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Saleki K, Banazadeh M, Saghazadeh A, Rezaei N. Aging, testosterone, and neuroplasticity: friend or foe? Rev Neurosci 2022; 34:247-273. [PMID: 36017670 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2022-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Neuroplasticity or neural plasticity implicates the adaptive potential of the brain in response to extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli. The concept has been utilized in different contexts such as injury and neurological disease. Neuroplasticity mechanisms have been classified into neuroregenerative and function-restoring processes. In the context of injury, neuroplasticity has been defined in three post-injury epochs. Testosterone plays a key yet double-edged role in the regulation of several neuroplasticity alterations. Research has shown that testosterone levels are affected by numerous factors such as age, stress, surgical procedures on gonads, and pharmacological treatments. There is an ongoing debate for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in aging men; however, TRT is more useful in young individuals with testosterone deficit and more specific subgroups with cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, it is important to pay early attention to testosterone profile and precisely uncover its harms and benefits. In the present review, we discuss the influence of environmental factors, aging, and gender on testosterone-associated alterations in neuroplasticity, as well as the two-sided actions of testosterone in the nervous system. Finally, we provide practical insights for further study of pharmacological treatments for hormonal disorders focusing on restoring neuroplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiarash Saleki
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, 47176 47745 Babol, Iran.,USERN Office, Babol University of Medical Sciences, 47176 47745 Babol, Iran.,Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Banazadeh
- Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 76169 13555 Kerman, Iran
| | - Amene Saghazadeh
- Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran.,Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14176 13151 Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran
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Exposure to static magnetic field facilitates selective attention and neuroplasticity in rats. Brain Res Bull 2022; 189:111-120. [PMID: 35987295 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Static magnetic fields (SMF) have neuroprotective and behavioral effects in rats, however, little is known about the effects of SMF on cognition, motor function and the underlying neurochemical mechanisms. In this study, we focused on the effects of short-term (5~10d) and long-term (13~38d) SMF exposure on selective attention and motor coordination of rats, as well as associated alterations in expression level of neuroplasticity-related structural proteins and cryptochrome (CRY1) protein in the cortex, striatum and ventral midbrain. The results showed that 6 d SMF exposure significantly enhanced selective attention without affecting locomotor activity in open field. All SMF exposures non-significantly enhanced motor coordination (Rotarod test). Neurochemical analysis demonstrated that 5d SMF exposure increased the expression of cortical and striatal CRY1 and synapsin-1 (SYN1), striatal total synapsins (SYN), and synaptophysin (SYP), growth associated protein-43 (GAP43) and post-synaptic density protein-95 (PSD95) in the ventral midbrain. Exposure to SMF for 14d increased PSD95 level in the ventral midbrain while longer SMF exposure elevated the levels of PSD95 in the cortex, SYN and SYN1 in all the examined brain areas. The increased expression of cortical and striatal CRY1and SYN1 correlated with the short-lasting effect of SMF on improving selective attention. Collectively, SMF's effect on selective attention attenuated following longer exposure to SMF whereas its effects on neuroplasticity-related structural biomarkers were time- and brain area-dependent, with some protein levels increasing with longer time exposure. These findings suggest a potential use of SMF for treatment of neurological diseases in which selective attention or neuroplasticity is impaired.
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Dandi E, Spandou E, Tata DA. Investigating the role of environmental enrichment initiated in adolescence against the detrimental effects of chronic unpredictable stress in adulthood: Sex-specific differences in behavioral and neuroendocrinological findings. Behav Processes 2022; 200:104707. [PMID: 35842198 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104707] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Environmental Enrichment (EE) improves cognitive function and enhances brain plasticity, while chronic stress increases emotionality, impairs learning and memory, and has adverse effects on brain anatomy and biochemistry. We explored the beneficial role of environmental enrichment initiated in adolescence against the negative outcomes of Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS) during adulthood on emotional behavior, cognitive function, as well as somatic and neuroendocrine markers in both sexes. Adolescent Wistar rats housed either in enriched or standard housing conditions for 10 weeks. On postnatal day 66, a subgroup from each housing condition was daily exposed to a 4-week stress protocol. Following stress, adult rats underwent behavioral testing to evaluate anxiety, exploration/locomotor activity, depressive-like behavior and spatial learning/memory. Upon completion of behavioral testing, animals were exposed to a 10-m stressful event to test the neuroendocrine response to acute stress. CUS decreased body weight gain and increased adrenal weight. Some stress-induced behavioral adverse effects were sex-specific since learning impairments were limited to males while depressive-like behavior to females. EE housing protected against CUS-related behavioral deficits and body weight loss. Exposure to CUS affected the neuroendocrine response of males to acute stress as revealed by the increased corticosterone levels. Our findings highlight the significant role of EE in adolescence as a protective factor against the negative effects of stress and underline the importance of inclusion of both sexes in animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Dandi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Spandou
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Despina A Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Maoz I, Zubedat S, Dolev T, Aga-Mizrachi S, Bloch B, Michaeli Y, Eshed Y, Grinstein D, Avital A. Dog training alleviates PTSD symptomatology by emotional and attentional regulation. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2021; 12:1995264. [PMID: 34868486 PMCID: PMC8635621 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1995264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms include re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, and cognitive deficits, reflecting both emotional and cognitive dysregulation. In recent years, non-pharmacological approaches and specifically animal-assisted therapy have been shown to be beneficial for a variety of disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and PTSD. However, little is mentioned in the literature about the reciprocal effects of the animal-human interaction. Objective To evaluate the effects of a one-year dog training programme on PTSD symptomatology in youngsters with PTSD and on dogs' behaviour. Methods Fifty-three adolescents, previously exposed to interpersonal trauma, were clinically diagnosed with PTSD and assigned to a dog-training programme group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 23) that engaged in other training programmes (e.g. cooking, hairstyling, etc.). Both groups were evaluated at baseline and following 12-months by The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 in Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA-5) and Beck-Depression Inventory (BDI). Additionally, we physiologically measured both emotional and attention dysregulation. Results Post-12-months training, a significant alleviation of PTSD symptomatology accompanied by lower depression severity was observed in the dog-training group, compared with a insignificant recovery in the control group. Furthermore, improved emotional and attentional regulation was observed in the dog-training group. Measuring the dogs' behaviour revealed increased anxiety and decreased selective attention performance, which was inversely correlated with the beneficial effects observed in the dog-training programme group. Conclusions Our findings emphasize the role of emotional and attentional regulations on the dog-handler interface, as evidence-based support for the beneficial effects of the dog-training programme, as either a non-pharmacological intervention or as complementary to anti-depressants treatment of PTSD. Though pharmacological treatments increase the patients' well-being by treating certain PTSD symptoms, our suggested dog-training programme seems to influence the PTSD diagnostic status, thus may be implemented in civilians and veterans with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inon Maoz
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Salman Zubedat
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Talya Dolev
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomit Aga-Mizrachi
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Nursing Department, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Boaz Bloch
- Department of Psychiatry, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Yuval Michaeli
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yuval Eshed
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dan Grinstein
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Avi Avital
- Behavioral Neurobiology Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Dolev T, Ben-David M, Shahadi I, Freed Y, Zubedat S, Aga-Mizrachi S, Brand Z, Galper S, Jacobson G, Avital A. Attention Dysregulation in Breast Cancer Patients Following a Complementary Alternative Treatment Routine: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial. Integr Cancer Ther 2021; 20:15347354211019470. [PMID: 34027702 PMCID: PMC8150438 DOI: 10.1177/15347354211019470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Breast cancer patients and survivors frequently report fatigue, emotional, and cognitive disturbances, which reduce performance at all levels of occupation and make life quality issues a considerable clinical concern. The aim of this study is to evaluate attention and emotion regulation across radiotherapy period and the possible effects of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). Methods: Fifty-seven patients with unilateral breast cancer underwent surgery and systemic chemotherapy before participating in this double-blind randomized study. Two thirds were given CAM (n = 38) while the rest received placebo (carrier only, n = 19). Patients’ attention and anxiety were physiologically tested at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks during the radiation period as well as 1-month after the end of radiation session. Results: Both groups showed similar levels of anxiety with no significant differences at baseline nor post-radiotherapy. Long-term significant recovery of attention performance was observed in the CAM patients, accompanied by a similar tendency in anxiety level, measured by the eye-blink probability. Conclusions: This study physiologically validates the attention impairment reported among breast cancer survivors; also, it depicted a beneficial late-effect of a routine CAM on attention dysregulation. The suggested non-invasive physiological measures can physiologically monitor patients’ psychological and cognitive well-being as well as evaluate the beneficial effect of CAM in breast cancer patients by assessing their coping ability to support the treatment plan. Thus, the results have potential clinical implications on patients’ and survivors’ quality of life. Trial Registration: NIH, NCT02890316. Registered July 2016, http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov
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Affiliation(s)
- Talya Dolev
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Emek Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Merav Ben-David
- Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Oncology Institute, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | | | - Salman Zubedat
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Emek Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomit Aga-Mizrachi
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Emek Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Zev Brand
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Emek Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Avi Avital
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Emek Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
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Nwachukwu K, Rhoads E, Meek S, Bardi M. Back to nature: herbal treatment, environmental enrichment, and social play can protect against unpredictable chronic stress in Long-Evans rats (Rattus norvegicus). Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2999-3012. [PMID: 34333673 PMCID: PMC8325775 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05917-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The importance of integrative biobehavioral responses to complex challenges cannot be overlooked. In this study, the synergetic effects of icariin (a flavonoid present in the plant Epimedium brevicornum), natural enrichment (NaEn), and play behavior were investigated. Rats (n = 60) were assigned to standard housing or NaEn; these two groups were subsequently divided into controls, rats receiving icariin treatments, and rats receiving icariin and allowed to play with an individual from another cage. All rats were exposed to unpredictable mild stressors for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment, a Forced Swim Task (FST) was conducted to assess emotional regulation during an inescapable acute challenge. Biological samples were collected weekly and before and after the FST to monitor endocrine changes. Corticosterone (CORT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone (T) were assayed. We found that icariin had a significant effect on DHEA/CORT ratios and T levels. NaEn also had a significant effect on both CORT and DHEA, but not on T levels. Play did not appear to be significantly related to the endocrine changes. The strongest positive effects on emotional resilience were observed in NaEn rats that also received icariin. Our results confirmed that using multiple channels to stimulate adaptive responses can be effective in increasing the ability of an organism to face uncertainty. Considering how quickly our life can change due to unpredictable events, our data is instrumental to a better comprehension of the many aspects of integrative biobehavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiana Nwachukwu
- grid.262455.20000 0001 2205 6070Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005 USA
| | - Elizabeth Rhoads
- grid.262455.20000 0001 2205 6070Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005 USA
| | - Sarah Meek
- grid.262455.20000 0001 2205 6070Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005 USA
| | - Massimo Bardi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA, 23005, USA. .,134D Copley Science Center, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA, 23005, USA.
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Kaur L, Sinha VR. Long Acting Polycaprolactone Based Parenteral Formulation of Aripiprazole Targeting Behavioural and Biochemical Deficit in Schizophrenia. J Pharm Sci 2020; 110:2185-2195. [PMID: 33383057 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is expressed in the form of disturbed behaviour and abnormal mental functions. Patient's non-adherence to the medicine is the main cause of failure of drug therapy and increases incidence of relapses. Thus, for successful management of disease long acting parenteral formulations were developed. Aripiprazole was encapsulated in biocompatible polycaprolactone microsphere by o/w emulsion solvent-evaporation method in order to achieve sustained release of the drug for several weeks after single subcutaneous administration. They were optimised on the basis of various parameters such as physical appearance, particle size (49.4 μm-387.1 μm), encapsulation efficiency (70%-95%), percentage yield (33%-75%) and drug loading (25.9%-47.5%). The surface topography and sphericity of the microspheres was determined by scanning electron microscopy which revealed that the microspheres formed were spherical and non-porous in nature. The in vitro releases from the selected formulations were found to be 87% and 95% respectively after 45 days of dissolution. In vivo efficacy of optimised formulation showed significantly (p < 0.05) amelioration of various positive, negative and cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia and oxidative stress markers in ketamine-induced schizophrenia model in rats for 30 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavjot Kaur
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - V R Sinha
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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George MY, Menze ET, Esmat A, Tadros MG, El-Demerdash E. Potential therapeutic antipsychotic effects of Naringin against ketamine-induced deficits in rats: Involvement of Akt/GSK-3β and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Life Sci 2020; 249:117535. [PMID: 32151688 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIM Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling and one of the major neurological illnesses affecting nearly 1% of the global population. Currently available antipsychotic medications possess limited effects. The current research aimed at investigating potential therapeutic add-on benefit to enhance the effects of clozapine anti-schizophrenic. MAIN METHODS To induce schizophrenia, ketamine was administered at a dose of 25 mg/kg i.p. for 14 consecutive days. Naringin was administered to Wistar rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg orally, alone or in combination with clozapine 5 mg/kg i.p from day 8 to day 14. Furthermore, behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. In addition, neurotransmitters' levels were detected using HPLC. Moreover, oxidative stress markers were assessed using spectrophotometry. Furthermore, apoptotic and wnt/β-catenin pathway markers were determined using western blotting (Akt, GSK-3β and β-catenin), colorimetric methods (Caspase-3) and immunohistochemistry (Bax, Bcl2 and cytochrome c). KEY FINDINGS Ketamine induced positive, negative and cognitive schizophrenia symptoms together with neurotransmitters' imbalance. In addition, ketamine treatment caused significant glutathione depletion, lipid peroxidation and reduction in catalase activity. Naringin and/or clozapine treatment significantly attenuated ketamine-induced schizophrenic symptoms and oxidative injury. Additionally, ketamine provoked apoptosis via increasing Bax/Bcl2 expression, caspase-3 activity, and Cytochrome C and Akt protein expression while naringin/clozapine treatment significantly inhibited this apoptotic effect. Moreover, naringin activated the neurodevelopmental wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway evidenced by increasing pGSK-3β and reducing pβ-catenin protein expression. SIGNIFICANCE These findings may suggest that naringin possesses a potential therapeutic add-on effect against ketamine-induced schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Y George
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Esther T Menze
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Esmat
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mariane G Tadros
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - E El-Demerdash
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
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Developmental effects of environmental enrichment on selective and auditory sustained attention. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 111:104479. [PMID: 31704636 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) has been used as a positive manipulation in different disease models. However, there is conflicting evidence reported in the literature about the effects of EE. Additionally, the time period that would be most beneficial in implementing environmental enrichment as an intervention is not clear. Our study aimed to systematically compare the prenatal, juvenile, mid-adolescence, and adulthood developmental trajectory to further the understanding of enriched environment's effects on selective and auditory sustained attention, corresponding to behavioral (conceived) and physiological-reflexive (non-conceived) measures. Rats were exposed for 21 days to enriched environment during various developmental periods and compared to age-matched controls. All groups were tested for long-term effects (at postnatal day 120 and onward) on selective and sustained attention. We found that the exposure to enriched environment during mid-adolescence has yielded the most significant and long-term pattern of effects, including selective and auditory sustained attention performance, increased foraging-like behavior and a significant decrease in corticosterone level. Similarly, the exposure to EE at juvenile period improved selective attention, increased foraging-like behavior, and reduced anxiety levels as reflected in the open field as well as in low corticosterone levels. These results specify a crucial period along the developmental trajectory for applying environmental enrichment. Mid-adolescence is suggested, in future basic and translational studies, as the sensitive time period that induces the most beneficial and long-term effects of EE on attention. The current findings suggest that the exposure to EE during mid-adolescence should be further considered and studied as behavioral alternative intervention, or as adjuvant behavioral therapy, aimed to decrease the probability to develop ADHD in post-adolescence period. This suggestion is highly relevant due to the debate regarding the pros and cons of screens usage (e.g. Facebook, online games, etc.) during early life that decreases environmental enrichment, especially, direct social interaction.
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Zhang ZX, Li E, Yan JP, Fu W, Shen P, Tian SW, You Y. Apelin attenuates depressive-like behavior and neuroinflammation in rats co-treated with chronic stress and lipopolysaccharide. Neuropeptides 2019; 77:101959. [PMID: 31445676 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.101959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Several experimental studies have proved that activation of neuroinflammation pathways may contribute to the development of depression, a neuropsychiatric disorder disease. Our previous studies have shown the antidepressant properties of apelin, but the mechanism was unkown. This study was performed to verify whether the antidepressant effect of apelin was related to its anti-inflammation effect in the central nervous system. To achieve our aim, we selected the co-treatment of chronic stress and LPS to induced an inflammatory process in rats. The effect of this co-treatment was evaluated through the expression of inflammatory markers and glial cell activation. LPS injection co-treated with unpredictable chronic mild stress resulted in the activation of microglial cell and astrocyte, expression of inflammatory markers and depressive behaviors. Treatment with apelin significantly attenuates the deleterious effects in these rats. Our results showed that apelin improved depressive phenotype and decreased the activation of glial cells in stress co-treatment group. The down-regulations of p-NF-κB and p-IKKβ suggested that the effects are possibly mediated by inhibition of the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response. These findings speculated that intracerebroventricular injection of apelin could be a therapeutic approach for the treatment of depression, and the antidepressant function of apelin may closely associated with its alleviation in neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, PR China; Department of Neurology, XiangTan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, PR China
| | - E Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, PR China
| | - Jian-Ping Yan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Wan Fu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Pei Shen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Shao-Wen Tian
- Department of Physiology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China.
| | - Yong You
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, PR China.
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Zubedat S, Havkin E, Maoz I, Aga-Mizrachi S, Avital A. A probabilistic model of startle response reveals opposite effects of acute versus chronic Methylphenidate treatment. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 327:108389. [PMID: 31415846 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The startle response is considered as the major physio-behavioral indication of anxiety in health and disease conditions. However, due to different protocols of stimulation and measurement, the magnitude as well as the appearance of the startle response is inconsistent. NEW METHOD We postulate that the startle probability and not merely the amplitude may bare information that will form a consistent physiological measure of anxiety. RESULTS To examine the proof-of-concept of our suggested probability model, we evaluated the effects of acute (single) versus chronic (14 days) MPH administration on both startle amplitude and probability. We found that both acute and chronic MPH administration has yielded similar effects on startle amplitude. However, acute MPH increased the startle's probability while chronic MPH decreased it. Next, we evaluated the effects of acute versus chronic stress on the startle's parameters and found a complementary effect. Explicitly, acute stress increased the startle's probability while chronic stress increased the startle amplitude. In contrast, enriched environment had no significant effects. Finally, to further validate the probability measure, we show that Midazolam had significant anxiolytic effects. In the second part, we investigated the acoustic startle response parameters (e.g. background noise and pulse duration), to better understand the interplay between these parameters and the startle amplitude versus probability. CONCLUSIONS We show that the probabilistic element of the startle response does not only point to deeper physiologic relationships but may also serve as "hidden variables" congruent but not entirely identical to the commonly researched amplitude of the startle response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Zubedat
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Evgeny Havkin
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Inon Maoz
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomit Aga-Mizrachi
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Avi Avital
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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Gubert C, Hannan AJ. Environmental enrichment as an experience-dependent modulator of social plasticity and cognition. Brain Res 2019; 1717:1-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Wang LJ, Lee SY, Chou WJ, Lee MJ, Tsai CS, Lee TL, Yang CJ, Yang KC, Chen CK, Shyu YC. Testicular Function After Long-Term Methylphenidate Treatment in Boys with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2019; 29:433-438. [PMID: 30575416 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2018.0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with methylphenidate (MPH) has become increasingly common, while both animal studies and case reports have previously suggested that MPH may exert adverse effects on the reproductive system or gonadal hormones. This study aims to investigate whether long-term MPH treatment of boys with ADHD can induce testicular dysfunction (TD). Methods: A nationwide cohort that included 59,746 boys diagnosed with ADHD and 52,008 healthy subjects retrieved from the National Health Insurance database in Taiwan was also observed between 1999 and 2011. TD was defined by the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modifications codes (257.0, 257.1, 257.2, 257.8, or 257.9). Cumulative time of MPH use was categorized into nonuse, short-term use (1-365 days), and long-term use (>365 days). We compared the rate of TD diagnosis between ADHD patients and controls and analyzed the risk of developing a TD after MPH treatment. Results: Compared with the control group (0.06%), the ADHD group had a higher comorbidity rate of TD (0.14%) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.26-3.04, p = 0.003). However, MPH did not significantly influence the risk of developing TD (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.77-2.54, p = 0.272). Compared with ADHD boys without MPH treatment, patients who were prescribed short-term MPH (aOR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.51-1.82, p = 0.900) and long-term MPH (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.69-2.83, p = 0.351) showed no significance associated with an increased risk of developing TD. Conclusions: Our nationwide cohort showed that long-term treatment with MPH has no harmful effect on the testosterone function of ADHD patients. However, due to the increased comorbidity rate of ADHD and TD, early recognition and detection of TD in ADHD children have the potential to change the trajectory of TD morbidity later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Jen Wang
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yu Lee
- 2Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- 3Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Graduate Institute of Medicine, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Jiun Chou
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Min-Jing Lee
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Shu Tsai
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Liang Lee
- 4Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ju Yang
- 5Community Medicine Research Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Kang-Chung Yang
- 5Community Medicine Research Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ken Chen
- 5Community Medicine Research Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
- 6Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chiau Shyu
- 5Community Medicine Research Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
- 7Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan
- 8Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
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Deslauriers J, Toth M, Zhou X, Risbrough VB. Heritable Differences in Catecholamine Signaling Modulate Susceptibility to Trauma and Response to Methylphenidate Treatment: Relevance for PTSD. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:111. [PMID: 31164811 PMCID: PMC6534065 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in cortical catecholamine signaling pathways can modulate acute and enduring responses to trauma. Heritable variation in catecholamine signaling is produced by a common functional polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), with Val carriers exhibiting greater degradation of catecholamines than Met carriers. Furthermore, it has recently been suggested that drugs enhancing cortical catecholamine signaling may be a new therapeutic approach for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. We hypothesized that heritable differences in catecholamine signaling regulate the behavioral response to trauma, and that methylphenidate (MPD), a drug that preferentially blocks catecholamine reuptake in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), exerts COMT-dependent effects on trauma-induced behaviors. We first examined the contribution of the functional mutation COMTval158met to modulate enduring behavioral responses to predator stress in a unique "humanized" COMTval158met mouse line. Animals were exposed to a predator (cat) for 10 min and enduring avoidance behaviors were examined in the open field, light-dark box, and "trauma-reminder" tests 1-2 weeks later. Second, we examined the efficacy of chronic methylphenidate to reverse predator stress effects and if these effects were modulated by COMTval158met genotype. Mice were exposed to predator stress and began treatment with either saline or methylphenidate (3 mg/kg/day) 1 week after stress until the end of the testing [avoidance behaviors, working memory, and social preference (SP)]. In males, predator stress and COMTval158met had an additive effect on enduring anxiety-like behavior, with Val stressed mice showing the strongest avoidance behavior after stress compared to Met carriers. No effect of COMT genotype was observed in females. Therefore methylphenidate effects were investigated only in males. Chronic methylphenidate treatment reversed the stress-induced avoidance behavior and increased social investigation independently of genotype. Methylphenidate effects on working memory, however, were genotype-dependent, decreasing working memory in non-stressed Met carriers, and improving stress-induced working memory deficit in Val carriers. These results suggest that heritable variance in catecholamine signaling modulates the avoidance response to an acute trauma. This work supports recent human findings that methylphenidate might be a therapeutic alternative for PTSD patients and suggests that methylphenidate effects on anxiety (generalized avoidance, social withdrawal) vs. cognitive (working memory) symptoms may be modulated through COMT-independent and dependent mechanisms, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Deslauriers
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs Hospital, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Mate Toth
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Xianjin Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Victoria B Risbrough
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs Hospital, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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Tsai ML, Kozłowska A, Li YS, Shen WL, Huang ACW. Social factors affect motor and anxiety behaviors in the animal model of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders: A housing-style factor. Psychiatry Res 2017; 254:290-300. [PMID: 28501734 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The present study examines whether housing style (e.g., single housing, same-strain-grouped housing, and different-strain-grouped housing) and rat strain (e.g., spontaneous hypertension rats [SHR] and Wistar-Kyoto rats [WKY]) mediate motor function and anxiety behavior in the open field task. From week 4 through week 10 following birth, the rats were measured 30min for locomotor activity and anxiety once per week in the open field task. The SHR rats exhibited hyperactivity in total distance traveled and movement time to form the animal model of ADHD. The SHR rats spent more time inside the square and crossed the inside-outside line more often than the WKY rats, indicating the SHR rats exhibited less anxiety behavior. The different-strain-grouped housing style (but neither the same-strain-grouped housing style nor the single housing style) decreased total distance traveled and facilitated anxiety behavior. The motor function was negatively correlated with anxiety behavior for SHR rats but not for WKY rats. Housing styles had a negative correlation between motor function and anxiety behavior. The present findings provide some insights regarding how social factors (such as housing style) affect motor function and anxiety behavior related to ADHD in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Li Tsai
- Department of Biomechatronic Engineering, National Ilan University, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Anna Kozłowska
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences; University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Yu-Sheng Li
- Department of Biomechatronic Engineering, National Ilan University, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ling Shen
- Department of Biomechatronic Engineering, National Ilan University, Yilan, Taiwan
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Wang LJ, Chou MC, Chou WJ, Lee MJ, Lin PY, Lee SY, Lee YH. Does Methylphenidate Reduce Testosterone Levels in Humans? A Prospective Study in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 20:219-227. [PMID: 27816940 PMCID: PMC5408967 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Animal studies and case reports have suggested that methylphenidate exerts adverse effects on gonadal hormones. This study aimed to determine whether methylphenidate alters testosterone levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder through comparison of those with or without methylphenidate treatment. Methods This 4-week, nonrandomized, prospective study conducted in Taiwan included 203 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder patients with a mean age of 8.7 years (boys: 75.8%). After the initial recruitment, 137 received daily methylphenidate treatment (medicated group) and 66 were assessed through naturalistic observation (nonmedicated group). The saliva samples of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder patients were used to quantify testosterone levels at baseline and the endpoint by using the chemiluminescence immunoassay. At the 4th week, 86 patients in the medicated group and 46 patients in the nonmedicated group were eligible for statistical analyses. Results During the study period, salivary testosterone levels did not significantly change in the medicated group (P=.389) or in the nonmedicated group (P=.488). After correction for the potential confounding effects of age and sex, salivary testosterone levels still remained unchanged in the medicated and nonmedicated groups during the 4-week follow-up. In the medicated group, changes in salivary testosterone levels over 4 weeks were not significantly correlated with the methylphenidate daily dose (mean daily dose: 18.1 mg). Conclusions Findings suggest that short-term treatment with methylphenidate at usual doses does not significantly alter salivary testosterone levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder patients. Future studies should clarify whether long-term methylphenidate treatment disrupts testosterone production as well as the function of the reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Jen Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Miao-Chun Chou
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Jiun Chou
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Min-Jing Lee
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pao-Yen Lin
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yu Lee
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Lee
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Malta A, de Moura EG, Ribeiro TA, Tófolo LP, Abdennebi-Najar L, Vieau D, Barella LF, de Freitas Mathias PC, Lisboa PC, de Oliveira JC. Protein-energy malnutrition at mid-adulthood does not imprint long-term metabolic consequences in male rats. Eur J Nutr 2015; 55:1423-33. [PMID: 26133298 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-015-0960-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The long-term effects of the development of chronic metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity have been associated with nutritional insults in critical life stages. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a low-protein diet on metabolism in mid-adulthood male rats. METHODS At 90 days of age, Wistar male rats were fed a low-protein diet (4.0 %, LP group) for 30 days, whereas control rats were fed a normal-protein diet (20.5 %, NP group) throughout their lifetimes. To allow for dietary rehabilitation, from 120 to 180 days of age, the LP rats were fed a normal-protein diet. Then, we measured body composition, fat stores, glucose-insulin homeostasis and pancreatic islet function. RESULTS At 120 days of age, just after low-protein diet treatment, the LP rats displayed a strong lean phenotype, hypoinsulinemia, as assessed under fasting and glucose tolerance test conditions, as well as weak pancreatic islet insulinotropic response to glucose and acetylcholine (p < 0.01). At 180 days of age, after poor-protein diet rehabilitation, the LP rats displayed a slight lean phenotype (p < 0.05), which was associated with a high body weight gain (p < 0.001). Additionally, fat pad accumulation, glycemia and insulinemia, as well as the pancreatic islet insulinotropic response, were not significantly different between the LP and NP rats (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the present data suggest that the effects of dietary restriction as a stressor in adulthood are reversible with dietary rehabilitation, indicating that adulthood is not a sensitive or critical time window for metabolic programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Malta
- Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetic and Cell Biology, State University of Maringa/UEM, Block H67, Room 19, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Egberto Gaspar de Moura
- Laboratory of Endocrine Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Biology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Aparecida Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetic and Cell Biology, State University of Maringa/UEM, Block H67, Room 19, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Laize Peron Tófolo
- Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetic and Cell Biology, State University of Maringa/UEM, Block H67, Room 19, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | | | - Didier Vieau
- Maternal Perinatal Undernutrition Team, Perinatal Environment and Growth Laboratory, Lille-North of France University, University of Sciences and Technologies of Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Luiz Felipe Barella
- Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetic and Cell Biology, State University of Maringa/UEM, Block H67, Room 19, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Paulo Cezar de Freitas Mathias
- Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetic and Cell Biology, State University of Maringa/UEM, Block H67, Room 19, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Cristina Lisboa
- Laboratory of Endocrine Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Biology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Júlio Cezar de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetic and Cell Biology, State University of Maringa/UEM, Block H67, Room 19, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Endocrine Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Biology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
- Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Sinop, MT, Brazil.
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Safory H, Neame S, Shulman Y, Zubedat S, Radzishevsky I, Rosenberg D, Sason H, Engelender S, Avital A, Hülsmann S, Schiller J, Wolosker H. The alanine-serine-cysteine-1 (Asc-1) transporter controls glycine levels in the brain and is required for glycinergic inhibitory transmission. EMBO Rep 2015; 16:590-8. [PMID: 25755256 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201439561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Asc-1 (SLC7A10) is an amino acid transporter whose deletion causes neurological abnormalities and early postnatal death in mice. Using metabolomics and behavioral and electrophysiological methods, we demonstrate that Asc-1 knockout mice display a marked decrease in glycine levels in the brain and spinal cord along with impairment of glycinergic inhibitory transmission, and a hyperekplexia-like phenotype that is rescued by replenishing brain glycine. Asc-1 works as a glycine and L-serine transporter, and its transport activity is required for the subsequent conversion of L-serine into glycine in vivo. Asc-1 is a novel regulator of glycine metabolism and a candidate for hyperekplexia disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazem Safory
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Samah Neame
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoav Shulman
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Salman Zubedat
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Inna Radzishevsky
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dina Rosenberg
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hagit Sason
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Simone Engelender
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Avi Avital
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Swen Hülsmann
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine and Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jackie Schiller
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Herman Wolosker
- The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Mapping the developmental trajectory of stress effects: pubescence as the risk window. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 52:168-75. [PMID: 25459899 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The exposure to stress at different developmental time points has long been postulated to have a crucial impact on various brain structures involved in mental disorders. The long-term specific effects seem to emerge as a function of timing and duration of the exposure to stress, as well as the characteristics of the stressor. Previous studies have addressed this issue with an effort to describe a single "hyper-sensitive" time point, and have led to disagreement on a particular sensitive period for stress exposure. The primary aim of our study was to investigate the hypothesis that indeed there is a developmental stress risk window in male Wistar rats. We conducted a systematic mapping of the long-term effects of an acute stress protocol, applied both prenatal (gestational days 14-16) and postnatal (days 9-151), overall at 11 different time-points during development. Stress protocol consists of 3 days of either maternal separation (for rats at postnatal days 9-19) or exposure to the stressors forced swim, elevated plus maze and restraint (for both dams and males at postnatal days 24-151). Consequences in adulthood were measured by investigating the animals' behavior in both the open field and startle box, together with the physiological measure of corticosterone. We found both behaviorally and physiologically that the pubescence time points are the most vulnerable to stress compared to all other tested time points along the developmental trajectory. Carefully considering the comparison between rat and human age, our findings may imply the importance of childhood-to-adulthood transition, as a sensitive time-point which may exacerbate a predisposition for the development of stress-induced psychopathologies.
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Zubedat S, Aga-Mizrachi S, Cymerblit-Sabba A, Ritter A, Nachmani M, Avital A. Methylphenidate and environmental enrichment ameliorate the deleterious effects of prenatal stress on attention functioning. Stress 2015; 18:280-8. [PMID: 25783195 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2015.1023790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Either pre- or post-natal environmental factors seem to play a key role in brain and behavioral development and to exert long-term effects. Increasing evidence suggests that exposure to prenatal stress (PS) leads to motor and learning deficits and elevated anxiety, while enriched environment (EE) shows protective effects. The dopaminergic system is also sensitive to environmental life circumstances and affects attention functioning, which serves as the preliminary gate to cognitive processes. However, the effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on the dopaminergic system and attentional functioning, in the context of these life experiences, remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of EE or PS on distinct types of attention, along with possible effects of MPH exposure. We found that PS impaired selective attention as well as partial sustained attention, while EE had beneficial effects. Both EE and MPH ameliorated the deleterious effects of PS on attention functioning. Considering the possible psychostimulant effect of MPH, we examined both anxiety-like behavior as well as motor learning. We found that PS had a clear anxiogenic effect, whereas EE had an anxiolytic effect. Nevertheless, the treatment with both MPH and/or EE recovered the deleterious effects of PS. In the motor-learning task, the PS group showed superior performance while MPH led to impaired motor learning. Performance decrements were prevented in both the PS + MPH and EE + MPH groups. This study provides evidence that peripubertal exposure to EE (by providing enhanced sensory, motor, and social opportunities) or MPH treatments might be an optional therapeutic intervention in preventing the PS long-term adverse consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Zubedat
- a Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine , Technion - Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel and
| | - Shlomit Aga-Mizrachi
- a Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine , Technion - Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel and
| | - Adi Cymerblit-Sabba
- a Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine , Technion - Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel and
| | - Ami Ritter
- a Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine , Technion - Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel and
| | - Maayan Nachmani
- a Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine , Technion - Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel and
| | - Avi Avital
- a Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine , Technion - Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel and
- b Emek Medical Center , Afula , Israel
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What is the impact of low testosterone levels on the anatomical and behavioral repertoire of long-term enriched housing of male mice? Behav Processes 2014; 108:57-64. [PMID: 25256162 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is a strategy to improve animal welfare, providing brain plasticity with changes at cellular, molecular and behavioral levels. In order to test the long-term effects of enriched housing and the importance of testosterone levels for the expression of behavioral plasticity, 28 categories were assessed in 45 adult Swiss mice, subdivided in prepubertal castrated and non-castrated groups, maintained for seven months as three non-sibling mates. Enrichment consisted of introducing insets for gnawing, climbing and hiding. Tests of spontaneous exploration (barrier), territoriality (intruder) and hierarchical organization (group) were applied at once. Measurements of body weight and the relative weight of key organs were done at the end of the experiment. Mice kept in enriched cages, either castrated or non-castrated, showed more spontaneous exploration than those raised in standard cages. Non-castrated mice housed in structured cages had a lower frequency of attack in the resident-intruder test than the non-castrated standard caged mice, indicating a decrease in territoriality in the first group. Independent of the housing conditions, castrated mice showed reduction of offensive, defensive, and social contacts, as well as low frequency of attack in both agonistic tests. The well-known importance of testes to ensure the expression of aggressive and social contact behaviors was therefore not challenged by the enrichment condition. Behavioral repertoire at the home cage, performance in the group-test, and organometric measurements were not significantly different between the groups kept in enriched and non-enriched cages. Our results suggest that the experience in enriched environment does not increase aggressiveness in their routine in the home-cage nor negatively influence physiological parameters, independently of the testosterone level.
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Methylphenidate and desipramine combined treatment improves PTSD symptomatology in a rat model. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e447. [PMID: 25247592 PMCID: PMC4203011 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Antidepressant medication constitutes the first line pharmacological treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, because many patients display no beneficial drug effects it has been suggested that combinations of antidepressants with additional drugs may be necessary. The defining symptoms of PTSD include re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal. In addition, PTSD patients were shown to become easily distracted and often suffer from poor concentration together with indications of comorbidity with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methylphenidate (MPH) is the most common and effective drug treatment for ADHD, thus we aimed to investigate the effects of MPH treatment, by itself or in combination with the antidepressants fluoxetine (FLU) or desipramine (DES). We modified an animal model of PTSD by exposing rats to chronic stress and evaluating the subsequent development of behavioral PTSD-like symptoms, as well as the effects on proinflammatory cytokines, which were implicated in PTSD. We report that while FLU or DES had a beneficial effect on avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms, MPH improved all three symptoms. Moreover, the combination of MPH with DES produced the most dramatic beneficial effects. Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 were elevated in the PTSD-like group compared with the control group, and were decreased by MPH, FLU, DES or the combination drug treatments, with the combination of DES+MPH producing the most complete rescue of the inflammatory response. Considering the versatile symptoms of PTSD, our results suggest a new combined treatment for PTSD comprising the antidepressant DES and the psychostimulant MPH.
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23
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Zubedat S, Aga-Mizrachi S, Cymerblit-Sabba A, Shwartz J, Leon JF, Rozen S, Varkovitzky I, Eshed Y, Grinstein D, Avital A. Human–animal interface: The effects of handler's stress on the performance of canines in an explosive detection task. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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24
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Homberg JR, Karel P, Verheij MMM. Individual differences in cocaine addiction: maladaptive behavioural traits. Addict Biol 2014; 19:517-28. [PMID: 24835358 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine use leads to addiction in only a subset of individuals. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these individual differences in the transition from cocaine use to cocaine abuse is important to develop treatment strategies. There is agreement that specific behavioural traits increase the risk for addiction. As such, both high impulsivity and high anxiety have been reported to predict (compulsive) cocaine self-administration behaviour. Here, we set out a new view explaining how these two behavioural traits may affect addictive behaviour. According to psychological and psychiatric evolutionary views, organisms flourish well when they fit (match) their environment by trait and genotype. However, under non-fit conditions, the need to compensate the failure to deal with this environment increases, and, as a consequence, the functional use of rewarding drugs like cocaine may also increase. It suggests that neither impulsivity nor anxiety are bad per se, but that the increased risk to develop cocaine addiction is dependent on whether behavioural traits are adaptive or maladaptive in the environment to which the animals are exposed. This 'behavioural (mal)adaptation view' on individual differences in vulnerability to cocaine addiction may help to improve therapies for addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience; Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Peter Karel
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience; Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Michel M. M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience; Nijmegen The Netherlands
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25
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Caceres S, Silvan G, Martinez-Fernandez L, Illera MJ, Millan P, Monsalve B, Peña L, Illera JC. The Effects of Isoflavones on Androgens and Glucocorticoids During Puberty on Male Wistar Rats. Reprod Domest Anim 2014; 49:611-617. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S Caceres
- Dpto Fisiologia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - G Silvan
- Dpto Fisiologia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - L Martinez-Fernandez
- Dpto Fisiologia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - MJ Illera
- Dpto Fisiologia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - P Millan
- Dpto Fisiologia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - B Monsalve
- Dpto Fisiologia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - L Peña
- Dpto Medicina y Cirugia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - JC Illera
- Dpto Fisiologia Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Madrid Spain
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26
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Yetnikoff L, Reichard RA, Schwartz ZM, Parsely KP, Zahm DS. Protracted maturation of forebrain afferent connections of the ventral tegmental area in the rat. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:1031-47. [PMID: 23983069 PMCID: PMC4217282 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The mesocorticolimbic dopamine system has long attracted the interest of researchers concerned with the unique gamut of behavioral and mental health vulnerabilities associated with adolescence. Accordingly, the development of the mesocorticolimbic system has been studied extensively, but almost exclusively with regard to dopaminergic output, particularly in the nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex. To the contrary, the ontogeny of inputs to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the source of mesocorticolimbic dopamine, has been neglected. This is not a trivial oversight, as the activity of VTA neurons, which reflects their capacity to transmit information about salient events, is sensitively modulated by inputs. Here, we assessed the development of VTA afferent connections using the β subunit of cholera toxin (Ctβ) as a retrograde axonal tracer in adolescent (postnatal day 39) and early adult (8-9-week-old) rats. After intra-VTA injections of Ctβ, adolescent and early adult animals exhibited qualitatively similar distributions of retrogradely labeled neurons in the sense that VTA-projecting neurons were present at all of the same rostrocaudal levels in all of the same structures in both age groups. However, quantitation of retrogradely labeled neurons revealed that adolescent brains, compared with early adult brains, had significantly fewer VTA-projecting neurons preferentially within an interconnected network of cortical and striatopallidal forebrain structures. These findings provide a novel perspective on the development of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and may have important implications for age-dependent specificity in the function of this system, particularly with regard to adolescent impulsivity and mental health vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leora Yetnikoff
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104
| | - Rhett A. Reichard
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104
| | - Zachary M. Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104
| | - Kenneth P. Parsely
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104
| | - Daniel S. Zahm
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104
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27
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Zubedat S, Freed Y, Eshed Y, Cymerblit-Sabba A, Ritter A, Nachmani M, Harush R, Aga-Mizrachi S, Avital A. Plant-derived nanoparticle treatment with cocc 30c ameliorates attention and motor abilities in sleep-deprived rats. Neuroscience 2013; 253:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Prepubertal chronic stress and ketamine administration to rats as a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia symptomatology. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2013; 16:2307-14. [PMID: 23915719 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145713000813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, has been associated with higher levels of stress. In the early development of the central nervous system, changes in function of glutamatergic N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors can possibly result in the development of psychosis, cognitive impairment and emotional dysfunction in adulthood. Thus, in this study we examined the behavioural consequences of the exposure of male rats to chronic stress (postnatal days 30-60) and ketamine administration (postnatal days 41-45); both during a sensitive developmental time window. We found that the locomotor activity of both ketamine and ketamine+chronic stress groups was significantly higher compared with that of the control rats. In contrast, the locomotor activity of the chronic stress group was significantly lower compared with all other groups. Examining anhedonia in the sucrose preference test we found a significantly decreased sucrose intake in both ketamine+chronic stress and the chronic stress groups compared with the control rats. No significant differences were observed in sucrose intake between the control and the ketamine group. The object recognition test revealed that the attention to the novel object was significantly impaired in the ketamine+chronic stress group. Similarly, the ketamine+chronic stress group showed the poorest learning ability in the eight-arm radial maze, starting on the 8th day. Finally, throughout the different pre-pulse intensities, the ketamine+chronic stress group showed impaired PPI compared with all other groups. The results indicate that the combination of prepubertal onset of chronic stress and ketamine may serve as a valid novel animal model for schizophrenia-like symptoms.
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Asor E, Belhanes H, Kavushansky A, Zubedat S, Klein E, Avital A, Ben-Shachar D. Early postnatal interference with the expression of multiple Sp1 regulated genes leads to disparate behavioral response to sub-chronic and chronic stress in rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013; 38:2173-83. [PMID: 23669323 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Revised: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is currently accepted that complex behavior and mental disorder results from a combination of biological susceptibility and exposure to environmental stimuli. Most of the gene-environment interaction models focus on the interaction between the stimuli and a single candidate gene. We suggest that an alternative approach is interference with the expression of multiple genes followed by exposure to environmental insults. METHODS Early interference with gene transcription was performed by treatment of 7 days old Wistar male rats for 4 days with the Sp1/DNA binding inhibitor, mithramycin. Environmental insult was mimicked by exposing these rats during adulthood (34 days) to sub-chronic (12 days, n=30) or chronic stress (28 days, n=48). The effects of mithramycin and stress treatment on the behavioral response and serum corticosterone concentration were assessed. RESULTS Exposure of mithramycin treated rats to sub-chronic stress led to anxious behavior in the open field test, high startle response, low sucrose preference, indifference to novel objects and high serum corticosterone concentration. However, exposure to chronic stress resulted in normal sucrose preference, startle response and serum corticosterone, novelty seeking behavior and reduced anxiety. In saline treated rats the extension of stress duration led to behavioral and hormonal adaptation to stress. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that postnatal temporal interference with multiple gene expression can lead to hyper-responsiveness to environmental stimuli, the features of which affects the phenotypic outcomes. Such a paradigm may be used to model gene-environmental interaction in the etiology of behavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Asor
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Center and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - IIT, Haifa 31096, Israel
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Cymerblit-Sabba A, Lasri T, Gruper M, Aga-Mizrachi S, Zubedat S, Avital A. Prenatal Enriched Environment improves emotional and attentional reactivity to adulthood stress. Behav Brain Res 2012; 241:185-90. [PMID: 23261873 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2012] [Revised: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Environmental factors seem to play a key role in brain and behavioral development, both in humans and animals. Different environmental manipulations, either pre- or post-natal, have been shown to exert long-term physiological and behavioral effects. While studies in the field of Enriched Environment mainly focus on the post weaning period and provide enrichment as a post adverse-experience manipulation, the preceding effects of prenatal Enriched Environment have rarely been investigated. In this study, we investigated the effects of prenatal Enriched Environment (through the entire pregnancy) followed by adulthood acute stress. In the prenatal Enriched Environment offspring, we found anxiety and depressive-like behaviors with poor attentional performance. Surprisingly, when prenatal Enriched Environment was followed by adulthood stress, we observed a dramatic restoration of these behavioral deficits. Our results suggest that prenatal Enriched Environment may substrate resiliency to adulthood stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Cymerblit-Sabba
- Bruce and Ruth Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Boyko M, Azab AN, Kuts R, Gruenbaum BF, Gruenbaum SE, Melamed I, Brotfain E, Shapira Y, Cesnulis E, Zlotnik A. The neuro-behavioral profile in rats after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Brain Res 2012; 1491:109-16. [PMID: 23123210 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.10.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant advancements in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), little is known about the emotional consequences. The primary goal of this study was to describe the locomotor and behavioral patterns in rats following both a single-injection and double-injection model of SAH. In 48 rats, SAH was induced by injecting 0.3 ml of autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magnum (single-hemorrhagic model). In 24 of these rats, post-SAH vasospasm was induced by a repeated injection of blood into the cisterna magnum 24h later (double-hemorrhagic model). In 24 additional rats, 0.3 ml of saline was injected into the cisterna magnum (sham group). Neurological performance was assessed at 24, 48 h, 1, 2 and 3 weeks after SAH. Four behavioral tests were performed for 3 weeks after SAH for the duration of 6 consequent days, in the following order: open field test, sucrose preference test, elevated plus maze test and forced swimming test. Following both, a single and double-hemorrhagic models of SAH, rats were found to have significant behavioral abnormalities on the open field test, sucrose preference test, elevated plus maze test, and forced swimming test. A more prominent disability was found in rats that underwent the double-hemorrhagic model of SAH than rats that underwent the single-hemorrhagic model. Both a single and double injection model of rats SAH are associated with significant behavioral disturbances including locomotor abnormalities, depressive behavior and increased anxiety, even as early as 3 weeks after SAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Boyko
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Soroka Medical Center, Ben Gurion, University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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Tamburella A, Micale V, Mazzola C, Salomone S, Drago F. The selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine counteracts behavioral impairments in trimethyltin-intoxicated rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2012; 683:148-54. [PMID: 22426162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.02.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Revised: 02/17/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This study was carried out to assess the behavioral effects of the non-psychostimulant drug atomoxetine, in rats prenatally-exposed to the organic compound trimethyltin chloride (TMT) and in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), two rodent models of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). At birth, neonatal reflexes (righting, cliff aversion, forelimb placing, forelimb grasping, bar holding and startle) had an earlier onset (i.e. percent of appearance) and completion (maximum appearance, i.e. 100% of the brood exhibiting each reflex) in prenatally TMT-exposed and SHR pups as compared to control groups. Two months after birth, TMT-exposed and SHR rats showed impaired cognitive performances in both the step-through passive avoidance test and the shuttle box active avoidance test. Atomoxetine (1, 3 and 6 mg/kg, i.p.), already at the lowest dose tested, improved learning and memory capacity of prenatally TMT-exposed rats and SHR; while methylphenidate (1, 3 and 6 mg/kg, i.p.), used here as positive control, elicited a significant cognitive enhancing effect only at the higher doses. In the open field test, both TMT-exposed rats and SHR displayed enhanced locomotor activity. Methylphenidate further increased locomotor activity in all groups, whereas atomoxetine reduced the enhanced locomotor activity of TMT-exposed rats and SHR down to the level of controls. These results suggest that prenatal TMT-exposure could be considered as a putative experimental model of ADHD and further support the effectiveness of atomoxetine in the ADHD pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, despite the similar effect of the two drugs on cognitive tasks, they exhibit distinct profiles of activity on locomotion, in ADHD models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Tamburella
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, Section of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Catania University, Catania, Italy
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