110, EE reduced mount and intromission latency and increased ejaculatory frequency in VPA-treated male rats. These results suggest that environmental stimuli significantly influence the onset of sexual behavior in VPA-treated male rats and that EE may be a potential tool for improving a variety of behavioral deficiencies in rodent models of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Javik Dorantes-Barrios
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV. Tlaxcala, México; Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México.
| | - Verónica Reyes-Meza
- Centro Tlaxcala Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México.
| | - Josué A Camacho-Candia
- Facultad de Ciencias para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México.
| | - James G Pfaus
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Czech National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Oscar González-Flores
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV. Tlaxcala, México.
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Pintori N, Piva A, Mottarlini F, Díaz FC, Maggi C, Caffino L, Fumagalli F, Chiamulera C. Brief exposure to enriched environment rapidly shapes the glutamate synapses in the rat brain: A metaplastic fingerprint. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:982-995. [PMID: 38378276 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16279] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown to produce beneficial effects in addiction disorders; however, due to its configurational complexity, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. Recent evidence suggests that EE, acting as a metaplastic agent, may affect glutamatergic mechanisms underlying appetitive memory and, in turn, modulate reward-seeking behaviours: here, we have investigated such a possibility following a brief EE exposure. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to EE for 22 h and the expression of critical elements of the glutamate synapse was measured 2 h after the end of EE in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus (Hipp) brain areas, which are critical for reward and memory. We focused our investigation on the expression of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits, their scaffolding proteins SAP102 and SAP97, vesicular and membrane glutamate transporters vGluT1 and GLT-1, and critical structural components such as proteins involved in morphology and function of glutamatergic synapses, PSD95 and Arc/Arg3.1. Our findings demonstrate that a brief EE exposure induces metaplastic changes in glutamatergic mPFC, NAc and Hipp. Such changes are area-specific and involve postsynaptic NMDA/AMPA receptor subunit composition, as well as changes in the expression of their main scaffolding proteins, thus influencing the retention of such receptors at synaptic sites. Our data indicate that brief EE exposure is sufficient to dynamically modulate the glutamatergic synapses in mPFC-NAc-Hipp circuits, which may modulate rewarding and memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Pintori
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Current Affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piva
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Fernando Castillo Díaz
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Coralie Maggi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiano Chiamulera
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Methi A, Islam MR, Kaurani L, Sakib MS, Krüger DM, Pena T, Burkhardt S, Liebetanz D, Fischer A. A Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of the Mouse Hippocampus After Voluntary Exercise. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-023-03869-9. [PMID: 38217668 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03869-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Exercise has been recognized as a beneficial factor for cognitive health, particularly in relation to the hippocampus, a vital brain region responsible for learning and memory. Previous research has demonstrated that exercise-mediated improvement of learning and memory in humans and rodents correlates with increased adult neurogenesis and processes related to enhanced synaptic plasticity. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. With the aim to further elucidate these mechanisms, we provide a comprehensive dataset of the mouse hippocampal transcriptome at the single-cell level after 4 weeks of voluntary wheel-running. Our analysis provides a number of interesting observations. For example, the results suggest that exercise affects adult neurogenesis by accelerating the maturation of a subpopulation of Prdm16-expressing neurons. Moreover, we uncover the existence of an intricate crosstalk among multiple vital signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and retinoic acid (RA) pathways altered upon exercise in a specific cluster of excitatory neurons within the Cornu Ammonis (CA) region of the hippocampus. In conclusion, our study provides an important resource dataset and sheds further light on the molecular changes induced by exercise in the hippocampus. These findings have implications for developing targeted interventions aimed at optimizing cognitive health and preventing age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Methi
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Md Rezaul Islam
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lalit Kaurani
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - M Sadman Sakib
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dennis M Krüger
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
- Bioinformatics Unit, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tonatiuh Pena
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
- Bioinformatics Unit, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Burkhardt
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - David Liebetanz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - André Fischer
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany.
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site, Göttingen, Germany.
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Bhalla M, Lee CJ. Long-term inhibition of ODC1 in APP/PS1 mice rescues amyloid pathology and switches astrocytes from a reactive to active state. Mol Brain 2024; 17:3. [PMID: 38216963 PMCID: PMC10785549 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-024-01076-8] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the loss of memory due to aggregation of misphosphorylated tau and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques in the brain, elevated release of inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and reactive oxygen species from astrocytes, and subsequent neurodegeneration. Recently, it was found that enzyme Ornithine Decarboxylase 1 (ODC1) acts as a bridge between the astrocytic urea cycle and the putrescine-to-GABA conversion pathway in the brain of AD mouse models as well as human patients. In this study, we show that the long-term knockdown of astrocytic Odc1 in APP/PS1 animals was sufficient to completely clear Aβ plaques in the hippocampus while simultaneously switching the astrocytes from a detrimental reactive state to a regenerative active state, characterized by proBDNF expression. Our experiments also reveal an effect of astrocytic ODC1 inhibition on the expression of genes involved in synapse pruning and organization, histone modification, apoptotic signaling and protein processing. These genes are previously known to be associated with astrocytic activation and together create a neuroregeneration-supportive environment in the brain. By inhibiting ODC1 for a long period of 3 months in AD mice, we demonstrate that the beneficial amyloid-clearing process of astrocytes can be completely segregated from the systemically harmful astrocytic response to insult. Our study reports an almost complete clearance of Aβ plaques by controlling an endogenous degradation process, which also modifies the astrocytic state to create a regeneration-supportive environment in the brain. These findings present the potential of modulating astrocytic clearance of Aβ as a powerful therapeutic strategy against AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mridula Bhalla
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Life Science Institute (LSI), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55, Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
- IBS School, University of Science and Technology (UST), 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Life Science Institute (LSI), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55, Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea.
- IBS School, University of Science and Technology (UST), 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
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Zueva MV, Neroeva NV, Zhuravleva AN, Bogolepova AN, Kotelin VV, Fadeev DV, Tsapenko IV. Fractal Phototherapy in Maximizing Retina and Brain Plasticity. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:585-637. [PMID: 38468055 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The neuroplasticity potential is reduced with aging and impairs during neurodegenerative diseases and brain and visual system injuries. This limits the brain's capacity to repair the structure and dynamics of its activity after lesions. Maximization of neuroplasticity is necessary to provide the maximal CNS response to therapeutic intervention and adaptive reorganization of neuronal networks in patients with degenerative pathology and traumatic injury to restore the functional activity of the brain and retina.Considering the fractal geometry and dynamics of the healthy brain and the loss of fractality in neurodegenerative pathology, we suggest that the application of self-similar visual signals with a fractal temporal structure in the stimulation therapy can reactivate the adaptive neuroplasticity and enhance the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation. This proposition was tested in the recent studies. Patients with glaucoma had a statistically significant positive effect of fractal photic therapy on light sensitivity and the perimetric MD index, which shows that methods of fractal stimulation can be a novel nonpharmacological approach to neuroprotective therapy and neurorehabilitation. In healthy rabbits, it was demonstrated that a long-term course of photostimulation with fractal signals does not harm the electroretinogram (ERG) and retina structure. Rabbits with modeled retinal atrophy showed better dynamics of the ERG restoration during daily stimulation therapy for a week in comparison with the controls. Positive changes in the retinal function can indirectly suggest the activation of its adaptive plasticity and the high potential of stimulation therapy with fractal visual stimuli in a nonpharmacological neurorehabilitation, which requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V Zueva
- Department of Clinical Physiology of Vision, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V Neroeva
- Department of Pathology of the Retina and Optic Nerve, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia N Zhuravleva
- Department of Glaucoma, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna N Bogolepova
- Department of neurology, neurosurgery and medical genetics, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladislav V Kotelin
- Department of Clinical Physiology of Vision, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis V Fadeev
- Scientific Experimental Center Department, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V Tsapenko
- Department of Clinical Physiology of Vision, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
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Armour EM, Thomas CM, Greco G, Bhatnagar A, Elefant F. Experience-dependent Tip60 nucleocytoplasmic transport is regulated by its NLS/NES sequences for neuroplasticity gene control. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 127:103888. [PMID: 37598897 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) in neurons is critical for enabling proteins to enter the nucleus and regulate plasticity genes in response to environmental cues. Such experience-dependent (ED) neural plasticity is central for establishing memory formation and cognitive function and can influence the severity of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD). ED neural plasticity is driven by histone acetylation (HA) mediated epigenetic mechanisms that regulate dynamic activity-dependent gene transcription profiles in response to neuronal stimulation. Yet, how histone acetyltransferases (HATs) respond to extracellular cues in the in vivo brain to drive HA-mediated activity-dependent gene control remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that extracellular stimulation of rat hippocampal neurons in vitro triggers Tip60 HAT nuclear import with concomitant synaptic gene induction. Here, we focus on investigating Tip60 HAT subcellular localization and NCT specifically in neuronal activity-dependent gene control by using the learning and memory mushroom body (MB) region of the Drosophila brain as a powerful in vivo cognitive model system. We used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to compare the subcellular localization of Tip60 HAT in the Drosophila brain under normal conditions and in response to stimulation of fly brain neurons in vivo either by genetically inducing potassium channels activation or by exposure to natural positive ED conditions. Furthermore, we found that both inducible and ED condition-mediated neural induction triggered Tip60 nuclear import with concomitant induction of previously identified Tip60 target genes and that Tip60 levels in both the nucleus and cytoplasm were significantly decreased in our well-characterized Drosophila AD model. Mutagenesis of a putative nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence and nuclear export signal (NES) sequence that we identified in the Drosophila Tip60 protein revealed that both are functionally required for appropriate Tip60 subcellular localization. Our results support a model by which neuronal stimulation triggers Tip60 NCT via its NLS and NES sequences to promote induction of activity-dependent neuroplasticity gene transcription and that this process may be disrupted in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M Armour
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Christina M Thomas
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Gabrielle Greco
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Akanksha Bhatnagar
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Felice Elefant
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
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Tatemoto P, Pértille F, Bernardino T, Zanella R, Guerrero-Bosagna C, Zanella AJ. An enriched maternal environment and stereotypies of sows differentially affect the neuro-epigenome of brain regions related to emotionality in their piglets. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2196656. [PMID: 37192378 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2196656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are important modulators of neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring of animals challenged during pregnancy. Pregnant sows living in a confined environment are challenged with stress and lack of stimulation which may result in the expression of stereotypies (repetitive behaviours without an apparent function). Little attention has been devoted to the postnatal effects of maternal stereotypies in the offspring. We investigated how the environment and stereotypies of pregnant sows affected the neuro-epigenome of their piglets. We focused on the amygdala, frontal cortex, and hippocampus, brain regions related to emotionality, learning, memory, and stress response. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were investigated in these brain regions of male piglets born from sows kept in an enriched vs a barren environment. Within the latter group of piglets, we compared the brain methylomes of piglets born from sows expressing stereotypies vs sows not expressing stereotypies. DMRs emerged in each comparison. While the epigenome of the hippocampus and frontal cortex of piglets is mainly affected by the maternal environment, the epigenome of the amygdala is mainly affected by maternal stereotypies. The molecular pathways and mechanisms triggered in the brains of piglets by maternal environment or stereotypies are different, which is reflected on the differential gene function associated to the DMRs found in each piglets' brain region . The present study is the first to investigate the neuro-epigenomic effects of maternal enrichment in pigs' offspring and the first to investigate the neuro-epigenomic effects of maternal stereotypies in the offspring of a mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Tatemoto
- Center for Comparative Studies in Sustainability, Health and Welfare, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fábio Pértille
- Avian Behavioral Genomics and Physiology Group, IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo - Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Physiology and Environmental Toxicology Program, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thiago Bernardino
- Center for Comparative Studies in Sustainability, Health and Welfare, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
- Graduation Program in One Health, University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Ricardo Zanella
- Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna
- Avian Behavioral Genomics and Physiology Group, IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Physiology and Environmental Toxicology Program, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Adroaldo José Zanella
- Center for Comparative Studies in Sustainability, Health and Welfare, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
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11
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Nachtigall EG, de Freitas JDR, Marcondes LA, Furini CRG. Memory persistence induced by environmental enrichment is dependent on different brain structures. Physiol Behav 2023; 272:114375. [PMID: 37806510 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) has been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on different functions of the central nervous system in several mammal species, being used to improve behavior and cell damage in various neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, little has been investigated on the effect of EE in healthy animals, particularly regarding its impact on memory persistence and the brain structures involved. Therefore, here we verified in male Wistar rats that contextual fear conditioning (CFC) memory persistence, tested 28 days after the CFC training session, was facilitated by 5 weeks of exposure to EE, with no effect in groups tested 7 or 14 days after CFC training. However, a two-week exposure to EE did not affect memory persistence. Moreover, we investigated the role of specific brain regions in mediating the effect of EE on memory persistence. We conducted inactivation experiments using the GABAergic agonist Muscimol to target the basolateral amygdala (BLA), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and CA1 region of the hippocampus (CA1). Inactivation of the BLA immediately and 12 h after CFC training impaired the effect of EE on memory persistence. Similarly, inactivation of the CA1 region and mPFC 12 h after training, but not immediately, also impaired the effect of EE on memory persistence. These results have important scientific implications as they shed new light on the effect of an enriched environment on memory persistence and the brain structures involved, thereby helping elucidate how an environment rich in experiences can modify the persistence of learned information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduarda G Nachtigall
- Laboratory of Cognition and Memory Neurobiology, Brain Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690 - 3rd floor, 90610-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Júlia D R de Freitas
- Laboratory of Cognition and Memory Neurobiology, Brain Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690 - 3rd floor, 90610-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lucas Aschidamini Marcondes
- Laboratory of Cognition and Memory Neurobiology, Brain Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690 - 3rd floor, 90610-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cristiane R G Furini
- Laboratory of Cognition and Memory Neurobiology, Brain Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690 - 3rd floor, 90610-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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12
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Heo S, Kang T, Bygrave AM, Larsen MR, Huganir RL. Experience-Induced Remodeling of the Hippocampal Post-synaptic Proteome and Phosphoproteome. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100661. [PMID: 37806341 PMCID: PMC10652125 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100661] [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: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory synapses contains a highly organized protein network with thousands of proteins and is a key node in the regulation of synaptic plasticity. To gain new mechanistic insight into experience-induced changes in the PSD, we examined the global dynamics of the hippocampal PSD proteome and phosphoproteome in mice following four different types of experience. Mice were trained using an inhibitory avoidance (IA) task and hippocampal PSD fractions were isolated from individual mice to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying experience-dependent remodeling of synapses. We developed a new strategy to identify and quantify the relatively low level of site-specific phosphorylation of PSD proteome from the hippocampus, by using a modified iTRAQ-based TiSH protocol. In the PSD, we identified 3938 proteins and 2761 phosphoproteins in the sequential strategy covering a total of 4968 unique protein groups (at least two peptides including a unique peptide). On the phosphoproteins, we identified a total of 6188 unambiguous phosphosites (75%
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok Heo
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Taewook Kang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Alexei M Bygrave
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Martin R Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Richard L Huganir
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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13
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Haley M, Bertrand J, Anderson VT, Fuad M, Frenguelli BG, Corrêa SAL, Wall MJ. Arc expression regulates long-term potentiation magnitude and metaplasticity in area CA1 of the hippocampus in ArcKR mice. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:4166-4180. [PMID: 37821126 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16172] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Expression of the immediate early gene Arc/Arg3.1 (Arc), a key mediator of synaptic plasticity, is enhanced by neural activity and then reduced by proteasome-dependent degradation. We have previously shown that the disruption of Arc degradation, in an Arc knock-in mouse (ArcKR), where the predominant Arc ubiquitination sites were mutated, reduced the threshold to induce, and also enhanced, the strength of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated long-term depression (DHPG-LTD). Here, we have investigated if ArcKR expression changes long-term potentiation (LTP) in CA1 area of the hippocampus. As previously reported, there was no change in basal synaptic transmission at Schaffer collateral/commissural-CA1 (SC-CA1) synapses in ArcKR versus wild-type (WT) mice. There was, however, a significant increase in the amplitude of synaptically induced (with low frequency paired-pulse stimulation) LTD in ArcKR mice. Theta burst stimulation (TBS)-evoked LTP at SC-CA1 synapses was significantly reduced in ArcKR versus WT mice (after 2 h). Group 1 mGluR priming of LTP was abolished in ArcKR mice, which could also potentially contribute to a depression of LTP. Although high frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced LTP was not significantly different in ArcKR compared with WT mice (after 1 h), there was a phenotype in environmentally enriched mice, with the ratio of LTP to short-term potentiation (STP) significantly reduced in ArcKR mice. These findings support the hypothesis that Arc ubiquitination supports the induction and expression of LTP, likely via limiting Arc-dependent removal of AMPA receptors at synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maisy Haley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Jeanri Bertrand
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Mukattar Fuad
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Sonia A L Corrêa
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Life Sciences, John Dalton Building, Room E210, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Mark J Wall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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14
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Bramati G, Stauffer P, Nigri M, Wolfer DP, Amrein I. Environmental enrichment improves hippocampus-dependent spatial learning in female C57BL/6 mice in novel IntelliCage sweet reward-based behavioral tests. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1256744. [PMID: 37791111 PMCID: PMC10543696 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1256744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The IntelliCage is an automated home-cage system that allows researchers to investigate the spontaneous behavior and learning abilities of group-housed mice. The IntelliCage enables us to increase the standardization and reproducibility of behavioral outcomes by the omission of experimenter-mouse interactions. Although the IntelliCage provides a less stressful environment for animals, standard IntelliCage protocols use controlled water access as the motivational driver for learning. To overcome possible water restrictions in slow learners, we developed a series of novel protocols based on appetitive learning, in which mice had permanent access to plain water but were additionally rewarded with sweetened water upon solving the task. C57BL/6NCrl female mice were used to assess the efficacy of these sweet reward-based protocols in a series of learning tasks. Compared to control mice tested with standard protocols, mice motivated with a sweet reward did equal to or better in operant performance and place learning tasks. Learning of temporal rules was slower than that in controls. When faced with a combined temporal x spatial working memory task, sweet-rewarded mice learned little and chose plain water. In a second set of experiments, the impact of environmental enrichment on appetitive learning was tested. Mice kept under enriched environment (EE) or standard housing (SH) conditions prior to the IntelliCage experiments performed similarly in the sweet-rewarded place learning task. EE mice performed better in the hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory task. The improved performance of EE mice in the hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory task might be explained by the observed larger volume of their mossy fibers. Our results confirm that environmental enrichment increases complex spatial learning abilities and leads to long-lasting morphological changes in the hippocampus. Furthermore, simple standard IntelliCage protocols could easily be adapted to sweet rewards, which improve animal welfare by removing the possibility of water restriction. However, complex behavioral tasks motivated by sweet reward-based learning need further adjustments to reach the same efficacy as standard protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bramati
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pia Stauffer
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martina Nigri
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David P. Wolfer
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Irmgard Amrein
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
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15
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Farmer AL, Lewis MH. Reduction of restricted repetitive behavior by environmental enrichment: Potential neurobiological mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105291. [PMID: 37353046 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRB) are one of two diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder and common in other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The term restricted repetitive behavior refers to a wide variety of inflexible patterns of behavior including stereotypy, self-injury, restricted interests, insistence on sameness, and ritualistic and compulsive behavior. However, despite their prevalence in clinical populations, their underlying causes remain poorly understood hampering the development of effective treatments. Intriguingly, numerous animal studies have demonstrated that these behaviors are reduced by rearing in enriched environments (EE). Understanding the processes responsible for the attenuation of repetitive behaviors by EE should offer insights into potential therapeutic approaches, as well as shed light on the underlying neurobiology of repetitive behaviors. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the relationship between EE and RRB and discusses potential mechanisms for EE's attenuation of RRB based on the broader EE literature. Existing gaps in the literature and future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Farmer
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Mark H Lewis
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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16
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Xu L, Jiao M, Cui ZL, Zhao QY, Wang Y, Chen S, Zhang JJ, Jin YH, Mu D, Yang YQ. Enriched environment during adolescence modulates lipid metabolism and emotion-related behaviors in mice. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2023; 26:218-228. [PMID: 34470518 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2021.1972421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Enriched environment (EE) is an important animal experimental paradigm to decipher gene-environment interaction. It is thought to be efficient in aiding recovery from certain metabolism disorders or cognitive impairments. Recently, the effects of EE during adolescence in mice gradually draw much attention. We first established an EE model in adolescent mice, dissected lipid metabolism, and further examined baseline level of anxiety and depression by multiple behavioral tests, including open field test (OFT), elevated zero maze (EZM), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST). EE mice exhibited lower weights, lower cholesterol than standard housing (SH) mice. Behaviorally, EE mice traveled more distance and had higher velocity than SH mice in OFT and EZM. Besides, EE mice showed reduced anxiety levels in OFT and EZM. Furthermore, EE mice also had less immobility time than SH mice in TST and FST. Thus, these results suggest that EE during adolescence has metabolic and behavioral benefits in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Jiao
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze-Lin Cui
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing-Ya Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun-Jie Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yin-Hui Jin
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Mu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Qin Yang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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17
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Cunha Feio Leal MD, Amaral Junior FLD, Silva Arruda BFD, Kurosawa JAA, Vieira AA, Maia JCC, Scalfoni VVB, Silveira Junior AMD, Feijó MO, Albuquerque FBAD, Marta MHM, Normando MPN, Silva AGOCD, Trindade FCPD, Siqueira Mendes FDCCD, Sosthenes MCK. The Masticatory Activity Interference in Quantitative Estimation of CA1, CA3 and Dentate Gyrus Hippocampal Astrocytes of Aged Murine Models and under Environmental Stimulation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076529. [PMID: 37047502 PMCID: PMC10095286 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies indicating the influence of masticatory dysfunction, due to a soft diet or lack of molars, on impairing spatial memory and learning have led to research about neuronal connections between areas and cell populations possibly affected. In this sense, with scarce detailed data on the subfields of hippocampus in dementia neurodegeneration, there is no information about astrocytic responses in its different layers. Thus, considering this context, the present study evaluated the effects of deprivation and rehabilitation of masticatory activity, aging, and environmental enrichment on the stereological quantification of hippocampal astrocytes from layers CA1, CA3, and DG. For this purpose, we examined mature (6-month-old; 6M), and aged (18-month-old; 18M) mice, subjected to distinct masticatory regimens and environments. Three different regimens of masticatory activity were applied: continuous normal mastication with hard pellets (HD); normal mastication followed by deprived mastication with equal periods of pellets followed by soft powder (HD/SD); or rehabilitated masticatory activity with equal periods of HD, followed by powder, followed by pellets (HD/SD/HD). Under each specific regimen, half of the animals were raised in standard cages (impoverished environment (IE)) and the other half in enriched cages (enriched environment (EE)), mimicking sedentary or active lifestyles. Microscopic stereological, systematic, and random sampling approaches with an optical dissector of GFAP-immunolabeled astrocytes were done, allowing for an astrocyte numerical estimate. Stratum moleculare and hilus, from the dentate gyrus (DG) and Strata Lacunosum-Moleculare, Oriens, and Radiatum, similarly to the dentate gyrus, showed no significant change in any of the investigated variables (age, diet, or environment) in these layers. However, in Stratum radiatum, it was possible to observe significant differences associated with diet regimens and age. Therefore, diet-related differences were found when the HD 18M IE group was compared to the HD/SD/HD 18-month-old group in the same environment (IE) (p = 0.007). In the present study, we present modulatory factors (masticatory function, environmental enrichment, and aging) for the differentiated quantitative laminar response in the hippocampal regions, suggesting other studies to read the plasticity and responsiveness of astrocytes, including the molecular background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marília da Cunha Feio Leal
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabio Leite do Amaral Junior
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Freire da Silva Arruda
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Amanda Almeida Vieira
- Curso de Medicina, Centro Universitário do Estado do Pará, Belém 66613-903, PA, Brazil
| | | | | | - Antonio Morais da Silveira Junior
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | - Matheus Oliveira Feijó
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Beatriz Araújo de Albuquerque
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | | | | | - Alana Gabriele Oliveira Cabeça da Silva
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Catharina Pires da Trindade
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabíola de Carvalho Chaves de Siqueira Mendes
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
- Curso de Medicina, Centro Universitário do Estado do Pará, Belém 66613-903, PA, Brazil
| | - Marcia Consentino Kronka Sosthenes
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil
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Falkowska M, Ntamati NR, Nevian NE, Nevian T, Acuña MA. Environmental enrichment promotes resilience to neuropathic pain-induced depression and correlates with decreased excitability of the anterior cingulate cortex. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1139205. [PMID: 37008999 PMCID: PMC10060563 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1139205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is a common comorbidity of chronic pain with many patients being affected. However, efficient pharmacological treatment strategies are still lacking. Therefore, it is desirable to find additional alternative approaches. Environmental enrichment has been suggested as a method to alleviate pain-induced depression. However, the neuronal mechanisms of its beneficial effects are still elusive. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a central role in processing pain-related negative affect and chronic pain-induced plasticity in this region correlates with depressive symptoms. We studied the consequences of different durations of environmental enrichment on pain sensitivity and chronic pain-induced depression-like behaviors in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, we correlated the behavioral outcomes to the activity levels of pyramidal neurons in the ACC by analyzing their electrophysiological properties ex vivo. We found that early exposure to an enriched environment alone was not sufficient to cause resilience against pain-induced depression-like symptoms. However, extending the enrichment after the injury prevented the development of depression and reduced mechanical hypersensitivity. On the cellular level, increased neuronal excitability was associated with the depressive phenotype that was reversed by the enrichment. Therefore, neuronal excitability in the ACC was inversely correlated to the extended enrichment-induced resilience to depression. These results suggest that the improvement of environmental factors enhanced the resilience to developing chronic pain-related depression. Additionally, we confirmed the association between increased neuronal excitability in the ACC and depression-like states. Therefore, this non-pharmacological intervention could serve as a potential treatment strategy for comorbid symptoms of chronic pain.
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Balikci A, May-Benson TA, Aracikul Balikci AF, Tarakci E, Ikbal Dogan Z, Ilbay G. Evaluation of Ayres Sensory Integration ® Intervention on Sensory Processing and Motor Function in a Child with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome: A Case Report. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-CASE REPORTS 2023; 16:11795476221148866. [PMID: 36760339 PMCID: PMC9903040 DOI: 10.1177/11795476221148866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RSTS) literature is limited about sensory integration, which is a foundational neurological function of the central nervous system that may affect the development of cognitive, social, and motor skills. The aim of this case report was to investigate the effects of Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) intervention on processing and integrating sensations, motor functions and parental goals of 3-year-old child with RSTS. Analysis of assessment data reviewed before and after treatment. Assessment collected by interview, Sensory Profile (SP), Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool (SPM-P) Home, Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2), Gross Motor Function Measurement-88 (GMFM-88), and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Progress toward goals and objectives was measured with Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). ASI intervention was implemented 3 times per week for 8 weeks. At pre-intervention, SP and SPM-P Home revealed prominent sensory processing and integration difficulties in this case. PDMS-2 scores indicated the child was far behind his peers in fine and gross motor areas. In addition, systematic observations determined that the child's GMFCS level was III. After 8 weeks of ASI intervention significant improvements were found in parent reports of sensory processing in the areas of vestibular, tactile, and oral functioning on the Sensory Profile. Gains in functional motor skills were found on the GMFM-88 and the GMFCS. Consistent with these results, significant gains at or above expected levels of performance were found on GAS goals which reflected the family's main concerns for social participation, feeding, play, and movement. There are limited studies on sensory processing and integration in children with RSTS. This case report identified sensory processing and integration difficulties for the first time in a child with RSTS. Results also provide preliminary support for the positive effects of ASI intervention on sensory processing, functional motor skills, and parental goals of a child with RSTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymen Balikci
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, Fenerbahçe University, İstanbul, Turkey,Aymen Balikci, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, Fenerbahçe University, 34758 Ataşehir/İstanbul, Turkey.
| | | | - Ayse Firdevs Aracikul Balikci
- Anadolu University, eşiltepe, Yeşiltepe Mahallesi, Anadolu Üniversitesi, Yunus Emre Kampüsü Rektörlük Binası, Tepebaş, Eskisehir, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Ela Tarakci
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Ikbal Dogan
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Gul Ilbay
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli, Turkey
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20
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Parker D. Neurobiological reduction: From cellular explanations of behavior to interventions. Front Psychol 2022; 13:987101. [PMID: 36619115 PMCID: PMC9815460 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific reductionism, the view that higher level functions can be explained by properties at some lower-level or levels, has been an assumption of nervous system analyses since the acceptance of the neuron doctrine in the late 19th century, and became a dominant experimental approach with the development of intracellular recording techniques in the mid-20th century. Subsequent refinements of electrophysiological approaches and the continual development of molecular and genetic techniques have promoted a focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms in experimental analyses and explanations of sensory, motor, and cognitive functions. Reductionist assumptions have also influenced our views of the etiology and treatment of psychopathologies, and have more recently led to claims that we can, or even should, pharmacologically enhance the normal brain. Reductionism remains an area of active debate in the philosophy of science. In neuroscience and psychology, the debate typically focuses on the mind-brain question and the mechanisms of cognition, and how or if they can be explained in neurobiological terms. However, these debates are affected by the complexity of the phenomena being considered and the difficulty of obtaining the necessary neurobiological detail. We can instead ask whether features identified in neurobiological analyses of simpler aspects in simpler nervous systems support current molecular and cellular approaches to explaining systems or behaviors. While my view is that they do not, this does not invite the opposing view prevalent in dichotomous thinking that molecular and cellular detail is irrelevant and we should focus on computations or representations. We instead need to consider how to address the long-standing dilemma of how a nervous system that ostensibly functions through discrete cell to cell communication can generate population effects across multiple spatial and temporal scales to generate behavior.
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21
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Restoring Age-Related Cognitive Decline through Environmental Enrichment: A Transcriptomic Approach. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233864. [PMID: 36497123 PMCID: PMC9736066 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive decline is one of the greatest health threats of old age and the maintenance of optimal brain function across a lifespan remains a big challenge. The hippocampus is considered particularly vulnerable but there is cross-species consensus that its functional integrity benefits from the early and continuous exercise of demanding physical, social and mental activities, also referred to as environmental enrichment (EE). Here, we investigated the extent to which late-onset EE can improve the already-impaired cognitive abilities of lifelong deprived C57BL/6 mice and how it affects gene expression in the hippocampus. To this end, 5- and 24-month-old mice housed in standard cages (5mSC and 24mSC) and 24-month-old mice exposed to EE in the last 2 months of their life (24mEE) were subjected to a Barnes maze task followed by next-generation RNA sequencing of the hippocampal tissue. Our analyses showed that late-onset EE was able to restore deficits in spatial learning and short-term memory in 24-month-old mice. These positive cognitive effects were reflected by specific changes in the hippocampal transcriptome, where late-onset EE affected transcription much more than age (24mSC vs. 24mEE: 1311 DEGs, 24mSC vs. 5mSC: 860 DEGs). Remarkably, a small intersection of 72 age-related DEGs was counter-regulated by late-onset EE. Of these, Bcl3, Cttnbp2, Diexf, Esr2, Grb10, Il4ra, Inhba, Rras2, Rps6ka1 and Socs3 appear to be particularly relevant as key regulators involved in dendritic spine plasticity and in age-relevant molecular signaling cascades mediating senescence, insulin resistance, apoptosis and tissue regeneration. In summary, our observations suggest that the brains of aged mice in standard cage housing preserve a considerable degree of plasticity. Switching them to EE proved to be a promising and non-pharmacological intervention against cognitive decline.
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22
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Di Castro MA, Garofalo S, De Felice E, Meneghetti N, Di Pietro E, Mormino A, Mazzoni A, Caleo M, Maggi L, Limatola C. Environmental enrichment counteracts the effects of glioma in primary visual cortex. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 174:105894. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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23
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Levis NA, McKay DJ, Pfennig DW. Disentangling the developmental origins of a novel phenotype: enhancement versus reversal of environmentally induced gene expression. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221764. [PMID: 36285495 PMCID: PMC9597403 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1764] [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: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that many novel traits might have originated via plasticity-led evolution (PLE). Yet, little is known of the developmental processes that underpin PLE, especially in its early stages. One such process is 'phenotypic accommodation', which occurs when, in response to a change in the environment, an organism experiences adjustments across variable parts of its phenotype that improve its fitness. Here, we asked if environmentally induced changes in gene expression are enhanced or reversed during phenotypic accommodation of a novel, complex phenotype in spadefoot toad tadpoles (Spea multiplicata). More genes than expected were affected by both the environment and phenotypic accommodation in the liver and brain. However, although phenotypic accommodation primarily reversed environmentally induced changes in gene expression in liver tissue, it enhanced these changes in brain tissue. Thus, depending on the tissue, phenotypic accommodation may either minimize functional disruption via reversal of gene expression patterns or promote novelty via enhancement of existing expression patterns. Our study thereby provides insights into the developmental origins of a novel phenotype and the incipient stages of PLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. Levis
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Daniel J. McKay
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - David W. Pfennig
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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24
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Manosso LM, Broseghini LDR, Campos JMB, Padilha APZ, Botelho MEM, da Costa MA, Abelaira HM, Gonçalves CL, Réus GZ. Beneficial effects and neurobiological aspects of environmental enrichment associated to major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Brain Res Bull 2022; 190:152-167. [PMID: 36191730 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A suitable enriched environment favors development but can also influence behavior and neuronal circuits throughout development. Studies have shown that environmental enrichment (EE) can be used as an essential tool or combined with conventional treatments to improve psychiatric and neurological symptoms, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both disorders affect a significant percentage of the world's population and have complex pathophysiology. Moreover, the available treatments for MDD and ASD are still inadequate for many affected individuals. Experimental models demonstrate that EE has significant positive effects on behavioral modulation. In addition, EE has effects on neurobiology, including improvement in synaptic connections and neuroplasticity, modulation of neurotransmissions, a decrease in inflammation and oxidative stress, and other neurobiology effects that can be involved in the pathophysiology of MDD and ASD. Thus, this review aims to describe the leading behavioral and neurobiological effects associated with EE in MDD and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana M Manosso
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Lia D R Broseghini
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - José Marcelo B Campos
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Alex Paulo Z Padilha
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda M Botelho
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Maiara A da Costa
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Helena M Abelaira
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Cinara L Gonçalves
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Z Réus
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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25
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Changes in Stereotypies: Effects over Time and over Generations. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192504. [PMID: 36230246 PMCID: PMC9559266 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Herein, we propose that there should be discussion about the function and effects of stereotypies in relation to the time during which they are shown. In the first stages, stereotypies may help animals deal with challenges. However, behavior can potentially alter the brain, impairing its function due the absence of a diverse repertory, and change brain connections, neurophysiology and later neuroanatomy. The neuroanatomical changes in individuals showing stereotypies could be an effect rather than a cause of the stereotypy. As a consequence, studies showing different outcomes for animal welfare from stereotypy expression could be due to variation in a timeline of expression. Stereotypies are widely used as an animal welfare indicator, and their expression can tell us about psychological states. However, there are questions about the longer-term consequences if animals express stereotypies: do the stereotypies help in coping? During the prenatal period, stereotypic behavior expressed by the mother can change the phenotype of the offspring, especially regarding emotionality, one mechanism acting via methylation in the limbic system in the brain. Are individuals that show stereotypies for shorter or longer periods all better adjusted, and hence have better welfare, or is the later welfare of some worse than that of individuals that do not show the behavior? Abstract Stereotypies comprise a wide range of repeated and apparently functionless behaviors that develop in individuals whose neural condition or environment results in poor welfare. While stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare at the time of occurrence, they may have various consequences. Environmental enrichment modifies causal factors and reduces the occurrence of stereotypies, providing evidence that stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare. However, stereotypy occurrence and consequences change over time. Furthermore, there are complex direct and epigenetic effects when mother mammals that are kept in negative conditions do or do not show stereotypies. It is proposed that, when trying to deal with challenging situations, stereotypies might initially help animals to cope. After further time in the conditions, the performance of the stereotypy may impair brain function and change brain connections, neurophysiology and eventually neuroanatomy. It is possible that reported neuroanatomical changes are an effect of the stereotypy rather than a cause.
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26
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Min C, Ling R, Chen M, Xia D, Chen R, Li X. Enriched environment rescues neonatal pain induced cognitive deficits and the impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity later in life. Dev Neurobiol 2022; 82:545-561. [PMID: 35945168 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Although extensive and untreated pain that occurs during a critical developmental window may impair cognition later in life, environmental interventions at early might promote. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Our current study utilized a rat model of "repetitive needle pricks" from the day of birth (P0) to postnatal day 7 (P7) to mimic the painful experience of preterm neonates in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Enriched environment (EE) during development period (from P15 to P70) was implemented as a nonpharmacological intervention approach. Electrophysiological recording, behavioral tests and biochemical analysis were performed after the end of EE (between P71 and P80). Results showed neonatal repetitive pain resulted in a reduction in mechanical withdrawal thresholds by the von Frey test in P70 (P < 0.001). Furthermore, neonatal repetitive pain impaired spatial learning and memory (P < 0.05) and even led to dysfunction in fear memory (P < 0.01). In contrast, EE rescued neonatal pain induced cognitive deficits and normalized hippocampal long-term potentiation in rats exposed to neonatal pain (P < 0.05). The beneficial effect of EE might be the improvements in hippocampal synaptic plasticity via up-regulating neurotrophic factors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the hippocampus. Our findings provide evidence that early environmental intervention might be a safe strategy to overcome neurodevelopmental abnormalities in preterm infants who experienced multiple procedural painful events during the early critical period. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiting Min
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, P.R. China
| | - Ru Ling
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, P.R. China
| | - Mengying Chen
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, P.R. China
| | - Dongqing Xia
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, P.R. China
| | - Ran Chen
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, P.R. China
| | - Xiaonan Li
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, P.R. China
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27
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Altered genome-wide hippocampal gene expression profiles following early life lead exposure and their potential for reversal by environmental enrichment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11937. [PMID: 35879375 PMCID: PMC9314447 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15861-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life lead (Pb) exposure is detrimental to neurobehavioral development. The quality of the environment can modify negative influences from Pb exposure, impacting the developmental trajectory following Pb exposure. Little is known about the molecular underpinnings in the brain of the interaction between Pb and the quality of the environment. We examined relationships between early life Pb exposure and living in an enriched versus a non-enriched postnatal environment on genome-wide transcription profiles in hippocampus CA1. RNA-seq identified differences in the transcriptome of enriched vs. non-enriched Pb-exposed animals. Most of the gene expression changes associated with Pb exposure were reversed by enrichment. This was also true for changes in upstream regulators, splicing events and long noncoding RNAs. Non-enriched rats also had memory impairments; enriched rats had no deficits. The results demonstrate that an enriched environment has a profound impact on behavior and the Pb-modified CA1 transcriptome. These findings show the potential for interactions between Pb exposure and the environment to result in significant transcriptional changes in the brain and, to the extent that this may occur in Pb-exposed children, could influence neuropsychological/educational outcomes, underscoring the importance for early intervention and environmental enrichment for Pb-exposed children.
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28
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Qu W, Li Q, Wang M, Zhao X, Wu J, Liu D, Hong S, Yang Y, Shu Q, Li X. m6A Modification Involves in Enriched Environment-Induced Neurogenesis and Cognition Enhancement. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:903179. [PMID: 35721485 PMCID: PMC9201454 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.903179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although previous studies have shown that an enriched environment (EE) promotes neurogenesis and alters DNA and histone modifications, it remains largely unknown whether an EE affects epitranscriptome in the context of neuronal development. Here, we showed that EE exposure enhanced the pool of adult neural stem/progenitor cells (aNSPCs) and promoted neuronal differentiation of aNSPCs. EE exposure also improved cognitive capabilities and altered the expression of genes relating to neuronal development, neurogenesis, and memory. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) immunoprecipitation combined with deep sequencing (MeRIP-seq) data analysis revealed that EE exposure increased the global level of m6A and led to differential m6A mRNA modification. Differential m6A modification-associated genes are involved in neuronal development, neurogenesis, and so on. Notably, EE exposure decreased the protein level of m6A eraser Fto, but did not affect the protein level of m6A writers METTL3 and METTL14. Taken together, our results suggest that enriched environment exposure induces differential m6A mRNA modification and adds a novel layer to the interaction between the environment and epigenetics in the context of postnatal neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzheng Qu
- The Children’s Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qian Li
- The Children’s Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengxuan Wang
- The Children’s Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingsen Zhao
- The Children’s Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiangdong Wu
- The Children’s Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Diwen Liu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shenghui Hong
- Laboratory Animal Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, College of Future Technology, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Yang, ; Qiang Shu, ; Xuekun Li,
| | - Qiang Shu
- The Children’s Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Yang, ; Qiang Shu, ; Xuekun Li,
| | - Xuekun Li
- The Children’s Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Yang, ; Qiang Shu, ; Xuekun Li,
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29
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Borge Blystad J, van der Meer ALH. Longitudinal study of infants receiving extra motor stimulation, full‐term control infants, and infants born preterm: High‐density EEG analyses of cortical activity in response to visual motion. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22276. [PMID: 35603414 PMCID: PMC9325384 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Electroencephalography was used to investigate the effects of extrastimulation and preterm birth on the development of visual motion perception during early infancy. Infants receiving extra motor stimulation in the form of baby swimming, a traditionally raised control group, and preterm born infants were presented with an optic flow pattern simulating forward and reversed self‐motion and unstructured random visual motion before and after they achieved self‐produced locomotion. Extrastimulated infants started crawling earlier and displayed significantly shorter N2 latencies in response to visual motion than their full‐term and preterm peers. Preterm infants could not differentiate between visual motion conditions, nor did they significantly decrease their latencies with age and locomotor experience. Differences in induced activities were also observed with desynchronized theta‐band activity in all infants, but with more mature synchronized alpha–beta band activity only in extrastimulated infants after they had become mobile. Compared with the other infants, preterm infants showed more widespread desynchronized oscillatory activities at lower frequencies at the age of 1 year (corrected for prematurity). The overall advanced performance of extrastimulated infants was attributed to their enriched motor stimulation. The poorer responses in the preterm infants could be related to impairment of the dorsal visual stream that is specialized in the processing of visual motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Borge Blystad
- Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory Department of Psychology Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway
| | - Audrey L. H. van der Meer
- Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory Department of Psychology Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway
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30
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Environmental stimulation in Huntington disease patients and animal models. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 171:105725. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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31
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Manno FAM, Kumar R, An Z, Khan MS, Su J, Liu J, Wu EX, He J, Feng Y, Lau C. Structural and Functional Hippocampal Correlations in Environmental Enrichment During the Adolescent to Adulthood Transition in Mice. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 15:807297. [PMID: 35242015 PMCID: PMC8886042 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2021.807297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is known to induce neuronal changes; however, the underlying structural and functional factors involved are not fully known and remain an active area of study. To investigate these factors, we assessed enriched environment (EE) and standard environment (SE) control mice over 30 days using structural and functional MRI methods. Naïve adult male mice (n = 30, ≈20 g, C57BL/B6J, postnatal day 60 initial scan) were divided into SE and EE groups and scanned before and after 30 days. Structural analyses included volumetry based on manual segmentation as well as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Functional analyses included seed-based analysis (SBA), independent component analysis (ICA), the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), and fractional ALFF (fALFF). Structural results indicated that environmental enrichment led to an increase in the volumes of cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus. Structural results indicated changes in radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity in the visual cortex and secondary somatosensory cortex after EE. Furthermore, SBA and ICA indicated an increase in resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) functional connectivity in the hippocampus. Using parallel structural and functional analyses, we have demonstrated coexistent structural and functional changes in the hippocampal subdivision CA1. Future research should map alterations temporally during environmental enrichment to investigate the initiation of these structural and functional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis A M Manno
- Center for Imaging Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rachit Kumar
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ziqi An
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Shehzad Khan
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Junfeng Su
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jiaming Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ed X Wu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yanqiu Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Condon Lau
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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32
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Berlet R, Galang Cabantan DA, Gonzales-Portillo D, Borlongan CV. Enriched Environment and Exercise Enhance Stem Cell Therapy for Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, and Huntington’s Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:798826. [PMID: 35309929 PMCID: PMC8927702 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.798826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells, specifically embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs), and neural progenitor stem cells (NSCs), are a possible treatment for stroke, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD). Current preclinical data suggest stem cell transplantation is a potential treatment for these chronic conditions that lack effective long-term treatment options. Finding treatments with a wider therapeutic window and harnessing a disease-modifying approach will likely improve clinical outcomes. The overarching concept of stem cell therapy entails the use of immature cells, while key in recapitulating brain development and presents the challenge of young grafted cells forming neural circuitry with the mature host brain cells. To this end, exploring strategies designed to nurture graft-host integration will likely enhance the reconstruction of the elusive neural circuitry. Enriched environment (EE) and exercise facilitate stem cell graft-host reconstruction of neural circuitry. It may involve at least a two-pronged mechanism whereby EE and exercise create a conducive microenvironment in the host brain, allowing the newly transplanted cells to survive, proliferate, and differentiate into neural cells; vice versa, EE and exercise may also train the transplanted immature cells to learn the neurochemical, physiological, and anatomical signals in the brain towards better functional graft-host connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed Berlet
- Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | | | - Cesar V. Borlongan
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Cesar V. Borlongan,
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33
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Dvořáček J, Bednářová A, Krishnan N, Kodrík D. Dopaminergic muhsroom body neurons in Drosophila: flexibility of neuron identity in a model organism? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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34
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Lupori L, Cornuti S, Mazziotti R, Borghi E, Ottaviano E, Cas MD, Sagona G, Pizzorusso T, Tognini P. The gut microbiota of environmentally enriched mice regulates visual cortical plasticity. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110212. [PMID: 35021093 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposing animals to an enriched environment (EE) has dramatic effects on brain structure, function, and plasticity. The poorly known "EE-derived signals'' mediating the EE effects are thought to be generated within the central nervous system. Here, we shift the focus to the body periphery, revealing that gut microbiota signals are crucial for EE-driven plasticity. Developmental analysis reveals striking differences in intestinal bacteria composition between EE and standard rearing (ST) mice, as well as enhanced levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in EE mice. Depleting the microbiota of EE mice with antibiotics strongly decreases SCFA and prevents activation of adult ocular dominance plasticity, spine dynamics, and microglia rearrangement. SCFA treatment in ST mice mimics EE induction of ocular dominance plasticity and microglial remodeling. Remarkably, transferring the microbiota of EE mice to ST recipients activates adult ocular dominance plasticity. Thus, experience-dependent changes in gut microbiota regulate brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Cornuti
- BIO@SNS Lab, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Raffaele Mazziotti
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Borghi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Michele Dei Cas
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Sagona
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tommaso Pizzorusso
- BIO@SNS Lab, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Tognini
- BIO@SNS Lab, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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Zolotov NN, Schepetkin IA, Voronina TA, Pozdnev VF, Khlebnikov AI, Krylova IV, Quinn MT. Therapeutic Effect of Novel Cyanopyrrolidine-Based Prolyl Oligopeptidase Inhibitors in Rat Models of Amnesia. Front Chem 2022; 9:780958. [PMID: 35004610 PMCID: PMC8727363 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.780958] [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: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) is a large cytosolic serine peptidase that is altered in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinsonian syndrome, muscular dystrophies, and other denervating diseases. Thus, POP may represent a relevant therapeutic target for treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report the characterization of five novel cyanopyrrolidine-based compounds (BocTrpPrdN, BocGlyPrdN, CbzMetPrdN, CbzGlnPrdN, and CbzAlaPrdN) and show that they are potent inhibitors of POP and are predicted to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Indeed, we show that CbzMetPrdN penetrates the rat BBB and effectively inhibits POP in the brain when administered intraperitoneally. Furthermore, molecular modeling confirmed these compounds likely inhibit POP via interaction with the POP catalytic site. We evaluated protective effects of the cyanopyrrolidine-based POP inhibitors using scopolamine- and maximal electroshock-induced models of amnesia in rats and showed that BocTrpPrdN, BocGlyPrdN, CbzMetPrdN, and CbzGlnPrdN significantly prolonged conditioned passive avoidance reflex (CPAR) retention time when administered intraperitoneally (1 and 2 mg/kg) before evaluation in both models of amnesia, although CbzAlaPrdN was not effective in scopolamine-induced amnesia. Our data support previous reports on the antiamnesic effects of prolinal-based POP inhibitors and indicate an important role of POP in the regulation of learning and memory processes in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Igor A Schepetkin
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | | | | | - Andrei I Khlebnikov
- Kizhner Research Center, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia.,Institute of Pharmacy, Altai State Medical University, Barnaul, Russia
| | | | - Mark T Quinn
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
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Pintori N, Piva A, Guardiani V, Decimo I, Chiamulera C. Brief Environmental Enrichment exposure enhances contextual-induced sucrose-seeking with and without memory reactivation in rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 416:113556. [PMID: 34474039 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chronic Environmental Enrichment (EE) has been shown to prevent the relapse to addictive behaviours, such as drug-taking and -seeking. Recently, acute EE was shown to reduce cue-induced sucrose-seeking, but its effects on contextual (Cx)-induced sucrose-seeking is still unknown. Here we report the effects of brief EE exposure on Cx-induced sucrose-seeking with and without prior Cx-memory reactivation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to sucrose self-administration associated to a specific conditioning Cx (CxA), followed by a 7-day extinction in a different Cx (CxB). Afterwards, rats were exposed for 22 h to EE, and 1 h later to either i) Cx-induced sucrose-seeking (1 h, renewal without Cx-memory reactivation), ii) or two different Cx-memory reactivations: short (2-min) and long (15-min) CxA-retrieval session (Cx-Ret). In Cx-Ret experiments, CxA-induced sucrose-seeking test (1 h) was done after a subsequent 3-day extinction phase. The assessment of molecular markers of memory reactivation/reconsolidation, Zif-268 and rpS6P, was performed 2 h after Cx-Ret. Brief EE exposure enhanced Cx-induced sucrose-seeking without and with short but not long Cx-retrieval. Moreover, EE impaired discriminative responding at test prior to long, whereas improved it with or without short Cx-retrieval. Different changes in Zif-268 and rpS6P expression induced by short vs. long Cx-Ret were correlated to behavioural data, suggesting the occurrence of different memory processes affected by EE. Our data show that brief EE exposure may differently affect subsequent appetitive relapse depending on the modality of re-exposure to conditioned context. This finding suggests caution and further studies to understand the proper conditions for the use of EE against appetitive and addiction disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Pintori
- Section of Pharmacology, Dept. Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - A Piva
- Section of Pharmacology, Dept. Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - V Guardiani
- Section of Pharmacology, Dept. Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - I Decimo
- Section of Pharmacology, Dept. Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - C Chiamulera
- Section of Pharmacology, Dept. Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Long-lasting Postnatal Sensory Deprivation Alters Dendritic Morphology of Pyramidal Neurons in the Rat Hippocampus: Behavioral Correlates. Neuroscience 2022; 480:79-96. [PMID: 34785272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The role of normal sensory inputs in the development of sensory cortices is well known, however, their impacts on the hippocampus, an integrator of sensory modalities with important roles in cognitive functions, has received much less attention. Here, we applied a long-term sensory deprivation paradigm by trimming the rats' whiskers bilaterally, from postnatal day 3 to 59. Female sensory-deprived (SD) rats showed more on-wall rearing and visits to the center of the open-field box, shorter periods of grooming, less defecation and less anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus-maze compared to controls, who had their intact whiskers brushed. Passive avoidance memory retention was sex-dependently impaired in the female SD rats. In the radial arm maze, however, reference spatial memory was impaired only in the male SD rats. Nonetheless, working memory errors increased in both sexes of SD rats. Besides depletion of CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons in SD rats, Sholl analysis of Golgi-Cox stained neurons revealed that prolonged sensory deprivation has retracted the arborization of CA1 basal dendrites in SD group, while solely female SD rats had diminished CA1 apical dendrites. Sholl analysis of CA3 neurons in SD animals also disclosed significantly more branched apical dendrites in males and basal dendrites in females. Sensory deprivation also led to a considerable spine loss and variation of different spine types in a sex-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that experience-dependent structural plasticity is capable of spreading far beyond the manipulated sensory zones and the inevitable functional alterations can be expressed in a multifactorial sex-dependent manner.
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Yang S, Zhang S, Tang W, Fang S, Zhang H, Zheng J, Liu X, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Huang L, Li B. Enriched Environment Prevents Surgery-Induced Persistent Neural Inhibition and Cognitive Dysfunction. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:744719. [PMID: 34658844 PMCID: PMC8517535 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.744719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) encompass short-term delirium and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Aging increases the susceptibility to PND, yet the neural mechanism is not known. In this study, we monitored the dynamic changes of neuronal activity in the prelimbic cortex before and after surgery. We found that anesthesia combined with surgery, but not anesthesia alone, induced a prolonged decrease in neuronal activity during the post-operation period in the aged mice, but not in the adult mice. The prolonged decrease in neuronal activity was accompanied by surgery-induced microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokines expression. Importantly, we found that the enriched environment (EE) completely prevented both the prolonged neural inhibition and neuroinflammation, and improved cognitive function in the aged mice. These results indicate that the prolonged neural inhibition correlated to PND and that EE before the surgery could effectively alleviate the surgery- induced cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shana Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Song Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenting Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shunchang Fang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongyang Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jieyan Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianyan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Boxing Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Akther S, Hirase H. Assessment of astrocytes as a mediator of memory and learning in rodents. Glia 2021; 70:1484-1505. [PMID: 34582594 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The classical view of astrocytes is that they provide supportive functions for neurons, transporting metabolites and maintaining the homeostasis of the extracellular milieu. This view is gradually changing with the advent of molecular genetics and optical methods allowing interrogation of selected cell types in live experimental animals. An emerging view that astrocytes additionally act as a mediator of synaptic plasticity and contribute to learning processes has gained in vitro and in vivo experimental support. Here we focus on the literature published in the past two decades to review the roles of astrocytes in brain plasticity in rodents, whereby the roles of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators are considered to be comparable to those in humans. We outline established inputs and outputs of astrocytes and discuss how manipulations of astrocytes have impacted the behavior in various learning paradigms. Multiple studies suggest that the contribution of astrocytes has a considerably longer time course than neuronal activation, indicating metabolic roles of astrocytes. We advocate that exploring upstream and downstream mechanisms of astrocytic activation will further provide insight into brain plasticity and memory/learning impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Akther
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hajime Hirase
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Jacobs B, Rally H, Doyle C, O'Brien L, Tennison M, Marino L. Putative neural consequences of captivity for elephants and cetaceans. Rev Neurosci 2021; 33:439-465. [PMID: 34534428 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2021-0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The present review assesses the potential neural impact of impoverished, captive environments on large-brained mammals, with a focus on elephants and cetaceans. These species share several characteristics, including being large, wide-ranging, long-lived, cognitively sophisticated, highly social, and large-brained mammals. Although the impact of the captive environment on physical and behavioral health has been well-documented, relatively little attention has been paid to the brain itself. Here, we explore the potential neural consequences of living in captive environments, with a focus on three levels: (1) The effects of environmental impoverishment/enrichment on the brain, emphasizing the negative neural consequences of the captive/impoverished environment; (2) the neural consequences of stress on the brain, with an emphasis on corticolimbic structures; and (3) the neural underpinnings of stereotypies, often observed in captive animals, underscoring dysregulation of the basal ganglia and associated circuitry. To this end, we provide a substantive hypothesis about the negative impact of captivity on the brains of large mammals (e.g., cetaceans and elephants) and how these neural consequences are related to documented evidence for compromised physical and psychological well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob Jacobs
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, 80903, USA
| | - Heather Rally
- Foundation to Support Animal Protection, Norfolk, VA, 23510, USA
| | - Catherine Doyle
- Performing Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 849, Galt, CA, 95632, USA
| | - Lester O'Brien
- Palladium Elephant Consulting Inc., 2408 Pinewood Dr. SE, Calgary, AB, T2B1S4, Canada
| | - Mackenzie Tennison
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Lori Marino
- Whale Sanctuary Project, Kanab, UT, 84741, USA
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Cordner ZA, Marshall-Thomas I, Boersma GJ, Lee RS, Potash JB, Tamashiro KL. Fluoxetine and environmental enrichment similarly reverse chronic social stress-related depression- and anxiety-like behavior, but have differential effects on amygdala gene expression. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100392. [PMID: 34568521 PMCID: PMC8449130 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The adverse effects of stress on brain and behavior have long been known and well-studied, with abundant evidence linking stress to, among other things, mood and anxiety disorders. Likewise, many have investigated potential treatments for stress-related mood and anxiety phenotypes and demonstrated good response to standard antidepressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as environmental manipulations like exercise or enrichment. However, the extent to which stress and various treatments act on overlapping pathways in the brain is less well understood. Here, we used a widely studied social defeat stress paradigm to induce a robust depression- and anxiety-like phenotype and chronic corticosterone elevation that persisted for at least 4 weeks in wild type male mice. When mice were treated with either the SSRI fluoxetine or an enriched environment, both led to similar behavioral recovery from social defeat. We then focused on the amygdala and assessed the effects of social defeat, fluoxetine, and enrichment on 168 genes broadly related to synaptic plasticity or oxidative stress. We found 24 differentially expressed genes in response to social defeat stress. Interestingly, fluoxetine led to broad normalization of the stress-induced expression pattern while enrichment led to expression changes in a separate set of genes. Together, this study provides additional insight into the chronic effects of social defeat stress on behavior and gene expression in the amygdala. The findings also suggest that, for a subset of genes assessed, fluoxetine and environmental enrichment have strikingly divergent effects on expression in the amygdala, despite leading to similar behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A. Cordner
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Isaiah Marshall-Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Gretha J. Boersma
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Richard S. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - James B. Potash
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kellie L.K. Tamashiro
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Farazi N, Mahmoudi J, Sadigh-Eteghad S, Farajdokht F, Rasta SH. Synergistic effects of combined therapy with transcranial photobiomodulation and enriched environment on depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in a mice model of noise stress. Lasers Med Sci 2021; 37:1181-1191. [PMID: 34432186 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-021-03370-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The development of anxiety and depression due to chronic exposure to noise stress has remained as an unsolved health problem so far. Despite the studies suggesting the neuroenhancement effects of transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) and housing in an enriched environment (EE), the combined effects of these treatments have not been elucidated yet. Also, there is no available data on the relationship between the application of tPBM and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in animal models of stress. The present study aims to investigate the application of the tPBM and EE (alone or in combination) on depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in a mice model of noise stress. Mice were divided into five groups: control, noise, noise + EE, noise + tPBM, and noise + EE + tPBM. Except for the control group, other groups were subjected to 110 dB SPL white noise for 4 h/day for 14 consecutive days and received their respective treatments. Forced Swimming Test (FST) was used to evaluate depressive-like behaviors. Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Open Field Test (OFT) were used to evaluate anxiety-like behaviors. BDNF, tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB), and cAMP response element-binding (CREB) protein levels in the hippocampus were determined by the Western blot method, and also serum corticosterone levels were assessed using an ELISA kit. Exposure to noise stress significantly elevated serum corticosterone level; downregulated hippocampal BDNF, TrkB, and CREB protein expressions; and resulted in depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. While, the application of tPBM (810 nm wavelength, 8 J/cm2 fluence, 10 Hz pulsed wave mode), housing in EE, and their combination lowered corticosterone levels, upregulated the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in the hippocampus, and improved behavioral outcomes in noise stress subjected mice. Our finding revealed the improving effects of tPBM and EE on depressive and anxiety-like behaviors induced by noise stress, possibly by augmenting the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narmin Farazi
- Department of Medical Physics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 51666-14766, Tabriz, Iran.,Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 51666-14756, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Javad Mahmoudi
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 51666-14756, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 51666-14756, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Farajdokht
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 51666-14756, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Rasta
- Department of Medical Physics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 51666-14766, Tabriz, Iran. .,Department of Medical Bioengineering, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. .,School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
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Let's get wild: A review of free-ranging rat assays as context-enriched supplements to traditional laboratory models. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 362:109303. [PMID: 34352335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
More than 24,000 rodent studies are published annually, with the vast majority of these studies focused on genetically undiverse animals in highly-controlled laboratory settings. However, findings from the laboratory have become increasingly unreliable for predicting outcomes in field and clinical settings, leading to a perceived crisis in translational research. One cause of this disparity might be that most human societies, in contrast to laboratory rodents, are genetically diverse and live in super-enriched environments. Methods for importing wild rats into the laboratory, and also exporting laboratory-style chambers into natural environments are not well-known outside their respective disciplines. Therefore, we have reviewed the current status of supplements to the laboratory rodent assay. We progress logically from highly-controlled experiments with natural breeding colonies to purely naturalistic approaches with free-ranging rats. We then highlight a number of approaches that allow genetically-diverse wild rats to be utilized in context-enriched paradigms. While considering the benefits and shortcomings of each available approach, we detail protocols for random sampling, remote-sensing, and deployment of laboratory chambers in the field. As supplements to standardized laboratory trials, some of these assays could offer key insights to help unify outcomes between laboratory and field studies. However, we note several outstanding questions that must be addressed such as: the trade-off between control and context, possible reductions in sample size, ramifications for the 'standardization fallacy', and ethical dilemmas of working with wild animals. Given these challenges, further innovation will be required before supplemental assays can be made broadly-accessible and thus, transferrable across disciplines.
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Stark CEL, Clemenson GD, Aluru U, Hatamian N, Stark SM. Playing Minecraft Improves Hippocampal-Associated Memory for Details in Middle Aged Adults. Front Sports Act Living 2021; 3:685286. [PMID: 34291204 PMCID: PMC8287053 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.685286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Concerns are often raised about the impact that playing video games may have on cognition and behavior, whether gameplay is intense and protracted as with competitive Esports or whether it is more casual gameplay. Work in our lab and others, however, has shown that at least some classes of games can improve memory function. In particular, playing immersive 3D games that provide rich experiences and novelty improve memory on tasks that rely upon the hippocampus in effects that mirror the effects of “environmental enrichment” in numerous rodent studies. Our goal in the present study was to determine whether even modest amounts of gameplay (~30 min/day for 4 weeks) would result in improved memory performance in middle-aged adults. Not only is this demographic potentially highly receptive to gaming (they make up a significant portion of Esports viewers and of game players), but interventions in middle age may be a prime time for reducing later age-related cognitive decline. Here, we found that the benefits in middle age paralleled effects previously observed in young adults as playing Minecraft, showing improved memory performance on a hippocampal dependent memory task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig E L Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Gregory D Clemenson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ujwal Aluru
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nikki Hatamian
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Shauna M Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Zocher S, Overall RW, Lesche M, Dahl A, Kempermann G. Environmental enrichment preserves a young DNA methylation landscape in the aged mouse hippocampus. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3892. [PMID: 34162876 PMCID: PMC8222384 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23993-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The decline of brain function during aging is associated with epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation. Lifestyle interventions can improve brain function during aging, but their influence on age-related epigenetic changes is unknown. Using genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing, we here show that experiencing a stimulus-rich environment counteracts age-related DNA methylation changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of mice. Specifically, environmental enrichment prevented the aging-induced CpG hypomethylation at target sites of the methyl-CpG-binding protein Mecp2, which is critical to neuronal function. The genes at which environmental enrichment counteracted aging effects have described roles in neuronal plasticity, neuronal cell communication and adult hippocampal neurogenesis and are dysregulated with age-related cognitive decline in the human brain. Our results highlight the stimulating effects of environmental enrichment on hippocampal plasticity at the level of DNA methylation and give molecular insights into the specific aspects of brain aging that can be counteracted by lifestyle interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zocher
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rupert W Overall
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mathias Lesche
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center c/o Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Dahl
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center c/o Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gerd Kempermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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Shvarts-Serebro I, Sheinin A, Gottfried I, Adler L, Schottlender N, Ashery U, Barak B. miR-128 as a Regulator of Synaptic Properties in 5xFAD Mice Hippocampal Neurons. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2593-2607. [PMID: 34151409 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01862-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive synaptic dysfunction, deterioration of neuronal transmission, and consequently neuronal death. Although there is no treatment for AD, exposure to enriched environment (EE) in mice, as well as physical and mental activity in human subjects have been shown to have a protective effect by slowing the disease's progression and reducing AD-like cognitive impairment. However, the molecular mechanism of this mitigating effect is still not understood. One of the mechanisms that has recently been shown to be involved in neuronal degeneration is microRNAs (miRNAs) regulation, which act as a post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. miR-128 has been shown to be significantly altered in individuals with AD and in mice following exposure to EE. Here, we focused on elucidating the possible role of miR-128 in AD pathology and found that miR-128 regulates the expression of two proteins essential for synaptic transmission, SNAP-25, and synaptotagmin1 (Syt1). Clinically relevant, in 5xFAD mouse model for AD, this miRNA's expression was found as downregulated, resembling the alteration found in the hippocampi of individuals with AD. Interestingly, exposing WT mice to EE also resulted in downregulation of miR-128 expression levels, although EE and AD conditions demonstrate opposing effects on neuronal functioning and synaptic plasticity. We also found that miR-128 expression downregulation in primary hippocampal cultures from 5xFAD mice results in increased neuronal network activity and neuronal excitability. Altogether, our findings place miR-128 as a synaptic player that may contribute to synaptic functioning and plasticity through regulation of synaptic protein expression and function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anton Sheinin
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Irit Gottfried
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lior Adler
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nofar Schottlender
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uri Ashery
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,The School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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47
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Levis NA, Kelly PW, Harmon EA, Ehrenreich IM, McKay DJ, Pfennig DW. Transcriptomic bases of a polyphenism. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2021; 336:482-495. [PMID: 34142757 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Polyphenism-in which multiple distinct phenotypes are produced from a single genotype owing to differing environmental conditions-is commonplace, but its molecular bases are poorly understood. Here, we examine the transcriptomic bases of a polyphenism in Mexican spadefoot toads (Spea multiplicata). Depending on their environment, their tadpoles develop into either a default "omnivore" morph or a novel "carnivore" morph. We compared patterns of gene expression among sibships that exhibited high versus low production of carnivores when reared in conditions that induce the carnivore morph versus those that do not. We found that production of the novel carnivore morph actually involved changes in fewer genes than did the maintenance of the default omnivore morph in the inducing environment. However, only body samples showed this pattern; head samples showed the opposite pattern. We also found that changes to lipid metabolism (especially cholesterol biosynthesis) and peroxisome contents and function might be crucial for establishing and maintaining differences between the morphs. Thus, our findings suggest that carnivore phenotype might have originally evolved following the breakdown of robustness mechanisms that maintain the default omnivore phenotype, and that the carnivore morph is developmentally regulated by lipid metabolism and peroxisomal form, function, and/or signaling. This study also serves as a springboard for further exploration into the nature and causes of plasticity in an emerging model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Levis
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Current affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Patrick W Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Emily A Harmon
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ian M Ehrenreich
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Daniel J McKay
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - David W Pfennig
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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48
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van der Geest JN, Spoor M, Frens MA. Environmental Enrichment Improves Vestibular Oculomotor Learning in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:676416. [PMID: 34211378 PMCID: PMC8239173 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.676416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We assessed the behavioral effects of environmental enrichment on contrast sensitivity, reflexive eye movements and on oculomotor learning in mice that were housed in an enriched environment for a period of 3 weeks. Research has shown that a larger cage and a more complex environment have positive effects on the welfare of laboratory mice and other animals held in captivity. It has also been shown that environmental enrichment affects various behavior and neuroanatomical and molecular characteristics. We found a clear effect on oculomotor learning. Animals that were housed in an enriched environment learned significantly faster than controls that were housed under standard conditions. In line with existing literature, the enriched group also outperformed the controls in behavioral tests for explorative behavior. Meanwhile, both visual and reflexive oculomotor performance in response to visual and vestibular stimuli was unaffected. This points toward an underlying mechanism that is specific for motor learning, rather than overall motor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcella Spoor
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maarten A Frens
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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49
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Mazaud D, Capano A, Rouach N. The many ways astroglial connexins regulate neurotransmission and behavior. Glia 2021; 69:2527-2545. [PMID: 34101261 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes have emerged as major players in the brain, contributing to many functions such as energy supply, neurotransmission, and behavior. They accomplish these functions in part via their capacity to form widespread intercellular networks and to release neuroactive factors, which can modulate neurotransmission at different levels, from individual synapses to neuronal networks. The extensive network communication of astrocytes is primarily mediated by gap junction channels composed of two connexins, Cx30 and Cx43, which present distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns. Yet, astroglial connexins are also involved in direct exchange with the extracellular space via hemichannels, as well as in adhesion and signaling processes via unconventional nonchannel functions. Accumulating evidence indicate that astrocytes modulate neurotransmission and behavior through these diverse connexin functions. We here review the many ways astroglial connexins regulate neuronal activity from the molecular level to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mazaud
- Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiology and Pathologies, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Anna Capano
- Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiology and Pathologies, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Doctoral School N°158, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Rouach
- Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiology and Pathologies, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
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50
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Parameshwaran D, Sathishkumar S, Thiagarajan TC. The impact of socioeconomic and stimulus inequality on human brain physiology. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7439. [PMID: 33811239 PMCID: PMC8018967 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85236-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain undergoes profound structural and dynamical alteration in response to its stimulus environment. In animal studies, enriched stimulus environments result in numerous structural and dynamical changes along with cognitive enhancements. In human society factors such as education, travel, cell phones and motorized transport dramatically expand the rate and complexity of stimulus experience but diverge in access based on income. Correspondingly, poverty is associated with significant structural and dynamical differences in the brain, but it is unknown how this relates to disparity in stimulus access. Here we studied consumption of major stimulus factors along with measurement of brain signals using EEG in 402 people in India across an income range of $0.82 to $410/day. We show that the complexity of the EEG signal scaled logarithmically with overall stimulus consumption and income and linearly with education and travel. In contrast phone use jumped up at a threshold of $30/day corresponding to a similar jump in key spectral parameters that reflect the signal energy. Our results suggest that key aspects of brain physiology increase in lockstep with stimulus consumption and that we have not fully appreciated the profound way that stimulus expanding aspects of modern life are changing our brain physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S. Sathishkumar
- Sapien Labs, 1201 Wilson Drive 27th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209 USA
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