1
|
Rivalan M, Alonso L, Mosienko V, Bey P, Hyde A, Bader M, Winter Y, Alenina N. Serotonin drives aggression and social behaviors of laboratory male mice in a semi-natural environment. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1450540. [PMID: 39359324 PMCID: PMC11446219 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1450540] [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: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggression is an adaptive social behavior crucial for the stability and prosperity of social groups. When uncontrolled, aggression leads to pathological violence that disrupts group structure and individual wellbeing. The comorbidity of uncontrolled aggression across different psychopathologies makes it a potential endophenotype of mental disorders with the same neurobiological substrates. Serotonin plays a critical role in regulating impulsive and aggressive behaviors. Mice lacking in brain serotonin, due to the ablation of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin synthesis, could serve as a potential model for studying pathological aggression. Home cage monitoring allows for the continuous observation and quantification of social and non-social behaviors in group-housed, freely-moving mice. Using an ethological approach, we investigated the impact of central serotonin ablation on the everyday expression of social and non-social behaviors and their correlations in undisturbed, group-living Tph2-deficient and wildtype mice. By training a machine learning algorithm on behavioral time series, "allogrooming", "struggling at feeder", and "eating" emerged as key behaviors dissociating one genotype from the other. Although Tph2-deficient mice exhibited characteristics of pathological aggression and reduced communication compared to wildtype animals, they still demonstrated affiliative huddle behaviors to normal levels. Altogether, such a distinct and dynamic phenotype of Tph2-deficient mice influenced the group's structure and the subsequent development of its hierarchical organization. These aspects were analyzed using social network analysis and the Glicko rating methods. This study demonstrates the importance of the ethological approach for understanding the global impact of pathological aggression on various aspects of life, both at the individual and group levels. Home cage monitoring allows the observation of the natural behaviors of mice in a semi-natural habitat, providing an accurate representation of real-world phenomena and pathological mechanisms. The results of this study provide insights into the neurobiological substrate of pathological aggression and its potential role in complex brain disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Rivalan
- Humboldt University Institute of Biology, Chair of Cognitive Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Saclay, France
| | - Lucille Alonso
- Humboldt University Institute of Biology, Chair of Cognitive Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | - Valentina Mosienko
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- University of Bristol, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University Walk, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Patrik Bey
- Humboldt University Institute of Biology, Chair of Cognitive Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Brain Simulation Section, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexia Hyde
- Humboldt University Institute of Biology, Chair of Cognitive Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Bader
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - York Winter
- Humboldt University Institute of Biology, Chair of Cognitive Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalia Alenina
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Seneff S, Kyriakopoulos AM, Nigh G. Is autism a PIN1 deficiency syndrome? A proposed etiological role for glyphosate. J Neurochem 2024; 168:2124-2146. [PMID: 38808598 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16140] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, the prevalence of which has increased dramatically in the United States over the past two decades. It is characterized by stereotyped behaviors and impairments in social interaction and communication. In this paper, we present evidence that autism can be viewed as a PIN1 deficiency syndrome. Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA-Interacting 1 (PIN1) is a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, and it has widespread influences in biological organisms. Broadly speaking, PIN1 deficiency is linked to many neurodegenerative diseases, whereas PIN1 over-expression is linked to cancer. Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) strongly inhibits PIN1, and the hormone melatonin inhibits DAPK1. Melatonin deficiency is strongly linked to autism. It has recently been shown that glyphosate exposure to rats inhibits melatonin synthesis as a result of increased glutamate release from glial cells and increased expression of metabotropic glutamate receptors. Glyphosate's inhibition of melatonin leads to a reduction in PIN1 availability in neurons. In this paper, we show that PIN1 deficiency can explain many of the unique morphological features of autism, including increased dendritic spine density, missing or thin corpus callosum, and reduced bone density. We show how PIN1 deficiency disrupts the functioning of powerful high-level signaling molecules, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and p53. Dysregulation of both of these proteins has been linked to autism. Severe depletion of glutathione in the brain resulting from chronic exposure to oxidative stressors and extracellular glutamate leads to oxidation of the cysteine residue in PIN1, inactivating the protein and further contributing to PIN1 deficiency. Impaired autophagy leads to increased sensitivity of neurons to ferroptosis. It is imperative that further research be conducted to experimentally validate whether the mechanisms described here take place in response to chronic glyphosate exposure and whether this ultimately leads to autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Seneff
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Greg Nigh
- Immersion Health, Portland, Oregon, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kolling LJ, Khan K, Wang R, Pierson SR, Hartman BD, Balasubramanian N, Guo DF, Rahmouni K, Marcinkiewcz CA. Interaction of serotonin/GLP-1 circuitry in a dual preclinical model for psychiatric disorders and metabolic dysfunction. Psychiatry Res 2024; 337:115951. [PMID: 38735240 PMCID: PMC11267813 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Isolation of rodents throughout adolescence is known to induce many behavioral abnormalities which resemble neuropsychiatric disorders. Separately, this paradigm has also been shown to induce long-term metabolic changes consistent with a pre-diabetic state. Here, we investigate changes in central serotonin (5-HT) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) neurobiology that dually accompany behavioral and metabolic outcomes following social isolation stress throughout adolescence. We find that adolescent-isolation mice exhibit elevated blood glucose levels, impaired peripheral insulin signaling, altered pancreatic function, and fattier body composition without changes in bodyweight. These mice further exhibited disruptions in sleep and enhanced nociception. Using bulk and spatial transcriptomic techniques, we observe broad changes in neural 5-HT, GLP-1, and appetitive circuits. We find 5-HT neurons of adolescent-isolation mice to be more excitable, transcribe fewer copies of Glp1r (mRNA; GLP-1 receptor), and demonstrate resistance to the inhibitory effects of the GLP-1R agonist semaglutide on action potential thresholds. Surprisingly, we find that administration of semaglutide, commonly prescribed to treat metabolic syndrome, induced deficits in social interaction in group-housed mice and rescued social deficits in isolated mice. Overall, we find that central 5-HT circuitry may simultaneously influence mental well-being and metabolic health in this model, via interactions with GLP-1 and proopiomelanocortin circuitry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louis J Kolling
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kanza Khan
- Psychological Sciences, Daemen University, Amherst, New York, USA
| | - Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Samantha R Pierson
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Benjamin D Hartman
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Deng-Fu Guo
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kamal Rahmouni
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Roussin L, Gry E, Macaron M, Ribes S, Monnoye M, Douard V, Naudon L, Rabot S. Microbiota influence on behavior: Integrative analysis of serotonin metabolism and behavioral profile in germ-free mice. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23648. [PMID: 38822661 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400334r] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies on germ-free (GF) animals have described altered anxiety-like and social behaviors together with dysregulations in brain serotonin (5-HT) metabolism. Alterations in circulating 5-HT levels and gut 5-HT metabolism have also been reported in GF mice. In this study, we conducted an integrative analysis of various behaviors as well as markers of 5-HT metabolism in the brain and along the GI tract of GF male mice compared with conventional (CV) ones. We found a strong decrease in locomotor activity, accompanied by some signs of increased anxiety-like behavior in GF mice compared with CV mice. Brain gene expression analysis showed no differences in HTR1A and TPH2 genes. In the gut, we found decreased TPH1 expression in the colon of GF mice, while it was increased in the cecum. HTR1A expression was dramatically decreased in the colon, while HTR4 expression was increased both in the cecum and colon of GF mice compared with CV mice. Finally, SLC6A4 expression was increased in the ileum and colon of GF mice compared with CV mice. Our results add to the evidence that the microbiota is involved in regulation of behavior, although heterogeneity among studies suggests a strong impact of genetic and environmental factors on this microbiota-mediated regulation. While no impact of GF status on brain 5-HT was observed, substantial differences in gut 5-HT metabolism were noted, with tissue-dependent results indicating a varying role of microbiota along the GI tract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Léa Roussin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Elisa Gry
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Mira Macaron
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sandy Ribes
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Magali Monnoye
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Véronique Douard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Laurent Naudon
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sylvie Rabot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bergamasco MI, Vanyai HK, Garnham AL, Geoghegan ND, Vogel AP, Eccles S, Rogers KL, Smyth GK, Blewitt ME, Hannan AJ, Thomas T, Voss AK. Increasing histone acetylation improves sociability and restores learning and memory in KAT6B-haploinsufficient mice. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e167672. [PMID: 38557491 PMCID: PMC10977983 DOI: 10.1172/jci167672] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in genes encoding chromatin modifiers are enriched among mutations causing intellectual disability. The continuing development of the brain postnatally, coupled with the inherent reversibility of chromatin modifications, may afford an opportunity for therapeutic intervention following a genetic diagnosis. Development of treatments requires an understanding of protein function and models of the disease. Here, we provide a mouse model of Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson syndrome (SBBYSS) (OMIM 603736) and demonstrate proof-of-principle efficacy of postnatal treatment. SBBYSS results from heterozygous mutations in the KAT6B (MYST4/MORF/QFK) gene and is characterized by intellectual disability and autism-like behaviors. Using human cells carrying SBBYSS-specific KAT6B mutations and Kat6b heterozygous mice (Kat6b+/-), we showed that KAT6B deficiency caused a reduction in histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation. Kat6b+/- mice displayed learning, memory, and social deficits, mirroring SBBYSS individuals. Treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid, or an acetyl donor, acetyl-carnitine (ALCAR), elevated histone acetylation levels in the human cells with SBBYSS mutations and in brain and blood cells of Kat6b+/- mice and partially reversed gene expression changes in Kat6b+/- cortical neurons. Both compounds improved sociability in Kat6b+/- mice, and ALCAR treatment restored learning and memory. These data suggest that a subset of SBBYSS individuals may benefit from postnatal therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria I. Bergamasco
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Hannah K. Vanyai
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Alexandra L. Garnham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Niall D. Geoghegan
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Adam P. Vogel
- Centre for Neurosciences of Speech, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Redenlab Inc., Melbourne, Australia
| | - Samantha Eccles
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Kelly L. Rogers
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Gordon K. Smyth
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marnie E. Blewitt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Anthony J. Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tim Thomas
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| | - Anne K. Voss
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology and
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mitsui K, Takahashi A. Aggression modulator: Understanding the multifaceted role of the dorsal raphe nucleus. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300213. [PMID: 38314963 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Aggressive behavior is instinctively driven behavior that helps animals to survive and reproduce and is closely related to multiple behavioral and physiological processes. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is an evolutionarily conserved midbrain structure that regulates aggressive behavior by integrating diverse brain inputs. The DRN consists predominantly of serotonergic (5-HT:5-hydroxytryptamine) neurons and decreased 5-HT activity was classically thought to increase aggression. However, recent studies challenge this 5-HT deficiency model, revealing a more complex role for the DRN 5-HT system in aggression. Furthermore, emerging evidence has shown that non-5-HT populations in the DRN and specific neural circuits contribute to the escalation of aggressive behavior. This review argues that the DRN serves as a multifaceted modulator of aggression, acting not only via 5-HT but also via other neurotransmitters and neural pathways, as well as different subsets of 5-HT neurons. In addition, we discuss the contribution of DRN neurons in the behavioral and physiological aspects implicated in aggressive behavior, such as arousal, reward, and impulsivity, to further our understanding of DRN-mediated aggression modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koshiro Mitsui
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Aki Takahashi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fasham J, Huebner AK, Liebmann L, Khalaf-Nazzal R, Maroofian R, Kryeziu N, Wortmann SB, Leslie JS, Ubeyratna N, Mancini GMS, van Slegtenhorst M, Wilke M, Haack TB, Shamseldin HE, Gleeson JG, Almuhaizea M, Dweikat I, Abu-Libdeh B, Daana M, Zaki MS, Wakeling MN, McGavin L, Turnpenny PD, Alkuraya FS, Houlden H, Schlattmann P, Kaila K, Crosby AH, Baple EL, Hübner CA. SLC4A10 mutation causes a neurological disorder associated with impaired GABAergic transmission. Brain 2023; 146:4547-4561. [PMID: 37459438 PMCID: PMC10629776 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
SLC4A10 is a plasma-membrane bound transporter that utilizes the Na+ gradient to drive cellular HCO3- uptake, thus mediating acid extrusion. In the mammalian brain, SLC4A10 is expressed in principal neurons and interneurons, as well as in epithelial cells of the choroid plexus, the organ regulating the production of CSF. Using next generation sequencing on samples from five unrelated families encompassing nine affected individuals, we show that biallelic SLC4A10 loss-of-function variants cause a clinically recognizable neurodevelopmental disorder in humans. The cardinal clinical features of the condition include hypotonia in infancy, delayed psychomotor development across all domains and intellectual impairment. Affected individuals commonly display traits associated with autistic spectrum disorder including anxiety, hyperactivity and stereotyped movements. In two cases isolated episodes of seizures were reported in the first few years of life, and a further affected child displayed bitemporal epileptogenic discharges on EEG without overt clinical seizures. While occipitofrontal circumference was reported to be normal at birth, progressive postnatal microcephaly evolved in 7 out of 10 affected individuals. Neuroradiological features included a relative preservation of brain volume compared to occipitofrontal circumference, characteristic narrow sometimes 'slit-like' lateral ventricles and corpus callosum abnormalities. Slc4a10 -/- mice, deficient for SLC4A10, also display small lateral brain ventricles and mild behavioural abnormalities including delayed habituation and alterations in the two-object novel object recognition task. Collapsed brain ventricles in both Slc4a10-/- mice and affected individuals suggest an important role of SLC4A10 in the production of the CSF. However, it is notable that despite diverse roles of the CSF in the developing and adult brain, the cortex of Slc4a10-/- mice appears grossly intact. Co-staining with synaptic markers revealed that in neurons, SLC4A10 localizes to inhibitory, but not excitatory, presynapses. These findings are supported by our functional studies, which show the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA is compromised in Slc4a10-/- mice, while the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate is preserved. Manipulation of intracellular pH partially rescues GABA release. Together our studies define a novel neurodevelopmental disorder associated with biallelic pathogenic variants in SLC4A10 and highlight the importance of further analyses of the consequences of SLC4A10 loss-of-function for brain development, synaptic transmission and network properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Fasham
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Antje K Huebner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Lutz Liebmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Reham Khalaf-Nazzal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Arab American University of Palestine, Jenin, P227, Palestine
| | - Reza Maroofian
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Nderim Kryeziu
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Saskia B Wortmann
- University Children’s Hospital, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK) and Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Amalia Children’s Hospital, Radboudumc, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Joseph S Leslie
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Nishanka Ubeyratna
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Grazia M S Mancini
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martina Wilke
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias B Haack
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hanan E Shamseldin
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joseph G Gleeson
- Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mohamed Almuhaizea
- Department of Neuroscience, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imad Dweikat
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Arab American University of Palestine, Jenin, P227, Palestine
| | - Bassam Abu-Libdeh
- Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Makassed Hospital and Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, 95908, Palestine
| | - Muhannad Daana
- Department of Pediatrics, Arab Women’s Union Hospital, Nablus, P400, Palestine
| | - Maha S Zaki
- Clinical Genetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Matthew N Wakeling
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Lucy McGavin
- Department of Radiology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK
| | - Peter D Turnpenny
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Henry Houlden
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Peter Schlattmann
- Institute for Medical Statistics, Computer Science and Data Science, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Kai Kaila
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrew H Crosby
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Emma L Baple
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Christian A Hübner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Freiler MK, Smith GT. Neuroendocrine mechanisms contributing to the coevolution of sociality and communication. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 70:101077. [PMID: 37217079 PMCID: PMC10527162 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Communication is inherently social, so signaling systems should evolve with social systems. The 'social complexity hypothesis' posits that social complexity necessitates communicative complexity and is generally supported in vocalizing mammals. This hypothesis, however, has seldom been tested outside the acoustic modality, and comparisons across studies are confounded by varying definitions of complexity. Moreover, proximate mechanisms underlying coevolution of sociality and communication remain largely unexamined. In this review, we argue that to uncover how sociality and communication coevolve, we need to examine variation in the neuroendocrine mechanisms that coregulate social behavior and signal production and perception. Specifically, we focus on steroid hormones, monoamines, and nonapeptides, which modulate both social behavior and sensorimotor circuits and are likely targets of selection during social evolution. Lastly, we highlight weakly electric fishes as an ideal system in which to comparatively address the proximate mechanisms underlying relationships between social and signal diversity in a novel modality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan K Freiler
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States; Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.
| | - G Troy Smith
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States; Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lin F, Wang X, Luo R, Yuan B, Ye S, Yang T, Xiao L, Chen J. Maternal LPS Exposure Enhances the 5-HT Level in the Prefrontal Cortex of Autism-like Young Offspring. Brain Sci 2023; 13:958. [PMID: 37371436 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced social interactions, impaired communication, and stereotyped behavior. The aim of this research is to investigate the changes in serotonin (5-HT) in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) of autism-like offspring induced by maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to establish an autism-like model in their offspring. Offspring prenatally exposed to LPS showed autism-like behavior. The serotonin level in the mPFC of 2-week-old offspring was noticeably increased after maternal LPS exposure. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in pathways related to tryptophan metabolism and the serotonin system, as shown in RNA-seq findings. Consistently, tryptophan and serotonin metabolisms were altered in 2-week-old LPS-exposed offspring. The mRNA expression levels of 5-HT catabolic enzymes were remarkably reduced or tended to decrease. Moreover, maternal LPS exposure resulted in a higher serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT1BR) expression level in the mPFC but no difference in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) or serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). The concentrations of 5-HT in serum and colon were increased in LPS-exposed offspring. Meanwhile, the expression level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) in the colon was increased after maternal LPS treatment, whereas SERT was reduced. Furthermore, Golgi-Cox staining showed that neuronal dendritic length and spine density were significantly reduced in the mPFC of LPS-exposed offspring. The current study reveals that maternal LPS treatment resulted in an exaltation of the 5-HT of mPFC in ASD-like young rats, which may partly be caused by the abnormal elevation of 5-HT metabolism in its colon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Lin
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
| | - Xinyuan Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
| | - Ruifang Luo
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
| | - Binlin Yuan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
| | - Shasha Ye
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
| | - Lu Xiao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400015, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400015, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Higuchi Y, Tada T, Nakachi T, Arakawa H. Serotonergic circuit dysregulation underlying autism-related phenotypes in BTBR mouse model of autism. Neuropharmacology 2023:109634. [PMID: 37301467 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The inbred mouse strain, BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR), possesses neuronal and circuit abnormalities that underlie atypical behavioral profiles resembling the major symptoms of human autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Forebrain serotonin (5-HT) transmission has been implicated in ASD-related behavioral alterations. In this study, we assessed 5-HT signals and the functional responsiveness in BTBR mice compared to standard C57BL/6J (B6) control mice to elucidate how 5-HT alterations contribute to behavioral abnormalities in BTBR mice. A lower number of 5-HT neurons in the median raphe, but not in the dorsal raphe, was observed in male and female BTBR mice. Acute systemic injection of buspirone, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, induced c-Fos in several brain regions in both B6 and BTBR mice; however, blunted c-Fos induction in BTBR mice was documented in the cingulate cortex, basolateral amygdala (BLA), and ventral hippocampus (Hipp). Decreased c-Fos responses in these regions are associated with a lack of buspirone effects on anxiety-like behavior in BTBR mice. Analysis of mRNA expression following acute buspirone injection indicated that 5HTR1a gene downregulation (or upregulation) occurred in the BLA and Hipp of B6 mice, respectively, but not BTBR mice. The mRNA expression of factors associated with neurogenesis or the pro-inflammatory state was not consistently altered by acute buspirone injection. Therefore, 5-HT responsivity via 5-HT1A receptors in the BLA and Hipp are linked to anxiety-like behavior, in which circuits are disrupted in BTBR mice. Other distinct 5-HT circuits from the BLA and Hipp that regulate social behavior are restricted but preserved in BTBR mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Higuchi
- Dept. Systems Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Tada
- Dept. Systems Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
| | - Taiga Nakachi
- Dept. Systems Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Dept. Systems Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
de Oliveira Ferreira E, Pessoa Gomes JM, Neves KRT, Lima FAV, de Barros Viana GS, de Andrade GM. Maternal treatment with aripiprazole prevents the development of a valproic acid-induced autism-like phenotype in juvenile male mice. Behav Pharmacol 2023; 34:154-168. [PMID: 36853856 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Aripiprazole (APZ) is an atypical antipsychotic that can safeguard mice against autism-like behavior induced by valproic acid (VPA). In the present study, we examined the effects of maternal treatment with APZ (10 mg/kg) in juvenile mice prenatally exposed to VPA on neurodevelopmental behaviors, social interactions, communication, and working memory, as well as synaptophysin (SYP), synaptosomal-associated protein, 25 kDa (SNAP-25) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and cell viability in the hippocampus. In addition, to evaluate possible APZ interference with the anticonvulsant properties of VPA on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures were evaluated. Maternal treatment with APZ significantly prevented body weight loss, self-righting, eye-opening, social interactions, social communication, and working memory deficits in mice prenatally exposed to VPA. Additionally, the decrease in the SYP, SNAP-25, and MAP-2 expressions in the mPFC and cell death in the hippocampus was prevented by APZ. Furthermore, APZ (10 mg/kg) did not interfere with the anticonvulsant effect of VPA (15 mg/kg) in animals with PTZ-induced seizures. These findings indicate that maternal treatment with APZ in pregnant mice exposed to VPA protects animals against the ASD-like behavioral phenotype, and this effect may be related, at least in part, to synaptic plasticity and neuronal protection in the PFC and hippocampus. APZ may serve as an effective pharmacological therapeutic target against autistic behaviors in the VPA animal model of ASD, which should be further investigated to verify its clinical relevance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Glauce Socorro de Barros Viana
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Center for Research and Drug Development (NPDM), Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Geanne Matos de Andrade
- Department of Clinical Medicine
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Center for Research and Drug Development (NPDM), Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Current State of Modeling Human Psychiatric Disorders Using Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043187. [PMID: 36834599 PMCID: PMC9959486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent brain pathologies that represent an urgent, unmet biomedical problem. Since reliable clinical diagnoses are essential for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, their animal models with robust, relevant behavioral and physiological endpoints become necessary. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) display well-defined, complex behaviors in major neurobehavioral domains which are evolutionarily conserved and strikingly parallel to those seen in rodents and humans. Although zebrafish are increasingly often used to model psychiatric disorders, there are also multiple challenges with such models as well. The field may therefore benefit from a balanced, disease-oriented discussion that considers the clinical prevalence, the pathological complexity, and societal importance of the disorders in question, and the extent of its detalization in zebrafish central nervous system (CNS) studies. Here, we critically discuss the use of zebrafish for modeling human psychiatric disorders in general, and highlight the topics for further in-depth consideration, in order to foster and (re)focus translational biological neuroscience research utilizing zebrafish. Recent developments in molecular biology research utilizing this model species have also been summarized here, collectively calling for a wider use of zebrafish in translational CNS disease modeling.
Collapse
|
13
|
Cao H, Tang J, Liu Q, Huang J, Xu R. Autism-like behaviors regulated by the serotonin receptor 5-HT2B in the dorsal fan-shaped body neurons of Drosophila melanogaster. Eur J Med Res 2022; 27:203. [PMID: 36253869 PMCID: PMC9575255 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-022-00838-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. Previous studies have reported an association of serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) with ASD, but the specific receptors and neurons by which serotonin modulates autistic behaviors have not been fully elucidated. METHODS RNAi-mediated knockdown was done to destroy the function of tryptophan hydroxylase (Trh) and all the five serotonin receptors. Given that ubiquitous knockdown of 5-HT2B showed significant defects in social behaviors, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 system to knock out the 5-HT2B receptor gene. Social space assays and grooming assays were the major methods used to understand the role of serotonin and related specific receptors in autism-like behaviors of Drosophila melanogaster. RESULTS A close relationship was identified between serotonin and autism-like behaviors reflected by increased social space distance and high-frequency repetitive behavior in Drosophila. We further utilized the binary expression system to knock down all the five 5-HT receptors, and observed the 5-HT2B receptor as the main receptor responsible for the normal social space and repetitive behavior in Drosophila for the specific serotonin receptors underlying the regulation of these two behaviors. Our data also showed that neurons in the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB), which expressed 5-HT2B, were functionally essential for the social behaviors of Drosophila. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our data suggest that serotonin levels and the 5-HT2B receptor are closely related to the social interaction and repetitive behavior of Drosophila. Of all the 5 serotonin receptors, 5-HT2B receptor in dFB neurons is mainly responsible for serotonin-mediated regulation of autism-like behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haowei Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Junbo Tang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qisha Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Capital Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Rui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. .,Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Yang G, Geng H, Hu C. Targeting 5-HT as a Potential Treatment for Social Deficits in Autism. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1263-1266. [PMID: 35536504 PMCID: PMC9554180 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00876-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Guangyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Hongyan Geng
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Chun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sharma A, Bhalla S, Mehan S. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling inhibitor chrysophanol ameliorates neurobehavioural and neurochemical defects in propionic acid-induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:1909-1929. [PMID: 35687217 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-022-01026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social and communication deficits as well as repetitive behaviour. Several studies have found that overactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathways during brain development plays a significant role in autism pathogenesis. Overexpression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway causes neurological disorders by increasing cell death, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Chrysophanol, also known as chrysophanic acid, is a naturally occurring chemical obtained from the plant Rheum palmatum. This study aimed to examine the neuroprotective effect of CPH on neurobehavioral, molecular, neurochemical, and gross pathological alterations in ICV-PPA induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. The effects of ICV-PPA on PI3K/AKT/mTOR downregulation in the brain were studied in autism-like rats. Furthermore, we investigated how CPH affected myelin basic protein (MBP) levels in rat brain homogenate and apoptotic biomarkers such as caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels in rat brain homogenate and blood plasma samples. Rats were tested for behavioural abnormalities such as neuromuscular dysfunction using an actophotometer, motor coordination using a beam crossing task (BCT), depressive behaviour using a forced swim test (FST), cognitive deficiency, and memory consolidation using a Morris water maze (MWM) task. In PPA-treated rats, prolonged oral CPH administration from day 12 to day 44 of the experimental schedule reduces autistic-like symptoms. Furthermore, in rat brain homogenates, blood plasma, and CSF samples, cellular, molecular, and cell death markers, neuroinflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitter levels, and oxidative stress indicators were investigated. The recent findings imply that CPH also restores abnormal neurochemical levels and may prevent autism-like gross pathological alterations, such as demyelination volume, in the rat brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Sonalika Bhalla
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Pho H, Amorim MR, Qiu Q, Shin M, Kim LJ, Anokye‐Danso F, Jun JJ, Ahima RS, Branco LGS, Kuhn DM, Mateika JH, Polotsky VY. The effect of brain serotonin deficiency on breathing is magnified by age. Physiol Rep 2022; 10:e15245. [PMID: 35581741 PMCID: PMC9114658 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin is an important mediator modulating behavior, metabolism, sleep, control of breathing, and upper airway function, but the role of aging in serotonin-mediated effects has not been previously defined. Our study aimed to examine the effect of brain serotonin deficiency on breathing during sleep and metabolism in younger and older mice. We measured breathing during sleep, hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR), CO2 production (VCO2 ), and O2 consumption (VO2 ) in 16-18-week old and 40-44-week old mice with deficiency of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), which regulates serotonin synthesis specifically in neurons, compared to Tph2+/+ mice. As expected, aging decreased VCO2 and VO2 . Tph2 knockout resulted in an increase in both metabolic indexes and no interaction between age and the genotype was observed. During wakefulness, neither age nor genotype had an effect on minute ventilation. The genotype did not affect hypercapnic sensitivity in younger mice. During sleep, Tph2-/- mice showed significant decreases in maximal inspiratory flow in NREM sleep, respiratory rate, and oxyhemoglobin saturation in REM sleep, compared to wildtype, regardless of age. Neither serotonin deficiency nor aging affected the frequency of flow limited breaths (a marker of upper airway closure) or apneas. Serotonin deficiency increased the amount and efficiency of sleep only in older animals. In conclusion, younger Tph2-/- mice were able to defend their ventilation and phenotypically did not differ from wildtype during wakefulness. In contrast, both young and old Tph2-/- mice showed sleep-related hypoventilation, which was manifested by hypoxemia during REM sleep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huy Pho
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Mateus R. Amorim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Qingchao Qiu
- Department of PhysiologyWayne State UniversityDetroitMichiganUSA
| | - Mi‐Kyung Shin
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Lenise J. Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Frederick Anokye‐Danso
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and MetabolismDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Jonathan J. Jun
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Rexford S. Ahima
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and MetabolismDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Luiz G. S. Branco
- Dental School of Ribeirão PretoUniversity of São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Donald M. Kuhn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral NeurosciencesWayne State University School of MedicineDetroitMichiganUSA
- John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical CenterDetroitMichiganUSA
| | - Jason H. Mateika
- Department of PhysiologyWayne State UniversityDetroitMichiganUSA
- John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical CenterDetroitMichiganUSA
- Department of Internal MedicineWayne State University School of MedicineDetroitMichiganUSA
| | - Vsevolod Y. Polotsky
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Khera R, Mehan S, Bhalla S, Kumar S, Alshammari A, Alharbi M, Sadhu SS. Guggulsterone Mediated JAK/STAT and PPAR-Gamma Modulation Prevents Neurobehavioral and Neurochemical Abnormalities in Propionic Acid-Induced Experimental Model of Autism. Molecules 2022; 27:889. [PMID: 35164154 PMCID: PMC8839522 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by repetitive behaviour, challenges in verbal and non-verbal communication, poor socio-emotional health, and cognitive impairment. An increased level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and a decreased level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma have been linked to autism pathogenesis. Guggulsterone (GST) has a neuroprotective effect on autistic conditions by modulating these signalling pathways. Consequently, the primary objective of this study was to examine potential neuroprotective properties of GST by modulating JAK/STAT and PPAR-gamma levels in intracerebroventricular propionic acid (ICV PPA) induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. In this study, the first 11 days of ICV-PPA injections in rats resulted in autism-like behavioural, neurochemical, morphological, and histopathological changes. The above modifications were also observed in various biological samples, including brain homogenate, CSF, and blood plasma. GST was also observed to improve autism-like behavioural impairments in autistic rats treated with PPA, including locomotion, neuromuscular coordination, depression-like behaviour, spatial memory, cognition, and body weight. Prolonged GST treatment also restored neurochemical deficits in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic PPA administration increased STAT3 and decreased PPAR gamma in autistic rat brain, CSF, and blood plasma samples, which were reversed by GST. GST also restored the gross and histopathological alterations in PPA-treated rat brains. Our results indicate the neuroprotective effects of GST in preventing autism-related behavioural and neurochemical alterations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rishabh Khera
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, Punjab, India; (R.K.); (S.B.); (S.K.)
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, Punjab, India; (R.K.); (S.B.); (S.K.)
| | - Sonalika Bhalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, Punjab, India; (R.K.); (S.B.); (S.K.)
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, Punjab, India; (R.K.); (S.B.); (S.K.)
| | - Abdulrahman Alshammari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.A.)
| | - Metab Alharbi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.A.)
| | - Satya Sai Sadhu
- Chemistry Department, Northern Michigan University, 1401, Presque, Isle, Marquette, MI 49855, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Sato A, Kotajima-Murakami H, Tanaka M, Katoh Y, Ikeda K. Influence of Prenatal Drug Exposure, Maternal Inflammation, and Parental Aging on the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:821455. [PMID: 35222122 PMCID: PMC8863673 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.821455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects reciprocal social interaction and produces abnormal repetitive, restrictive behaviors and interests. The diverse causes of ASD are divided into genetic alterations and environmental risks. The prevalence of ASD has been rising for several decades, which might be related to environmental risks as it is difficult to consider that the prevalence of genetic disorders related to ASD would increase suddenly. The latter includes (1) exposure to medications, such as valproic acid (VPA) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (2), maternal complications during pregnancy, including infection and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and (3) high parental age. Epidemiological studies have indicated a pathogenetic role of prenatal exposure to VPA and maternal inflammation in the development of ASD. VPA is considered to exert its deleterious effects on the fetal brain through several distinct mechanisms, such as alterations of γ-aminobutyric acid signaling, the inhibition of histone deacetylase, the disruption of folic acid metabolism, and the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin. Maternal inflammation that is caused by different stimuli converges on a higher load of proinflammatory cytokines in the fetal brain. Rodent models of maternal exposure to SSRIs generate ASD-like behavior in offspring, but clinical correlations with these preclinical findings are inconclusive. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and advanced parental age increase the risk of ASD in humans, but the mechanisms have been poorly investigated in animal models. Evidence of the mechanisms by which environmental factors are related to ASD is discussed, which may contribute to the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions for ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Miho Tanaka
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Katoh
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Bonassi A, Carollo A, Cataldo I, Gabrieli G, Tandiono M, Foo JN, Lepri B, Esposito G. Modulation of Instagram Number of Followings by Avoidance in Close Relationships in Young Adults under a Gene x Environment Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7547. [PMID: 34300010 PMCID: PMC8303232 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Social networking sites have determined radical changes in human life, demanding investigations on online socialization mechanisms. The knowledge acquired on in-person sociability could guide researchers to consider both environmental and genetic features as candidates of online socialization. Here, we explored the impact of the quality of adult attachment and the genetic properties of the Serotonin Transporter Gene (5-HTTLPR) on Instagram social behavior. Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire was adopted to assess 57 Instagram users' attachment pattern in close relationships with partners. Genotypes from the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 region were extracted from the users' buccal mucosa and analyzed. Users' Instagram social behavior was examined from four indexes: number of posts, number of followed users ("followings") and number of followers, and the Social Desirability Index calculated from the followers to followings ratio. Although no interaction between rs25531 and ECR-R dimensions was found, an association between avoidance in close relationships and Instagram number of followings emerged. Post hoc analyses revealed adult avoidance from the partner predicts the Instagram number of followings with good evidence. Moreover, users reporting high avoidance levels displayed fewer followings than users who reported low levels of avoidance. This research provides a window into the psychobiological understanding of online socialization on Instagram.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bonassi
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto TN, Italy; (A.B.); (A.C.); (I.C.)
- Mobile and Social Computing Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38123 Trento TN, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Carollo
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto TN, Italy; (A.B.); (A.C.); (I.C.)
| | - Ilaria Cataldo
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto TN, Italy; (A.B.); (A.C.); (I.C.)
| | - Giulio Gabrieli
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639818, Singapore;
| | - Moses Tandiono
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore; (M.T.); (J.N.F.)
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Jia Nee Foo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore; (M.T.); (J.N.F.)
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Bruno Lepri
- Mobile and Social Computing Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38123 Trento TN, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto TN, Italy; (A.B.); (A.C.); (I.C.)
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639818, Singapore;
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore; (M.T.); (J.N.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lyons-Warren AM, Herman I, Hunt PJ, Arenkiel BR. A systematic-review of olfactory deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders: From mouse to human. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:110-121. [PMID: 33610612 PMCID: PMC8142839 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory impairment is a common clinical motif across neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting olfactory circuits are particularly vulnerable to disease processes and can provide insight into underlying disease mechanisms. The mouse olfactory bulb is an ideal model system to study mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disease due to its anatomical accessibility, behavioral relevance, ease of measuring circuit input and output, and the feature of adult neurogenesis. Despite the clinical relevance and experimental benefits, olfactory testing across animal models of neurodevelopmental disease has been inconsistent and non-standardized. Here we performed a systematic literature review of olfactory function testing in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders, and identified intriguing inconsistencies that include evidence for both increased and decreased acuity in odor detection in various mouse models of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Based on our identified gaps in the literature, we recommend direct comparison of different mouse models of ASD using standardized tests for odor detection and discrimination. This review provides a framework to guide future olfactory function testing in mouse models of neurodevelopmental diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ariel M Lyons-Warren
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience; Clinical Care Center, Suite 1250, 6621 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America;,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Isabella Herman
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience; Clinical Care Center, Suite 1250, 6621 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America;,Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Human Genetics; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Patrick J Hunt
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Human Genetics; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Benjamin R Arenkiel
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Human Genetics; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America;,Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America;,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030 USA.,McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Demin KA, Smagin DA, Kovalenko IL, Strekalova T, Galstyan DS, Kolesnikova TO, De Abreu MS, Galyamina AG, Bashirzade A, Kalueff AV. CNS genomic profiling in the mouse chronic social stress model implicates a novel category of candidate genes integrating affective pathogenesis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 105:110086. [PMID: 32889031 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite high prevalence, medical impact and societal burden, anxiety, depression and other affective disorders remain poorly understood and treated. Clinical complexity and polygenic nature complicate their analyses, often revealing genetic overlap and cross-disorder heritability. However, the interplay or overlaps between disordered phenotypes can also be based on shared molecular pathways and 'crosstalk' mechanisms, which themselves may be genetically determined. We have earlier predicted (Kalueff et al., 2014) a new class of 'interlinking' brain genes that do not affect the disordered phenotypes per se, but can instead specifically determine their interrelatedness. To test this hypothesis experimentally, here we applied a well-established rodent chronic social defeat stress model, known to progress in C57BL/6J mice from the Anxiety-like stage on Day 10 to Depression-like stage on Day 20. The present study analyzed mouse whole-genome expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus during the Day 10, the Transitional (Day 15) and Day 20 stages in this model. Our main question here was whether a putative the Transitional stage (Day 15) would reveal distinct characteristic genomic responses from Days 10 and 20 of the model, thus reflecting unique molecular events underlining the transformation or switch from anxiety to depression pathogenesis. Overall, while in the Day 10 (Anxiety) group both brain regions showed major genomic alterations in various neurotransmitter signaling pathways, the Day 15 (Transitional) group revealed uniquely downregulated astrocyte-related genes, and the Day 20 (Depression) group demonstrated multiple downregulated genes of cell adhesion, inflammation and ion transport pathways. Together, these results reveal a complex temporal dynamics of mouse affective phenotypes as they develop. Our genomic profiling findings provide first experimental support to the idea that novel brain genes (activated here only during the Transitional stage) may uniquely integrate anxiety and depression pathogenesis and, hence, determine the progression from one pathological state to another. This concept can potentially be extended to other brain conditions as well. This preclinical study also further implicates cilial and astrocytal mechanisms in the pathogenesis of affective disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Smagin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Tatyana Strekalova
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - David S Galstyan
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Granov Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Tatyana O Kolesnikova
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology and Neurobiology, School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Alim Bashirzade
- Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia; Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia; Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology and Neurobiology, School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Geisler SM, Benedetti A, Schöpf CL, Schwarzer C, Stefanova N, Schwartz A, Obermair GJ. Phenotypic Characterization and Brain Structure Analysis of Calcium Channel Subunit α 2δ-2 Mutant (Ducky) and α 2δ Double Knockout Mice. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:634412. [PMID: 33679366 PMCID: PMC7933509 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.634412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Auxiliary α2δ subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels modulate channel trafficking, current properties, and synapse formation. Three of the four isoforms (α2δ-1, α2δ-2, and α2δ-3) are abundantly expressed in the brain; however, of the available knockout models, only α2δ-2 knockout or mutant mice display an obvious abnormal neurological phenotype. Thus, we hypothesize that the neuronal α2δ isoforms may have partially specific as well as redundant functions. To address this, we generated three distinct α2δ double knockout mouse models by crossbreeding single knockout (α2δ-1 and -3) or mutant (α2δ-2/ducky) mice. Here, we provide a first phenotypic description and brain structure analysis. We found that genotypic distribution of neonatal litters in distinct α2δ-1/-2, α2δ-1/-3, and α2δ-2/-3 breeding combinations did not conform to Mendel's law, suggesting premature lethality of single and double knockout mice. Notably, high occurrences of infant mortality correlated with the absence of specific α2δ isoforms (α2Δ-2 > α2δ-1 > α2δ-3), and was particularly observed in cages with behaviorally abnormal parenting animals of α2δ-2/-3 cross-breedings. Juvenile α2δ-1/-2 and α2δ-2/-3 double knockout mice displayed a waddling gate similar to ducky mice. However, in contrast to ducky and α2δ-1/-3 double knockout animals, α2δ-1/-2 and α2δ-2/-3 double knockout mice showed a more severe disease progression and highly impaired development. The observed phenotypes within the individual mouse lines may be linked to differences in the volume of specific brain regions. Reduced cortical volume in ducky mice, for example, was associated with a progressively decreased space between neurons, suggesting a reduction of total synaptic connections. Taken together, our findings show that α2δ subunits differentially regulate premature survival, postnatal growth, brain development, and behavior, suggesting specific neuronal functions in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie M. Geisler
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ariane Benedetti
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Clemens L. Schöpf
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Schwarzer
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Arnold Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Gerald J. Obermair
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Division Physiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Tanioka D, Chikahisa S, Shimizu N, Shiuchi T, Sakai N, Nishino S, Séi H. Intracranial mast cells contribute to the control of social behavior in male mice. Behav Brain Res 2021; 403:113143. [PMID: 33516739 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mast cells (MCs) exist intracranially and have been reported to affect higher brain functions in rodents. However, the role of MCs in the regulation of emotionality and social behavior is unclear. In the present study, using male mice, we examined the relationship between MCs and social behavior and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Wild-type male mice intraventricularly injected with a degranulator of MCs exhibited a marked increase in a three-chamber sociability test. In addition, removal of MCs in Mast cell-specific Toxin Receptor-mediated Conditional cell Knock out (Mas-TRECK) male mice showed reduced social preference levels in a three-chamber sociability test without other behavioral changes, such as anxiety-like and depression-like behavior. Mas-TRECK male mice also had reduced serotonin content and serotonin receptor expression and increased oxytocin receptor expression in the brain. These results suggested that MCs may contribute to the regulation of social behavior in male mice. This effect may be partially mediated by serotonin derived from MCs in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Tanioka
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Sachiko Chikahisa
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
| | - Noriyuki Shimizu
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Shiuchi
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Noriaki Sakai
- Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology Laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Seiji Nishino
- Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology Laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Hiroyoshi Séi
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Decreased phenol sulfotransferase activities associated with hyperserotonemia in autism spectrum disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:23. [PMID: 33414449 PMCID: PMC7791095 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01125-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperserotonemia is the most replicated biochemical abnormality associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, previous studies of serotonin synthesis, catabolism, and transport have not elucidated the mechanisms underlying this hyperserotonemia. Here we investigated serotonin sulfation by phenol sulfotransferases (PST) in blood samples from 97 individuals with ASD and their first-degree relatives (138 parents and 56 siblings), compared with 106 controls. We report a deficient activity of both PST isoforms (M and P) in platelets from individuals with ASD (35% and 78% of patients, respectively), confirmed in autoptic tissues (9 pineal gland samples from individuals with ASD-an important source of serotonin). Platelet PST-M deficiency was strongly associated with hyperserotonemia in individuals with ASD. We then explore genetic or pharmacologic modulation of PST activities in mice: variations of PST activities were associated with marked variations of blood serotonin, demonstrating the influence of the sulfation pathway on serotonemia. We also conducted in 1645 individuals an extensive study of SULT1A genes, encoding PST and mapping at highly polymorphic 16p11.2 locus, which did not reveal an association between copy number or single nucleotide variations and PST activity, blood serotonin or the risk of ASD. In contrast, our broader assessment of sulfation metabolism in ASD showed impairments of other sulfation-related markers, including inorganic sulfate, heparan-sulfate, and heparin sulfate-sulfotransferase. Our study proposes for the first time a compelling mechanism for hyperserotonemia, in a context of global impairment of sulfation metabolism in ASD.
Collapse
|
25
|
Oxidative Stress, Folate Receptor Autoimmunity, and CSF Findings in Severe Infantile Autism. AUTISM RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2020; 2020:9095284. [PMID: 33294225 PMCID: PMC7688371 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9095284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Biomarkers such as oxidative stress, folate receptor alpha (FRα) autoimmunity, and abnormal brain serotonin turnover are common in autism. Methods Oxidative stress biomarkers with pro- and antioxidants were measured in the severe form of infantile autism (n = 38) and controls (n = 24). Children and parents had repeated testing for serum FR autoantibodies, spinal fluid dopamine and serotonin metabolites, pterins, and N5-methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF). Statistical analysis assessed correlations between variables. Genetic analysis included the SLC6A4 and SLC29A4 genes encoding synaptic serotonin reuptake proteins. Results Compared to controls, the autism group showed a significant increase in oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes, plasma ceruloplasmin and copper levels with a high copper/zinc ratio, thiol proteins, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Vitamin C levels were significantly diminished. In most autistic patients, the vitamin A (64%) and D (70%) levels were low. Serum FR autoantibodies fluctuating over 5–7 week periods presented in 68% of all autistic children, 41% of parents vs. 3.3% of control children and their parents. CSF showed lowered serotonin 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5HIAA) metabolites in 13 (34%), a low 5HIAA to HVA (dopamine metabolite) ratio in 5 (13%), low 5HIAA and MTHF in 2 (5%), and low MTHF in 8 patients (21%). A known SLC6A4 mutation was identified only in 1 autistic child with low CSF 5HIAA and a novel SLC29A4 mutation was identified in identical twins. Low CSF MTHF levels among only 26% of subjects can be explained by the fluctuating FR antibody titers. Two or more aberrant pro-oxidant and/or antioxidant factors predisposed to low CSF serotonin metabolites. Three autistic children having low CSF 5HIAA and elevated oxidative stress received antioxidative supplements followed by CSF 5HIAA normalisation. Conclusion In autism, we found diverse combinations for FR autoimmunity and/or oxidative stress, both amenable to treatment. Parental and postnatal FR autoantibodies tend to block folate passage to the brain affecting folate-dependent pathways restored by folinic acid treatment, while an abnormal redox status tends to induce reduced serotonin turnover, corrected by antioxidant therapy. Trial Registration. The case-controlled study was approved in 2008 by the IRB at Liège University (Belgian Number: B70720083916). Lay Summary. Children with severe infantile autism frequently have serum folate receptor autoantibodies that block the transport of the essential vitamin folate across the blood-brain barrier to the brain. Parents are often asymptomatic carriers of these serum folate receptor autoantibodies, which in mothers can block folate passage across the placenta to their unborn child. This folate deficiency during the child's intrauterine development may predispose to neural tube defects and autism. Oxidative stress represents a condition with the presence of elevated toxic oxygen derivatives attributed to an imbalance between the formation and protection against these toxic reactive oxygen derivatives. Oxidative stress was found to be present in autistic children where these reactive oxygen derivatives can cause damage to DNA, which changes DNA function and regulation of gene expression. In addition, excessive amounts of these toxic oxygen derivatives are likely to damage the enzyme producing the neuromessenger serotonin in the brain, diminished in about 1/3 of the autistic children. Testing children with autism for oxidative stress and its origin, as well as testing for serum folate receptor autoantibodies, could open new approaches towards more effective treatments.
Collapse
|
26
|
Subburaju S, Kaye S, Choi YK, Baruah J, Datta D, Ren J, Kumar AS, Szabo G, Fukumura D, Jain RK, Elkhal A, Vasudevan A. NAD +-mediated rescue of prenatal forebrain angiogenesis restores postnatal behavior. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/41/eabb9766. [PMID: 33036972 PMCID: PMC7546698 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb9766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsic defects within blood vessels from the earliest developmental time points can directly contribute to psychiatric disease origin. Here, we show that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), administered during a critical window of prenatal development, in a mouse model with dysfunctional endothelial γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors (Gabrb3 endothelial cell knockout mice), results in a synergistic repair of impaired angiogenesis and normalization of brain development, thus preventing the acquisition of abnormal behavioral symptoms. The prenatal NAD+ treatment stimulated extensive cellular and molecular changes in endothelial cells and restored blood vessel formation, GABAergic neuronal development, and forebrain morphology by recruiting an alternate pathway for cellular repair, via previously unknown transcriptional mechanisms and purinergic receptor signaling. Our findings illustrate a novel and powerful role for NAD+ in sculpting prenatal brain development that has profound implications for rescuing brain blood flow in a permanent and irreversible manner, with long-lasting consequences for mental health outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sivan Subburaju
- Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory, Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), 686 S Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Sarah Kaye
- Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory, Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), 686 S Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Yong Kee Choi
- Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory, Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), 686 S Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Jugajyoti Baruah
- Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory, Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), 686 S Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Debkanya Datta
- Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory, Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), 686 S Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Jun Ren
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Ashwin Srinivasan Kumar
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Gabor Szabo
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Medical Gene Technology Unit, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dai Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Abdallah Elkhal
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Transplantation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, EBRC 309, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anju Vasudevan
- Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory, Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), 686 S Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Arakawa H. Somatosensorimotor and Odor Modification, Along with Serotonergic Processes Underlying the Social Deficits in BTBR T+ Itpr3 tf/J and BALB/cJ Mouse Models of Autism. Neuroscience 2020; 445:144-162. [PMID: 32061779 PMCID: PMC8078887 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a complex spectrum of disorders characterized by core behavioral deficits in social communicative behavior, which are also required for comprehensive analysis of preclinical mouse models. As animal models of the core behavioral deficits in autism, two inbred mouse strains, BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) and BALB/cJ (BALB), were compared with the standard social strain, C57BL/6J (B6), regarding a variety of behavioral factors underlying social communicative interactions, including olfactory and tactile sensory processes, social recognition abilities and behavioral expression strategies. Although both female BTBR and BALB mice can express social recognition and approach behavior depending on the stimuli they encounter, the available sensory modalities, along with modulation of the serotonergic system, differ between the two strains. BALB mice have deficits in using volatile olfactory cues and tactile information in a social context; they fail to exhibit a social approach to volatile cues and seek nonvolatile cues by exhibiting substantial sniff/contact behavior when allowed direct contact with social opponents. Systemic injection of the serotonin (5-HT1A) agonist buspirone has little effect on these social deficits, suggesting a congenitally degraded serotonergic system in BALB mice. In contrast, BTBR mice exhibit impaired body coordination and social motivation-modified olfactory signals, which are relevant to a reduced social approach. A systemic injection of the 5-HT1A agonist restored these social deficits in BTBR mice, indicating that a downregulated serotonergic system is involved in the social deficits exhibited by BTBR mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Rodent Behavioral Core Department of Research Administration, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Licznerski P, Park HA, Rolyan H, Chen R, Mnatsakanyan N, Miranda P, Graham M, Wu J, Cruz-Reyes N, Mehta N, Sohail S, Salcedo J, Song E, Effman C, Effman S, Brandao L, Xu GN, Braker A, Gribkoff VK, Levy RJ, Jonas EA. ATP Synthase c-Subunit Leak Causes Aberrant Cellular Metabolism in Fragile X Syndrome. Cell 2020; 182:1170-1185.e9. [PMID: 32795412 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Loss of the gene (Fmr1) encoding Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) causes increased mRNA translation and aberrant synaptic development. We find neurons of the Fmr1-/y mouse have a mitochondrial inner membrane leak contributing to a "leak metabolism." In human Fragile X syndrome (FXS) fibroblasts and in Fmr1-/y mouse neurons, closure of the ATP synthase leak channel by mild depletion of its c-subunit or pharmacological inhibition normalizes stimulus-induced and constitutive mRNA translation rate, decreases lactate and key glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme levels, and triggers synapse maturation. FMRP regulates leak closure in wild-type (WT), but not FX synapses, by stimulus-dependent ATP synthase β subunit translation; this increases the ratio of ATP synthase enzyme to its c-subunit, enhancing ATP production efficiency and synaptic growth. In contrast, in FXS, inability to close developmental c-subunit leak prevents stimulus-dependent synaptic maturation. Therefore, ATP synthase c-subunit leak closure encourages development and attenuates autistic behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Licznerski
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Han-A Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management, College of Human Environmental Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Harshvardhan Rolyan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Rongmin Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Nelli Mnatsakanyan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Paige Miranda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Morven Graham
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | | | - Nikita Mehta
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Sana Sohail
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Jorge Salcedo
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Erin Song
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | | | - Samuel Effman
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Lucas Brandao
- Department of Biology, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - Gulan N Xu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Amber Braker
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Valentin K Gribkoff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Richard J Levy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Jonas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ogbu D, Xia E, Sun J. Gut instincts: vitamin D/vitamin D receptor and microbiome in neurodevelopment disorders. Open Biol 2020; 10:200063. [PMID: 32634371 PMCID: PMC7574554 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200063] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome regulates a relationship with the brain known as the gut–microbiota–brain (GMB) axis. This interaction is influenced by immune cells, microbial metabolites and neurotransmitters. Recent findings show gut dysbiosis is prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There are previously established negative correlations among vitamin D, vitamin D receptor (VDR) levels and severity of ASD as well as ADHD. Both vitamin D and VDR are known to regulate homeostasis in the brain and the intestinal microbiome. This review summarizes the growing relationship between vitamin D/VDR signalling and the GMB axis in ASD and ADHD. We focus on current publications and summarize the progress of GMB in neurodevelopmental disorders, describe effects and mechanisms of vitamin D/VDR in regulating the microbiome and synoptically highlight the potential applications of targeting vitamin D/VDR signalling in neurodevelopment disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Destiny Ogbu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago 60612, IL, USA
| | - Eric Xia
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago 60612, IL, USA.,Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jun Sun
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago 60612, IL, USA.,UIC Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Oh D, Cheon KA. Alteration of Gut Microbiota in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2020; 31:131-145. [PMID: 32665757 PMCID: PMC7350540 DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.190039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiota-gut-brain axis, which refers to the bidirectional communication pathway between gut bacteria and the central nervous system, has a profound effect on important brain processes, from the synthesis of neurotransmitters to the modulation of complex behaviors such as sociability and anxiety. Previous studies have revealed that the gut microbiota is potentially related to not only gastrointestinal disturbances, but also social impairment and repetitive behavior-core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although studies have been conducted to characterize the microbial composition in patients with ASD, the results are heterogeneous. Nevertheless, it is clear that there is a difference in the composition of the gut microbiota between ASD and typically developed individuals, and animal studies have repeatedly suggested that the gut microbiota plays an important role in ASD pathophysiology. This possibility is supported by abnormalities in metabolites produced by the gut microbiota and the association between altered immune responses and the gut microbiota observed in ASD patients. Based on these findings, various attempts have been made to use the microbiota in ASD treatment. The results reported to date suggest that microbiota-based therapies may be effective for ASD, but largescale, well-designed studies are needed to confirm this.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donghun Oh
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Severance Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Keun-Ah Cheon
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Severance Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Kim M, Chung SK, Yang JC, Park JI, Nam SH, Park TW. Development of the Korean Form of the Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale: A Reliability and Validity Study. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2020; 31:146-153. [PMID: 32665758 PMCID: PMC7350545 DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.200013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean Form of the Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (K-PUTS). Methods Thirty-eight patients with Tourette's disorder who visited Jeonbuk National University Hospital were assessed with the K-PUTS. Together with the PUTS, the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rating scale (ARS), and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) were implemented to evaluate concurrent and discriminant validity. Results The internal consistency of items on the PUTS was high, with a Cronbach's α of 0.79. The test-retest reliability of the PUTS, which was administered at 2 weeks to 2 months intervals, showed high reliability with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.60. There was a significant positive correlation between the overall PUTS score and the YGTSS score, showing concurrent validity. There was no correlation between the PUTS, CY-BOCS, and ASRS scores, demonstrating the discriminant validity of the PUTS. Factor analysis for construct validity revealed three factors: "presumed functional relationship between the tic and the urge to tic," "the quality of the premonitory urge," and "just right phenomena." Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the K-PUTS is a reliable and valid scale for rating premonitory urge of tics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mira Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Sang-Keun Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Jong-Chul Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Jong-Il Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Seok Hyun Nam
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Tae Won Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Lustberg D, Iannitelli AF, Tillage RP, Pruitt M, Liles LC, Weinshenker D. Central norepinephrine transmission is required for stress-induced repetitive behavior in two rodent models of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1973-1987. [PMID: 32313981 PMCID: PMC7961804 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05512-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive behaviors exacerbated by stress. Many OCD patients do not respond to available pharmacotherapies, but neurosurgical ablation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) can provide symptomatic relief. Although the ACC receives noradrenergic innervation and expresses adrenergic receptors (ARs), the involvement of norepinephrine (NE) in OCD has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of genetic or pharmacological disruption of NE neurotransmission on marble burying (MB) and nestlet shredding (NS), two animal models of OCD. METHODS We assessed NE-deficient (Dbh -/-) mice and NE-competent (Dbh +/-) controls in MB and NS tasks. We also measured the effects of anti-adrenergic drugs on NS and MB in control mice and the effects of pharmacological restoration of central NE in Dbh -/- mice. Finally, we compared c-fos induction in the locus coeruleus (LC) and ACC of Dbh -/- and control mice following both tasks. RESULTS Dbh -/- mice virtually lacked MB and NS behaviors seen in control mice but did not differ in the elevated zero maze (EZM) model of general anxiety-like behavior. Pharmacological restoration of central NE synthesis in Dbh -/- mice completely rescued NS behavior, while NS and MB were suppressed in control mice by anti-adrenergic drugs. Expression of c-fos in the ACC was attenuated in Dbh -/- mice after MB and NS. CONCLUSION These findings support a role for NE transmission to the ACC in the expression of stress-induced compulsive behaviors and suggest further evaluation of anti-adrenergic drugs for OCD is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Alexa F Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Rachel P Tillage
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Molly Pruitt
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yamashita M. Potential Role of Neuroactive Tryptophan Metabolites in Central Fatigue: Establishment of the Fatigue Circuit. Int J Tryptophan Res 2020; 13:1178646920936279. [PMID: 32647476 PMCID: PMC7325545 DOI: 10.1177/1178646920936279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Central fatigue leads to reduced ability to perform mental tasks, disrupted social life, and impaired brain functions from childhood to old age. Regarding the neurochemical mechanism, neuroactive tryptophan metabolites are thought to play key roles in central fatigue. Previous studies have supported the “tryptophan-serotonin enhancement hypothesis” in which tryptophan uptake into extensive brain regions enhances serotonin production in the rat model of exercise-induced fatigue. However, serotonin was transiently released after 30 minutes of treadmill running to exhaustion, but this did not reflect the duration of fatigue. In addition, as the vast majority of tryptophan is metabolized along the kynurenine pathway, possible involvement of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway in the mechanism of central fatigue induction has been pointed out. More recently, our study demonstrated that uptake of tryptophan and kynurenine derived from the peripheral circulation into the brain enhances kynurenic acid production in rat brain in sleep deprivation–induced central fatigue, but without change in serotonin activity. In particular, dynamic change in glial-neuronal interactive processes within the hypothalamus-hippocampal circuit causes central fatigue. Furthermore, increased tryptophan-kynurenine pathway activity in this circuit causes reduced memory function. This indicates a major potential role for the endogenous tryptophan-kynurenine pathway in central fatigue, which supports the “tryptophan-kynurenine enhancement hypothesis.” Here, we review research on the basic neuronal mechanism underlying central fatigue induced by neuroactive tryptophan metabolites. Notably, these basic findings could contribute to our understanding of latent mental problems associated with central fatigue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Yamashita
- Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Möhrle D, Fernández M, Peñagarikano O, Frick A, Allman B, Schmid S. What we can learn from a genetic rodent model about autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 109:29-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
35
|
Wang J, Zheng B, Zhou D, Xing J, Li H, Li J, Zhang Z, Zhang B, Li P. Supplementation of Diet With Different n-3/n-6 PUFA Ratios Ameliorates Autistic Behavior, Reduces Serotonin, and Improves Intestinal Barrier Impairments in a Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:552345. [PMID: 33033482 PMCID: PMC7509584 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.552345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The implication of different dietary n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ratios has been investigated in some neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism and depression). However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of different PUFAs ratios on the autism are still poorly understood. In the present study, a valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism was used to study the effects of diet with different n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios on the autism, and the underlying mechanisms explored. Our results showed that rats with prenatal administration of VPA took less response time to sniff three odorants in the olfactory habituation/dishabituation tests, had lower frequency of pinning and following patterns, and had decreased hippocampal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), increased serum 5-HT and downregulated expression of tight junction protein (occludin and claudin-1) in the colon. However, supplementation of n-3/n-6 PUFAs (1:5) in the VPA treated rats ameliorated the autistic behaviors, increased hippocampal 5-HT and tight junction expression in the colon, and decreased serum 5-HT. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of n-3/n-6 PUFAs (1:5) significantly improves VPA-induced autism-like behaviors in rats, which may be, at least partially, related to the increased hippocampal 5-HT. Furthermore, this diet can increase the expression of tight junction proteins to improve intestinal barrier impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Baihong Zheng
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dan Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jie Xing
- Department of Developmental Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Honghua Li
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiayu Li
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zehui Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Beilin Zhang
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Developmental Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Behavioral consequences of co-administration of MTEP and the COX-2 inhibitor NS398 in mice. Part 1. Behav Brain Res 2019; 370:111961. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
37
|
Kulikova EA, Kulikov AV. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 as a therapeutic target for psychiatric disorders: focus on animal models. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2019; 23:655-667. [PMID: 31216212 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2019.1634691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) is the key, rate-limiting enzyme of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis in the brain. Some polymorphic variants of the human Tph2 gene are associated with psychiatric disorders. Area covered: This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying the association between the TPH2 activity and behavioral disturbances in models of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, it discusses: 1) genetic and posttranslational mechanisms defining the TPH2 activity, 2) behavioral effects of knockout and loss-of-function mutations in the mouse Tph2 gene, 3) pharmacological inhibition and the activation of the TPH2 activity and 4) alterations in the brain TPH2 activity in animal models of psychiatric disorders. We show the dual role of the TPH2 activity: both deficit and excess of the TPH2 activity cause significant behavioral disturbances in animal models of depression, anxiety, aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, schizophrenia, and catalepsy. Expert opinion: Pharmacological chaperones correcting the structure of the TPH2 molecule are promising tools for treatment of some hereditary psychiatric disorders caused by loss-of-function mutations in the human Tph2 gene; while some stress-induced affective disorders, associated with the elevated TPH2 activity, may be effectively treated by TPH2 inhibitors. This dual role of TPH2 should be taken into consideration during therapy of psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Kulikova
- a Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics , Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Science , Novosibirsk , Russia
| | - Alexander V Kulikov
- a Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics , Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Science , Novosibirsk , Russia
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Valentinova K, Tchenio A, Trusel M, Clerke JA, Lalive AL, Tzanoulinou S, Matera A, Moutkine I, Maroteaux L, Paolicelli RC, Volterra A, Bellone C, Mameli M. Morphine withdrawal recruits lateral habenula cytokine signaling to reduce synaptic excitation and sociability. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:1053-1056. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0421-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
39
|
Weidner MT, Lardenoije R, Eijssen L, Mogavero F, De Groodt LPMT, Popp S, Palme R, Förstner KU, Strekalova T, Steinbusch HWM, Schmitt-Böhrer AG, Glennon JC, Waider J, van den Hove DLA, Lesch KP. Identification of Cholecystokinin by Genome-Wide Profiling as Potential Mediator of Serotonin-Dependent Behavioral Effects of Maternal Separation in the Amygdala. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:460. [PMID: 31133792 PMCID: PMC6524554 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Converging evidence suggests a role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-HT synthesis in the brain, in modulating long-term, neurobiological effects of early-life adversity. Here, we aimed at further elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction, and its consequences for socio-emotional behaviors, with a focus on anxiety and social interaction. In this study, adult, male Tph2 null mutant (Tph2 -/-) and heterozygous (Tph2 +/-) mice, and their wildtype littermates (Tph2 +/+) were exposed to neonatal, maternal separation (MS) and screened for behavioral changes, followed by genome-wide RNA expression and DNA methylation profiling. In Tph2 -/- mice, brain 5-HT deficiency profoundly affected socio-emotional behaviors, i.e., decreased avoidance of the aversive open arms in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) as well as decreased prosocial and increased rule breaking behavior in the resident-intruder test when compared to their wildtype littermates. Tph2 +/- mice showed an ambiguous profile with context-dependent, behavioral responses. In the EPM they showed similar avoidance of the open arm but decreased prosocial and increased rule breaking behavior in the resident-intruder test when compared to their wildtype littermates. Notably, MS effects on behavior were subtle and depended on the Tph2 genotype, in particular increasing the observed avoidance of EPM open arms in wildtype and Tph2 +/- mice when compared to their Tph2 -/- littermates. On the genomic level, the interaction of Tph2 genotype with MS differentially affected the expression of numerous genes, of which a subset showed an overlap with DNA methylation profiles at corresponding loci. Remarkably, changes in methylation nearby and expression of the gene encoding cholecystokinin, which were inversely correlated to each other, were associated with variations in anxiety-related phenotypes. In conclusion, next to various behavioral alterations, we identified gene expression and DNA methylation profiles to be associated with TPH2 inactivation and its interaction with MS, suggesting a gene-by-environment interaction-dependent, modulatory function of brain 5-HT availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena T. Weidner
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Roy Lardenoije
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Lars Eijssen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Departments of Bioinformatics, Psychiatry & Neuro Psychology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Floriana Mogavero
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Sandy Popp
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Konrad U. Förstner
- Core Unit Systems Medicine, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- ZB MED – Information Centre for Life Sciences, Cologne, Germany
- TH Köln, Faculty of Information Science and Communication Studies, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Harry W. M. Steinbusch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Angelika G. Schmitt-Böhrer
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jeffrey C. Glennon
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jonas Waider
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Daniel L. A. van den Hove
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
The neurotransmitter serotonin plays a key role in the control of aggressive behaviour. While so far most studies have investigated variation in serotonin levels, a recently created tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) knockout mouse model allows studying effects of complete brain serotonin deficiency. First studies revealed increased aggressiveness in homozygous Tph2 knockout mice in the context of a resident-intruder paradigm. Focussing on females, this study aimed to elucidate effects of serotonin deficiency on aggressive and non-aggressive social behaviours not in a test situation but a natural setting. For this purpose, female Tph2 wildtype (n = 40) and homozygous knockout mice (n = 40) were housed with a same-sex conspecific of either the same or the other genotype in large terraria. The main findings were: knockout females displayed untypically high levels of aggressive behaviour even after several days of co-housing. Notably, in response to aggressive knockout partners, they showed increased levels of defensive behaviours. While most studies on aggression in rodents have focussed on males, this study suggests a significant involvement of serotonin also in the control of female aggression. Future research will show, whether the observed behavioural effects are directly caused by the lack of serotonin or by potential compensatory mechanisms.
Collapse
|
41
|
Garbarino VR, Gilman TL, Daws LC, Gould GG. Extreme enhancement or depletion of serotonin transporter function and serotonin availability in autism spectrum disorder. Pharmacol Res 2019; 140:85-99. [PMID: 30009933 PMCID: PMC6345621 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A variety of human and animal studies support the hypothesis that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) system dysfunction is a contributing factor to the development of autism in some patients. However, many questions remain about how developmental manipulation of various components that influence 5-HT signaling (5-HT synthesis, transport, metabolism) persistently impair social behaviors. This review will summarize key aspects of central 5-HT function important for normal brain development, and review evidence implicating perinatal disruptions in 5-HT signaling in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder. We discuss the importance, and relative dearth, of studies that explore the possible correlation to autism in the interactions between important intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may disrupt 5-HT homeostasis during development. In particular, we focus on exposure to 5-HT transport altering mechanisms such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or genetic polymorphisms in primary or auxiliary transporters of 5-HT, and how they relate to neurological stores of serotonin and its precursors. A deeper understanding of the many mechanisms by which 5-HT signaling can be disrupted, alone and in concert, may contribute to an improved understanding of the etiologies and heterogeneous nature of this disorder. We postulate that extreme bidirectional perturbations of these factors during development likely compound or synergize to facilitate enduring neurochemical changes resulting in insufficient or excessive 5-HT signaling, that could underlie the persistent behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina R Garbarino
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, United States.
| | - T Lee Gilman
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, United States.
| | - Lynette C Daws
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, United States; Department of Pharmacology, United States.
| | - Georgianna G Gould
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Tanaka M, Sato A, Kasai S, Hagino Y, Kotajima-Murakami H, Kashii H, Takamatsu Y, Nishito Y, Inagaki M, Mizuguchi M, Hall FS, Uhl GR, Murphy D, Sora I, Ikeda K. Brain hyperserotonemia causes autism-relevant social deficits in mice. Mol Autism 2018; 9:60. [PMID: 30498565 PMCID: PMC6258166 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0243-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hyperserotonemia in the brain is suspected to be an endophenotype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Reducing serotonin levels in the brain through modulation of serotonin transporter function may improve ASD symptoms. Methods We analyzed behavior and gene expression to unveil the causal mechanism of ASD-relevant social deficits using serotonin transporter (Sert) knockout mice. Results Social deficits were observed in both heterozygous knockout mice (HZ) and homozygous knockout mice (KO), but increases in general anxiety were only observed in KO mice. Two weeks of dietary restriction of the serotonin precursor tryptophan ameliorated both brain hyperserotonemia and ASD-relevant social deficits in Sert HZ and KO mice. The expression of rather distinct sets of genes was altered in Sert HZ and KO mice, and a substantial portion of these genes was also affected by tryptophan depletion. Tryptophan depletion in Sert HZ and KO mice was associated with alterations in the expression of genes involved in signal transduction pathways initiated by changes in extracellular serotonin or melatonin, a derivative of serotonin. Only expression of the AU015836 gene was altered in both Sert HZ and KO mice. AU015836 expression and ASD-relevant social deficits normalized after dietary tryptophan restriction. Conclusions These findings reveal a Sert gene dose-dependent effect on brain hyperserotonemia and related behavioral sequelae in ASD and a possible therapeutic target to normalize brain hyperserotonemia and ASD-relevant social deficits. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-018-0243-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miho Tanaka
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan.,2Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.,3Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sato
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan.,4Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Kasai
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan
| | - Yoko Hagino
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan
| | - Hiroko Kotajima-Murakami
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kashii
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan
| | - Yukio Takamatsu
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan
| | - Yasumasa Nishito
- 5Center for Basic Technology Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masumi Inagaki
- 3Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masashi Mizuguchi
- 6Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - F Scott Hall
- 7Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH USA
| | - George R Uhl
- 8Branch of Molecular Neurobiology, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD USA.,9Research Service, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM USA
| | - Dennis Murphy
- 10Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Ichiro Sora
- 11Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506 Japan.,2Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Win-Shwe TT, Nway NC, Imai M, Lwin TT, Mar O, Watanabe H. Social behavior, neuroimmune markers and glutamic acid decarboxylase levels in a rat model of valproic acid-induced autism. J Toxicol Sci 2018; 43:631-643. [PMID: 30404997 DOI: 10.2131/jts.43.631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication and social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. The etiology of autism remains unknown and its molecular basis is not yet well understood. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were administered 600 mg/kg of valproic acid (VPA) by intraperitoneal injection on day 12.5 of gestation. Both 11- to 13-week-old male and female rat models of VPA-induced autism showed impaired sociability and impaired preference for social novelty as compared to the corresponding control SD rats. Significantly reduced mRNA expressions of social behavior-related genes, such as those encoding the serotonin receptor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuroligin3, and significantly increased expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 β and tumor necrosis factor-α, were noted in the hippocampi of both male and female rats exposed to VPA in utero. The hippocampal expression level of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 67 protein was reduced in both male and female VPA-exposed rats as compared to the corresponding control animals. Our results indicate that developmental exposure to VPA affects the social behavior in rats by modulating the expression levels of social behavior-related genes and inflammatory mediators accompanied with changes in GABA enzyme in the hippocampus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Motoki Imai
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Japan
| | - Thet-Thet Lwin
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Japan
| | - Ohn Mar
- University of Medicine 1, Myanmar
| | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Moradi H, Sohrabi M, Taheri H, Khodashenas E, Movahedi A. Comparison of the effects of perceptual-motor exercises, vitamin D supplementation and the combination of these interventions on decreasing stereotypical behavior in children with autism disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2018; 66:122-132. [PMID: 34141374 PMCID: PMC8132924 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2018.1502068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the combined effects of perceptual-motor exercises and vitamin D3 supplementation on the reduction of stereotypical behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS In this study, 100 eligible children with age ranging from 6 to 9 years were randomly selected and divided into four groups: Group A-perceptual-motor exercises (n = 25); Group B-25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25 (OH) D) (n = 25); Group C-perceptual-motor exercises and 25 (OH) D (n = 25); and Group D-control (n = 25). RESULTS The stereotypes decreased from elementary level, 17% in Group A, 13% in Group B and 28% in Group C among the participants. There was no change in the stereotypical in the control group during the interventions. Also, the stereotypes in Group C showed the highest decrease, compared to the other three groups. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that combination of perceptual-motor exercises and vitamin D3 supplementation in children with ASD leads to significant reduction in their stereotypic behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Moradi
- Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sohrabi
- Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Taheri
- Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ezzat Khodashenas
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Diagnostic and Severity-Tracking Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Mol Neurosci 2018; 66:492-511. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1192-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
|
46
|
Wu HF, Chen YJ, Chu MC, Hsu YT, Lu TY, Chen IT, Chen PS, Lin HC. Deep Brain Stimulation Modified Autism-Like Deficits via the Serotonin System in a Valproic Acid-Induced Rat Model. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19092840. [PMID: 30235871 PMCID: PMC6164279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is known to be a promising treatment for resistant depression, which acts via the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system in the infralimbic prefrontal cortex (ILPFC). Previous study revealed that dysfunction of brain 5-HT homeostasis is related to a valproate (VPA)-induced rat autism spectrum disorder (ASD) model. Whether ILPFC DBS rescues deficits in VPA-induced offspring through the 5-HT system is not known. Using VPA-induced offspring, we therefore explored the effect of DBS in autistic phenotypes and further investigated the underlying mechanism. Using combined behavioral and molecular approaches, we observed that applying DBS and 5-HT1A receptor agonist treatment with 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) reversed sociability deficits, anxiety and hyperactivity in the VPA-exposed offspring. We then administered the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridinylcyclohexanecarboxamide maleate (WAY 100635), following which the effect of DBS in terms of improving autistic behaviors was blocked in the VPA-exposed offspring. Furthermore, we found that both 8-OH-DPAT and DBS treatment rescued autistic behaviors by decreasing the expressions of NR2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and the β₃ subunit of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAAR) in the PFC region. These results provided the first evidence of characteristic behavioral changes in VPA-induced offspring caused by DBS via the 5-HT system in the ILPFC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han-Fang Wu
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Ju Chen
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Chia Chu
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
| | - Ya-Ting Hsu
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
| | - Ting-Yi Lu
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
| | - I-Tuan Chen
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
| | - Po See Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
- Addiction Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Ching Lin
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
- Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Napso T, Yong HEJ, Lopez-Tello J, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. The Role of Placental Hormones in Mediating Maternal Adaptations to Support Pregnancy and Lactation. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1091. [PMID: 30174608 PMCID: PMC6108594 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, the mother must adapt her body systems to support nutrient and oxygen supply for growth of the baby in utero and during the subsequent lactation. These include changes in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune and metabolic systems of the mother. Failure to appropriately adjust maternal physiology to the pregnant state may result in pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and abnormal birth weight, which can further lead to a range of medically significant complications for the mother and baby. The placenta, which forms the functional interface separating the maternal and fetal circulations, is important for mediating adaptations in maternal physiology. It secretes a plethora of hormones into the maternal circulation which modulate her physiology and transfers the oxygen and nutrients available to the fetus for growth. Among these placental hormones, the prolactin-growth hormone family, steroids and neuropeptides play critical roles in driving maternal physiological adaptations during pregnancy. This review examines the changes that occur in maternal physiology in response to pregnancy and the significance of placental hormone production in mediating such changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Napso
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah E J Yong
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge Lopez-Tello
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
5-HT release in nucleus accumbens rescues social deficits in mouse autism model. Nature 2018; 560:589-594. [PMID: 30089910 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0416-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunction in prosocial interactions is a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie sociability are poorly understood, limiting the rational development of therapies to treat social deficits. Here we show in mice that bidirectional modulation of the release of serotonin (5-HT) from dorsal raphe neurons in the nucleus accumbens bidirectionally modifies sociability. In a mouse model of a common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder-a copy number variation on chromosome 16p11.2-genetic deletion of the syntenic region from 5-HT neurons induces deficits in social behaviour and decreases dorsal raphe 5-HT neuronal activity. These sociability deficits can be rescued by optogenetic activation of dorsal raphe 5-HT neurons, an effect requiring and mimicked by activation of 5-HT1b receptors in the nucleus accumbens. These results demonstrate an unexpected role for 5-HT action in the nucleus accumbens in social behaviours, and suggest that targeting this mechanism may prove therapeutically beneficial.
Collapse
|
49
|
Erbas O, Erdogan MA, Khalilnezhad A, Gürkan FT, Yiğittürk G, Meral A, Taskiran D. Neurobehavioral effects of long‐term maternal fructose intake in rat offspring. Int J Dev Neurosci 2018; 69:68-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Oytun Erbas
- Istanbul Bilim University School of MedicineDepartment of PhysiologyIstanbulTurkey
| | | | | | | | - Gürkan Yiğittürk
- Ege University School of MedicineDepartment of Histology and EmbryologyIzmirTurkey
| | - Ayfer Meral
- Dumlupinar University School of MedicineDepartment of BiochemistryKütahyaTurkey
| | - Dilek Taskiran
- Ege University School of MedicineDepartment of PhysiologyIzmirTurkey
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Russo AM, Lawther AJ, Prior BM, Isbel L, Somers WG, Lesku JA, Richdale AL, Dissanayake C, Kent S, Lowry CA, Hale MW. Social approach, anxiety, and altered tryptophan hydroxylase 2 activity in juvenile BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2018; 359:918-926. [PMID: 29935278 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous and highly heritable condition with multiple aetiologies. Although the biological mechanisms underlying ASD are not fully understood, evidence suggests that dysregulation of serotonergic systems play an important role in ASD psychopathology. Preclinical models using mice with altered serotonergic neurotransmission may provide insight into the role of serotonin in behaviours relevant to clinical features of ASD. For example, BALB/c mice carry a loss-of-function single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; C1473 G) in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), which encodes the brain-specific isoform of the rate-limiting enzyme for serotonin synthesis, and these mice frequently have been used to model symptoms of ASD. In this study, juvenile male BALB/c (G/G; loss-of-function variant) and C57BL/6 J (C/C; wild type variant) mice, were exposed to the three-chamber sociability test, and one week later to the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) activity was measured following injection of the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC)-inhibitor, NSD-1015, and subsequent HPLC detection of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) within subregions of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) and median raphe nucleus (MnR). The BALB/c mice showed reduced social behaviour and increased anxious behaviour, as well as decreased 5-HTP accumulation in the rostral and mid-rostrocaudal DR. In the full cohort of mice, TPH2 activity in the mid-rostrocaudal DR was correlated with anxious behaviour in the EPM, however these correlations were not statistically significant within each strain, suggesting that TPH2 activity was not directly associated with either anxiety or sociability. Further research is therefore required to more fully understand how serotonergic systems are involved in mouse behaviours that resemble some of the clinical features of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Russo
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Adam J Lawther
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Benjamin M Prior
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Luke Isbel
- School of Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - W Gregory Somers
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - John A Lesku
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Amanda L Richdale
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia; Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia; Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Stephen Kent
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Matthew W Hale
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|