1
|
Martini P, Mingardi J, Carini G, Mattevi S, Ndoj E, La Via L, Magri C, Gennarelli M, Russo I, Popoli M, Musazzi L, Barbon A. Transcriptional Profiling of Rat Prefrontal Cortex after Acute Inescapable Footshock Stress. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14030740. [PMID: 36981011 PMCID: PMC10048409 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a primary risk factor for psychiatric disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The response to stress involves the regulation of transcriptional programs, which is supposed to play a role in coping with stress. To evaluate transcriptional processes implemented after exposure to unavoidable traumatic stress, we applied microarray expression analysis to the PFC of rats exposed to acute footshock (FS) stress that were sacrificed immediately after the 40 min session or 2 h or 24 h after. While no substantial changes were observed at the single gene level immediately after the stress session, gene set enrichment analysis showed alterations in neuronal pathways associated with glia development, glia-neuron networking, and synaptic function. Furthermore, we found alterations in the expression of gene sets regulated by specific transcription factors that could represent master regulators of the acute stress response. Of note, these pathways and transcriptional programs are activated during the early stress response (immediately after FS) and are already turned off after 2 h-while at 24 h, the transcriptional profile is largely unaffected. Overall, our analysis provided a transcriptional landscape of the early changes triggered by acute unavoidable FS stress in the PFC of rats, suggesting that the transcriptional wave is fast and mild, but probably enough to activate a cellular response to acute stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Martini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Jessica Mingardi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Giulia Carini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Mattevi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Elona Ndoj
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca La Via
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Magri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Isabella Russo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Popoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Musazzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Alessandro Barbon
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Stankiewicz AM, Jaszczyk A, Goscik J, Juszczak GR. Stress and the brain transcriptome: Identifying commonalities and clusters in standardized data from published experiments. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 119:110558. [PMID: 35405299 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Interpretation of transcriptomic experiments is hindered by many problems including false positives/negatives inherent to big-data methods and changes in gene nomenclature. To find the most consistent effect of stress on brain transcriptome, we retrieved data from 79 studies applying animal models and 3 human studies investigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The analyzed data were obtained either with microarrays or RNA sequencing applied to samples collected from more than 1887 laboratory animals and from 121 human subjects. Based on the initial database containing a quarter million differential expression effect sizes representing transcripts in three species, we identified the most frequently reported genes in 223 stress-control comparisons. Additionally, the analysis considers sex, individual vulnerability and contribution of glucocorticoids. We also found an overlap between gene expression in PTSD patients and animals which indicates relevance of laboratory models for human stress response. Our analysis points to genes that, as far as we know, were not specifically tested for their role in stress response (Pllp, Arrdc2, Midn, Mfsd2a, Ccn1, Htra1, Csrnp1, Tenm4, Tnfrsf25, Sema3b, Fmo2, Adamts4, Gjb1, Errfi1, Fgf18, Galnt6, Slc25a42, Ifi30, Slc4a1, Cemip, Klf10, Tom1, Dcdc2c, Fancd2, Luzp2, Trpm1, Abcc12, Osbpl1a, Ptp4a2). Provided transcriptomic resource will be useful for guiding the new research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Stankiewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Aneta Jaszczyk
- Department of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Joanna Goscik
- Faculty of Computer Science, Bialystok University of Technology, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Grzegorz R Juszczak
- Department of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Krieger JP, Asker M, van der Velden P, Börchers S, Richard JE, Maric I, Longo F, Singh A, de Lartigue G, Skibicka KP. Neural Pathway for Gut Feelings: Vagal Interoceptive Feedback From the Gastrointestinal Tract Is a Critical Modulator of Anxiety-like Behavior. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:709-721. [PMID: 35965105 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are associated with an altered perception of the body's internal state. Therefore, understanding the neuronal basis of interoception can foster novel anxiety therapies. In rodents, the feeding status bidirectionally modulates anxiety-like behavior but how the sensing of gastrointestinal state affects anxiety remains unclear. METHODS We combined chemogenetics, neuropharmacology, and behavioral approaches in male and female rats to test whether vagal afferents terminating in the gastrointestinal tract mediate feeding-induced tuning of anxiety. Using saporin-based lesions and transcriptomics, we investigated the chronic impact of this gut-brain circuit on anxiety-like behavior. RESULTS Both feeding and selective chemogenetic activation of gut-innervating vagal afferents increased anxiety-like behavior. Conversely, chemogenetic inhibition blocked the increase in anxiety-like behavior induced by feeding. Using a selective saporin-based lesion, we demonstrate that the loss of gut-innervating vagal afferent signaling chronically reduces anxiety-like behavior in male rats but not in female rats. We next identify a vagal circuit that connects the gut to the central nucleus of the amygdala, using anterograde transsynaptic tracing from the nodose ganglia. Lesion of this gut-brain vagal circuit modulated the central amygdala transcriptome in both sexes but selectively affected a network of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)-related genes only in males, suggesting a potentiation of inhibitory control. Blocking GABAergic signaling in the central amygdala re-established normal anxiety levels in male rats. CONCLUSIONS Vagal sensory signals from the gastrointestinal tract are critical for baseline and feeding-induced tuning of anxiety via the central amygdala in rats. Our results suggest vagal gut-brain signaling as a target to normalize interoception in anxiety disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Krieger
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mohammed Asker
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Stina Börchers
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jennifer E Richard
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ivana Maric
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Francesco Longo
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Arashdeep Singh
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Guillaume de Lartigue
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Karolina P Skibicka
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden; Nutritional Sciences, College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Floriou-Servou A, von Ziegler L, Waag R, Schläppi C, Germain PL, Bohacek J. The Acute Stress Response in the Multiomic Era. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:1116-1126. [PMID: 33722387 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Studying the stress response is a major pillar of neuroscience research not only because stress is a daily reality but also because the exquisitely fine-tuned bodily changes triggered by stress are a neuroendocrinological marvel. While the genome-wide changes induced by chronic stress have been extensively studied, we know surprisingly little about the complex molecular cascades triggered by acute stressors, the building blocks of chronic stress. The acute stress (or fight-or-flight) response mobilizes organismal energy resources to meet situational demands. However, successful stress coping also requires the efficient termination of the stress response. Maladaptive coping-particularly in response to severe or repeated stressors-can lead to allostatic (over)load, causing wear and tear on tissues, exhaustion, and disease. We propose that deep molecular profiling of the changes triggered by acute stressors could provide molecular correlates for allostatic load and predict healthy or maladaptive stress responses. We present a theoretical framework to interpret multiomic data in light of energy homeostasis and activity-dependent gene regulation, and we review the signaling cascades and molecular changes rapidly induced by acute stress in different cell types in the brain. In addition, we review and reanalyze recent data from multiomic screens conducted mainly in the rodent hippocampus and amygdala after acute psychophysical stressors. We identify challenges surrounding experimental design and data analysis, and we highlight promising new research directions to better understand the stress response on a multiomic level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Floriou-Servou
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas von Ziegler
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Waag
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christa Schläppi
- Computational Neurogenomics, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Luc Germain
- Computational Neurogenomics, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Laboratory of Statistical Bioinformatics, Department for Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Johannes Bohacek
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Modulation of glucocorticoids by the serotonin transporter polymorphism: A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 92:338-349. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
6
|
Nätt D, Barchiesi R, Murad J, Feng J, Nestler EJ, Champagne FA, Thorsell A. Perinatal Malnutrition Leads to Sexually Dimorphic Behavioral Responses with Associated Epigenetic Changes in the Mouse Brain. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11082. [PMID: 28894112 PMCID: PMC5593991 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10803-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood malnutrition is a risk factor for mental disorders, such as major depression and anxiety. Evidence shows that similar early life adversities induce sex-dependent epigenetic reprogramming. However, little is known about how genes are specifically affected by early malnutrition and the implications for males and females respectively. One relevant target is neuropeptide Y (NPY), which regulates both stress and food-intake. We studied maternal low protein diet (LPD) during pregnancy/lactation in mice. Male, but not female, offspring of LPD mothers consistently displayed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors under acute stress. Transcriptome-wide analysis of the effects of acute stress in the amygdala, revealed a list of transcription factors affected by either sex or perinatal LPD. Among these immediate early genes (IEG), members of the Early growth response family (Egr1/2/4) were consistently upregulated by perinatal LPD in both sexes. EGR1 also bound the NPY receptor Y1 gene (Npy1r), which co-occurred with sex-specific effects of perinatal LPD on both Npy1r DNA-methylation and gene transcription. Our proposed pathway connecting early malnutrition, sex-independent regulatory changes in Egr1, and sex-specific epigenetic reprogramming of its effector gene, Npy1r, represents the first molecular evidence of how early life risk factors may generate sex-specific epigenetic effects relevant for mental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nätt
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Riccardo Barchiesi
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Josef Murad
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jian Feng
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Annika Thorsell
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Khanna MR, Fortini ME. Transcriptomic Analysis of Drosophila Mushroom Body Neurons Lacking Amyloid-β Precursor-Like Protein Activity. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 46:913-28. [PMID: 26402626 DOI: 10.3233/jad-141491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) is subjected to sequential intramembrane proteolysis by α-, β-, andγ-secretases, producing secreted amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and a cytoplasmically released AβPP Intracellular Domain (AICD). AICD complexes with transcription factors in the nucleus, suggesting that this AβPP fragment serves as an active signaling effector that regulates downstream genes, although its nuclear targets are poorly defined. To further understand this potential signaling mechanism mediated by AβPP, we performed a transcriptomic identification of the Drosophila genome that is regulated by the fly AβPP orthologue in fly mushroom body neurons, which control learning- and memory-based behaviors. We find significant changes in expression of 245 genes, representing approximately 1.6% of the Drosophila genome, with the changes ranging from +6 fold to -40 fold. The largest class of responsive targets corresponds to non-protein coding genes and includes microRNAs that have been previously implicated in Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. Several genes were identified in our Drosophila microarray analyses that have also emerged as putative AβPP targets in similar mammalian transcriptomic studies. Our results also indicate a role for AβPP in cellular pathways involving the regulation of Drosophila Casein Kinase II, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, RNA processing, and innate immunity. Our findings provide insights into the intracellular events that are regulated by AβPP activity in healthy neurons and that might become dysregulated as a result of abnormal AβPP proteolysis in AD.
Collapse
|
8
|
The Effect of Acute and Chronic Social Stress on the Hippocampal Transcriptome in Mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142195. [PMID: 26556046 PMCID: PMC4640871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychogenic stress contributes to the formation of brain pathology. Using gene expression microarrays, we analyzed the hippocampal transcriptome of mice subjected to acute and chronic social stress of different duration. The longest period of social stress altered the expression of the highest number of genes and most of the stress-induced changes in transcription were reversible after 5 days of rest. Chronic stress affected genes involved in the functioning of the vascular system (Alas2, Hbb-b1, Hba-a2, Hba-a1), injury response (Vwf, Mgp, Cfh, Fbln5, Col3a1, Ctgf) and inflammation (S100a8, S100a9, Ctla2a, Ctla2b, Lcn2, Lrg1, Rsad2, Isg20). The results suggest that stress may affect brain functions through the stress-induced dysfunction of the vascular system. An important issue raised in our work is also the risk of the contamination of brain tissue samples with choroid plexus. Such contamination would result in a consistent up- or down-regulation of genes, such as Ttr, Igf2, Igfbp2, Prlr, Enpp2, Sostdc1, 1500015O10RIK (Ecrg4), Kl, Clic6, Kcne2, F5, Slc4a5, and Aqp1. Our study suggests that some of the previously reported, supposedly specific changes in hippocampal gene expression, may be a result of the inclusion of choroid plexus in the hippocampal samples.
Collapse
|
9
|
Puglisi-Allegra S, Andolina D. Serotonin and stress coping. Behav Brain Res 2014; 277:58-67. [PMID: 25108244 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Coping is the necessary outcome of any stressful situation and the major determinant of stress resilience. Coping strategies can be divided into two broad categories, based on the presence (active) or absence (passive) of attempts to act upon the stressor. The role of brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in coping behavior that is emerging from studies in animals and humans is the subject of this article. We have focused attention on studies that consider the coping behavior exhibited when the individual is faced with a new stressful experience. Coping styles characterize different species with different evolutionary histories, from fishes to mammals, and evidence shows that serotonin transmission in the central nervous system, with differences in transporter, receptor types and hormone or neurotransmitter influences is critical in determining coping behavior. Moreover, a major role of environmental challenges throughout the lifespan affects brain systems that control coping outcomes through 5-HT transmission. In particular early experiences, for their long-term effects in adulthood, and social experiences throughout the life span, for the effects on serotonin functioning, received attention in preclinical research because of their parallelism in humans and animals. Based on growing evidence pointing to a medial prefrontal cortex-amygdala system in mediating adaptive and maladaptive stress responses, we propose a brain circuit in which serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe depending on the CRF (corticotropin releasing factor) regulatory action engage a prefrontal cortical-amygdala pathway through 5-HT1A receptors, GABA and Glutamate to moderate coping behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Puglisi-Allegra
- Dipartimento di Psicologia and Centro "Daniel Bovet," Sapienza Università di Roma, via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia, IRCCS, via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Diego Andolina
- Fondazione Santa Lucia, IRCCS, via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologie Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, via Vetoio, 67010 Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
van der Doelen RHA, Deschamps W, D'Annibale C, Peeters D, Wevers RA, Zelena D, Homberg JR, Kozicz T. Early life adversity and serotonin transporter gene variation interact at the level of the adrenal gland to affect the adult hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e409. [PMID: 25004389 PMCID: PMC4119224 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The short allelic variant of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with the etiology of major depression by interaction with early life stress (ELS). Furthermore, 5-HTTLPR has been associated with abnormal functioning of the stress-responsive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Here, we examined if, and at what level, the HPA-axis is affected in an animal model for ELS × 5-HTTLPR interactions. Heterozygous and homozygous 5-HTT knockout rats and their wild-type littermates were exposed daily at postnatal days 2-14 to 3 h of maternal separation. When grown to adulthood, plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and the major rat glucocorticoid, corticosterone (CORT), were measured. Furthermore, the gene expression of key HPA-axis players at the level of the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands was assessed. No 5-HTT genotype × ELS interaction effects on gene expression were observed at the level of the hypothalamus or pituitary. However, we found significant 5-HTT genotype × ELS interaction effects for plasma CORT levels and adrenal mRNA levels of the ACTH receptor, such that 5-HTT deficiency was associated under control conditions with increased, but after ELS with decreased basal HPA-axis activity. With the use of an in vitro adrenal assay, naïve 5-HTT knockout rats were furthermore shown to display increased adrenal ACTH sensitivity. Therefore, we conclude that basal HPA-axis activity is affected by the interaction of 5-HTT genotype and ELS, and is programmed, within the axis itself, predominantly at the level of the adrenal gland. This study therefore emphasizes the importance of the adrenal gland for HPA-related psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R H A van der Doelen
- Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 21 (route 126), 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail:
| | - W Deschamps
- Department of Cellular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - C D'Annibale
- Department of Cellular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - D Peeters
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,Department of Cellular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - R A Wevers
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - D Zelena
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - J R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - T Kozicz
- Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Karabeg MM, Grauthoff S, Kollert SY, Weidner M, Heiming RS, Jansen F, Popp S, Kaiser S, Lesch KP, Sachser N, Schmitt AG, Lewejohann L. 5-HTT deficiency affects neuroplasticity and increases stress sensitivity resulting in altered spatial learning performance in the Morris water maze but not in the Barnes maze. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78238. [PMID: 24167611 PMCID: PMC3805519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether spatial hippocampus-dependent learning is affected by the serotonergic system and stress. Therefore, 5-HTT knockout (-/-), heterozygous (+/-) and wildtype (+/+) mice were subjected to the Barnes maze (BM) and the Morris water maze (WM), the latter being discussed as more aversive. Additionally, immediate early gene (IEG) expression, hippocampal adult neurogenesis (aN), and blood plasma corticosterone were analyzed. While the performance of 5-HTT-/- mice in the BM was undistinguishable from both other genotypes, they performed worse in the WM. However, in the course of the repeated WM trials 5-HTT-/- mice advanced to wildtype level. The experience of a single trial of either the WM or the BM resulted in increased plasma corticosterone levels in all genotypes. After several trials 5-HTT-/- mice exhibited higher corticosterone concentrations compared with both other genotypes in both tests. Corticosterone levels were highest in 5-HTT-/- mice tested in the WM indicating greater aversiveness of the WM and a greater stress sensitivity of 5-HTT deficient mice. Quantitative immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus revealed increased cell counts positive for the IEG products cFos and Arc as well as for proliferation marker Ki67 and immature neuron marker NeuroD in 5-HTT-/- mice compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice, irrespective of the test. Most differences were found in the suprapyramidal blade of the dentate gyrus of the septal hippocampus. Ki67-immunohistochemistry revealed a genotype x environment interaction with 5-HTT genotype differences in naïve controls and WM experience exclusively yielding more Ki67-positive cells in 5-HTT+/+ mice. Moreover, in 5-HTT-/- mice we demonstrate that learning performance correlates with the extent of aN. Overall, higher baseline IEG expression and increased an in the hippocampus of 5-HTT-/- mice together with increased stress sensitivity may constitute the neurobiological correlate of raised alertness, possibly impeding optimal learning performance in the more stressful WM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margherita M. Karabeg
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Grauthoff
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sina Y. Kollert
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Weidner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rebecca S. Heiming
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Friederike Jansen
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sandy Popp
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Angelika G. Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Behavioural Biology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| |
Collapse
|