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Gomes-de-Souza L, Busnardo C, Santos A, Paz HS, Resstel LB, Planeta CS, Nunes-de-Souza RL, Crestani CC. Functional lateralization in the medial prefrontal cortex control of contextual conditioned emotional responses in rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 133:111015. [PMID: 38653363 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
A functional lateralization has been reported in control of emotional responses by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, a hemisphere asymmetry in involvement of the mPFC in expression of fear conditioning responses has never been reported. Therefore, we investigated whether control by mPFC of freezing and cardiovascular responses during re-exposure to an aversively conditioned context is lateralized. For this, rats had guide cannulas directed to the mPFC implanted bilaterally or unilaterally in the right or left hemispheres. Vehicle or the non-selective synaptic inhibitor CoCl2 was microinjected into the mPFC 10 min before re-exposure to a chamber where the animals had previously received footshocks. A catheter was implanted into the femoral artery before the fear retrieval test for cardiovascular recordings. We observed that bilateral microinjection of CoCl2 into the mPFC reduced both the freezing behavior (enhancing locomotion and rearing) and arterial pressure and heart rate increases during re-exposure to the aversively conditioned context. Unilateral microinjection of CoCl2 into the right hemisphere of the mPFC also decreased the freezing behavior (enhancing locomotion and rearing), but without affecting the cardiovascular changes. Conversely, unilateral synaptic inhibition in the left mPFC did not affect either behavioral or cardiovascular responses during fear retrieval test. Taken together, these results suggest that the right hemisphere of the mPFC is necessary and sufficient for expression of freezing behavior to contextual fear conditioning. However, the control of cardiovascular responses and freezing behavior during fear retrieval test is somehow dissociated in the mPFC, being the former bilaterally processed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gomes-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Busnardo
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Adrielly Santos
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Higor S Paz
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Leonardo B Resstel
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Cleopatra S Planeta
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo L Nunes-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos C Crestani
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
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Schaeuble D, Wallace T, Pace SA, Hentges ST, Myers B. Sex-specific prefrontal-hypothalamic control of behavior and stress responding. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 159:106413. [PMID: 37890240 PMCID: PMC10842088 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Depression and cardiovascular disease are both augmented by daily life stress. Yet, the biological mechanisms that translate psychological stress into affective and physiological outcomes are unknown. Previously, we demonstrated that stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) has sexually divergent outcomes on behavior and physiology. Importantly, the vmPFC does not innervate the brain regions that initiate autonomic or neuroendocrine stress responses; thus, we hypothesized that intermediate synapses integrate cortical information to regulate stress responding. The posterior hypothalamus (PH) directly innervates stress-effector regions and receives substantial innervation from the vmPFC. In the current studies, circuit-specific approaches examined whether vmPFC synapses in the PH coordinate stress responding. Here we tested the effects of optogenetic vmPFC-PH circuit stimulation in male and female rats on social and motivational behaviors as well as physiological stress responses. Additionally, an intersectional genetic approach was used to knock down synaptobrevin in PH-projecting vmPFC neurons. Our collective results indicate that male vmPFC-PH circuitry promotes positive motivational valence and is both sufficient and necessary to reduce sympathetic-mediated stress responses. In females, the vmPFC-PH circuit does not affect social or preference behaviors but is sufficient and necessary to elevate neuroendocrine stress responses. Altogether, these data suggest cortical regulation of stress reactivity and behavior is mediated, in part, by projections to the hypothalamus that function in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Schaeuble
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Tyler Wallace
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Sebastian A Pace
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Shane T Hentges
- Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Brent Myers
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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Wongsaengchan C, McCafferty DJ, Evans NP, McKeegan DEF, Nager RG. Body surface temperature of rats reveals both magnitude and sex differences in the acute stress response. Physiol Behav 2023; 264:114138. [PMID: 36871696 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114138] [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: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how biological markers of stress relate to stressor magnitude is much needed and can be used in welfare assessment. Changes in body surface temperature can be measured using infrared thermography (IRT) as a marker of a physiological response to acute stress. While an avian study has shown that changes in body surface temperature can reflect the intensity of acute stress, little is known about surface temperature responses to stressors of different magnitudes and its sex-specificity in mammals, and how they correlate with hormonal and behavioural responses. We used IRT to collect continuous surface temperature measurements of tail and eye of adult male and female rats (Rattus norvegicus), for 30 minutes after exposure to one of three stressors (small cage, encircling handling or rodent restraint cone) for one minute, and cross-validated the thermal response with plasma corticosterone (CORT) and behavioural assessment. To obtain individual baseline temperatures and thermal responses to stress, rats were imaged in a test arena (to which they were habituated) for 30 seconds before and 30 minutes after being exposed to the stressor. In response to the three stressors, tail temperature initially decreased and then recovered to, or overshot the baseline temperature. Tail temperature dynamics differed between stressors; being restrained in the small cage was associated with the smallest drop in temperature, in male rats, and the fastest thermal recovery, in both sexes. Increases in eye temperature only distinguished between stressors early in the response and only in females. The post stressor increase in eye temperature was greater in the right eye of males and the left eye of females. In both sexes encircling may have been associated with the fastest increase in CORT. These results were in line with observed behavioural changes, with greater movement in rats exposed to the small cage and higher immobility after encircling. The female tail and eye temperature, as well as the CORT concentrations did not return to pre-stressor levels in the observation period, in conjunction with the greater occurrence of escape-related behaviours in female rats. These results suggest that female rats are more vulnerable to acute restraint stress compared to male rats and emphasise the importance of using both sexes in future investigations of stressor magnitude. This study demonstrates that acute stress induced changes in mammalian surface temperature measured with IRT relate to the magnitude of restraint stress, indicate sex differences and correlate with hormonal and behavioural responses. Thus, IRT has the potential to become a non-invasive method of continuous welfare assessment in unrestrained mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanakarn Wongsaengchan
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic J McCafferty
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, Rowardennan, G63 0AW, United Kingdom
| | - Neil P Evans
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Jarrett Building, Glasgow, G61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothy E F McKeegan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Jarrett Building, Glasgow, G61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Ruedi G Nager
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom.
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Oliveira LA, Carvalho II, Kurokawa RY, Duarte JDO, Busnardo C, Crestani CC. Differential roles of prelimbic and infralimbic cholinergic neurotransmissions in control of cardiovascular responses to restraint stress in rats. Brain Res Bull 2022; 181:175-182. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Oliveira LA, Pollo TRS, Rosa EA, Duarte JO, Xavier CH, Crestani CC. Both Prelimbic and Infralimbic Noradrenergic Neurotransmissions Modulate Cardiovascular Responses to Restraint Stress in Rats. Front Physiol 2021; 12:700540. [PMID: 34483957 PMCID: PMC8415160 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.700540] [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: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) subareas of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) have been implicated in physiological and behavioral responses during aversive threats. The previous studies reported the noradrenaline release within the mPFC during stressful events, and the lesions of catecholaminergic terminals in this cortical structure affected stress-evoked local neuronal activation. Nevertheless, the role of mPFC adrenoceptors on cardiovascular responses during emotional stress is unknown. Thus, we investigated the role of adrenoceptors present within the PL and IL on the increase in both arterial pressure and heart rate (HR) and on the sympathetically mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction evoked by acute restraint stress. For this, bilateral guide cannulas were implanted into either the PL or IL of male rats. All animals were also subjected to catheter implantation into the femoral artery for cardiovascular recording. The increase in both arterial pressure and HR and the decrease in the tail skin temperature as an indirect measurement of sympathetically mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction were recorded during the restraint session. We observed that the microinjection of the selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist RX821002 into either the PL or IL decreased the pressor response during restraint stress. Treatment of the PL or IL with either the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist WB4101 or the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist reduced the restraint-evoked tachycardia. The drop in the tail skin temperature was decreased by PL treatment with the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol and with the α1- or α2-adrenoceptor antagonists. The α2-adrenoceptor antagonist into the IL also decreased the skin temperature response. Our results suggest that the noradrenergic neurotransmission in both PL and IL mediates the cardiovascular responses to aversive threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro A Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.,Joint Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) - São Paulo State University (UNESP) Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Taciana R S Pollo
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil
| | - Elinéia A Rosa
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil
| | - Josiane O Duarte
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.,Joint Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) - São Paulo State University (UNESP) Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Carlos H Xavier
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Carlos C Crestani
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.,Joint Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) - São Paulo State University (UNESP) Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, Brazil
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Medial prefrontal cortex TRPV1 and CB1 receptors modulate cardiac baroreflex activity by regulating the NMDA receptor/nitric oxide pathway. Pflugers Arch 2018; 470:1521-1542. [PMID: 29845313 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-018-2149-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) facilitates the cardiac baroreflex response through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation and nitric oxide (NO) formation by neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) triggering. Glutamatergic transmission is modulated by the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptors, which may inhibit or stimulate glutamate release in the brain, respectively. Interestingly, vMPFC CB1 receptors decrease cardiac baroreflex responses, while TRPV1 channels facilitate them. Therefore, the hypothesis of the present study is that the vMPFC NMDA/NO pathway is regulated by both CB1 and TRPV1 receptors in the modulation of cardiac baroreflex activity. In order to test this assumption, we used male Wistar rats that had stainless steel guide cannulae bilaterally implanted in the vMPFC. Subsequently, a catheter was inserted into the femoral artery, for cardiovascular recordings, and into the femoral vein for assessing baroreflex activation. The increase in tachycardic and bradycardic responses observed after the microinjection of a CB1 receptors antagonist into the vMPFC was prevented by an NMDA antagonist as well as by the nNOS and sGC inhibition. NO extracellular scavenging also abolished these responses. These same pharmacological manipulations inhibited cardiac reflex enhancement induced by TRPV1 agonist injection into the area. Based on these results, we conclude that vMPFC CB1 and TRPV1 receptors inhibit or facilitate the cardiac baroreflex activity by stimulating or blocking the NMDA activation and NO synthesis.
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Brasil TFS, Fassini A, Corrêa FM. AT1 and AT2 Receptors in the Prelimbic Cortex Modulate the Cardiovascular Response Evoked by Acute Exposure to Restraint Stress in Rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2018; 38:305-316. [PMID: 28695320 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-017-0518-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The prelimbic cortex (PL) is an important structure in the neural pathway integrating stress responses. Brain angiotensin is involved in cardiovascular control and modulation of stress responses. Blockade of angiotensin receptors has been reported to reduce stress responses. Acute restraint stress (ARS) is a stress model, which evokes sustained blood pressure increase, tachycardia, and reduction in tail temperature. We therefore hypothesized that PL locally generated angiotensin and angiotensin receptors modulate stress autonomic responses. To test this hypothesis, we microinjected an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin antagonists into the PL, prior to ARS. Male Wistar rats were used; guide cannulas were bilaterally implanted in the PL for microinjection of vehicle or drugs. A polyethylene catheter was introduced into the femoral artery to record cardiovascular parameters. Tail temperature was measured using a thermal camera. ARS was started 10 min after PL treatment with drugs. Pretreatment with ACE inhibitor lisinopril (0.5 nmol/100 nL) reduced the pressor response, but did not affect ARS-evoked tachycardia. At a dose of 1 nmol/100 nL, it reduced both ARS pressor and tachycardic responses. Pretreatment with candesartan, AT1 receptor antagonist reduced ARS-evoked pressor response, but not tachycardia. Pretreatment with PD123177, AT2 receptor antagonist, reduced tachycardia, but did not affect ARS pressor response. No treatment affected ARS fall in tail temperature. Results suggest involvement of PL angiotensin in the mediation of ARS cardiovascular responses, with participation of both AT1 and AT2 receptors. In conclusion, results indicate that PL AT1-receptors modulate the ARS-evoked pressor response, while AT2-receptors modulate the tachycardic component of the autonomic response.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers/pharmacology
- Animals
- Blood Pressure/drug effects
- Blood Pressure/physiology
- Cerebral Cortex/drug effects
- Cerebral Cortex/metabolism
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Frontal Lobe/drug effects
- Frontal Lobe/metabolism
- Heart Rate/drug effects
- Heart Rate/physiology
- Limbic Lobe/drug effects
- Limbic Lobe/metabolism
- Male
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1/physiology
- Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2/physiology
- Restraint, Physical/physiology
- Restraint, Physical/psychology
- Stress, Psychological/metabolism
- Stress, Psychological/psychology
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Affiliation(s)
- Taíz F S Brasil
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ave. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Aline Fassini
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ave. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Fernando M Corrêa
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ave. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
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