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Úbeda-Contreras J, Marín-Blasco I, Nadal R, Armario A. Brain c-fos expression patterns induced by emotional stressors differing in nature and intensity. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:2213-2227. [PMID: 29450645 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1624-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Regardless of its particular nature, emotional stressors appear to elicit a widespread and roughly similar brain activation pattern as evaluated by c-fos expression. However, their behavioral and physiological consequences may strongly differ. Here we addressed in adult male rats the contribution of the intensity and the particular nature of stressors by comparing, in a set of brain areas, the number of c-fos expressing neurons in response to open-field, cat odor or immobilization on boards (IMO). These are qualitatively different stressors that are known to differ in terms of intensity, as evaluated by biological markers. In the present study, plasma levels of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) demonstrated that intensity increases in the following order: open-field, cat odor and IMO. Four different c-fos activation patterns emerged among all areas studied: (i) positive relationship with intensity (posterior-dorsal medial amygdala, dorsomedial hypothalamus, lateral septum ventral and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus), (ii) negative relationship with intensity (cingulate cortex 1, posterior insular cortex, dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens and some subdivisions of the hippocampal formation); (iii) activation not dependent on the intensity of the stressor (prelimbic and infralimbic cortex and lateral and basolateral amygdala); and (iv) activation specifically associated with cat odor (ventromedial amygdala and ventromedial hypothalamus). Histone 3 phosphorylation at serine 10, another neuronal activation marker, corroborated c-fos results. Summarizing, deepest analysis of the brain activation pattern elicit by emotional stressor indicated that, in spite of activating similar areas, each stressor possess their own brain activation signature, mediated mainly by qualitative aspects but also by intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Úbeda-Contreras
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Marín-Blasco
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.,Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain. .,CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. .,Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
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Blouin AM, Sillivan SE, Joseph NF, Miller CA. The potential of epigenetics in stress-enhanced fear learning models of PTSD. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 23:576-86. [PMID: 27634148 PMCID: PMC5026205 DOI: 10.1101/lm.040485.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged distress and dysregulated memory processes are the core features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and represent the debilitating, persistent nature of the illness. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the expression of these symptoms are challenging to study in human patients. Stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) paradigms, which encompass both stress and memory components in rodents, are emerging as valuable preclinical models of PTSD. Rodent models designed to study the long-term mechanisms of either stress or fear memory alone have identified a critical role for numerous epigenetic modifications to DNA and histone proteins. However, the epigenetic modifications underlying SEFL remain largely unknown. This review will provide a brief overview of the epigenetic modifications implicated in stress and fear memory independently, followed by a description of existing SEFL models and the few epigenetic mechanisms found to date to underlie SEFL. The results of the animal studies discussed here highlight neuroepigenetics as an essential area for future research in the context of PTSD through SEFL studies, because of its potential to identify novel candidates for neurotherapeutics targeting stress-induced pathogenic memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Blouin
- Department of Metabolism and Aging and Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Stephanie E Sillivan
- Department of Metabolism and Aging and Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Nadine F Joseph
- Department of Metabolism and Aging and Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Courtney A Miller
- Department of Metabolism and Aging and Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
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Ciccarelli A, Giustetto M. Role of ERK signaling in activity-dependent modifications of histone proteins. Neuropharmacology 2014; 80:34-44. [PMID: 24486378 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
It is well-established that neuronal intracellular signaling governed by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK/MAPK) plays a crucial role in long-term adaptive changes that occur during cognitive processes. ERK is a downstream component of a conserved signaling module that is activated by the serine/threonine kinase, Raf, which activates the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)1/2 protein kinases, which, in turn, activate ERK1/2. This signaling pathway has been reported to be activated in numerous physiological conditions due to a variety of stimuli, ranging from the activation of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors to metabotropic dopaminergic receptors and neurotrophin receptors. Interestingly, activated ERK can have early and late downstream effects at both the nuclear and synaptic levels. Locally, ERK signaling results in transient changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission by modifying both pre- and post-synaptic targets. Once translocated into the nucleus, ERK signaling may control transcription by targeting several different regulators of gene expression such as transcription factors and histone proteins. ERK function is considered fundamental in processes such as long-term memory storage and drug addiction, by means of its role in activity-dependent epigenetic modifications that occur in the brain. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of ERK action in the neuroepigenetic processes underlying physiological responses, cognitive processes and drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Ciccarelli
- University of Turin, Department of Neuroscience, C.so M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Maurizio Giustetto
- University of Turin, Department of Neuroscience, C.so M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience-Italy, C.so M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Turin, Italy.
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