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Kapustina M, Zhang AA, Tsai JYJ, Bristow BN, Kraus L, Sullivan KE, Erwin SR, Wang L, Stach TR, Clements J, Lemire AL, Cembrowski MS. The cell-type-specific spatial organization of the anterior thalamic nuclei of the mouse brain. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113842. [PMID: 38427564 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113842] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the cell-type composition and spatial organization of brain regions is crucial for interpreting brain computation and function. In the thalamus, the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) are involved in a wide variety of functions, yet the cell-type composition of the ATN remains unmapped at a single-cell and spatial resolution. Combining single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and multiplexed fluorescent in situ hybridization, we identify three discrete excitatory cell-type clusters that correspond to the known nuclei of the ATN and uncover marker genes, molecular pathways, and putative functions of these cell types. We further illustrate graded spatial variation along the dorsomedial-ventrolateral axis for all individual nuclei of the ATN and additionally demonstrate that the anteroventral nucleus exhibits spatially covarying protein products and long-range inputs. Collectively, our study reveals discrete and continuous cell-type organizational principles of the ATN, which will help to guide and interpret experiments on ATN computation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Kapustina
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Angela A Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jennifer Y J Tsai
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brianna N Bristow
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Larissa Kraus
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kaitlin E Sullivan
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sarah R Erwin
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lihua Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Tara R Stach
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jody Clements
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Andrew L Lemire
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Mark S Cembrowski
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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2
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Smith SM, Garcia EL, Davidson CG, Thompson JJ, Lovett SD, Ferekides N, Federico Q, Bumanglag AV, Hernandez AR, Abisambra JF, Burke SN. Paired associates learning is disrupted after unilateral parietal lobe controlled cortical impact in rats: A trial-by-trial behavioral analysis. Behav Brain Res 2023; 437:114106. [PMID: 36089100 PMCID: PMC9927580 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114106] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 60-70 million people suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year. Animal models continue to be paramount in understanding mechanisms of cellular dysfunction and testing new treatments for TBI. Enhancing the translational potential of novel interventions therefore necessitates testing pre-clinical intervention strategies with clinically relevant cognitive assays. This study used a unilateral parietal lobe controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI and tested rats on a touchscreen-based Paired Associates Learning (PAL) task, which is part of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. In humans, the PAL task has been used to assess cognitive deficits in the ability to form stimulus-location associations in a multitude of disease states, including TBI. Although the use of PAL in animal models could be important for understanding the clinical severity of cognitive impairment post-injury and throughout intervention, to date, the extent to which a rat model of TBI produces deficits in PAL task performance has not yet been reported. This study details the behavioral consequences of the CCI injury model with a Trial-by-Trial analysis of PAL performance that enables behavioral strategy use to be inferred. Following behavior, the extent of the injury was quantified with histology and staining for the presence of glial fibrillary acid protein and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1. Rats that received unilateral CCI were impaired on the PAL task and showed more aberrant response-driven behavior. The magnitude of PAL impairment was also correlated with Iba1 staining in the thalamus. These observations suggest that PAL could be useful for pre-clinical assessments of novel interventions for treating TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Concentration, University of Florida, United States
| | - Elena L Garcia
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Caroline G Davidson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John J Thompson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sarah D Lovett
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Nedi Ferekides
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Quinten Federico
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Argyle V Bumanglag
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Abbi R Hernandez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jose F Abisambra
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sara N Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States; Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
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Aggleton JP, Nelson AJD, O'Mara SM. Time to retire the serial Papez circuit: Implications for space, memory, and attention. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 140:104813. [PMID: 35940310 PMCID: PMC10804970 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
After more than 80 years, Papez serial circuit remains a hugely influential concept, initially for emotion, but in more recent decades, for memory. Here, we show how this circuit is anatomically and mechanistically naïve as well as outdated. We argue that a new conceptualisation is necessitated by recent anatomical and functional findings that emphasize the more equal, working partnerships between the anterior thalamic nuclei and the hippocampal formation, along with their neocortical interactions in supporting, episodic memory. Furthermore, despite the importance of the anterior thalamic for mnemonic processing, there is growing evidence that these nuclei support multiple aspects of cognition, only some of which are directly associated with hippocampal function. By viewing the anterior thalamic nuclei as a multifunctional hub, a clearer picture emerges of extra-hippocampal regions supporting memory. The reformulation presented here underlines the need to retire Papez serially processing circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales, UK.
| | - Andrew J D Nelson
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales, UK
| | - Shane M O'Mara
- School of Psychology and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
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4
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Abstract
Anterior thalamus exhibits significant functional changes with increasing age. While it has been associated with cognitive functions, the specific circuitry relevant for working memory remains unknown. The significance of this study is threefold: First, the anteroventral subdivision of anterior thalamic nuclei is necessary for working memory maintenance; second, aged mice showed a decrease in the excitability of anteroventral thalamic neurons, which correlated with a working memory impairment; and third, activating anteroventral thalamic neurons in aged mice was sufficient to improve their working memory. Alterations in the structure and functional connectivity of anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) have been linked to reduced cognition during aging. However, ATN circuits that contribute to higher cognitive functions remain understudied. We found that the anteroventral (AV) subdivision of ATN is necessary specifically during the maintenance phase of a spatial working memory task. This function engages the AV→parasubiculum (PaS)→entorhinal cortex (EC) circuit. Aged mice showed a deficit in spatial working memory, which was associated with a decrease in the excitability of AV neurons. Activation of AV neurons or the AV→PaS circuit in aged mice was sufficient to rescue their working memory performance. Furthermore, rescued aged mice showed improved behavior-induced neuronal activity in prefrontal cortex (PFC), a critical site for working memory processes. Although the direct activation of PFC neurons in aged mice also rescued their working memory performance, we found that these animals exhibited increased levels of anxiety, which was not the case for AV→PaS circuit manipulations in aged mice. These results suggest that targeting AV thalamus in aging may not only be beneficial for cognitive functions but that this approach may have fewer unintended effects compared to direct PFC manipulations.
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Yang Z, Sheng X, Qin R, Chen H, Shao P, Xu H, Yao W, Zhao H, Xu Y, Bai F. Cognitive Improvement via Left Angular Gyrus-Navigated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Inducing the Neuroplasticity of Thalamic System in Amnesic Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 86:537-551. [PMID: 35068464 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Stimulating superficial brain regions highly associated with the hippocampus by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may improve memory of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) spectrum patients. Objective: We recruited 16 amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 6 AD patients in the study. All the patients were stimulated to the left angular gyrus, which was confirmed a strong link to the hippocampus through neuroimaging studies, by the neuro-navigated rTMS for four weeks. Methods: Automated fiber quantification using diffusion tensor imaging metrics and graph theory analysis on functional network were employed to detect the neuroplasticity of brain networks. Results: After neuro-navigated rTMS intervention, the episodic memory of aMCI patients and Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of two groups were significantly improved. Increased FA values of right anterior thalamic radiation among aMCI patients, while decreased functional network properties of thalamus subregions were observed, whereas similar changes not found in AD patients. It is worth noting that the improvement of cognition was associated with the neuroplasticity of thalamic system. Conclusion: We speculated that the rTMS intervention targeting left angular gyrus may be served as a strategy to improve cognitive impairment at the early stage of AD patients, supporting by the neuroplasticity of thalamic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoning Sheng
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruomeng Qin
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengfei Shao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hengheng Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weina Yao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
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6
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Smith DM, Yang YY, Subramanian DL, Miller AMP, Bulkin DA, Law LM. The limbic memory circuit and the neural basis of contextual memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 187:107557. [PMID: 34808337 PMCID: PMC8755583 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The hippocampus, retrosplenial cortex and anterior thalamus are key components of a neural circuit known to be involved in a variety of memory functions, including spatial, contextual and episodic memory. In this review, we focus on the role of this circuit in contextual memory processes. The background environment, or context, is a powerful cue for memory retrieval, and neural representations of the context provide a mechanism for efficiently retrieving relevant memories while avoiding interference from memories that belong to other contexts. Data from experimental lesions and neural manipulation techniques indicate that each of these regions is critical for contextual memory. Neurophysiological evidence from the hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex suggest that contextual information is represented within this circuit by population-level neural firing patterns that reliably differentiate each context a subject encounters. These findings indicate that encoding contextual information to support context-dependent memory retrieval is a key function of this circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Smith
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
| | - Yan Yu Yang
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | | | - Adam M P Miller
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - David A Bulkin
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - L Matthew Law
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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7
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Savage LM, Nunes PT, Gursky ZH, Milbocker KA, Klintsova AY. Midline Thalamic Damage Associated with Alcohol-Use Disorders: Disruption of Distinct Thalamocortical Pathways and Function. Neuropsychol Rev 2021; 31:447-471. [PMID: 32789537 PMCID: PMC7878584 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09450-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The thalamus, a significant part of the diencephalon, is a symmetrical and bilateral central brain structure. The thalamus is subdivided into three major groups of nuclei based on their function: sensorimotor nuclei (or principal/relay nuclei), limbic nuclei and nuclei bridging these two domains. Anatomically, nuclei within the thalamus are described by their location, such as anterior, medial, lateral, ventral, and posterior. In this review, we summarize the role of medial and midline thalamus in cognition, ranging from learning and memory to flexible adaptation. We focus on the discoveries in animal models of alcohol-related brain damage, which identify the loss of neurons in the medial and midline thalamus as drivers of cognitive dysfunction associated with alcohol use disorders. Models of developmental ethanol exposure and models of adult alcohol-related brain damage and are compared and contrasted, and it was revealed that there are similar (anterior thalamus) and different (intralaminar [adult exposure] versus ventral midline [developmental exposure]) thalamic pathology, as well as disruptions of thalamo-hippocampal and thalamo-cortical circuits. The final part of the review summarizes approaches to recover alcohol-related brain damage and cognitive and behavioral outcomes. These approaches include pharmacological, nutritional and behavioral interventions that demonstrated the potential to mitigate alcohol-related damage. In summary, the medial/midline thalamus is a significant contributor to cognition function, which is also sensitive to alcohol-related brain damage across the life span, and plays a role in alcohol-related cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Savage
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
| | - Polliana T Nunes
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Zachary H Gursky
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Katrina A Milbocker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Anna Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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8
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Anterior thalamic dysfunction underlies cognitive deficits in a subset of neuropsychiatric disease models. Neuron 2021; 109:2590-2603.e13. [PMID: 34197733 PMCID: PMC8376805 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders are often accompanied by cognitive impairments/intellectual disability (ID). It is not clear whether there are converging mechanisms underlying these debilitating impairments. We found that many autism and schizophrenia risk genes are expressed in the anterodorsal subdivision (AD) of anterior thalamic nuclei, which has reciprocal connectivity with learning and memory structures. CRISPR-Cas9 knockdown of multiple risk genes selectively in AD thalamus led to memory deficits. While the AD is necessary for contextual memory encoding, the neighboring anteroventral subdivision (AV) regulates memory specificity. These distinct functions of AD and AV are mediated through their projections to retrosplenial cortex, using differential mechanisms. Furthermore, knockdown of autism and schizophrenia risk genes PTCHD1, YWHAG, or HERC1 from AD led to neuronal hyperexcitability, and normalization of hyperexcitability rescued memory deficits in these models. This study identifies converging cellular to circuit mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits in a subset of neuropsychiatric disease models.
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9
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Safari V, Nategh M, Dargahi L, Zibaii ME, Khodagholi F, Rafiei S, Khatami L, Motamedi F. Individual Subnuclei of the Rat Anterior Thalamic Nuclei Differently affect Spatial Memory and Passive Avoidance Tasks. Neuroscience 2020; 444:19-32. [PMID: 32745505 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The role of the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) has been proven in different learning and memory tasks. The ATN consist of three main subnuclei, the anterodorsal (AD), anteroventral (AV) and anteromedial (AM), which have different biological characteristics such as distinct circuitry, cell population and neurotransmitter content. The role of ATN subnuclei in learning and memory has been shown in several studies. However, their probable role in different phases of memory including acquisition, consolidation and retrieval are not still well-known. For this purpose, the effect of reversible inactivation of each ATN subnucleus on different memory phases in two behavioral tasks including passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) was studied. Wister male rats were bilaterally implanted with cannulas above the AD, AV or AM subnucleus in separate experimental groups in order to inject lidocaine (4%) for their temporal inactivation or, equal volume of saline. Animals were trained in the behavioral tasks and different phases of memory were investigated. Our findings indicated that the AV inactivation strongly disrupts all memory phases in the MWM, and consolidation and retrieval phases in the PA tasks. The AM inactivation had no effect on acquisition of both tasks while it impaired the PA consolidation and MWM retrieval. However, the AD inactivation could not disrupt memory phases in the PA task but impaired the MWM retrieval. In conclusion, it seems that the ATN distinct subnuclei differently affect different phases of memory in these two tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vajihe Safari
- School of Cognitive Science, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), P.O. Box 1954851167, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Nategh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leila Dargahi
- Neuro Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Fariba Khodagholi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran; Neuro Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrbanoo Rafiei
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Khatami
- School of Cognitive Science, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), P.O. Box 1954851167, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Motamedi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran.
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10
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Cohan CH, Youbi M, Saul I, Ruiz AA, Furones CC, Patel P, Perez E, Raval AP, Dave KR, Zhao W, Dong C, Rundek T, Koch S, Sacco RL, Perez-Pinzon MA. Sex-Dependent Differences in Physical Exercise-Mediated Cognitive Recovery Following Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Aged Rats. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:261. [PMID: 31619985 PMCID: PMC6759590 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. No current treatments exist to promote cognitive recovery in survivors of stroke. A previous study from our laboratory determined that an acute bout of forced treadmill exercise was able to promote cognitive recovery in 3 month old male rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that 6 days of intense acute bout of forced treadmill exercise (physical exercise – PE) promotes cognitive recovery in 11–14 month old male rats. We determined that PE was able to ameliorate cognitive deficits as determined by contextual fear conditioning. Additionally, we also tested the hypothesis that PE promotes cognitive recovery in 11–13 month old reproductive senescent female rats. In contrast to males, the same intensity of exercise that decrease cognitive deficits in males was not able to promote cognitive recovery in female rats. Additionally, we determined that exercise did not lessen infarct volume in both male and female rats. There are many factors that contribute to higher stroke mortality and morbidities in women and thus, future studies will investigate the effects of PE in aged female rats to identify sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Cohan
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Mehdi Youbi
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Isabel Saul
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Alex A Ruiz
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Concepcion C Furones
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Pujan Patel
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Edwin Perez
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ami P Raval
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Kunjan R Dave
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Weizhao Zhao
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Chuanhui Dong
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Tatjana Rundek
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Sebastian Koch
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ralph L Sacco
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Miguel A Perez-Pinzon
- Peritz Scheinberg Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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Dillingham CM, Milczarek MM, Perry JC, Frost BE, Parker GD, Assaf Y, Sengpiel F, O'Mara SM, Vann SD. Mammillothalamic Disconnection Alters Hippocampocortical Oscillatory Activity and Microstructure: Implications for Diencephalic Amnesia. J Neurosci 2019; 39:6696-6713. [PMID: 31235646 PMCID: PMC6703878 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0827-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Diencephalic amnesia can be as debilitating as the more commonly known temporal lobe amnesia, yet the precise contribution of diencephalic structures to memory processes remains elusive. Across four cohorts of male rats, we used discrete lesions of the mammillothalamic tract to model aspects of diencephalic amnesia and assessed the impact of these lesions on multiple measures of activity and plasticity within the hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex. Lesions of the mammillothalamic tract had widespread indirect effects on hippocampocortical oscillatory activity within both theta and gamma bands. Both within-region oscillatory activity and cross-regional synchrony were altered. The network changes were state-dependent, displaying different profiles during locomotion and paradoxical sleep. Consistent with the associations between oscillatory activity and plasticity, complementary analyses using several convergent approaches revealed microstructural changes, which appeared to reflect a suppression of learning-induced plasticity in lesioned animals. Together, these combined findings suggest a mechanism by which damage to the medial diencephalon can impact upon learning and memory processes, highlighting an important role for the mammillary bodies in the coordination of hippocampocortical activity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Information flow within the Papez circuit is critical to memory. Damage to ascending mammillothalamic projections has consistently been linked to amnesia in humans and spatial memory deficits in animal models. Here we report on the changes in hippocampocortical oscillatory dynamics that result from chronic lesions of the mammillothalamic tract and demonstrate, for the first time, that the mammillary bodies, independently of the supramammillary region, contribute to frequency modulation of hippocampocortical theta oscillations. Consistent with the associations between oscillatory activity and plasticity, the lesions also result in a suppression of learning-induced plasticity. Together, these data support new functional models whereby mammillary bodies are important for coordinating hippocampocortical activity rather than simply being a relay of hippocampal information as previously assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Dillingham
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Michal M Milczarek
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - James C Perry
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Bethany E Frost
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Greg D Parker
- EMRIC, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Yaniv Assaf
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801, and
| | - Frank Sengpiel
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Shane M O'Mara
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Seralynne D Vann
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom,
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12
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Hall JM, Gomez-Pinilla F, Savage LM. Nerve Growth Factor Is Responsible for Exercise-Induced Recovery of Septohippocampal Cholinergic Structure and Function. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:773. [PMID: 30443202 PMCID: PMC6222249 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise has been shown to improve or rescue cognitive functioning in both humans and rodents, and the augmented actions of neurotrophins within the hippocampus and associated regions play a significant role in the improved neural plasticity. The septohippocampal circuit is modified by exercise. Beyond an enhancement of spatial working memory and a rescue of hippocampal activity-dependent acetylcholine (ACh) efflux, the re-emergence of the cholinergic/nestin neuronal phenotype within the medial septum/diagonal band (MS/dB) is observed following exercise (Hall and Savage, 2016). To determine which neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or nerve growth factor (NGF), is critical for exercise-induced cholinergic improvements, control and amnestic rats had either NGF or BDNF sequestered by TrkA-IgG or TrkB-IgG coated microbeads placed within the dorsal hippocampus. Hippocampal ACh release within the hippocampus during spontaneous alternation was measured and MS/dB cholinergic neuronal phenotypes were assessed. Sequestering NGF, but not BDNF, abolished the exercise-induced recovery of spatial working memory and ACh efflux. Furthermore, the re-emergence of the cholinergic/nestin neuronal phenotype within the MS/dB following exercise was also selectively dependent on the actions of NGF. Thus, exercise-induced enhancement of NGF within the septohippocampal pathway represents a key avenue for aiding failing septo-hippocampal functioning and therefore has significant potential for the recovery of memory and cognition in several neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Hall
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Fernando Gomez-Pinilla
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lisa M Savage
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
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13
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Thalamic Proteome Changes and Behavioral Impairments in Thiamine-deficient Rats. Neuroscience 2018; 385:181-197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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Barnett SC, Perry BAL, Dalrymple-Alford JC, Parr-Brownlie LC. Optogenetic stimulation: Understanding memory and treating deficits. Hippocampus 2018; 28:457-470. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S. C. Barnett
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch 8041 New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
| | - B. A. L. Perry
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch 8041 New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
| | - J. C. Dalrymple-Alford
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch 8041 New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute; Christchurch New Zealand
| | - L. C. Parr-Brownlie
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Science; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago; Dunedin New Zealand
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15
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Perry BAL, Mercer SA, Barnett SC, Lee J, Dalrymple-Alford JC. Anterior thalamic nuclei lesions have a greater impact than mammillothalamic tract lesions on the extended hippocampal system. Hippocampus 2017; 28:121-135. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brook A. L. Perry
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, co-hosted by Auckland and Otago Universities; Auckland New Zealand
| | - Stephanie A. Mercer
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Otago; Dunedin
- Brain Research New Zealand, co-hosted by Auckland and Otago Universities; Auckland New Zealand
| | - Sophie C. Barnett
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, co-hosted by Auckland and Otago Universities; Auckland New Zealand
| | - Jungah Lee
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch New Zealand
| | - John C. Dalrymple-Alford
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, co-hosted by Auckland and Otago Universities; Auckland New Zealand
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute; Christchurch New Zealand
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16
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Environmental Anchoring of Head Direction in a Computational Model of Retrosplenial Cortex. J Neurosci 2017; 36:11601-11618. [PMID: 27852770 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0516-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Allocentric (world-centered) spatial codes driven by path integration accumulate error unless reset by environmental sensory inputs that are necessarily egocentric (body-centered). Previous models of the head direction system avoided the necessary transformation between egocentric and allocentric reference frames by placing visual cues at infinity. Here we present a model of head direction coding that copes with exclusively proximal cues by making use of a conjunctive representation of head direction and location in retrosplenial cortex. Egocentric landmark bearing of proximal cues, which changes with location, is mapped onto this retrosplenial representation. The model avoids distortions due to parallax, which occur in simple models when a single proximal cue card is used, and can also accommodate multiple cues, suggesting how it can generalize to arbitrary sensory environments. It provides a functional account of the anatomical distribution of head direction cells along Papez' circuit, of place-by-direction coding in retrosplenial cortex, the anatomical connection from the anterior thalamic nuclei to retrosplenial cortex, and the involvement of retrosplenial cortex in navigation. In addition to parallax correction, the same mechanism allows for continuity of head direction coding between connected environments, and shows how a head direction representation can be stabilized by a single within arena cue. We also make predictions for drift during exploration of a new environment, the effects of hippocampal lesions on retrosplenial cells, and on head direction coding in differently shaped environments. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The activity of head direction cells signals the direction of an animal's head relative to landmarks in the world. Although driven by internal estimates of head movements, head direction cells must be kept aligned to the external world by sensory inputs, which arrive in the reference frame of the sensory receptors. We present a computational model, which proposes that sensory inputs are correctly associated to head directions by virtue of a conjunctive representation of place and head directions in the retrosplenial cortex. The model allows for a stable head direction signal, even when the sensory input from nearby cues changes dramatically whenever the animal moves to a different location, and enables stable representations of head direction across connected environments.
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17
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Ophir AG. Navigating Monogamy: Nonapeptide Sensitivity in a Memory Neural Circuit May Shape Social Behavior and Mating Decisions. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:397. [PMID: 28744194 PMCID: PMC5504236 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of memory in mating systems is often neglected despite the fact that most mating systems are defined in part by how animals use space. Monogamy, for example, is usually characterized by affiliative (e.g., pairbonding) and defensive (e.g., mate guarding) behaviors, but a high degree of spatial overlap in home range use is the easiest defining feature of monogamous animals in the wild. The nonapeptides vasopressin and oxytocin have been the focus of much attention for their importance in modulating social behavior, however this work has largely overshadowed their roles in learning and memory. To date, the understanding of memory systems and mechanisms governing social behavior have progressed relatively independently. Bridging these two areas will provide a deeper appreciation for understanding behavior, and in particular the mechanisms that mediate reproductive decision-making. Here, I argue that the ability to mate effectively as monogamous individuals is linked to the ability to track conspecifics in space. I discuss the connectivity across some well-known social and spatial memory nuclei, and propose that the nonapeptide receptors within these structures form a putative “socio-spatial memory neural circuit.” This purported circuit may function to integrate social and spatial information to shape mating decisions in a context-dependent fashion. The lateral septum and/or the nucleus accumbens, and neuromodulation therein, may act as an intermediary to relate socio-spatial information with social behavior. Identifying mechanisms responsible for relating information about the social world with mechanisms mediating mating tactics is crucial to fully appreciate the suite of factors driving reproductive decisions and social decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Ophir
- Department of Psychology, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, United States
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18
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Nunes PT, da Silva Oliveira P, Ferraz V, Ribeiro AM. Validation of a HPLC Method for Quantification of Thiamine and Its Phosphate Esters in Rat Brain Tissue. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.4236/jbbs.2017.72009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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19
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Uddin MS, Mamun AA, Iqbal MA, Islam A, Hossain MF, Khanum S, Rashid M. Analyzing Nootropic Effect of <i>Phyllanthus reticulatus</i> Poir. on Cognitive Functions, Brain Antioxidant Enzymes and Acetylcholinesterase Activity against Aluminium-Induced Alzheimer’s Model in Rats: Applicable for Controlling the Risk Factors of Alzheimer’s Disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.4236/aad.2016.53007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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20
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Bueno K, de Souza Resende L, Ribeiro A, dos Santos D, Gonçalves E, Vigil F, de Oliveira Silva I, Ferreira L, de Castro Pimenta A, Ribeiro A. Spatial cognitive deficits in an animal model of Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome are related to changes in thalamic VDAC protein concentrations. Neuroscience 2015; 294:29-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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21
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Mair RG, Miller RLA, Wormwood BA, Francoeur MJ, Onos KD, Gibson BM. The neurobiology of thalamic amnesia: Contributions of medial thalamus and prefrontal cortex to delayed conditional discrimination. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 54:161-74. [PMID: 25616180 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although medial thalamus is well established as a site of pathology associated with global amnesia, there is uncertainty about which structures are critical and how they affect memory function. Evidence from human and animal research suggests that damage to the mammillothalamic tract and the anterior, mediodorsal (MD), midline (M), and intralaminar (IL) nuclei contribute to different signs of thalamic amnesia. Here we focus on MD and the adjacent M and IL nuclei, structures identified in animal studies as critical nodes in prefrontal cortex (PFC)-related pathways that are necessary for delayed conditional discrimination. Recordings of PFC neurons in rats performing a dynamic delayed non-matching-to position (DNMTP) task revealed discrete populations encoding information related to planning, execution, and outcome of DNMTP-related actions and delay-related activity signaling previous reinforcement. Parallel studies recording the activity of MD and IL neurons and examining the effects of unilateral thalamic inactivation on the responses of PFC neurons demonstrated a close coupling of central thalamic and PFC neurons responding to diverse aspects of DNMTP and provide evidence that thalamus interacts with PFC neurons to give rise to complex goal-directed behavior exemplified by the DNMTP task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert G Mair
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States.
| | - Rikki L A Miller
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States
| | - Benjamin A Wormwood
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States
| | - Miranda J Francoeur
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States
| | - Kristen D Onos
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States
| | - Brett M Gibson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States
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22
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Cassel JC, Pereira de Vasconcelos A, Loureiro M, Cholvin T, Dalrymple-Alford JC, Vertes RP. The reuniens and rhomboid nuclei: neuroanatomy, electrophysiological characteristics and behavioral implications. Prog Neurobiol 2013; 111:34-52. [PMID: 24025745 PMCID: PMC4975011 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The reuniens and rhomboid nuclei, located in the ventral midline of the thalamus, have long been regarded as having non-specific effects on the cortex, while other evidence suggests that they influence behavior related to the photoperiod, hunger, stress or anxiety. We summarise the recent anatomical, electrophysiological and behavioral evidence that these nuclei also influence cognitive processes. The first part of this review describes the reciprocal connections of the reuniens and rhomboid nuclei with the medial prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. The connectivity pattern among these structures is consistent with the idea that these ventral midline nuclei represent a nodal hub to influence prefrontal-hippocampal interactions. The second part describes the effects of a stimulation or blockade of the ventral midline thalamus on cortical and hippocampal electrophysiological activity. The final part summarizes recent literature supporting the emerging view that the reuniens and rhomboid nuclei may contribute to learning, memory consolidation and behavioral flexibility, in addition to general behavior and aspects of metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Cassel
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, UMR 7364, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Faculté de Psychologie, Neuropôle de Strasbourg GDR 2905 du CNRS, 12 rue Goethe, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
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23
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Thiamine deficiency induced neurochemical, neuroanatomical, and neuropsychological alterations: a reappraisal. ScientificWorldJournal 2013; 2013:309143. [PMID: 24235882 PMCID: PMC3818926 DOI: 10.1155/2013/309143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutritional deficiency can cause, mainly in chronic alcoholic subjects, the Wernicke encephalopathy and its chronic neurological sequela, the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). Long-term chronic ethanol abuse results in hippocampal and cortical cell loss. Thiamine deficiency also alters principally hippocampal- and frontal cortical-dependent neurochemistry; moreover in WKS patients, important pathological damage to the diencephalon can occur. In fact, the amnesic syndrome typical for WKS is mainly due to the damage in the diencephalic-hippocampal circuitry, including thalamic nuclei and mammillary bodies. The loss of cholinergic cells in the basal forebrain region results in decreased cholinergic input to the hippocampus and the cortex and reduced choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities and function, as well as in acetylcholine receptor downregulation within these brain regions. In this narrative review, we will focus on the neurochemical, neuroanatomical, and neuropsychological studies shedding light on the effects of thiamine deficiency in experimental models and in humans.
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24
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Mendez-Lopez M, Arias JL, Bontempi B, Wolff M. Reduced cytochrome oxidase activity in the retrosplenial cortex after lesions to the anterior thalamic nuclei. Behav Brain Res 2013; 250:264-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.04.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Revised: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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25
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A role for anterior thalamic nuclei in contextual fear memory. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:1575-86. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-013-0586-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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26
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Law LM, Smith DM. The anterior thalamus is critical for overcoming interference in a context-dependent odor discrimination task. Behav Neurosci 2013; 126:710-9. [PMID: 23025833 DOI: 10.1037/a0029698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The anterior thalamus (AT) is anatomically interconnected with the hippocampus and other structures known to be involved in memory, and the AT is involved in many of the same learning and memory functions as the hippocampus. For example, like the hippocampus, the AT is involved in spatial cognition and episodic memory. The hippocampus also has a well-documented role in contextual memory processes, but it is not known whether the AT is similarly involved in contextual memory. In the present study, we assessed the role of the AT in contextual memory processes by temporarily inactivating the AT and training rats on a recently developed context-based olfactory list learning task, which was designed to assess the use of contextual information to resolve interference. Rats were trained on one list of odor discrimination problems, followed by training on a second list in either the same context or a different context. In order to induce interference, some of the odors appeared on both lists with their predictive value reversed. Control rats that learned the two lists in different contexts performed significantly better than rats that learned the two lists in the same context. However, AT lesions completely abolished this contextual learning advantage, a result that is very similar to the effects of hippocampal inactivation. These findings demonstrate that the AT, like the hippocampus, is involved in contextual memory and suggest that the hippocampus and AT are part of a functional circuit involved in contextual memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Matthew Law
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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27
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Dupire A, Kant P, Mons N, Marchand AR, Coutureau E, Dalrymple-Alford J, Wolff M. A role for anterior thalamic nuclei in affective cognition: Interaction with environmental conditions. Hippocampus 2013; 23:392-404. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Revised: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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28
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Savage LM, Hall JM, Resende LS. Translational rodent models of Korsakoff syndrome reveal the critical neuroanatomical substrates of memory dysfunction and recovery. Neuropsychol Rev 2012; 22:195-209. [PMID: 22528861 PMCID: PMC5113815 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-012-9194-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Investigation of the amnesic disorder Korsakoff Syndrome (KS) has been vital in elucidating the critical brain regions involved in learning and memory. Although the thalamus and mammillary bodies are the primary sites of neuropathology in KS, functional deactivation of the hippocampus and certain cortical regions also contributes to the chronic cognitive dysfunction reported in KS. The rodent pyrithiamine-induced thiamine deficiency (PTD) model has been used to study the extent of hippocampal and cortical neuroadaptations in KS. In the PTD model, the hippocampus, frontal and retrosplenial cortical regions display loss of cholinergic innervation, decreases in behaviorally stimulated acetylcholine release and reductions in neurotrophins. While PTD treatment results in significant impairment in measures of spatial learning and memory, other cognitive processes are left intact and may be recruited to improve cognitive outcome. In addition, behavioral recovery can be stimulated in the PTD model by increasing acetylcholine levels in the medial septum, hippocampus and frontal cortex, but not in the retrosplenial cortex. These data indicate that although the hippocampus and frontal cortex are involved in the pathogenesis of KS, these regions retain neuroplasticity and may be critical targets for improving cognitive outcome in KS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Savage
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
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