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Aguilar C, Williams D, Kurapati R, Bains RS, Mburu P, Parker A, Williams J, Concas D, Tateossian H, Haynes AR, Banks G, Vikhe P, Heise I, Hutchison M, Atkins G, Gillard S, Starbuck B, Oliveri S, Blake A, Sethi S, Kumar S, Bardhan T, Jeng JY, Johnson SL, Corns LF, Marcotti W, Simon M, Wells S, Potter PK, Lad HV. Pleiotropic brain function of whirlin identified by a novel mutation. iScience 2024; 27:110170. [PMID: 38974964 PMCID: PMC11225360 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite some evidence indicating diverse roles of whirlin in neurons, the functional corollary of whirlin gene function and behavior has not been investigated or broadly characterized. A single nucleotide variant was identified from our recessive ENU-mutagenesis screen at a donor-splice site in whirlin, a protein critical for proper sensorineural hearing function. The mutation (head-bob, hb) led to partial intron-retention causing a frameshift and introducing a premature termination codon. Mutant mice had a head-bobbing phenotype and significant hyperactivity across several phenotyping tests. Lack of complementation of head-bob with whirler mutant mice confirmed the head-bob mutation as functionally distinct with compound mutants having a mild-moderate hearing defect. Utilizing transgenics, we demonstrate rescue of the hyperactive phenotype and combined with the expression profiling data conclude whirlin plays an essential role in activity-related behaviors. These results highlight a pleiotropic role of whirlin within the brain and implicate alternative, central mediated pathways in its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Aguilar
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Debbie Williams
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Ramakrishna Kurapati
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Rasneer S. Bains
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Philomena Mburu
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andy Parker
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Jackie Williams
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Danilo Concas
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Hilda Tateossian
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andrew R. Haynes
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Gareth Banks
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Pratik Vikhe
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Ines Heise
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Marie Hutchison
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Gemma Atkins
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Simon Gillard
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Becky Starbuck
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Simona Oliveri
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andrew Blake
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Siddharth Sethi
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Saumya Kumar
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Tanaya Bardhan
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jing-Yi Jeng
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Stuart L. Johnson
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Lara F. Corns
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Walter Marcotti
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michelle Simon
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Sara Wells
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Paul K. Potter
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Heena V. Lad
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
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2
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Riemersma IW, Ike KGO, Sollie T, Meijer EL, Havekes R, Kas MJH. Suppression of Cofilin function in the somatosensory cortex alters social contact behavior in the BTBR mouse inbred line. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae136. [PMID: 38602737 PMCID: PMC11008688 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensory differences are a core feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and are predictive of other ASD core symptoms such as social difficulties. However, the neurobiological substrate underlying the functional relationship between sensory and social functioning is poorly understood. Here, we examined whether misregulation of structural plasticity in the somatosensory cortex modulates aberrant social functioning in BTBR mice, a mouse model for autism spectrum disorder-like phenotypes. By locally expressing a dominant-negative form of Cofilin (CofilinS3D; a key regulator of synaptic structure) in the somatosensory cortex, we tested whether somatosensory suppression of Cofilin activity alters social functioning in BTBR mice. Somatosensory Cofilin suppression altered social contact and nest-hide behavior of BTBR mice in a social colony, assessed for seven consecutive days. Subsequent behavioral testing revealed that altered social functioning is related to altered tactile sensory perception; CofilinS3D-treated BTBR mice showed a time-dependent difference in the sensory bedding preference task. These findings show that Cofilin suppression in the somatosensory cortex alters social functioning in BTBR mice and that this is associated with tactile sensory processing, a critical indicator of somatosensory functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris W Riemersma
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kevin G O Ike
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Sollie
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elroy L Meijer
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert Havekes
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martien J H Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Kostiew KN, Tuli D, Coborn JE, Sinton CM, Teske JA. Behavioral phenotyping based on physical inactivity can predict sleep in female rats before, during, and after sleep disruption. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 402:110030. [PMID: 38042303 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.110030] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A noninvasive method that can accurately quantify sleep before, during, and after sleep disruption (SD) has not been validated in female rats across their estrous cycle. In female rats, we hypothesized that the duration of physical inactivity (PIA) required to predict sleep would 1) change with the differences in baseline sleep between the circadian and estrous cycle phases and 2) predict sleep and the change in sleep (Δsleep) before, during, and after SD independent of circadian and estrous cycle phase. NEW METHODS EEG, EMG, physical activity and estrous cycle phase were measured in female Sprague-Dawley rats before, during, and after SD. Sleep was determined by two methods [EEG/EMG and a duration of continuous PIA (i.e., PIA criterion)]. Reliability between the methods was tested with a previously validated criterion (40 s). Sensitivity analyses and criterion-related validity analyses for sleep during SD and recovery were conducted across multiple PIA criteria (10 s-120 s). Predictability between the two methods and Δsleep was calculated. RESULTS/COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Three criteria (10 s, 20 s, 30 s) predicted baseline sleep independent of circadian and estrous cycle phase. Sleep during SD and recovery were predicted by two criteria (30 s and 10 s). Δsleep between study periods was not reliably predicted by a single PIA criterion. CONCLUSION PIA predicted sleep independent of estrous cycle phase in female rats. However, the specific criterion was dependent upon the study period (before, during, and after SD) and circadian phase. Thus, prior work validating a PIA criterion in male rodents is not applicable to the female rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kora N Kostiew
- Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Diya Tuli
- Keep Engaging Youth in Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jamie E Coborn
- School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Christopher M Sinton
- School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jennifer A Teske
- Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
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Tamayo E, Mouland JW, Lucas RJ, Brown TM. Regulation of mouse exploratory behaviour by irradiance and cone-opponent signals. BMC Biol 2023; 21:178. [PMID: 37605163 PMCID: PMC10441731 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01663-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal survival depends on the ability to adjust behaviour according to environmental conditions. The circadian system plays a key role in this capability, with diel changes in the quantity (irradiance) and spectral content ('colour') of ambient illumination providing signals of time-of-day that regulate the timing of rest and activity. Light also exerts much more immediate effects on behaviour, however, that are equally important in shaping daily activity patterns. Hence, nocturnal mammals will actively avoid light and dramatically reduce their activity when light cannot be avoided. The sensory mechanisms underlying these acute effects of light are incompletely understood, particularly the importance of colour. RESULTS To define sensory mechanisms controlling mouse behaviour, we used photoreceptor-isolating stimuli and mice with altered cone spectral sensitivity (Opn1mwR), lacking melanopsin (Opn1mwR; Opn4-/-) or cone phototransduction (Cnga3-/-) in assays of light-avoidance and activity suppression. In addition to roles for melanopsin-dependent irradiance signals, we find a major influence of spectral content in both cases. Hence, remarkably, selective increases in S-cone irradiance (producing a blue-shift in spectrum replicating twilight) drive light-seeking behaviour and promote activity. These effects are opposed by signals from longer-wavelength sensitive cones, indicating a true spectrally-opponent mechanism. Using c-Fos-mapping and multielectrode electrophysiology, we further show these effects are associated with a selective cone-opponent modulation of neural activity in the key brain site implicated in acute effects of light on behaviour, the subparaventricular zone. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these data reveal a mechanism whereby blue-shifts in the spectrum of environmental illumination, such as during twilight, promote mouse exploratory behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Tamayo
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - J W Mouland
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - R J Lucas
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - T M Brown
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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Richardson R, Feigin CY, Bano-Otalora B, Johnson MR, Allen AE, Park J, McDowell RJ, Mereby SA, Lin IH, Lucas RJ, Mallarino R. The genomic basis of temporal niche evolution in a diurnal rodent. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3289-3298.e6. [PMID: 37480852 PMCID: PMC10529858 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Patterns of diel activity-how animals allocate their activity throughout the 24-h daily cycle-play key roles in shaping the internal physiology of an animal and its relationship with the external environment.1,2,3,4,5 Although shifts in diel activity patterns have occurred numerous times over the course of vertebrate evolution,6 the genomic correlates of such transitions remain unknown. Here, we use the African striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio), a species that transitioned from the ancestrally nocturnal diel niche of its close relatives to a diurnal one,7,8,9,10,11 to define patterns of naturally occurring molecular variation in diel niche traits. First, to facilitate genomic analyses, we generate a chromosome-level genome assembly of the striped mouse. Next, using transcriptomics, we show that the switch to daytime activity in this species is associated with a realignment of daily rhythms in peripheral tissues with respect to the light:dark cycle and the central circadian clock. To uncover selection pressures associated with this temporal niche shift, we perform comparative genomic analyses with closely related rodent species and find evidence of relaxation of purifying selection on striped mouse genes in the rod phototransduction pathway. In agreement with this, electroretinogram measurements demonstrate that striped mice have functional differences in dim-light visual responses compared with nocturnal rodents. Taken together, our results show that striped mice have undergone a drastic change in circadian organization and provide evidence that the visual system has been a major target of selection as this species transitioned to a novel temporal niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Richardson
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Charles Y Feigin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA; School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Beatriz Bano-Otalora
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Matthew R Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Annette E Allen
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Jongbeom Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Richard J McDowell
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Sarah A Mereby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - I-Hsuan Lin
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Ricardo Mallarino
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.
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6
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Ho H, Kejzar N, Sasaguri H, Saito T, Saido TC, De Strooper B, Bauza M, Krupic J. A fully automated home cage for long-term continuous phenotyping of mouse cognition and behavior. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100532. [PMID: 37533650 PMCID: PMC10391580 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Automated home-cage monitoring systems present a valuable tool for comprehensive phenotyping of natural behaviors. However, current systems often involve complex training routines, water or food restriction, and probe a limited range of behaviors. Here, we present a fully automated home-cage monitoring system for cognitive and behavioral phenotyping in mice. The system incorporates T-maze alternation, novel object recognition, and object-in-place recognition tests combined with monitoring of locomotion, drinking, and quiescence patterns, all carried out over long periods. Mice learn the tasks rapidly without any need for water or food restrictions. Behavioral characterization employs a deep convolutional neural network image analysis. We show that combined statistical properties of multiple behaviors can be used to discriminate between mice with hippocampal, medial entorhinal, and sham lesions and predict the genotype of an Alzheimer's disease mouse model with high accuracy. This technology may enable large-scale behavioral screening for genes and neural circuits underlying spatial memory and other cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hinze Ho
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nejc Kejzar
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hiroki Sasaguri
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Japan
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Saito
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takaomi C. Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Japan
| | - Bart De Strooper
- UK-Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marius Bauza
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julija Krupic
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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7
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Pernold K, Rullman E, Ulfhake B. Bouts of rest and physical activity in C57BL/6J mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280416. [PMID: 37363906 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective was to exploit the raw data output from a scalable home cage (type IIL IVC) monitoring (HCM) system (DVC®), to characterize pattern of undisrupted rest and physical activity (PA) of C57BL/6J mice. The system's tracking algorithm show that mice in isolation spend 67% of the time in bouts of long rest (≥40s). Sixteen percent is physical activity (PA), split between local movements (6%) and locomotion (10%). Decomposition revealed that a day contains ˜7100 discrete bouts of short and long rest, local and locomotor movements. Mice travel ˜330m per day, mainly during the dark hours, while travelling speed is similar through the light-dark cycle. Locomotor bouts are usually <0.2m and <1% are >1m. Tracking revealed also fits of abnormal behaviour. The starting positions of the bouts showed no preference for the rear over the front of the cage floor, while there was a strong bias for the peripheral (75%) over the central floor area. The composition of bouts has a characteristic circadian pattern, however, intrusive husbandry routines increased bout fragmentation by ˜40%. Extracting electrode activations density (EAD) from the raw data yielded results close to those obtained with the tracking algorithm, with 81% of time in rest (<1 EAD s-1) and 19% in PA. Periods ≥40 s of file when no movement occurs and there is no EAD may correspond to periods of sleep (˜59% of file time). We confirm that EAD correlates closely with movement distance (rs>0.95) and the data agreed in ˜97% of the file time. Thus, albeit EAD being less informative it may serve as a proxy for PA and rest, enabling monitoring group housed mice. The data show that increasing density from one female to two males, and further to three male or female mice had the same effect size on EAD (˜2). In contrast, the EAD deviated significantly from this stepwise increase with 4 mice per cage, suggesting a crowdedness stress inducing sex specific adaptations. We conclude that informative metrics on rest and PA can be automatically extracted from the raw data flow in near-real time (< 1 hrs). As discussed, these metrics relay useful longitudinal information to those that use or care for the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Pernold
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric Rullman
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Brun Ulfhake
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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Eacret D, Manduchi E, Noreck J, Tyner E, Fenik P, Dunn AD, Schug J, Veasey SC, Blendy JA. Mu-opioid receptor-expressing neurons in the paraventricular thalamus modulate chronic morphine-induced wake alterations. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:78. [PMID: 36869037 PMCID: PMC9984393 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02382-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted sleep is a symptom of many psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. Most drugs of abuse, including opioids, disrupt sleep. However, the extent and consequence of opioid-induced sleep disturbance, especially during chronic drug exposure, is understudied. We have previously shown that sleep disturbance alters voluntary morphine intake. Here, we examine the effects of acute and chronic morphine exposure on sleep. Using an oral self-administration paradigm, we show that morphine disrupts sleep, most significantly during the dark cycle in chronic morphine, with a concomitant sustained increase in neural activity in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Thalamus (PVT). Morphine binds primarily to Mu Opioid Receptors (MORs), which are highly expressed in the PVT. Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP)-Sequencing of PVT neurons that express MORs showed significant enrichment of the circadian entrainment pathway. To determine whether MOR + cells in the PVT mediate morphine-induced sleep/wake properties, we inhibited these neurons during the dark cycle while mice were self-administering morphine. This inhibition decreased morphine-induced wakefulness but not general wakefulness, indicating that MORs in the PVT contribute to opioid-specific wake alterations. Overall, our results suggest an important role for PVT neurons that express MORs in mediating morphine-induced sleep disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrell Eacret
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elisabetta Manduchi
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Julia Noreck
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emma Tyner
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Polina Fenik
- Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology and Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Amelia D Dunn
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan Schug
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sigrid C Veasey
- Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology and Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Julie A Blendy
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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9
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Eacret D, Lemchi C, Caulfield JI, Cavigelli SA, Veasey SC, Blendy JA. Chronic Sleep Deprivation Blocks Voluntary Morphine Consumption but Not Conditioned Place Preference in Mice. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:836693. [PMID: 35250468 PMCID: PMC8892254 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.836693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The opioid epidemic remains a significant healthcare problem and is attributable to over 100,000 deaths per year. Poor sleep increases sensitivity to pain, impulsivity, inattention, and negative affect, all of which might perpetuate drug use. Opioid users have disrupted sleep during drug use and withdrawal and report poor sleep as a reason for relapse. However, preclinical studies investigating the relationship between sleep loss and substance use and the associated underlying neurobiological mechanisms of potential interactions are lacking. One of the most common forms of sleep loss in modern society is chronic short sleep (CSS) (<7 h/nightly for adults). Here, we used an established model of CSS to investigate the influence of disrupted sleep on opioid reward in male mice. The CSS paradigm did not increase corticosterone levels or depressive-like behavior after a single sleep deprivation session but did increase expression of Iba1, which typically reflects microglial activation, in the hypothalamus after 4 weeks of CSS. Rested control mice developed a morphine preference in a 2-bottle choice test, while mice exposed to CSS did not develop a morphine preference. Both groups demonstrated morphine conditioned place preference (mCPP), but there were no differences in conditioned preference between rested and CSS mice. Taken together, our results show that recovery sleep after chronic sleep disruption lessens voluntary opioid intake, without impacting conditioned reward associated with morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrell Eacret
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Crystal Lemchi
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jasmine I. Caulfield
- Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Sonia A. Cavigelli
- Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Sigrid C. Veasey
- Department of Medicine, Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Julie A. Blendy
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Julie A. Blendy,
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10
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Weegh N, Zentrich E, Zechner D, Struve B, Wassermann L, Talbot SR, Kumstel S, Heider M, Vollmar B, Bleich A, Häger C. Voluntary wheel running behaviour as a tool to assess the severity in a mouse pancreatic cancer model. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261662. [PMID: 34941923 PMCID: PMC8699632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory animals frequently undergo routine experimental procedures such as handling, restraining and injections. However, as a known source of stress, these procedures potentially impact study outcome and data quality. In the present study, we, therefore, performed an evidence-based severity assessment of experimental procedures used in a pancreatic cancer model including surgical tumour induction and subsequent chemotherapeutic treatment via repeated intraperitoneal injections. Cancer cell injection into the pancreas was performed during a laparotomy under general anaesthesia. After a four-day recovery phase, mice received either drug treatment (galloflavin and metformin) or the respective vehicle substances via daily intraperitoneal injections. In addition to clinical scoring, an automated home-cage monitoring system was used to assess voluntary wheel running (VWR) behaviour as an indicator of impaired well-being. After surgery, slightly elevated clinical scores and minimal body weight reductions, but significantly decreased VWR behaviour were observed. During therapy, body weight declined in response to chemotherapy, but not after vehicle substance injection, while VWR activity was decreased in both cases. VWR behaviour differed between treatment groups and revealed altered nightly activity patterns. In summary, by monitoring VWR a high impact of repeated injections on the well-being of mice was revealed and substance effects on well-being were distinguishable. However, no differences in tumour growth between treatment groups were observed. This might be due to the severity of the procedures uncovered in this study, as exaggerated stress responses are potentially confounding factors in preclinical studies. Finally, VWR was a more sensitive indicator of impairment than clinical scoring in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Weegh
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eva Zentrich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dietmar Zechner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Birgitta Struve
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Laura Wassermann
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Steven Roger Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Simone Kumstel
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Miriam Heider
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine Häger
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- * E-mail:
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11
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Ang G, Brown LA, Tam SKE, Davies KE, Foster RG, Harrison PJ, Sprengel R, Vyazovskiy VV, Oliver PL, Bannerman DM, Peirson SN. Deletion of AMPA receptor GluA1 subunit gene (Gria1) causes circadian rhythm disruption and aberrant responses to environmental cues. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:588. [PMID: 34782594 PMCID: PMC8593011 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01690-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the glutamate α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor GluA1 subunit and deficits in synaptic plasticity are implicated in schizophrenia and sleep and circadian rhythm disruption. To investigate the role of GluA1 in circadian and sleep behaviour, we used wheel-running, passive-infrared, and video-based home-cage activity monitoring to assess daily rest-activity profiles of GluA1-knockout mice (Gria1-/-). We showed that these mice displayed various circadian abnormalities, including misaligned, fragmented, and more variable rest-activity patterns. In addition, they showed heightened, but transient, behavioural arousal to light→dark and dark→light transitions, as well as attenuated nocturnal-light-induced activity suppression (negative masking). In the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), nocturnal-light-induced cFos signals (a molecular marker of neuronal activity in the preceding ~1-2 h) were attenuated, indicating reduced light sensitivity in the SCN. However, there was no change in the neuroanatomical distribution of expression levels of two neuropeptides-vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and arginine vasopressin (AVP)-differentially expressed in the core (ventromedial) vs. shell (dorsolateral) SCN subregions and both are known to be important for neuronal synchronisation within the SCN and circadian rhythmicity. In the motor cortex (area M1/M2), there was increased inter-individual variability in cFos levels during the evening period, mirroring the increased inter-individual variability in locomotor activity under nocturnal light. Finally, in the spontaneous odour recognition task GluA1 knockouts' short-term memory was impaired due to enhanced attention to the recently encountered familiar odour. These abnormalities due to altered AMPA-receptor-mediated signalling resemble and may contribute to sleep and circadian rhythm disruption and attentional deficits in different modalities in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauri Ang
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laurence A Brown
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- IT Services, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shu K E Tam
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kay E Davies
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Russell G Foster
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Rolf Sprengel
- Research Group of the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research at the Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vladyslav V Vyazovskiy
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter L Oliver
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell, UK.
| | - David M Bannerman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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12
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Geuther B, Chen M, Galante RJ, Han O, Lian J, George J, Pack AI, Kumar V. High-throughput visual assessment of sleep stages in mice using machine learning. Sleep 2021; 45:6414386. [PMID: 34718812 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsab260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Sleep is an important biological process that is perturbed in numerous diseases, and assessment its substages currently requires implantation of electrodes to carry out electroencephalogram/electromyogram (EEG/EMG) analysis. Although accurate, this method comes at a high cost of invasive surgery and experts trained to score EEG/EMG data. Here, we leverage modern computer vision methods to directly classify sleep substages from video data. This bypasses the need for surgery and expert scoring, provides a path to high-throughput studies of sleep in mice. METHODS We collected synchronized high-resolution video and EEG/EMG data in 16 male C57BL/6J mice. We extracted features from the video that are time and frequency-based and used the human expert-scored EEG/EMG data to train a visual classifier. We investigated several classifiers and data augmentation methods. RESULTS Our visual sleep classifier proved to be highly accurate in classifying wake, non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) states, and achieves an overall accuracy of 0.92 +/- 0.05 (mean +/- SD). We discover and genetically validate video features that correlate with breathing rates, and show low and high variability in NREM and REM sleep, respectively. Finally, we apply our methods to non-invasively detect that sleep stage disturbances induced by amphetamine administration. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that machine learning based visual classification of sleep is a viable alternative to EEG/EMG based scoring. Our results will enable non-invasive high-throughput sleep studies and will greatly reduce the barrier to screening mutant mice for abnormalities in sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Geuther
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME
| | - Mandy Chen
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME
| | - Raymond J Galante
- University of Pennsylvania, John Miclot Professor of Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine/Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 2100, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Owen Han
- University of Pennsylvania, John Miclot Professor of Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine/Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 2100, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jie Lian
- University of Pennsylvania, John Miclot Professor of Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine/Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 2100, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Joshy George
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME
| | - Allan I Pack
- University of Pennsylvania, John Miclot Professor of Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine/Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 2100, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Vivek Kumar
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME
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13
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Dim light in the evening causes coordinated realignment of circadian rhythms, sleep, and short-term memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2101591118. [PMID: 34556572 PMCID: PMC8488663 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101591118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In modern societies, people are regularly exposed to artificial light (e.g., light-emitting electronic devices). Dim light in the evening (DLE) imposes an artificial extension of the solar day, increasing our alertness before bedtime, delaying melatonin timing and sleep onset, and increasing sleepiness in the next morning. Using laboratory mice as a model organism, we show that 2 wk of 4-h, 20-lux DLE postpones rest–activity rhythms, delays molecular rhythms in the brain and body, and reverses the diurnal pattern of short-term memory performance. These results highlight the biological impact of DLE and emphasize the need to optimize our evening light exposure if we are to avoid shifting our biological clocks. Light provides the primary signal for entraining circadian rhythms to the day/night cycle. In addition to rods and cones, the retina contains a small population of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs) expressing the photopigment melanopsin (OPN4). Concerns have been raised that exposure to dim artificial lighting in the evening (DLE) may perturb circadian rhythms and sleep patterns, and OPN4 is presumed to mediate these effects. Here, we examine the effects of 4-h, 20-lux DLE on circadian physiology and behavior in mice and the role of OPN4 in these responses. We show that 2 wk of DLE induces a phase delay of ∼2 to 3 h in mice, comparable to that reported in humans. DLE-induced phase shifts are unaffected in Opn4−/− mice, indicating that rods and cones are capable of driving these responses in the absence of melanopsin. DLE delays molecular clock rhythms in the heart, liver, adrenal gland, and dorsal hippocampus. It also reverses short-term recognition memory performance, which is associated with changes in preceding sleep history. In addition, DLE modifies patterns of hypothalamic and cortical cFos signals, a molecular correlate of recent neuronal activity. Together, our data show that DLE causes coordinated realignment of circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, and short-term memory process in mice. These effects are particularly relevant as DLE conditions―due to artificial light exposure―are experienced by the majority of the populace on a daily basis.
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14
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Abstract
Cortical and subcortical circuitry are thought to play distinct roles in the generation of sleep oscillations and global state control, respectively. Here we silenced a subset of neocortical layer 5 pyramidal and archicortical dentate gyrus granule cells in male mice by ablating SNAP25. This markedly increased wakefulness and reduced rebound of electroencephalographic slow-wave activity after sleep deprivation, suggesting a role for the cortex in both vigilance state control and sleep homeostasis.
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15
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Bano-Otalora B, Martial F, Harding C, Bechtold DA, Allen AE, Brown TM, Belle MDC, Lucas RJ. Bright daytime light enhances circadian amplitude in a diurnal mammal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2100094118. [PMID: 34031246 PMCID: PMC8179182 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100094118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian circadian rhythms are orchestrated by a master pacemaker in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which receives information about the 24 h light-dark cycle from the retina. The accepted function of this light signal is to reset circadian phase in order to ensure appropriate synchronization with the celestial day. Here, we ask whether light also impacts another key property of the circadian oscillation, its amplitude. To this end, we measured circadian rhythms in behavioral activity, body temperature, and SCN electrophysiological activity in the diurnal murid rodent Rhabdomys pumilio following stable entrainment to 12:12 light-dark cycles at four different daytime intensities (ranging from 18 to 1,900 lx melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance). R. pumilio showed strongly diurnal activity and body temperature rhythms in all conditions, but measures of rhythm robustness were positively correlated with daytime irradiance under both entrainment and subsequent free run. Whole-cell and extracellular recordings of electrophysiological activity in ex vivo SCN revealed substantial differences in electrophysiological activity between dim and bright light conditions. At lower daytime irradiance, daytime peaks in SCN spontaneous firing rate and membrane depolarization were substantially depressed, leading to an overall marked reduction in the amplitude of circadian rhythms in spontaneous activity. Our data reveal a previously unappreciated impact of daytime light intensity on SCN physiology and the amplitude of circadian rhythms and highlight the potential importance of daytime light exposure for circadian health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Bano-Otalora
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Franck Martial
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Court Harding
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - David A Bechtold
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Annette E Allen
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy M Brown
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Mino D C Belle
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PS, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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16
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Mouland JW, Martial FP, Lucas RJ, Brown TM. Modulations in irradiance directed at melanopsin, but not cone photoreceptors, reliably alter electrophysiological activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and circadian behaviour in mice. J Pineal Res 2021; 70:e12735. [PMID: 33793975 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells convey intrinsic, melanopsin-based, photoreceptive signals alongside those produced by rods and cones to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) circadian clock. To date, experimental data suggest that melanopsin plays a more significant role in measuring ambient light intensity than cone photoreception. Such studies have overwhelmingly used diffuse light stimuli, whereas light intensity in the world around us varies across space and time. Here, we investigated the extent to which melanopsin or cone signals support circadian irradiance measurements in the presence of naturalistic spatiotemporal variations in light intensity. To address this, we first presented high- and low-contrast movies to anaesthetised mice whilst recording extracellular electrophysiological activity from the SCN. Using a mouse line with altered cone sensitivity (Opn1mwR mice) and multispectral light sources we then selectively varied irradiance of the movies for specific photoreceptor classes. We found that steps in melanopic irradiance largely account for the light induced-changes in SCN activity over a range of starting light intensities and in the presence of spatiotemporal modulation. By contrast, cone-directed changes in irradiance only influenced SCN activity when spatiotemporal contrast was low. Consistent with these findings, under housing conditions where we could independently adjust irradiance for melanopsin versus cones, the period lengthening effects of constant light on circadian rhythms in behaviour were reliably determined by melanopic irradiance, regardless of irradiance for cones. These data add to the growing evidence that modulating effective irradiance for melanopsin is an effective strategy for controlling the circadian impact of light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh W Mouland
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Franck P Martial
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Timothy M Brown
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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17
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Pernold K, Rullman E, Ulfhake B. Major oscillations in spontaneous home-cage activity in C57BL/6 mice housed under constant conditions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4961. [PMID: 33654141 PMCID: PMC7925671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84141-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The mouse is the most important mammalian model in life science research and the behavior of the mouse is a key read-out of experimental interventions and genetic manipulations. To serve this purpose a solid understanding of the mouse normal behavior is a prerequisite. Using 14-19 months of cumulative 24/7 home-cage activity recorded with a non-intrusive technique, evidence is here provided for a highly significant circannual oscillation in spontaneous activity (1-2 SD of the mean, on average 65% higher during peak of highs than lows; P = 7E-50) of male and female C57BL/6 mice held under constant conditions. The periodicity of this hitherto not recognized oscillation is in the range of 2-4 months (average estimate was 97 days across cohorts of cages). It off-sets responses to environmental stimuli and co-varies with the feeding behavior but does not significantly alter the preference for being active during the dark hours. The absence of coordination of this rhythmicity between cages with mice or seasons of the year suggest that the oscillation of physical activity is generated by a free-running intrinsic oscillator devoid of external timer. Due to the magnitude of this rhythmic variation it may be a serious confounder in experiments on mice if left unrecognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Pernold
- grid.465198.7Division Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Eric Rullman
- grid.465198.7Division Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Brun Ulfhake
- grid.465198.7Division Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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18
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Mingrone A, Kaffman A, Kaffman A. The Promise of Automated Home-Cage Monitoring in Improving Translational Utility of Psychiatric Research in Rodents. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:618593. [PMID: 33390898 PMCID: PMC7773806 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.618593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Large number of promising preclinical psychiatric studies in rodents later fail in clinical trials, raising concerns about the efficacy of this approach to generate novel pharmacological interventions. In this mini-review we argue that over-reliance on behavioral tests that are brief and highly sensitive to external factors play a critical role in this failure and propose that automated home-cage monitoring offers several advantages that will increase the translational utility of preclinical psychiatric research in rodents. We describe three of the most commonly used approaches for automated home cage monitoring in rodents [e.g., operant wall systems (OWS), computerized visual systems (CVS), and automatic motion sensors (AMS)] and review several commercially available systems that integrate the different approaches. Specific examples that demonstrate the advantages of automated home-cage monitoring over traditional tests of anxiety, depression, cognition, and addiction-like behaviors are highlighted. We conclude with recommendations on how to further expand this promising line of preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Mingrone
- Department of Psychology, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ayal Kaffman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Arie Kaffman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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19
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Mouland JW, Martial F, Watson A, Lucas RJ, Brown TM. Cones Support Alignment to an Inconsistent World by Suppressing Mouse Circadian Responses to the Blue Colors Associated with Twilight. Curr Biol 2020; 29:4260-4267.e4. [PMID: 31846668 PMCID: PMC6926481 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In humans, short-wavelength light evokes larger circadian responses than longer wavelengths [1-3]. This reflects the fact that melanopsin, a key contributor to circadian assessments of light intensity, most efficiently captures photons around 480 nm [4-8] and gives rise to the popular view that "blue" light exerts the strongest effects on the clock. However, in the natural world, there is often no direct correlation between perceived color (as reported by the cone-based visual system) and melanopsin excitation. Accordingly, although the mammalian clock does receive cone-based chromatic signals [9], the influence of color on circadian responses to light remains unclear. Here, we define the nature and functional significance of chromatic influences on the mouse circadian system. Using polychromatic lighting and mice with altered cone spectral sensitivity (Opn1mwR), we generate conditions that differ in color (i.e., ratio of L- to S-cone opsin activation) while providing identical melanopsin and rod activation. When biased toward S-opsin activation (appearing "blue"), these stimuli reliably produce weaker circadian behavioral responses than those favoring L-opsin ("yellow"). This influence of color (which is absent in animals lacking cone phototransduction; Cnga3-/-) aligns with natural changes in spectral composition over twilight, where decreasing solar angle is accompanied by a strong blue shift [9-11]. Accordingly, we find that naturalistic color changes support circadian alignment when environmental conditions render diurnal variations in light intensity weak/ambiguous sources of timing information. Our data thus establish how color contributes to circadian entrainment in mammals and provide important new insight to inform the design of lighting environments that benefit health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Mouland
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Franck Martial
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Alex Watson
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Timothy M Brown
- Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
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20
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Hobson L, Bains RS, Greenaway S, Wells S, Nolan PM. Phenotyping in Mice Using Continuous Home Cage Monitoring and Ultrasonic Vocalization Recordings. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 10:e80. [PMID: 32813317 DOI: 10.1002/cpmo.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Over the last century, the study of mouse behavior has uncovered insights into brain molecular mechanisms while revealing potential causes of many neurological disorders. To this end, researchers have widely exploited the use of mutant strains, including those generated in mutagenesis screens and those produced using increasingly sophisticated genome engineering technologies. It is now relatively easy to access mouse models carrying alleles that faithfully recapitulate changes found in human patients or bearing variants of genes that provide data on those genes' functions. Concurrent with these developments has been an appreciation of the limitations of some current testing platforms, especially those monitoring complex behaviors. Out-of-cage observational testing is useful in describing overt persistent phenotypes but risks missing sporadic or intermittent events. Furthermore, measuring the progression of a phenotype, potentially over many months, can be difficult while relying on assays that may be susceptible to changes in the testing environment. In recent years, there has also been increasing awareness that measurement of behaviors in isolation can be limiting, given that mice attempt to hide behavioral cues of vulnerability. To overcome these limitations, laboratory animal science is capitalizing on progress in data capture and processing expertise. Moreover, as additional recording modes become commonplace, ultrasonic vocalization recording is an appealing focus, as mice use vocalizations in various social contexts. Using video and audio technologies, we record the voluntary, unprovoked behaviors and vocalizations of mice in social groups. Adoption of these approaches is undoubtedly set to increase, as they capture the round-the-clock behavior of mouse strains. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Continuous recording of home cage activity using the Home Cage Analyzer (HCA) system Support Protocol: Subcutaneous insertion of a radio frequency identification microchip in the inguinal area Basic Protocol 2: Continuous recording of mouse ultrasonic vocalizations in the home cage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liane Hobson
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute, Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Rasneer S Bains
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute, Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Greenaway
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute, Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Wells
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute, Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick M Nolan
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute, Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
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21
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Banks GT, Guillaumin MCC, Heise I, Lau P, Yin M, Bourbia N, Aguilar C, Bowl MR, Esapa C, Brown LA, Hasan S, Tagliatti E, Nicholson E, Bains RS, Wells S, Vyazovskiy VV, Volynski K, Peirson SN, Nolan PM. Forward genetics identifies a novel sleep mutant with sleep state inertia and REM sleep deficits. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eabb3567. [PMID: 32851175 PMCID: PMC7423362 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb3567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Switches between global sleep and wakefulness states are believed to be dictated by top-down influences arising from subcortical nuclei. Using forward genetics and in vivo electrophysiology, we identified a recessive mouse mutant line characterized by a substantially reduced propensity to transition between wake and sleep states with an especially pronounced deficit in initiating rapid eye movement (REM) sleep episodes. The causative mutation, an Ile102Asn substitution in the synaptic vesicular protein, VAMP2, was associated with morphological synaptic changes and specific behavioral deficits, while in vitro electrophysiological investigations with fluorescence imaging revealed a markedly diminished probability of vesicular release in mutants. Our data show that global shifts in the synaptic efficiency across brain-wide networks leads to an altered probability of vigilance state transitions, possibly as a result of an altered excitability balance within local circuits controlling sleep-wake architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth T. Banks
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Mathilde C. C. Guillaumin
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ines Heise
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Petrina Lau
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Minghui Yin
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Nora Bourbia
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Carlos Aguilar
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Michael R. Bowl
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Chris Esapa
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Laurence A. Brown
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sibah Hasan
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Erica Tagliatti
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Nicholson
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rasneer Sonia Bains
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Sara Wells
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Vladyslav V. Vyazovskiy
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kirill Volynski
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stuart N. Peirson
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Patrick M. Nolan
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
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22
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Singh S, Bermudez-Contreras E, Nazari M, Sutherland RJ, Mohajerani MH. Low-cost solution for rodent home-cage behaviour monitoring. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220751. [PMID: 31374097 PMCID: PMC6677321 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current research on measuring complex behaviours/phenotyping in rodents, most of the experimental design requires the experimenter to remove the animal from its home-cage environment and place it in an unfamiliar apparatus (novel environment). This interaction may influence behaviour, general well-being, and the metabolism of the animal, affecting the phenotypic outcome even if the data collection method is automated. Most of the commercially available solutions for home-cage monitoring are expensive and usually lack the flexibility to be incorporated with existing home-cages. Here we present a low-cost solution for monitoring home-cage behaviour of rodents that can be easily incorporated to practically any available rodent home-cage. To demonstrate the use of our system, we reliably predict the sleep/wake state of mice in their home-cage using only video. We validate these results using hippocampal local field potential (LFP) and electromyography (EMG) data. Our approach provides a low-cost flexible methodology for high-throughput studies of sleep, circadian rhythm and rodent behaviour with minimal experimenter interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surjeet Singh
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Edgar Bermudez-Contreras
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Mojtaba Nazari
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Robert J. Sutherland
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- * E-mail: (RJS); (MHM)
| | - Majid H. Mohajerani
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- * E-mail: (RJS); (MHM)
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23
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Telling the Time with a Broken Clock: Quantifying Circadian Disruption in Animal Models. BIOLOGY 2019; 8:biology8010018. [PMID: 30901884 PMCID: PMC6466320 DOI: 10.3390/biology8010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are approximately 24 h cycles in physiology and behaviour that enable organisms to anticipate predictable rhythmic changes in their environment. These rhythms are a hallmark of normal healthy physiology, and disruption of circadian rhythms has implications for cognitive, metabolic, cardiovascular and immune function. Circadian disruption is of increasing concern, and may occur as a result of the pressures of our modern 24/7 society—including artificial light exposure, shift-work and jet-lag. In addition, circadian disruption is a common comorbidity in many different conditions, ranging from aging to neurological disorders. A key feature of circadian disruption is the breakdown of robust, reproducible rhythms with increasing fragmentation between activity and rest. Circadian researchers have developed a range of methods for estimating the period of time series, typically based upon periodogram analysis. However, the methods used to quantify circadian disruption across the literature are not consistent. Here we describe a range of different measures that have been used to measure circadian disruption, with a particular focus on laboratory rodent data. These methods include periodogram power, variability in activity onset, light phase activity, activity bouts, interdaily stability, intradaily variability and relative amplitude. The strengths and limitations of these methods are described, as well as their normal ranges and interrelationships. Whilst there is an increasing appreciation of circadian disruption as both a risk to health and a potential therapeutic target, greater consistency in the quantification of disrupted rhythms is needed.
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24
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Stewart M, Lau P, Banks G, Bains RS, Castroflorio E, Oliver PL, Dixon CL, Kruer MC, Kullmann DM, Acevedo-Arozena A, Wells SE, Corrochano S, Nolan PM. Loss of Frrs1l disrupts synaptic AMPA receptor function, and results in neurodevelopmental, motor, cognitive and electrographical abnormalities. Dis Model Mech 2019; 12:dmm.036806. [PMID: 30692144 PMCID: PMC6398485 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.036806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in a human AMPA receptor-associated protein, ferric chelate reductase 1-like (FRRS1L), are associated with a devastating neurological condition incorporating choreoathetosis, cognitive deficits and epileptic encephalopathies. Furthermore, evidence from overexpression and ex vivo studies has implicated FRRS1L in AMPA receptor biogenesis, suggesting that changes in glutamatergic signalling might underlie the disorder. Here, we investigated the neurological and neurobehavioural correlates of the disorder using a mouse Frrs1l null mutant. The study revealed several neurological defects that mirrored those seen in human patients. We established that mice lacking Frrs1l suffered from a broad spectrum of early-onset motor deficits with no progressive, age-related deterioration. Moreover, Frrs1l−/− mice were hyperactive, irrespective of test environment, exhibited working memory deficits and displayed significant sleep fragmentation. Longitudinal electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings also revealed abnormal EEG results in Frrs1l−/− mice. Parallel investigations into disease aetiology identified a specific deficiency in AMPA receptor levels in the brain of Frrs1l−/− mice, while the general levels of several other synaptic components remained unchanged, with no obvious alterations in the number of synapses. Furthermore, we established that Frrsl1 deletion results in an increased proportion of immature AMPA receptors, indicated by incomplete glycosylation of GLUA2 (also known as GRIA2) and GLUA4 (also known as GRIA4) AMPA receptor proteins. This incomplete maturation leads to cytoplasmic retention and a reduction of those specific AMPA receptor levels in the postsynaptic membrane. Overall, this study determines, for the first time in vivo, how loss of FRRS1L function can affect glutamatergic signalling, and provides mechanistic insight into the development and progression of a human hyperkinetic disorder. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Loss of the epilepsy-related gene Frrs1l in mice causes a dramatic reduction in AMPA receptor levels at the synapse, eliciting severe motor and coordination disabilities, hyperactivity and cognitive defects, with some evidence of behavioural seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petrina Lau
- MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Gareth Banks
- MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | | | | | - Peter L Oliver
- MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Christine L Dixon
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Michael C Kruer
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Dimitri M Kullmann
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Abraham Acevedo-Arozena
- Unidad de Investigación Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna 38320, Spain.,ITB, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna 38320, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), La Laguna 38320, Spain
| | - Sara E Wells
- MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | | | - Patrick M Nolan
- MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
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25
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Rodgers J, Hughes S, Pothecary CA, Brown LA, Hickey DG, Peirson SN, Hankins MW. Defining the impact of melanopsin missense polymorphisms using in vivo functional rescue. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 27:2589-2603. [PMID: 29718372 PMCID: PMC6048994 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanopsin (OPN4) is an opsin photopigment expressed within intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) that mediate non-image forming (NIF) responses to light. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human melanopsin (hOPN4), Pro10Leu and Thr394Ile, have recently been associated with abnormal NIF responses to light, including seasonal affective disorder. It has been suggested these behavioural changes are due to altered melanopsin signalling. However, there is currently no direct evidence to support this. Here we have used ipRGC-specific delivery of hOPN4 wild-type (WT), Pro10Leu or Thr394Ile adeno-associated viruses (AAV) to determine the functional consequences of hOPN4 SNPs on melanopsin-driven light responses and associated behaviours. Immunohistochemistry confirmed hOPN4 AAVs exclusively transduced mouse ipRGCs. Behavioural phenotyping performed before and after AAV injection demonstrated that both hOPN4 Pro10Leu and Thr394Ile could functionally rescue pupillary light responses and circadian photoentrainment in Opn4-/- mice, with no differences in NIF behaviours detected for animals expressing either SNP compared to hOPN4 WT. Multi-electrode array recordings revealed that ipRGCs expressing hOPN4 Thr394Ile exhibit melanopsin-driven light responses with significantly attenuated response amplitude, decreased sensitivity and faster offset kinetics compared to hOPN4 WT. IpRGCs expressing hOpn4 Pro10Leu also showed reduced response amplitude. Collectively these data suggest Thr394Ile and Pro10Leu may be functionally significant SNPs, which result in altered melanopsin signalling. To our knowledge, this study provides the first direct evidence for the effects of hOPN4 polymorphisms on melanopsin-driven light responses and NIF behaviours in vivo, providing further insight into the role of these SNPs in melanopsin function and human physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Rodgers
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, OMPI G, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Steven Hughes
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, OMPI G, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carina A Pothecary
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, OMPI G, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laurence A Brown
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, OMPI G, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Doron G Hickey
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, OMPI G, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark W Hankins
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, OMPI G, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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26
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Davies B, Brown LA, Cais O, Watson J, Clayton AJ, Chang VT, Biggs D, Preece C, Hernandez-Pliego P, Krohn J, Bhomra A, Twigg SRF, Rimmer A, Kanapin A, Sen A, Zaiwalla Z, McVean G, Foster R, Donnelly P, Taylor JC, Blair E, Nutt D, Aricescu AR, Greger IH, Peirson SN, Flint J, Martin HC. A point mutation in the ion conduction pore of AMPA receptor GRIA3 causes dramatically perturbed sleep patterns as well as intellectual disability. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 26:3869-3882. [PMID: 29016847 PMCID: PMC5639461 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of genetic variants influencing sleep patterns can shed light on the physiological processes underlying sleep. As part of a large clinical sequencing project, WGS500, we sequenced a family in which the two male children had severe developmental delay and a dramatically disturbed sleep-wake cycle, with very long wake and sleep durations, reaching up to 106-h awake and 48-h asleep. The most likely causal variant identified was a novel missense variant in the X-linked GRIA3 gene, which has been implicated in intellectual disability. GRIA3 encodes GluA3, a subunit of AMPA-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPARs). The mutation (A653T) falls within the highly conserved transmembrane domain of the ion channel gate, immediately adjacent to the analogous residue in the Grid2 (glutamate receptor) gene, which is mutated in the mouse neurobehavioral mutant, Lurcher. In vitro, the GRIA3(A653T) mutation stabilizes the channel in a closed conformation, in contrast to Lurcher. We introduced the orthologous mutation into a mouse strain by CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis and found that hemizygous mutants displayed significant differences in the structure of their activity and sleep compared to wild-type littermates. Typically, mice are polyphasic, exhibiting multiple sleep bouts of sleep several minutes long within a 24-h period. The Gria3A653T mouse showed significantly fewer brief bouts of activity and sleep than the wild-types. Furthermore, Gria3A653T mice showed enhanced period lengthening under constant light compared to wild-type mice, suggesting an increased sensitivity to light. Our results suggest a role for GluA3 channel activity in the regulation of sleep behavior in both mice and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Davies
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Laurence A Brown
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Ondrej Cais
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Neurobiology Division, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jake Watson
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Neurobiology Division, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Amber J Clayton
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Veronica T Chang
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Neurobiology Division, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Daniel Biggs
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Christopher Preece
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK
| | | | - Jon Krohn
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Amarjit Bhomra
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Stephen R F Twigg
- Clinical Genetics Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DS, UK
| | | | - Alexander Kanapin
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.,Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7DQ, UK
| | | | - Arjune Sen
- Oxford Epilepsy Research Group, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Zenobia Zaiwalla
- Department of Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Gil McVean
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.,Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Russell Foster
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Peter Donnelly
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.,Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Jenny C Taylor
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.,National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Oxford BRC), Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Edward Blair
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7HE, UK
| | - David Nutt
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - A Radu Aricescu
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Neurobiology Division, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Ingo H Greger
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Neurobiology Division, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jonathan Flint
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California-Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hilary C Martin
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
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27
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Bains RS, Wells S, Sillito RR, Armstrong JD, Cater HL, Banks G, Nolan PM. Assessing mouse behaviour throughout the light/dark cycle using automated in-cage analysis tools. J Neurosci Methods 2017; 300:37-47. [PMID: 28456660 PMCID: PMC5909039 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Automated assessment of mouse home-cage behaviour is robust and reliable. Analysis over multiple light/dark cycles improves ability to classify behaviours. Combined RFID and video analysis enables home-cage analysis in group housed animals.
An important factor in reducing variability in mouse test outcomes has been to develop assays that can be used for continuous automated home cage assessment. Our experience has shown that this has been most evidenced in long-term assessment of wheel-running activity in mice. Historically, wheel-running in mice and other rodents have been used as a robust assay to determine, with precision, the inherent period of circadian rhythms in mice. Furthermore, this assay has been instrumental in dissecting the molecular genetic basis of mammalian circadian rhythms. In teasing out the elements of this test that have determined its robustness – automated assessment of an unforced behaviour in the home cage over long time intervals – we and others have been investigating whether similar test apparatus could be used to accurately discriminate differences in distinct behavioural parameters in mice. Firstly, using these systems, we explored behaviours in a number of mouse inbred strains to determine whether we could extract biologically meaningful differences. Secondly, we tested a number of relevant mutant lines to determine how discriminative these parameters were. Our findings show that, when compared to conventional out-of-cage phenotyping, a far deeper understanding of mouse mutant phenotype can be established by monitoring behaviour in the home cage over one or more light:dark cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasneer S Bains
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Sara Wells
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | | | - J Douglas Armstrong
- Actual Analytics Ltd., Edinburgh, UK; School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Heather L Cater
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Gareth Banks
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Patrick M Nolan
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science Campus, Oxfordshire, UK.
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