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Lau Zajaczkowski E, Zhao Q, Liau WS, Gong H, Umanda Madugalle S, Periyakaruppiah A, Jane Leighton L, Musgrove M, Ren H, Davies J, Robert Marshall P, William Bredy T. Localised Cdr1as activity is required for fear extinction memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023:107777. [PMID: 37257557 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107777] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) comprise a novel class of regulatory RNAs that are abundant in the brain, particularly within synapses. They are highly stable, dynamically regulated, and display a range of functions, including serving as decoys for microRNAs and proteins and, in some cases, circRNAs also undergo translation. Early work in animal models revealed an association between circRNAs and neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders; however, little is known about the link between circRNA function and memory. To address this, we examined circRNA in synaptosomes derived from the medial prefrontal cortex of fear extinction-trained male C57BL/6J mice and found 12837 circRNAs that were enriched at the synapse, including cerebellar degeneration-related protein 1 antisense RNA (Cdr1as). Targeted knockdown of Cdr1as in the neural processes of the infralimbic cortex led to impaired fear extinction memory. These findings highlight the involvement of localised circRNA activity at the synapse in memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmi Lau Zajaczkowski
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Qiongyi Zhao
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Wei-Siang Liau
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hao Gong
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Ambika Periyakaruppiah
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Laura Jane Leighton
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mason Musgrove
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haobin Ren
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joshua Davies
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Robert Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Genome Sciences and Cancer Division & Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Timothy William Bredy
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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2
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The lifetime impact of stress on fear regulation and cortical function. Neuropharmacology 2023; 224:109367. [PMID: 36464208 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
A variety of stressful experiences can influence the ability to form and subsequently inhibit fear memory. While nonsocial stress can impact fear learning and memory throughout the lifespan, psychosocial stressors that involve negative social experiences or changes to the social environment have a disproportionately high impact during adolescence. Here, we review converging lines of evidence that suggest that development of prefrontal cortical circuitry necessary for both social experiences and fear learning is altered by stress exposure in a way that impacts both social and fear behaviors throughout the lifespan. Further, we suggest that psychosocial stress, through its impact on the prefrontal cortex, may be especially detrimental during early developmental periods characterized by higher sociability. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Fear, Anxiety and PTSD'.
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Zaizar ED, Papini S, O'Connor P, Telch MJ. Impact of cannabidiol-rich hemp extract oil on reconsolidation disruption of naturalistic interoceptive aversive memory in humans: Protocol for a randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2022; 119:106847. [PMID: 35811050 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106847] [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: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical experiments with rodents demonstrate that cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychotomimetic constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant, disrupts reconsolidation of aversive memories conditioned in the laboratory when administered within the memory reconsolidation window (< 6 h. post-retrieval) by indirectly activating cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Based on these findings, we aim to test whether administration of 300 mg CBD-rich hemp extract oil following fear reactivation of an aversive interoceptive threat memory can disrupt reconsolidation of naturalistic aversive memories in humans. More specifically, naturalistic interoceptive aversive memories, a form of transdiagnostic fear memory that contributes to the pathogenesis of fear-related disorders such as panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and illness anxiety disorder. METHODS For this proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled double-blind trial, volunteers (n = 99) reporting elevated fears of somatic sensations will be stratified on biological sex and randomized to one of three intervention arms: (a). CBD-rich oil administered within the reconsolidation window, (b) Placebo oil administered within the reconsolidation window; or (c) CBD-rich oil administered outside of the reconsolidation window. Change in emotional reactivity to a 35% CO2 challenge from baseline to two-week follow-up will serve as our primary outcome. CONCLUSION Study findings may contribute towards the development of a novel brief transdiagnostic intervention guided by reconsolidation theory for individuals prone to fear-related psychiatric disorders. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04726475.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Zaizar
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, USA; Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
| | - Santiago Papini
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, USA
| | - Patrick O'Connor
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
| | - Michael J Telch
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, USA; Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, USA.
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4
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Seno FZ, Sgobbi RF, Nobre MJ. Contributions of the GABAergic system of the prelimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala to morphine withdrawal-induced contextual fear. Physiol Behav 2022; 254:113868. [PMID: 35724926 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Morphine withdrawal can trigger disruptions in neuronal pathways involved in the modulation and expression of anxiety and fear-related behaviors, particularly those involved in associative learning. When it comes to contextual fear, specific subdivisions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regulate the expression of defensive behaviors through projections to specific amygdala (AM) nuclei, such as the prelimbic cortex (PrL). The basolateral nucleus (BLA) of the AM has been shown to be involved in the modulation and expression of associative memories of fear, including those associated with opiate withdrawal-related aversive events. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of GABA mechanisms in the PrL and BLA in startle potentiation and freezing behavior caused by morphine-precipitated withdrawal. Our findings show that morphine withdrawal promotes the emergence of contextual conditioned fear in animals when they are exposed to the same environment where the withdrawal sessions were performed. This suggests that the neural circuits underlying the organism's response to conditioned stressors and the circuits modulating the negative affective states induced by drug withdrawal may overlap. The pharmacological manipulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the PrL and BLA can reverse contextual fear in morphine-withdrawn rats, an effect that appears to be mediated, at least in part, by GABAA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Z Seno
- Departamento de Psicologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - R F Sgobbi
- Departamento de Psicologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - M J Nobre
- Departamento de Psicologia, Uni-FACEF, 14401-135, Franca, SP, Brasil; Departamento de Psicologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
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5
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Awad W, Kritman M, Ferreira G, Maroun M. Differential Recruitment of the Infralimbic Cortex in Recent and Remote Retrieval and Extinction of Aversive Memory in Post-Weanling Rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 25:489-497. [PMID: 35134947 PMCID: PMC9211009 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously showed that the infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (IL-mPFC) plays an important role in recent and remote memory retrieval and extinction of conditioned odor aversion (COA) and contextual fear conditioning (CFC) in adult rats. Because the mPFC undergoes maturation during post-weaning, here, we aimed to explore (1) whether post-weanling rats can form recent and remote COA and CFC memory, and (2) the role of the IL-mPFC in mediating these processes. METHODS To investigate the retrieval process, we transiently inactivated the IL-mPFC with lidocaine prior to the retrieval test at either recent or remote time points. To target the consolidation process, we applied the protein synthesis inhibitor after the retrieval at recent or remote time points. RESULTS Our results show that the post-weanling animals were able to develop both recent and remote memory of both COA and CFC. IL-mPFC manipulations had no effect on retrieval or extinction of recent and remote COA memory, suggesting that the IL has no effect in COA at this developmental stage. In contrast, the IL-mPFC played a role in (1) the extinction of recent, but not remote, CFC memory, and (2) the retrieval of remote, but not recent, CFC memory. Moreover, remote, but not recent, CFC retrieval enhanced c-Fos protein expression in the IL-mPFC. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these results point to a differential role of the IL-mPFC in recent and remote CFC memory retrieval and extinction and further confirm the differences in the role of IL-mPFC in these processes in post-weanling and adult animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mouna Maroun
- Correspondence: Mouna Maroun, PhD, Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 31095, Israel ()
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Medial prefrontal cortex mechanisms of cannabidiol-induced aversive memory reconsolidation impairments. Neuropharmacology 2021; 205:108913. [PMID: 34864001 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that cannabidiol (CBD), a substance present in the Cannabis sativa plant, has potential therapeutic value to regulate abnormal emotional memories associated with post-traumatic stress and drug use disorders. CBD can attenuate their valence after retrieval (i.e., during reconsolidation) or potentiate their suppression by extinction. Pharmacological research has now focused on elucidating how it acts. Systemic antagonism of cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors has often prevented the abovementioned effects of CBD. However, it is unknown in which brain regions CBD stimulates CB1 receptors and how it interferes with local activity-related plasticity to produce these effects. The present study addressed these questions considering the reconsolidation of contextual fear memories in rats. We focused on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which comprises the anterior cingulate (AC), prelimbic (PL), and infralimbic (IL) subregions, as local activity or plasticity has been associated with the process to-be-investigated. Animals that received post-retrieval systemic CBD treatment presented relatively fewer cells expressing Zif268/Egr1 protein, a proxy for synaptic plasticity related to reconsolidation, in the AC and PL. At the same time, there were no significant differences in the IL. Pretreatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 into the AC, PL, or IL prevented the impairing effects of systemic CBD treatment on reconsolidation. CBD also caused reconsolidation impairments when injected directly into the AC or PL but not the IL. Together, these findings show complementary mechanisms through which CBD may hinder the reconsolidation of destabilized aversive memories along the dorsoventral axis of the mPFC.
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7
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Ahmadi-Mahmoodabadi N, Emamghoreishi M, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. The bidirectional effect of prelimbic 5-hydroxytryptamine type-4 (5-HT4) receptors on ACPA-mediated aversive memory impairment in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021; 24:726-733. [PMID: 34630949 PMCID: PMC8487599 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2021.49501.11317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed at investigating the effect of serotonergic 5-HT4 receptor agonist/antagonist on memory consolidation deficit induced by ACPA (a potent, selective CB1 cannabinoid receptor agonist) in the pre-limbic (PL) cortex. Materials and Methods We used the step-through passive avoidance test to evaluate memory consolidation of male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Bilateral post-training microinjections of the drugs were done in a volume of 0.6 μl/rat into the PL area (0.3 μl per side). Results The results showed a significant interaction between RS67333 hydrochloride (5-HT4 receptor agonist) or RS23597-190 hydrochloride (5-HT4 receptor antagonist) and ACPA on consolidation of aversive memory. RS67333 hydrochloride (0.5 μg/rat) enhanced consolidation of memory and its co-administration at the ineffective dose of 0.005 μg/rat with ineffective (0.001 μg/rat) or effective (0.1 μg/rat) doses of ACPA improved and prevented impairment of memory caused by ACPA, respectively. In other words, RS67333 had a bidirectional effect on ACPA-caused amnesia. While RS23597-190 hydrochloride had no effect on memory at the doses used (0.005, 0.01, 0.1, or 0.5 μg/rat); but its concomitant use with an effective dose of ACPA (0.1 μg/rat) potentiated amnesia. None of the drugs had an effect on locomotor activity. Conclusion This study revealed that activation or deactivation of the 5-HT4 receptors in the PL may mediate the IA memory impairment induced by ACPA indicating a modulatory role for the 5-HT4 serotonergic receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nargol Ahmadi-Mahmoodabadi
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Basic Sciences, Campus of Shahid Bahonar, Farhangian University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Emamghoreishi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.,Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.,Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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de Sousa AF, Chowdhury A, Silva AJ. Dimensions and mechanisms of memory organization. Neuron 2021; 109:2649-2662. [PMID: 34242564 PMCID: PMC8416710 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Memory formation is dynamic in nature, and acquisition of new information is often influenced by previous experiences. Memories sharing certain attributes are known to interact so that retrieval of one increases the likelihood of retrieving the other, raising the possibility that related memories are organized into associative mnemonic structures of interconnected representations. Although the formation and retrieval of single memories have been studied extensively, very little is known about the brain mechanisms that organize and link related memories. Here we review studies that suggest the existence of mnemonic structures in humans and animal models. These studies suggest three main dimensions of experience that can serve to organize related memories: time, space, and perceptual/conceptual similarities. We propose potential molecular, cellular, and systems mechanisms that might support organization of memories according to these dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- André F de Sousa
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ananya Chowdhury
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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9
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Chaaya N, Wang J, Jacques A, Beecher K, Chaaya M, Battle AR, Johnson LR, Chehrehasa F, Belmer A, Bartlett SE. Contextual Fear Memory Maintenance Changes Expression of pMAPK, BDNF and IBA-1 in the Pre-limbic Cortex in a Layer-Specific Manner. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:660199. [PMID: 34295224 PMCID: PMC8291085 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.660199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating and chronic fear-based disorder. Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols have long been utilised to manipulate and study these fear-based disorders. Contextual fear conditioning (CFC) is a particular Pavlovian conditioning procedure that pairs fear with a particular context. Studies on the neural mechanisms underlying the development of contextual fear memories have identified the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), or more specifically, the pre-limbic cortex (PL) of the mPFC as essential for the expression of contextual fear. Despite this, little research has explored the role of the PL in contextual fear memory maintenance or examined the role of neuronal mitogen-activated protein kinase (pMAPK; ERK 1/2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and IBA-1 in microglia in the PL as a function of Pavlovian fear conditioning. The current study was designed to evaluate how the maintenance of two different long-term contextual fear memories leads to changes in the number of immune-positive cells for two well-known markers of neural activity (phosphorylation of MAPK and BDNF) and microglia (IBA-1). Therefore, the current experiment is designed to assess the number of immune-positive pMAPK and BDNF cells, microglial number, and morphology in the PL following CFC. Specifically, 2 weeks following conditioning, pMAPK, BDNF, and microglia number and morphology were evaluated using well-validated antibodies and immunohistochemistry (n = 12 rats per group). A standard CFC protocol applied to rats led to increases in pMAPK, BDNF expression and microglia number as compared to control conditions. Rats in the unpaired fear conditioning (UFC) procedure, despite having equivalent levels of fear to context, did not have any change in pMAPK, BDNF expression and microglia number in the PL compared to the control conditions. These data suggest that alterations in the expression of pMAPK, BDNF, and microglia in the PL can occur for up to 2 weeks following CFC. Together the data suggest that MAPK, BDNF, and microglia within the PL of the mPFC may play a role in contextual fear memory maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chaaya
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Joshua Wang
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela Jacques
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate Beecher
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael Chaaya
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew Raymond Battle
- Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, USU School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fatemeh Chehrehasa
- Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Selena E Bartlett
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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10
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Yang J, Sun J, Lu Y, An T, Lu W, Wang JH. Revision to psychopharmacology mRNA and microRNA profiles are associated with stress susceptibility and resilience induced by psychological stress in the prefrontal cortex. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:3067-3093. [PMID: 32591938 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05593-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The prefrontal cortex is associated with many mental neurological diseases. The mRNA and microRNA profiles of stress susceptibility and resilience induced by psychological stress in the prefrontal cortex remain to be elucidated. METHODS The C57 observer was placed in the cage next to the CD1 mouse and suffered psychological stress by watching the CD1 attacking another C57 mouse. After 5 days of psychological stress, the degree of fear memory and anxiety of mice were measured by social interaction test and elevated plus maze (EPM). The prefrontal cortex was extracted and mRNA and microRNA profiles were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. RESULTS In susceptible mice versus resilient mice, the downregulation of genes involved in serotonergic synapse may be related to the susceptibility to psychological stress. The imbalanced regulation of genes involved in VEGF, p53, chemokine, Ras, sphingolipid, GnRH, MAPK, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways may be related to the susceptibility to psychological stress. Compared with control mice, susceptible mice and resilient mice have changed genes involved in serotonergic synapse, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, axon guidance, calcium, cAMP, GnRH, estrogen, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, Rap1, and Ras signaling pathways, these changes may be related to psychological stress processing. The sequencing results of mRNAs and microRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR and dual-luciferase reporter assay. CONCLUSIONS The downregulation of genes involved in serotonergic synapse and imbalance of signaling pathways in the prefrontal cortex may be related to susceptibility to psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuyong Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China
| | - Jinyan Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China
| | - Yanjun Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China
| | - Tingting An
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China.
| | - Jin-Hui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,Institute of Biophysics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China.
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11
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Infralimbic cortex controls fear memory generalization and susceptibility to extinction during consolidation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15827. [PMID: 32985565 PMCID: PMC7522076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72856-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Lesioning or inactivating the infralimbic (IL) subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex before acquisition produces more generalized and extinction-resistant fear memories. However, whether and how it modulates memory specificity and extinction susceptibility while consolidation takes place is still unknown. The present study aims to investigate these questions using muscimol-induced temporary inactivation and anisomycin-induced protein synthesis inhibition in the rat IL following contextual fear conditioning. Results indicate that the IL activity immediately after acquisition, but not six hours later, controls memory generalization over a week, regardless of its strength. Such IL function depends on the context-shock pairing since muscimol induced no changes in animals exposed to immediate shocks or the conditioning context only. Animals in which the IL was inactivated during consolidation extinguished similarly to controls within the session but were unable to recall the extinction memory the following day. Noteworthy, these post-acquisition IL inactivation-induced effects were not associated with changes in anxiety, as assessed in the elevated plus-maze test. Anisomycin results indicate that the IL protein synthesis during consolidation contributes more to producing extinction-sensitive fear memories than memory specificity. Collectively, present results provide evidence for the IL's role in controlling generalization and susceptibility to extinction during fear memory consolidation.
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12
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Effects of ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on aversive memories and anxiety: a review from human studies. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:420. [PMID: 32842985 PMCID: PMC7448997 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02813-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may stem from the formation of aberrant and enduring aversive memories. Some PTSD patients have recreationally used Cannabis, probably aiming at relieving their symptomatology. However, it is still largely unknown whether and how Cannabis or its psychotomimetic compound Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) attenuates the aversive/traumatic memory outcomes. Here, we seek to review and discuss the effects of THC on aversive memory extinction and anxiety in healthy humans and PTSD patients. METHODS Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Central Register for Controlled Trials databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed published studies and randomized controlled trials in humans published in English between 1974 and July 2020, including those using only THC and THC combined with cannabidiol (CBD). The effect size of the experimental intervention under investigation was calculated. RESULTS At low doses, THC can enhance the extinction rate and reduce anxiety responses. Both effects involve the activation of cannabinoid type-1 receptors in discrete components of the corticolimbic circuitry, which could couterbalance the low "endocannabinoid tonus" reported in PTSD patients. The advantage of associating CBD with THC to attenuate anxiety while minimizing the potential psychotic or anxiogenic effect produced by high doses of THC has been reported. The effects of THC either alone or combined with CBD on aversive memory reconsolidation, however, are still unknown. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence from healthy humans and PTSD patients supports the THC value to suppress anxiety and aversive memory expression without producing significant adverse effects if used in low doses or when associated with CBD. Future studies are guaranteed to address open questions related to their dose ratios, administration routes, pharmacokinetic interactions, sex-dependent differences, and prolonged efficacy.
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13
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da Silva TR, Sohn JMB, Andreatini R, Stern CA. The role of prelimbic and anterior cingulate cortices in fear memory reconsolidation and persistence depends on the memory age. Learn Mem 2020; 27:292-300. [PMID: 32669384 PMCID: PMC7365014 DOI: 10.1101/lm.051615.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Reconsolidation is a time-limited process under which reactivated memory content can be modified. Works focused on studying reconsolidation mainly restrict intervention to the moments immediately after reactivation and to recently acquired memories. However, the brain areas activated during memory retrieval depend on when it was acquired, and it is relatively unknown how different brain sites contribute to reconsolidation and persistence of reactivated recent and remote fear memories. Here, we sought to investigate the participation of prelimbic (PL) and anterior cingulate cortices (ACC) in recent (1 d old) and remote (21 d old) fear memory reconsolidation and persistence. Male Wistar rats were submitted to the contextual fear conditioning protocol. Tamoxifen (TMX), an estrogen receptor modulator known to inhibit protein kinase C activity was used to interfere with these processes. When infused into the PL cortex, but not into the ACC, TMX administration immediately or 6 h after recent fear memory reactivation impaired memory reconsolidation and persistence, respectively. TMX administered immediately after remote memory reactivation impaired memory reconsolidation when infused into the PL cortex and ACC. However, remote memory persistence was only affected when TMX was infused 6 h after memory reactivation into the ACC and no effect was observed when TMX was infused 6 h after memory reactivation into PL cortex. Together, the findings provide further evidence on the participation of PL cortex and ACC in reconsolidation of recent and remote fear memories and suggest that the persistence of a reactivated fear memory becomes independent on the PL cortex with memory age and dependent on the ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roberto Andreatini
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 81531-980, Brazil
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14
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Kuiper LB, Lucas KA, Mai V, Coolen LM. Enhancement of Drug Seeking Following Drug Taking in a Sexual Context Requires Anterior Cingulate Cortex Activity in Male Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:87. [PMID: 32670029 PMCID: PMC7330085 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00087] [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: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual variance in vulnerability to develop addictions is influenced by social factors. Specifically, drug-taking in a sexual context appears to enhance further drug-seeking behavior in human users, as these users identify the effects of drugs to enhance sexual pleasure as a primary reason for continued drug use. Methamphetamine (Meth) is commonly used in this context. Similarly, male rats that self-administered Meth immediately followed by sexual behavior display enhanced drug-seeking behavior, including attenuation of extinction and increased reinstatement to seeking of Meth-associated cues. Hence, drug-taking in a sexual context enhances vulnerability for addiction. However, the neural mechanisms by which this occurs are unknown. Here the hypothesis was tested that medial prefrontal cortex is essential for this effect of Meth and sex when experienced concurrently. First it was shown that CaMKII neurons in the anterior cingulate area (ACA) were co-activated by both Meth and sex. Next, chemogenetic inactivation of ACA CaMKII cells using AAV5-CaMKIIa-hM4Di-mCherry was shown not to affect Meth-induced locomotor activity or sexual behavior. Subsequently, chemogenetic inactivation of ACA CaMKII neurons during Meth self-administration followed by sexual behavior was shown to prevent the effects of Meth and sex on enhanced reinstatement of Meth-seeking but did not affect enhanced drug-seeking during extinction tests. These results indicate that ACA CaMKII cell activation during exposure to Meth in a sexual context plays an essential role in the subsequent enhancement of drug-seeking during reinstatement tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey B Kuiper
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Kathryn A Lucas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Vy Mai
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Lique M Coolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
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15
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Differential Alterations in Cortico-Amygdala Circuitry in Mice with Impaired Fear Extinction. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:710-721. [PMID: 31463877 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01741-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
129S1/SvImJ (S1) mice exhibit selective impairments in fear extinction, though the mechanisms underlying these impairments are not fully understood. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) consists of the prelimbic cortex (PL) and infralimbic cortex (IL), which are known to be involved in fear conditioning and extinction, respectively. The PL and IL project to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) that also plays an important role in both mechanisms. In the present study, we utilized optogenetic and electrophysiological approaches to measure inhibitory/excitatory ratios (I/E ratios) in mPFC-BLA circuits of S1 and control C57BL/6 (B6) mice following fear conditioning and extinction. As suggested previously, PL inputs to the BLA became more excitatory after fear conditioning in B6 mice. S1 mice also exhibited strengthened PL-BLA circuit following fear conditioning. Interestingly, fear extinction restored PL-BLA circuit strength to levels comparable to the baseline in B6 mice. However, PL-BLA circuit strength remained abnormally high even after extinction in S1 mice. The IL-BLA circuit became more inhibitory in B6 mice after fear extinction, whereas extinction failed to change the excitability of the IL-BLA circuit in S1 mice. These data suggest that the fear extinction impairments observed in S1 mice may be due to constantly decreased I/E balance in the PL-BLA circuit and lack of changes in I/E balance in the IL-BLA circuit. This further suggests that investigation of both pathways is instrumental in developing more effective therapeutics for psychopathologies that involve impairments in fear extinction, such as chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder.
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16
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de la Fuente V, Medina C, Falasco G, Urrutia L, Kravitz AV, Urbano FJ, Vázquez S, Pedreira ME, Romano A. The lateral neocortex is critical for contextual fear memory reconsolidation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12157. [PMID: 31434945 PMCID: PMC6704072 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48340-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Memories are a product of the concerted activity of many brain areas. Deregulation of consolidation and reprocessing of mnemonic traces that encode fearful experiences might result in fear-related psychopathologies. Here, we assessed how pre-established memories change with experience, particularly the labilization/reconsolidation of memory, using the whole-brain analysis technique of positron emission tomography in male mice. We found differences in glucose consumption in the lateral neocortex, hippocampus and amygdala in mice that underwent labilization/reconsolidation processes compared to animals that did not reactivate a fear memory. We used chemogenetics to obtain insight into the role of cortical areas in these phases of memory and found that the lateral neocortex is necessary for fear memory reconsolidation. Inhibition of lateral neocortex during reconsolidation altered glucose consumption levels in the amygdala. Using an optogenetic/neuronal recording-based strategy we observed that the lateral neocortex is functionally connected with the amygdala, which, along with retrograde labeling using fluorophore-conjugated cholera toxin subunit B, support a monosynaptic connection between these areas and poses this connection as a hot-spot in the circuits involved in reactivation of fear memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica de la Fuente
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Candela Medina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Germán Falasco
- Centro de Imágenes Moleculares, Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Urrutia
- Centro de Imágenes Moleculares, Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney and Digestive Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Francisco J Urbano
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia Vázquez
- Centro de Imágenes Moleculares, Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Pedreira
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Arturo Romano
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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17
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Troyner F, Bicca MA, Bertoglio LJ. Nucleus reuniens of the thalamus controls fear memory intensity, specificity and long-term maintenance during consolidation. Hippocampus 2019; 28:602-616. [PMID: 29747244 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The thalamic nucleus reuniens (NR) has been shown to support bidirectional medial prefrontal cortex-hippocampus communication and synchronization relevant for cognitive processing. Using non-selective or prolonged inactivation of the NR, previous studies reported its activity positively modulates aversive memory consolidation. Here we examined the NR's role in consolidating contextual fear memories with varied strength, at both recent and more remote time points, using muscimol-induced temporary inactivation in rats. Results indicate the NR negatively modulates fear memory intensity, specificity, and long-term maintenance. The more intense, generalized, and enduring fear memory induced by NR inactivation during consolidation was less prone to behavioral suppression by extinction or reconsolidation disruption induced by clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist. Lastly, we used immunohistochemistry for Arc protein, which is involved in synaptic modifications underlying memory consolidation, to investigate whether treatment condition and/or conditioning status could change its levels not only in the NR, but also in the hippocampus (dorsal and ventral CA1 subregions) and the medial prefrontal cortex (anterior cingulate, prelimbic and infralimbic subregions). Results indicate a significant imbalance in the number of Arc-expressing neurons in the brain areas investigated in muscimol fear conditioned animals when compared with controls. Collectively, present results provide convergent evidence for the NR's role as a hub regulating quantitative and qualitative aspects of a contextual fear memory during its consolidation that seem to influence the subsequent susceptibility to experimental interventions aiming at attenuating its expression. They also indicate the selectivity and duration of a given inactivation approach may influence its outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Troyner
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Maíra A Bicca
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
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18
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Cahill EN, Milton AL. Neurochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the retrieval-extinction effect. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:111-132. [PMID: 30656364 PMCID: PMC6373198 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5121-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Extinction within the reconsolidation window, or 'retrieval-extinction', has received much research interest as a possible technique for targeting the reconsolidation of maladaptive memories with a behavioural intervention. However, it remains to be determined whether the retrieval-extinction effect-a long-term reduction in fear behaviour, which appears resistant to spontaneous recovery, renewal and reinstatement-depends specifically on destabilisation of the original memory (the 'reconsolidation-update' account) or represents facilitation of an extinction memory (the 'extinction-facilitation' account). We propose that comparing the neurotransmitter systems, receptors and intracellular signalling pathways recruited by reconsolidation, extinction and retrieval-extinction will provide a way of distinguishing between these accounts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma N. Cahill
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, CB2 3EG UK
| | - Amy L. Milton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, CB2 3EB UK ,Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Cambridge, CB2 3EB UK
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19
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Corches A, Hiroto A, Bailey TW, Speigel JH, Pastore J, Mayford M, Korzus E. Differential fear conditioning generates prefrontal neural ensembles of safety signals. Behav Brain Res 2018; 360:169-184. [PMID: 30502356 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Fear discrimination is critical for survival, while fear generalization is effective for avoiding dangerous situations. Overgeneralized fear is a typical symptom of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous research demonstrated that fear discrimination learning is mediated by prefrontal mechanisms. While the prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) subdivisions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are recognized for their excitatory and inhibitory effects on the fear circuit, respectively, the mechanisms driving fear discrimination are unidentified. To obtain insight into the mechanisms underlying context-specific fear discrimination, we investigated prefrontal neuronal ensembles representing distinct experiences associated with learning to disambiguate between dangerous and similar, but not identical, harmless stimuli. Here, we show distinct quantitative activation differences in response to conditioned and generalized fear experiences, as well as modulation of the neuronal ensembles associated with successful acquisition of context-safety contingencies. These findings suggest that prefrontal neuronal ensembles patterns code functional context-danger and context-safety relationships. The PL subdivision of the mPFC monitors context-danger associations to conditioned fear, whereas differential conditioning sparks additional ensembles associated with the inhibition of generalized fear in both the PL and IL subdivisions of the mPFC. Our data suggest that fear discrimination learning is associated with the modulation of prefrontal subpopulations in a subregion- and experience-specific fashion, and the learning of appropriate responses to conditioned and initially generalized fear experiences is driven by gradual updating and rebalancing of the prefrontal memory representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Corches
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Alex Hiroto
- Department of Psychology & Program in Neuroscience, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Tyler W Bailey
- Department of Psychology & Program in Neuroscience, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - John H Speigel
- Department of Psychology & Program in Neuroscience, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Justin Pastore
- Department of Psychology & Program in Neuroscience, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Mark Mayford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Edward Korzus
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States; Department of Psychology & Program in Neuroscience, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States.
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20
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Doron A, Goshen I. Investigating the transition from recent to remote memory using advanced tools. Brain Res Bull 2018; 141:35-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Revised: 08/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Pollack GA, Bezek JL, Lee SH, Scarlata MJ, Weingast LT, Bergstrom HC. Cued fear memory generalization increases over time. Learn Mem 2018; 25:298-308. [PMID: 29907637 PMCID: PMC6004064 DOI: 10.1101/lm.047555.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fear memory is a highly stable and durable form of memory, even over vast (remote) time frames. Nevertheless, some elements of fear memory can be forgotten, resulting in generalization. The purpose of this study is to determine how cued fear memory generalizes over time and measure underlying patterns of cortico-amygdala synaptic plasticity. We established generalization gradients at recent (1-d) and remote (30-d) retention intervals following auditory cued fear conditioning in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Results revealed a flattening of the generalization gradient (increased generalization) that was dissociated from contextual fear generalization, indicating a specific influence of time on cued fear memory performance. This effect reversed after a brief exposure to the novel stimulus soon after learning. Measurements from cortico-amygdala imaging of the activity-regulated cytoskeletal Arc/arg 3.1 (Arc) protein using immunohistochemistry after cued fear memory retrieval revealed a stable pattern of Arc expression in the dorsolateral amygdala, but temporally dynamic expression in the cortex. Over time, increased fear memory generalization was associated with a reduction in Arc expression in the agranular insular and infralimbic cortices while discrimination learning was associated with increased Arc expression in the prelimbic cortex. These data identify the dorsolateral amygdala, medial prefrontal, and insular cortices as loci for synaptic plasticity underlying cued fear memory generalization over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle A Pollack
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604 USA
| | - Jessica L Bezek
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604 USA
| | - Serena H Lee
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604 USA
| | - Miranda J Scarlata
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604 USA
| | - Leah T Weingast
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604 USA
| | - Hadley C Bergstrom
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604 USA
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22
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Wang X, Li M, Zhu H, Yu Y, Xu Y, Zhang W, Bian C. Transcriptional Regulation Involved in Fear Memory Reconsolidation. J Mol Neurosci 2018; 65:127-140. [PMID: 29796837 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1084-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Memory reconsolidation has been demonstrated to offer a potential target period during which the fear memories underlying fear disorders can be disrupted. Reconsolidation is a labile stage that consolidated memories re-enter after memories are reactivated. Reactivated memories, induced by cues related to traumatic events, are susceptible to strengthening and weakening. Gene transcription regulation and protein synthesis have been suggested to be required for fear memory reconsolidation. Investigating the transcriptional regulation mechanisms underlying reconsolidation may provide a therapeutic method for the treatment of fear disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the therapeutic effect of treating a fear disorder through interfering with reconsolidation is still contradictory. In this review, we summarize several transcription factors that have been linked to fear memory reconsolidation and propose that transcription factors, as well as related signaling pathways can serve as targets for fear memory interventions. Then, we discuss the application of pharmacological and behavioral interventions during reconsolidation that may or not efficiently treat fear disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- Department of Military Psychology, College of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Forth Battalion of Cadet Brigade, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Military Psychology, College of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Haitao Zhu
- Medical Company, Troops 95848 of People's Liberation Army, Xiaogan, 432100, China
| | - Yongju Yu
- Department of Military Psychology, College of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xu
- Department of Military Psychology, College of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Wenmo Zhang
- Department of Fundamental, Army Logistical University of PLA, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Chen Bian
- Department of Military Psychology, College of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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23
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Stern CA, de Carvalho CR, Bertoglio LJ, Takahashi RN. Effects of Cannabinoid Drugs on Aversive or Rewarding Drug-Associated Memory Extinction and Reconsolidation. Neuroscience 2018; 370:62-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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24
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Heroux NA, Osborne BF, Miller LA, Kawan M, Buban KN, Rosen JB, Stanton ME. Differential expression of the immediate early genes c-Fos, Arc, Egr-1, and Npas4 during long-term memory formation in the context preexposure facilitation effect (CPFE). Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 147:128-138. [PMID: 29222058 PMCID: PMC6314028 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The context preexposure facilitation effect (CPFE) is a contextual fear conditioning paradigm in which learning about the context, acquiring the context-shock association, and retrieving/expressing contextual fear are temporally dissociated into three distinct phases (context preexposure, immediate-shock training, and retention). The current study examined changes in the expression of plasticity-associated immediate early genes (IEGs) during context and contextual fear memory formation on the preexposure and training days of the CPFE, respectively. Using adolescent Long-Evans rats, preexposure and training day expression of the IEGs c-Fos, Arc, Egr-1, and Npas4 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), and basolateral amygdala (BLA) was analyzed using qPCR as an extension of previous studies from our lab examining Egr-1 via in situ hybridization (Asok, Schreiber, Jablonski, Rosen, & Stanton, 2013; Schreiber, Asok, Jablonski, Rosen, & Stanton, 2014). In Expt. 1, context preexposure induced expression of c-Fos, Arc, Egr-1 and Npas4 significantly above that of home-cage (HC) controls in all three regions. In Expt. 2, immediate-shock was followed by a post-shock freezing test, resulting in increased mPFC c-Fos expression in a group preexposed to the training context but not a control group preexposed to an alternate context, indicating expression related to associative learning. This was not seen with other IEGs in mPFC or with any IEG in dHPC or BLA. Finally, when the post-shock freezing test was omitted in Expt. 3, training-related increases were observed in prefrontal c-Fos, Arc, Egr-1, and Npas4, hippocampal c-Fos, and amygdalar Egr-1 expression. These results indicate that context exposure in a post-shock freezing test re-engages IEG expression that may obscure associatively-induced expression during contextual fear conditioning. Additionally, these studies suggest a key role for long-term synaptic plasticity in the mPFC in supporting the CPFE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Heroux
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Brittany F Osborne
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Lauren A Miller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Malak Kawan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Katelyn N Buban
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Jeffrey B Rosen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Mark E Stanton
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
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25
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Heroux NA, Robinson-Drummer PA, Sanders HR, Rosen JB, Stanton ME. Differential involvement of the medial prefrontal cortex across variants of contextual fear conditioning. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 24:322-330. [PMID: 28716952 PMCID: PMC5516685 DOI: 10.1101/lm.045286.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The context preexposure facilitation effect (CPFE) is a contextual fear conditioning paradigm in which learning about the context, acquiring the context-shock association, and retrieving/expressing contextual fear are temporally dissociated into three distinct phases. In contrast, learning about the context and the context-shock association happens concurrently in standard contextual fear conditioning (sCFC). By infusing the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol into medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in adolescent Long-Evans rats, the current set of experiments examined the functional role of the mPFC in each phase of the CPFE and sCFC. In the CPFE, the mPFC is necessary for the following: acquisition and/or consolidation of context memory (Experiment 1), reconsolidation of a context memory to include shock (Experiment 2), and expression of contextual fear memory during a retention test (Experiment 3). In contrast to the CPFE, inactivation of the mPFC prior to conditioning in sCFC has no effect on acquisition, consolidation, or retention of a contextual fear memory (Experiment 4). Interestingly, the mPFC is not required for acquiring a context-shock association (measured by post-shock freezing) in the CPFE or sCFC (Experiment 2b and 4). Taken together, these results indicate that the mPFC is differentially recruited across stages of learning and variants of contextual fear conditioning (CPFE versus sCFC). More specifically, separating out learning about the context and the context-shock association necessitates activation of the medial prefrontal cortex during early learning and/or consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Heroux
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | | | - Hollie R Sanders
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Rosen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Mark E Stanton
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
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Hafenbreidel M, Rafa Todd C, Mueller D. Infralimbic GluN2A-Containing NMDA Receptors Modulate Reconsolidation of Cocaine Self-Administration Memory. Neuropsychopharmacology 2017; 42:1113-1125. [PMID: 28042872 PMCID: PMC5506782 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2016.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 12/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is characterized by high relapse susceptibility, and relapse can be triggered by drug-associated cues. Cue presentation induces retrieval of the drug-cue memory, which becomes labile and must be reconsolidated into long-term storage. Repeated unpaired cue presentation, however, promotes extinction. Cue-reactivity can be reduced by blocking reconsolidation or facilitating extinction, which are mediated by NMDA receptors (NMDArs). However, the role of NMDArs in either process following self-administration is unclear. Thus, to determine their role in extinction, rats learned to self-administer cocaine before receiving injections of the NMDAr antagonist CPP immediately after four 45-min extinction sessions. During a subsequent 90-min extinction retention test, CPP-treated rats lever pressed less than saline-treated rats indicating that NMDAr blockade facilitated extinction or disrupted drug-cue memory reconsolidation. In addition, infusing CPP into the infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (IL-mPFC), a structure implicated in extinction, before four 45-min or immediately after four 30min extinction sessions, had similar results during the extinction retention tests. Next, the GluN2A-selective antagonist NVP or GluN2B-selective antagonist Ro25 was infused into IL-mPFC or nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, another structure implicated in extinction, after four 45-min extinction sessions. Blocking GluN2A-, but not GluN2B-, containing NMDArs, in IL-mPFC or NAc shell reduced lever pressing during the extinction retention tests. Finally, to dissociate reconsolidation from extinction, NVP was infused into IL-mPFC after four 10-min reactivation sessions, which resulted in reduced lever pressing during the retention test. These results indicate that IL-mPFC GluN2A-containing NMDArs modulate reconsolidation, and suggest a novel treatment strategy, as reducing cue reactivity could limit relapse susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolynn Rafa Todd
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Devin Mueller
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA,Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, Puerto Rico,Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, PO Box 7004, Ponce 00732-7004, Puerto Rico, Tel: +1 787 840 2575 Ext. 2588, Fax: +1 787 844 1980, E-mail:
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27
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Rizzo V, Touzani K, Raveendra BL, Swarnkar S, Lora J, Kadakkuzha BM, Liu XA, Zhang C, Betel D, Stackman RW, Puthanveettil SV. Encoding of contextual fear memory requires de novo proteins in the prelimbic cortex. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2017; 2:158-169. [PMID: 28503670 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite our understanding of the significance of the prefrontal cortex in the consolidation of long-term memories (LTM), its role in the encoding of LTM remains elusive. Here we investigated the role of new protein synthesis in the mouse medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in encoding contextual fear memory. METHODS Because a change in the association of mRNAs to polyribosomes is an indicator of new protein synthesis, we assessed the changes in polyribosome-associated mRNAs in the mPFC following contextual fear conditioning (CFC) in the mouse. Differential gene expression in mPFC was identified by polyribosome profiling (n = 18). The role of new protein synthesis in mPFC was determined by focal inhibition of protein synthesis (n = 131) and by intra-prelimbic cortex manipulation (n = 56) of Homer 3, a candidate identified from polyribosome profiling. RESULTS We identified several mRNAs that are differentially and temporally recruited to polyribosomes in the mPFC following CFC. Inhibition of protein synthesis in the prelimbic (PL), but not in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) region of the mPFC immediately after CFC disrupted encoding of contextual fear memory. Intriguingly, inhibition of new protein synthesis in the PL 6 hours after CFC did not impair encoding. Furthermore, expression of Homer 3, an mRNA enriched in polyribosomes following CFC, in the PL constrained encoding of contextual fear memory. CONCLUSIONS Our studies identify several molecular substrates of new protein synthesis in the mPFC and establish that encoding of contextual fear memories require new protein synthesis in PL subregion of mPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Rizzo
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Khalid Touzani
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Bindu L Raveendra
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Supriya Swarnkar
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Joan Lora
- Department of Psychology, Center for Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Beena M Kadakkuzha
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Xin-An Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Medicine and Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York. NY10065. USA
| | - Doron Betel
- Department of Medicine and Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York. NY10065. USA
| | - Robert W Stackman
- Department of Psychology, Center for Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458
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28
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Newly acquired and reactivated contextual fear memories are more intense and prone to generalize after activation of prelimbic cortex NMDA receptors. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 137:154-162. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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29
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Chen W, Yan M, Wang Y, Wang X, Yuan J, Li M. Effects of 7-nitroindazole, a selective neural nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, on context-shock associative learning in a two-process contextual fear conditioning paradigm. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 134 Pt B:287-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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30
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Ahmadi-Mahmoodabadi N, Nasehi M, Emam Ghoreishi M, Zarrindast MR. Synergistic effect between prelimbic 5-HT3 and CB1 receptors on memory consolidation deficit in adult male Sprague–Dawley rats: An isobologram analysis. Neuroscience 2016; 317:173-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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31
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Giustino TF, Maren S. The Role of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in the Conditioning and Extinction of Fear. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:298. [PMID: 26617500 PMCID: PMC4637424 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Once acquired, a fearful memory can persist for a lifetime. Although learned fear can be extinguished, extinction memories are fragile. The resilience of fear memories to extinction may contribute to the maintenance of disorders of fear and anxiety, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As such, considerable effort has been placed on understanding the neural circuitry underlying the acquisition, expression, and extinction of emotional memories in rodent models as well as in humans. A triad of brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, form an essential brain circuit involved in fear conditioning and extinction. Within this circuit, the prefrontal cortex is thought to exert top-down control over subcortical structures to regulate appropriate behavioral responses. Importantly, a division of labor has been proposed in which the prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) subdivisions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regulate the expression and suppression of fear in rodents, respectively. Here, we critically review the anatomical and physiological evidence that has led to this proposed dichotomy of function within mPFC. We propose that under some conditions, the PL and IL act in concert, exhibiting similar patterns of neural activity in response to aversive conditioned stimuli and during the expression or inhibition of conditioned fear. This may stem from common synaptic inputs, parallel downstream outputs, or cortico-cortical interactions. Despite this functional covariation, these mPFC subdivisions may still be coding for largely opposing behavioral outcomes, with PL biased towards fear expression and IL towards suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Giustino
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University College Station, TX, USA
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University College Station, TX, USA
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Stern CAJ, Gazarini L, Vanvossen AC, Zuardi AW, Galve-Roperh I, Guimaraes FS, Takahashi RN, Bertoglio LJ. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol alone and combined with cannabidiol mitigate fear memory through reconsolidation disruption. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 25:958-65. [PMID: 25799920 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Revised: 12/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the major constituents of the Cannabis sativa plant, which is frequently consumed by subjects exposed to life-threatening situations to relief their symptomatology. It is still unknown, however, whether THC could also affect the maintenance of an aversive memory formed at that time when taken separately and/or in conjunction with CBD. The present study sought to investigate this matter at a preclinical level. We report that THC (0.3-10mg/kg, i.p.) was able to disrupt the reconsolidation of a contextual fear memory, resulting in reduced conditioned freezing expression for over 22 days. This effect was dependent on activation of cannabinoid type-1 receptors located in prelimbic subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex and on memory retrieval/reactivation. Since CBD may counteract the negative psychotropic effects induced by THC and has been shown to be a reconsolidation blocker, we then investigated and demonstrated that associating sub-effective doses of these two compounds was equally effective in attenuating fear memory maintenance in an additive fashion and in a dose ratio of 10 to 1, which contrasts with that commonly found in C. sativa recreational samples. Of note, neither THC alone nor CBD plus THC interfered with anxiety-related behaviors and locomotor activity, as assessed in the elevated plus-maze test, at a time point coinciding with that used to evaluate their effects on memory reconsolidation. Altogether, present findings suggest a potential therapeutic value of using THC and/or CBD to mitigate a dysfunctional aversive memory through reconsolidation disruption in post-traumatic stress disorder patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina A J Stern
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Lucas Gazarini
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Ana C Vanvossen
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Antonio W Zuardi
- Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Ismael Galve-Roperh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomedica en red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Reinaldo N Takahashi
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
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33
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Baldi E, Bucherelli C. Brain sites involved in fear memory reconsolidation and extinction of rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 53:160-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Revised: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Sorg BA, Todd RP, Slaker M, Churchill L. Anisomycin in the medial prefrontal cortex reduces reconsolidation of cocaine-associated memories in the rat self-administration model. Neuropharmacology 2015; 92:25-33. [PMID: 25576371 PMCID: PMC4346388 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that infusion of anisomycin into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) disrupts the reconsolidation of a cocaine-associated memory in the rat cocaine self-administration model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to lever press for cocaine self-administration (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) along with a cue light presentation on an FR1 followed by an FR3 schedule of reinforcement for 2 h/day. Rats were then given extinction sessions or an equivalent forced abstinence period followed by a 5 min memory reactivation session during which time they received an ip cocaine injection (10 mg/kg, ip) and were allowed to press for contingent cue light presentation. Immediately after reactivation, they were administered an intra-mPFC infusion of vehicle or anisomycin. Two additional control groups received extinction and either no memory reactivation and intra-mPFC infusions as above or intra-mPFC infusions 6 h after memory reactivation. A fourth group received forced abstinence and intra-mPFC infusions immediately after memory reactivation. Combined cocaine + cue-induced reinstatement was given 2-3 days (early) and 8-12 days (late) later. Rats given anisomycin in the Extinction + Reactivation demonstrated decreased reinstatement, while anisomycin treatment did not alter behavior in any of the other three groups. These results suggest that extinction training may recruit the mPFC such that it renders the memory susceptible to disruption by anisomycin. These findings have implications for using extinction training prior to or in conjunction with other therapies, including reconsolidation disruption, to enhance prefrontal control over drug-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara A Sorg
- Translational Addiction Research Center and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA.
| | - Ryan P Todd
- Translational Addiction Research Center and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA
| | - Megan Slaker
- Translational Addiction Research Center and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA
| | - Lynn Churchill
- Translational Addiction Research Center and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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35
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Gazarini L, Stern CAJ, Piornedo RR, Takahashi RN, Bertoglio LJ. PTSD-like memory generated through enhanced noradrenergic activity is mitigated by a dual step pharmacological intervention targeting its reconsolidation. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 18:pyu026. [PMID: 25539509 PMCID: PMC4368870 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyu026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic memories have been resilient to therapeutic approaches targeting their permanent attenuation. One of the potentially promising pharmacological strategies under investigation is the search for safe reconsolidation blockers. However, preclinical studies focusing on this matter have scarcely addressed abnormal aversive memories and related outcomes. METHODS By mimicking the enhanced noradrenergic activity reported after traumatic events in humans, here we sought to generate a suitable condition to establish whether some clinically approved drugs able to disrupt the reconsolidation of conditioned fear memories in rodents would still be effective. RESULTS We report that the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine was able to induce an inability to restrict behavioral (fear) and cardiovascular (increased systolic blood pressure) responses to the paired context when administered immediately after acquisition, but not 6h later, indicating the formation of a generalized fear memory, which endured for over 29 days and was less susceptible to suppression by extinction. It was also resistant to reconsolidation disruption by the α2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine or cannabidiol, the major non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa. Since signaling at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is important for memory labilization and because a dysfunctional memory may be less labile than is necessary to trigger reconsolidation on its brief retrieval and reactivation, we then investigated and demonstrated that pre-retrieval administration of the partial NMDA agonist D-cycloserine allowed the disrupting effects of clonidine and cannabidiol on reconsolidation. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the effectiveness of a dual-step pharmacological intervention to mitigate an aberrant and enduring aversive memory similar to that underlying the post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gazarini
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Cristina A J Stern
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Rene R Piornedo
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo N Takahashi
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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36
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Rozeske RR, Valerio S, Chaudun F, Herry C. Prefrontal neuronal circuits of contextual fear conditioning. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2014; 14:22-36. [PMID: 25287656 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past years, numerous studies have provided a clear understanding of the neuronal circuits and mechanisms involved in the formation, expression and extinction phases of conditioned cued fear memories. Yet, despite a strong clinical interest, a detailed understanding of these memory phases for contextual fear memories is still missing. Besides the well-known role of the hippocampus in encoding contextual fear behavior, growing evidence indicates that specific regions of the medial prefrontal cortex differentially regulate contextual fear acquisition and storage in both animals and humans that ultimately leads to expression of contextual fear memories. In this review, we provide a detailed description of the recent literature on the role of distinct prefrontal subregions in contextual fear behavior and provide a working model of the neuronal circuits involved in the acquisition, expression and generalization of contextual fear memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- R R Rozeske
- INSERM U862, Neurocenter Magendie, Bordeaux, France
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