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Spencer CD, Miller PA, Williams-Ikhenoba JG, Nikolova RG, Chee MJ. Regulation of the Mouse Ventral Tegmental Area by Melanin-Concentrating Hormone. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0790232024. [PMID: 38806249 PMCID: PMC11223476 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0790-23.2024] [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] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) acts via its sole receptor MCHR1 in rodents and is an important regulator of homeostatic behaviors like feeding, sleep, and mood to impact overall energy balance. The loss of MCH signaling by MCH or MCHR1 deletion produces hyperactive mice with increased energy expenditure, and these effects are consistently associated with a hyperdopaminergic state. We recently showed that MCH suppresses dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, which principally receives dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), but the mechanisms underlying MCH-regulated dopamine release are not clearly defined. MCHR1 expression is widespread and includes dopaminergic VTA cells. However, as the VTA is a neurochemically diverse structure, we assessed Mchr1 gene expression at glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic VTA cells and determined if MCH inhibited the activity of VTA cells and/or their local microcircuit. Mchr1 expression was robust in major VTA cell types, including most dopaminergic (78%) or glutamatergic cells (52%) and some GABAergic cells (38%). Interestingly, MCH directly inhibited dopaminergic and GABAergic cells but did not regulate the activity of glutamatergic cells. Rather, MCH produced a delayed increase in excitatory input to dopamine cells and a corresponding decrease in GABAergic input to glutamatergic VTA cells. Our findings suggested that MCH may acutely suppress dopamine release while disinhibiting local glutamatergic signaling to restore dopamine levels. This indicated that the VTA is a target of MCH action, which may provide bidirectional regulation of energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Duncan Spencer
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Persephone A Miller
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | | | - Ralitsa G Nikolova
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
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Germé K, Pfaus JG. Acute ethanol disrupts conditioned inhibition in the male rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06618-5. [PMID: 38822097 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06618-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol can disrupt conditioned sexual inhibition (CSI) established by first-order conditioning in male rats. CSI can also be induced using second-order conditioning, during which male rats are trained to associate a neutral odor with a nonreceptive female. As a result, when given access to two receptive females (one scented and one unscented) during a copulatory preference test, they display CSI toward the scented female. OBJECTIVE The present study examined the effect of low-to-moderate doses of alcohol on CSI and brain activation following exposure to alcohol and the olfactory cue alone. METHODS Sexually-naïve Long-Evans rats received alternate conditioning sessions with unscented receptive or scented (almond extract) non-receptive females. Following the conditioning phase, males were injected with saline, alcohol 0.5 g/kg or 1 g/kg, 45 min before a copulatory test with two receptive females, with one bearing the olfactory cue. Fos activation was later assessed, following exposure to alcohol and the olfactory cue alone, in several brain regions involved in the expression and regulation of male sexual behavior. RESULTS While males in the saline group displayed sexual avoidance towards the scented female, those injected with alcohol before the copulatory test, regardless of the dose, copulated indiscriminately with both females. Subsequent exposure to alcohol and the olfactory cue alone induced different Fos expression between groups in several brain regions. CONCLUSIONS Low to moderate doses of alcohol disrupt conditioned sexual inhibition in male rats and induce a differential pattern of neural activation, particularly in regions involved in the expression and regulation of sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katuschia Germé
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, H4B 1R7, Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Sexual Health and Intervention, Czech National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, 25067, Czech Republic.
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, 18200, Czech Republic.
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Hou G, Hao M, Duan J, Han MH. The Formation and Function of the VTA Dopamine System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3875. [PMID: 38612683 PMCID: PMC11011984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073875] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The midbrain dopamine system is a sophisticated hub that integrates diverse inputs to control multiple physiological functions, including locomotion, motivation, cognition, reward, as well as maternal and reproductive behaviors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that binds to G-protein-coupled receptors. Dopamine also works together with other neurotransmitters and various neuropeptides to maintain the balance of synaptic functions. The dysfunction of the dopamine system leads to several conditions, including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, major depression, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been identified as an important relay nucleus that modulates homeostatic plasticity in the midbrain dopamine system. Due to the complexity of synaptic transmissions and input-output connections in the VTA, the structure and function of this crucial brain region are still not fully understood. In this review article, we mainly focus on the cell types, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, ion channels, receptors, and neural circuits of the VTA dopamine system, with the hope of obtaining new insight into the formation and function of this vital brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Hou
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Mei Hao
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiawen Duan
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China (M.H.); (J.D.)
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Sagheddu C, Stojanovic T, Kouhnavardi S, Savchenko A, Hussein AM, Pistis M, Monje FJ, Plasenzotti R, Aufy M, Studenik CR, Lubec J, Lubec G. Cognitive performance in aged rats is associated with differences in distinctive neuronal populations in the ventral tegmental area and altered synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1357347. [PMID: 38469164 PMCID: PMC10926450 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1357347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Deterioration of cognitive functions is commonly associated with aging, although there is wide variation in the onset and manifestation. Albeit heterogeneity in age-related cognitive decline has been studied at the cellular and molecular level, there is poor evidence for electrophysiological correlates. The aim of the current study was to address the electrophysiological basis of heterogeneity of cognitive functions in cognitively Inferior and Superior old (19-20 months) rats in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the hippocampus, having Young (12 weeks) rats as a control. The midbrain VTA operates as a hub amidst affective and cognitive facets, processing sensory inputs related to motivated behaviours and hippocampal memory. Increasing evidence shows direct dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic input from the VTA to the hippocampus. Methods Aged Superior and Inferior male rats were selected from a cohort of 88 animals based on their performance in a spatial learning and memory task. Using in vivo single-cell recording in the VTA, we examined the electrical activity of different neuronal populations (putative dopaminergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons). In the same animals, basal synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity were examined in hippocampal slices. Results Electrophysiological recordings from the VTA and hippocampus showed alterations associated with aging per se, together with differences specifically linked to the cognitive status of aged animals. In particular, the bursting activity of dopamine neurons was lower, while the firing frequency of glutamatergic neurons was higher in VTA of Inferior old rats. The response to high-frequency stimulation in hippocampal slices also discriminated between Superior and Inferior aged animals. Discussion This study provides new insight into electrophysiological information underlying compromised cerebral ageing. Further understanding of brain senescence, possibly related to neurocognitive decline, will help develop new strategies towards the preservation of a high quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sagheddu
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Tamara Stojanovic
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Shima Kouhnavardi
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Artem Savchenko
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Institute of Pharmacology, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ahmed M. Hussein
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Asyut, Egypt
| | - Marco Pistis
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francisco J. Monje
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roberto Plasenzotti
- Division of Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mohammed Aufy
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian R. Studenik
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jana Lubec
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gert Lubec
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Li M, Yang G. A mesocortical glutamatergic pathway modulates neuropathic pain independent of dopamine co-release. Nat Commun 2024; 15:643. [PMID: 38245542 PMCID: PMC10799877 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45035-2] [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] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction in the mesocortical pathway, connecting the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in chronic pain. While extensive research has focused on the role of dopamine, the contribution of glutamatergic signaling in pain modulation remains unknown. Using in vivo calcium imaging, we observe diminished VTA glutamatergic activity targeting the prelimbic cortex (PL) in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Optogenetic activation of VTA glutamatergic terminals in the PL alleviates neuropathic pain, whereas inhibiting these terminals in naïve mice induces pain-like responses. Importantly, this pain-modulating effect is independent of dopamine co-release, as demonstrated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion. Furthermore, we show that VTA neurons primarily project to excitatory neurons in the PL, and their activation restores PL outputs to the anterior cingulate cortex, a key region involved in pain processing. These findings reveal a distinct mesocortical glutamatergic pathway that critically modulates neuropathic pain independent of dopamine signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Clarke-Williams CJ, Lopes-Dos-Santos V, Lefèvre L, Brizee D, Causse AA, Rothaermel R, Hartwich K, Perestenko PV, Toth R, McNamara CG, Sharott A, Dupret D. Coordinating brain-distributed network activities in memory resistant to extinction. Cell 2024; 187:409-427.e19. [PMID: 38242086 PMCID: PMC7615560 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.018] [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] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Certain memories resist extinction to continue invigorating maladaptive actions. The robustness of these memories could depend on their widely distributed implementation across populations of neurons in multiple brain regions. However, how dispersed neuronal activities are collectively organized to underpin a persistent memory-guided behavior remains unknown. To investigate this, we simultaneously monitored the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus, and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the mouse brain from initial recall to post-extinction renewal of a memory involving cocaine experience. We uncover a higher-order pattern of short-lived beta-frequency (15-25 Hz) activities that are transiently coordinated across these networks during memory retrieval. The output of a divergent pathway from upstream VTA glutamatergic neurons, paced by a slower (4-Hz) oscillation, actuates this multi-network beta-band coactivation; its closed-loop phase-informed suppression prevents renewal of cocaine-biased behavior. Binding brain-distributed neural activities in this temporally structured manner may constitute an organizational principle of robust memory expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie J Clarke-Williams
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK.
| | - Vítor Lopes-Dos-Santos
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Laura Lefèvre
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Demi Brizee
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Adrien A Causse
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Roman Rothaermel
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Katja Hartwich
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Pavel V Perestenko
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Robert Toth
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Colin G McNamara
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - Andrew Sharott
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
| | - David Dupret
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK.
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7
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Socha J, Grochecki P, Smaga I, Jastrzębska J, Wronikowska-Denysiuk O, Marszalek-Grabska M, Slowik T, Kotlinski R, Filip M, Lubec G, Kotlinska JH. Social Interaction in Adolescent Rats with Neonatal Ethanol Exposure: Impact of Sex and CE-123, a Selective Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1041. [PMID: 38256113 PMCID: PMC10816180 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021041] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) demonstrate deficits in social functioning that contribute to early withdrawal from school and delinquency, as well as the development of anxiety and depression. Dopamine is involved in reward, motivation, and social behavior. Thus, we evaluated whether neonatal ethanol exposure (in an animal model of FASDs) has an impact on social recognition memory using the three-chamber social novelty discrimination test during early and middle adolescence in male and female rats, and whether the modafinil analog, the novel atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitor CE-123, can modify this effect. Our study shows that male and female rats neonatally exposed to ethanol exhibited sex- and age-dependent deficits in social novelty discrimination in early (male) and middle (female) adolescence. These deficits were specific to the social domain and not simply due to more general deficits in learning and memory because these animals did not exhibit changes in short-term recognition memory in the novel object recognition task. Furthermore, early-adolescent male rats that were neonatally exposed to ethanol did not show changes in the anxiety index but demonstrated an increase in locomotor activity. Chronic treatment with CE-123, however, prevented the appearance of these social deficits. In the hippocampus of adolescent rats, CE-123 increased BDNF and decreased its signal transduction TrkB receptor expression level in ethanol-exposed animals during development, suggesting an increase in neuroplasticity. Thus, selective dopamine reuptake inhibitors, such as CE-123, represent interesting drug candidates for the treatment of deficits in social behavior in adolescent individuals with FASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Socha
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Pawel Grochecki
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Irena Smaga
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, 31-343 Krakow, Poland; (I.S.); (J.J.); (M.F.)
| | - Joanna Jastrzębska
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, 31-343 Krakow, Poland; (I.S.); (J.J.); (M.F.)
| | - Olga Wronikowska-Denysiuk
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Marta Marszalek-Grabska
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Tymoteusz Slowik
- Experimental Medicine Center, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Robert Kotlinski
- Clinical Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, 31-343 Krakow, Poland; (I.S.); (J.J.); (M.F.)
| | - Gert Lubec
- Department of Neuroproteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
| | - Jolanta H. Kotlinska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (P.G.)
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8
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Gan Y, Dong Y, Dai S, Shi H, Li X, Wang F, Fu Y, Dong Y. The different cell-specific mechanisms of voluntary exercise and forced exercise in the nucleus accumbens. Neuropharmacology 2023; 240:109714. [PMID: 37690678 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109714] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Physical inactivity is a global epidemic. People who take the initiative to exercise will feel pleasure during the exercise process and stick with it for a long time, while people who passively ask for exercise will feel pain and cannot stick with it. However, the neural mechanisms underlying voluntary and forced exercise remain unclear. Here, we report that voluntary running increased the frequency and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC) but decreased membrane excitability in D1R-MSNs, whereas D2R-MSNs did not change in mEPSC and membrane excitability. Forced running increased the frequency of mEPSC and membrane excitability in D2R-MSNs, but D1R-MSNs did not change, which may be the mechanism by which forced exercise has a non-rewarding effect. These findings provide new insights into how voluntary and forced exercise mediate reward and non-reward effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixia Gan
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yigang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Shanghua Dai
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Haifeng Shi
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Fanglin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yingmei Fu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Yi Dong
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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9
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Zell V, Teuns G, Needham AS, Mukherjee S, Roscoe N, Le M, Fourgeaud L, Woodruff G, Bhattacharya A, Marella M, Bonaventure P, Drevets WC, Balana B. Characterization of Selective M 5 Acetylcholine Muscarinic Receptor Modulators on Dopamine Signaling in the Striatum. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 387:226-234. [PMID: 37679045 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The type-5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR, M5) is almost exclusively expressed in dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta; therefore, they are ideally located to modulate DA signaling and underlying behaviors. However, the role of M5 in shaping DA release is still poorly characterized. In this study, we first quantitatively mapped the expression of M5 in different neurons of the mouse midbrain, then used voltammetry in mouse striatum to evaluate the effect of M5-selective modulators on DA release. The M5 negative allosteric modulator ML375 significantly decreased electrically evoked DA release and blocked the effect of Oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M; nonselective mAChR agonist) on DA release in the presence of an acetylcholine nicotinic receptor blocker. Conversely, the M5 positive allosteric modulator VU 0365114 significantly increased electrically evoked DA release and the Oxo-M effect on DA release. We then assessed M5's impact on mesolimbic circuit function in vivo. Although psychostimulant-induced locomotor activity models in knockout mice have previously been used to characterize the role of M5 in DA transmission, the results of these studies conflict, leading us to select a different in vivo model, namely a cocaine self-administration paradigm. In contrast to a previous study that also used this model, in the current study, administration of ML375 did not decrease cocaine self-administration in rats (using fixed and progressive ratio). These conflicting results illustrate the complexity of M5 modulation and the need to further characterize its involvement in the regulation of dopamine signaling, central to multiple neuropsychiatric diseases. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This work describes the type-5 muscarinic receptor (M5) pattern of expression within the midbrain as well as its physiological modulation by selective compounds at the axon terminal level in the striatum, where M5 directly shapes dopamine transmission. It offers the first direct readout of mesolimbic dopamine release modulation by M5, highlighting its role in regulating neurocircuits implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders such as substance use disorders, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Zell
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Greetje Teuns
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Alexandra Stormy Needham
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Sruti Mukherjee
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Nathaniel Roscoe
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Michelle Le
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Lawrence Fourgeaud
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Grace Woodruff
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Anindya Bhattacharya
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Mathieu Marella
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Pascal Bonaventure
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Wayne C Drevets
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Bartosz Balana
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
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10
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Hosseinzadeh Sahafi O, Sardari M, Alijanpour S, Rezayof A. Shared Mechanisms of GABAergic and Opioidergic Transmission Regulate Corticolimbic Reward Systems and Cognitive Aspects of Motivational Behaviors. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050815. [PMID: 37239287 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The functional interplay between the corticolimbic GABAergic and opioidergic systems plays a crucial role in regulating the reward system and cognitive aspects of motivational behaviors leading to the development of addictive behaviors and disorders. This review provides a summary of the shared mechanisms of GABAergic and opioidergic transmission, which modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons located in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the central hub of the reward mechanisms. This review comprehensively covers the neuroanatomical and neurobiological aspects of corticolimbic inhibitory neurons that express opioid receptors, which act as modulators of corticolimbic GABAergic transmission. The presence of opioid and GABA receptors on the same neurons allows for the modulation of the activity of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area, which plays a key role in the reward mechanisms of the brain. This colocalization of receptors and their immunochemical markers can provide a comprehensive understanding for clinicians and researchers, revealing the neuronal circuits that contribute to the reward system. Moreover, this review highlights the importance of GABAergic transmission-induced neuroplasticity under the modulation of opioid receptors. It discusses their interactive role in reinforcement learning, network oscillation, aversive behaviors, and local feedback or feedforward inhibitions in reward mechanisms. Understanding the shared mechanisms of these systems may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches for addiction, reward-related disorders, and drug-induced cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oveis Hosseinzadeh Sahafi
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6465, Iran
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Maryam Sardari
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6465, Iran
| | - Sakineh Alijanpour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous 4971799151, Iran
| | - Ameneh Rezayof
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6465, Iran
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11
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Campos LJ, Arokiaraj CM, Chuapoco MR, Chen X, Goeden N, Gradinaru V, Fox AS. Advances in AAV technology for delivering genetically encoded cargo to the nonhuman primate nervous system. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 4:100086. [PMID: 37397806 PMCID: PMC10313870 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern neuroscience approaches including optogenetics, calcium imaging, and other genetic manipulations have facilitated our ability to dissect specific circuits in rodent models to study their role in neurological disease. These approaches regularly use viral vectors to deliver genetic cargo (e.g., opsins) to specific tissues and genetically-engineered rodents to achieve cell-type specificity. However, the translatability of these rodent models, cross-species validation of identified targets, and translational efficacy of potential therapeutics in larger animal models like nonhuman primates remains difficult due to the lack of efficient primate viral vectors. A refined understanding of the nonhuman primate nervous system promises to deliver insights that can guide the development of treatments for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we outline recent advances in the development of adeno-associated viral vectors for optimized use in nonhuman primates. These tools promise to help open new avenues for study in translational neuroscience and further our understanding of the primate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian J. Campos
- Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 05616, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Cynthia M. Arokiaraj
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Miguel R. Chuapoco
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Xinhong Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Nick Goeden
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Capsida Biotherapeutics, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Andrew S. Fox
- Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 05616, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
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12
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Kim MJ, Kaang BK. Distinct cell populations of ventral tegmental area process motivated behavior. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 26:307-312. [PMID: 36039731 PMCID: PMC9437368 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2022.26.5.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Min Jung Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Bong-Kiun Kaang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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13
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Zhang L, Zhang P, Qi G, Cai H, Li T, Li M, Cui C, Lei J, Ren K, Yang J, Ming J, Tian B. A zona incerta-basomedial amygdala circuit modulates aversive expectation in emotional stress-induced aversive learning deficits. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:910699. [PMID: 36090791 PMCID: PMC9459227 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.910699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A previously published study showed that stress may interfere with associative aversive learning and facilitate mood-related disorders. However, whether emotional stress alone affects aversive learning is unknown. Using three chamber-vicarious social defeat stress (3C-VSDS) model mice, we investigated the effect of emotional stress on aversive learning. An important origin of dopamine (DA) neurons, the zona incerta (ZI), is expected to be a novel target for the modulation of aversive learning. However, less is known about the circuit mechanism of ZIDA neurons in aversive learning. Here, we subjected mice to a fear-conditioning system (FCS) and observed an increased calcium activity of ZI TH+ neurons in aversive expectation during the conditioning phase, especially during the late stage of the conditional stimulus (CS) when CS and unconditional stimulus (US) pairings were used. Optogenetic inhibition of ZI TH+ neurons at the late stage of CS disrupted conditioned fear learning in mice. We further identified a TH+ projection from the ZI to the basomedial amygdala (BMA) and found that optogenetic inhibition of the ZI-BMA circuit could also block aversive learning. Finally, we used 3C-VSDS mice as a model of emotional stress. We found that the 3C-VSDS model mice demonstrated reduced aversive expectation associated with ZI TH+ neurons in the late stage of CS and impaired aversive learning in FCS. Optogenetic activation of ZI-BMA TH+ projections in the late stage of CS significantly reversed the aversive FCS learning disability of 3C-VSDS model mice. These data suggest that a TH+ circuit from the ZI to the BMA is required for aversive expectation, both at baseline and in 3C-VSDS-induced aversive learning deficits and that this circuit is a potential target for the modulation of aversive learning. Low activity of ZI-BMA TH+ projections is one reason for 3C-VSDS-induced aversive learning deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pei Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangjian Qi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongwei Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tongxia Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chi Cui
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Lei
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kun Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Ming
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Tian
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Bo Tian,
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14
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Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11071267. [PMID: 35883757 PMCID: PMC9312198 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are among the most widely used classes of pharmacologically active compounds both clinically and recreationally. Beyond their analgesic efficacy via μ opioid receptor (MOR) agonism, a prominent side effect is central respiratory depression, leading to systemic hypoxia and free radical generation. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid; AA) is an essential antioxidant vitamin and is involved in the recycling of redox cofactors associated with inflammation. While AA has been shown to reduce some of the negative side effects of opioids, the underlying mechanisms have not been explored. The present review seeks to provide a signaling framework under which MOR activation and AA may interact. AA can directly quench reactive oxygen and nitrogen species induced by opioids, yet this activity alone does not sufficiently describe observations. Downstream of MOR activation, confounding effects from AA with STAT3, HIF1α, and NF-κB have the potential to block production of antioxidant proteins such as nitric oxide synthase and superoxide dismutase. Further mechanistic research is necessary to understand the underlying signaling crosstalk of MOR activation and AA in the amelioration of the negative, potentially fatal side effects of opioids.
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15
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Musardo S, Contestabile A, Knoop M, Baud O, Bellone C. Oxytocin neurons mediate the effect of social isolation via the VTA circuits. eLife 2022; 11:73421. [PMID: 35451958 PMCID: PMC9075949 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interaction during adolescence strongly influences brain function and behavior, and the recent pandemic has emphasized the devastating effect of social distancing on mental health. While accumulating evidence has shown the importance of the reward system in encoding specific aspects of social interaction, the consequences of social isolation on the reward system and the development of social skills later in adulthood are still largely unknown. Here, we found that one week of social isolation during adolescence in male mice increased social interaction at the expense of social habituation and social novelty preference. Behavioral changes were accompanied by the acute hyperexcitability of putative dopamine (pDA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and long-lasting expression of GluA2-lacking AMPARs at excitatory inputs onto pDA neurons that project to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Social isolation-dependent behavioral deficits and changes in neural activity and synaptic plasticity were reversed by chemogenetic inhibition of oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. These results demonstrate that social isolation in male mice has acute and long-lasting effects on social interaction and suggest that homeostatic adaptations mediate these effects within the reward circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Musardo
- Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Marit Knoop
- Laboratory of Child Growth and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Baud
- Laboratory of Child Growth and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Camilla Bellone
- Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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16
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Chronic Stress Induces Sex-Specific Functional and Morphological Alterations in Corticoaccumbal and Corticotegmental Pathways. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:194-205. [PMID: 33867113 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is part of a complex circuit controlling stress responses by sending projections to different limbic structures including the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, the impact of chronic stress on NAc- and VTA-projecting mPFC neurons is still unknown, and the distinct contribution of these pathways to stress responses in males and females is unclear. METHODS Behavioral stress responses were induced by 21 days of chronic variable stress in male and female C57BL/6NCrl mice. An intersectional viral approach was used to label both pathways and assess the functional, morphological, and transcriptional adaptations in NAc- and VTA-projecting mPFC neurons in stressed males and females. Using chemogenetic approaches, we modified neuronal activity of NAc-projecting mPFC neurons to decipher their contribution to stress phenotypes. RESULTS Chronic variable stress induced depressive-like behaviors in males and females. NAc- and VTA-projecting mPFC neurons exhibited sex-specific functional, morphological, and transcriptional alterations. The functional changes were more severe in females in NAc-projecting mPFC neurons, while males exhibited more drastic reductions in dendritic complexity in VTA-projecting mPFC neurons after chronic variable stress. Finally, chemogenetic overactivation of the corticoaccumbal pathway triggered anxiety and behavioral despair in both sexes, while its inhibition rescued the phenotype only in females. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that stress responses in males and females result from pathway-specific changes in the activity of transcriptional programs controlling the morphological and synaptic properties of corticoaccumbal and corticotegmental pathways in a sex-specific fashion.
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17
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Stone TW. Relationships and Interactions between Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors and Nicotinic Receptors in the CNS. Neuroscience 2021; 468:321-365. [PMID: 34111447 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although ionotropic glutamate receptors and nicotinic receptors for acetylcholine (ACh) have usually been studied separately, they are often co-localized and functionally inter-dependent. The objective of this review is to survey the evidence for interactions between the two receptor families and the mechanisms underlying them. These include the mutual regulation of subunit expression, which change the NMDA:AMPA response balance, and the existence of multi-functional receptor complexes which make it difficult to distinguish between individual receptor sites, especially in vivo. This is followed by analysis of the functional relationships between the receptors from work on transmitter release, cellular electrophysiology and aspects of behavior where these can contribute to understanding receptor interactions. It is clear that nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) on axonal terminals directly regulate the release of glutamate and other neurotransmitters, α7-nAChRs generally promoting release. Hence, α7-nAChR responses will be prevented not only by a nicotinic antagonist, but also by compounds blocking the indirectly activated glutamate receptors. This accounts for the apparent anticholinergic activity of some glutamate antagonists, including the endogenous antagonist kynurenic acid. The activation of presynaptic nAChRs is by the ambient levels of ACh released from pre-terminal synapses, varicosities and glial cells, acting as a 'volume neurotransmitter' on synaptic and extrasynaptic sites. In addition, ACh and glutamate are released as CNS co-transmitters, including 'cholinergic' synapses onto spinal Renshaw cells. It is concluded that ACh should be viewed primarily as a modulator of glutamatergic neurotransmission by regulating the release of glutamate presynaptically, and the location, subunit composition, subtype balance and sensitivity of glutamate receptors, and not primarily as a classical fast neurotransmitter. These conclusions and caveats should aid clarification of the sites of action of glutamate and nicotinic receptor ligands in the search for new centrally-acting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor W Stone
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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18
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Chen X, Ma Y, Mou X, Liu H, Ming H, Chen Y, Liu Y, Liu S. Synergistic Effect of Several Neurotransmitters in PFC-NAc-VTA Neural Circuit for the Anti-Depression Effect of Shuganheweitang in a Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Model. Nat Prod Commun 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x211002415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression, a major worldwide mental disorder, leads to massive disability and can result in death. The PFC-NAc-VTA neuro circuit is related to emotional, neurovegetative, and cognitive functions, which emerge as a circuit-level framework for understanding reward deficits in depression. Neurotransmitters, which are widely distributed in different brain regions, are important detected targets for the evaluation of depression. Shuganheweitang (SGHWT) is a popular prescription in clinical therapy for depression. In order to investigate its possible pharmacodynamics and anti-depressive mechanism, the complex plant material was separated into different fractions. These in low and high doses, along with low and high doses of SGHWT were tested in animal behavior tests. The low and high doses of SGHWT were more effective than the various fractions, which indicate the importance of synergistic function in traditional Chinese medicine. Furthermore, amino acid (GABA, Glu) and monoamine neurotransmitters (DA, 5-HT, NA, 5-HIAA) in the PFC-NAc-VTA neuro circuit were investigated by UPLC-MS/MS. The level trend of DA and 5-HT were consistent in the PFC-NAc-VTA neuro circuit, whereas 5-HIAA was decreased in the PFC, Glu was decreased in the PFC and VTA, and NA and GABA were decreased in the NAc. The results indicate that the pathogenesis of depression is associated with dysfunction of the PFC-NAc-VTA neural circuit, mainly through the neural projection effects of neurotransmitters associated with various brain regions in the neural circuit. PCA and OPLS-DA score plots demonstrated the similarities of individuals within each group and the differences among the groups. In this study, SGHWT could regulate the concentration level of different neurotransmitters in the PFC-NAc-VTA neuro circuit to improve the depression, which benefitted from the recognition of the brain reward circuitry in mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province Resource and Chemistry of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Yuanchun Ma
- Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China
- Dr Ma’s Laboratories Inc., VancouverBC, Canada
| | - Xiongjun Mou
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province Resource and Chemistry of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Hao Liu
- Clinical College of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan P. R. China
| | - Hao Ming
- Clinical College of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan P. R. China
| | - Yu Chen
- Clinical College of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan P. R. China
| | - Yanwen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province Resource and Chemistry of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Songlin Liu
- Clinical College of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan P. R. China
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19
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Zell V, Steinkellner T, Hollon NG, Warlow SM, Souter E, Faget L, Hunker AC, Jin X, Zweifel LS, Hnasko TS. VTA Glutamate Neuron Activity Drives Positive Reinforcement Absent Dopamine Co-release. Neuron 2020; 107:864-873.e4. [PMID: 32610039 PMCID: PMC7780844 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Like ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons, VTA glutamate neuron activity can support positive reinforcement. However, a subset of VTA neurons co-release DA and glutamate, and DA release might be responsible for behavioral reinforcement induced by VTA glutamate neuron activity. To test this, we used optogenetics to stimulate VTA glutamate neurons in which tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and thus DA biosynthesis, was conditionally ablated using either floxed Th mice or viral-based CRISPR/Cas9. Both approaches led to loss of TH expression in VTA glutamate neurons and loss of DA release from their distal terminals in nucleus accumbens (NAc). Despite loss of the DA signal, optogenetic activation of VTA glutamate cell bodies or axon terminals in NAc was sufficient to support reinforcement. These results suggest that glutamate release from VTA is sufficient to promote reinforcement independent of concomitant DA co-release, establishing a non-DA mechanism by which VTA activity can support reward-seeking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Zell
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Thomas Steinkellner
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nick G Hollon
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Shelley M Warlow
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Elizabeth Souter
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lauren Faget
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Avery C Hunker
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Xin Jin
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Thomas S Hnasko
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Research Service VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
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20
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Excitatory VTA to DH projections provide a valence signal to memory circuits. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1466. [PMID: 32193428 PMCID: PMC7081331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15035-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The positive or negative value (valence) of past experiences is normally integrated into neuronal circuits that encode episodic memories and plays an important role in guiding behavior. Here, we show, using mouse behavioral models, that glutamatergic afferents from the ventral tegmental area to the dorsal hippocampus (VTA→DH) signal negative valence to memory circuits, leading to the formation of fear-inducing context memories and to context-specific reinstatement of fear. To a lesser extent, these projections also contributed to opioid-induced place preference, suggesting a role in signaling positive valence as well, and thus a lack of dedicated polarity. Manipulations of VTA terminal activity were more effective in females and paralleled by sex differences in glutamatergic signaling. By prioritizing retrieval of negative and positive over neutral memories, the VTA→DH circuit can facilitate the selection of adaptive behaviors when current and past experiences are valence congruent. The neuronal pathway that signals the positive or negative value of memories is not well understood. Here, the authors report that an excitatory projection from the ventral tegmental area to the dorsal hippocampus carries the valence information, contributing, especially in females, to the recurrence of fear and to drug seeking behavior.
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Floren S, King N, Carrasco A, Dafny N. Glutamate and dopamine in the VTA participate differently in the acute and chronic effect of methylphenidate. Behav Brain Res 2020; 380:112390. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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22
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Stress-induced plasticity and functioning of ventral tegmental dopamine neurons. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 108:48-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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23
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Brandão ML, Coimbra NC. Understanding the role of dopamine in conditioned and unconditioned fear. Rev Neurosci 2019; 30:325-337. [DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2018-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Pharmacological and molecular imaging studies in anxiety disorders have primarily focused on the serotonin system. In the meantime, dopamine has been known as the neurotransmitter of reward for 60 years, particularly for its action in the nervous terminals of the mesocorticolimbic system. Interest in the mediation by dopamine of the well-known brain aversion system has grown recently, particularly given recent evidence obtained on the role of D2 dopamine receptors in unconditioned fear. However, it has been established that excitation of the mesocorticolimbic pathway, originating from dopaminergic (DA) neurons from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), is relevant for the development of anxiety. Among the forebrain regions innervated by this pathway, the amygdala is an essential component of the neural circuitry of conditioned fear. Current findings indicate that the dopamine D2 receptor-signaling pathway connecting the VTA to the basolateral amygdala modulates fear and anxiety, whereas neural circuits in the midbrain tectum underlie the expression of innate fear. The A13 nucleus of the zona incerta is proposed as the origin of these DA neurons projecting to caudal structures of the brain aversion system. In this article we review data obtained in studies showing that DA receptor-mediated mechanisms on ascending or descending DA pathways play opposing roles in fear/anxiety processes. Dopamine appears to mediate conditioned fear by acting at rostral levels of the brain and regulate unconditioned fear at the midbrain level.
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Cornejo MP, Barrile F, De Francesco PN, Portiansky EL, Reynaldo M, Perello M. Ghrelin Recruits Specific Subsets of Dopamine and GABA Neurons of Different Ventral Tegmental Area Sub-nuclei. Neuroscience 2018; 392:107-120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Role of VTA dopamine neurons and neuroligin 3 in sociability traits related to nonfamiliar conspecific interaction. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3173. [PMID: 30093665 PMCID: PMC6085391 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05382-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical habituation and aberrant exploration of novel stimuli have been related to the severity of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but the underlying neuronal circuits are unknown. Here we show that chemogenetic inhibition of dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) attenuates exploration toward nonfamiliar conspecifics and interferes with the reinforcing properties of nonfamiliar conspecific interaction in mice. Exploration of nonfamiliar stimuli is associated with the insertion of GluA2-lacking AMPA receptors at excitatory synapses on VTA DA neurons. These synaptic adaptations persist upon repeated exposure to social stimuli and sustain conspecific interaction. Global or VTA DA neuron-specific loss of the ASD-associated synaptic adhesion molecule neuroligin 3 alters the behavioral response toward nonfamiliar conspecifics and the reinforcing properties of conspecific interaction. These behavioral deficits are accompanied by an aberrant expression of AMPA receptors and an occlusion of synaptic plasticity. Altogether, these findings link impaired exploration of nonfamiliar conspecifics to VTA DA neuron dysfunction in mice. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder have alteration in social and novelty behaviors. Here, Bellone and colleagues show that chemogenetic inhibition of mouse dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area can blunt exploration towards unfamiliar conspecifics, and that these behavioral deficits are recapitulated in mice lacking neuroligin3 gene product.
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First evidence of neuronal connections between specific parts of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the rest of the brain in sheep: placing the sheep PAG in the circuit of emotion. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:3297-3316. [PMID: 29869133 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a mesencephalic brain structure organised in subdivisions with specific anatomical connections with the rest of the brain. These connections support the different PAG functions and especially its role in emotion. Mainly described in territorial and predatory mammals, examination of the PAG connections suggests an opposite role of the ventral and the dorsal/lateral PAG in passive and active coping style, respectively. In mammals, the organisation of PAG connections may reflect the coping style of each species. Based on this hypothesis, we investigated the anatomical connections of the PAG in sheep, a gregarious and prey species. Since emotional responses expressed by sheep are typical of active coping style, we focused our interest on the dorsal and lateral parts of the PAG. After injection of fluorogold and fluororuby, the most numerous connections occurred with the anterior cingulate gyrus, the anterior hypothalamic region, the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus and the PAG itself. Our observations show that the sheep PAG belongs to the neuronal circuit of emotion and has specific parts as in other mammals. However, unlike other mammals, we observed very few connections between PAG and either the thalamic or the amygdalar nuclei. Interestingly, when comparing across species, the PAG connections of sheep were noticeably more like those previously described in other social species, rabbits and squirrel monkeys, than those in territorial species, rats or cats.
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De Marco M, Venneri A. Volume and Connectivity of the Ventral Tegmental Area are Linked to Neurocognitive Signatures of Alzheimer’s Disease in Humans. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 63:167-180. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-171018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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28
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Cardozo Pinto DF, Lammel S. Viral vector strategies for investigating midbrain dopamine circuits underlying motivated behaviors. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 174:23-32. [PMID: 28257849 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons have received significant attention in brain research because of their central role in reward processing and their dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, drug addiction, depression and schizophrenia. Until recently, it has been thought that DA neurons form a homogeneous population whose primary function is the computation of reward prediction errors. However, through the implementation of viral vector strategies, an unexpected complexity and diversity has been revealed at the anatomical, molecular and functional level. In this review, we discuss recent viral vector approaches that have been leveraged to dissect how different circuits involving distinct DA neuron subpopulations may contribute to the role of DA in reward- and aversion-related behaviors. We focus on studies that have used cell type- and projection-specific optogenetic manipulations, discuss the strengths and limitations of each approach, and critically examine emergent organizational principles that have led to a reclassification of midbrain DA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F Cardozo Pinto
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 142 Life Science Addition #3200, CA 94720, USA
| | - Stephan Lammel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 142 Life Science Addition #3200, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, 142 Life Science Addition #3200, CA 94720, USA.
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29
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Abstract
Many of the neurocircuits and hormones known to underlie the sensations of hunger and satiety also substantially alter the activity of the dopaminergic reward system. Much interest lies in the ways that hunger, satiety, and reward tie together, as the epidemic of obesity seems tied to the recent development and mass availability of highly palatable foods. In this review, we will first discuss the basic neurocircuitry of the midbrain and basal forebrain reward system. We will elaborate how several important mediators of hunger-the agouti-related protein neurons of the arcuate nucleus, the lateral hypothalamic nucleus, and ghrelin-enhance the sensitivity of the dopaminergic reward system. Then, we will elaborate how mediators of satiety-the nucleus tractus solitarius, pro-opiomelanocortin neurons of the arcuate nucleus, and its peripheral hormonal influences such as leptin-reduce the reward system sensitivity. We hope to provide a template by which future research may identify the ways in which highly rewarding foods bypass this balanced system to produce excessive food consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Michael Cassidy
- Brown Foundation of the Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases of McGovern Medical School, Neuroscience Program MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth Graduate School of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- *Correspondence: Ryan Michael Cassidy,
| | - Qingchun Tong
- Brown Foundation of the Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases of McGovern Medical School, Neuroscience Program MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth Graduate School of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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30
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Duarte CB, Carvalho AL. 7 th ISN special neurochemistry conference 'Synaptic function and dysfunction in brain diseases'. J Neurochem 2016; 139:918-920. [PMID: 27859239 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
This article is part of a mini review series: "Synaptic Function and Dysfunction in Brain Diseases".
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos B Duarte
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Luisa Carvalho
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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