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Calvo F, Dos Anjos-Garcia T, Paschoalin-Maurin T, Bazaglia-de-Sousa G, de Paula Rodrigues BM, Lobão-Soares B, Almada RC, Wotjak CT, Coimbra NC. Kappa-opioid receptor blockade in the inferior colliculus of prey threatened by pit vipers decreases anxiety and panic-like behaviour. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2024:1-13. [PMID: 39370934 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2024.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
The dorsal midbrain comprises dorsal columns of the periaqueductal grey matter and corpora quadrigemina. These structures are rich in beta-endorphinergic and leu-enkephalinergic neurons and receive GABAergic inputs from substantia nigra pars reticulata. Although the inferior colliculus (IC) is mainly involved in the acoustic pathways, the electrical and chemical stimulation of central and pericentral nuclei of the IC elicits a vigorous defensive behaviour. The defensive immobility and escape elicited by IC activation is commonly related to panic-like emotional states. To investigate the role of κ-opioid receptor of the IC in the antiaversive effects of endogenous opioid receptor blockade in a dangerous situation, male Wistar rats were pretreated in the IC with the κ-opioid receptor-selective antagonist nor-binaltorphimine at different concentrations and submitted to the non-enriched polygonal arena for a snake panic test in the presence of a rattlesnake and, after 24 h, prey were resubmitted to the experimental context. The snakes elicited in prey a set of antipredatory behaviours, such as the anxiety-like responses of defensive attention and risk assessment, and the panic-like reactions of defensive immobility and either escape or active avoidance during the elaboration of unconditioned and conditioned fear-related responses. Pretreatment of the IC with microinjections of nor-binaltorphimine at higher concentrations significantly decreased the frequency and duration of both anxiety- and panic-attack-like behaviours. These findings suggest that κ-opioid receptor blockade in the IC causes anxiolytic- and panicolytic-like responses in threatening conditions, and that kappa-opioid receptor-selective antagonists can be a putative coadjutant treatment for panic syndrome treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrício Calvo
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tayllon Dos Anjos-Garcia
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department Physiological Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Alfenas Federal University (ICB-UNIFAL), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Paschoalin-Maurin
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Bazaglia-de-Sousa
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Mangili de Paula Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Lobão-Soares
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal (RN), Brazil
| | - Rafael Carvalho Almada
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Neurobiotechnology, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Humanities and Languages, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Assis, São Paulo, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Laboratory of Neuronal Plasticity, Munich, Germany
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Gesellschaft mit Beschränkter Haftung & Compagnie Kommanditgesellschaft, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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de Paula Rodrigues BM, Falconi-Sobrinho LL, de Campos AC, Kanashiro A, Coimbra NC. Panicolytic-like effects of environment enrichment on male mice threatened by Bothrops jararaca lancehead pit vipers. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25300. [PMID: 38361409 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25300] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Environment enrichment (EE) is a well-known eustress model showing beneficial effects in different psychiatric diseases, but its positive properties in panic disorders are not yet established. The confrontation between prey and predator in complex arenas has been validated as a putative panic attack model. The principal aim of this work was to investigate the role of the EE on panic-like defensive responses elicited by mice threatened by venomous snakes. After 6 weeks of exposure either to an enriched or standard environments, 36 male mice were habituated in a complex polygonal arena for snakes containing an artificial burrow and elevated platforms for escape. The animals were confronted by Bothrops jararaca for 5 min, and the following antipredatory responses were recorded: defensive attention, stretched attend posture, flat back approach, prey versus predator interaction, oriented escape behavior, time spent in a safe place, and number of crossings. Mice threatened by snakes displayed several antipredatory reactions as compared to the exploratory behavior of those animals submitted to a nonthreatening situation (toy snake) in the same environment. Notably, EE causes anxiolytic- and panicolytic-like effects significantly decreasing the defensive attention and time spent in safe places and significantly increasing both prey versus predator interaction and exploratory behavior. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that EE can alter the processing of fear modulation regarding both anxiety- and panic-like responses in a dangerous condition, significantly modifying the decision-making defensive strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mangili de Paula Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions (NuPNE) Research Center, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions (NuPNE) Research Center, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Alline Cristina de Campos
- Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Kanashiro
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Medical Sciences Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions (NuPNE) Research Center, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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de Paula Rodrigues BM, Coimbra NC. CB 1 receptor signalling mediates cannabidiol-induced panicolytic-like effects and defensive antinociception impairment in mice threatened by Bothrops jararaca lancehead pit vipers. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:1384-1396. [PMID: 35946605 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221115755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis sativa-derived substances such as cannabidiol (CBD) have attracted increasing clinical interest and consist in a new perspective for treating some neurological and psychiatric diseases. AIMS The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of acute treatment with CBD on panic-like defensive responses displayed by mice threatened by the venomous snake Bothrops jararaca. METHODS Mice were habituated in the enriched polygonal arena for snake panic test. After recording the baseline responses of the tail-flick test, the prey were pretreated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) administrations of the endocannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) antagonist AM251 (selective cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonist with an IC50 of 8 nM) at different doses, which were followed after 10 min by i.p. treatment with CBD (3 mg/kg). Thirty minutes after treatment with CBD, mice were subjected to confrontations by B. jararaca for 5 min, and the following defensive responses were recorded: risk assessment, oriented escape behaviour, inhibitory avoidance and prey-versus-snake interactions. Immediately after the escape behaviour was exhibited, the tail-flick latencies were recorded every 5 min for 30 min. OUTCOMES Mice threatened by snakes displayed several anti-predatory defensive and innate fear-induced antinociception responses in comparison to the control. CBD significantly decreased the risk assessment and escape responses, with a consequent decrease in defensive antinociception. The CBD panicolytic effect was reversed by i.p. treatment with AM251. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the anti-aversive effect of CBD depends at least in part on the recruitment of CB1 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mangili de Paula Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Almada RC, Falconi-Sobrinho LL, da Silva JA, Wotjak CT, Coimbra NC. Augmented anandamide signalling in the substantia nigra pars reticulata mediates panicolytic-like effects in mice confronted by Crotalus durissus terrificus pit vipers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2753-2769. [PMID: 35650304 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06127-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The endocannabinoid modulation of fear and anxiety due to the on-demand synthesis and degradation is supported by a large body of research. Although it has been proposed that anandamide (AEA) in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) seems to be important for the organisation of innate fear-related behaviours, a role for endogenous AEA has yet to be clarified. METHODS Mice were treated with the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) selective inhibitor URB597 at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1 nmol/0.1 µL) in the SNpr and confronted by rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrificus). The most effective dose of URB597 (1 nmol) was also preceded by microinjections of the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (0.1 nmol) into the SNpr, and mice were then confronted by the venomous snake. RESULTS URB597 (0.1 and 1 nmol) in the SNpr decreased the expression of defensive behaviours such as defensive attention, escape, and time spent inside the burrow of mice confronted by rattlesnakes. Moreover, pretreatment of SNpr with AM251 suppressed these antiaversive effects of URB597 in this midbrain structure. CONCLUSION Overall, these data clearly indicate that the panicolytic consequences of endogenous AEA enhancement in the SNpr are mediated by CB1 receptor signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael C Almada
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Humanities and Languages, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Assis, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana A da Silva
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Laboratory of Neuronal Plasticity, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Gesellschaft Mit Beschränkter Haftung & Compagnie Kommanditgesellschaft, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Norberto C Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil. .,Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. .,Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. .,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Dos Anjos-Garcia T, Kanashiro A, de Campos AC, Coimbra NC. Environmental Enrichment Facilitates Anxiety in Conflict-Based Tests but Inhibits Predator Threat-Induced Defensive Behaviour in Male Mice. Neuropsychobiology 2022; 81:225-236. [PMID: 35026760 DOI: 10.1159/000521184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Environmental enrichment (EE) is a useful and sophisticated tool that improves rodents' well-being by stimulating social behaviour and cognitive, motor, and sensory functions. Exposure to EE induces neuroplasticity in different brain areas, including the limbic system, which has been implicated in the control of anxiety and fear. However, the effects of EE on ethologically relevant naturalistic behaviours, such as those displayed by prey in the presence of predators, remain largely unexplored. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the present study, we investigated anxiety- and panic attack-like behaviours in a predator (cat)-prey confrontation paradigm and compared them with those in classical assays, such as the elevated plus-maze (EPM), marble-burying, and open field tests (OFTs), using C57BL/6J male mice housed in enriched or standard environments for 6 weeks. RESULTS We observed that EE exposure caused enhancement of the levels of anxiety-like behaviours in the EPM and OFTs, increasing risk assessment (an anxiety-related response), and decreasing escape (a panic attack-like response) behaviours during exposure to the predator versus prey confrontation paradigm. CONCLUSION Taken together, our findings suggest that enriched external environments can modify the processing of fear- and anxiety-related stimuli in dangerous situations, changing the decision-making defensive strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayllon Dos Anjos-Garcia
- Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), São Paulo, Brazil.,Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Kanashiro
- Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Division of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience and Behavioural Sciences, Post-Graduation Program in Neurology/Neurosciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alline Cristina de Campos
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), São Paulo, Brazil.,Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Division of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience and Behavioural Sciences, Post-Graduation Program in Neurology/Neurosciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Paula BD, Vieira-Rasteli E, Calvo F, Coimbra N, Leite-Panissi C. Functional activation of the periaqueductal gray matter during conditioned and unconditioned fear in guinea pigs confronted with the Boa constrictor constrictor snake. Braz J Med Biol Res 2022; 55:e11542. [PMID: 35195195 PMCID: PMC8856599 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x2021e11542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) is an essential structure involved in the
elaboration of defensive responses, such as when facing predators and
conspecific aggressors. Using a prey vs predator paradigm, we
aimed to evaluate the PAG activation pattern evoked by unconditioned and
conditioned fear situations. Adult male guinea pigs were confronted either by a
Boa constrictor constrictor wild snake or by the aversive
experimental context. After the behavioral test, the rodents were euthanized and
the brain prepared for immunohistochemistry for Fos protein identification in
different PAG columns. Although Fos-protein-labeled neurons were found in
different PAG columns after both unconditioned and conditioned fear situations
at the caudal level of the PAG, we found greater activation of the lateral
column compared to the ventrolateral and dorsomedial columns after predator
exposure. Moreover, the lateral column of the PAG showed higher Fos-labeled
cells at the caudal level compared to the same area at the rostral level. The
present results suggested that there are different activation patterns of PAG
columns during unconditioned and conditioned fear in guinea pigs. It is possible
to hypothesize that the recruitment of specific PAG columns depended on the
nature of the threatening stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - F. Calvo
- Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil; Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - N.C. Coimbra
- Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil; Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil; Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Brasil; Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - C.R.A. Leite-Panissi
- Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil; Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil; Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Brasil
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Ferreira-Sgobbi R, de Figueiredo RM, Frias AT, Matthiesen M, Batistela MF, Falconi-Sobrinho LL, Vilela-Costa HH, Sá SI, Lovick TA, Zangrossi H, Coimbra NC. Panic-like responses of female Wistar rats confronted by Bothrops alternatus pit vipers, or exposure to acute hypoxia: Effect of oestrous cycle. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:32-48. [PMID: 34850475 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety-related diseases are more than twice as common in women than in men, and in women, symptoms may be exacerbated during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Despite this, most research into the underlying mechanisms, which drives drug development, have been carried out using male animals. In an effort to redress this imbalance, we compared responses of male and female Wistar rats during exposure to two unconditioned threatening stimuli that evoke panic-related defensive behaviours: confrontation with a predator (Bothrops alternatus) and acute exposure to hypoxia (7% O2 ). Threatened by venomous snake, male and female rats initially displayed defensive attention, risk assessment, and cautious interaction with the snake, progressing to defensive immobility to overt escape. Both males and females displayed higher levels of risk assessment but less interaction with the predator. They also spent more time in the burrow, displaying inhibitory avoidance, and more time engaged in defensive attention, and non-oriented escape behaviour. In females, anxiety-like behaviour was most pronounced in the oestrous and proestrus phases whereas panic-like behaviour was more pronounced during the dioestrus phase, particularly during late dioestrus. Acute hypoxia evoked panic-like behaviour (undirected jumping) in both sexes, but in females, responsiveness in late dioestrus was significantly greater than at other stages of the cycle. The results reveal that females respond in a qualitatively similar manner to males during exposure to naturally occurring threatening stimuli, but the responses of females is oestrous cycle dependent with a significant exacerbation of panic-like behaviour in the late dioestrus phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Ferreira-Sgobbi
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, Division of Psychobiology, Ribeirão Preto School of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Behaviour of Snakes Division-MEDUSA Project, Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rebeca Machado de Figueiredo
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Alana Tercino Frias
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Melina Matthiesen
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Matheus Fitipaldi Batistela
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Behaviour of Snakes Division-MEDUSA Project, Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Heloísa Helena Vilela-Costa
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Susana Isabel Sá
- Unidade de Anatomia, Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Thelma Anderson Lovick
- Behaviour of Snakes Division-MEDUSA Project, Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Hélio Zangrossi
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Behaviour of Snakes Division-MEDUSA Project, Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Behaviour of Snakes Division-MEDUSA Project, Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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8
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Watanabe S, Scheich H, Braun K, Shinozuka K. Visual snake aversion in Octodon degus and C57BL/6 mice. Anim Cogn 2021; 25:33-41. [PMID: 34156548 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01527-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Phobia against spiders or snakes is common in humans, and similar phobia-like behaviors have been observed in non-human animals. Visual images of snakes elicit phobia in humans, but sensory modalities that cause snake aversion in non-human animals are not well examined. In this study, we examined visually induced snake aversion in two rodent species. Using a three-compartment experimental chamber, reactions to images of snakes were compared between the diurnal precocious rodent Octodon degus and nocturnal laboratory mice. The snakes whose images were presented do not live in the original habitats of degus or mice. Snake aversion was assessed by presenting snake vs. no-image, snake vs. flower, snake vs. degu, and snake vs. mouse images. The time spent in a compartment with the snake image and with the non-snake images were measured. Degus avoided images of snakes in every tests. In contrast, mice did not display snake aversion. Degus are diurnal animals, i.e., visual information is important for their survival. Since mice are nocturnal, visual information is less important for survival. Such behavioral differences in the two species may explain the difference in visually induced aversion to snakes. A principal component analysis of the stimulus images suggests that elementary cues, such as color, do not explain the differences in the species' aversion to snakes. Finally, snake aversion in degus suggests that aversion is innate, since the animals were born and raised in a laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henning Scheich
- Professor Emeritus, Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral and Brain Science (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Braun
- Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Otto Von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral and Brain Science (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
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9
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Almada RC, Dos Anjos-Garcia T, da Silva JA, Pigatto GR, Wotjak CT, Coimbra NC. The modulation of striatonigral and nigrotectal pathways by CB1 signalling in the substantia nigra pars reticulata regulates panic elicited in mice by urutu-cruzeiro lancehead pit vipers. Behav Brain Res 2020; 401:112996. [PMID: 33171147 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is widely distributed in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr). However, the role of CB1R at the SNpr level in threatening situations is poorly understood. We investigated the role of CB1R in the SNpr on the expression of fear responses in mice confronted with urutu-cruzeiro pit vipers. First, a bidirectional neurotracer was injected into the SNpr; then, immunostaining of the vesicular GABA transporter was conducted at the levels of the striatum (CPu) and deep layers of the superior colliculus (dlSC). In addition, CB1R immunostaining and GABA labelling were performed in the SNpr. Using a prey-versus-snake paradigm, mice were pretreated with the CB1R antagonist AM251 (100 pmol) and treated with the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA, 5 pmol) in the SNpr, followed by bicuculline (40 ng) in the dlSC, and were then confronted with a snake. Bidirectional neural tract tracers associated with immunofluorescence showed the GABAergic striatonigral disinhibitory and nigrotectal inhibitory pathways. Furthermore, we showed that CB1R labelling was restricted to axonal fibres surrounding SNpr GABAergic cells. We also demonstrated a decrease in the defensive behaviours of mice treated with AEA in the SNpr, but this effect was blocked by pre-treatment with AM251 in this structure. Taken together, our results show that the panicolytic consequences of the AEA enhancement in the SNpr are signalled by CB1R, suggesting that CB1R localised in axon terminals of CPu GABAergic neurons in the SNpr modulates the activity of the nigrotectal GABAergic pathway during the expression of defensive behaviours in threatening situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Carvalho Almada
- School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Laboratory of Neuronal Plasticity, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany; Behavioural Neuroscience Institute (INeC), Av. do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, 14050-220, São Paulo, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tayllon Dos Anjos-Garcia
- School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Almeida da Silva
- School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil; Behavioural Neuroscience Institute (INeC), Av. do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, 14050-220, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Glauce Regina Pigatto
- School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Laboratory of Neuronal Plasticity, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil; Behavioural Neuroscience Institute (INeC), Av. do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, 14050-220, São Paulo, Brazil; NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
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10
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Endocannabinoid neuromodulation in the neostriatum decreases the GABAergic striato-nigral disinhibitory function and increases the nigro-collicular inhibitory pathway activity. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:1199-1208. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02217-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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11
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Mendes-Gomes J, Paschoalin-Maurin T, Donaldson LF, Lumb BM, Blanchard DC, Coimbra NC. Repeated exposure of naïve and peripheral nerve-injured mice to a snake as an experimental model of post-traumatic stress disorder and its co-morbidity with neuropathic pain. Brain Res 2020; 1744:146907. [PMID: 32474017 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Confrontation of rodents by natural predators provides a number of advantages as a model for traumatic or stressful experience. Using this approach, one of the aims of this study was to investigate a model for the study of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related behaviour in mice. Moreover, because PTSD can facilitate the establishment of chronic pain (CP), and in the same way, patients with CP have an increased tendency to develop PTSD when exposed to a traumatic event, our second aim was to analyse whether this comorbidity can be verified in the new paradigm. C57BL/6 male mice underwent chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI), a model of neuropathic CP, or not (sham groups) and were submitted to different threatening situations. Threatened mice exhibited enhanced defensive behaviours, as well as significantly enhanced risk assessment and escape behaviours during context reexposure. Previous snake exposure reduced open-arm time in the elevated plus-maze test, suggesting an increase in anxiety levels. Sham mice showed fear-induced antinociception immediately after a second exposure to the snake, but 1 week later, they exhibited allodynia, suggesting that multiple exposures to the snake led to increased nociceptive responses. Moreover, after reexposure to the aversive environment, allodynia was maintained. CCI alone produced intense allodynia, which was unaltered by exposure to either the snake stimuli or reexposure to the experimental context. Together, these results specifically parallel the behavioural symptoms of PTSD, suggesting that the snake/exuvia/reexposure procedure may constitute a useful animal model to study PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Mendes-Gomes
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Avenida do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, 14050-220 São Paulo, Brazil; Dracena Medical School (UNIFADRA-FUNDEC), Rua Bahia, 332, Dracena, 17900-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Paschoalin-Maurin
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Avenida do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, 14050-220 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucy F Donaldson
- Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre and School of Life Sciences, QMC, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Bridget M Lumb
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Medical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - D Caroline Blanchard
- Pacific Biosciences Research Centre, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Avenida do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, 14050-220 São Paulo, Brazil; University of São Paulo Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NAP-USP-NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
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12
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Calvo F, Almada RC, da Silva JA, Medeiros P, da Silva Soares R, de Paiva YB, Roncon CM, Coimbra NC. The Blockade of µ1- and κ-Opioid Receptors in the Inferior Colliculus Decreases the Expression of Panic Attack-Like Behaviours Induced by Chemical Stimulation of the Dorsal Midbrain. Neuropsychobiology 2020; 78:218-228. [PMID: 31514182 DOI: 10.1159/000502439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic and opioid systems play a crucial role in the neural modulation of innate fear organised by the inferior colliculus (IC). In addition, the IC is rich in GABAergic fibres and opioid neurons, which are also connected to other mesencephalic structures, such as the superior colliculus and the substantia nigra. However, the contribution of distinct opioid receptors (ORs) in the IC during the elaboration and expression of innate fear and panic-like responses is unclear. The purpose of the present work was to investigate a possible integrated action exerted by ORs and the GABAA receptor-mediated system in the IC on panic-like responses. METHODS The effect of the blockade of either µ1- or κ-ORs in the IC was evaluated in the unconditioned fear-induced responses elicited by GABAA antagonism with bicuculline. Microinjections of naloxonazine, a µ1-OR antagonist, or nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), a κ-OR antagonist, were made into the IC, followed by intramesencephalic administration of the GABAA-receptor antagonist bicuculline. The defensive behaviours elicited by the treatments in the IC were quantitatively analysed, recording the number of escapes expressed as running (crossing), jumps, and rotations, over a 30-min period in a circular arena. The exploratory behaviour of rearing was also recorded. RESULTS GABAA-receptor blockade with bicuculline in the IC increased defensive behaviours. However, pretreatment of the IC with higher doses (5 µg) of naloxonazine or nor-BNI followed by bicuculline resulted in a significant decrease in unconditioned fear-induced responses. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a role played by µ1- and κ-OR-containing connexions and GABAA receptor-mediated neurotransmission on the organisation of panic attack-related responses elaborated by the IC neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrício Calvo
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, São Lucas College, Porto Velho, Brazil.,Aparício Carvalho Integrative College (FIMCA), Porto Velho, Brazil
| | - Rafael Carvalho Almada
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Institute of Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Juliana Almeida da Silva
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Institute of Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Priscila Medeiros
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Raimundo da Silva Soares
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Yara Bezerra de Paiva
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Camila Marroni Roncon
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Assis County Educational Foundation (FEMA), Assis, Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, .,Institute of Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, .,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil,
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13
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Khan AU, Falconi-Sobrinho LL, Dos Anjos-Garcia T, de Fátima Dos Santos Sampaio M, de Souza Crippa JA, Menescal-de-Oliveira L, Coimbra NC. Cannabidiol-induced panicolytic-like effects and fear-induced antinociception impairment: the role of the CB 1 receptor in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1063-1079. [PMID: 31919563 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05435-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The behavioural effects elicited by chemical constituents of Cannabis sativa, such as cannabidiol (CBD), on the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) are not well understood. There is evidence that VMH neurons play a relevant role in the modulation of unconditioned fear-related defensive behavioural reactions displayed by laboratory animals. OBJECTIVES This study was designed to explore the specific pattern of distribution of the CB1 receptors in the VMH and to investigate the role played by this cannabinoid receptor in the effect of CBD on the control of defensive behaviours and unconditioned fear-induced antinociception. METHODS A panic attack-like state was triggered in Wistar rats by intra-VMH microinjections of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). One of three different doses of CBD was microinjected into the VMH prior to local administration of NMDA. In addition, the most effective dose of CBD was used after pre-treatment with the CB1 receptor selective antagonist AM251, followed by NMDA microinjections in the VMH. RESULTS The morphological procedures demonstrated distribution of labelled CB1 receptors on neuronal perikarya situated in dorsomedial, central and ventrolateral divisions of the VMH. The neuropharmacological approaches showed that both panic attack-like behaviours and unconditioned fear-induced antinociception decreased after intra-hypothalamic microinjections of CBD at the highest dose (100 nmol). These effects, however, were blocked by the administration of the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (100 pmol) in the VMH. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that CBD causes panicolytic-like effects and reduces unconditioned fear-induced antinociception when administered in the VMH, and these effects are mediated by the CB1 receptor-endocannabinoid signalling mechanism in VMH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmat Ullah Khan
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Department of Eastern Medicine and Surgery, School of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Poonch Rawalakot, Hajira Road, Shamsabad, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, 12350, Pakistan.,Neurobiology of Emotions (NAP-USP-NuPNE) Research Centre, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Neurobiology of Emotions (NAP-USP-NuPNE) Research Centre, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Avenida do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 4220-030, Brazil
| | - Tayllon Dos Anjos-Garcia
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Neurobiology of Emotions (NAP-USP-NuPNE) Research Centre, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Maria de Fátima Dos Santos Sampaio
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - José Alexandre de Souza Crippa
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioural Sciences, Division of Psychiatry, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Leda Menescal-de-Oliveira
- Neurobiology of Emotions (NAP-USP-NuPNE) Research Centre, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil. .,Neurobiology of Emotions (NAP-USP-NuPNE) Research Centre, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil. .,Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Avenida do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 4220-030, Brazil.
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14
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Mendes-Gomes J, Motta SC, Passoni Bindi R, de Oliveira AR, Ullah F, Baldo MVC, Coimbra NC, Canteras NS, Blanchard DC. Defensive behaviors and brain regional activation changes in rats confronting a snake. Behav Brain Res 2020; 381:112469. [PMID: 31917239 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we examined behavioral and brain regional activation changes of rats). To a nonmammalian predator, a wild rattler snake (Crotalus durissus terrificus). Accordingly, during snake threat, rat subjects showed a striking and highly significant behavioral response of freezing, stretch attend, and, especially, spatial avoidance of this threat. The brain regional activation patterns for these rats were in broad outline similar to those of rats encountering other predator threats, showing Fos activation of sites in the amygdala, hypothalamus, and periaqueductal gray matter. In the amygdala, only the lateral nucleus showed significant activation, although the medial nucleus, highly responsive to olfaction, also showed higher activation. Importantly, the hypothalamus, in particular, was somewhat different, with significant Fos increases in the anterior and central parts of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), in contrast to patterns of enhanced Fos expression in the dorsomedial VMH to cat predators, and in the ventrolateral VMH to an attacking conspecific. In addition, the juxtodorsalmedial region of the lateral hypothalamus showed enhanced Fos activation, where inputs from the septo-hippocampal system may suggest the potential involvement of hippocampal boundary cells in the very strong spatial avoidance of the snake and the area it occupied. Notably, these two hypothalamic paths appear to merge into the dorsomedial part of the dorsal premammillary nucleus and dorsomedial and lateral parts of the periaqueductal gray, all of which present significant increases in Fos expression and are likely to be critical for the expression of defensive behaviors in responses to the snake threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Mendes-Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto (SP), 14049-900, Brazil; NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto (SP), 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Simone Cristina Motta
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Passoni Bindi
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Amanda Ribeiro de Oliveira
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Farhad Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Islamia College University, Grand Trunk Rd, Rahat Abad, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
| | - Marcus Vinicius C Baldo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil; Ophidiarium LNN-FMRP-USP/INeC, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto (SP), 14049-900, Brazil; NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto (SP), 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Newton Sabino Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - D Caroline Blanchard
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil; Pacific Biosciences Research Centre, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, United States of America
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Dorsal raphe nucleus 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2A receptors are critical for the organisation of panic attack-like defensive behaviour and unconditioned fear-induced antinociception elicited by the chemical stimulation of superior colliculus neurons. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:858-870. [PMID: 31227263 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Microinjections of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) in the midbrain tectum structures produce panic attack-like defensive behaviours, followed by an antinociceptive response. It has been suggested that fear-related defensive responses organised by brainstem neurons can be modulated by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). However, there is a shortage of studies showing the role of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) 5-HT2A receptors in the modulation of panic-like behaviour and fear-induced antinociception organised by the superior colliculus (SC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the participation of DRN 5-HT2A receptors in the modulation of panic attack-like behaviour and antinociception evoked by intra-SC injections of NMDA. In experiment I, the animals received microinjections of physiological saline or NMDA (6, 9 and 12 nmol) in the deep layers of the SC (dlSC). In experiment II, the most effective dose of NMDA (12 nmol) or vehicle was preceded by microinjections of vehicle or the 5-HT2A receptor selective antagonist R-96544 at different concentrations (0.5, 5 and 10 nM) in the DRN. Both proaversive and antinociceptive effects elicited by intra-dlSC injections of NMDA were attenuated by DRN pretreatment with R-96544. In addition, a morphological analysis showed that 5-HT2A receptors are present in GABAergic interneurons in the DRN. Taken together, these findings suggest that DRN 5-HT2A receptors are critical for the modulation of both panic attack-like defensive behaviour organised by SC neurons and unconditioned fear-induced antinociception. A possible interaction between serotonergic inputs, GABAergic interneurons and serotonergic outputs from the DRN was also considered.
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