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Afshari S, Sarailoo M, Asghariazar V, Safarzadeh E, Dadkhah M. Persistent diazinon induced neurotoxicity: The effect on inhibitory avoidance memory performance, amyloid precursor proteins, and TNF-α levels in the prefrontal cortex of rats. Hum Exp Toxicol 2024; 43:9603271241235408. [PMID: 38472141 DOI: 10.1177/09603271241235408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Organophosphate pesticides (Ops) like diazinon (DZN) have well-known neurotoxic effects and low-level chronic exposure has been linked to detrimental neurobehavioral impairments and memory deficits. However, it's not entirely clear how DZN-induced biological changes, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) contribute to these effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of DZN exposure on inhibitory avoidance (IA) memory function, amyloid precursor expression (APP), and proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in the rat cortex. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rats were divided into 4 groups and recived 2 mg/kg DZN for 5-days or 12-weeks and two control groups recived the same volume of vehicle. IA memory was assesed using the shuttle box apparatus. Rats were sacrificed and the prefrontal cortex PFC were removed. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to messure TNF-α, and amyloid protein precursors gene expression and protein levels. RESULTS Our findings indicated that DZN caused body weight loss and a notable decline in performance on the IA memory. Additionally, 5-days exposure increased APP and APLP2 protein levels in the PFC, while 12-weeks exposure decreased these levels. Furthermore, expression of APP and APLP2 gens were decreased in PFC. TNF-α levels increased as a result of 5-days exposure to DZN, but these levels dropped to normal after 12-weeks administration, and this observation was significant. CONCLUSION Taken together, exposure to low doses of DZN leads to disturbances in IA memory performance and also alternations in amyloid beta precursors that can be related to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salva Afshari
- Students Research Committee, Pharmacy School, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sarailoo
- Students Research Committee, School of Public Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Vahid Asghariazar
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
- Deputy of Research & Technology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Elham Safarzadeh
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Immunology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Dadkhah
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
- School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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Deng Z, Li D, Yan X, Lan J, Han D, Fan K, Chang J, Ma Y. Activation of GABA receptor attenuates intestinal inflammation by modulating enteric glial cells function through inhibiting NF-κB pathway. Life Sci 2023; 329:121984. [PMID: 37527767 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121984] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Emerging research indicates that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) provides substantial benefits during enteritis. Nevertheless, GABA signaling roles on enteric glial cells (EGCs) remain unknown. The study's objective was to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of GABA signaling on EGCs in vitro and in vivo. MAIN METHODS We established LPS-induced mouse models and stimulated EGCs with LPS to mimic intestinal inflammation, and combined GABA, GABAA receptor (GABAAR) or GABAB receptor (GABABR) agonists to explore the exact mechanisms of GABA signaling. KEY FINDINGS EGCs were immunopositive for GAD65, GAD67, GAT1, GABAARα1, GABAARα3, and GABABR1, indicating GABAergic and GABAceptive properties. GABA receptor activation significantly inhibited the high secretions of proinflammatory factors in EGCs upon LPS stimulation. Interestingly, we found that EGCs express immune-related molecules such as CD16, CD32, CD80, CD86, MHC II, iNOS, Arg1, and CD206, thus establishing their characterization of E1 and E2 phenotype. EGCs exposed to LPS mainly acted as E1 phenotype, whereas GABABR activation strongly promoted EGCs polarization into E2 phenotype. Transcriptome analysis of EGCs indicated that GABA, GABAAR or GABABR agonists treatment participated in various biological processes, however all of these treatments exhibit inhibitory effects on NF-κB pathway. Notably, in LPS-induced mice, activation of GABABR mitigated intestinal damage through modulating inflammatory factors expressions, strengthening sIgA and IgG levels, inhibiting NF-κB pathway and facilitating EGCs to transform into E2 phenotype. SIGNIFICANCE These data demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory actions of GABA signaling system offer in enteritis via regulating EGCs-polarized function through impeding NF-κB pathway, thus providing potential targets for intestinal inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziteng Deng
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Yan
- New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd., Key Laboratory of Feed and Livestock and Poultry Products Quality & Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Lan
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Deping Han
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Kai Fan
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyu Chang
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfei Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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Li X, Gao Y, Han X, Tang S, Li N, Liu X, Ni X. Maresin1 ameliorates postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats by potentially regulating the NF-κB pathway to inhibit astrocyte activation. Exp Gerontol 2023; 176:112168. [PMID: 37055002 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is one of the most serious postoperative complications in the elderly population. Perioperative central neuroinflammation is considered to be an important pathological mechanism of POCD, with the activation of astrocytes playing a key role in central neuroinflammation. Maresin1 (MaR1) is a specific pro-resolving mediator synthesized by macrophages in the resolution stage of inflammation, and provides unique anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects by limiting excessive neuroinflammation and promoting postoperative recovery. However, the question remains whether MaR1 can have a positive effect on POCD. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of MaR1 on POCD cognitive function in aged rats after splenectomy. Morris water maze test and IntelliCage test showed that splenectomy could cause transient cognitive dysfunction in aged rats; however, the cognitive impairment of rats was significantly mitigated when MaR1 pretreatment was administered. MaR1 significantly alleviated the fluorescence intensity and protein expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and central nervous system specific protein in the cornu ammonis 1 region of the hippocampus. Simultaneously, the morphology of astrocytes was also severely altered. Further experiments showed that MaR1 inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of several key proinflammatory cytokines-interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the hippocampus of aged rats following splenectomy. The molecular mechanism underlying this process was explored by evaluating expression of components of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MaR1 substantially inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB p65 and κB inhibitor kinase β. Collectively, these results suggest that MaR1 ameliorated splenectomy-induced transient cognitive impairment in elderly rats, and this neuroprotective mechanism may occur through regulating the NF-κB pathway to inhibit astrocyte activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhua Li
- Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Yubo Gao
- Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Shaling Tang
- Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Xinli Ni
- Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
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Wu N, Sun T, Wu X, Chen H, Zhang Z. Modulation of GABA B receptors in the insula bidirectionally affects associative memory of epilectic rats in both spatial and non-spatial operant tasks. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:1042227. [PMID: 36688127 PMCID: PMC9846148 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1042227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Stimulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity through GABA receptor agonists is the basic mechanism of many anticonvulsant drugs. Nevertheless, many of these GABergic drugs have adverse cognitive effects. We previously found that GABAB receptors (GABABRs) in the insula regulate operant associative memory in healthy rats. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of GABABR modulation in the insula on operant associative memory in epileptic rats, along with the underlying mechanisms. Methods The lithium-pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was established in male Sprague-Dawley rats. A 22-gauge stainless-steel guide cannula was surgically implanted into the granular insula cortex of the epileptic rats. Baclofen (125 ng/μl, 1 μl), CGP35348 (12.5 μg/μl, 1 μl), or saline (1 μl) was slowly infused through the guide cannula. The Intellicage automated behavioral testing system was used to evaluate operant associative memory of the epileptic rats, including non-spatial operant tasks (basic nosepoke learning and skilled nosepoke learning) and spatial operant tasks (chamber position learning). The expression of the GABABR subunits GB1 and GB2 in the insula was examined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Results The Intellicage tests demonstrated that baclofen significantly impaired basic nosepoke learning, skilled nosepoke learning and chamber position learning of the epileptic rats, while CGP35348 boosted these functions. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that GB1 and GB2 were expressed in the insula of the epileptic rats, and Western blotting analysis showed that baclofen enhanced while CGP35348 inhibited the expression of these subunits. Conclusion GABABRs in the insula bidirectionally regulate both spatial and non-spatial operant associative memory of epileptic rats. Effects of GABABRs on cognition should be taken into account when evaluating new possible treatments for people with epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Children’s Hospital (Children’s Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Hongguang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China,*Correspondence: Zhen Zhang,
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Xiao L, Jiang S, Wang Y, Gao C, Liu C, Huo X, Li W, Guo B, Wang C, Sun Y, Wang A, Feng Y, Wang F, Sun T. Continuous high-frequency deep brain stimulation of the anterior insula modulates autism-like behavior in a valproic acid-induced rat model. J Transl Med 2022; 20:570. [PMID: 36474209 PMCID: PMC9724311 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03787-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Until now, the treatment of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain a difficult problem. The insula is involved in empathy and sensorimotor integration, which are often impaired in individuals with ASD. Deep brain stimulation, modulating neuronal activity in specific brain circuits, has recently been considered as a promising intervention for neuropsychiatric disorders. Valproic acid (VPA) is a potential teratogenic agent, and prenatal exposure can cause autism-like symptoms including repetitive behaviors and defective sociability. Herein, we investigated the effects of continuous high-frequency deep brain stimulation in the anterior insula of rats exposed to VPA and explored cognitive functions, behavior, and molecular proteins connected to autism spectrum disorder. METHODS VPA-exposed offspring were bilaterally implanted with electrodes in the anterior insula (Day 0) with a recovery period of 1 week. (Day 0-7). High-frequency deep brain stimulation was applied from days 11 to 29. Three behavioral tests, including three-chamber social interaction test, were performed on days 7, 13, 18, 25 and 36, and several rats were used for analysis of immediate early genes and proteomic after deep brain stimulation intervention. Meanwhile, animals were subjected to a 20 day spatial learning and cognitive rigidity test using IntelliCage on day 11. RESULTS Deep brain stimulation improved the sociability and social novelty preference at day 18 prior to those at day 13, and the improvement has reached the upper limit compared to day 25. As for repetitive/stereotypic-like behavior, self- grooming time were reduced at day 18 and reached the upper limit, and the numbers of burried marbles were reduced at day 13 prior to those at day 18 and day 25. The improvements of sociability and social novelty preference were persistent after the stimulation had ceased. Spatial learning ability and cognitive rigidity were unaffected. We identified 35 proteins in the anterior insula, some of which were intimately linked to autism, and their expression levels were reversed upon administration of deep brain stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Autism-like behavior was ameliorated and autism-related proteins were reversed in the insula by deep brain stimulation intervention, these findings reveal that the insula may be a potential target for DBS in the treatment of autism, which provide a theoretical basis for its clinical application., although future studies are still warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifei Xiao
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China ,grid.413385.80000 0004 1799 1445Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Shucai Jiang
- grid.416966.a0000 0004 1758 1470Department of Neurosurgery, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang, 261000 China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Caibin Gao
- grid.413385.80000 0004 1799 1445Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Cuicui Liu
- grid.477991.5Department of Otolaryngology and Head Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Yinchuan, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Xianhao Huo
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China ,grid.413385.80000 0004 1799 1445Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Wenchao Li
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Baorui Guo
- grid.440288.20000 0004 1758 0451Department of Neurosurgery, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, 710000 China
| | - Chaofan Wang
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Yu Sun
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Anni Wang
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Yan Feng
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
| | - Feng Wang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000 China
| | - Tao Sun
- grid.412194.b0000 0004 1761 9803Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China ,grid.413385.80000 0004 1799 1445Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000 China
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Yesiltepe M, Yin T, Tambini MD, Breuillaud L, Zehntner SP, D’Adamio L. Late-long-term potentiation magnitude, but not Aβ levels and amyloid pathology, is associated with behavioral performance in a rat knock-in model of Alzheimer disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1040576. [PMID: 36438008 PMCID: PMC9691854 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1040576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cleavage of Amyloid precursor protein by β- and γ-secretases lead to Aβ formation. The widely accepted pathogenic model states that these mutations cause AD via an increase in Aβ formation and accumulation of Aβ in Amyloid plaques. APP mutations cause early onset familial forms of Alzheimer's disease (FAD) in humans. We generated App-Swedish (Apps ) knock-in rats, which carry a pathogenic APP mutation in the endogenous rat App gene. This mutation increases β-secretase processing of APP leading to both augmented Aβ production and facilitation of glutamate release in Apps/s rats, via a β-secretase and APP-dependent glutamate release mechanism. Here, we studied 11 to 14-month-old male and female Apps/s rats. To determine whether the Swedish App mutation leads to behavioral deficits, Apps/s knock-in rats were subjected to behavioral analysis using the IntelliCage platform, an automated behavioral testing system. This system allows behavioral assessment in socially housed animals reflecting a more natural, less stress-inducing environment and eliminates experimenter error and bias while increasing precision of measurements. Surprisingly, a spatial discrimination and flexibility task that can reveal deficits in higher order brain function showed that Apps/s females, but not Apps/s male rats, performed significantly worse than same sex controls. Moreover, female control rats performed significantly better than control and Apps/s male rats. The Swedish mutation causes a significant increase in Aβ production in 14-month-old animals of both sexes. Yet, male and female Apps/s rats showed no evidence of AD-related amyloid pathology. Finally, Apps/s rats did not show signs of significant neuroinflammation. Given that the APP Swedish mutation causes alterations in glutamate release, we analyzed Long-term potentiation (LTP), a long-lasting form of synaptic plasticity that is a cellular basis for learning and memory. Strikingly, LTP was significantly increased in Apps/s control females compared to both Apps/s sexes and control males. In conclusion, this study shows that behavioral performances are sex and App-genotype dependent. In addition, they are associated with LTP values and not Aβ or AD-related pathology. These data, and the failures of anti-Aβ therapies in humans, suggest that alternative pathways, such as those leading to LTP dysfunction, should be targeted for disease-modifying AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Metin Yesiltepe
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Tao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Marc D. Tambini
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | | | | | - Luciano D’Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
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Liu KM, Huang Y, Wan PP, Lu YH, Zhou N, Li JJ, Yu CY, Chou JJ, Zhang L, Zhang C, Qiang YY, Zhang R, Guo L. Ursolic Acid Protects Neurons in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Cognitive Impairment by Repressing Inflammation and Oxidation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:877898. [PMID: 35677445 PMCID: PMC9169096 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.877898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is characterized as an impaired ability of learning and memory with periodic and unpredictable seizures. Status epilepticus (SE) is one of the main causes of TLE. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are directly involved in epileptogenesis and neurodegeneration, promoting chronic epilepsy and cognitive deficit. Previous studies have shown that ursolic acid (UA) represses inflammation and oxidative stress, contributing to neuroprotection. Herein, we demonstrated that UA treatment alleviated seizure behavior and cognitive impairment induced by epilepsy. Moreover, UA treatment rescued hippocampal neuronal damage, aberrant neurogenesis, and ectopic migration, which are commonly accompanied by epilepsy occurrence. Our study also demonstrated that UA treatment remarkably suppressed the SE-induced neuroinflammation, evidenced by activated microglial cells and decreased inflammation factors, including TNF-α and IL-1β. Likewise, the expression levels of oxidative stress damage markers and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) enzyme complexes of mitochondria were also remarkably downregulated following the UA treatment, suggesting that UA suppressed the damage caused by the high oxidative stress and the defect mitochondrial function induced by SE. Furthermore, UA treatment attenuated GABAergic interneuron loss. In summary, our study clarified the notable anti-seizure and neuroprotective properties of UA in pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats, which is mainly achieved by abilities of anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Our study indicates the potential advantage of UA application in ameliorating epileptic sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-mei Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Medical Science Research Institution of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- *Correspondence: Kun-mei Liu, ; Le Guo,
| | - Yue Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Pan-pan Wan
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yun-hua Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Ning Zhou
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Juan-juan Li
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chun-yang Yu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jin-jiang Chou
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Lianxiang Zhang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yuan-yuan Qiang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Le Guo
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Clinical and Pathogenic Microbiology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Department of Medical Laboratory, School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- *Correspondence: Kun-mei Liu, ; Le Guo,
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Pham H, Yin T, D’Adamio L. Initial assessment of the spatial learning, reversal, and sequencing task capabilities of knock-in rats with humanizing mutations in the Aβ-coding region of App. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263546. [PMID: 35507596 PMCID: PMC9067689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Model organisms mimicking the pathogenesis of human diseases are useful for identifying pathogenic mechanisms and testing therapeutic efficacy of compounds targeting them. Models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) aim to reproduce the brain pathology associated with these neurodegenerative disorders. Transgenic models, which involve random insertion of disease-causing genes under the control of artificial promoters, are efficient means of doing so. There are confounding factors associated with transgenic approaches, however, including target gene overexpression, dysregulation of endogenous gene expression at transgenes' integration sites, and limitations in mimicking loss-of-function mechanisms. Furthermore, the choice of species is important, and there are anatomical, physiological, and cognitive reasons for favoring the rat over the mouse, which has been the standard for models of neurodegeneration and dementia. We report an initial assessment of the spatial learning, reversal, and sequencing task capabilities of knock-in (KI) Long-Evans rats with humanizing mutations in the Aβ-coding region of App, which encodes amyloid precursor protein (Apph/h rats), using the IntelliCage, an automated operant social home cage system, at 6-8 weeks of age, then again at 4-5 months of age. These rats were previously generated as control organisms for studies on neurodegeneration involving other knock-in rat models from our lab. Apph/h rats of either sex can acquire place learning and reversal tasks. They can also acquire a diagonal sequencing task by 6-8 weeks of age, but not a more advanced serial reversal task involving alternating diagonals, even by 4-5 months of age. Thus, longitudinal behavioral analysis with the IntelliCage system can be useful to determine, in follow-up studies, whether KI rat models of Familial AD (FAD), sporadic late onset AD (LOAD), and of ADRD develop aging-dependent learning and memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Pham
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States of America
| | - Tao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States of America
| | - Luciano D’Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States of America
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Cox SS, Kearns AM, Woods SK, Brown BJ, Brown SJ, Reichel CM. The role of the anterior insular during targeted helping behavior in male rats. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3315. [PMID: 35228625 PMCID: PMC8885669 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07365-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Empathy, the understanding of the emotional state of others, can be examined across species using the Perception Action Model, where shared affect promotes an action by "Observers" to aid a distressed "Target". The anterior insula (AI) has garnered interest in empathic behavior due to its role integrating sensory and emotional information of self and other. In the following studies, the AI was inhibited pharmacologically and chemogenetically during targeted helping. We demonstrate the insula is active during, and is necessary for the maintenance of, targeted helping. Analysis of ultrasonic vocalizations revealed distress calls from Targets increased when Observers' helping was attenuated due to insula inhibition. Targets' elevated distress was directly correlated to Observers' diminished helping behavior, suggesting emotional transfer between Observer and Target is blunted following Observer AI inhibition. Finally, the AI may selectively blunt targeted helping, as social exploration did not change in a social reward place conditioning task. These studies help further establish the anterior insula as a critical node in the empathic brain during targeted helping, even in the absence of direct social contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stewart S Cox
- Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Basic Science Building Suite 416a, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Angela M Kearns
- Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Basic Science Building Suite 416a, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Samuel K Woods
- Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Basic Science Building Suite 416a, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Brogan J Brown
- Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Basic Science Building Suite 416a, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Samantha J Brown
- Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Basic Science Building Suite 416a, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Carmela M Reichel
- Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Basic Science Building Suite 416a, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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10
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Sun K, Mu Q, Chang H, Zhang C, Wang Y, Rong S, Liu S, Zuo D, He Z, Wan D, Yang H, Wang F, Sun T. Postretrieval Microinjection of Baclofen Into the Agranular Insular Cortex Inhibits Morphine-Induced CPP by Disrupting Reconsolidation. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:743. [PMID: 32508658 PMCID: PMC7248341 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental cues associated with drug abuse are powerful mediators of drug craving and relapse in substance-abuse disorders. Consequently, attenuating the strength of cue-drug memories could reduce the number of factors that cause drug craving and relapse. Interestingly, impairing cue-drug memory reconsolidation is a generally accepted strategy aimed at reducing the intensity of cues that trigger drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors. In addition, the agranular insular cortex (AI) is an important component of the neural circuits underlying drug-related memory reconsolidation. GABAB receptors (GABABRs) are potential targets for the treatment of addiction, and baclofen (BLF) is the only prototypical GABAB agonist available for application in clinical addiction treatment. Furthermore, ΔFosB is considered a biomarker for the evaluation of potential therapeutic interventions for addiction. Here, we used the morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to investigate whether postretrieval microinjections of BLF into the AI could affect reconsolidation of drug-reward memory, reinstatement of CPP, and the level of ΔFosB in mice. Our results showed that BLF infused into the AI immediately following morphine CPP memory retrieval, but not 6 h postretrieval or following nonretrieval, could eliminate the expression of a morphine CPP memory. This effect persisted in a morphine-priming–induced reinstatement test, suggesting that BLF in the AI was capable of preventing the reconsolidation of the morphine CPP memory. Our results also showed that the elimination of morphine CPP memory was associated with reduced morphine-associated ΔFosB expression in the longer term. Taken together, the results of our research provide evidence to support that GABABRs in the AI have an important role in drug-cue memory reconsolidation and further our understanding of the role of the AI in drug-related learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuisheng Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Gaozhou, China
| | - Qingchun Mu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Gaozhou, China
| | - Haigang Chang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yehua Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shikuo Rong
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shenhai Liu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Di Zuo
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Zhenquan He
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Ding Wan
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
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11
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Kiryk A, Janusz A, Zglinicki B, Turkes E, Knapska E, Konopka W, Lipp HP, Kaczmarek L. IntelliCage as a tool for measuring mouse behavior - 20 years perspective. Behav Brain Res 2020; 388:112620. [PMID: 32302617 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Since the 1980s, we have witnessed the rapid development of genetically modified mouse models of human diseases. A large number of transgenic and knockout mice have been utilized in basic and applied research, including models of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. To assess the biological function of mutated genes, modern techniques are critical to detect changes in behavioral phenotypes. We review the IntelliCage, a high-throughput system that is used for behavioral screening and detailed analyses of complex behaviors in mice. The IntelliCage was introduced almost two decades ago and has been used in over 150 studies to assess both spontaneous and cognitive behaviors. We present a critical analysis of experimental data that have been generated using this device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kiryk
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Artur Janusz
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Zglinicki
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Emir Turkes
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Witold Konopka
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hans-Peter Lipp
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leszek Kaczmarek
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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12
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Bajaj S, Raikes A, Smith R, Dailey NS, Alkozei A, Vanuk JR, Killgore WDS. The Relationship Between General Intelligence and Cortical Structure in Healthy Individuals. Neuroscience 2018; 388:36-44. [PMID: 30012372 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Considerable work in recent years has examined the relationship between cortical thickness (CT) and general intelligence (IQ) in healthy individuals. It is not known whether specific IQ variables (i.e., perceptual reasoning [PIQ], verbal comprehension IQ [VIQ], and full-scale IQ [FSIQ]) are associated with multiple cortical measures (i.e., CT, cortical volume (CV), cortical surface area (CSA) and cortical gyrification (CG)) within the same individuals. Here we examined the association between these neuroimaging metrics and IQ in 56 healthy adults. At a cluster-forming threshold (CFT) of p < 0.05, we observed significant positive relationships between CT and all three IQ variables in regions within the posterior frontal and superior parietal lobes. Regions within the temporal and posterior frontal lobes exhibited positive relationships between CV and two IQ variables (PIQ and FSIQ) and regions within the inferior parietal lobe exhibited positive relationships between CV and PIQ. Additionally, CV was positively associated with VIQ in the left insula and with FSIQ within the inferior frontal gyrus. At a more stringent CFT (p < 0.01), the CT-PIQ, CT-VIQ, CT-FSIQ, and CV-PIQ relationships remained significant within the posterior frontal lobe, as did the CV-PIQ relationship within the temporal and inferior parietal lobes. We did not observe statistically significant relationships between IQ and either CSA or CG. Our findings suggest that the neural basis of IQ extends beyond previously observed relationships with fronto-parietal regions. We also conclude that CT and CV may be more useful metrics than CSA or CG in the study of intellectual abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Bajaj
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
| | - Adam Raikes
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Ryan Smith
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Natalie S Dailey
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Anna Alkozei
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - John R Vanuk
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - William D S Killgore
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
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13
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Xu MY, Wong AHC. GABAergic inhibitory neurons as therapeutic targets for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2018; 39:733-753. [PMID: 29565038 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2017.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is considered primarily as a cognitive disorder. However, functional outcomes in schizophrenia are limited by the lack of effective pharmacological and psychosocial interventions for cognitive impairment. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) interneurons are the main inhibitory neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), and they play a critical role in a variety of pathophysiological processes including modulation of cortical and hippocampal neural circuitry and activity, cognitive function-related neural oscillations (eg, gamma oscillations) and information integration and processing. Dysfunctional GABA interneuron activity can disrupt the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in the cortex, which could represent a core pathophysiological mechanism underlying cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. Recent research suggests that selective modulation of the GABAergic system is a promising intervention for the treatment of schizophrenia-associated cognitive defects. In this review, we summarized evidence from postmortem and animal studies for abnormal GABAergic neurotransmission in schizophrenia, and how altered GABA interneurons could disrupt neuronal oscillations. Next, we systemically reviewed a variety of up-to-date subtype-selective agonists, antagonists, positive and negative allosteric modulators (including dual allosteric modulators) for α5/α3/α2 GABAA and GABAB receptors, and summarized their pro-cognitive effects in animal behavioral tests and clinical trials. Finally, we also discuss various representative histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitors that target GABA system through epigenetic modulations, GABA prodrug and presynaptic GABA transporter inhibitors. This review provides important information on current potential GABA-associated therapies and future insights for development of more effective treatments.
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14
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Marwari S, Dawe GS. (R)-fluoxetine enhances cognitive flexibility and hippocampal cell proliferation in mice. J Psychopharmacol 2018; 32:441-457. [PMID: 29458297 DOI: 10.1177/0269881118754733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Fluoxetine is a clinically successful antidepressant. It is a racemic mixture of (R) and (S) stereoisomers. In preclinical studies, chronic treatment with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) had antidepressant effects correlated with increased hippocampal cell proliferation in adult rodents. However, the contribution of the enantiomers of fluoxetine is largely unknown. We investigated the effects of treatment with (R)- and (S)-fluoxetine on cognitive behavioral paradigms and examined cell proliferation in the hippocampus of C57BL/6J female mice. In a behavioral sequencing task using the IntelliCage system in which discriminated spatial patterns of rewarded and never-rewarded corners were reversed serially, (R)-fluoxetine-treated mice showed rapid acquisition of behavioral sequencing (compared with S-fluoxetine) and cognitive flexibility in subsequent reversal stages in intra- and inter-session analysis. (R)-fluoxetine also increased cell proliferation in the hippocampus, in particular in the suprapyramidal blade of the dentate gyrus. (R)-fluoxetine had superior effects to (S)-fluoxetine in elevated plus maze, forced-swim and tail-suspension tests. These results suggest that (R)-fluoxetine, which has been reported to have a shorter half-life than (S)-fluoxetine, has superior antidepressant effects and more consistently improves spatial learning and memory. This profile offers advantages in depression treatment and may also aid management of the neurocognitive impairments associated with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhi Marwari
- 1 Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gavin S Dawe
- 1 Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,2 Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, University of Singapore, Singapore
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15
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Yiannakas A, Rosenblum K. The Insula and Taste Learning. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:335. [PMID: 29163022 PMCID: PMC5676397 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The sense of taste is a key component of the sensory machinery, enabling the evaluation of both the safety as well as forming associations regarding the nutritional value of ingestible substances. Indicative of the salience of the modality, taste conditioning can be achieved in rodents upon a single pairing of a tastant with a chemical stimulus inducing malaise. This robust associative learning paradigm has been heavily linked with activity within the insular cortex (IC), among other regions, such as the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. A number of studies have demonstrated taste memory formation to be dependent on protein synthesis at the IC and to correlate with the induction of signaling cascades involved in synaptic plasticity. Taste learning has been shown to require the differential involvement of dopaminergic GABAergic, glutamatergic, muscarinic neurotransmission across an extended taste learning circuit. The subsequent activation of downstream protein kinases (ERK, CaMKII), transcription factors (CREB, Elk-1) and immediate early genes (c-fos, Arc), has been implicated in the regulation of the different phases of taste learning. This review discusses the relevant neurotransmission, molecular signaling pathways and genetic markers involved in novel and aversive taste learning, with a particular focus on the IC. Imaging and other studies in humans have implicated the IC in the pathophysiology of a number of cognitive disorders. We conclude that the IC participates in circuit-wide computations that modulate the interception and encoding of sensory information, as well as the formation of subjective internal representations that control the expression of motivated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adonis Yiannakas
- Sagol Department of Neuroscience, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kobi Rosenblum
- Sagol Department of Neuroscience, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Center for Gene Manipulation in the Brain, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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