1
|
Arakawa H, Tokashiki M, Higuchi Y, Konno T. Adolescent social isolation disrupts developmental tuning of neuropeptide circuits in the hypothalamus to amygdala regulating social and defensive behavior. Peptides 2024; 175:171178. [PMID: 38368908 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Engaging in positive social (i.e., prosocial) interactions during adolescence acts to modulate neural circuits that determine adult adaptive behavior. While accumulating evidence indicates that a strong craving for prosocial behavior contributes to sustaining neural development, the consequences of social deprivation during adolescence on social neural circuits, including those involving oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP), are poorly characterized. We evaluated adaptive behaviors in socially isolated mice, including anxiety-like, social, and defensive behaviors, along with OXT and AVP neural profiles in relevant brain regions. Social isolation from postnatal day (P-)22 to P-48 induced enhanced defensive and exploratory behaviors, in nonsocial and social contexts. Unlike OXT neurons, AVP+ cell density in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus increases with age in males. Social isolation also modulated gene expression in the medial amygdala (MeA), including the upregulation of OXT receptors in males and the downregulation of AVP1a receptors in both sexes. Socially isolated mice showed an enhanced defensive, anogenital approach toward a novel adult female during direct social interactions. Subsequent c-Fos mapping revealed diminished neural activity in restricted brain areas, including the MeA, lateral septum, and posterior intralaminar nucleus of the thalamus, in socially isolated mice. These data indicate that neural signals arising from daily social interactions invoke region-specific modification of neuropeptide expression that coordinates with altered defensiveness and neural responsivities, including OXT- and AVP-projecting regions. The present findings indicate an involvement of OXT and AVP circuits in adolescent neural and behavioral plasticity that is tuned by daily social interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, MI, USA.
| | - Mana Tokashiki
- Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yuki Higuchi
- Department of Systems Physiology, University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Konno
- Department of Subtropical Agro-Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan; The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cai HR, Chen SQ, Xiang XJ, Zhang XQ, Ma RZ, Zhu G, Ding SL. Comparison of the connectivity of the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus and peripeduncular nucleus in rats and mice. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1384621. [PMID: 38736977 PMCID: PMC11082296 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1384621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) and peripeduncular nucleus (PP) are two adjoining structures located medioventral to the medial geniculate nucleus. The PIL-PP region plays important roles in auditory fear conditioning and in social, maternal and sexual behaviors. Previous studies often lumped the PIL and PP into single entity, and therefore it is not known if they have common and/or different brain-wide connections. In this study, we investigate brain-wide efferent and afferent projections of the PIL and PP using reliable anterograde and retrograde tracing methods. Both PIL and PP project strongly to lateral, medial and anterior basomedial amygdaloid nuclei, posteroventral striatum (putamen and external globus pallidus), amygdalostriatal transition area, zona incerta, superior and inferior colliculi, and the ectorhinal cortex. However, the PP rather than the PIL send stronger projections to the hypothalamic regions such as preoptic area/nucleus, anterior hypothalamic nucleus, and ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus. As for the afferent projections, both PIL and PP receive multimodal information from auditory (inferior colliculus, superior olivary nucleus, nucleus of lateral lemniscus, and association auditory cortex), visual (superior colliculus and ectorhinal cortex), somatosensory (gracile and cuneate nuclei), motor (external globus pallidus), and limbic (central amygdaloid nucleus, hypothalamus, and insular cortex) structures. However, the PP rather than PIL receives strong projections from the visual related structures parabigeminal nucleus and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Additional results from Cre-dependent viral tracing in mice have also confirmed the main results in rats. Together, the findings in this study would provide new insights into the neural circuits and functional correlation of the PIL and PP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ru Cai
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng-Qiang Chen
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue-Qin Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Run-Zhe Ma
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ge Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Song-Lin Ding
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Leithead AB, Godino A, Barbier M, Harony-Nicolas H. Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:112-122. [PMID: 37245781 PMCID: PMC10676449 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The posterior intralaminar complex of the thalamus (PIL) is a multimodal nucleus that has been implicated in maternal behaviors and conspecific social behaviors in male and female rodents. Glutamatergic neurons are a major component of the PIL; however, their specific activity and role during social interactions has not yet been assessed. METHODS We used immunohistochemistry for the immediate early gene c-fos as a proxy for neuronal activity in the PIL of mice exposed to a novel social stimulus, a novel object stimulus, or no stimulus. We then used fiber photometry to record neural activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL in real time during social and nonsocial interactions. Finally, we used inhibitory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) in glutamatergic PIL neurons and tested social preference and social habituation-dishabituation. RESULTS We observed significantly more c-fos-positive cells in the PIL of mice exposed to a social stimulus versus an object stimulus or no stimulus. Neural activity of PIL glutamatergic neurons was increased when male and female mice were engaged in social interaction with a same-sex juvenile or opposite-sex adult, but not a toy mouse. Neural activity was positively correlated with social investigation bout length and negatively correlated with chronological order of bouts. Social preference was unaffected by inhibition; however, inhibiting activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL delayed the time that it took for female mice to form social habituation. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings suggest that glutamatergic PIL neurons respond to social stimuli in both male and female mice and may regulate perceptual encoding of social information to facilitate recognition of social stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Beth Leithead
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Arthur Godino
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Marie Barbier
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lim KY, Hong W. Neural mechanisms of comforting: Prosocial touch and stress buffering. Horm Behav 2023; 153:105391. [PMID: 37301130 PMCID: PMC10853048 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Comforting is a crucial form of prosocial behavior that is important for maintaining social unity and improving the physical and emotional well-being of social species. It is often expressed through affiliative social touch toward someone in distress, providing relief for their distressed state. In the face of increasing global distress, these actions are paramount to the continued improvement of individual welfare and the collective good. Understanding the neural mechanisms responsible for promoting actions focused on benefitting others is particularly important and timely. Here, we review prosocial comforting behavior, emphasizing synthesizing recent studies carried out using rodent models. We discuss its underlying behavioral expression and motivations, and then explore both the neurobiology of prosocial comforting in a helper animal and the neurobiology of stress relief following social touch in a recipient as part of a feedback loop interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Y Lim
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Weizhe Hong
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
A B L, A G, M B, H HN. Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.24.538114. [PMID: 37163009 PMCID: PMC10168253 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.24.538114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Background The posterior intralaminar (PIL) complex of the thalamus is a multimodal nucleus that has been implicated in maternal behaviors and conspecific social behaviors in male and female rodents. Glutamatergic neurons are a major component of the PIL; however, their specific activity and role during social interactions has not yet been assessed. Methods We used immunohistochemistry for the immediate early gene c-fos as a proxy for neuronal activity in the PIL of mice exposed to a novel social stimulus, a novel object stimulus, or no stimulus. We then used fiber photometry to record neural activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL in real-time during social and non-social interactions. Finally, we used inhibitory DREADDs in glutamatergic PIL neurons and tested social preference and social habituation-dishabituation. Results We observed significantly more c-fos -positive cells in the PIL of mice exposed to social versus object or no stimuli. Neural activity of PIL glutamatergic neurons was increased when male and female mice were engaged in social interaction with a same-sex juvenile or opposite-sex adult, but not a toy mouse. Neural activity positively correlated with social investigation bout length and negatively correlated with chronological order of bouts. Social preference was unaffected by inhibition; however, inhibiting activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL delayed the time it took female mice to form social habituation. Conclusions Together these findings suggest that glutamatergic PIL neurons respond to social stimuli in both male and female mice and may regulate perceptual encoding of social information to facilitate recognition of social stimuli.
Collapse
|
6
|
Lima SQ. Social behavior: Closing the gap for close encounters. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1279-R1281. [PMID: 36413973 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Social touch can launch a cascade of emotions with enormous impact on the development and maintenance of emotional, cognitive and social functioning. A recent study identifies a novel pathway that facilitates physical contact via its direct impact on brain circuits controlling social behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susana Q Lima
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Av. de Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
A thalamo-preoptic pathway promotes social grooming in rodents. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4593-4606.e8. [PMID: 36113471 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Social touch is an essential component of communication. Little is known about the underlying pathways and mechanisms. Here, we discovered a novel neuronal pathway from the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) to the medial preoptic area (MPOA) involved in the control of social grooming. We found that the neurons in the PIL and MPOA were naturally activated by physical contact between female rats and also by the chemogenetic stimulation of PIL neurons. The activity-dependent tagging of PIL neurons was performed in rats experiencing physical social contact. The chemogenetic activation of these neurons increased social grooming between familiar rats, as did the selective activation of the PIL-MPOA pathway. Neurons projecting from the PIL to the MPOA express the neuropeptide parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2), and the central infusion of its receptor antagonist diminished social grooming. Finally, we showed a similarity in the anatomical organization of the PIL and the distribution of the PTH2 receptor in the MPOA between the rat and human brain. We propose that the discovered neuronal pathway facilitates physical contact with conspecifics.
Collapse
|
8
|
Sun J, Yuan Y, Wu X, Liu A, Wang J, Yang S, Liu B, Kong Y, Wang L, Zhang K, Li Q, Zhang S, Yuan T, Xu TL, Huang J. Excitatory SST neurons in the medial paralemniscal nucleus control repetitive self-grooming and encode reward. Neuron 2022; 110:3356-3373.e8. [PMID: 36070748 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The use of body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) is conceptualized as a means of coping with stress. However, the neurological mechanism by which repetitive behaviors affect anxiety regulation is unclear. Here, we identify that the excitatory somatostatin-positive neurons in the medial paralemniscal nucleus (MPLSST neurons) in mice promote self-grooming and encode reward. MPLSST neurons display prominent grooming-related neuronal activity. Loss of function of MPLSST neurons impairs both self-grooming and post-stress anxiety alleviation. Activation of MPLSST neurons is rewarding and sufficient to drive reinforcement by activating dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and eliciting dopamine release. The neuropeptide SST facilitates the rewarding impact of MPLSST neurons. MPLSST neuron-mediated self-grooming is triggered by the input from the central amygdala (CeA). Our study reveals a dual role of CeA-MPLSST-VTADA circuit in self-grooming and post-stress anxiety regulation and conceptualizes MPLSST neurons as an interface linking the stress and reward systems in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Sun
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiaohua Wu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Anqi Liu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jingjie Wang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yalei Kong
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lizhao Wang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qian Li
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Siyu Zhang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Tifei Yuan
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Tian-Le Xu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ju Huang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
The neuropeptide Pth2 modulates social behavior and anxiety in zebrafish. iScience 2022; 25:103868. [PMID: 35243231 PMCID: PMC8861652 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavior is context-dependent and often modulated by an animal’s internal state. In particular, different social contexts can alter anxiety levels and modulate social behavior. The vertebrate-specific neuropeptide parathyroid hormone 2 (pth2) is regulated by the presence of conspecifics in zebrafish. As its cognate receptor, the parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (pth2r), is widely expressed across the brain, we tested fish lacking the functional Pth2 peptide in several anxiety-related and social behavior paradigms. Here, we show that the propensity to react to sudden stimuli with an escape response was increased in pth2−/− zebrafish, consistent with an elevated anxiety level. While overall social preference for conspecifics was maintained in pth2−/− fish until the early juvenile stage, we found that both social preference and shoaling were altered later in development. The data presented suggest that the neuropeptide Pth2 modulates several conserved behaviors and may thus enable the animal to react appropriately in different social contexts. Lack of the neuropeptide pth2 increases startle responsiveness in zebrafish Social preference is decreased at the late juvenile stage in pth2 mutants Pth2 mutant fish form less cohesive shoals
Collapse
|
10
|
Zearalenone alters the excitability of rat neuronal networks after acute in vitro exposure. Neurotoxicology 2021; 86:139-148. [PMID: 34363844 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, detectable in various cereals and processed food products worldwide. ZEA displays a significant estrogenic activity, thus its main health risk is the interference with sexual maturation and reproduction processes. However, in addition to being key hormonal regulators of reproductive function, estrogenic compounds have a widespread role in brain, as neurotrophic and neuroprotective factors, and they may influence the activity of several brain areas not directly linked to reproduction, as well. Therefore, in the present study, acute effects of ZEA were studied on certain neuronal functions in rats. Experiments were performed on rat brain slices or live rats. Slices were incubated in ZEA-containing (10-100 μM) solution for 30 min. Electrically evoked and spontaneous field potentials were studied in the neocortex and in the hippocampus. At higher concentrations, ZEA incubation of the slices altered excitability and the pattern of epileptiform activity in neocortex and inhibited the development of LTP in hippocampus. For the verification of these in vitro results, in vivo electrophysiological and immunohistochemical investigations were also performed. ZEA was administered systemically (5 mg/kg, i.p.) to male rats and somatosensory evoked potentials and neuronal activation studied by c-fos expression were analyzed. No neuronal activation could be demonstrated in the hippocampus within 2 h of the injection. In the somatosensory cortex, ZEA did not change in vivo evoked potential parameters, but the activation of a small neuronal population could be demonstrated with the c-fos technique in this brain area. This result could be associated with the ZEA-induced alteration of epileptiform activity observed in vitro. Altogether, the toxin altered the excitability and plasticity of neuronal networks after direct treatment in slices, but the effects were less prominent on the given brain areas after systemic treatment in vivo. A probable explanation for the partial lack of in vivo effects may be that after a single injection, ZEA did not cross the blood-brain barrier at sufficient rate to allow the build-up of comparable concentrations in the investigated brain areas. However, in case of compromised blood-brain barrier functions or long-term repeated exposure, alterations in cortical and hippocampal functions cannot be ruled out.
Collapse
|
11
|
Buijs RM, Hurtado-Alvarado G, Soto-Tinoco E. Vasopressin: An output signal from the suprachiasmatic nucleus to prepare physiology and behaviour for the resting phase. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12998. [PMID: 34189788 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Vasopressin (VP) is an important hormone produced in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) with antidiuretic and vasoconstrictor functions in the periphery. As one of the first discovered peptide hormones, VP was also shown to act as a neurotransmitter, where VP is produced and released under the influence of various stimuli. VP is one of the core signals via which the biological clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), imposes its rhythm on its target structures and its production and release is influenced by the rhythm of clock genes and the light/dark cycle. This is contrasted with VP production and release from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the medial amygdala, which is influenced by gonadal hormones, as well as with VP originating from the PVN and SON, which is released in the neural lobe and central targets. The release of VP from the SCN signals the near arrival of the resting phase in rodents and prepares their physiology accordingly by down-modulating corticosterone secretion, the reproductive cycle and locomotor activity. All these circadian variables are regulated within very narrow boundaries at a specific time of the day, where day-to-day variation is less than 5% at any particular hour. However, the circadian peak values can be at least ten times higher than the circadian trough values, indicating the need for an elaborate feedback system to inform the SCN and other participating nuclei about the actual levels reached during the circadian cycle. In short, the interplay between SCN circadian output and peripheral feedback to the SCN is essential for the adequate organisation of all circadian rhythms in physiology and behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruud M Buijs
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Gabriela Hurtado-Alvarado
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Eva Soto-Tinoco
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lefevre A, Benusiglio D, Tang Y, Krabichler Q, Charlet A, Grinevich V. Oxytocinergic Feedback Circuitries: An Anatomical Basis for Neuromodulation of Social Behaviors. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:688234. [PMID: 34194303 PMCID: PMC8236528 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.688234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide produced by hypothalamic neurons and is known to modulate social behavior among other functions. Several experiments have shown that OT modulates neuronal activity in many brain areas, including sensory cortices. OT neurons thus project axons to various cortical and subcortical structures and activate neuronal subpopulations to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, and in turn, increases the saliency of social stimuli. Less is known about the origin of inputs to OT neurons, but recent studies show that cells projecting to OT neurons are often located in regions where the OT receptor (OTR) is expressed. Thus, we propose the existence of reciprocal connectivity between OT neurons and extrahypothalamic OTR neurons to tune OT neuron activity depending on the behavioral context. Furthermore, the latest studies have shown that OTR-expressing neurons located in social brain regions also project to other social brain regions containing OTR-expressing neurons. We hypothesize that OTR-expressing neurons across the brain constitute a common network coordinated by OT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Lefevre
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Diego Benusiglio
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, Monterotondo, Italy
- Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Yan Tang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Quirin Krabichler
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and University of Strasbourg, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Arakawa H. Dynamic regulation of oxytocin neuronal circuits in the sequential processes of prosocial behavior in rodent models. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2021; 2:100011. [PMID: 36246512 PMCID: PMC9559098 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2021.100011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
|
14
|
Anneser L, Alcantara IC, Gemmer A, Mirkes K, Ryu S, Schuman EM. The neuropeptide Pth2 dynamically senses others via mechanosensation. Nature 2020; 588:653-657. [PMID: 33268890 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2988-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Species that depend on membership in social groups for survival exhibit changes in neuronal gene expression and behaviour when they face restricted social interactions or isolation1-3. Here we show that, across the lifespan of zebrafish (Danio rerio), social isolation specifically decreased the level of transcription of pth2, the gene that encodes the vertebrate-specific neuropeptide Pth2. However, 30 minutes of exposure to conspecifics was sufficient to initiate a significant rescue of pth2 transcript levels in previously isolated zebrafish. Transcription of pth2 exhibited bidirectional dynamics; following the acute isolation of socially reared fish, a rapid reduction in the levels of pth2 was observed. The expression of pth2 tracked not only the presence of other fish but also the density of the group. The sensory modality that controls the expression of pth2 was neither visual nor chemosensory in origin but instead was mechanical, induced by the movements of neighbouring fish. Chemical ablation of the mechanosensitive neuromast cells within the lateral line of fish prevented the rescue of pth2 levels that was induced by the social environment. In addition, mechanical perturbation of the water at frequencies similar to the movements of the zebrafish tail was sufficient to rescue the levels of pth2 in previously isolated fish. These data indicate a previously underappreciated role for the relatively unexplored neuropeptide Pth2 in both tracking and responding to the population density of the social environment of an animal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Anneser
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ivan C Alcantara
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany.,Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Anja Gemmer
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Soojin Ryu
- Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany.,Living Systems Institute, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Erin M Schuman
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Short-term neuronal effects of fumonisin B1 on neuronal activity in rodents. Neurotoxicology 2020; 80:41-51. [PMID: 32561249 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced by microscopic fungi (mostly Fusarium species), which may infect our major crops. The toxin inhibits the development of these plants and may also have harmful effects on animals and humans consuming the infected crops. FB1 inhibits sphingolipid biosynthesis which leads to altered membrane characteristics and consequently, altered cellular functions. There are some indications that the toxin has inhibitory effects on neuronal activity in case of repeated consumption, presumably due to sphingolipid depletion. However, according to new literature data, FB1 may have acute excitatory neural effects, too, via different mechanisms of action. Therefore, in the present study, we addressed the neuronal network effects of FB1 following acute treatment, using different electrophysiological techniques in vitro and in vivo. Acute treatments with FB1 (10-100 μM) were carried out on brain slices, tissue cultures and live animals. After direct treatment of samples, electrically evoked or spontaneous field potentials were examined in the hippocampus and the neocortex of rat brain slices and in hippocampal cell cultures. In the hippocampus, a short-term increase in the excitability of neuronal networks and individual cells was observed in response to FB1 treatment. In some cases, the initially enhanced excitation was reversed presumably due to overactivation of neuronal networks. Normal spontaneous activity was found to be stimulated in hippocampal cell cultures. Seizure susceptibility was not affected in the neocortex of brain slices. For the verification of the results caused by direct treatment, effects of systemic administration of FB1 (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) were also examined. Evoked field potentials recorded in vivo from the somatosensory cortex and cell activation measured by the c-fos technique in hippocampus and somatosensory cortex were analyzed. However, the hippocampal and cortical stimulatory effect detected in vitro could not be demonstrated by these in vivo assays. Altogether, the toxin enhanced the basic excitability of neurons and neuronal networks after direct treatment but there were no effects on the given brain areas after systemic treatment in vivo. Based on the observed in vitro FB1 effects and the lack of data on the penetration of FB1 across the blood-brain barrier, we assume that in vivo consequences of FB1 administration can be more prominent in case of perturbed blood-brain barrier functions.
Collapse
|
16
|
Tóth A, Pethő M, Keserű D, Simon D, Hajnik T, Détári L, Dobolyi Á. Complete sleep and local field potential analysis regarding estrus cycle, pregnancy, postpartum and post-weaning periods and homeostatic sleep regulation in female rats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8546. [PMID: 32444809 PMCID: PMC7244504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64881-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep and local field potential (LFP) characteristics were addressed during the reproductive cycle in female rats using long-term (60-70 days) recordings. Changes in homeostatic sleep regulation was tested by sleep deprivation (SDep). The effect of mother-pup separation on sleep was also investigated during the postpartum (PP) period. First half of the pregnancy and early PP period showed increased wakefulness (W) and higher arousal indicated by elevated beta and gamma activity. Slow wave sleep (SWS) recovery was suppressed while REM sleep replacement was complete after SDep in the PP period. Pup separation decreased maternal W during early-, but increased during middle PP while did not affect during late PP. More W, less SWS, higher light phase beta activity but lower gamma activity was seen during the post-weaning estrus cycle compared to the virgin one. Maternal sleep can be governed by the fetuses/pups needs and their presence, which elevate W of mothers. Complete REM sleep- and incomplete SWS replacement after SDep in the PP period may reflect the necessity of maternal REM sleep for the offspring while SWS increase may compete with W essential for maternal care. Maternal experience may cause sleep and LFP changes in the post-weaning estrus cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Attila Tóth
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Máté Pethő
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Keserű
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dorina Simon
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tünde Hajnik
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Détári
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Árpád Dobolyi
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kamali A, Karbasian N, Ghazi Sherbaf F, Wilken LA, Aein A, Sair HI, Arevalo Espejo O, Rabiei P, Choi SJ, Mirbagheri S, Riascos RF, Hasan KM. Uncovering the Dorsal Thalamo-hypothalamic Tract of the Human Limbic System. Neuroscience 2020; 432:55-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
18
|
Fazekas EA, Morvai B, Zachar G, Dóra F, Székely T, Pogány Á, Dobolyi A. Neuronal activation in zebra finch parents associated with reintroduction of nestlings. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:363-379. [PMID: 31423585 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies of the brain mechanisms of parental behaviors have mainly focused on rodents. Using other vertebrate taxa, such as birds, can contribute to a more comprehensive, evolutionary view. In the present study, we investigated a passerine songbird, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), with a biparental caring system. Parenting-related neuronal activation was induced by first temporarily removing the nestlings, and then, either reuniting the focal male or female parent with the nestlings (parental group) or not (control group). To identify activated neurons, the immediate early gene product, Fos protein, was labeled. Both parents showed an increased level of parental behavior following reunion with the nestlings, and no sexual dimorphism occurred in the neuronal activation pattern. Offspring-induced parental behavior-related neuronal activation was found in the preoptic, ventromedial (VMH), paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, and in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. In addition, the number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) neurons in the nucleus accumbens predicted the frequency of the feeding of the nestlings. No difference was found in Fos expression when the effect of isolation or the presence of the mate was examined. Thus, our study identified a number of nuclei involved in parental care in birds and suggests similar regulatory mechanisms in caring females and males. The activated brain regions show similarities to rodents, while a generally lower number of brain regions were activated in the zebra finch. Furthermore, future studies are necessary to establish the role of the apparently avian-specific neuronal activation in the VMH of zebra finch parents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emese A Fazekas
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungary Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Boglárka Morvai
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely Zachar
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Fanni Dóra
- SE-NAP-Human Brain Tissue Bank Microdissection Laboratory and Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Center for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Ákos Pogány
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arpád Dobolyi
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungary Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Dai YC, Zhang HF, Schön M, Böckers TM, Han SP, Han JS, Zhang R. Neonatal Oxytocin Treatment Ameliorates Autistic-Like Behaviors and Oxytocin Deficiency in Valproic Acid-Induced Rat Model of Autism. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:355. [PMID: 30356897 PMCID: PMC6190900 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) plays a critical role in regulating social behaviors in the central nervous system, as indicated in both human and animal studies. We hypothesized that central OXT deficit is one of causes of etiology of ASD, which may be responsible for the social impairments. To test our hypothesis, central OXT system was examined in valproic acid (VPA)-induced rat model of autism (VPA rat). Our results showed that adolescent VPA rats exhibited a lower level of OXT mRNA and fewer OXT-ir cells in the hypothalamus than control rats. Additionally, OXT concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was reduced. The number of OXT-ir cells in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of neonatal VPA rats was also lower. Autistic-like behaviors were observed in these animals as well. We found that an acute intranasal administration of exogenous OXT restored the social preference of adolescent VPA rats. Additionally, early postnatal OXT treatment had long-term effects ameliorating the social impairments and repetitive behaviors of VPA rats until adolescence. This was accompanied by an increase in OXT-ir cells. Taken together, we demonstrated there was central OXT deficiency in the VPA-induced rat model of autism, and showed evidence that early postnatal OXT treatment had a long-term therapeutic effect on the autistic-like behaviors in VPA rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chuan Dai
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Hong-Feng Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Böckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Song-Ping Han
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Wuxi HANS Health Medical Technology Co., Ltd., Wuxi, China
| | - Ji-Sheng Han
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Dobolyi A, Cservenák M, Young LJ. Thalamic integration of social stimuli regulating parental behavior and the oxytocin system. Front Neuroendocrinol 2018; 51:102-115. [PMID: 29842887 PMCID: PMC6175608 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Critically important components of the maternal neural circuit in the preoptic area robustly activated by suckling were recently identified. In turn, suckling also contributes to hormonal adaptations to motherhood, which includes oxytocin release and consequent milk ejection. Other reproductive or social stimuli can also trigger the release of oxytocin centrally, influencing parental or social behaviors. However, the neuronal pathways that transfer suckling and other somatosensory stimuli to the preoptic area and oxytocin neurons have been poorly characterized. Recently, a relay center of suckling was determined and characterized in the posterior intralaminar complex of the thalamus (PIL). Its neurons containing tuberoinfundibular peptide 39 project to both the preoptic area and oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamus. The present review argues that the PIL is a major relay nucleus conveying somatosensory information supporting maternal behavior and oxytocin release in mothers, and may be involved more generally in social cue evoked oxytocin release, too.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arpad Dobolyi
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Melinda Cservenák
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Larry J Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Prolactin-induced and neuronal activation in the brain of mother mice. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:3229-3250. [PMID: 29802523 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1686-1] [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: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Nursing has important consequences on mothers. To separate the prolactin-mediated and the neuronally-mediated actions of nursing, neurons directly affected by prolactin were visualized using pSTAT5 immunohistochemistry in relation to Fos-expressing neurons in suckled mother mice. In response to pup exposure following 22-h pup deprivation, we found a markedly elevated number of pSTAT5-containing neurons in several brain regions, including the lateral septum, medial amygdaloid nucleus, subparafascicular area, caudal periaqueductal gray, dorsal raphe, lateral parabrachial nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, and the periventricular, medial preoptic, paraventricular, arcuate and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. Pup exposure also induced Fos expression in all of these brain regions except the arcuate and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei. Bromocriptine treatment known to reduce prolactin levels eliminated pSTAT5 from most brain regions while it did not affect Fos activation following suckling. The degree of colocalization for pSTAT5 and Fos ranged from 8 to 80% in the different brain regions suggesting that most neurons responding to pup exposure in mother mice are driven either by prolactin or direct neuronal input from the pups, while the number of neurons affected by both types of inputs depends on the examined brain area. In addition, both pSTAT5 and Fos were also double-labeled with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in mother mice, which revealed a very high degree of colocalization between pSTAT5 and ERα with much less potential interaction between Fos- and ERα-containing neurons suggesting that estrogen-sensitive neurons are more likely to be affected by prolactin than by direct neuronal activation.
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
For many, the terms oxytocin and vasopressin immediately evoke images of animals interacting with one another, as both of these neuropeptides have been implicated as being part of the neurochemical "glue" that socially binds animals. However, social environments and social interactions are complex and include behaviors that bring animals together as well as behaviors that keep animals apart. It is at the intersection of social context, social experience, and an individual's sex that oxytocin and vasopressin act to modulate social behavior and social cognition. In this review, this complexity will be explored across mammalian species, with a focus on social memory, cooperative behaviors, and competitive behaviors. Implications for humans as well as future directions will also be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather K Caldwell
- 1 Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Caldwell HK. Who Are You and Where Am I? New Insights Into How Animals Determine Their Social Context. Endocrinology 2017; 158:233-234. [PMID: 28430924 DOI: 10.1210/en.2016-1892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heather K Caldwell
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
| |
Collapse
|