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Giachero M, Belén Sacson A, Belén Vitullo M, Bekinschtein P, Weisstaub N. Targeting fear memories: Examining pharmacological disruption in a generalized fear framework. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 213:107960. [PMID: 39004160 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107960] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Labilization-reconsolidation, which relies on retrieval, has been considered an opportunity to attenuate the negative aspects of traumatic memories. A therapeutic strategy based on reconsolidation blockade is deemed more effective than current therapies relying on memory extinction. Nevertheless, extremely stressful memories frequently prove resistant to this process. Here, after inducing robust fear memory in mice through strong fear conditioning, we examined the possibility of rendering it susceptible to pharmacological modulation based on the degree of generalized fear (GF). To achieve this, we established an ordered gradient of GF, determined by the perceptual similarity between the associated context (CA) and non-associated contexts (CB, CC, CD, and CE) to the aversive event. We observed that as the exposure context became less similar to CA, the defensive pattern shifted from passive to active behaviors in both male and female mice. Subsequently, in conditioned animals, we administered propranolol after exposure to the different contexts (CA, CB, CC, CD or CE). In males, propranolol treatment resulted in reduced freezing time and enhanced risk assessment behaviors when administered following exposure to CA or CB, but not after CC, CD, or CE, compared to the control group. In females, a similar change in behavioral pattern was observed with propranolol administered after exposure to CC, but not after the other contexts. These results highlight the possibility of indirectly manipulating a robust contextual fear memory by controlling the level of generalization during recall. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the effect of propranolol on reconsolidation would not lead to a reduction in fear memory per se, but rather to its reorganization resulting in greater behavioral flexibility (from passive to active behaviors). Finally, from a clinical viewpoint, this would be of considerable relevance since following this strategy could make the treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with traumatic memory formation more effective and less stressful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Giachero
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Agostina Belén Sacson
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Belén Vitullo
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pedro Bekinschtein
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Noelia Weisstaub
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Trask J, MacCallum PE, Rideout H, Preisser EL, Blundell JJ. Rapamycin attenuates reconsolidation of a backwards-conditioned aversive stimuli in female mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:601-612. [PMID: 38311691 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06544-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is known to mediate consolidation and reconsolidation of aversive memories. Most studies in this area use a forward conditioning paradigm in which the conditioned stimulus (CS) precedes the unconditioned stimulus (US). Little is known, however, about the neurobiological underpinnings of backwards (BW) conditioning paradigms, particularly in female mice. In BW conditioning, the CS does not become directly associated with the US; it instead evokes conditioned fear by reactivating a memory of the conditioning context and indirectly retrieving a memory of the aversive US. OBJECTIVES We sought to examine BW conditioned fear memory processes in female mice. First, we examined whether freezing to a BW CS is mediated by fear to the conditioning context. Second, we tested whether blocking consolidation of a BW CS attenuated memory of the CS and conditioning context. Finally, we tested whether blocking reconsolidation of a BW CS attenuated memory of the conditioning context. RESULTS We show that conditioned freezing to a BW CS is mediated by fear to the conditioning context. Furthermore, rapamycin-an mTOR inhibitor, when given immediately following BW conditioning, impairs consolidation of both cued and contextual fear memory. Similarly, rapamycin given following retrieval of a BW CS blocks context recall. Rapamycin is acting on reconsolidation as CS retrieval is necessary to see the effects of rapamycin on context memory recall. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides novel evidence that indirect retrieval cues are sensitive to rapamycin in female mice. The capacity to indirectly reactivate memories and render them susceptible to disruption is critical in the translation of reconsolidation-based approaches to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Trask
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Phillip E MacCallum
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Haley Rideout
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Evan L Preisser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jacqueline J Blundell
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.
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Felix-Ortiz AC, Terrell JM, Gonzalez C, Msengi HD, Boggan MB, Ramos AR, Magalhães G, Burgos-Robles A. Prefrontal Regulation of Safety Learning during Ethologically Relevant Thermal Threat. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0140-23.2024. [PMID: 38272673 PMCID: PMC10903390 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0140-23.2024] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Learning and adaptation during sources of threat and safety are critical mechanisms for survival. The prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) subregions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) have been broadly implicated in the processing of threat and safety. However, how these regions regulate threat and safety during naturalistic conditions involving thermal challenge still remains elusive. To examine this issue, we developed a novel paradigm in which adult mice learned that a particular zone that was identified with visuospatial cues was associated with either a noxious cold temperature ("threat zone") or a pleasant warm temperature ("safety zone"). This led to the rapid development of avoidance behavior when the zone was paired with cold threat or approach behavior when the zone was paired with warm safety. During a long-term test without further thermal reinforcement, mice continued to exhibit robust avoidance or approach to the zone of interest, indicating that enduring spatial-based memories were formed to represent the thermal threat and thermal safety zones. Optogenetic experiments revealed that neural activity in PL and IL was not essential for establishing the memory for the threat zone. However, PL and IL activity bidirectionally regulated memory formation for the safety zone. While IL activity promoted safety memory during normal conditions, PL activity suppressed safety memory especially after a stress pretreatment. Therefore, a working model is proposed in which balanced activity between PL and IL is favorable for safety memory formation, whereas unbalanced activity between these brain regions is detrimental for safety memory after stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada C Felix-Ortiz
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
| | - Jaelyn M Terrell
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
| | - Carolina Gonzalez
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
| | - Hope D Msengi
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
| | - Miranda B Boggan
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
| | - Angelica R Ramos
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
| | - Gabrielle Magalhães
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
| | - Anthony Burgos-Robles
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
- Brain Health Consortium, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249
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Zhang K, Shen D, Huang S, Iqbal J, Huang G, Si J, Xue Y, Yang JL. The sexually divergent cFos activation map of fear extinction. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23748. [PMID: 38205315 PMCID: PMC10777019 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23748] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Exposure therapy is a common treatment for PTSD, but it has varying levels of efficacy depending on sex. In this study, we aimed to compare the sexual dimorphism in brain activation during the extinction of fear conditioning in male and female rats by detecting the c-fos levels in the whole brain. Methods Thirty-two rats (Male: n = 16; Female: n = 16) were randomly separated into the extinction group as well as the non-extinction group, and fear conditioning was followed by extinction and non-extinction, respectively. Subsequently, brain sections from the sacrificed animal were performed immunofluorescence and the collected data were analyzed by repeated two-way ANOVAs as well as Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Results Our findings showed that most brain areas activated during extinction were similar in both male and female rats, except for the reuniens thalamic nucleus and ventral hippocampi. Furthermore, we found differences in the correlation between c-fos activation levels and freezing behavior during extinction between male and female rats. Specifically, in male rats, c-fos activation in the anterior cingulate cortex was negatively correlated with the freezing level, while c-fos activation in the retrosplenial granular cortex was positively correlated with the freezing level; but in female rats did not exhibit any correlation between c-fos activation and freezing level. Finally, the functional connectivity analysis revealed differences in the neural networks involved in extinction learning between male and female rats. In male rats, the infralimbic cortex and insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and retrosplenial granular cortex, and dorsal dentate gyrus and dCA3 were strongly correlated after extinction. In female rats, prelimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala, insular cortex and dCA3, and anterior cingulate cortex and dCA1 were significantly correlated. Conclusion These results suggest divergent neural networks involved in extinction learning in male and female rats and provide a clue for improving the clinical treatment of exposure therapy based on the sexual difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dan Shen
- Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Dadao, Hongqi District, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China
| | - Shihao Huang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory on Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Javed Iqbal
- Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No. 77 Zhenbi Road, Shenzhen, 518118, China
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Gengdi Huang
- Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No. 77 Zhenbi Road, Shenzhen, 518118, China
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jijian Si
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanxue Xue
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory on Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
- Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Dadao, Hongqi District, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China
| | - Jian-Li Yang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Halcomb CJ, Philipp TR, Dhillon PS, Cox JH, Aguilar-Alvarez R, Vanderhoof SO, Jasnow AM. Sex divergent behavioral responses in platform-mediated avoidance and glucocorticoid receptor blockade. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 159:106417. [PMID: 37925931 PMCID: PMC10872426 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Women are more likely than men to develop anxiety or stress-related disorders. A core behavioral symptom of all anxiety disorders is avoidance of fear or anxiety eliciting cues. Recent rodent models of avoidance show reliable reproduction of this behavioral phenomenon in response to learned aversive associations. Here, a modified version of platform-mediated avoidance that lacked an appetitive task was utilized to investigate the learning and extinction of avoidance in male and female C57BL6/J mice. Here, we found a robust sex difference in the acquisition and extinction of platform-mediated avoidance. Across three experiments, 63.7% of female mice acquired avoidance according to our criterion, whereas 83.8% of males acquired it successfully. Of those females that acquired avoidance, they displayed persistent avoidance after extinction compared to males. Given their role in regulating stress responses and habitual behaviors, we investigated if glucocorticoid receptors (GR) mediated avoidance learning in males and females. We found that a subcutaneous injection (25 mg/kg) of the GR antagonist, RU486 (Mifepristone), significantly reduced persistent avoidance in females but did not further reduce avoidance in males after extinction. These data suggest that GR activation during avoidance learning may contribute to persistent avoidance in females that is resistant to extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly J Halcomb
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
| | - Trey R Philipp
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
| | - Parker S Dhillon
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
| | - J Hunter Cox
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
| | - Ricardo Aguilar-Alvarez
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
| | | | - Aaron M Jasnow
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA.
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Halcomb CJ, Philipp TR, Dhillon PS, Cox JH, Aguilar-Alvarez R, Vanderhoof SO, Jasnow AM. Sex divergent behavioral responses in platform-mediated avoidance and glucocorticoid receptor blockade. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.26.559122. [PMID: 37808636 PMCID: PMC10557728 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.26.559122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Women are more likely than men to develop anxiety or stress-related disorders. A core behavioral symptom of all anxiety disorders is avoidance of fear or anxiety eliciting cues. Recent rodent models of avoidance show reliable reproduction of this behavioral phenomenon in response to learned aversive associations. Here, a modified version of platform-mediated avoidance that lacked an appetitive task was utilized to investigate the learning and extinction of avoidance in male and female C57BL6/J mice. Here, we found a robust sex difference in the acquisition and extinction of platform-mediated avoidance. Across three experiments, 63.7% of female mice acquired avoidance according to our criterion, whereas 83.8% of males acquired it successfully. Of those females that acquired avoidance, they displayed persistent avoidance after extinction compared to males. Given their role in regulating stress responses and habitual behaviors, we investigated if glucocorticoid receptors (GR) mediated avoidance learning in males and females. Here we found that a subcutaneous injection (25mg/kg) of the GR antagonist, RU486 (mifepristone), significantly reduced persistent avoidance in females but did not further reduce avoidance in males after extinction. These data suggest that GR activation during avoidance learning may contribute to persistent avoidance in females that is resistant to extinction.
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Cassaday HJ, Muir C, Stevenson CW, Bonardi C, Hock R, Waite L. From safety to frustration: The neural substrates of inhibitory learning in aversive and appetitive conditioning procedures. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 202:107757. [PMID: 37044368 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Inhibitory associative learning counters the effects of excitatory learning, whether appetitively or aversively motivated. Moreover, the affective responses accompanying the inhibitory associations are of opponent valence to the excitatory conditioned responses. Inhibitors for negative aversive outcomes (e.g. shock) signal safety, while inhibitors for appetitive outcomes (e.g. food reward) elicit frustration and/or disappointment. This raises the question as to whether studies using appetitive and aversive conditioning procedures should demonstrate the same neural substrates for inhibitory learning. We review the neural substrates of appetitive and aversive inhibitory learning as measured in different procedural variants and in the context of the underpinning excitatory conditioning on which it depends. The mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathways, retrosplenial cortex and hippocampus are consistently implicated in inhibitory learning. Further neural substrates identified in some procedural variants may be related to the specific motivation of the learning task and modalities of the learning cues. Finally, we consider the translational implications of our understanding of the neural substrates of inhibitory learning, for obesity and addictions as well as for anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C Muir
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham; School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol
| | | | - C Bonardi
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham
| | - R Hock
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham
| | - L Waite
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham
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Blanchard DC. Are cognitive aspects of defense a core feature of anxiety and depression? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:104947. [PMID: 36343691 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent behavior disorders, particularly in women. Recent preclinical work using animal models has been suboptimal in predicting the efficacy of drugs targeted at these conditions, suggesting a potential discrepancy between such models and the human disorders. Notably female animals tend to be equal to, or less responsive than, males in these tasks. A number of analyses suggest that mammalian defense patterns are complex: In addition to relatively discrete and immediate fight, flight, and freezing responses, a risk assessment pattern may occur in response to threat stimuli or situations with ambiguous elements. This pattern combines defensiveness with a number of cognition-linked behaviors such as sensory attention and orientation, approach, contact, and investigation of the potential threat. Studies measuring elements of this pattern suggest that female rats, and perhaps female mice, show higher levels than equivalent males. Higher female involvement may also occur in tasks involving learning/generalization/extinction of defensiveness to conditioned stimuli. Such findings are consonant with recent analyses of "female survival strategies" based on differential adaptiveness of cognitive components of defensiveness in females, due to the necessity of female care of offspring until they are independent. These data suggest the value of additional behavioral and functional analyses of cognitive aspects of defensive behavior; contributing to both an understanding of their underlying mechanisms, and providing more sensitive measures of drug responsivity for use with animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Caroline Blanchard
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA; Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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