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Demaestri C, Pisciotta M, Altunkeser N, Berry G, Hyland H, Breton J, Darling A, Williams B, Bath KG. Central amygdala CRF+ neurons promote heightened threat reactivity following early life adversity in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5522. [PMID: 38951506 PMCID: PMC11217353 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49828-3] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Failure to appropriately predict and titrate reactivity to threat is a core feature of fear and anxiety-related disorders and is common following early life adversity (ELA). A population of neurons in the lateral central amygdala (CeAL) expressing corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) have been proposed to be key in processing threat of different intensities to mediate active fear expression. Here, we use in vivo fiber photometry to show that ELA results in sex-specific changes in the activity of CeAL CRF+ neurons, yielding divergent mechanisms underlying the augmented startle in ELA mice, a translationally relevant behavior indicative of heightened threat reactivity and hypervigilance. Further, chemogenic inhibition of CeAL CRF+ neurons selectively diminishes startle and produces a long-lasting suppression of threat reactivity. These findings identify a mechanism for sex-differences in susceptibility for anxiety following ELA and have broad implications for understanding the neural circuitry that encodes and gates the behavioral expression of fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Demaestri
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Margaux Pisciotta
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Naira Altunkeser
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Georgia Berry
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hannah Hyland
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jocelyn Breton
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Darling
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brenna Williams
- Doctoral Program in Cellular and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin G Bath
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Prados-Pardo Á, Martín-González E, Mora S, Martín C, Olmedo-Córdoba M, Pérez-Fernandez C, Sánchez-Santed F, Moreno-Montoya M. Reduced Expression of the Htr2a, Grin1, and Bdnf Genes and Cognitive Inflexibility in a Model of High Compulsive Rats. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6975-6991. [PMID: 37523044 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03506-5] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Compulsivity is a core symptom in different psychopathological disorders, characterized by excessive behaviors and behavioral inflexibility. The selection of high drinker (HD) versus low drinker (LD) rats by schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) is a valid model for studying the compulsive phenotype. The compulsive HD rats showed cognitive inflexibility and reduced serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor binding levels in the frontal cortex (FC). According to that, we hypothesize that compulsive HD rats might have an alteration in the cognitive control domain regarding inflexibility, assessed by spatial memory on the Morris Water Maze (MWM), working and reference memory by the Radial Arm Maze, and behavioral deficits in stimulus processing by the Novel Object Recognition test. The possible underlying mechanisms might be linked to the brain gene expression of 5HT2A, 5HT2C, glutamate NMDA receptors, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in FC, hippocampus, and amygdala. HD rats confirmed a cognitive inflexibility profile on the reversal condition in the MWM compared to LD rats, while no differences were observed on stimulus processing, spatial, and working memory. Moreover, HD rats showed a reduced expression of the Htr2a, Grin1, and Bdnf genes in FC. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the relative expression of the Htr2a, Grin1, and Bdnf genes in FC and the level of compulsive water intake in HD rats on SIP. These data reveal that cognitive inflexibility may not be associated with a memory or stimulus processing deficit in compulsive individuals but may result by a region-specific alteration of the Htr2a, Grin1, and Bdnf gene expression in FC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángeles Prados-Pardo
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center CEINSA, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Elena Martín-González
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center CEINSA, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Santiago Mora
- Department of Neuroscience and Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlos Martín
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center CEINSA, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Manuela Olmedo-Córdoba
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center CEINSA, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Cristian Pérez-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center CEINSA, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Fernando Sánchez-Santed
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center CEINSA, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Margarita Moreno-Montoya
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center CEINSA, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain.
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Chudoba R, Dabrowska J. Distinct populations of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons mediate divergent yet complementary defensive behaviors in response to a threat. Neuropharmacology 2023; 228:109461. [PMID: 36775096 PMCID: PMC10055972 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Defensive behaviors in response to a threat are shared across the animal kingdom. Active (fleeing, sheltering) or passive (freezing, avoiding) defensive responses are adaptive and facilitate survival. Selecting appropriate defensive strategy depends on intensity, proximity, temporal threat threshold, and past experiences. Hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a major driver of an acute stress response, whereas extrahypothalamic CRF mediates stress-related affective behaviors. In this review, we shift the focus from a monolithic role of CRF as an anxiogenic peptide to comprehensively dissecting contributions of distinct populations of CRF neurons in mediating defensive behaviors. Direct interrogation of CRF neurons of the central amygdala (CeA) or the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) show they drive unconditioned defensive responses, such as vigilance and avoidance of open spaces. Although both populations also contribute to learned fear responses in familiar, threatening contexts, CeA-CRF neurons are particularly attuned to the ever-changing environment. Depending on threat intensities, they facilitate discrimination of salient stimuli predicting manageable threats, and prevent their generalization. Finally, hypothalamic CRF neurons mediate initial threat assessment and active defense such as escape to shelter. Overall, these three major populations of CRF neurons demonstrate divergent, yet complementary contributions to the versatile defense system: heightened vigilance, discriminating salient threats, and active escape, representing three legs of the defense tripod. Despite the 'CRF exhaustion' in the field of affective neuroscience, understanding contributions of specific CRF neurons during adaptive defensive behaviors is needed in order to understand the implications of their dysregulation in fear- and anxiety-related psychiatric disorders. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Chudoba
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States; Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States; School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Joanna Dabrowska
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States; Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States; School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States.
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4
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Ressler KJ. Translating Across Circuits and Genetics Toward Progress in Fear- and Anxiety-Related Disorders. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2021; 19:247-255. [PMID: 34690590 PMCID: PMC8475910 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.19205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
(Reprinted with permission from Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:214-222).
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Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in the Dentate Gyrus and Anterior Cingulate Cortex in a Mouse Model of Depression. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:5013565. [PMID: 33628784 PMCID: PMC7892236 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5013565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, chronic, and relapse-prone psychiatric disease. However, the intermediate molecules resulting from stress and neurological impairment in different brain regions are still unclear. To clarify the pathological changes in the dentate gyrus (DG) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) regions of the MDD brain, which are the most closely related to the disease, we investigated the published microarray profile dataset GSE84183 to identify unpredictable chronic mild stress- (UCMS-) induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the DG and ACC regions. Based on the DEG data, functional annotation, protein-protein interaction, and transcription factor (TF) analyses were performed. In this study, 1071 DEGs (679 upregulated and 392 downregulated) and 410 DEGs (222 upregulated and 188 downregulated) were identified in DG and ACC, respectively. The pathways and GO terms enriched by the DEGs in the DG, such as cell adhesion, proteolysis, ion transport, transmembrane transport, chemical synaptic transmission, immune system processes, response to lipopolysaccharide, and nervous system development, may reveal the molecular mechanism of MDD. However, the DEGs in the ACC involved metabolic processes, proteolysis, visual learning, DNA methylation, innate immune responses, cell migration, and circadian rhythm. Sixteen hub genes in the DG (Fn1, Col1a1, Anxa1, Penk, Ptgs2, Cdh1, Timp1, Vim, Rpl30, Rps21, Dntt, Ptk2b, Jun, Avp, Slit1, and Sema5a) were identified. Eight hub genes in the ACC (Prkcg, Grin1, Syngap1, Rrp9, Grwd1, Pik3r1, Hnrnpc, and Prpf40a) were identified. In addition, eleven TFs (Chd2, Zmiz1, Myb, Etv4, Rela, Tcf4, Tcf12, Chd1, Mef2a, Ubtf, and Mxi1) were predicted to regulate more than two of these hub genes. The expression levels of ten randomly selected hub genes that were specifically differentially expressed in the MDD-like animal model were verified in the corresponding regions in the human brain. These hub genes and TFs may be regarded as potential targets for future MDD treatment strategies, thus aiding in the development of new therapeutic approaches to MDD.
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McCullough KM, Chatzinakos C, Hartmann J, Missig G, Neve RL, Fenster RJ, Carlezon WA, Daskalakis NP, Ressler KJ. Genome-wide translational profiling of amygdala Crh-expressing neurons reveals role for CREB in fear extinction learning. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5180. [PMID: 33057013 PMCID: PMC7560654 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18985-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear and extinction learning are adaptive processes caused by molecular changes in specific neural circuits. Neurons expressing the corticotropin-releasing hormone gene (Crh) in central amygdala (CeA) are implicated in threat regulation, yet little is known of cell type-specific gene pathways mediating adaptive learning. We translationally profiled the transcriptome of CeA Crh-expressing cells (Crh neurons) after fear conditioning or extinction in mice using translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) and RNAseq. Differential gene expression and co-expression network analyses identified diverse networks activated or inhibited by fear vs extinction. Upstream regulator analysis demonstrated that extinction associates with reduced CREB expression, and viral vector-induced increased CREB expression in Crh neurons increased fear expression and inhibited extinction. These findings suggest that CREB, within CeA Crh neurons, may function as a molecular switch that regulates expression of fear and its extinction. Cell-type specific translational analyses may suggest targets useful for understanding and treating stress-related psychiatric illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M McCullough
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Chris Chatzinakos
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Jakob Hartmann
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Galen Missig
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Gene Transfer Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Robert J Fenster
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - William A Carlezon
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Nikolaos P Daskalakis
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.
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Mukai Y, Nagayama A, Itoi K, Yamanaka A. Identification of substances which regulate activity of corticotropin-releasing factor-producing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13639. [PMID: 32788592 PMCID: PMC7424526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70481-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The stress response is a physiological system for adapting to various internal and external stimuli. Corticotropin-releasing factor-producing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN-CRF neurons) are known to play an important role in the stress response as initiators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, the mechanism by which activity of PVN-CRF neurons is regulated by other neurons and bioactive substances remains unclear. Here, we developed a screening method using calcium imaging to identify how physiological substances directly affect the activity of PVN-CRF neurons. We used acute brain slices expressing a genetically encoded calcium indicator in PVN-CRF neurons using CRF-Cre recombinase mice and an adeno-associated viral vector under Cre control. PVN-CRF neurons were divided into ventral and dorsal portions. Bath application of candidate substances revealed 12 substances that increased and 3 that decreased intracellular calcium concentrations. Among these substances, angiotensin II and histamine mainly increased calcium in the ventral portion of the PVN-CRF neurons via AT1 and H1 receptors, respectively. Conversely, carbachol mainly increased calcium in the dorsal portion of the PVN-CRF neurons via both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Our method provides a precise and reliable means of evaluating the effect of a substance on PVN-CRF neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutaka Mukai
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.,Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.,CREST, JST, Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.,JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, Tokyo, 102-0083, Japan
| | - Ayako Nagayama
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.,Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Keiichi Itoi
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan. .,Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan. .,CREST, JST, Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.
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8
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Kumari P, Wadhwa M, Chauhan G, Alam S, Roy K, Kumar Jha P, Kishore K, Ray K, Kumar S, Nag TC, Panjwani U. Hypobaric hypoxia induced fear and extinction memory impairment and effect of Ginkgo biloba in its amelioration: Behavioral, neurochemical and molecular correlates. Behav Brain Res 2020; 387:112595. [PMID: 32194184 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Regulated fear and extinction memory is essential for balanced behavioral response. Limbic brain regions are susceptible to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) and are putative target for fear extinction deficit and dysregulation. The present study aimed to examine the effect of HH and Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on fear and extinction memory with the underlying mechanism. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated for fear extinction and anxious behavior following GBE administration during HH exposure. Blood and tissue (PFC, hippocampus and amygdala) samples were collected for biochemical, morphological and molecular studies. Results revealed deficit in contextual and cued fear extinction following 3 days of HH exposure. Increased corticosterone, glutamate with decreased GABA level was found with marked pyknosis, decrease in apical dendritic length and number of functional spines. Decline in mRNA expression level of synaptic plasticity genes and immunoreactivity of BDNF, synaptophysin, PSD95, spinophilin was observed following HH exposure. GBE administration during HH exposure improved fear and extinction memory along with decline in anxious behavior. It restored corticosterone, glutamate and GABA levels with an increase in apical dendritic length and number of functional spines with a reduction in pyknosis. It also improved mRNA expression level and immunoreactivity of neurotrophic and synaptic proteins. The present study is the first which demonstrates fear extinction deficit and anxious behavior following HH exposure. GBE administration ameliorated fear and extinction memory dysregulation by restoration of neurotransmitter levels, neuronal pyknosis and synaptic connections along with improved neurotrophic and synaptic protein expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punita Kumari
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Meetu Wadhwa
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Garima Chauhan
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Shahnawaz Alam
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Koustav Roy
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Prabhash Kumar Jha
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Krishna Kishore
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Koushik Ray
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
| | - Tapas Chandra Nag
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
| | - Usha Panjwani
- Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India.
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Abstract
Anxiety and fear-related disorders are common and disabling, and they significantly increase risk for suicide and other causes of morbidity and mortality. However, there is tremendous potential for translational neuroscience to advance our understanding of these disorders, leading to novel and powerful interventions and even to preventing their initial development. This overview examines the general circuits and processes thought to underlie fear and anxiety, along with the promise of translational research. It then examines some of the data-driven "next-generation" approaches that are needed for discovery and understanding but that do not always fit neatly into established models. From one perspective, these disorders offer among the most tractable problems in psychiatry, with a great deal of accumulated understanding, across species, of neurocircuit, behavioral, and, increasingly, genetic mechanisms, of how dysregulation of fear and threat processes contributes to anxiety-related disorders. One example is the progressively sophisticated understanding of how extinction underlies the exposure therapy component of cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches, which are ubiquitously used across anxiety and fear-related disorders. However, it is also critical to examine gaps in our understanding between reasonably well-replicated examples of successful translation, areas of significant deficits in knowledge, and the role of large-scale data-driven approaches in future progress and discovery. Although a tremendous amount of progress is still needed, translational approaches to understanding, treating, and even preventing anxiety and fear-related disorders offer great opportunities for successfully bridging neuroscience discovery to clinical practice.
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Hartley ND, Gaulden AD, Báldi R, Winters ND, Salimando GJ, Rosas-Vidal LE, Jameson A, Winder DG, Patel S. Dynamic remodeling of a basolateral-to-central amygdala glutamatergic circuit across fear states. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:2000-2012. [PMID: 31712775 PMCID: PMC6884697 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0528-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Acquisition and extinction of learned fear responses utilize conserved but flexible neural circuits. Here we show that acquisition of conditioned freezing behavior is associated with dynamic remodeling of relative excitatory drive from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) away from corticotropin releasing factor-expressing (CRF+) centrolateral amygdala neurons, and toward non-CRF+ (CRF-) and somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) neurons, while fear extinction training remodels this circuit back toward favoring CRF+ neurons. Importantly, BLA activity is required for this experience-dependent remodeling, while directed inhibition of the BLA-centrolateral amygdala circuit impairs both fear memory acquisition and extinction memory retrieval. Additionally, ectopic excitation of CRF+ neurons impairs fear memory acquisition and facilities extinction, whereas CRF+ neuron inhibition impairs extinction memory retrieval, supporting the notion that CRF+ neurons serve to inhibit learned freezing behavior. These data suggest that afferent-specific dynamic remodeling of relative excitatory drive to functionally distinct subcortical neuronal output populations represents an important mechanism underlying experience-dependent modification of behavioral selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nolan D Hartley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Andrew D Gaulden
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rita Báldi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nathan D Winters
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Gregory J Salimando
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Luis Eduardo Rosas-Vidal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexis Jameson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Danny G Winder
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
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11
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Maddox SA, Hartmann J, Ross RA, Ressler KJ. Deconstructing the Gestalt: Mechanisms of Fear, Threat, and Trauma Memory Encoding. Neuron 2019; 102:60-74. [PMID: 30946827 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Threat processing is central to understanding debilitating fear- and trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Progress has been made in understanding the neural circuits underlying the "engram" of threat or fear memory formation that complements a decades-old appreciation of the neurobiology of fear and threat involving hub structures such as the amygdala. In this review, we examine key recent findings, as well as integrate the importance of hormonal and physiological approaches, to provide a broader perspective of how bodily systems engaged in threat responses may interact with amygdala-based circuits in the encoding and updating of threat-related memory. Understanding how trauma-related memories are encoded and updated throughout the brain and the body will ultimately lead to novel biologically-driven approaches for treatment and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Maddox
- Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jakob Hartmann
- Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rachel A Ross
- Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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12
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Maloney SE, Rieger MA, Al-Hasani R, Bruchas MR, Wozniak DF, Dougherty JD. Loss of CELF6 RNA binding protein impairs cocaine conditioned place preference and contextual fear conditioning. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 18:e12593. [PMID: 31215739 PMCID: PMC7059558 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In addition to gene expression differences in distinct cell types, there is substantial post-transcriptional regulation driven in part by RNA binding proteins (RBPs). Loss-of-function RBP mutations have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Fragile-X syndrome and syndromic autism. Work performed in animal models to elucidate the influence of neurodevelopmental disorder-associated RBPs on distinct behaviors has showed a connection between normal post-transcriptional regulation and conditioned learning. We previously reported cognitive inflexibility in a mouse model null for the RBP CUG-BP, Elav-like factor 6 (CELF6), which we also found to be associated with human autism. Specifically, these mice failed to potentiate exploratory hole-poking behavior in response to familiarization to a rewarding stimuli. Characterization of Celf6 gene expression showed high levels in monoaminergic populations such as the dopaminergic midbrain populations. To better understand the underlying behavioral disruption mediating the resistance to change exploratory behavior in the holeboard task, we tested three hypotheses: Does Celf6 loss lead to global restricted patterns of behavior, failure of immediate response to reward or failure to alter behavior in response to reward (conditioning). We found the acute response to reward was intact, yet Celf6 mutant mice exhibited impaired conditioned learning to both reward and aversive stimuli. Thus, we found that the resistance to change by the Celf6 mutant in the holeboard was most parsimoniously explained as a failure of conditioning, as the mice had blunted responses even to potent rewarding stimuli such as cocaine. These findings further support the role of RBPs in conditioned learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E. Maloney
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael A. Rieger
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ream Al-Hasani
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael R. Bruchas
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David F. Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joseph D. Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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13
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Dedic N, Chen A, Deussing JM. The CRF Family of Neuropeptides and their Receptors - Mediators of the Central Stress Response. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2018; 11:4-31. [PMID: 28260504 PMCID: PMC5930453 DOI: 10.2174/1874467210666170302104053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: Dysregulated stress neurocircuits, caused by genetic and/or environmental changes, underlie the development of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is the major physiological activator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and conse-quently a primary regulator of the mammalian stress response. Together with its three family members, urocortins (UCNs) 1, 2, and 3, CRF integrates the neuroendocrine, autonomic, metabolic and behavioral responses to stress by activating its cognate receptors CRFR1 and CRFR2. Objective: Here we review the past and current state of the CRF/CRFR field, ranging from pharmacologi-cal studies to genetic mouse models and virus-mediated manipulations. Results: Although it is well established that CRF/CRFR1 signaling mediates aversive responses, includ-ing anxiety and depression-like behaviors, a number of recent studies have challenged this viewpoint by revealing anxiolytic and appetitive properties of specific CRF/CRFR1 circuits. In contrast, the UCN/CRFR2 system is less well understood and may possibly also exert divergent functions on physiol-ogy and behavior depending on the brain region, underlying circuit, and/or experienced stress conditions. Conclusion: A plethora of available genetic tools, including conventional and conditional mouse mutants targeting CRF system components, has greatly advanced our understanding about the endogenous mecha-nisms underlying HPA system regulation and CRF/UCN-related neuronal circuits involved in stress-related behaviors. Yet, the detailed pathways and molecular mechanisms by which the CRF/UCN-system translates negative or positive stimuli into the final, integrated biological response are not completely un-derstood. The utilization of future complementary methodologies, such as cell-type specific Cre-driver lines, viral and optogenetic tools will help to further dissect the function of genetically defined CRF/UCN neurocircuits in the context of adaptive and maladaptive stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Dedic
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr, 2-10, 80804 Munich. Germany
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr, 2-10, 80804 Munich. Germany
| | - Jan M Deussing
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr, 2-10, 80804 Munich. Germany
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14
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Gilman TL, Dutta S, Adkins JM, Cecil CA, Jasnow AM. Basolateral amygdala Thy1-expressing neurons facilitate the inhibition of contextual fear during consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:498-507. [PMID: 30287384 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Disrupted fear inhibition is a characteristic of many anxiety disorders. Investigations into the neural mechanisms responsible for inhibiting fear will improve understanding of the essential circuits involved, and facilitate development of treatments that promote their activity. Within the basolateral amygdala (BLA), Thy1-expressing neuron activity has been characterized by us and others as promoting fear inhibition to discrete fear cues by influencing consolidation of cued fear learning or cued fear extinction. Here, we evaluated how activating BLA Thy1-expressing neurons using DREADDs affected the consolidation, expression, reconsolidation, and extinction of contextual fear. Using an inhibitory avoidance paradigm, our present findings indicate a similar involvement of BLA Thy1-expressing neuron activity in the consolidation and extinction, but not expression, of fear. Importantly, our data also provide the first evidence for involvement of these neurons in inhibiting fear reconsolidation. Therefore, these data enhance our understanding of the roles that Thy1-expressing neurons within the BLA play in inhibiting fear when examining avoidance, in addition to the already established role in Pavlovian fear paradigms. Future investigations should further explore the circuits responsible for these contextual effects modulated by BLA Thy1 neuron activation, and could promulgate development of therapies targeting these neurons and their downstream effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Lee Gilman
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Brain Health Research Institute, 144 Kent Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| | - Sohini Dutta
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Brain Health Research Institute, 144 Kent Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| | - Jordan M Adkins
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Brain Health Research Institute, 144 Kent Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| | - Cassandra A Cecil
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Brain Health Research Institute, 144 Kent Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| | - Aaron M Jasnow
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Brain Health Research Institute, 144 Kent Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
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15
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Wang PQ, Liu Q, Xu WJ, Yu YN, Zhang YY, Li B, Liu J, Wang Z. Pure mechanistic analysis of additive neuroprotective effects between baicalin and jasminoidin in ischemic stroke mice. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2018; 39:961-974. [PMID: 29345255 PMCID: PMC6256271 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2017.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Both baicalin (BA) and jasminoidin (JA) are active ingredients in Chinese herb medicine Scutellaria baicalensis and Fructus gardeniae, respectively. They have been shown to exert additive neuroprotective action in ischemic stroke models. In this study we used transcriptome analysis to explore the pure therapeutic mechanisms of BA, JA and their combination (BJ) contributing to phenotype variation and reversal of pathological processes. Mice with middle cerebral artery obstruction were treated with BA, JA, their combination (BJ), or concha margaritifera (CM). Cerebral infarct volume was examined to determine the effect of these compounds on phenotype. Using the hippocampus microarray and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software, we exacted the differentially expressed genes, networks, pathways, and functions in positive-phenotype groups (BA, JA and BJ) by comparing with the negative-phenotype group (CM). In the BA, JA, and BJ groups, a total of 7, 4, and 11 specific target molecules, 1, 1, and 4 networks, 51, 59, and 18 canonical pathways and 70, 53, and 64 biological functions, respectively, were identified. Pure therapeutic mechanisms of BA and JA were mainly overlapped in specific target molecules, functions and pathways, which were related to the nervous system, inflammation and immune response. The specific mechanisms of BA and JA were associated with apoptosis and cancer-related signaling and endocrine and hormone regulation, respectively. In the BJ group, novel target profiles distinct from mono-therapies were revealed, including 11 specific target molecules, 10 functions, and 10 pathways, the majority of which were related to a virus-mediated immune response. The pure additive effects between BA and JA were based on enhanced action in virus-mediated immune response. This pure mechanistic analysis may provide a clearer outline of the target profiles of multi-target compounds and combination therapies.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Apoptosis/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Synergism
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Flavonoids/pharmacology
- Gene Expression Profiling/methods
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Gene Regulatory Networks/drug effects
- Hippocampus/drug effects
- Hippocampus/immunology
- Hippocampus/metabolism
- Hippocampus/pathology
- Immunity, Innate/drug effects
- Immunity, Innate/genetics
- Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/drug therapy
- Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/genetics
- Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/metabolism
- Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/pathology
- Iridoids/pharmacology
- Male
- Mice
- Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Phenotype
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Systems Biology/methods
- Transcriptome/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-qian Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wen-juan Xu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Ya-nan Yu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Ying-ying Zhang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Bing Li
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
- Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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16
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Bangasser DA, Wiersielis KR. Sex differences in stress responses: a critical role for corticotropin-releasing factor. Hormones (Athens) 2018; 17:5-13. [PMID: 29858858 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-018-0002-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and major depression are higher in women than in men. Another shared feature of these disorders is that dysregulation of the stress neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), is thought to contribute to their pathophysiology. Therefore, sex differences in responses to CRF could contribute to this sex bias in disease prevalence. Here, we review emerging data from non-human animal models that reveal extensive sex differences in CRF functions ranging from its presynaptic regulation to its postsynaptic efficacy. Specifically, detailed are sex differences in the regulation of CRF-containing neurons and the amount of CRF that they produce. We also describe sex differences in CRF receptor expression, distribution, trafficking, and signaling. Finally, we highlight sex differences in the processes that mitigate the effects of CRF. In most cases, the identified sex differences can lead to increased stress sensitivity in females. Thus, the relevance of these differences for the increased risk of depression and anxiety disorders in women compared to men is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, 1701 North 13th Street, 873 Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
| | - Kimberly R Wiersielis
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, 1701 North 13th Street, 873 Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
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17
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Calakos KC, Blackman D, Schulz AM, Bauer EP. Distribution of type I corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF1) receptors on GABAergic neurons within the basolateral amygdala. Synapse 2017; 71:10.1002/syn.21953. [PMID: 27997737 PMCID: PMC7876706 DOI: 10.1002/syn.21953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a critical role in mediating anxiety-like responses to stressors, and dysfunction of the CRF system has been linked to the etiology of several psychiatric disorders. Extra-hypothalamic CRF can also modulate learning and memory formation, including amygdala-dependent learning. The basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) contains dense concentrations of CRF receptors, yet the distribution of these receptors on specific neuronal subtypes within the BLA has not been characterized. Here, we quantified the expression of CRF receptors on three nonoverlapping classes of GABAergic interneurons: those containing the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV), and those expressing the neuropeptides somatostatin (SOM) or cholecystokinin (CCK). While the majority of PV+ neurons and roughly half of CCK+ neurons expressed CRF receptors, they were expressed to a much lesser extent on SOM+ interneurons. Knowledge of the distribution of CRF receptors within the BLA can provide insight into how manipulations of the CRF system modulate fear and anxiety-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katina C Calakos
- Barnard College Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, New York, 10027
| | - Dakota Blackman
- Barnard College Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, New York, 10027
| | - Alexandra M Schulz
- Barnard College Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, New York, 10027
| | - Elizabeth P Bauer
- Barnard College Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, New York, 10027
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18
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Sanford CA, Soden ME, Baird MA, Miller SM, Schulkin J, Palmiter RD, Clark M, Zweifel LS. A Central Amygdala CRF Circuit Facilitates Learning about Weak Threats. Neuron 2016; 93:164-178. [PMID: 28017470 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Fear is a graded central motive state ranging from mild to intense. As threat intensity increases, fear transitions from discriminative to generalized. The circuit mechanisms that process threats of different intensity are not well resolved. Here, we isolate a unique population of locally projecting neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) that produce the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). CRF-producing neurons and CRF in the CeA are required for discriminative fear, but both are dispensable for generalized fear at high US intensities. Consistent with a role in discriminative fear, CRF neurons undergo plasticity following threat conditioning and selectively respond to threat-predictive cues. We further show that excitability of genetically isolated CRF-receptive (CRFR1) neurons in the CeA is potently enhanced by CRF and that CRFR1 signaling in the CeA is critical for discriminative fear. These findings demonstrate a novel CRF gain-control circuit and show separable pathways for graded fear processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Sanford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Marta E Soden
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Madison A Baird
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Samara M Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Jay Schulkin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Richard D Palmiter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Michael Clark
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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19
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Taguchi YH. Principal component analysis based unsupervised feature extraction applied to publicly available gene expression profiles provides new insights into the mechanisms of action of histone deacetylase inhibitors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nepig.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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20
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Keifer OP, Hurt RC, Ressler KJ, Marvar PJ. The Physiology of Fear: Reconceptualizing the Role of the Central Amygdala in Fear Learning. Physiology (Bethesda) 2016; 30:389-401. [PMID: 26328883 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00058.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The historically understood role of the central amygdala (CeA) in fear learning is to serve as a passive output station for processing and plasticity that occurs elsewhere in the brain. However, recent research has suggested that the CeA may play a more dynamic role in fear learning. In particular, there is growing evidence that the CeA is a site of plasticity and memory formation, and that its activity is subject to tight regulation. The following review examines the evidence for these three main roles of the CeA as they relate to fear learning. The classical role of the CeA as a routing station to fear effector brain structures like the periaqueductal gray, the lateral hypothalamus, and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus will be briefly reviewed, but specific emphasis is placed on recent literature suggesting that the CeA 1) has an important role in the plasticity underlying fear learning, 2) is involved in regulation of other amygdala subnuclei, and 3) is itself regulated by intra- and extra-amygdalar input. Finally, we discuss the parallels of human and mouse CeA involvement in fear disorders and fear conditioning, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orion P Keifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Robert C Hurt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, Maryland; and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Paul J Marvar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.;
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21
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Pomrenze MB, Millan EZ, Hopf FW, Keiflin R, Maiya R, Blasio A, Dadgar J, Kharazia V, De Guglielmo G, Crawford E, Janak PH, George O, Rice KC, Messing RO. A Transgenic Rat for Investigating the Anatomy and Function of Corticotrophin Releasing Factor Circuits. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:487. [PMID: 26733798 PMCID: PMC4689854 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) is a 41 amino acid neuropeptide that coordinates adaptive responses to stress. CRF projections from neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to the brainstem are of particular interest for their role in motivated behavior. To directly examine the anatomy and function of CRF neurons, we generated a BAC transgenic Crh-Cre rat in which bacterial Cre recombinase is expressed from the Crh promoter. Using Cre-dependent reporters, we found that Cre expressing neurons in these rats are immunoreactive for CRF and are clustered in the lateral CeA (CeL) and the oval nucleus of the BNST. We detected major projections from CeA CRF neurons to parabrachial nuclei and the locus coeruleus, dorsal and ventral BNST, and more minor projections to lateral portions of the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and lateral hypothalamus. Optogenetic stimulation of CeA CRF neurons evoked GABA-ergic responses in 11% of non-CRF neurons in the medial CeA (CeM) and 44% of non-CRF neurons in the CeL. Chemogenetic stimulation of CeA CRF neurons induced Fos in a similar proportion of non-CRF CeM neurons but a smaller proportion of non-CRF CeL neurons. The CRF1 receptor antagonist R121919 reduced this Fos induction by two-thirds in these regions. These results indicate that CeL CRF neurons provide both local inhibitory GABA and excitatory CRF signals to other CeA neurons, and demonstrate the value of the Crh-Cre rat as a tool for studying circuit function and physiology of CRF neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Pomrenze
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - E Zayra Millan
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - F Woodward Hopf
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ronald Keiflin
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rajani Maiya
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Angelo Blasio
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jahan Dadgar
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Viktor Kharazia
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Giordano De Guglielmo
- Committee on The Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elena Crawford
- Committee on The Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Patricia H Janak
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Olivier George
- Committee on The Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Chemical Biology Research Branch, Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Robert O Messing
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, USA
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22
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Gafford GM, Ressler KJ. GABA and NMDA receptors in CRF neurons have opposing effects in fear acquisition and anxiety in central amygdala vs. bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Horm Behav 2015; 76:136-42. [PMID: 25888455 PMCID: PMC4844457 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "SBN 2014". Beginning with Vale and Colleagues in 1981, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) also called corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) has repeatedly been identified as an important contributor to fear and anxiety behavior. These findings have proven useful to further our understanding of disorders that have significant fear-dysregulation, such as post-traumatic stress, as well as other stress- and anxiety-related disorders. Unfortunately, the data are not all in agreement. In particular the role of CRF in fear learning is controversial, with studies pointing to contradictory effects from CRF manipulation even within the same brain structure. Further, very few studies address the potentially promising role of CRF manipulation in fear extinction behavior. Here, we briefly review the role of CRF in anxiety, fear learning and extinction, focusing on recent cell-type and neurotransmitter-specific studies in the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) that may help to synthesize the available data on the role of CRF in fear and anxiety-related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgette M Gafford
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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23
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Hurt RC, Garrett JC, Keifer OP, Linares A, Couling L, Speth RC, Ressler KJ, Marvar PJ. Angiotensin type 1a receptors on corticotropin-releasing factor neurons contribute to the expression of conditioned fear. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2015; 14:526-33. [PMID: 26257395 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Although generally associated with cardiovascular regulation, angiotensin II receptor type 1a (AT1a R) blockade in mouse models and humans has also been associated with enhanced fear extinction and decreased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, respectively. The mechanisms mediating these effects remain unknown, but may involve alterations in the activities of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-expressing cells, which are known to be involved in fear regulation. To test the hypothesis that AT1a R signaling in CRFergic neurons is involved in conditioned fear expression, we generated and characterized a conditional knockout mouse strain with a deletion of the AT1a R gene from its CRF-releasing cells (CRF-AT1a R((-/-)) ). These mice exhibit normal baseline heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety and locomotion, and freeze at normal levels during acquisition of auditory fear conditioning. However, CRF-AT1a R((-/-)) mice exhibit less freezing than wild-type mice during tests of conditioned fear expression-an effect that may be caused by a decrease in the consolidation of fear memory. These results suggest that central AT1a R activity in CRF-expressing cells plays a role in the expression of conditioned fear, and identify CRFergic cells as a population on which AT1 R antagonists may act to modulate fear extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Hurt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA
| | - J C Garrett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA
| | - O P Keifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA
| | - A Linares
- Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
| | - L Couling
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
| | - R C Speth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - K J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - P J Marvar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medical and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
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24
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Gilman TL, DaMert JP, Meduri JD, Jasnow AM. Grin1 deletion in CRF neurons sex-dependently enhances fear, sociability, and social stress responsivity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 58:33-45. [PMID: 25938741 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system plays a critical role in responses to stressful stimuli, and is expressed in many areas of the brain involved in processing fear, anxiety, and social behaviors. To better understand the mechanisms by which the CRF system modulates responses to stressful events and social stimuli, we employed a mouse model that selectively disrupts NMDA receptor function via NMDA receptor subunit NR1 (Grin1) knockout specifically in Cre-expressing CRF neurons. These animals (Cre+/(fGrin1+)) were compared with littermates lacking Cre expression (Cre-/(fGrin1+)). Following cue discrimination fear conditioning, male Cre+/(fGrin1+) mice showed increased fear expression to the tone paired with a foot shock (CS+) while still discriminating the CS+ from a tone never paired with a foot shock (CS-). In contrast to males, female mice learned and discriminated fear cues equivalently across the genotypes. Similarly, no genotype differences in sociability or social novelty were observed in female mice, but Cre+/(fGrin1+) males displayed greater naive sociability and preference for social novelty than Cre-/(fGrin1+) littermates. Furthermore, the level of social withdrawal exhibited by male Cre+/(fGrin1+) mice susceptible to social defeat stress relative to same genotype controls was significantly more pronounced than that displayed by susceptible Cre-/(fGrin1+) mice compared to control Cre-/(fGrin1+) mice. Together, these results demonstrate increased fear, social, and stress responsiveness specifically in male Cre+/(fGrin1+) mice. Our findings indicate that NMDA-mediated glutamatergic regulation of CRF neurons is important for appropriately regulating fear and social responses, likely functioning to promote survival under aversive circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Lee Gilman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, 44242, OH, USA.
| | - Jeffrey P DaMert
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, 44242, OH, USA.
| | - Jeremy D Meduri
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, 44242, OH, USA.
| | - Aaron M Jasnow
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, 44242, OH, USA.
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25
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Gafford GM, Ressler KJ. Mouse models of fear-related disorders: Cell-type-specific manipulations in amygdala. Neuroscience 2015; 321:108-120. [PMID: 26102004 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 06/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Fear conditioning is a model system used to study threat responses, fear memory and their dysregulation in a variety of organisms. Newly developed tools such as optogenetics, Cre recombinase and DREADD technologies have allowed researchers to manipulate anatomically or molecularly defined cell subtypes with a high degree of temporal control and determine the effect of this manipulation on behavior. These targeted molecular techniques have opened up a new appreciation for the critical contributions different subpopulations of cells make to fear behavior and potentially to treatment of fear and anxiety disorders. Here we review progress to date across a variety of techniques to understand fear-related behavior through the manipulation of different cell subtypes within the amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Gafford
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - K J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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26
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Neuroanatomical and functional characterization of CRF neurons of the amygdala using a novel transgenic mouse model. Neuroscience 2015; 289:153-65. [PMID: 25595987 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 12/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-producing neurons of the amygdala have been implicated in behavioral and physiological responses associated with fear, anxiety, stress, food intake and reward. To overcome the difficulties in identifying CRF neurons within the amygdala, a novel transgenic mouse line, in which the humanized recombinant Renilla reniformis green fluorescent protein (hrGFP) is under the control of the CRF promoter (CRF-hrGFP mice), was developed. First, the CRF-hrGFP mouse model was validated and the localization of CRF neurons within the amygdala was systematically mapped. Amygdalar hrGFP-expressing neurons were located primarily in the interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure, but also present in the central amygdala. Secondly, the marker of neuronal activation c-Fos was used to explore the response of amygdalar CRF neurons in CRF-hrGFP mice under different experimental paradigms. C-Fos induction was observed in CRF neurons of CRF-hrGFP mice exposed to an acute social defeat stress event, a fasting/refeeding paradigm or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. In contrast, no c-Fos induction was detected in CRF neurons of CRF-hrGFP mice exposed to restraint stress, forced swimming test, 48-h fasting, acute high-fat diet (HFD) consumption, intermittent HFD consumption, ad libitum HFD consumption, HFD withdrawal, conditioned HFD aversion, ghrelin administration or melanocortin 4 receptor agonist administration. Thus, this study fully characterizes the distribution of amygdala CRF neurons in mice and suggests that they are involved in some, but not all, stress or food intake-related behaviors recruiting the amygdala.
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