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Viellard JMA, Melleu FF, Tamais AM, de Almeida AP, Zerbini C, Ikebara JM, Domingues K, de Lima MAX, Oliveira FA, Motta SC, Canteras NS. A subiculum-hypothalamic pathway functions in dynamic threat detection and memory updating. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2657-2671.e7. [PMID: 38810639 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.006] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Animals need to detect threats, initiate defensive responses, and, in parallel, remember where the threat occurred to avoid the possibility of re-encountering it. By probing animals capable of detecting and avoiding a shock-related threatening location, we were able to reveal a septo-hippocampal-hypothalamic circuit that is also engaged in ethological threats, including predatory and social threats. Photometry analysis focusing on the dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMd), a critical interface of this circuit, showed that in freely tested animals, the nucleus appears ideal to work as a threat detector to sense dynamic changes under threatening conditions as the animal approaches and avoids the threatening source. We also found that PMd chemogenetic silencing impaired defensive responses by causing a failure of threat detection rather than a direct influence on any behavioral responses and, at the same time, updated fear memory to a low-threat condition. Optogenetic silencing of the main PMd targets, namely the periaqueductal gray and anterior medial thalamus, showed that the projection to the periaqueductal gray influences both defensive responses and, to a lesser degree, contextual memory, whereas the projection to the anterior medial thalamus has a stronger influence on memory processes. Our results are important for understanding how animals deal with the threat imminence continuum, revealing a circuit that is engaged in threat detection and that, at the same time, serves to update the memory process to accommodate changes under threatening conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette M A Viellard
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil; Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5293, Bordeaux, France
| | - Fernando F Melleu
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Alicia M Tamais
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Alisson P de Almeida
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Carolina Zerbini
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Juliane M Ikebara
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Karolina Domingues
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Miguel A X de Lima
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Fernando A Oliveira
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory (LaNeC)-Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP 09606-045, Brazil
| | - Simone C Motta
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Newton S Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
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2
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Reis FMCV, Maesta-Pereira S, Ollivier M, Schuette PJ, Sethi E, Miranda BA, Iniguez E, Chakerian M, Vaughn E, Sehgal M, Nguyen DCT, Yuan FTH, Torossian A, Ikebara JM, Kihara AH, Silva AJ, Kao JC, Khakh BS, Adhikari A. Control of feeding by a bottom-up midbrain-subthalamic pathway. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2111. [PMID: 38454000 PMCID: PMC10920831 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46430-5] [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: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigative exploration and foraging leading to food consumption have vital importance, but are not well-understood. Since GABAergic inputs to the lateral and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (l/vlPAG) control such behaviors, we dissected the role of vgat-expressing GABAergic l/vlPAG cells in exploration, foraging and hunting. Here, we show that in mice vgat l/vlPAG cells encode approach to food and consumption of both live prey and non-prey foods. The activity of these cells is necessary and sufficient for inducing food-seeking leading to subsequent consumption. Activation of vgat l/vlPAG cells produces exploratory foraging and compulsive eating without altering defensive behaviors. Moreover, l/vlPAG vgat cells are bidirectionally interconnected to several feeding, exploration and investigation nodes, including the zona incerta. Remarkably, the vgat l/vlPAG projection to the zona incerta bidirectionally controls approach towards food leading to consumption. These data indicate the PAG is not only a final downstream target of top-down exploration and foraging-related inputs, but that it also influences these behaviors through a bottom-up pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando M C V Reis
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Sandra Maesta-Pereira
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Matthias Ollivier
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Peter J Schuette
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ekayana Sethi
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Blake A Miranda
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Emily Iniguez
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Meghmik Chakerian
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Eric Vaughn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Megha Sehgal
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Darren C T Nguyen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Faith T H Yuan
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Anita Torossian
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Juliane M Ikebara
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, 09606-070, Brazil
| | - Alexandre H Kihara
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, 09606-070, Brazil
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Jonathan C Kao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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3
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Arena G, Londei F, Ceccarelli F, Ferrucci L, Borra E, Genovesio A. Disentangling the identity of the zona incerta: a review of the known connections and latest implications. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 93:102140. [PMID: 38008404 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
The zona incerta (ZI) is a subthalamic region composed by loosely packed neurochemically mixed neurons, juxtaposed to the main ascending and descending bundles. The extreme neurochemical diversity that characterizes this area, together with the diffuseness of its connections with the entire neuraxis and its hard-to-reach positioning in the brain caused the ZI to keep its halo of mystery for over a century. However, in the last decades, a rich albeit fragmentary body of knowledge regarding both the incertal anatomical connections and functional implications has been built mostly based on rodent studies and its lack of cohesion makes difficult to depict an integrated, exhaustive picture regarding the ZI and its roles. This review aims to provide a unified resource that summarizes the current knowledge regarding the anatomical profile of interactions of the ZI in rodents and non-human primates and the functional significance of its connections, highlighting the aspects still unbeknown to research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Arena
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Londei
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Ceccarelli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ferrucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Borra
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Neuroscience Unit, Italy
| | - Aldo Genovesio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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Reis FMCV, Mobbs D, Canteras NS, Adhikari A. Orchestration of innate and conditioned defensive actions by the periaqueductal gray. Neuropharmacology 2023; 228:109458. [PMID: 36773777 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) has been recognized for decades as having a central role in the control of a wide variety of defensive responses. Initial discoveries relied primarily on lesions, electrical stimulation and pharmacology. Recent developments in neural activity imaging and in methods to control activity with anatomical and genetic specificity have revealed additional streams of data informing our understanding of PAG function. Here, we discuss both classic and modern studies reporting on how PAG-centered circuits influence innate as well as learned defensive actions in rodents and humans. Though early discoveries emphasized the PAG's role in rapid induction of innate defensive actions, emerging new data indicate a prominent role for the PAG in more complex processes, including representing behavioral states and influencing fear learning and memory. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando M C V Reis
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Dean Mobbs
- Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States; Computation and Neural Systems Program, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Newton S Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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5
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Bindi RP, Guimarães CC, de Oliveira AR, Melleu FF, de Lima MAX, Baldo MVC, Motta SC, Canteras NS. Anatomical and functional study of the cuneiform nucleus: A critical site to organize innate defensive behaviors. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1521:79-95. [PMID: 36606723 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14954] [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] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The cuneiform nucleus (CUN) is a midbrain structure located lateral to the caudal part of the periaqueductal gray. In the present investigation, we first performed a systematic analysis of the afferent and efferent projections of the CUN using FluoroGold and Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin as retrograde and anterograde neuronal tracers, respectively. Next, we examined the behavioral responses to optogenetic activation of the CUN and evaluated the impact of pharmacological inactivation of the CUN in both innate and contextual fear responses to a predatory threat (i.e., a live cat). The present hodologic evidence indicates that the CUN might be viewed as a caudal component of the periaqueductal gray. The CUN has strong bidirectional links with the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (PAGdl). Our hodological findings revealed that the CUN and PAGdl share a similar source of inputs involved in integrating information related to life-threatening events and that the CUN provides particularly strong projections to brain sites influencing antipredatory defensive behaviors. Our functional studies revealed that the CUN mediates innate freezing and flight antipredatory responses but does not seem to influence the acquisition and expression of learned fear responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo P Bindi
- Deptarment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Amanda R de Oliveira
- Deptarment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando F Melleu
- Deptarment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miguel A X de Lima
- Deptarment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcus V C Baldo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simone C Motta
- Deptarment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Newton S Canteras
- Deptarment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Acuña LR, Back F, Barp CG, Guilherme Tassoni Bortoloci J, Assreuy J, Carobrez AP. Role of nitric oxide on defensive behavior and long-term aversive learning induced by chemical stimulation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 200:107735. [PMID: 36813080 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
The midbrain periaqueductal gray matter, especially the dorsolateral portion (dlPAG), coordinates immediate defensive responses (DR) to threats, but also ascends forebrain information for aversive learning. The synaptic dynamics in the dlPAG regulate the intensity and type of behavioral expression, as well as long-term processes such as memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. Among several neurotransmitters and neural modulators, nitric oxide seems to play an important regulatory role in the immediate expression of DR, but it remains unclear if this gaseous on-demand neuromodulator contributes to aversive learning. Therefore, the role of nitric oxide in the dlPAG was investigated, during conditioning in an olfactory aversive task. The behavioral analysis consisted of freezing and crouch-sniffing in the conditioning day after glutamatergic NMDA agonist injection into the dlPAG. Two days later, rats were re-exposed to the odor cue and avoidance was measured. 7NI, a selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (40 and 100 nmol), injected before NMDA (50 pmol) impaired immediate DR and consequent aversive learning. The scavenging of extrasynaptic nitric oxide by C-PTIO (1 and 2 nmol) induced similar results. Moreover, spermine NONOate, a nitric oxide donor (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 nmol), produced DR by itself, but only the low dose also promoted learning. The following experiments utilized a fluorescent probe, DAF-FM diacetate (5 µM), directly into the dlPAG, to quantify nitric oxide in the three previous experimental situations. Nitric oxide levels were increased after NMDA stimulation, decreased after 7NI, and increased after spermine NONOate, in line with alterations in defensive expression. Altogether, the results indicate that nitric oxide plays a modulatory and decisive role in the dlPAG regarding immediate DR and aversive learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía R Acuña
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil; Instituto Misionero de Biodiversidad, Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
| | - Franklin Back
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Clarissa G Barp
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | - Jamil Assreuy
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Antonio P Carobrez
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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Vertes RP, Linley SB, Rojas AKP. Structural and functional organization of the midline and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:964644. [PMID: 36082310 PMCID: PMC9445584 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.964644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The midline and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus form a major part of the "limbic thalamus;" that is, thalamic structures anatomically and functionally linked with the limbic forebrain. The midline nuclei consist of the paraventricular (PV) and paratenial nuclei, dorsally and the rhomboid and nucleus reuniens (RE), ventrally. The rostral intralaminar nuclei (ILt) consist of the central medial (CM), paracentral (PC) and central lateral (CL) nuclei. We presently concentrate on RE, PV, CM and CL nuclei of the thalamus. The nucleus reuniens receives a diverse array of input from limbic-related sites, and predominantly projects to the hippocampus and to "limbic" cortices. The RE participates in various cognitive functions including spatial working memory, executive functions (attention, behavioral flexibility) and affect/fear behavior. The PV receives significant limbic-related afferents, particularly the hypothalamus, and mainly distributes to "affective" structures of the forebrain including the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, nucleus accumbens and the amygdala. Accordingly, PV serves a critical role in "motivated behaviors" such as arousal, feeding/consummatory behavior and drug addiction. The rostral ILt receives both limbic and sensorimotor-related input and distributes widely over limbic and motor regions of the frontal cortex-and throughout the dorsal striatum. The intralaminar thalamus is critical for maintaining consciousness and directly participates in various sensorimotor functions (visuospatial or reaction time tasks) and cognitive tasks involving striatal-cortical interactions. As discussed herein, while each of the midline and intralaminar nuclei are anatomically and functionally distinct, they collectively serve a vital role in several affective, cognitive and executive behaviors - as major components of a brainstem-diencephalic-thalamocortical circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P. Vertes
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Stephanie B. Linley
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Psychological Science, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA, United States
| | - Amanda K. P. Rojas
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
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Bindi RP, Maia RGO, Pibiri F, Baldo MVC, Poulter SL, Lever C, Canteras NS. Neural correlates of distinct levels of predatory threat in dorsal periaqueductal gray neurons. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:1504-1518. [PMID: 35229373 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal PAG is an important site for integrating predatory threats. However, it remains unclear whether predator-related activation in PAG primarily reflects threat itself, and thus can distinguish between various degrees of threat, or rather reflects threat-oriented behaviors, with the PAG potentially orchestrating different types of defensive repertoire. To address this issue, we performed extracellular recording of dorsal PAG neurons in freely behaving rats and examined neuronal and behavioral responses to stimulus conditions with distinct levels of predatory threat. Animals were sequentially exposed to a non-threatening stimulus familiar environment (exposure to habituated environment) and to a novel non-threatening stimulus (i.e., a toy animal - plush) and to conditions with high (exposure to a live cat), intermediate (exposure to the environment just visited by the cat, with remnant predator scent), and low (exposure on the following day to the predatory context) levels of predatory threat. To test for contributions of both threat stimuli and behavior to changes in firing rate, we applied a Poisson Generalized Linear Model regression, using the different predator stimulus conditions and defensive repertoires as predictor variables. Analysis revealed that the different predator stimulus conditions were more predictive of changes in firing rate (primarily threat-induced increases) than the different defensive repertoires. Thus, the dorsal PAG may code for different levels of predatory threat, more than it directly orchestrates distinct threat-oriented behaviors. The present results open interesting perspectives to investigate the role of the dorsal PAG in mediating primal emotional and cognitive responses to fear-inducing stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo P Bindi
- Dept. Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo G O Maia
- Dept. Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Francesca Pibiri
- Psychology Department, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Vinicius C Baldo
- Dept. Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Steven L Poulter
- Psychology Department, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Lever
- Psychology Department, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Newton S Canteras
- Dept. Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Distinct networks of periaqueductal gray columns in pain and threat processing. Neuroimage 2022; 250:118936. [PMID: 35093518 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.118936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Noxious events that can cause physical damage to the body are perceived as threats. In the brainstem, the periaqueductal gray (PAG) ensures survival by generating an appropriate response to these threats. Hence, the experience of pain is coupled with threat signaling and interfaces in the dl/l and vlPAG columns. In this study, we triangulate the functional circuits of the dl/l and vlPAG by using static and time-varying functional connectivity (FC) in multiple fMRI scans in healthy participants (n=37, 21 female). The dl/l and vlPAG were activated during cue, heat, and rating periods when the cue signaled a high threat of experiencing heat pain and the incoming intensity of heat pain was low; responses were significantly lower after low threat cues. The two regions responded similarly to the cued conditions but showed prominent distinctions in the extent of FC with other brain regions. Thus, both static and time-varying FC showed significant differences in the functional circuits of dl/l and vlPAG in rest and task scans. The dl/lPAG consistently synchronized with the salience network, suggesting a role in threat detection, while the vlPAG exhibited more widespread synchronization and frequently connected with memory/language and sensory regions. Hence, these two PAG regions process heat pain when stronger pain is expected or when it is uncertain, and preferentially synchronize with distinct brain circuits in a reproducible manner. The dl/lPAG seems more directly involved in salience detection, while the vlPAG seems engaged in contextualizing threats.
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de Lima MAX, Baldo MVC, Oliveira FA, Canteras NS. The anterior cingulate cortex and its role in controlling contextual fear memory to predatory threats. eLife 2022; 11:67007. [PMID: 34984975 PMCID: PMC8730726 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Predator exposure is a life-threatening experience and elicits learned fear responses to the context in which the predator was encountered. The anterior cingulate area (ACA) occupies a pivotal position in a cortical network responsive to predatory threats, and it exerts a critical role in processing fear memory. The experiments were made in mice and revealed that the ACA is involved in both the acquisition and expression of contextual fear to predatory threat. Overall, the ACA can provide predictive relationships between the context and the predator threat and influences fear memory acquisition through projections to the basolateral amygdala and perirhinal region and the expression of contextual fear through projections to the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray. Our results expand previous studies based on classical fear conditioning and open interesting perspectives for understanding how the ACA is involved in processing contextual fear memory to ethologic threatening conditions that entrain specific medial hypothalamic fear circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcus Vinicius C Baldo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando A Oliveira
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory (LaNeC) - Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - Newton Sabino Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Fedotova IB, Surina NM, Nikolaev GM, Revishchin AV, Poletaeva II. Rodent Brain Pathology, Audiogenic Epilepsy. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111641. [PMID: 34829870 PMCID: PMC8615954 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The review presents data which provides evidence for the internal relationship between the stages of rodent audiogenic seizures and post-ictal catalepsy with the general pattern of animal reaction to the dangerous stimuli and/or situation. The wild run stage of audiogenic seizure fit could be regarded as an intense panic reaction, and this view found support in numerous experimental data. The phenomenon of audiogenic epilepsy probably attracted the attention of physiologists as rodents are extremely sensitive to dangerous sound stimuli. The seizure proneness in this group shares common physiological characteristics and depends on animal genotype. This concept could be the new platform for the study of epileptogenesis mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina B. Fedotova
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (I.B.F.); (N.M.S.); (G.M.N.)
| | - Natalia M. Surina
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (I.B.F.); (N.M.S.); (G.M.N.)
| | - Georgy M. Nikolaev
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (I.B.F.); (N.M.S.); (G.M.N.)
| | | | - Inga I. Poletaeva
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (I.B.F.); (N.M.S.); (G.M.N.)
- Correspondence:
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Connections of the mouse subfornical region of the lateral hypothalamus (LHsf). Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2431-2458. [PMID: 34318365 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02349-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The lateral hypothalamus is a major integrative hub with a complex architecture characterized by intricate and overlapping cellular populations expressing a large variety of neuro-mediators. In rats, the subfornical lateral hypothalamus (LHsf) was identified as a discrete area with very specific outputs, receiving a strong input from the nucleus incertus, and involved in defensive and foraging behaviors. We identified in the mouse lateral hypothalamus a discrete subfornical region where a conspicuous cluster of neurons express the mu opioid receptor. We thus examined the inputs and outputs of this LHsf region in mice using retrograde tracing with the cholera toxin B subunit and anterograde tracing with biotin dextran amine, respectively. We identified a connectivity profile largely similar, although not identical, to what has been described in rats. Indeed, the mouse LHsf has strong reciprocal connections with the lateral septum, the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus and the dorsal pre-mammillary nucleus, in addition to a dense output to the lateral habenula. However, the light input from the nucleus incertus and the moderate bidirectional connectivity with nucleus accumbens are specific to the mouse LHsf. A preliminary neurochemical study showed that LHsf neurons expressing mu opioid receptors also co-express calcitonin gene-related peptide or somatostatin and that the reciprocal connection between the LHsf and the lateral septum may be functionally modulated by enkephalins acting on mu opioid receptors. These results suggest that the mouse LHsf may be hodologically and functionally comparable to its rat counterpart, but more atypical connections also suggest a role in consummatory behaviors.
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13
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Zhang S, Zhornitsky S, Wang W, Le TM, Dhingra I, Chen Y, Li CR. Resting state hypothalamic and dorsomedial prefrontal cortical connectivity of the periaqueductal gray in cocaine addiction. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12989. [PMID: 33300238 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine-dependent (CD) individuals demonstrate significant anxiety and dysphoria during withdrawal, a negative emotional state that may perpetuate drug seeking and consumption. An extensive body of work has focused on characterizing reward circuit dysfunction, but relatively little is known about the pain circuit during cocaine withdrawal. In an earlier study, we highlighted how cue-elicited functional connectivity between the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a subcortical hub of the pain circuit, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex supports tonic craving in recently abstinent CD. The functional organization of the brain can be characterized by intrinsic connectivities, and it is highly likely that the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the PAG may also be altered in association with cocaine use variables. Here, we examined this issue in 52 CD and 52 healthy control (HC) participants. Imaging data were processed with published routines, and the findings were evaluated with a corrected threshold. In a covariance analysis, CD as compared with HC showed higher PAG rsFC with the hypothalamus, dorsomedial prefrontal, and inferior parietal cortices. Further, these connectivities were correlated negatively with tonic cocaine craving and recent cocaine use, respectively. Higher hypothalamic and frontoparietal rsFC with the PAG may reflect a compensatory process to regulate craving and compulsive drug use. The findings provide additional evidence in humans implicating the PAG circuit and may help research of the role of negative reinforcement in sustaining habitual drug use in cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
| | - Wuyi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
| | - Thang M. Le
- Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
| | - Isha Dhingra
- Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
| | - Chiang‐shan R. Li
- Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
- Department of Neuroscience Yale University School of Medicine New Haven CT USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program Yale University New Haven CT USA
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14
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Reis FM, Lee JY, Maesta-Pereira S, Schuette PJ, Chakerian M, Liu J, La-Vu MQ, Tobias BC, Ikebara JM, Kihara AH, Canteras NS, Kao JC, Adhikari A. Dorsal periaqueductal gray ensembles represent approach and avoidance states. eLife 2021; 10:64934. [PMID: 33955356 PMCID: PMC8133778 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals must balance needs to approach threats for risk assessment and to avoid danger. The dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) controls defensive behaviors, but it is unknown how it represents states associated with threat approach and avoidance. We identified a dPAG threatavoidance ensemble in mice that showed higher activity farther from threats such as the open arms of the elevated plus maze and a predator. These cells were also more active during threat avoidance behaviors such as escape and freezing, even though these behaviors have antagonistic motor output. Conversely, the threat approach ensemble was more active during risk assessment behaviors and near threats. Furthermore, unsupervised methods showed that avoidance/approach states were encoded with shared activity patterns across threats. Lastly, the relative number of cells in each ensemble predicted threat avoidance across mice. Thus, dPAG ensembles dynamically encode threat approach and avoidance states, providing a flexible mechanism to balance risk assessment and danger avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando McV Reis
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Johannes Y Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Sandra Maesta-Pereira
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Peter J Schuette
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Meghmik Chakerian
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Jinhan Liu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Mimi Q La-Vu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Brooke C Tobias
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Juliane M Ikebara
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Hiroaki Kihara
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Newton S Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jonathan C Kao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
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15
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de Lima MAX, Baldo MVC, Canteras NS. Revealing a Cortical Circuit Responsive to Predatory Threats and Mediating Contextual Fear Memory. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:3074-3090. [PMID: 30085040 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventral part of the anteromedial thalamic nucleus (AMv) receives substantial inputs from hypothalamic sites that are highly responsive to a live predator or its odor trace and represents an important thalamic hub for conveying predatory threat information to the cerebral cortex. In the present study, we begin by examining the cortico-amygdalar-hippocampal projections of the main AMv cortical targets, namely, the caudal prelimbic, rostral anterior cingulate, and medial visual areas, as well as the rostral part of the ventral retrosplenial area, one of the main targets of the anterior cingulate area. We observed that these areas form a clear cortical network. Next, we revealed that in animals exposed to a live cat, all of the elements of this circuit presented a differential increase in Fos, supporting the idea of a predator threat-responsive cortical network. Finally, we showed that bilateral cytotoxic lesions in each element of this cortical network did not change innate fear responses but drastically reduced contextual conditioning to the predator-associated environment. Overall, the present findings suggest that predator threat has an extensive representation in the cerebral cortex and revealed a cortical network that is responsive to predatory threats and exerts a critical role in processing fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcus Vinicius C Baldo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo; São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Newton Sabino Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo; São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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16
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Blockage of ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter cannabinoid 1 receptor increases dental pulp pain and pain-related subsequent learning and memory deficits in rats. Behav Pharmacol 2020; 33:165-174. [PMID: 32483053 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) signaling has a pivotal role in the modulation of both pain and cognitive responses. This study aims at investigating the role of CB1R in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter (vlPAG) on both pulpal pain and pain-related subsequent changes in learning and memory performances in rats. The adult male Wistar rats were cannulated in the vlPAG. The rats were pretreated by intra-vlPAG administration of selective CB1R antagonist AM-251 (2, 4 and 8 µg/rat) and vehicle dimethylsulfoxide. The drugs were microinjected 20 min before the induction of capsaicin-induced pulpalgia. The nociceptive behaviors were recorded for 40 min. Then, passive avoidance and spatial learning and memory were assessed using the shuttle box and Morris water maze tests, respectively. Following the administration of intradental capsaicin, there was a significant nociceptive response that increased after an induced blockage of CB1R by AM-251 at 4 and 8 µg. In addition, capsaicin impaired passive avoidance and spatial memory performance of rats. Microinjection of AM-251, prior to capsaicin, could dose-dependently exaggerate capsaicin-related learning and memory deficits in both tests. The present data indicated that the vlPAG endocannabinoid system is involved in the modulation of pain signals from dental pulp. It was also accompanied by learning and memory impairments.
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Montardy Q, Zhou Z, Liu X, Lei Z, Zeng P, Chen C, Liu Y, Huang K, Wei M, Wang L. Glutamatergic and gabaergic neuronal populations in the dorsal Periacqueductual Gray have different functional roles in aversive conditioning. Neurosci Lett 2020; 732:135059. [PMID: 32454151 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal periacqueductal gray (dPAG) is a midbrain structure having an essential role in coordinating defensive behaviors in response to aversive stimulation. However, the question of whether dPAG neurons can respond to aversive conditioning and retrieval, properties involved in emergence of negative emotional state, is still under debate. Here we used calcium imaging by fiber photometry to record the activity of dPAGVGluT2+ and dPAGGAD2+ neuronal populations during unconditioned and conditioned aversive stimulation. Then, following an unconditioned stimulation we performed a retrieval experiment to quantify memory-like responses of dPAG neurons. This shown that whilst both dPAGVGluT2+ and dPAGGAD2+ neuronal populations respond to direct US stimulation, and to CS stimulation during conditioning, only the dPAGVGluT2+ population persisted in responding to the CS stimulation during retrieval. Finally to better understand these divergences in dPAGVGluT2+ and dPAGGAD2+ responses, we investigated their respective connectivity patterns by performing a cell specific monosynaptic retrograde rabies virus tracing experiment. This revealed that different patterns of fibers projects to dPAGVGluT2+ and dPAGGAD2+, which could explain part of their response specificities. This may indicate that glutamatergic subpopulation is a main contributor of aversive memories in dPAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Montardy
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Xuemei Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhuogui Lei
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pengyu Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuanming Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Kang Huang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Mengxia Wei
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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18
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Kamali A, Karbasian N, Ghazi Sherbaf F, Wilken LA, Aein A, Sair HI, Arevalo Espejo O, Rabiei P, Choi SJ, Mirbagheri S, Riascos RF, Hasan KM. Uncovering the Dorsal Thalamo-hypothalamic Tract of the Human Limbic System. Neuroscience 2020; 432:55-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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19
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Schneider NY, Chaudy S, Epstein AL, Viollet C, Benani A, Pénicaud L, Grosmaître X, Datiche F, Gascuel J. Centrifugal projections to the main olfactory bulb revealed by transsynaptic retrograde tracing in mice. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:1805-1819. [PMID: 31872441 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A wide range of evidence indicates that olfactory perception is strongly involved in food intake. However, the polysynaptic circuitry linking the brain areas involved in feeding behavior to the olfactory regions is not well known. The aim of this article was to examine such circuits. Thus, we described, using hodological tools such as transsynaptic viruses (PRV152) transported in a retrograde manner, the long-distance indirect projections (two to three synapses) onto the main olfactory bulb (MOB). The ß-subunit of the cholera toxin which is a monosynaptic retrograde tracer was used as a control to be able to differentiate between direct and indirect projections. Our tracing experiments showed that the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, as a major site for regulation of food intake, sends only very indirect projections onto the MOB. Indirect projections to MOB also originate from the solitary nucleus which is involved in energy homeostasis. Other indirect projections have been evidenced in areas of the reward circuit such as VTA and accumbens nucleus. In contrast, direct projections to the MOB arise from melanin-concentrating hormone and orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Functional significances of these projections are discussed in relation to the role of food odors in feeding and reward-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanette Y Schneider
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), CNRS, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F21000, Dijon, France
| | - Sylvie Chaudy
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), CNRS, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F21000, Dijon, France
| | - Alberto L Epstein
- UMR 1179 INSERM-UVSQ-End-icap, Université de Versailles-Saint Quentin en Yvelines, Versailles, France
| | - Cécile Viollet
- Université de Paris, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, "Synaptic plasticity and Neuronal Circuits", F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Benani
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), CNRS, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F21000, Dijon, France
| | - Luc Pénicaud
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), CNRS, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F21000, Dijon, France
| | - Xavier Grosmaître
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), CNRS, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F21000, Dijon, France
| | - Frédérique Datiche
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), CNRS, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F21000, Dijon, France
| | - Jean Gascuel
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), CNRS, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F21000, Dijon, France
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20
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Della Valle R, Mohammadmirzaei N, Knox D. Single prolonged stress alters neural activation in the periacqueductal gray and midline thalamic nuclei during emotional learning and memory. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 26:1-9. [PMID: 31527186 PMCID: PMC6749928 DOI: 10.1101/lm.050310.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and preclinical studies that have examined the neurobiology of persistent fear memory in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have focused on the medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. Sensory systems, the periaqueductal gray (PAG), and midline thalamic nuclei have been implicated in fear and extinction memory, but whether neural activity in these substrates is sensitive to traumatic stress (at baseline or during emotional learning and memory) remains unexplored. To address this, we used the single prolonged stress (SPS) model of traumatic stress. SPS and control rats were either subjected to fear conditioning (CS-fear) or presented with CSs alone (CS-only) during fear conditioning. All rats were then subjected to extinction training and testing. A subset of rats were euthanized after each behavioral stage and c-Fos and c-Jun used to measure neural activation in all substrates. SPS lowered c-Jun levels in the dorsomedial and lateral PAG at baseline, but the elevated c-Jun expression in the PAG during emotional learning and memory. SPS also altered c-Fos expression during fear and extinction learning/memory in midline thalamic nuclei. These findings suggest changes in neural function in the PAG and midline thalamic nuclei could contribute to persistent fear memory induced by traumatic stress. Interestingly, SPS effects were also observed in animals that never learned fear or extinction (i.e., CS-only). This raises the possibility that traumatic stress could have broader effects on the psychological function that are dependent on the PAG and midline thalamic nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Della Valle
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Negin Mohammadmirzaei
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Dayan Knox
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
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21
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Giachero M, Pavesi E, Calfa G, Motta SC, Canteras NS, Molina VA, Carobrez AP. Inactivation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter impairs the promoting influence of stress on fear memory during retrieval. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:3117-3132. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01956-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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22
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Troyner F, Bicca MA, Bertoglio LJ. Nucleus reuniens of the thalamus controls fear memory intensity, specificity and long-term maintenance during consolidation. Hippocampus 2019; 28:602-616. [PMID: 29747244 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The thalamic nucleus reuniens (NR) has been shown to support bidirectional medial prefrontal cortex-hippocampus communication and synchronization relevant for cognitive processing. Using non-selective or prolonged inactivation of the NR, previous studies reported its activity positively modulates aversive memory consolidation. Here we examined the NR's role in consolidating contextual fear memories with varied strength, at both recent and more remote time points, using muscimol-induced temporary inactivation in rats. Results indicate the NR negatively modulates fear memory intensity, specificity, and long-term maintenance. The more intense, generalized, and enduring fear memory induced by NR inactivation during consolidation was less prone to behavioral suppression by extinction or reconsolidation disruption induced by clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist. Lastly, we used immunohistochemistry for Arc protein, which is involved in synaptic modifications underlying memory consolidation, to investigate whether treatment condition and/or conditioning status could change its levels not only in the NR, but also in the hippocampus (dorsal and ventral CA1 subregions) and the medial prefrontal cortex (anterior cingulate, prelimbic and infralimbic subregions). Results indicate a significant imbalance in the number of Arc-expressing neurons in the brain areas investigated in muscimol fear conditioned animals when compared with controls. Collectively, present results provide convergent evidence for the NR's role as a hub regulating quantitative and qualitative aspects of a contextual fear memory during its consolidation that seem to influence the subsequent susceptibility to experimental interventions aiming at attenuating its expression. They also indicate the selectivity and duration of a given inactivation approach may influence its outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Troyner
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Maíra A Bicca
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
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23
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Radoman M, Phan KL, Gorka SM. Neural correlates of predictable and unpredictable threat in internalizing psychopathology. Neurosci Lett 2019; 701:193-201. [PMID: 30825592 PMCID: PMC6476657 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Converging lines of evidence suggest that heightened responding to unpredictable threat may be an important neurobiological marker of internalizing psychopathology (IP). Prior data also indicate that aversive responding to uncertainty may be mediated by hyperactivation of several brain regions within the frontolimbic circuit, namely the anterior insula (aINS) and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). To date, however, the majority of this research has been focused on individual diagnoses and it is unclear whether abnormal neural reactivity to unpredictable threat is observed within heterogeneous, transdiagnostic IP patient populations, as theory would suggest. The aim of the current study was to therefore examine the neural correlates of temporally unpredictable (U) and predictable (P) threat in a sample of healthy controls (n = 24) and patients with a broad range of IP diagnoses (n = 51). We also examined whether symptom severity measures of fear and distress/misery dimensions correlated with neural reactivity to U- and P-threat. All participants completed a modified version of a well-validated threat-of-shock task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Across all participants, U- and P-threat elicited heightened activation in the aINS and brainstem, while P-threat alone also activated the dACC. Relative to healthy controls, patients displayed greater activation in the right aINS during U-threat, and greater right brainstem activation during P-threat. In addition, we found that brainstem activity during U-threat correlated with fear, but not distress/misery, psychopathology. Taken together, these preliminary results suggest that exaggerated aINS reactivity during U-threat and brainstem reactivity during P-threat may have the potential to become important transdiagnostic biomarkers of IP; however, future research efforts are needed to corroborate and expand the present findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Radoman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - K Luan Phan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Stephanie M Gorka
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
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The rostrodorsal periaqueductal gray influences both innate fear responses and acquisition of fear memory in animals exposed to a live predator. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:1537-1551. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01852-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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25
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Malikowska-Racia N, Salat K. Recent advances in the neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of possible mechanisms underlying an effective pharmacotherapy. Pharmacol Res 2019; 142:30-49. [PMID: 30742899 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in the field of neurobiology supported by clinical evidence gradually reveals the mystery of human brain functioning. So far, many psychiatric disorders have been described in great detail, although there are still plenty of cases that are misunderstood. These include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a unique disease that combines a wide range of neurobiological changes, which involve disturbances of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland axis, hyperactivation of the amygdala complex, and attenuation of some hippocampal and cortical functions. Such multiplicity results in differential symptomatology, including elevated anxiety, nightmares, fear retrieval episodes that may trigger delusions and hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and many others that strongly interfere with the quality of the patient's life. Because of widespread neurological changes and the disease manifestation, the pharmacotherapy of PTSD remains unclear and requires a multidimensional approach and involvement of polypharmacotherapy. Hopefully, more and more neuroscientists and clinicians will study PTSD, which will provide us with new information that would possibly accelerate establishment of well-tolerated and effective pharmacotherapy. In this review, we have focused on neurobiological changes regarding PTSD, addressing the most disturbed brain structures and neurotransmissions, as well as discussing in detail the recently taken and novel therapeutic paths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Malikowska-Racia
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Chair of Pharmacodynamics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Kinga Salat
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Chair of Pharmacodynamics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Krakow, Poland
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Canteras NS. Hypothalamic survival circuits related to social and predatory defenses and their interactions with metabolic control, reproductive behaviors and memory systems. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Back FP, Carobrez AP. Periaqueductal gray glutamatergic, cannabinoid and vanilloid receptor interplay in defensive behavior and aversive memory formation. Neuropharmacology 2018; 135:399-411. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Cho YK, Kim S, Jung HH, Chang JW, Kim YJ, Shin HC, Jun SB. Neuromodulation methods for animal locomotion control. Biomed Eng Lett 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13534-016-0234-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Dexamethasone impairs encoding and expression of aversive conditioning promoted by pentylenetetrazole. Behav Pharmacol 2017; 31:435-447. [PMID: 28863004 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral and neuroendocrine responses following threatening situations promote the release of corticosterone, which is known to modulate trauma-related learning and memory process. However, it remains unknown whether the aversive learning generated by interoceptive fear conditioning is affected by glucocorticoid modulation. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of dexamethasone suppression in encoding and expression of pentylenetetrazole-induced olfactory fear conditioning (OFC) and in contextual second-order conditioning promoted by the conditioned odor. Adult male Long-Evans rats were treated with dexamethasone 60 min before the encoding or the expression in both OFC and contextual second-order conditioning. Dexamethasone treatment impaired encoding and expression of the OFC, but failed to impair encoding and expression of the contextual second-order conditioning. Altogether, our results show that although OFC and thereafter contextual second-order conditioning may allow the study of traumatic memories, each order of conditioning seems to present specific features related to their pharmacological modulation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the role of neuromodulatory systems in first-order and second-order conditioning to gain a better understanding of these phenomena and support future therapies related to traumatic memories.
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Periaqueductal Gray Neuronal Activities Underlie Different Aspects of Defensive Behaviors. J Neurosci 2017; 36:7580-8. [PMID: 27445137 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4425-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Defense is a basic survival mechanism when animals face danger. Previous studies have suggested that the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) is essential for the generation of defensive reactions. Here we showed that optogenetic activation of neurons in the PAG in mice was sufficient to induce a series of defensive responses (including running, freezing, and avoidance). However, the endogenous neural dynamics of the PAG underlying defensive behaviors still remain elusive. Using chronic extracellular recording, we recorded the spiking activities of PAG neurons in freely behaving mice exposed to natural threats (rats). We observed that there exist distinct neuronal subsets within the PAG participating in respective detection (risk assessment) and response (flight) aspects of defensive behaviors. Our results demonstrate the important role of PAG neuronal activities in the control of different aspects of defensive behaviors, and provide novel insights for investigating defense from an electrophysiological perspective. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Defense is crucial for animals' survival in nature. Here, using optogenetic stimulation and in vivo recording in behaving mice reacting to threats, we explored the role of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) in defense. We show that optogenetic activation of PAG neurons is sufficient to elicit different aspects of defensive responses. Consistently, the present study provides in vivo evidence demonstrating that activity of the population of dorsal PAG neurons is activated during defense. Also, different subpopulations of units recorded in the dorsal PAG participate in distinct aspects of defensive behaviors. These findings help us understand the role of the PAG in animal behavior at the single neuron level.
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Motta SC, Carobrez AP, Canteras NS. The periaqueductal gray and primal emotional processing critical to influence complex defensive responses, fear learning and reward seeking. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 76:39-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Dolleman-van der Weel MJ, Lopes da Silva FH, Witter MP. Interaction of nucleus reuniens and entorhinal cortex projections in hippocampal field CA1 of the rat. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 222:2421-2438. [PMID: 28008472 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1350-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The nucleus reuniens (RE) and entorhinal cortex (EC) provide monosynaptic excitatory inputs to the apical dendrites of pyramidal cells and to interneurons with dendrites in stratum lacunosum moleculare (LM) of hippocampal field CA1. However, whether the RE and EC inputs interact at the cellular level is unknown. In this electrophysiological in vivo study, low-frequency stimulation was used to selectively activate each projection at its origin; field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded in CA1. We applied (1) paired pulses to RE or EC, (2) combined paired pulses to RE and EC, and (3) simultaneously paired pulses to RE/EC. The main findings are that: (a) stimulation of either RE- or EC-evoked subthreshold fEPSPs, displaying paired pulse facilitation (PPF), (b) subthreshold fEPSPs evoked by combined stimulation did not display heterosynaptic PPF, and (c) simultaneous stimulation of RE/EC resulted in enhanced subthreshold fEPSPs in proximal LM displaying a nonlinear interaction. CSD analyses of RE/EC-evoked depth profiles revealed a nonlinear enlargement of the 'LM sink-radiatum source' configuration and the appearance of an additional small sink-source pair close to stratum pyramidale, likely reflecting (peri)somatic inhibition. The nonlinear interaction between both inputs indicates that RE and EC axons form synapses, at least partly, onto the same dendritic compartments of CA1 pyramidal cells. We propose that low-frequency activation of the RE-CA1 input facilitates the entorhinal-hippocampal dialogue, and may synchronize the neocortical-hippocampal slow oscillation which is relevant for hippocampal-dependent memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Dolleman-van der Weel
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical Center, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F H Lopes da Silva
- Center for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon Technical University, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M P Witter
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, MTFS, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Postboks 8905, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.
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Silva BA, Gross CT, Gräff J. The neural circuits of innate fear: detection, integration, action, and memorization. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 23:544-55. [PMID: 27634145 PMCID: PMC5026211 DOI: 10.1101/lm.042812.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
How fear is represented in the brain has generated a lot of research attention, not only because fear increases the chances for survival when appropriately expressed but also because it can lead to anxiety and stress-related disorders when inadequately processed. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the understanding of the neural circuits processing innate fear in rodents. We propose that these circuits are contained within three main functional units in the brain: a detection unit, responsible for gathering sensory information signaling the presence of a threat; an integration unit, responsible for incorporating the various sensory information and recruiting downstream effectors; and an output unit, in charge of initiating appropriate bodily and behavioral responses to the threatful stimulus. In parallel, the experience of innate fear also instructs a learning process leading to the memorization of the fearful event. Interestingly, while the detection, integration, and output units processing acute fear responses to different threats tend to be harbored in distinct brain circuits, memory encoding of these threats seems to rely on a shared learning system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca A Silva
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cornelius T Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Johannes Gräff
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Souza RR, Carobrez AP. Acquisition and expression of fear memories are distinctly modulated along the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray axis of rats exposed to predator odor. Behav Brain Res 2016; 315:160-7. [PMID: 27522018 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The dorsolateral region of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) modulates both innate and conditioned fear responses. However, the contribution of the rostrocaudal portions of the dlPAG to defense reactions and aversive memories remains unclear. Here, we sought to investigate the effects of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockade within rostral or caudal dlPAG of rats exposed to innate and learned fear to cat odor. For this, adult male Wistar rats were microinjected with the NMDA antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphono-pentanoate (AP5; 3 or 6nmol/0.2μl) into the rostral or caudal dlPAG before and after the exposure to the cat odor or to the context paired with the predator odor. The results demonstrated that cat odor exposure induced unconditioned defensive behaviors as well as contextual fear. AP5 microinjected in the rostral dlPAG reduced the defensive responses to cat odor and impaired the acquisition, but not consolidation of contextual fear. On the other hand, AP5 infused within the caudal dlPAG promoted long-lasting reduction of contextual fear expression. Altogether, our data suggest that NMDA receptors mediate a functional dichotomy in the rostrocaudal axis of dlPAG regulating unconditioned and conditioned defensive reactions to predatory cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimenez R Souza
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Antonio P Carobrez
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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Melleu FF, Lino-de-Oliveira C, Marino-Neto J. The mesencephalic GCt-ICo complex and tonic immobility in pigeons (Columba livia): a c-Fos study. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 222:1253-1265. [PMID: 27447458 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1275-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Tonic immobility (TI) is a response to a predator attack, or other inescapable danger, characterized by immobility, analgesia and unresponsiveness to external stimuli. In mammals, the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and deep tectal regions control the expression of TI as well as other defensive behaviors. In birds, little is known about the mesencephalic circuitry involved in the control of TI. Here, adult pigeons (both sex, n = 4/group), randomly assigned to non-handled, handled or TI groups, were killed 90 min after manipulations and the brains processed for detection of c-Fos immunoreactive cells (c-Fos-ir, marker for neural activity) in the mesencephalic central gray (GCt) and the adjacent nucleus intercollicularis (ICo). The NADPH-diaphorase staining delineated the boundaries of the sub nuclei in the ICo-GCt complex. Compared to non-handled, TI (but not handling) induced c-Fos-ir in NADPH-diaphorase-rich and -poor regions. After TI, the number of c-Fos-ir increased in the caudal and intermediate areas of the ICo (but not in the GCt), throughout the rostrocaudal axis of the dorsal stratum griseum periventriculare (SGPd) of the optic tectum and in the n. mesencephalicus lateralis pars dorsalis (MLd), which is part of the ascending auditory pathway. These data suggest that inescapable threatening stimuli such as TI may recruit neurons in discrete areas of ICo-GCt complex, deep tectal layer and in ascending auditory circuits that may control the expression of defensive behaviors in pigeons. Additionally, data indicate that the contiguous deep tectal SCPd (but not GCt) in birds may be functionally comparable to the mammalian dorsal PAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Falkenburger Melleu
- Department of Physiological Sciences, CCB, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil.
| | - C Lino-de-Oliveira
- Department of Physiological Sciences, CCB, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil
| | - J Marino-Neto
- Department of Physiological Sciences, CCB, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, EEL-CTC, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil
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Nicholson AA, Ros T, Frewen PA, Densmore M, Théberge J, Kluetsch RC, Jetly R, Lanius RA. Alpha oscillation neurofeedback modulates amygdala complex connectivity and arousal in posttraumatic stress disorder. Neuroimage Clin 2016; 12:506-516. [PMID: 27672554 PMCID: PMC5030332 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2016.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback aimed at reducing the amplitude of the alpha-rhythm has been shown to alter neural networks associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), leading to symptom alleviation. Critically, the amygdala is thought to be one of the central brain regions mediating PTSD symptoms. In the current study, we compare directly patterns of amygdala complex connectivity using fMRI, before and after EEG neurofeedback, in order to observe subcortical mechanisms associated with behavioural and alpha oscillatory changes among patients. METHOD We examined basolateral (BLA), centromedial (CMA), and superficial (SFA) amygdala complex resting-state functional connectivity using a seed-based approach via SPM Anatomy Toolbox. Amygdala complex connectivity was measured in twenty-one individuals with PTSD, before and after a 30-minute session of EEG neurofeedback targeting alpha desynchronization. RESULTS EEG neurofeedback was associated with a shift in amygdala complex connectivity from areas implicated in defensive, emotional, and fear processing/memory retrieval (left BLA and left SFA to the periaqueductal gray, and left SFA to the left hippocampus) to prefrontal areas implicated in emotion regulation/modulation (right CMA to the medial prefrontal cortex). This shift in amygdala complex connectivity was associated with reduced arousal, greater resting alpha synchronization, and was negatively correlated to PTSD symptom severity. CONCLUSION These findings have significant implications for developing targeted non-invasive treatment interventions for PTSD patients that utilize alpha oscillatory neurofeedback, showing evidence of neuronal reconfiguration between areas highly implicated in the disorder, in addition to acute symptom alleviation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tomas Ros
- Laboratory of Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Department of Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul A. Frewen
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Maria Densmore
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medial Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Joseph's Healthcare, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rosemarie C. Kluetsch
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rakesh Jetly
- Canadian Forces, Health Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth A. Lanius
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
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Potes C, Pestana A, Pontes M, Caramelo A, Neto F. Amylin modulates the formalin-induced tonic pain behaviours in rats. Eur J Pain 2016; 20:1741-1752. [DOI: 10.1002/ejp.898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C.S. Potes
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Experimental; Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - A.C. Pestana
- Departamento de Biologia Experimental; Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - M. Pontes
- Departamento de Biologia Experimental; Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - A.S. Caramelo
- Departamento de Biologia Experimental; Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - F.L. Neto
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Experimental; Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
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Silva BA, Mattucci C, Krzywkowski P, Cuozzo R, Carbonari L, Gross CT. The ventromedial hypothalamus mediates predator fear memory. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 43:1431-9. [PMID: 26991018 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala has been shown to be essential for the processing of acute and learned fear across animal species. However, the downstream neural circuits that mediate these fear responses differ according to the nature of the threat, with separate pathways having been identified for predator, conspecific and physically harmful threats. In particular, the dorsomedial part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VHMdm) is critical for the expression of defensive responses to predators. Here, we tested the hypothesis that this circuit also participates in predator fear memory by transient pharmacogenetic inhibition of the VMHdm and its downstream effector, the dorsal periaqueductal grey, during predator fear learning in the mouse. Our data demonstrate that neural activity in the VMHdm is required for both the acquisition and recall of predator fear memory, whereas that of its downstream effector, the dorsal periaqueductal grey, is required only for the acute expression of fear. These findings are consistent with a role for the medial hypothalamus in encoding an internal emotional state of fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca A Silva
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), via Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Camilla Mattucci
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), via Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Piotr Krzywkowski
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), via Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Rachel Cuozzo
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), via Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Laura Carbonari
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), via Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Cornelius T Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), via Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
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Simons LE, Erpelding N, Hernandez JM, Serrano P, Zhang K, Lebel AA, Sethna NF, Berde CB, Prabhu SP, Becerra L, Borsook D. Fear and Reward Circuit Alterations in Pediatric CRPS. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 9:703. [PMID: 26834606 PMCID: PMC4717323 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In chronic pain, a number of brain regions involved in emotion (e.g., amygdala, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, insula, anterior cingulate, and prefrontal cortex) show significant functional and morphometric changes. One phenotypic manifestation of these changes is pain-related fear (PRF). PRF is associated with profoundly altered behavioral adaptations to chronic pain. For example, patients with a neuropathic pain condition known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) often avoid use of and may even neglect the affected body area(s), thus maintaining and likely enhancing PRF. These changes form part of an overall maladaptation to chronic pain. To examine fear-related brain circuit alterations in humans, 20 pediatric patients with CRPS and 20 sex- and age-matched healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in response to a well-established fearful faces paradigm. Despite no significant differences on self-reported emotional valence and arousal between the two groups, CRPS patients displayed a diminished response to fearful faces in regions associated with emotional processing compared to healthy controls. Additionally, increased PRF levels were associated with decreased activity in a number of brain regions including the right amygdala, insula, putamen, and caudate. Blunted activation in patients suggests that (a) individuals with chronic pain may have deficits in cognitive-affective brain circuits that may represent an underlying vulnerability or consequence to the chronic pain state; and (b) fear of pain may contribute and/or maintain these brain alterations. Our results shed new light on altered affective circuits in patients with chronic pain and identify PRF as a potentially important treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Simons
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; PAIN Research Group, Boston Children's Hospital, WalthamMA, USA; Harvard Medical School, BostonMA, USA
| | - Nathalie Erpelding
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; PAIN Research Group, Boston Children's Hospital, WalthamMA, USA
| | - Jessica M Hernandez
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston MA, USA
| | - Paul Serrano
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; PAIN Research Group, Boston Children's Hospital, WalthamMA, USA
| | - Kunyu Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston MA, USA
| | - Alyssa A Lebel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; PAIN Research Group, Boston Children's Hospital, WalthamMA, USA; Harvard Medical School, BostonMA, USA
| | - Navil F Sethna
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; Harvard Medical School, BostonMA, USA
| | - Charles B Berde
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; Harvard Medical School, BostonMA, USA
| | - Sanjay P Prabhu
- Harvard Medical School, BostonMA, USA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA
| | - Lino Becerra
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; PAIN Research Group, Boston Children's Hospital, WalthamMA, USA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA
| | - David Borsook
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA; PAIN Research Group, Boston Children's Hospital, WalthamMA, USA; Harvard Medical School, BostonMA, USA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, BostonMA, USA
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Halonen JD, Zoladz PR, Park CR, Diamond DM. Behavioral and Neurobiological Assessments of Predator-Based Fear Conditioning and Extinction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.4236/jbbs.2016.68033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Canteras NS, Pavesi E, Carobrez AP. Olfactory instruction for fear: neural system analysis. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:276. [PMID: 26300721 PMCID: PMC4526802 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Different types of predator odors engage elements of the hypothalamic predator-responsive circuit, which has been largely investigated in studies using cat odor exposure. Studies using cat odor have led to detailed mapping of the neural sites involved in innate and contextual fear responses. Here, we reviewed three lines of work examining the dynamics of the neural systems that organize innate and learned fear responses to cat odor. In the first section, we explored the neural systems involved in innate fear responses and in the acquisition and expression of fear conditioning to cat odor, with a particular emphasis on the role of the dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMd) and the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (PAGdl), which are key sites that influence innate fear and contextual conditioning. In the second section, we reviewed how chemical stimulation of the PMd and PAGdl may serve as a useful unconditioned stimulus in an olfactory fear conditioning paradigm; these experiments provide an interesting perspective for the understanding of learned fear to predator odor. Finally, in the third section, we explored the fact that neutral odors that acquire an aversive valence in a shock-paired conditioning paradigm may mimic predator odor and mobilize elements of the hypothalamic predator-responsive circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Newton S Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eloisa Pavesi
- Department of Pharmacology, CCB, Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Antonio P Carobrez
- Department of Pharmacology, CCB, Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Brazil
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van-Hover C, Li C. Stress-activated afferent inputs into the anterior parvicellular part of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus: Insights into urocortin 3 neuron activation. Brain Res 2015; 1611:29-43. [PMID: 25779038 PMCID: PMC4441854 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Urocortin 3 (Ucn 3) is a member of the corticotropin-releasing factor family, which plays a major role in coordinating stress responses. Ucn 3 neurons in the anterior parvicellular part of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVHap) provide prominent input into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH), a well known satiety center, where Ucn 3 acts to suppress feeding and modulate blood glucose levels. In the present study, we first determined that Ucn 3 expression in the PVHap was stimulated by acute restraint stress. We then performed retrograde tracing with fluorogold (FG) combined with immunohistochemistry for Fos as a marker for neuronal activation after restraint stress to determine the stress-activated afferent inputs into the PVHap. Substantial numbers of FG/Fos double labeled cells were found in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the lateral septal nucleus, the medial amygdala, and a number of nuclei in the hypothalamus including the VMH, the arcuate nucleus, the posterior nucleus, and the ventral premammillary nucleus. In the brainstem, FG/Fos positive cells were found in the periaqueductal gray, the nucleus of the solitary tract, and the ventrolateral medulla. In conclusion, the present study showed that acute stress rapidly stimulates Ucn 3 expression in the PVHap and identified specific stress-sensitive brain areas that project to the PVHap. These areas are potentially important in mediating the stress-induced activation of Ucn 3 neurons in the PVHap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine van-Hover
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 800735 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
| | - Chien Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 800735 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
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Kunwar PS, Zelikowsky M, Remedios R, Cai H, Yilmaz M, Meister M, Anderson DJ. Ventromedial hypothalamic neurons control a defensive emotion state. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 25748136 PMCID: PMC4379496 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Defensive behaviors reflect underlying emotion states, such as fear. The hypothalamus plays a role in such behaviors, but prevailing textbook views depict it as an effector of upstream emotion centers, such as the amygdala, rather than as an emotion center itself. We used optogenetic manipulations to probe the function of a specific hypothalamic cell type that mediates innate defensive responses. These neurons are sufficient to drive multiple defensive actions, and required for defensive behaviors in diverse contexts. The behavioral consequences of activating these neurons, moreover, exhibit properties characteristic of emotion states in general, including scalability, (negative) valence, generalization and persistence. Importantly, these neurons can also condition learned defensive behavior, further refuting long-standing claims that the hypothalamus is unable to support emotional learning and therefore is not an emotion center. These data indicate that the hypothalamus plays an integral role to instantiate emotion states, and is not simply a passive effector of upstream emotion centers. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06633.001 Animals have evolved a large number of ‘defensive behaviors’ to deal with the threat of predators. Examples include reptiles camouflaging themselves to avoid discovery, fish and birds swarming to confuse predators, insects releasing toxic chemicals, and humans readying themselves to fight or flee. In mammals, defensive behaviors are thought to be mediated by a region of the brain called the amygdala. This structure, which is known as the brain's ‘emotion center’, receives and processes information from the senses about impending threats. It then sends instructions on how to deal with these threats to other regions of the brain including the hypothalamus, which pass them on to the brain regions that control the behavioral, endocrine and involuntary responses of the mammal. For many years it has been thought that the role of the hypothalamus is to serve simply as a relay for emotion states encoded in the amygdala, rather than as an emotion center itself. However, Kunwar et al. have now challenged this assumption with the aid of a technique called optogenetics, in which light is used to activate specific populations of genetically labeled neurons. When light was used to directly activate neurons within the ventromedial hypothalamus in awake mice, the animals instantly froze and/or fled, just as they would when faced with a predator. Given that the optical stimulation had completely bypassed the amygdala, this suggested that the hypothalamus must be capable of generating this defensive response without any input from the amygdala. The freezing and fleeing responses resembled the responses to a predator in a number of key ways. Mice chose to avoid areas of their cage in which they had received the stimulation, suggesting that—like a predator—these areas induced an unpleasant emotional state, perhaps akin to anxiety or fear. Freezing and fleeing persisted for several seconds after the stimulation had stopped, just as freezing and fleeing responses to predators do not immediately cease after the threat has gone. And finally, destroying the neurons targeted by the stimulation made mice less likely to avoid one of their main predators, the rat. It also made the animals less anxious. Overall the results suggest that the hypothalamus may be more than simply a relay for the amygdala, and that ‘amygdala-centric’ views of emotion processing may need to be re-visited. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06633.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhat S Kunwar
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Moriel Zelikowsky
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Ryan Remedios
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Haijiang Cai
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Melis Yilmaz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Markus Meister
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
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Horovitz O, Richter-Levin G. Dorsal periaqueductal gray simultaneously modulates ventral subiculum induced-plasticity in the basolateral amygdala and the nucleus accumbens. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:53. [PMID: 25788880 PMCID: PMC4349162 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventral subiculum of the hippocampus projects both to the basolateral amygdala (BLA), which is typically, associated with a response to aversive stimuli, as well as to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), which is typically associated with a response to appetitive stimuli. Traditionally, studies of the responses to emotional events focus on either negative or positive affect-related processes, however, emotional experiences often affect both. The ability of high-level processing brain regions (e.g., medial prefrontal cortex) to modulate the balance between negative and positive affect-related regions was examined extensively. In contrast, the ability of low-level processing areas (e.g., periaqueductal gray—PAG) to do so, has not been sufficiently studied. To address whether midbrain structures have the ability to modulate limbic regions, we first examined the ventral subiculum stimulation’s (vSub) ability to induce plasticity in the BLA and NAcc simultaneously in rats. Further, dorsal PAG (dPAG) priming ability to differentially modulate vSub stimulation induced plasticity in the BLA and the NAcc was subsequently examined. vSub stimulation resulted in plasticity in both the BLA and the NAcc simultaneously. Moreover, depending on stimulus intensity, differential dPAG priming effects on LTP in these two regions were observed. The results demonstrate that negative and positive affect-related processes may be simultaneously modulated. Furthermore, under some conditions lower-level processing areas, such as the dPAG, may differentially modulate plasticity in these regions and thus affect the long-term emotional outcome of the experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Horovitz
- The Institute for the Study of Affective Neuroscience (ISAN), University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
| | - Gal Richter-Levin
- The Institute for the Study of Affective Neuroscience (ISAN), University of Haifa Haifa, Israel ; Department of Psychology, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel ; Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
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Chen S, Zhou H, Guo S, Zhang J, Qu Y, Feng Z, Xu K, Zheng X. Optogenetics Based Rat-Robot Control: Optical Stimulation Encodes "Stop" and "Escape" Commands. Ann Biomed Eng 2015; 43:1851-64. [PMID: 25567506 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-014-1235-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Electric brain stimulation is frequently used in bio-robot control. However, one possible limitation of electric stimulation is the resultant wide range of influences that may lead to unexpected side-effects. Although there has been prior research done towards optogenetics based brain activation, there has not been much development regarding the comparisons between electric and optical methods of brain activation. In this study, we first encode "Stop" and "Escape" commands by optical stimulation in the dorsal periaqueductal grey (dPAG). The rats behavioral comparisons are then noted down under these two methods. The dPAG neural activity recorded during optical stimulation suggests rate and temporal coding mechanisms in behavioral control. The behavioral comparisons show that rats exhibit anxiety under the "Stop" command conveyed through both optical and electric methods. However, rats are able to recover more quickly from freezing only under optical "Stop" command. Under "Escape" commands, also conveyed through optical means, the rat would move with lessened urgency but the results are more stable. Moreover, c-Fos study shows the optical stimulation activates restricted range in midbrain: the optical stimulation affected only dPAG and its downstreams but electric stimulation activates both the upstream and downstream circuits, in which the glutamatergic neurons are largely occupied and play important role in "Stop" and "Escape" behavior controls. We conclude that optical stimulation is more suited for encoding "Stop" and "Escape" commands for rat-robot control.
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Affiliation(s)
- SiCong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China
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Pérez-Fernández J, Stephenson-Jones M, Suryanarayana SM, Robertson B, Grillner S. Evolutionarily conserved organization of the dopaminergic system in lamprey: SNc/VTA afferent and efferent connectivity and D2 receptor expression. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:3775-94. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.23639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pérez-Fernández
- Department of Neuroscience; the Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Karolinska Institutet; SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Marcus Stephenson-Jones
- Department of Neuroscience; the Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Karolinska Institutet; SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Shreyas M. Suryanarayana
- Department of Neuroscience; the Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Karolinska Institutet; SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Brita Robertson
- Department of Neuroscience; the Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Karolinska Institutet; SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Sten Grillner
- Department of Neuroscience; the Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Karolinska Institutet; SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden
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Aguiar DC, Hott SC, Deolindo MV, Guimarães FS, Resstel LB. The dorsolateral periaqueductal grey N-methyl-D-aspartate/nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway modulates the expression of contextual fear conditioning in rats. J Psychopharmacol 2014; 28:479-85. [PMID: 24008812 DOI: 10.1177/0269881113504012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The dorsolateral periaqueductal grey (dlPAG) plays an essential role in unconditioned fear responses and could also be involved in the expression of contextual fear responses. Activation of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and the nitric oxide (NO) pathway in this region facilitates anxiety-like responses. In the present study we investigated if antagonism of NMDA receptors or inhibition of the NO pathway in the dlPAG would attenuate behavioral and cardiovascular responses of rats submitted to a contextual fear-conditioning paradigm. Male Wistar rats with unilateral cannulae aimed at the dlPAG were re-exposed to a chamber where they had received footshocks 48 h before. Ten min before the test the animals received an intra-dlPAG injection of vehicle, AP7 (NMDA receptor antagonist), N-propyl-L-arginine (neuronal NO synthase inhibitor), carboxy-PTIO (NO scavenger) or 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolol [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) (guanylate cyclase inhibitor). Freezing and cardiovascular responses were recorded continuously for 10 min. Intra-dlPAG administration of AP7 before re-exposure to the aversively conditioned context attenuated these responses. Similar effects were observed after the NO synthase inhibitor, NO scavenger or guanylate cyclase inhibitor. Our findings suggest that activity of dlPAG NMDA/NO/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway facilitates the expression of contextual fear responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele C Aguiar
- 1Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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