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Shyu BC, Gao ZY, Wu JJS, He ABH, Cheng CN, Huang ACW. Methamphetamine and Modulation Functionality of the Prelimbic Cortex for Developing a Possible Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease in an Animal Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:751913. [PMID: 34744692 PMCID: PMC8564002 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.751913] [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: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that causes cognitive impairment and other neuropsychiatric symptoms. Previously, little research has thus far investigated whether methamphetamine (MAMPH) can enhance cognitive function or ameliorate AD symptoms. This study examined whether a low dose of MAMPH can induce conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning, or can increase plasma corticosterone levels, neural activity, and neural plasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) (responsible for cognitive function), the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the amygdala (related to rewarding and aversive emotion), and the hippocampus (responsible for spatial learning). Furthermore, the excitations or lesions of the prelimbic cortex (PrL) can affect MAMPH-induced CTA learning, plasma corticosterone levels, and neural activity or plasticity in the mPFC [i.e., PrL, infralimbic cortex (IL), cingulate cortex 1 (Cg1)], the NAc, the amygdala [i.e., basolateral amygdala (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA)], and the hippocampus [i.e., CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG)]. In the experimental procedure, the rats were administered either saline or NMDA solutions, which were injected into the PrL to excite or destroy PrL neurons. Additionally, rats received 0.1% saccharin solution for 15 min, followed by intraperitoneal injections of either normal saline or 1 mg/kg MAMPH to induce CTA. A one-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the effects of saccharin intake on CTA, plasma corticosterone levels, and the expression of c-Fos and p-ERK. The results showed that the MAMPH induced CTA learning and increased plasma corticosterone levels. The mPFC, and particularly the PrL and IL and the DG of the hippocampus, appeared to show increased neural activity in c-Fos expression or neural plasticity in p-ERK expression. The excitation of the PrL neurons upregulated neural activity in c-Fos expression and neural plasticity in p-ERK expression in the PrL and IL. In summary, MAMPH may be able to improve cognitive and executive function in the brain and reduce AD symptoms. Moreover, the excitatory modulation of the PrL with MAMPH administration can facilitate MAMPH-induced neural activity and plasticity in the PrL and IL of the mPFC. The present data provide clinical implications for developing a possible treatment for AD in an animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai-Chuang Shyu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Zhi-Yue Gao
- Yuanshan Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Alan Bo Han He
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Cai-N Cheng
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan.,Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
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Chaudron Y, Pifferi F, Aujard F. Overview of age-related changes in psychomotor and cognitive functions in a prosimian primate, the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus): Recent advances in risk factors and antiaging interventions. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23337. [PMID: 34706117 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Aging is not homogeneous in humans and the determinants leading to differences between subjects are not fully understood. Impaired glucose homeostasis is a major risk factor for cognitive decline in middle-aged humans, pointing at the existence of early markers of unhealthy aging. The gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), a small lemuriform Malagasy primate, shows relatively slow aging with decreased psychomotor capacities at middle-age (around 5-year old). In some cases (∼10%), it spontaneously leads to pathological aging. In this case, some age-related deficits, such as severe cognitive decline, brain atrophy, amyloidosis, and glucoregulatory imbalance are congruent with what is observed in humans. In the present review, we inventory the changes occurring in psychomotor and cognitive functions during healthy and pathological aging in mouse lemur. It includes a summary of the cerebral, metabolic, and cellular alterations that occur during aging and their relation to cognitive decline. As nutrition is one of the major nonpharmacological antiaging strategies with major potential effects on cognitive performances, we also discuss its role in brain functions and cognitive decline in this species. We show that the overall approach of aging studies in the gray mouse lemur offers promising ways of investigation for understanding, prevention, and treatments of pathological aging in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohann Chaudron
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Brunoy, France
| | - Fabien Pifferi
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Brunoy, France
| | - Fabienne Aujard
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Brunoy, France
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Zweig JA, Caruso M, Brandes MS, Gray NE. Loss of NRF2 leads to impaired mitochondrial function, decreased synaptic density and exacerbated age-related cognitive deficits. Exp Gerontol 2019; 131:110767. [PMID: 31843395 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.110767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the antioxidant regulatory transcription factor NRF2 (Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2) regulates cellular bioenergetics and improves neuronal health in aging. Yet how NRF2 participates in maintaining synaptic, mitochondrial and cognitive function has not been fully elucidated. This study investigates how loss of NRF2 affects neuronal metabolism, synaptic density and cognitive performance in aged mice. Dendritic arborization as well as synaptic and mitochondrial gene expression was evaluated in hippocampal neurons isolated from mice lacking NRF2 (NRF2KO) and from wild-type (WT) C57BL6 mice. Mitochondrial function of these neurons was evaluated using the Seahorse XF platform. Additionally learning, memory and executive function were assessed in 20 month old NRF2KO and age-matched WT mice using conditioned fear response (CFR) and odor discrimination reversal learning (ODRL) tests. Hippocampal bioenergetics was profiled using mitochondria isolated from these animals and tissue was harvested for assessment of mitochondrial and synaptic genes. NRF2KO neurons had reduced dendritic complexity and diminished synaptic gene expression. This was accompanied by impaired mitochondrial function and decreased mitochondrial gene expression. Similar mitochondrial deficits were observed in the brains of aged NRF2KO mice. These animals also had significantly impaired cognitive performance and reduced synaptic gene expression as well. These data point to a role for NRF2 in maintaining mitochondrial and cognitive function during aging and suggest that the transcription factor may be a viable target for cognitive enhancing interventions. Because mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment also occur together in many neurodegenerative conditions there may be broad therapeutic potential of NRF2 activating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Zweig
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Maya Caruso
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Mikah S Brandes
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Nora E Gray
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Bigdaj EV, Bezgacheva EA, Samojlov VO, Korolyev YN. The Influence of Hypoxic Hypoxia on the Human Ability to Identify Smells. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350918050044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Gray NE, Zweig JA, Caruso M, Martin MD, Zhu JY, Quinn JF, Soumyanath A. Centella asiatica increases hippocampal synaptic density and improves memory and executive function in aged mice. Brain Behav 2018; 8:e01024. [PMID: 29920983 PMCID: PMC6043711 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Centella asiatica is a plant used for centuries to enhance memory. We have previously shown that a water extract of Centella asiatica (CAW) attenuates age-related spatial memory deficits in mice and improves neuronal health. Yet the effect of CAW on other cognitive domains remains unexplored as does its mechanism of improving age-related cognitive impairment. This study investigates the effects of CAW on a variety of cognitive tasks as well as on synaptic density and mitochondrial and antioxidant pathways. METHODS Twenty-month-old CB6F1 mice were treated with CAW (2 mg/ml) in their drinking water for 2 weeks prior to behavioral testing. Learning, memory, and executive function were assessed using the novel object recognition task (NORT), object location memory task (OLM), and odor discrimination reversal learning (ODRL) test. Tissue was collected for Golgi analysis of spine density as well as assessment of mitochondrial, antioxidant, and synaptic proteins. RESULTS CAW improved performance in all behavioral tests suggesting effects on hippocampal and cortical dependent memory as well as on prefrontal cortex mediated executive function. There was also an increase in synaptic density in the treated animals, which was accompanied by increased expression of the antioxidant response gene NRF2 as well as the mitochondrial marker porin. CONCLUSIONS These data show that CAW can increase synaptic density as well as antioxidant and mitochondrial proteins and improve multiple facets of age-related cognitive impairment. Because mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress also accompany cognitive impairment in many pathological conditions this suggests a broad therapeutic utility of CAW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora E Gray
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jonathan A Zweig
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Maya Caruso
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Marjoen D Martin
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jennifer Y Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Joseph F Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Department of Neurology and Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Care Center (PADRECC), VA Portland Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon
| | - Amala Soumyanath
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Bigdaj EV, Bezgacheva EA, Samojlov VO, Korolyev YN. The Effects of Hypoxic Hypoxia on Olfactory Sensitivity in Humans. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s000635091803003x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Picq JL, Villain N, Gary C, Pifferi F, Dhenain M. Jumping Stand Apparatus Reveals Rapidly Specific Age-Related Cognitive Impairments in Mouse Lemur Primates. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0146238. [PMID: 26716699 PMCID: PMC4696676 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) is a promising primate model for investigating normal and pathological cerebral aging. The locomotor behavior of this arboreal primate is characterized by jumps to and from trunks and branches. Many reports indicate insufficient adaptation of the mouse lemur to experimental devices used to evaluate its cognition, which is an impediment to the efficient use of this animal in research. In order to develop cognitive testing methods appropriate to the behavioral and biological traits of this species, we adapted the Lashley jumping stand apparatus, initially designed for rats, to the mouse lemur. We used this jumping stand apparatus to compare performances of young (n = 12) and aged (n = 8) adults in acquisition and long-term retention of visual discriminations. All mouse lemurs completed the tasks and only 25 trials, on average, were needed to master the first discrimination problem with no age-related differences. A month later, all mouse lemurs made progress for acquiring the second discrimination problem but only the young group reached immediately the criterion in the retention test of the first discrimination problem. This study shows that the jumping stand apparatus allows rapid and efficient evaluation of cognition in mouse lemurs and demonstrates that about half of the old mouse lemurs display a specific deficit in long-term retention but not in acquisition of visual discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Luc Picq
- Laboratoire de psychopathologie et de neuropsychologie, E.A. 2027, Université Paris 8, 2 rue de la liberté, 93000 St Denis, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay UMR 9199, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), Institut d’Imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), MIRCen, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Nicolas Villain
- CNRS UMR 7179, MNHN, Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), 1 Av du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Charlotte Gary
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay UMR 9199, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), Institut d’Imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), MIRCen, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Fabien Pifferi
- CNRS UMR 7179, MNHN, Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), 1 Av du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Marc Dhenain
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay UMR 9199, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), Institut d’Imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), MIRCen, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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Tacrine improves reversal learning in older rats. Neuropharmacology 2013; 73:284-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Revised: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Wesson DW, Varga-Wesson AG, Borkowski AH, Wilson DA. Respiratory and sniffing behaviors throughout adulthood and aging in mice. Behav Brain Res 2011; 223:99-106. [PMID: 21524667 PMCID: PMC3128824 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2011] [Revised: 04/05/2011] [Accepted: 04/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Orienting responses are physiological and active behavioral reactions evoked by novel stimulus perception and are critical for survival. We explored whether odor orienting responses are impacted throughout both adulthood and normal and pathological aging in mice. Novel odor investigation (including duration and bout numbers) and its subsequent habituation as assayed in the odor habituation task were preserved in adult C57BL/6J mice up to 12 mo of age with <6% variability between age groups in investigation time. Separately, using whole-body plethysmography we found that both spontaneous respiration and odor-evoked sniffing behaviors were strikingly preserved in wildtype (WT) mice up to 26 mo of age. In contrast, mice accumulating amyloid-β protein in the brain by means of overexpressing mutations in the human amyloid precursor protein gene (APP) showed preserved spontaneous respiration up to 12 mo, but starting at 14 mo showed significant differences from WT. Similar to WTs, odor-evoked sniffing was not impacted in APP mice up to 26 mo. These results show that odor-orienting responses are minimally impacted throughout aging in mice, and suggest that the olfactomotor network is mostly spared of insults due to aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Wesson
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
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Age-induced disruption of selective olfactory bulb synaptic circuits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:15613-8. [PMID: 20679234 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1007931107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about how normal aging affects the brain. Recent evidence suggests that neuronal loss is not ubiquitous in aging neocortex. Instead, subtle and still controversial, region- and layer-specific alterations of neuron morphology and synapses are reported during aging, leading to the notion that discrete changes in neural circuitry may underlie age-related cognitive deficits. Although deficits in sensory function suggest that primary sensory cortices are affected by aging, our understanding of the age-related cellular and molecular changes is sparse. To assess the effect of aging on the organization of olfactory bulb (OB) circuitry, we carried out quantitative morphometric analyses in the mouse OB at 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo. Our data establish that the volumes of the major OB layers do not change during aging. Parallel to this, we are unique in demonstrating that the stereotypic glomerular convergence of M72-GFP OSN axons in the OB is preserved during aging. We then provide unique evidence of the stability of projection neurons and interneurons subpopulations in the aging mouse OB, arguing against the notion of an age-dependent widespread loss of neurons. Finally, we show ultrastructurally a significant layer-specific loss of synapses; synaptic density is reduced in the glomerular layer but not the external plexiform layer, leading to an imbalance in OB circuitry. These results suggest that reduction of afferent synaptic input and local modulatory circuit synapses in OB glomeruli may contribute to specific age-related alterations of the olfactory function.
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Cideciyan AV. Leber congenital amaurosis due to RPE65 mutations and its treatment with gene therapy. Prog Retin Eye Res 2010; 29:398-427. [PMID: 20399883 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2010.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare hereditary retinal degeneration caused by mutations in more than a dozen genes. RPE65, one of these mutated genes, is highly expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium where it encodes the retinoid isomerase enzyme essential for the production of chromophore which forms the visual pigment in rod and cone photoreceptors of the retina. Congenital loss of chromophore production due to RPE65-deficiency together with progressive photoreceptor degeneration cause severe and progressive loss of vision. RPE65-associated LCA recently gained recognition outside of specialty ophthalmic circles due to early success achieved by three clinical trials of gene therapy using recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. The trials were built on multitude of basic, pre-clinical and clinical research defining the pathophysiology of the disease in human subjects and animal models, and demonstrating the proof-of-concept of gene (augmentation) therapy. Substantial gains in visual function of clinical trial participants provided evidence for physiologically relevant biological activity resulting from a newly introduced gene. This article reviews the current knowledge on retinal degeneration and visual dysfunction in animal models and human patients with RPE65 disease, and examines the consequences of gene therapy in terms of improvement of vision reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur V Cideciyan
- Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 51 North 39th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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