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Ornelas LC, Besheer J. Predator odor stress reactivity, alcohol drinking and the endocannabinoid system. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100634. [PMID: 38623398 PMCID: PMC11016807 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid and individual differences in response to stress suggest resilient and susceptible populations. Using animal models to target neurobiological mechanisms associated with individual variability in stress coping responses and the relationship with subsequent increases in alcohol consumption has important implications for the field of traumatic stress and alcohol disorders. The current review discusses the unique advantages of utilizing predator odor stressor exposure models, specifically using 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) on better understanding PTSD pathophysiology and neurobiological mechanisms associated with stress reactivity and subsequent increases in alcohol drinking. Furthermore, there has been increasing interest regarding the role of the endocannabinoid system in modulating behavioral responses to stress with an emphasis on stress coping and individual differences in stress-susceptibility. Therefore, the current review focuses on the topic of endocannabinoid modulation of stress reactive behaviors during and after exposure to a predator odor stressor, with implications on modulating distinctly different behavioral coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Ornelas
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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Ornelas LC, Besheer J. Predator Odor Stressor, 2,3,5-Trimethyl-3-Thiazoline (TMT): Assessment of Stress Reactive Behaviors During an Animal Model of Traumatic Stress in Rats. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e967. [PMID: 38193654 PMCID: PMC10783820 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Animal models utilizing predator odor stress are important in understanding implications for post-traumatic stress disorder. 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) has been used to measure stress reactive behaviors during TMT exposure, indicative of stress coping behaviors. In addition, long-term consequences of stress including contextual-induced stress memory, anxiety-like and hyperarousal behaviors, and subsequent increases in alcohol self-administration can also be examined after TMT exposure. In this article, we describe the TMT exposure protocol used in our lab and how we measure different stress-reactive behaviors that rats engage in during the TMT exposure. Rats are placed in Plexiglass chambers that contain white bedding on the bottom of the chamber and a metal basket in the top right corner containing a filter paper that 10 µl of TMT is pipetted onto. During the 10 min exposure, rats can move around the chamber freely. Exposures are recorded by a video camera for later analysis. During TMT exposure, rats engage in a variety of stress-reactive behaviors, including digging and immobility behavior. These are two distinctly different types of stress-induced behavioral coping strategies to measure individual differences in stress responsivity. To examine individual differences, we group rats into TMT-subgroups based on time spent engaging in digging or immobility behavior. We calculate a digging/immobility ratio score in which we divide the total time spent digging by the total time spent immobile. A cut-off strategy is used such that rats with a criterion ratio score <1.0 are classified as TMT-1 (i.e., low digging/high immobility; greater passive coping) and rats with a ratio score >1.0 are classified as TMT-2 (i.e., high digging/low immobility; greater active coping). Here, we provide a detailed description of the TMT exposure protocol and step-by-step process in evaluation of stress-reactive behaviors. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Predator odor stressor exposure using TMT Basic Protocol 2: Description of stress-reactive behaviors during TMT exposure and formation of TMT-subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Ornelas
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
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Wang Z, van Bruggen R, Sandini T, Hagen EV, Li XM, Zhang Y. Wistar-Kyoto rats and chronically stressed Wistar rats present similar depression- and anxiety-like behaviors but different corticosterone and endocannabinoid system modulation. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 127:110825. [PMID: 37437836 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The interplay of social, psychological, and biological stresses can trigger mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD), adjustment disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The endocannabinoid system (ECS), comprising endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors, is the critical pathway that mediates responses to stress stimuli. This study aimed to investigate the ECS's impact on responding to chronic social instability stress (SIS). Wistar (WIS) rats and an endogenously depressed rat model, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), were used to evaluate depression- and anxiety-like behavioral responses, cognitive function, hormone levels, and ECS function. The animals in the stress group (WIS-STS and WKY-STS) were exposed to TMT (predator odor) for 10 mins (two exposures in total: one in light cycle and one in dark cycle) and daily roommate changes (30 days in total), while the control group (CTL) rats were exposed to a sham odor stimulus (distilled water) and did not undergo roommate changes. The results in the open field test suggest that WKY rats had significantly lower locomotor activity than WIS rats. In contrast, WKY rats and chronically stressed WIS rats presented similar depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and impaired cognitive function in the elevated plus maze, forced swimming test, and novel objective recognition test. However, chronic SIS did not exacerbate these behavioral changes in WKY rats. ELISA and Western blot analysis indicated that chronic SIS did not induce further upregulation of endocannabinoids and CB1R downregulation in WKY rats compared to WIS rats. In addition, the Luminex assay revealed that WKY rats showed a higher resilience on the HPA-axis modulation towards chronic SIS, distinguished by the hyperactivity of the HPA-axis modulation in WIS rats. Overall, the study revealed that the chronic SIS animal model (stressed WIS rats) and an animal model of endogenous depression (WKY rats) can generate similar behavioral changes in anxious behavior, behavioral despair, and cognitive impairment. Both animal models present hyperactivity of the ACTH modulation and ECS activity, while WKY rats are more resilient on CORT modulation towards chronic SIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zitong Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Rebekah van Bruggen
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Thaisa Sandini
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ethan V Hagen
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Xin-Min Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Yanbo Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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Desnouveaux L, Poly B, Edmond M, Aphezberro C, Coulon D, Boutet F, Le Coz C, Fargeau F, Linard C, Caillol P, Duffaud AM, Servonnet A, Ferhani O, Trousselard M, Taudon N, Canini F, Claverie D. Steady electrocorticogram characteristics predict specific stress-induced behavioral phenotypes. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1047848. [PMID: 37113159 PMCID: PMC10126346 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1047848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Depending on the individual, exposure to an intense stressor may, or may not, lead to a stress-induced pathology. Predicting the physiopathological evolution in an individual is therefore an important challenge, at least for prevention. In this context, we developed an ethological model of simulated predator exposure in rats: we call this the multisensorial stress model (MSS). We hypothesized that: (i) MSS exposure can induce stress-induced phenotypes, and (ii) an electrocorticogram (ECoG) recorded before stress exposure can predict phenotypes observed after stress. Methods Forty-five Sprague Dawley rats were equipped with ECoG telemetry and divided into two groups. The Stress group (n = 23) was exposed to an MSS that combined synthetic fox feces odor deposited on filter paper, synthetic blood odor, and 22 kHz rodent distress calls; the Sham group (n = 22) was not exposed to any sensorial stimulus. Fifteen days after initial exposure, the two groups were re-exposed to a context that included a filter paper soaked with water as a traumatic object (TO) reminder. During this re-exposure, freezing behavior and avoidance of the filter paper were measured. Results Three behaviors were observed in the Stress group: 39% developed a fear memory phenotype (freezing, avoidance, and hyperreactivity); 26% developed avoidance and anhedonia; and 35% made a full recovery. We also identified pre-stress ECoG biomarkers that accurately predicted cluster membership. Decreased chronic 24 h frontal Low θ relative power was associated with resilience; increased frontal Low θ relative power was associated with fear memory; and decreased parietal β2 frequency was associated with the avoidant-anhedonic phenotype. Discussion These predictive biomarkers open the way to preventive medicine for stress-induced diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Desnouveaux
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Betty Poly
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Mathilde Edmond
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Cathy Aphezberro
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - David Coulon
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Francis Boutet
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Christine Le Coz
- Unité Analyses Biologiques, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Francisca Fargeau
- Unité Analyses Biologiques, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Cyril Linard
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Pierre Caillol
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Anaïs M. Duffaud
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Aurélie Servonnet
- Unité Analyses Biologiques, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Ouamar Ferhani
- Département Innovation Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Marion Trousselard
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- APEMAC, EA 4360, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Ecole du Val de Grâce, Paris, France
- Réseau ABC des Psychotraumas, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Taudon
- Unité de Développements Analytiques et Bioanalyse, Département Plateformes et Recherche Technologique, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Frédéric Canini
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- Ecole du Val de Grâce, Paris, France
- Réseau ABC des Psychotraumas, Montpellier, France
| | - Damien Claverie
- Unité de Neurophysiologie du Stress, Département Neurosciences & Contraintes Opérationnelles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- Réseau ABC des Psychotraumas, Montpellier, France
- *Correspondence: Damien Claverie
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Stankiewicz AM, Jaszczyk A, Goscik J, Juszczak GR. Stress and the brain transcriptome: Identifying commonalities and clusters in standardized data from published experiments. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 119:110558. [PMID: 35405299 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Interpretation of transcriptomic experiments is hindered by many problems including false positives/negatives inherent to big-data methods and changes in gene nomenclature. To find the most consistent effect of stress on brain transcriptome, we retrieved data from 79 studies applying animal models and 3 human studies investigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The analyzed data were obtained either with microarrays or RNA sequencing applied to samples collected from more than 1887 laboratory animals and from 121 human subjects. Based on the initial database containing a quarter million differential expression effect sizes representing transcripts in three species, we identified the most frequently reported genes in 223 stress-control comparisons. Additionally, the analysis considers sex, individual vulnerability and contribution of glucocorticoids. We also found an overlap between gene expression in PTSD patients and animals which indicates relevance of laboratory models for human stress response. Our analysis points to genes that, as far as we know, were not specifically tested for their role in stress response (Pllp, Arrdc2, Midn, Mfsd2a, Ccn1, Htra1, Csrnp1, Tenm4, Tnfrsf25, Sema3b, Fmo2, Adamts4, Gjb1, Errfi1, Fgf18, Galnt6, Slc25a42, Ifi30, Slc4a1, Cemip, Klf10, Tom1, Dcdc2c, Fancd2, Luzp2, Trpm1, Abcc12, Osbpl1a, Ptp4a2). Provided transcriptomic resource will be useful for guiding the new research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Stankiewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Aneta Jaszczyk
- Department of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Joanna Goscik
- Faculty of Computer Science, Bialystok University of Technology, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Grzegorz R Juszczak
- Department of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland.
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Predator odor (TMT) exposure potentiates interoceptive sensitivity to alcohol and increases GABAergic gene expression in the anterior insular cortex and nucleus accumbens in male rats. Alcohol 2022; 104:1-11. [PMID: 36150613 PMCID: PMC9733390 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.07.002] [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: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) confers enhanced vulnerability to developing comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD). Exposure to the scent of a predator, such as the fox odor TMT, has been used to model a traumatic stressor with relevance to PTSD symptomatology. Alcohol produces distinct interoceptive (subjective) effects that may influence vulnerability to problem drinking and AUD. As such, understanding the lasting impact of stressors on sensitivity to the interoceptive effects of alcohol is clinically relevant. The present study used a 2-lever, operant drug discrimination procedure to train male Long-Evans rats to discriminate the interoceptive effects of alcohol (2 g/kg, i.g. [intragastrically]) from water. Upon stable performance, rats underwent a 15-min exposure to TMT. Two weeks later, an alcohol dose-response curve was conducted to evaluate the lasting effects of the TMT stressor on the interoceptive effects of alcohol. The TMT group showed a leftward shift in the effective dose (ED50) of the dose-response curve compared to controls, reflecting potentiated interoceptive sensitivity to alcohol. TMT exposure did not affect response rate. GABAergic signaling in both the anterior insular cortex (aIC) and the nucleus accumbens (Acb) is involved in the interoceptive effects of alcohol and stressor-induced adaptations. As such, follow-up experiments in alcohol-naïve rats examined neuronal activation (as measured by c-Fos immunoreactivity) following TMT and showed that TMT exposure increased c-Fos expression in the aIC and the nucleus accumbens core (AcbC). Two weeks after TMT exposure, Gad-1 gene expression was elevated in the aIC and Gat-1 was increased in the Acb, compared to controls. Lastly, the alcohol discrimination and alcohol-naïve groups displayed dramatic differences in stress reactive behaviors during the TMT exposure, suggesting that alcohol exposure may alter the behavioral response to predator odor. Together, these data suggest that predator odor stressor results in potentiated sensitivity to alcohol, possibly through GABAergic adaptations in the aIC and Acb, which may be relevant to understanding PTSD-AUD comorbidity.
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Tyler RE, Besheer J, Joffe ME. Advances in translating mGlu 2 and mGlu 3 receptor selective allosteric modulators as breakthrough treatments for affective disorders and alcohol use disorder. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 219:173450. [PMID: 35988792 PMCID: PMC10405528 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173450] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are promising targets for the treatment of affective disorders and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Nonspecific ligands for Group II (mGlu2 and mGlu3) mGlu receptors have demonstrated consistent therapeutic potential for affective disorders in preclinical models. Disentangling the specific roles of mGlu2 versus mGlu3 receptors in these effects has persisted as a major challenge, in part due to pharmacological limitations. However, the recent development of highly specific allosteric modulators for both mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors have enabled straightforward and rigorous investigations into the specific function of each receptor. Here, we review recent experiments using these compounds that have demonstrated both similar and distinct receptor functions in behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological measures associated with basal function and preclinical models of affective disorders. Studies using these selective drugs have demonstrated that mGlu2 is the predominant receptor subclass involved in presynaptic neurotransmitter release in prefrontal cortex. By contrast, the activation of postsynaptic mGlu3 receptors induces a cascade of cellular changes that results in AMPA receptor internalization, producing long-term depression and diminishing excitatory drive. Acute stress decreases the mGlu3 receptor function and dynamically alters transcript expression for both mGlu2 (Grm2) and mGlu3 (Grm3) receptors in brain areas involved in reward and stress. Accordingly, both mGlu2 and mGlu3 negative allosteric modulators show acute antidepressant-like effects and potential prophylactic effects against acute and traumatic stressors. The wide array of effects displayed by these new allosteric modulators of mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors suggest that these drugs may act through improving endophenotypes of symptoms observed across several neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, recently developed allosteric modulators selective for mGlu2 or mGlu3 receptors show promise as potential therapeutics for affective disorders and AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Tyler
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Max E Joffe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, USA.
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Stress resilience-associated behaviors following predator scent stress are accompanied by upregulated nucleus accumbens mGlu5 transcription in female Sprague Dawley rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 436:114090. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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de Bartolomeis A, Barone A, Buonaguro EF, Tomasetti C, Vellucci L, Iasevoli F. The Homer1 family of proteins at the crossroad of dopamine-glutamate signaling: An emerging molecular "Lego" in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. A systematic review and translational insight. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104596. [PMID: 35248676 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Once considered only scaffolding proteins at glutamatergic postsynaptic density (PSD), Homer1 proteins are increasingly emerging as multimodal adaptors that integrate different signal transduction pathways within PSD, involved in motor and cognitive functions, with putative implications in psychiatric disorders. Regulation of type I metabotropic glutamate receptor trafficking, modulation of calcium signaling, tuning of long-term potentiation, organization of dendritic spines' growth, as well as meta- and homeostatic plasticity control are only a few of the multiple endocellular and synaptic functions that have been linked to Homer1. Findings from preclinical studies, as well as genetic studies conducted in humans, suggest that both constitutive (Homer1b/c) and inducible (Homer1a) isoforms of Homer1 play a role in the neurobiology of several psychiatric disorders, including psychosis, mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and addiction. On this background, Homer1 has been proposed as a putative novel target in psychopharmacological treatments. The aim of this review is to summarize and systematize the growing body of evidence on Homer proteins, highlighting the role of Homer1 in the pathophysiology and therapy of mental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
| | - Annarita Barone
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Filomena Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Carmine Tomasetti
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Licia Vellucci
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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Tyler RE, Bluitt MN, Engers JL, Lindsley CW, Besheer J. The effects of predator odor (TMT) exposure and mGlu 3 NAM pretreatment on behavioral and NMDA receptor adaptations in the brain. Neuropharmacology 2022; 207:108943. [PMID: 35007623 PMCID: PMC8844221 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.108943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A stressor can trigger lasting adaptations that contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. Predator odor (TMT) exposure is an innate stressor that may activate the metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 (mGlu3) to produce stress adaptations. To evaluate functional involvement, the mGlu3 negative allosteric modulator (NAM, VU6010572; 3 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered before TMT exposure in male, Long Evans rats. Two weeks after, rats underwent context re-exposure, elevated zero maze (ZM), and acoustic startle (ASR) behavioral tests, followed by RT-PCR gene expression in the insular cortex and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) to evaluate lasting behavioral and molecular adaptations from the stressor. Rats displayed stress-reactive behaviors in response to TMT exposure that were not affected by VU6010572. Freezing and hyperactivity were observed during the context re-exposure, and mGlu3-NAM pretreatment during stressor prevented the context freezing response. TMT exposure did not affect ZM or ASR measures, but VU6010572 increased time spent in the open arms of the ZM and ASR habituation regardless of stressor treatment. In the insular cortex, TMT exposure increased expression of mGlu (Grm3, Grm5) and NMDA (GriN2A, GriN2B, GriN2C, GriN3A, GriN3B) receptor transcripts, and mGlu3-NAM pretreatment blocked GriN3B upregulation. In the BNST, TMT exposure increased expression of GriN2B and GriN3B in vehicle-treated rats, but decreased expression in the mGlu3-NAM group. Similar to the insular cortex, mGlu3-NAM reversed the stressor-induced upregulation of GriN3B in the BNST. mGlu3-NAM also upregulated GriN2A, GriN2B, GriN3B and Grm2 in the control group, but not the TMT group. Together, these data implicate mGlu3 receptor signaling in some lasting adaptations of predator odor stressor and anxiolytic-like effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Tyler
- Neuroscience Curriculum, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Maya N Bluitt
- Neuroscience Curriculum, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julie L Engers
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Neuroscience Curriculum, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Ornelas LC, Van Voorhies K, Besheer J. The role of the nucleus reuniens in regulating contextual conditioning with the predator odor TMT in female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3411-3421. [PMID: 34390359 PMCID: PMC8629918 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05957-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Experiencing intrusive distressing memories of a traumatic event(s) is a prominent symptom profile for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms associated with this symptom profile can be invaluable for effective treatment for PTSD. OBJECTIVES Here, we investigated the functional role of the nucleus reuniens (RE), a midline thalamic in modulating stressor-related memory. METHODS Female Long Evans rats were implanted with a cannula aimed at the RE. The RE was pharmacologically inactivated via muscimol (0.5 mM) prior to exposure to the predator odor stressor trimethylthiazoline (TMT; synthetically derived fox feces component) or water (controls) in a distinct context with bedding material (experiment 1) or no bedding (experiment 2). To measure context reactivity, the index of the contextual memory, 2 weeks following exposure to TMT, rats were re-exposed to the TMT-paired context (in the absence of TMT). RESULTS In experiment 1, during context re-exposure (with bedding), inactivation of the RE had no effect on context reactivity. In experiment 2, during context re-exposure (no bedding), rats previously exposed to TMT showed decreased immobility compared to controls, indicating reactivity to the context and likely related to theincreased exploration of the environment. Rats in the TMT group that received RE inactivation showed increased immobility relative to rats that received aCSF, suggesting that muscimol pre-treatment blunted context reactivity. CONCLUSION In conclusion, recruitment of the RE in stressor-related contextual memory appears to be dependent on the contextual environment and whether the animal is able to engage in different stress coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Ornelas
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Kalynn Van Voorhies
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7171, USA.
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Ornelas LC, Tyler RE, Irukulapati P, Paladugu S, Besheer J. Increased alcohol self-administration following exposure to the predator odor TMT in active coping female rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 402:113068. [PMID: 33333108 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid. Additionally, individual differences in response to stress suggest resilient and susceptible populations. The current study exposed male and female Long Evans rats to the synthetically produced predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) to examine individual differences in stress-reactive behaviors (digging and immobility) and whether these differences were related to subsequent alcohol drinking. Male and female Long Evans rats were trained on operant alcohol self-administration. After 9 sessions, rats underwent exposure to TMT or water (Control) in a distinct context. 6 days after TMT exposure, rats underwent re-exposure to the TMT-paired context (without TMT), and a series of behavioral assessments (acoustic startle, zero maze, light/dark box), after which rats resumed alcohol self-administration. TMT subgroups were created using a ratio of digging to immobility behavior during TMT exposure and rats with a ratio score < 1.0 or> 1.0 were grouped into TMT-1 (low digging/high immobility) or TMT-2 (high digging/low immobility), respectively. All male rats exposed to TMT met criteria for TMT-1, while female rats were divided into the two subgroups. In females, high digging/low immobility behavior during TMT exposure (TMT-2) was related to increased alcohol self-administration, but this was not observed in males or females that engaged in low digging/high immobility (TMT-1). These data show that individual differences in stress-reactivity can lead to lasting behavioral changes which may lead to a better understanding of increases in alcohol drinking following stress in females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan E Tyler
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, United States; Neuroscience Curriculum, United States
| | | | | | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, United States; Neuroscience Curriculum, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States.
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