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Curtis GR, Carpenter BA, Pirino BE, Hawks A, Li G, Barson JR. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) + cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus: relationship with binge-type eating in male and female mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06692-9. [PMID: 39340653 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06692-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Both the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) and the neuropeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), are thought to be involved in food intake. Importantly, PACAP is expressed in cells of the PVT. OBJECTIVES To determine if PACAP in cells of the PVT might mediate some of the involvement of the PVT with palatable food intake. METHODS In male and female C57BL/6 J mice and PACAP-Cre transgenic mice on a C57BL/6 J background, limited access to Milk Chocolate Ensure Plus® was used to establish a model of binge-type eating. Next, using quantitative real-time PCR, gene expression of PACAP in the PVT was measured in relation to this binge-type eating. Finally, using chemogenetics in PACAP-Cre transgenic mice, the effect of activation of PVT PACAP+ cells on binge-type eating was determined. RESULTS Males and females both engaged in binge-type eating with Ensure, although females engaged in this behavior to a greater degree than males. While females also had a higher baseline level of PVT PACAP mRNA than males, only males showed an increase in levels of PACAP after a history of exposure to Ensure, and only males showed a reduction in levels of PACAP immediately prior to a binge session. Conversely, activation of PACAP+ cells in the PVT reduced binge-type eating of Ensure, specifically in male mice. CONCLUSIONS The present findings indicate that PVT PACAP+ cells influence and are influenced by binge-type eating. Thus, PACAP in the PVT might mediate some of the known involvement of the PVT with palatable food intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve R Curtis
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Brody A Carpenter
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Breanne E Pirino
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Annie Hawks
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - George Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Jessica R Barson
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA.
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2
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Neřoldová M, Stuchlík A. Chemogenetic Tools and their Use in Studies of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Physiol Res 2024; 73:S449-S470. [PMID: 38957949 PMCID: PMC11412350 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemogenetics is a newly developed set of tools that allow for selective manipulation of cell activity. They consist of a receptor mutated irresponsive to endogenous ligands and a synthetic ligand that does not interact with the wild-type receptors. Many different types of these receptors and their respective ligands for inhibiting or excitating neuronal subpopulations were designed in the past few decades. It has been mainly the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) selectively responding to clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), namely Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), that have been employed in research. Chemogenetics offers great possibilities since the activity of the receptors is reversible, inducible on demand by the ligand, and non-invasive. Also, specific groups or types of neurons can be selectively manipulated thanks to the delivery by viral vectors. The effect of the chemogenetic receptors on neurons lasts longer, and even chronic activation can be achieved. That can be useful for behavioral testing. The great advantage of chemogenetic tools is especially apparent in research on brain diseases since they can manipulate whole neuronal circuits and connections between different brain areas. Many psychiatric or other brain diseases revolve around the dysfunction of specific brain networks. Therefore, chemogenetics presents a powerful tool for investigating the underlying mechanisms causing the disease and revealing the link between the circuit dysfunction and the behavioral or cognitive symptoms observed in patients. It could also contribute to the development of more effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Neřoldová
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. E-mail:
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3
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Bompolaki M, Vantrease JE, DeJoseph MR, Miranda Tapia AP, Colmers WF, Urban JH. Activation of NPY Receptors in the BLA Inhibits Projections to the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis and Buffers Stress-Induced Decreases in Social Interaction in Male Rats. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0228242024. [PMID: 39025677 PMCID: PMC11340280 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0228-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) increases resilience and buffers behavioral stress responses in male rats in part through decreasing the excitability of principal output neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Intra-BLA administration of NPY acutely increases social interaction (SI) through activation of either Y1 or Y5 receptors, whereas repeated NPY (rpNPY) injections (once daily for 5 d) produce persistent increases in SI through Y5 receptor-mediated neuroplasticity in the BLA. In this series of studies, we characterized the neural circuits from the BLA that underlie these behavioral responses to NPY. Using neuronal tract tracing, NPY Y1 and Y5 receptor immunoreactivity was identified on subpopulations of BLA neurons projecting to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Inhibition of BLA→BNST, but not BLA→CeA, neurons using projection-restricted, cre-driven designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drug-Gi expression increased SI and prevented stress-induced decreases in SI produced by a 30 min restraint stress. This behavioral profile was similar to that seen after both acute and rpNPY injections into the BLA. Intracellular recordings of BLA→BNST neurons demonstrated NPY-mediated inhibition via suppression of H currents, as seen previously. Repeated intra-BLA injections of NPY, which are associated with the induction of BLA neuroplasticity, decreased the activity of BLA→BNST neurons and decreased their dendritic complexity. These results demonstrate that NPY modulates the activity of BNST-projecting BLA neurons, suggesting that this pathway contributes to the stress-buffering actions of NPY and provides a novel substrate for the proresilient effects of NPY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bompolaki
- Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders; Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Jaime E Vantrease
- Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders; Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Mary R DeJoseph
- Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders; Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Ana P Miranda Tapia
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - William F Colmers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Janice H Urban
- Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders; Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
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4
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Rojas AKP, Linley SB, Vertes RP. Chemogenetic inactivation of the nucleus reuniens and its projections to the orbital cortex produce deficits on discrete measures of behavioral flexibility in the attentional set-shifting task. Behav Brain Res 2024; 470:115066. [PMID: 38801950 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The nucleus reuniens (RE) of the ventral midline thalamus is a critical node in the communication between the orbitomedial prefrontal cortex (OFC) and the hippocampus (HF). While RE has been shown to directly participate in memory-associated functions through its connections with the medial prefrontal cortex and HF, less is known regarding the role of RE in executive functioning. Here, we examined the involvement of RE and its projections to the orbital cortex (ORB) in attention and behavioral flexibility in male rats using the attentional set shifting task (AST). Rats expressing the hM4Di DREADD receptor in RE were implanted with indwelling cannulas in either RE or the ventromedial ORB to pharmacologically inhibit RE or its projections to the ORB with intracranial infusions of clozapine-N-oxide hydrochloride (CNO). Chemogenetic-induced suppression of RE resulted in impairments in reversal learning and set-shifting. This supports a vital role for RE in behavioral flexibility - or the ability to adapt behavior to changing reward or rule contingencies. Interestingly, CNO suppression of RE projections to the ventromedial ORB produced impairments in rule abstraction - or dissociable effects elicited with direct RE suppression. In summary, the present findings indicate that RE, mediated in part by actions on the ORB, serves a critical role in the flexible use of rules to drive goal directed behavior. The cognitive deficits of various neurological disorders with impaired communication between the HF and OFC, may be partly attributed to alterations of RE -- as an established intermediary between these cortical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K P Rojas
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Stephanie B Linley
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Robert P Vertes
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
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5
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Rangel Guerrero DK, Balueva K, Barayeu U, Baracskay P, Gridchyn I, Nardin M, Roth CN, Wulff P, Csicsvari J. Hippocampal cholecystokinin-expressing interneurons regulate temporal coding and contextual learning. Neuron 2024; 112:2045-2061.e10. [PMID: 38636524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Cholecystokinin-expressing interneurons (CCKIs) are hypothesized to shape pyramidal cell-firing patterns and regulate network oscillations and related network state transitions. To directly probe their role in the CA1 region, we silenced their activity using optogenetic and chemogenetic tools in mice. Opto-tagged CCKIs revealed a heterogeneous population, and their optogenetic silencing triggered wide disinhibitory network changes affecting both pyramidal cells and other interneurons. CCKI silencing enhanced pyramidal cell burst firing and altered the temporal coding of place cells: theta phase precession was disrupted, whereas sequence reactivation was enhanced. Chemogenetic CCKI silencing did not alter the acquisition of spatial reference memories on the Morris water maze but enhanced the recall of contextual fear memories and enabled selective recall when similar environments were tested. This work suggests the key involvement of CCKIs in the control of place-cell temporal coding and the formation of contextual memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dámaris K Rangel Guerrero
- Information and Systems Sciences, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| | - Kira Balueva
- Institute of Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Uladzislau Barayeu
- Information and Systems Sciences, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Peter Baracskay
- Information and Systems Sciences, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Igor Gridchyn
- Information and Systems Sciences, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Michele Nardin
- Information and Systems Sciences, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Chiara Nina Roth
- Information and Systems Sciences, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Peer Wulff
- Institute of Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Jozsef Csicsvari
- Information and Systems Sciences, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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6
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Clark PJ, Brodnik ZD, España RA. Chemogenetic Signaling in Space and Time: Considerations for Designing Neuroscience Experiments Using DREADDs. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:328-346. [PMID: 36408535 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221134587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The use of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) has led to significant advances in our understanding of the neural circuits that govern behavior. By allowing selective control over cellular activity and signaling, DREADDs have become an integral tool for defining the pathways and cellular phenotypes that regulate sleep, pain, motor activity, goal-directed behaviors, and a variety of other processes. In this review, we provide a brief overview of DREADDs and discuss notable discoveries in the neurosciences with an emphasis on circuit mechanisms. We then highlight methodological approaches to achieve pathway specific activation of DREADDs. Finally, we discuss spatial and temporal constraints of DREADDs signaling and how these features can be incorporated into experimental designs to precisely dissect circuits of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Clark
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zachary D Brodnik
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rodrigo A España
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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7
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Concina G, Milano L, Renna A, Manassero E, Stabile F, Sacchetti B. Hippocampus-to-amygdala pathway drives the separation of remote memories of related events. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114151. [PMID: 38656872 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammalian brain can store and retrieve memories of related events as distinct memories and remember common features of those experiences. How it computes this function remains elusive. Here, we show in rats that recent memories of two closely timed auditory fear events share overlapping neuronal ensembles in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and are functionally linked. However, remote memories have reduced neuronal overlap and are functionally independent. The activity of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons in the BLA plays a crucial role in forming separate remote memories. Chemogenetic blockade of PV preserves individual remote memories but prevents their segregation, resulting in reciprocal associations. The hippocampus drives this process through specific excitatory connections with BLA GABAergic interneurons. These findings provide insights into the neuronal mechanisms that minimize the overlap between distinct remote memories and enable the retrieval of related memories separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Concina
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Luisella Milano
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Annamaria Renna
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Eugenio Manassero
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Stabile
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Benedetto Sacchetti
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy.
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Thomas CMP, Bouton ME, Green JT. Chemogenetic inhibition of the ventral hippocampus but not its direct projection to the prelimbic cortex attenuates context-specific operant responding. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1310478. [PMID: 38385002 PMCID: PMC10879379 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1310478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous work has demonstrated the importance of the prelimbic cortex (PL) in contextual control of operant behavior. However, the associated neural circuitry responsible for providing contextual information to the PL is not well understood. In Pavlovian fear conditioning the ventral hippocampus (vH) and its projection to the PL have been shown to be important in supporting the effects of context on learning. The present experiments used chemogenetic inhibition of the direct vH-PL projection or the vH to determine involvement in expression of context-specific operant behavior. Rats were injected with an inhibitory DREADD (hM4Di) or mCherry-only into the vH, and subsequently trained to perform a lever press response for a food pellet in a distinct context. The DREADD ligand clozapine-n-oxide (CNO) was then delivered directly into the PL (experiment 1) and then systemically (experiment 2) prior to tests of the response in the training context as well as an equally familiar but untrained context. vH (systemic CNO) but not vH-PL (intra-PL CNO) inhibition was found to attenuate operant responding in its acquisition context. A third experiment, using the same rats, showed that chemogenetic inhibition of vH also reduced Pavlovian contextual fear. The present results suggest that multisynapatic connections between the vH and PL may be responsible for integration of contextual information with operant behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum M. P. Thomas
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Mark E. Bouton
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - John T. Green
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
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9
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Fordyce BA, Roth BL. Making Sense of Psychedelics in the CNS. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 27:pyae007. [PMID: 38289825 PMCID: PMC10888522 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
For centuries, ancient lineages have consumed psychedelic compounds from natural sources. In the modern era, scientists have since harnessed the power of computational tools, cellular assays, and behavioral metrics to study how these compounds instigate changes on molecular, cellular, circuit-wide, and system levels. Here, we provide a brief history of psychedelics and their use in science, medicine, and culture. We then outline current techniques for studying psychedelics from a pharmacological perspective. Finally, we address known gaps in the field and potential avenues of further research to broaden our collective understanding of physiological changes induced by psychedelics, the limits of their therapeutic capabilities, and how researchers can improve and inform treatments that are rapidly becoming accessible worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A Fordyce
- Department of Neuroscience, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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10
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Maita I, Bazer A, Chae K, Parida A, Mirza M, Sucher J, Phan M, Liu T, Hu P, Soni R, Roepke TA, Samuels BA. Chemogenetic activation of corticotropin-releasing factor-expressing neurons in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis reduces effortful motivation behaviors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:377-385. [PMID: 37452139 PMCID: PMC10724138 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01646-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (aBNST) is associated with chronic stress and avoidance behavior. However, CRF + BNST neurons project to reward- and motivation-related brain regions, suggesting a potential role in motivated behavior. We used chemogenetics to selectively activate CRF+ aBNST neurons in male and female CRF-ires-Cre mice during an effort-related choice task and a concurrent choice task. In both tasks, mice were given the option either to exert effort for high value rewards or to choose freely available low value rewards. Acute chemogenetic activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons reduced barrier climbing for a high value reward in the effort-related choice task in both males and females. Furthermore, acute chemogenetic activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons also reduced effortful lever pressing in high-performing males in the concurrent choice task. These data suggest a novel role for CRF+ aBNST neurons in effort-based decision and motivation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Maita
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Allyson Bazer
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Kiyeon Chae
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Amlaan Parida
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Mikyle Mirza
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jillian Sucher
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Mimi Phan
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Tonia Liu
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Pu Hu
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Ria Soni
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Troy A Roepke
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Benjamin Adam Samuels
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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Aomine Y, Oyama Y, Sakurai K, Macpherson T, Ozawa T, Hikida T. Clozapine N-oxide, compound 21, and JHU37160 do not influence effortful reward-seeking behavior in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:89-96. [PMID: 37792024 PMCID: PMC10774210 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06465-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Clozapine N-oxide (CNO) has been developed as a ligand to selectively activate designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). However, previous studies have revealed that peripherally injected CNO is reverse-metabolized into clozapine, which, in addition to activating DREADDs, acts as an antagonist at various neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting potential off-target effects of CNO on animal physiology and behaviors. Recently, second-generation DREADD agonists compound 21 (C21) and JHU37160 (J60) have been developed, but their off-target effects are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES The present studies assessed the effect of novel DREADD ligands on reward-seeking behavior. METHODS We first tested the possible effect of acute i.p. injection of low-to-moderate (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 mg/kg) of CNO, C21, and J60 on motivated reward-seeking behavior in wild-type mice. We then examined whether a high dose (10 mg/kg) of these drugs might be able to alter responding. RESULTS Low-to-moderate doses of all drugs and a high dose of CNO or C21 did not alter operant lick responding for a reward under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, in which the number of operant lick responses to obtain a reward increases after each reward collection. However, high-dose J60 resulted in a total lack of responding that was later observed in an open field arena to be due to a sedative effect. CONCLUSIONS This study provides definitive evidence that commonly used doses of CNO, C21, and J60 have negligible off-target effects on motivated reward-seeking but urges caution when using high doses of J60 due to sedative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiatsu Aomine
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Oyama
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koki Sakurai
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Protein Profiling and Functional Proteomics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tom Macpherson
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ozawa
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Takatoshi Hikida
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
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12
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Noguchi H, Arela JC, Ngo T, Cocas L, Pleasure S. Shh from mossy cells contributes to preventing NSC pool depletion after seizure-induced neurogenesis and in aging. eLife 2023; 12:RP91263. [PMID: 38079471 PMCID: PMC10712957 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epileptic seizures induce aberrant neurogenesis from resident neural stem cells (NSCs) in the dentate gyrus of the adult mouse hippocampus, which has been implicated in depletion of the NSC pool and impairment of hippocampal function. However, the mechanisms regulating neurogenesis after seizures remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) from mossy cells is a major source of Shh signaling activity after seizures, by which mossy cells contribute to seizure-induced neurogenesis and maintenance of the NSC pool. Deletion of Shh from mossy cells attenuates seizure-induced neurogenesis. Moreover, in the absence of Shh from mossy cells, NSCs pool are prematurely depleted after seizure-induced proliferation, and NSCs have impaired self-renewal. Likewise, lack of Shh from mossy cells accelerates age-related decline of the NSC pool with accompanying reduction of self-renewal of NSCs outside the context of pathology such as seizures. Together, our findings indicate that Shh from mossy cells is critical to maintain NSCs and to prevent exhaustion from excessive consumption in aging and after seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Noguchi
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Jessica Chelsea Arela
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Thomas Ngo
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Laura Cocas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Santa Clara University, Biology Department, Neuroscience ProgramSanta ClaraUnited States
| | - Samuel Pleasure
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Programs in Neuroscience and Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
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13
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Narimatsu Y, Kato M, Iwakoshi-Ukena E, Moriwaki S, Ogasawara A, Furumitsu M, Ukena K. Neurosecretory Protein GM-Expressing Neurons Participate in Lipid Storage and Inflammation in Newly Developed Cre Driver Male Mice. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3230. [PMID: 38137451 PMCID: PMC10740756 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123230] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity induces inflammation in the hypothalamus and adipose tissue, resulting in metabolic disorders. A novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, neurosecretory protein GM (NPGM), was previously identified in the hypothalamus of vertebrates. While NPGM plays an important role in lipid metabolism in chicks, its metabolic regulatory effects in mammals remain unclear. In this study, a novel Cre driver line, NPGM-Cre, was generated for cell-specific manipulation. Cre-dependent overexpression of Npgm led to fat accumulation without increased food consumption in male NPGM-Cre mice. Chemogenetic activation of NPGM neurons in the hypothalamus acutely promoted feeding behavior and chronically resulted in a transient increase in body mass gain. Furthermore, the ablated NPGM neurons exhibited a tendency to be glucose intolerant, with infiltration of proinflammatory macrophages into the adipose tissue. These results suggest that NPGM neurons may regulate lipid storage and inflammatory responses, thereby maintaining glucose homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Narimatsu
- Laboratory of Neurometabolism, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan (E.I.-U.); (S.M.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kazuyoshi Ukena
- Laboratory of Neurometabolism, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan (E.I.-U.); (S.M.)
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14
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Shimizu M, Yoshimura M, Baba K, Ikeda N, Nonaka Y, Maruyama T, Onaka T, Ueta Y. Deschloroclozapine exhibits an exquisite agonistic effect at lower concentration compared to clozapine-N-oxide in hM3Dq expressing chemogenetically modified rats. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1301515. [PMID: 38099201 PMCID: PMC10720889 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1301515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Within the realm of chemogenetics, a particular form of agonists targeting designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) has emerged. Deschloroclozapine (DCZ), a recently introduced DREADDs agonist, demonstrates remarkable potency in activating targeted neurons at a lower dosage compared to clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). Methods We conducted a comparative analysis of the effects of subcutaneously administered CNO (1 mg/kg) and DCZ (0.1 mg/kg) in our transgenic rats expressing hM3Dq and mCherry exclusively in oxytocin (OXT) neurons. Results and Discussion Notably, DCZ exhibited a swift and robust elevation of serum OXT, surpassing the effects of CNO, with a significant increase in the area under the curve (AUC) up to 3 hours post-administration. Comprehensive assessment of brain neuronal activity, using Fos as an indicator, revealed comparable effects between CNO and DCZ. Additionally, in a neuropathic pain model, both CNO and DCZ increased the mechanical nociceptive and thermal thresholds; however, the DCZ-treated group exhibited a significantly accelerated onset of the effects, aligning harmoniously with the observed alterations in serum OXT concentration following DCZ administration. These findings emphasize the remarkable efficacy of DCZ in rats, suggesting its equivalent or potentially superior performance to CNO at considerably lower dosages, thus positioning it as a promising contender among DREADDs agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Shimizu
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Yoshimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Baba
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Naofumi Ikeda
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yuki Nonaka
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Takashi Maruyama
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Onaka
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Yoichi Ueta
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
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15
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Akter M, Hasan M, Ramkrishnan AS, Iqbal Z, Zheng X, Fu Z, Lei Z, Karim A, Li Y. Astrocyte and L-lactate in the anterior cingulate cortex modulate schema memory and neuronal mitochondrial biogenesis. eLife 2023; 12:e85751. [PMID: 37960975 PMCID: PMC10645423 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocyte-derived L-lactate was shown to confer beneficial effects on synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions. However, how astrocytic Gi signaling in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) modulates L-lactate levels and schema memory is not clear. Here, using chemogenetic approach and well-established behavioral paradigm, we demonstrate that astrocytic Gi pathway activation in the ACC causes significant impairments in flavor-place paired associates (PAs) learning, schema formation, and PA memory retrieval in rats. It also impairs new PA learning even if a prior associative schema exists. These impairments are mediated by decreased L-lactate in the ACC due to astrocytic Gi activation. Concurrent exogenous L-lactate administration bilaterally into the ACC rescues these impairments. Furthermore, we show that the impaired schema memory formation is associated with a decreased neuronal mitochondrial biogenesis caused by decreased L-lactate level in the ACC upon astrocytic Gi activation. Our study also reveals that L-lactate-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis is dependent on monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2) and NMDA receptor activity - discovering a previously unrecognized signaling role of L-lactate. These findings expand our understanding of the role of astrocytes and L-lactate in the brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mastura Akter
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Mahadi Hasan
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Aruna Surendran Ramkrishnan
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Zafar Iqbal
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of SciencesHong Kong SARChina
| | - Xianlin Zheng
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Zhongqi Fu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of SciencesHong Kong SARChina
| | - Zhuogui Lei
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Anwarul Karim
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of SciencesHong Kong SARChina
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
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16
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Mirabella PN, Fenselau H. Advanced neurobiological tools to interrogate metabolism. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:639-654. [PMID: 37674015 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00885-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Engineered neurobiological tools for the manipulation of cellular activity, such as chemogenetics and optogenetics, have become a cornerstone of modern neuroscience research. These tools are invaluable for the interrogation of the central control of metabolism as they provide a direct means to establish a causal relationship between brain activity and biological processes at the cellular, tissue and organismal levels. The utility of these methods has grown substantially due to advances in cellular-targeting strategies, alongside improvements in the resolution and potency of such tools. Furthermore, the potential to recapitulate endogenous cellular signalling has been enriched by insights into the molecular signatures and activity dynamics of discrete brain cell types. However, each modulatory tool has a specific set of advantages and limitations; therefore, tool selection and suitability are of paramount importance to optimally interrogate the cellular and circuit-based underpinnings of metabolic outcomes within the organism. Here, we describe the key principles and uses of engineered neurobiological tools. We also highlight inspiring applications and outline critical considerations to be made when using these tools within the field of metabolism research. We contend that the appropriate application of these biotechnological advances will enable the delineation of the central circuitry regulating systemic metabolism with unprecedented potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Nicholas Mirabella
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Henning Fenselau
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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17
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Codeluppi SA, Xu M, Bansal Y, Lepack AE, Duric V, Chow M, Muir J, Bagot RC, Licznerski P, Wilber SL, Sanacora G, Sibille E, Duman RS, Pittenger C, Banasr M. Prefrontal cortex astroglia modulate anhedonia-like behavior. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4632-4641. [PMID: 37696873 PMCID: PMC10914619 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02246-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Reductions of astroglia expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are consistently found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of patients with depression and in rodent chronic stress models. Here, we examine the consequences of PFC GFAP+ cell depletion and cell activity enhancement on depressive-like behaviors in rodents. Using viral expression of diphtheria toxin receptor in PFC GFAP+ cells, which allows experimental depletion of these cells following diphtheria toxin administration, we demonstrated that PFC GFAP+ cell depletion induced anhedonia-like behavior within 2 days and lasting up to 8 days, but no anxiety-like deficits. Conversely, activating PFC GFAP+ cell activity for 3 weeks using designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) reversed chronic restraint stress-induced anhedonia-like deficits, but not anxiety-like deficits. Our results highlight a critical role of cortical astroglia in the development of anhedonia and further support the idea of targeting astroglia for the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Codeluppi
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Y Bansal
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A E Lepack
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - V Duric
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, IA, USA
| | - M Chow
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J Muir
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - R C Bagot
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - P Licznerski
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - S L Wilber
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - G Sanacora
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - E Sibille
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - R S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C Pittenger
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M Banasr
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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18
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Robinson HL, Nicholson KL, Shelton KL, Hamilton PJ, Banks ML. Comparison of three DREADD agonists acting on Gq-DREADDs in the ventral tegmental area to alter locomotor activity in tyrosine hydroxylase:Cre male and female rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 455:114674. [PMID: 37722510 PMCID: PMC10918529 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114674] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Despite the increasingly pervasive use of chemogenetic tools in preclinical neuroscience research, the in vivo pharmacology of DREADD agonists remains poorly understood. The pharmacological effects of any ligand acting at receptors, engineered or endogenous, are influenced by numerous factors including potency, time course, and receptor selectivity. Thus, rigorous comparison of the potency and time course of available DREADD ligands may provide an empirical foundation for ligand selection. OBJECTIVES Compare the behavioral pharmacology of three different DREADD ligands clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), compound 21 (C21), and deschloroclozapine (DCZ) in a locomotor activity assay in tyrosine hydroxylase:cre recombinase (TH:Cre) male and female rats. METHODS Locomotor activity in nine adult TH:Cre Sprague-Dawley rats (5 female, 4 male) was monitored for two hours following administration of d-amphetamine (vehicle, 0.1-3.2 mg/kg, IP), DCZ (vehicle, 0.32-320 µg/kg, IP), CNO (vehicle, 0.32-10 mg/kg), and C21 (vehicle, 0.1-3.2 mg/kg, IP). Behavioral sessions were conducted twice per week prior to and starting three weeks after bilateral intra-VTA hM3Dq DREADD virus injection. RESULTS d-Amphetamine significantly increased locomotor activity pre- and post-DREADD virus injection. DCZ, CNO, and C21 did not alter locomotor activity pre-DREADD virus injection. There was no significant effect of DCZ, CNO, and C21 on locomotor activity post-DREADD virus injection; however, large individual differences in both behavioral response and receptor expression were observed. CONCLUSIONS Large individual variability was observed in both DREADD agonist behavioral effects and receptor expression. These results suggest further basic research would facilitate the utility of these chemogenetic tools for behavioral neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Robinson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Katherine L Nicholson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Keith L Shelton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Peter J Hamilton
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Matthew L Banks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
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19
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Chen Y, Xu Y, Dai J, Ni W, Ding Q, Wu X, Fang J, Wu Y. Research trends in chemogenetics for neuroscience in recent 14 years: A bibliometric study in CiteSpace. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35291. [PMID: 37800804 PMCID: PMC10552966 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemogenetics has been widely adopted in Neuroscience. Neuroscience has become a hot research topic for scientists. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the current status and trends in the global application of chemogenetics in neuroscience over the last 14 years via CiteSpace. METHODS Publications related to chemogenetics in neuroscience were retrieved from the Science Citation Index-Extended Web of Science from 2008 to 2021. We used CiteSpace to analyze publications, citations, cited journals, countries, institutions, authors, cited authors, cited references, and keywords. RESULTS A total of 947 records were retrieved from 2008 to 2021 on February 21, 2022. The number and rate of publications and citations increased significantly. Journal of Neuroscience was the most cited journal, and BRAIN RES BULL ranked first in the centrality of cited journals. The United States of America (USA) had the highest number of publications among the countries. Takashi Minamoto was the most prolific author and Armbruster BN ranked the first among authors cited. The first article in the frequency ranking of the references cited was published by Roth BL. The keyword of "nucleus accumben (NAc)" had the highest frequency. The top 3 keywords with the strongest citation bursts include "transgenic mice," "cancer," and "blood-brain barrier." CONCLUSION The period 2008 to 2021 has seen a marked increase in research on chemogenetics in neuroscience. The application of chemogenetics is indispensable for research in the field of neuroscience. This bibliometrics study provides the current situation and trend in chemogenetic methods in neuroscience in recent 14 years, which may help researchers to identify the hot topics and frontiers for future studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuerong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunyun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiale Dai
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenqin Ni
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qike Ding
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyuan Wu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianqiao Fang
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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20
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Miguel-Quesada C, Zaforas M, Herrera-Pérez S, Lines J, Fernández-López E, Alonso-Calviño E, Ardaya M, Soria FN, Araque A, Aguilar J, Rosa JM. Astrocytes adjust the dynamic range of cortical network activity to control modality-specific sensory information processing. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112950. [PMID: 37543946 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical neuron-astrocyte communication in response to peripheral sensory stimulation occurs in a topographic-, frequency-, and intensity-dependent manner. However, the contribution of this functional interaction to the processing of sensory inputs and consequent behavior remains unclear. We investigate the role of astrocytes in sensory information processing at circuit and behavioral levels by monitoring and manipulating astrocytic activity in vivo. We show that astrocytes control the dynamic range of the cortical network activity, optimizing its responsiveness to incoming sensory inputs. The astrocytic modulation of sensory processing contributes to setting the detection threshold for tactile and thermal behavior responses. The mechanism of such astrocytic control is mediated through modulation of inhibitory transmission to adjust the gain and sensitivity of responding networks. These results uncover a role for astrocytes in maintaining the cortical network activity in an optimal range to control behavior associated with specific sensory modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Miguel-Quesada
- Neuronal Circuits and Behaviour Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain; Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Marta Zaforas
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Salvador Herrera-Pérez
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Justin Lines
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Elena Fernández-López
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Elena Alonso-Calviño
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Maria Ardaya
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain; Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Federico N Soria
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Araque
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Juan Aguilar
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - Juliana M Rosa
- Neuronal Circuits and Behaviour Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
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21
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Noguchi H, Arela JC, Ngo TT, Cocas L, Pleasure SJ. Shh from mossy cells contributes to preventing NSC pool depletion after seizure-induced neurogenesis and in aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.21.554173. [PMID: 37662214 PMCID: PMC10473584 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.21.554173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Epileptic seizures induce aberrant neurogenesis from resident neural stem cells (NSCs) in the dentate gyrus of the adult mouse hippocampus, which has been implicated in depletion of the NSC pool and impairment of hippocampal function. However, the mechanisms regulating neurogenesis after seizures remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that Shh from mossy cells is a major source of Shh signaling activity after seizures, by which mossy cells contribute to seizure-induced neurogenesis and maintenance of the NSC pool. Deletion of Shh from mossy cells attenuates seizure-induced neurogenesis. Moreover, in the absence of Shh from mossy cells, NSCs pool are prematurely depleted after seizure-induced proliferation, and NSCs have impaired self-renewal. Likewise, lack of Shh from mossy cells accelerates age-related decline of the NSC pool with accompanying reduction of self-renewal of NSCs outside the context of pathology such as seizures. Together, our findings indicate that Shh from mossy cells is critical to maintain NSCs and to prevent exhaustion from excessive consumption in aging and after seizures.
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Ingiosi AM, Hayworth CR, Frank MG. Activation of Basal Forebrain Astrocytes Induces Wakefulness without Compensatory Changes in Sleep Drive. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5792-5809. [PMID: 37487739 PMCID: PMC10423050 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0163-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sleep is regulated by a homeostatic process that increases sleep drive and intensity as a function of prior wake time. Sleep homeostasis has traditionally been thought to be a product of neurons, but recent findings demonstrate that this process is also modulated by glial astrocytes. The precise role of astrocytes in the accumulation and discharge of sleep drive is unknown. We investigated this question by selectively activating basal forebrain (BF) astrocytes using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) in male and female mice. DREADD activation of the Gq-protein-coupled pathway in BF astrocytes produced long and continuous periods of wakefulness that paradoxically did not cause the expected homeostatic response to sleep loss (e.g., increases in sleep time or intensity). Further investigations showed that this was not because of indirect effects of the ligand that activated DREADDs. These findings suggest that the need for sleep is not only driven by wakefulness per se, but also by specific neuronal-glial circuits that are differentially activated in wakefulness.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sleep drive is controlled by a homeostatic process that increases sleep duration and intensity based on prior time spent awake. Non-neuronal brain cells (e.g., glial astrocytes) influence this homeostatic process, but their precise role is unclear. We used a genetic technique to activate astrocytes in the basal forebrain (BF) of mice, a brain region important for sleep and wake expression and sleep homeostasis. Astroglial activation induced prolonged wakefulness without the expected homeostatic increase in sleep drive (i.e., sleep duration and intensity). These findings indicate that our need to sleep is also driven by non-neuronal cells, and not only by time spent awake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Ingiosi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington 99202
| | - Christopher R Hayworth
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington 99202
| | - Marcos G Frank
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington 99202
- Gleason Institute for Neuroscience, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington 99202
- Sleep Performance and Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, 99202
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23
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Wu J, Liu P, Geng C, Liu C, Li J, Zhu Q, Li A. Principal neurons in the olfactory cortex mediate bidirectional modulation of seizures. J Physiol 2023; 601:3557-3584. [PMID: 37384845 DOI: 10.1113/jp284731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the piriform cortex (PC) has been previously implicated as a critical node for seizure generation and propagation, the underlying neural mechanism has remained unclear. Here, we found increased excitability in PC neurons during amygdala kindling acquisition. Optogenetic or chemogenetic activation of PC pyramidal neurons promoted kindling progression, whereas inhibition of these neurons retarded seizure activities induced by electrical kindling in the amygdala. Furthermore, chemogenetic inhibition of PC pyramidal neurons alleviated the severity of kainic acid-induced acute seizures. These results demonstrate that PC pyramidal neurons bidirectionally modulate seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy, providing evidence for the efficacy of PC pyramidal neurons as a potential therapeutic target for epileptogenesis. KEY POINTS: While the piriform cortex (PC) is an important olfactory centre critically involved in olfactory processing and plays a crucial role in epilepsy due to its close connection with the limbic system, how the PC regulates epileptogenesis is largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated the neuronal activity and the role of pyramidal neurons in the PC in the mouse amygdala kindling model of epilepsy. PC pyramidal neurons are hyperexcited during epileptogenesis. Optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of PC pyramidal neurons significantly promoted seizures in the amygdala kindling model, whereas selective inhibition of these neurons produced an anti-epileptic effect for both electrical kindling and kainic acid-induced acute seizures. The results of the present study indicate that PC pyramidal neurons bidirectionally modulate seizure activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Penglai Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Chi Geng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Changyu Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qiuju Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Anan Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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24
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Pereira MJ, Ayana R, Holt MG, Arckens L. Chemogenetic manipulation of astrocyte activity at the synapse- a gateway to manage brain disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1193130. [PMID: 37534103 PMCID: PMC10393042 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1193130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are the major glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). Initially regarded as supportive cells, it is now recognized that this highly heterogeneous cell population is an indispensable modulator of brain development and function. Astrocytes secrete neuroactive molecules that regulate synapse formation and maturation. They also express hundreds of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that, once activated by neurotransmitters, trigger intracellular signalling pathways that can trigger the release of gliotransmitters which, in turn, modulate synaptic transmission and neuroplasticity. Considering this, it is not surprising that astrocytic dysfunction, leading to synaptic impairment, is consistently described as a factor in brain diseases, whether they emerge early or late in life due to genetic or environmental factors. Here, we provide an overview of the literature showing that activation of genetically engineered GPCRs, known as Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), to specifically modulate astrocyte activity partially mimics endogenous signalling pathways in astrocytes and improves neuronal function and behavior in normal animals and disease models. Therefore, we propose that expressing these genetically engineered GPCRs in astrocytes could be a promising strategy to explore (new) signalling pathways which can be used to manage brain disorders. The precise molecular, functional and behavioral effects of this type of manipulation, however, differ depending on the DREADD receptor used, targeted brain region and timing of the intervention, between healthy and disease conditions. This is likely a reflection of regional and disease/disease progression-associated astrocyte heterogeneity. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the effects of such astrocyte manipulation(s) must be conducted considering the specific cellular and molecular environment characteristic of each disease and disease stage before this has therapeutic applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Pereira
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rajagopal Ayana
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G. Holt
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Laboratory of Synapse Biology, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
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25
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Sheng ZF, Zhang H, Phaup JG, Zheng P, Kang X, Liu Z, Chang HM, Yeh ETH, Johnson AK, Pan HL, Li DP. Corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the central nucleus of amygdala are required for chronic stress-induced hypertension. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:1751-1762. [PMID: 37041718 PMCID: PMC10325697 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Chronic stress is a well-known risk factor for the development of hypertension. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) are involved in the autonomic responses to chronic stress. Here, we determined the role of CeA-CRH neurons in chronic stress-induced hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS Borderline hypertensive rats (BHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were subjected to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Firing activity and M-currents of CeA-CRH neurons were assessed, and a CRH-Cre-directed chemogenetic approach was used to suppress CeA-CRH neurons. CUS induced a sustained elevation of arterial blood pressure (ABP) and heart rate (HR) in BHRs, while in WKY rats, CUS-induced increases in ABP and HR quickly returned to baseline levels after CUS ended. CeA-CRH neurons displayed significantly higher firing activities in CUS-treated BHRs than unstressed BHRs. Selectively suppressing CeA-CRH neurons by chemogenetic approach attenuated CUS-induced hypertension and decreased elevated sympathetic outflow in CUS-treated BHRs. Also, CUS significantly decreased protein and mRNA levels of Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 channels in the CeA of BHRs. M-currents in CeA-CRH neurons were significantly decreased in CUS-treated BHRs compared with unstressed BHRs. Blocking Kv7 channel with its blocker XE-991 increased the excitability of CeA-CRH neurons in unstressed BHRs but not in CUS-treated BHRs. Microinjection of XE-991 into the CeA increased sympathetic outflow and ABP in unstressed BHRs but not in CUS-treated BHRs. CONCLUSIONS CeA-CRH neurons are required for chronic stress-induced sustained hypertension. The hyperactivity of CeA-CRH neurons may be due to impaired Kv7 channel activity, which represents a new mechanism involved in chronic stress-induced hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Fu Sheng
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Hua Zhang
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Jeffery G Phaup
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - PeiRu Zheng
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - XunLei Kang
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Zhenguo Liu
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Hui-Ming Chang
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Toxicology, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Edward T H Yeh
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Toxicology, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Alan Kim Johnson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The University of Iowa, G60 Psychological and Brain Sciences Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Hui-Lin Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - De-Pei Li
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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26
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Codeluppi S, Xu M, Bansal Y, Lepack A, Duric V, Chow M, Muir. J, Bagot R, Licznerski P, Wilber S, Sanacora G, Sibille E, Duman R, Pittenger C, Banasr M. Prefrontal Cortex Astroglia Modulate Anhedonia-like Behavior. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3093428. [PMID: 37461693 PMCID: PMC10350119 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3093428/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Reductions of astroglia expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are consistently found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of patients with depression and in rodent chronic stress models. Here, we examine the consequences of PFC GFAP+ cell depletion and cell activity enhancement on depressive-like behaviors in rodents. Using viral expression of diphtheria toxin receptor in PFC GFAP+ cells, which allows experimental depletion of these cells following diphtheria toxin administration, we demonstrated that PFC GFAP+ cell depletion induced anhedonia-like behavior within 2 days and lasting up to 8 days, but no anxiety-like deficits. Conversely, activating PFC GFAP+ cell activity for 3 weeks using designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) reversed chronic restraint stress-induced anhedonia-like deficits, but not anxiety-like deficits. Our results highlight a critical role of cortical astroglia in the development of anhedonia and further support the idea of targeting astroglia for the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.A. Codeluppi
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - M. Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Y. Bansal
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - A.E. Lepack
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - V. Duric
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Des Moines University, Iowa, USA
| | - M. Chow
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - J. Muir.
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - R.C. Bagot
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - P. Licznerski
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - S.L. Wilber
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - G. Sanacora
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - E. Sibille
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - R.S. Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - C. Pittenger
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - M. Banasr
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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27
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Ye T, Romero-Sosa JL, Rickard A, Aguirre CG, Wikenheiser AM, Blair HT, Izquierdo A. Theta oscillations in anterior cingulate cortex and orbitofrontal cortex differentially modulate accuracy and speed in flexible reward learning. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 2:kvad005. [PMID: 37456140 PMCID: PMC10348740 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Flexible reward learning relies on frontal cortex, with substantial evidence indicating that anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) subregions play important roles. Recent studies in both rat and macaque suggest theta oscillations (5-10 Hz) may be a spectral signature that coordinates this learning. However, network-level interactions between ACC and OFC in flexible learning remain unclear. We investigated the learning of stimulus-reward associations using a combination of simultaneous in vivo electrophysiology in dorsal ACC and ventral OFC, partnered with bilateral inhibitory DREADDs in ACC. In freely behaving male and female rats and using a within-subject design, we examined accuracy and speed of response across distinct and precisely defined trial epochs during initial visual discrimination learning and subsequent reversal of stimulus-reward contingencies. Following ACC inhibition, there was a propensity for random responding in early reversal learning, with correct vs. incorrect trials distinguished only from OFC, not ACC, theta power differences in the reversal phase. ACC inhibition also hastened incorrect choices during reversal. This same pattern of change in accuracy and speed was not observed in viral control animals. Thus, characteristics of impaired reversal learning following ACC inhibition are poor deliberation and weak theta signaling of accuracy in this region. The present results also point to OFC theta oscillations as a prominent feature of reversal learning, unperturbed by ACC inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Ye
- Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Anne Rickard
- Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Andrew M Wikenheiser
- Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- The Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Addictions, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hugh T Blair
- Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- The Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alicia Izquierdo
- Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- The Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Addictions, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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28
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Lawson KA, Ruiz CM, Mahler SV. A head-to-head comparison of two DREADD agonists for suppressing operant behavior in rats via VTA dopamine neuron inhibition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.27.534429. [PMID: 37034819 PMCID: PMC10081263 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.27.534429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Rationale Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are a tool for "remote control" of defined neuronal populations during behavior. These receptors are inert unless bound by an experimenter-administered designer drug, most commonly clozapine-n-oxide (CNO). However, questions have emerged about the suitability of CNO as a systemically administered DREADD agonist. Objectives Second-generation agonists such as JHU37160 (J60) have been developed, which may have more favorable properties than CNO. Here we sought to directly compare effects of CNO (0, 1, 5, & 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and J60 (0, 0.03, 0.3, & 3 mg/kg, i.p.) on operant food pursuit. Methods Male and female TH:Cre+ rats and their wildtype (WT) littermates received cre-dependent hM4Di-mCherry vector injections into ventral tegmental area (VTA), causing inhibitory DREADD expression in VTA dopamine neurons in TH:Cre+ rats. Rats were trained to stably lever press for palatable food on a fixed ratio 10 schedule, and doses of both agonists were tested on separate days in a counterbalanced order. Results All three CNO doses reduced operant food seeking in rats with DREADDs, and no CNO dose had behavioral effects in WT controls. The highest tested J60 dose significantly reduced responding in DREADD rats, but this dose also increased responding in WTs, indicating non-specific effects. The magnitude of CNO and J60 effects in TH:Cre+ rats were correlated and were present in both sexes. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the usefulness of directly comparing DREADD agonists when optimizing behavioral chemogenetics, and highlight the importance of proper controls, regardless of the DREADD agonist employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate A Lawson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Christina M Ruiz
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Stephen V Mahler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
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29
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Traut J, Mengual JP, Meijer EJ, McKillop LE, Alfonsa H, Hoerder-Suabedissen A, Song SH, Fehér KD, Riemann D, Molnar Z, Akerman CJ, Vyazovskiy VV, Krone LB. Effects of clozapine-N-oxide and compound 21 on sleep in laboratory mice. eLife 2023; 12:e84740. [PMID: 36892930 PMCID: PMC9998087 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are chemogenetic tools for remote control of targeted cell populations using chemical actuators that bind to modified receptors. Despite the popularity of DREADDs in neuroscience and sleep research, potential effects of the DREADD actuator clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) on sleep have never been systematically tested. Here, we show that intraperitoneal injections of commonly used CNO doses (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) alter sleep in wild-type male laboratory mice. Using electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) to analyse sleep, we found a dose-dependent suppression of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, changes in EEG spectral power during non-REM (NREM) sleep, and altered sleep architecture in a pattern previously reported for clozapine. Effects of CNO on sleep could arise from back-metabolism to clozapine or binding to endogenous neurotransmitter receptors. Interestingly, we found that the novel DREADD actuator, compound 21 (C21, 3 mg/kg), similarly modulates sleep despite a lack of back-metabolism to clozapine. Our results demonstrate that both CNO and C21 can modulate sleep of mice not expressing DREADD receptors. This implies that back-metabolism to clozapine is not the sole mechanism underlying side effects of chemogenetic actuators. Therefore, any chemogenetic experiment should include a DREADD-free control group injected with the same CNO, C21, or newly developed actuator. We suggest that electrophysiological sleep assessment could serve as a sensitive tool to test the biological inertness of novel chemogenetic actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Traut
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jose Prius Mengual
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Elise J Meijer
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura E McKillop
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Hannah Alfonsa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Seo Ho Song
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Kristoffer D Fehér
- Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Division of Psychiatric SpecialtiesGenevaSwitzerland
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Dieter Riemann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Zoltan Molnar
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Colin J Akerman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Vladyslav V Vyazovskiy
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Lukas B Krone
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Centre for Experimental Neurology, University of BernBernSwitzerland
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30
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Maamrah B, Pocsai K, Bayasgalan T, Csemer A, Pál B. KCNQ4 potassium channel subunit deletion leads to exaggerated acoustic startle reflex in mice. Neuroreport 2023; 34:232-237. [PMID: 36789839 PMCID: PMC10399928 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 4 (KCNQ4) subunit forms channels responsible for M-current, a muscarine-sensitive potassium current regulating neuronal excitability. In contrast to other KCNQ subunits, its expression is restricted to the cochlear outer hair cells, the auditory brainstem and other brainstem nuclei in a great overlap with structures involved in startle reflex. We aimed to show whether startle reflexis affected by the loss of KCNQ4 subunit and whether these alterations are similar to the ones caused by brainstem hyperexcitability. Young adult KCNQ4 knockout mice and wild-type littermates, as well as mice expressing hM3D chemogenetic actuator in the pontine caudal nucleus and neurons innervating it were used for testing acoustic startle. The acoustic startle reflex was significantly increased in knockout mice compared with wild-type littermates. When mice expressing human M3 muscarinic (hM3D) in nuclei related to startle reflex were tested, a similar increase of the first acoustic startle amplitude and a strong habituation of the further responses was demonstrated. We found that the acoustic startle reflex is exaggerated and minimal habituation occurs in KCNQ4 knockout animals. These changes are distinct from the effects of the hyperexcitability of nuclei involved in startle. One can conclude that the exaggerated startle reflex found with the KCNQ4 subunit deletion is the consequence of both the cochlear damage and the changes in neuronal excitability of startle networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baneen Maamrah
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen
- Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Pocsai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen
| | - Tsogbadrakh Bayasgalan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen
- Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Andrea Csemer
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen
| | - Balázs Pál
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen
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Ash AM, Regele-Blasco E, Seib DR, Chahley E, Skelton PD, Luikart BW, Snyder JS. Adult-born neurons inhibit developmentally-born neurons during spatial learning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 198:107710. [PMID: 36572174 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Ongoing neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) subregion of the hippocampus results in a heterogenous population of neurons. Immature adult-born neurons (ABNs) have physiological and anatomical properties that may give them a unique role in learning. For example, compared to older granule neurons, they have greater somatic excitability, which could facilitate their recruitment into memory traces. However, recruitment is also likely to depend on interactions with other DG neurons through processes such as lateral inhibition. Immature ABNs target inhibitory interneurons and, compared to older neurons, they receive less GABAergic inhibition. Thus, they may induce lateral inhibition of mature DG neurons while being less susceptible to inhibition themselves. To test this we used a chemogenetic approach to silence immature ABNs as rats learned a spatial water maze task, and measured activity (Fos expression) in ABNs and developmentally-born neurons (DBNs). A retrovirus expressing the inhibitory DREADD receptor, hM4Di, was injected into the dorsal DG of male rats at 6w to infect neurons born in adulthood. Animals were also injected with BrdU to label DBNs or ABNs. DBNs were significantly more active than immature 4-week-old ABNs. Silencing 4-week-old ABNs did not alter learning but it increased activity in DBNs. However, silencing ABNs did not affect activation in other ABNs within the DG. Silencing ABNs also did not alter Fos expression in parvalbumin- and somatostatin-expressing interneurons. Collectively, these results suggest that ABNs may directly inhibit DBN activity during hippocampal-dependent learning, which may be relevant for maintaining sparse hippocampal representations of experienced events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M Ash
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elena Regele-Blasco
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Désirée R Seib
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erin Chahley
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Patrick D Skelton
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Bryan W Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Jason S Snyder
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Galer EL, Huang R, Madhavan M, Wang E, Zhou Y, Leiter JC, Lu DC. Cervical Epidural Electrical Stimulation Increases Respiratory Activity through Somatostatin-Expressing Neurons in the Dorsal Cervical Spinal Cord in Rats. J Neurosci 2023; 43:419-432. [PMID: 36639888 PMCID: PMC9864577 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1958-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that dorsal cervical epidural electrical stimulation (CEES) increases respiratory activity in male and female anesthetized rats. Respiratory frequency and minute ventilation were significantly increased when CEES was applied dorsally to the C2-C6 region of the cervical spinal cord. By injecting pseudorabies virus into the diaphragm and using c-Fos activity to identify neurons activated during CEES, we found neurons in the dorsal horn of the cervical spinal cord in which c-Fos and pseudorabies were co-localized, and these neurons expressed somatostatin (SST). Using dual viral infection to express the inhibitory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD), hM4D(Gi), selectively in SST-positive cells, we inhibited SST-expressing neurons by administering Clozapine N-oxide (CNO). During CNO-mediated inhibition of SST-expressing cervical spinal neurons, the respiratory excitation elicited by CEES was diminished. Thus, dorsal cervical epidural stimulation activated SST-expressing neurons in the cervical spinal cord, likely interneurons, that communicated with the respiratory pattern generating network to effect changes in ventilation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A network of pontomedullary neurons within the brainstem generates respiratory behaviors that are susceptible to modulation by a variety of inputs; spinal sensory and motor circuits modulate and adapt this output to meet the demands placed on the respiratory system. We explored dorsal cervical epidural electrical stimulation (CEES) excitation of spinal circuits to increase ventilation in rats. We identified dorsal somatostatin (SST)-expressing neurons in the cervical spinal cord that were activated (c-Fos-positive) by CEES. CEES no longer stimulated ventilation during inhibition of SST-expressing spinal neuronal activity, thereby demonstrating that spinal SST neurons participate in the activation of respiratory circuits affected by CEES. This work establishes a mechanistic foundation to repurpose a clinically accessible neuromodulatory therapy to activate respiratory circuits and stimulate ventilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika L Galer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
| | - Ruyi Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
| | - Meghna Madhavan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
| | - Emily Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
| | - James C Leiter
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
- Research Service, White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction 05009, Vermont
| | - Daniel C Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
- Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, California
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Cinalli DA, Cohen SJ, Calubag M, Oz G, Zhou L, Stackman RW. DREADD-inactivation of dorsal CA1 pyramidal neurons in mice impairs retrieval of object and spatial memories. Hippocampus 2023; 33:6-17. [PMID: 36468186 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus, a medial temporal lobe brain region, is critical for the consolidation of information from short-term memory into long-term episodic memory and for spatial memory that enables navigation. Hippocampal damage in humans has been linked to amnesia and memory loss, characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Numerous studies indicate that the rodent hippocampus contributes significantly to long-term memory for spatial and nonspatial information. For example, muscimol-induced depression of CA1 neuronal activity in the dorsal hippocampus impairs the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of nonspatial object memory in mice. Here, a chemogenetic designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) approach was used to test the selective involvement of CA1 pyramidal neurons in memory retrieval for objects and for spatial location in a cohort of male C57BL/6J mice. Activation of the inhibitory (hM4Di) DREADDs receptor expressed in CA1 neurons significantly impaired the retrieval of object memory in the spontaneous object recognition task and of spatial memory in the Morris water maze. Silencing of CA1 neuronal activity in hM4Di-expressing mice was confirmed by comparing Fos expression in vehicle- and clozapine-N-oxide-treated mice after exploration of a novel environment. Histological analyses revealed that expression of the hM4Di receptor was limited to CA1 neurons of the dorsal hippocampus. These results suggest that a common subset of CA1 neurons (i.e., those expressing hM4Di receptors) in mouse hippocampus contributed to the retrieval of long-term memory for nonspatial and spatial information. Our findings support the view that the contribution of the rodent hippocampus is like that of the primate hippocampus, specifically essential for global memory. Our results further validate mice as a suitable model system to study the neurobiological mechanisms of human episodic memory, but also in developing treatments and understanding the underlying causes of diseases affecting long-term memory, such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Cinalli
- Department of Psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Sarah J Cohen
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, John D. MacArthur Campus, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Mariah Calubag
- Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Goksu Oz
- Department of Psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.,Florida Atlantic University and Max Planck Florida Institute Joint Integrative Biology - Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA.,International Max Planck Research School for Synapses and Circuits, Florida Atlantic University and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Lylybell Zhou
- Alexander W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Robert W Stackman
- Department of Psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.,Jupiter Life Science Initiative, John D. MacArthur Campus, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA.,Florida Atlantic University and Max Planck Florida Institute Joint Integrative Biology - Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA.,International Max Planck Research School for Synapses and Circuits, Florida Atlantic University and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, USA
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Cushnie AK, Bullock DN, Manea AM, Tang W, Zimmermann J, Heilbronner SR. The use of chemogenetic actuator ligands in nonhuman primate DREADDs-fMRI. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 4:100072. [PMID: 36691404 PMCID: PMC9860110 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) are engineered receptors that allow for genetically targeted, reversible manipulation of cellular activity via systemic drug administration. DREADD induced manipulations are initiated via the binding of an actuator ligand. Therefore, the use of DREADDs is contingent on the availability of actuator ligands. Actuator ligands low-dose clozapine (CLZ) and deschloroclozapine (DCZ) are highly selective for DREADDs, and, upon binding, induce physiological and behavioral changes in rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs). Despite this reported specificity, both CLZ and DCZ have partial affinity for a variety of endogenous receptors and can induce dose-specific changes even in naïve animals. As such, this study aimed to examine the effects of CLZ and DCZ on resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) and intrinsic neural timescales (INTs) in naïve NHPs. In doing so, we evaluated whether CLZ and DCZ - in the absence of DREADDs - are inert by examining these ligands' effects on the intrinsic functional properties of the brain. Low-dose DCZ did not induce consistent changes in rs-FC or INTs prior to the expression of DREADDs; however, a high dose resulted in subject-specific changes in rs-FC and INTs. In contrast, CLZ administration induced consistent changes in rs-FC and INTs prior to DREADD expression in our subjects. Our results caution against the use of CLZ by explicitly demonstrating the impact of off-target effects that can confound experimental results. Altogether, these data endorse the use of low dose DCZ for future DREADD-based experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana K. Cushnie
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Daniel N. Bullock
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Ana M.G. Manea
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Computer Science, Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, 47408, USA
| | - Jan Zimmermann
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Sarah R. Heilbronner
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenergic Neurons Regulate Stress Coping During Subchronic Exposure to Social Threats: A Characteristic Feature in Postpartum Female Mice. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2022:10.1007/s10571-022-01314-4. [PMID: 36577871 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01314-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Stress-coping strategies have been implicated in depression. The control of stress coping may improve the symptom and higher prevalence of depression during the postpartum period in women. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying stress coping remain to be fully elucidated in postpartum women. In this study, we examined how locus coeruleus-noradrenergic (LC-NA) neurons, which have been associated with both stress coping and depression, regulate changes in coping style induced by subchronic exposure to unfamiliar male mice as a social threat in postpartum female mice. In contrast to virgin females, dams exposed to unfamiliar males daily for four consecutive days showed reduced immobility duration in the forced swim test, indicating that exposure to unfamiliar males decreased passive stress coping in dams. Exposure to unfamiliar males also decreased sucrose palatability in the sucrose preference test and suppressed the crouching behavior in the maternal care test but did not affect anxiety-like behavior in the hole-board test in dams. In fiber photometry analyses, LC-NA neurons showed differential activity between dams and virgin females in response to unfamiliar males. Chemogenetic inhibition of LC-NA neurons during exposure to unfamiliar males prevented the social threat-induced decrease in immobility duration in the forced swim test in dams. Furthermore, inhibition or activation of LC-NA neurons exacerbated crouching behavior in dams. These results indicate that LC-NA neurons regulate the social threat-induced decrease in passive stress coping and relieve social threat-induced inhibition of maternal care in postpartum female mice.
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Mesa JR, Wesson DW, Schwendt M, Knackstedt LA. The roles of rat medial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices in relapse to cocaine-seeking: A comparison across methods for identifying neurocircuits. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 4:100031. [PMID: 36277334 PMCID: PMC9583858 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A large body of research supports the notion that regions of the rodent frontal cortex regulate reinstatement of cocaine seeking after cessation of intravenous cocaine self-administration. However, earlier studies identifying the roles of medial (mPFC) and orbital prefrontal cortices (OFC) in reinstatement relied on pharmacological inactivation methods, which indiscriminately inhibited cells within a target region. Here, we first review the anatomical borders and pathways of the rat mPFC and OFC. Next, we compare and contrast findings from more recent cocaine seeking and reinstatement studies that used chemogenetics, optogenetics, or advanced tracing to manipulate specific local cell types or input/output projections of the mPFC and OFC subregions. We found that these studies largely corroborated the roles for mPFC subregions as ascribed by pharmacological inactivation studies. Namely, the prelimbic cortex generally drives cocaine seeking behaviors while the infralimbic cortex is recruited to inhibit cocaine seeking by extinction training but may contribute to seeking after prolonged abstinence. While the OFC remains understudied, we suggest it should not be overlooked, and, as with prelimbic and infralimbic cortices, we identify specific pathways of interest for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier R. Mesa
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 114 Psychology, 945 Center Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA,Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 114 Psychology, 945 Center Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. (J.R. Mesa)
| | - Daniel W. Wesson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marek Schwendt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 114 Psychology, 945 Center Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lori A. Knackstedt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 114 Psychology, 945 Center Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Luo T, Li L, Li J, Cai S, Wang Y, Zhang L, Yu S, Yu T. Claustrum modulates behavioral sensitivity and EEG activity of propofol anesthesia. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 29:378-389. [PMID: 36353753 PMCID: PMC9804072 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The claustrum has long been regarded as a vital center for conscious control. Electrical stimulation or damage to the claustrum can result in decreased awareness or loss of consciousness, suggesting that the claustrum may be a target for the action of general anesthetics. This study aimed to determine the role of the claustrum in propofol anesthesia. METHODS We first applied a fiber photometry calcium signal recording system to record the claustral neuronal activity during the entire process of propofol anesthesia. Chemogenetic activation of claustral neurones was then performed to verify their role in anesthesia. Finally, muscimol (GABAa receptor agonist) and gabazine (GABAa receptor antagonist) were microinjected into the claustrum to determine whether their GABAa receptors were involved in modulating propofol anesthesia. EEG and behavioral indicators, such as anesthetic sensitivity and efficacy, were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS An evident anesthesia-related change in claustrum neuronal activity was suppressed during propofol-induced unconsciousness and restored following recovery from anesthesia. Chemogenetic activation of claustrum neurons results in attenuated propofol sensitivity, a shorter anesthesia duration, and an EEG shift toward wakefulness. Manipulation of GABAa receptors in the claustrum showed bidirectional control of propofol sensitivity, as activation decreases anesthesia efficiency while inactivation augments it. Additionally, inhibiting claustrum GABAa receptors increases cortical EEG slow waves. CONCLUSIONS Claustrum neurones and their GABAa receptors are implicated in the modulation of propofol anesthesia in both behavioral and EEG assessments. Our findings create scope to reveal the brain targets of anesthetic action further and add to the existing evidence on the consciousness-modulating role of the claustrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian‐Yuan Luo
- Department of AnesthesiologyAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina,Guizhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ ProtectionZunyiChina
| | - Long‐Yu Li
- Department of AnesthesiologyChongqing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineChongqingChina
| | - Jia Li
- Department of AnesthesiologyAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina,Guizhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ ProtectionZunyiChina
| | - Shuang Cai
- Department of AnesthesiologyAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina,Key Laboratory of Brain ScienceZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of AnesthesiologyAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Lin Zhang
- Guizhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ ProtectionZunyiChina
| | - Shou‐Yang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Brain ScienceZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Tian Yu
- Department of AnesthesiologyAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina,Guizhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ ProtectionZunyiChina,Key Laboratory of Brain ScienceZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
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Zheng H, López-Ferreras L, Krieger JP, Fasul S, Cea Salazar V, Valderrama Pena N, Skibicka KP, Rinaman L. A Cre-driver rat model for anatomical and functional analysis of glucagon (Gcg)-expressing cells in the brain and periphery. Mol Metab 2022; 66:101631. [PMID: 36368622 PMCID: PMC9677222 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The glucagon gene (Gcg) encodes preproglucagon, which is cleaved to form glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) and other mature signaling molecules implicated in metabolic functions. To date there are no transgenic rat models available for precise manipulation of GLP1-expressing cells in the brain and periphery. METHODS To visualize and manipulate Gcg-expressing cells in rats, CRISPR/Cas9 was used to express iCre under control of the Gcg promoter. Gcg-Cre rats were bred with tdTomato reporter rats to tag Gcg-expressing cells. Cre-dependent AAVs and RNAscope in situ hybridization were used to evaluate the specificity of iCre expression by GLP1 neurons in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) and intermediate reticular nucleus (IRt), and by intestinal and pancreatic secretory cells. Food intake was assessed in heterozygous (Het) Gcg-Cre rats after chemogenetic stimulation of cNTS GLP1 neurons expressing an excitatory DREADD. RESULTS While genotype has minimal effect on body weight or composition in chow-fed Gcg-Cre rats, homozygous (Homo) rats have lower plasma glucose levels. In neonatal and adult Gcg-Cre/tdTom rats, reporter-labeled cells are present in the cNTS and IRt, and in additional brain regions (e.g., basolateral amygdala, piriform cortex) that lack detectable Gcg mRNA in adults but display transient developmental or persistently low Gcg expression. Compared to wildtype (WT) rats, hindbrain Gcg mRNA and GLP1 protein in brain and plasma are markedly reduced in Homo Gcg-Cre rats. Chemogenetic stimulation of cNTS GLP1 neurons reduced overnight chow intake in males but not females, the effect in males was blocked by antagonism of central GLP1 receptors, and hypophagia was enhanced when combined with a subthreshold dose of cholecystokinin-8 to stimulate gastrointestinal vagal afferents. CONCLUSIONS Gcg-Cre rats are a novel and valuable experimental tool for analyzing the development, anatomy, and function of Gcg-expressing cells in the brain and periphery. In addition, Homo Gcg-Cre rats are a unique model for assessing the role of Gcg-encoded proteins in glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyuan Zheng
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Lorena López-Ferreras
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jean-Phillipe Krieger
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stephen Fasul
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Valentina Cea Salazar
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Natalia Valderrama Pena
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Karolina P. Skibicka
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Health and Human Development, Huck Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA,Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden,Corresponding author. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 204 Chandlee Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Linda Rinaman
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA,Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
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Raper J, Eldridge MAG, Sternson SM, Shim JY, Fomani GP, Richmond BJ, Wichmann T, Galvan A. Characterization of Ultrapotent Chemogenetic Ligands for Research Applications in Nonhuman Primates. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3118-3125. [PMID: 36279419 PMCID: PMC9910343 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00525] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemogenetics is a technique for obtaining selective pharmacological control over a cell population by expressing an engineered receptor that is selectively activated by an exogenously administered ligand. A promising approach for neuronal modulation involves the use of "Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules" (PSAMs); these chemogenetic receptors are selectively activated by ultrapotent "Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules" (uPSEMs). To extend the use of PSAM/PSEMs to studies in nonhuman primates, it is necessary to thoroughly characterize the efficacy and safety of these tools. We describe the time course and brain penetrance in rhesus monkeys of two compounds with promising binding specificity and efficacy profiles in in vitro studies, uPSEM792 and uPSEM817, after systemic administration. Rhesus monkeys received subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of uPSEM817 (0.064 mg/kg) or uPSEM792 (0.87 mg/kg), and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected over 48 h. Both compounds exhibited good brain penetrance, relatively slow washout, and negligible conversion to potential metabolites─varenicline or hydroxyvarenicline. In addition, we found that neither of these uPSEMs significantly altered the heart rate or sleep. Our results indicate that both compounds are suitable candidates for neuroscience studies using PSAMs in nonhuman primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Raper
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
| | - Mark A G Eldridge
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jalene Y Shim
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Grace P Fomani
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Barry J Richmond
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Thomas Wichmann
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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Choi JE, Choi DI, Lee J, Kim J, Kim MJ, Hong I, Jung H, Sung Y, Kim JI, Kim T, Yu NK, Lee SH, Choe HK, Koo JW, Kim JH, Kaang BK. Synaptic ensembles between raphe and D 1R-containing accumbens shell neurons underlie postisolation sociability in males. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo7527. [PMID: 36223467 PMCID: PMC9555785 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo7527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Social animals expend considerable energy to maintain social bonds throughout their life. Male and female mice show sexually dimorphic behaviors, yet the underlying neural mechanisms of sociability and their dysregulation during social disconnection remain unknown. Dopaminergic neurons in dorsal raphe nucleus (DRNTH) is known to contribute to a loneliness-like state and modulate sociability. We identified that activated subpopulations in DRNTH and nucleus accumbens shell (NAcsh) during 24 hours of social isolation underlie the increase in isolation-induced sociability in male but not in female mice. This effect was reversed by chemogenetically and optogenetically inhibiting the DRNTH-NAcsh circuit. Moreover, synaptic connectivity among the activated neuronal ensembles in this circuit was increased, primarily in D1 receptor-expressing neurons in NAcsh. The increase in synaptic density functionally correlated with elevated dopamine release into NAcsh. Overall, specific synaptic ensembles in DRNTH-NAcsh mediate sex differences in isolation-induced sociability, indicating that sex-dependent circuit dynamics underlie the expression of sexually dimorphic behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ja Eun Choi
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Dong Il Choi
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Jisu Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Jooyoung Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Min Jung Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Ilgang Hong
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Hyunsu Jung
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Yongmin Sung
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Ji-il Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - TaeHyun Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Nam-Kyung Yu
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Seung-Hee Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea
| | - Han Kyoung Choe
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Technojoongang-daero, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, South Korea
| | - Ja Wook Koo
- Emotion, Cognition & Behavior Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, 61, Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41062, South Korea
| | - Joung-Hun Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77, Cheongam-ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, South Korea
| | - Bong-Kiun Kaang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
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Whitebirch AC, LaFrancois JJ, Jain S, Leary P, Santoro B, Siegelbaum SA, Scharfman HE. Enhanced excitability of the hippocampal CA2 region and its contribution to seizure activity in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Neuron 2022; 110:3121-3138.e8. [PMID: 35987207 PMCID: PMC9547935 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampal CA2 region, an area important for social memory, has been suspected to play a role in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) because of its resistance to degeneration observed in neighboring CA1 and CA3 regions in both humans and rodent models of TLE. However, little is known about whether alterations in CA2 properties promote seizure generation or propagation. Here, we addressed the role of CA2 using the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus model of TLE. Ex vivo electrophysiological recordings from acute hippocampal slices revealed a set of coordinated changes that enhance CA2 PC intrinsic excitability, reduce CA2 inhibitory input, and increase CA2 excitatory output to its major CA1 synaptic target. Moreover, selective chemogenetic silencing of CA2 pyramidal cells caused a significant decrease in the frequency of spontaneous seizures measured in vivo. These findings provide the first evidence that CA2 actively contributes to TLE seizure activity and may thus be a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Whitebirch
- Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - John J LaFrancois
- The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
| | - Swati Jain
- The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
| | - Paige Leary
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Bina Santoro
- Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Steven A Siegelbaum
- Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Helen E Scharfman
- Department of Child Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
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42
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Durieux L, Herbeaux K, Borcuk C, Hildenbrand C, Andry V, Goumon Y, Barbelivien A, Mathis C, Bataglia D, Majchrzak M, Lecourtier L. Functional brain-wide network mapping during acute stress exposure in rats: Interaction between the lateral habenula and cortical, amygdalar, hypothalamic and monoaminergic regions. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5154-5176. [PMID: 35993349 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Upon stress exposure, a broad network of structures comes into play in order to provide adequate responses and restore homeostasis. It has been known for decades that the main structures engaged during the stress response are the medial prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, the hippocampus, the hypothalamus, the monoaminergic systems (noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin) and the periaqueductal gray. The lateral habenula (LHb) is an epithalamic structure directly connected to prefrontal cortical areas and to the amygdala, whereas it functionally interacts with the hippocampus. Also, it is a main modulator of monoaminergic systems. The LHb is activated upon exposure to basically all types of stressors, suggesting it is also involved in the stress response. However, it remains unknown if and how the LHb functionally interacts with the broad stress response network. In the current study we performed in rats a restraint stress procedure followed by immunohistochemical staining of the c-Fos protein throughout the brain. Using graph theory-based functional connectivity analyses, we confirm the principal hubs of the stress network (e.g., prefrontal cortex, amygdala and periventricular hypothalamus) and show that the LHb is engaged during stress exposure in close interaction with the medial prefrontal cortex, the lateral septum and the medial habenula. In addition, we performed DREADD-induced LHb inactivation during the same restraint paradigm in order to explore its consequences on the stress response network. This last experiment gave contrasting results as the DREADD ligand alone, clozapine-N-oxide, was able to modify the network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Durieux
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Karine Herbeaux
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christopher Borcuk
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Cécile Hildenbrand
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Virginie Andry
- CNRS UPR3212, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Mass Spectrometry Facilities of the CNRS UPR3212, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yannick Goumon
- CNRS UPR3212, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Mass Spectrometry Facilities of the CNRS UPR3212, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Alexandra Barbelivien
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Chantal Mathis
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Demian Bataglia
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France.,University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Studies (USIAS), Strasbourg, France.,Université d'Aix-Marseille, Inserm, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS) UMR-S 1106, Marseille, France
| | - Monique Majchrzak
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lucas Lecourtier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
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43
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Ferrari LL, Ogbeide-Latario OE, Gompf HS, Anaclet C. Validation of DREADD agonists and administration route in a murine model of sleep enhancement. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 380:109679. [PMID: 35914577 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemogenetics is a powerful tool to study the role of specific neuronal populations in physiology and diseases. Of particular interest, in mice, acute and specific activation of parafacial zone (PZ) GABAergic neurons expressing the Designer Receptors Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD) hM3Dq (PZGABA-hM3Dq) enhances slow-wave-sleep (SWS), and this effect lasts for up to 6 h, allowing prolonged and detailed study of SWS. However, the most widely used DREADDs ligand, clozapine N-oxide (CNO), is metabolized into clozapine which has the potential of inducing non-specific effects. In addition, CNO is usually injected intraperitoneally (IP) in mice, limiting the number and frequency of repeated administration. NEW METHODS The present study is designed to validate the use of alternative DREADDs ligands-deschloroclozapine (DCZ) and compound 21 (C21)-and a new administration route, the voluntary oral administration. RESULTS We show that IP injections of DCZ and C21 dose-dependently enhance SWS in PZGABA-hM3Dq mice, similar to CNO. We also show that oral administration of CNO, DCZ and C21 induces the same sleep phenotype as compared with IP injection. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS AND CONCLUSION Therefore, DCZ and C21 are powerful alternatives to the use of CNO. Moreover, the voluntary oral administration is suitable for repeated dosing of DREADDs ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loris L Ferrari
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA
| | - Oghomwen E Ogbeide-Latario
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA; Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA
| | - Heinrich S Gompf
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Davis School of Medicine, USA
| | - Christelle Anaclet
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Davis School of Medicine, USA.
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44
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Abstract
The fundamental commonality across pharmacotherapies for the epilepsies
is the modulation of neuronal excitability. This poses a clear
challenge—patterned neuronal excitation is essential to normal
function, thus disrupting this activity leads to side effects.
Moreover, the efficacy of current pharmacotherapy remains incomplete
despite decades of drug development. Approaches that allow for the
selective targeting of critical populations of cells and particular
pathways in the brain have the potential to both avoid side effects
and improve efficacy. Chemogenetic methods, which combine the
selective expression of designer receptors with designer drugs, have
rapidly grown in use in the neurosciences, including in epilepsy. This
review will briefly highlight the history of chemogenetics, their
applications to date in epilepsy, and the potential (and potential
hurdles to overcome) for future translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A. Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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45
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Inhibition of the medial amygdala disrupts escalated aggression in lactating female mice after repeated exposure to male intruders. Commun Biol 2022; 5:980. [PMID: 36114351 PMCID: PMC9481530 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03928-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Virgin female laboratory mice readily express pup care when co-housed with dams and pups. However, pup-sensitized virgins fail to express intruder-directed aggression on a single session of testing. To study whether repeated testing would affect the onset and dynamics of maternal or intruder-directed aggression, we tested dams and their accompanying virgins from postpartum day 4 to 6. Repeated testing led to escalated aggression towards male intruders in dams, but virgins never developed aggression. In dams, inhibition of the medial amygdala using DREADD (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) vectors carrying the hM4Di receptor blocked the expected increase in maternal aggression on the second testing day. Our data support that the onset of maternal aggression is linked to physiological changes occurring during motherhood, and that medial amygdala, a key centre integrating vomeronasal, olfactory and hormonal information, enables the expression of escalated aggression induced by repeated testing. Future studies selectively targeting specific neuronal populations of the medial amygdala are needed to allow a deeper understanding of the control of experience-dependent aggression increase, a phenomenon leading to the high aggression levels found in violent behaviours. The onset of maternal aggression in mice is dependent on physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and lactation, and the medial amygdala is key in the expression of escalated aggression induced by repeated testing.
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Eisdorfer JT, Sobotka-Briner H, Schramfield S, Moukarzel G, Chen J, Campion TJ, Smit R, Rauscher BC, Lemay MA, Smith GM, Spence AJ. Chemogenetic modulation of sensory afferents induces locomotor changes and plasticity after spinal cord injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:872634. [PMID: 36090254 PMCID: PMC9461563 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.872634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulatory therapies for spinal cord injury (SCI) such as electrical epidural stimulation (EES) are increasingly effective at improving patient outcomes. These improvements are thought to be due, at least in part, to plasticity in neuronal circuits. Precisely which circuits are influenced and which afferent classes are most effective in stimulating change remain important open questions. Genetic tools, such as Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), support targeted and reversible neuromodulation as well as histological characterization of manipulated neurons. We therefore transduced and activated lumbar large diameter peripheral afferents with excitatory (hM3Dq) DREADDs, in a manner analogous to EES, in a rat hemisection model, to begin to trace plasticity and observe concomitant locomotor changes. Chronic DREADDs activation, coupled with thrice weekly treadmill training, was observed to increase afferent fluorescent labeling within motor pools and Clarke's column when compared to control animals. This plasticity may underlie kinematic differences that we observed across stages of recovery, including an increased and less variable hindquarters height in DREADDs animals, shorter step durations, a more flexed ankle joint early in recovery, a less variable ankle joint angle in swing phase, but a more variable hip joint angle. Withdrawal of DREADDs agonist, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) left these kinematic differences largely unaffected; suggesting that DREADDs activation is not necessary for them later in recovery. However, we observed an intermittent “buckling” phenomenon in DREADDs animals without CNO activation, that did not occur with CNO re-administration. Future studies could use more refined genetic targeted of specific afferent classes, and utilize muscle recordings to find where afferent modulation is most influential in altering motor output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn T. Eisdorfer
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Hannah Sobotka-Briner
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Susan Schramfield
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - George Moukarzel
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Thomas J. Campion
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rupert Smit
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Bradley C. Rauscher
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michel A. Lemay
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - George M. Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Andrew J. Spence
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrew J. Spence
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47
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Amer A, Martin JH. Repeated motor cortex theta-burst stimulation produces persistent strengthening of corticospinal motor output and durable spinal cord structural changes in the rat. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:1013-1022. [PMID: 35850438 PMCID: PMC10164459 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The strength of connections between motor cortex (MCX) and muscle can be augmented with a variety of stimulation protocols. Augmenting MCX-to-muscle connection strength by neuromodulation may be a way to enhance the intact motor system's capacity for acquiring motor skills and promote function after injury to strengthen spared connections. But this enhancement must be maintained for functional improvements. OBJECTIVE We determined if brief MCX muscle evoked potential (MEP) enhancement produced by intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) can be converted into a longer and structurally durable form of response enhancement with repeated daily and longer-term application. METHODS Electrical iTBS was delivered through an implanted MCX epidural electrode and MEPs were recorded using implanted EMG electrodes in awake naïve rats. MCX activity was modulated further using chemogenetic (DREADDs) excitation and inhibition. Corticospinal tract (CST) axons were traced and immunochemistry used to measure CST synapses. RESULTS A single MCX iTBS block (600 pulses) produced MEP LTP lasting ∼30-45 min. Concatenating five iTBS blocks within a 30-min session produced MEP LTP lasting 24-48 h, which could be strengthened or weakened by bidirectional MCX activity modulation. Effect duration was not changed. Finally, daily induction of this persistent MEP LTP with daily iTBS for 10-days produced MEP enhancement outlasting the stimulation period by at least 10 days, and accompanied by CST axonal outgrowth and structural changes at the CST-spinal interneuron synapse. CONCLUSION Our findings inform the mechanisms of iTBS and provide a framework for designing neuromodulatory strategies to promote durable enhancement of cortical motor actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alzahraa Amer
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, Center for Discovery and Innovation, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Program, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - John H Martin
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, Center for Discovery and Innovation, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Program, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
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48
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Gasterstädt I, Schröder M, Cronin L, Kusch J, Rennau LM, Mücher B, Herlitze S, Jack A, Wahle P. Chemogenetic Silencing of Differentiating Cortical Neurons Impairs Dendritic and Axonal Growth. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:941620. [PMID: 35910251 PMCID: PMC9336219 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.941620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical activity is considered a key driver for the neurochemical and morphological maturation of neurons and the formation of neuronal networks. Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are tools for controlling neuronal activity at the single cell level by triggering specific G protein signaling. Our objective was to investigate if prolonged silencing of differentiating cortical neurons can influence dendritic and axonal maturation. The DREADD hM4Di couples to Gi/o signaling and evokes hyperpolarization via GIRK channels. HM4Di was biolistically transfected into neurons in organotypic slice cultures of rat visual cortex, and activated by clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) dissolved in H2O; controls expressed hM4Di, but were mock-stimulated with H2O. Neurons were analyzed after treatment for two postnatal time periods, DIV 5-10 and 10-20. We found that CNO treatment delays the maturation of apical dendrites of L2/3 pyramidal cells. Further, the number of collaterals arising from the main axon was significantly lower, as was the number of bouton terminaux along pyramidal cell and basket cell axons. The dendritic maturation of L5/6 pyramidal cells and of multipolar interneurons (basket cells and bitufted cells) was not altered by CNO treatment. Returning CNO-treated cultures to CNO-free medium for 7 days was sufficient to recover dendritic and axonal complexity. Our findings add to the view that activity is a key driver in particular of postnatal L2/3 pyramidal cell maturation. Our results further suggest that inhibitory G protein signaling may represent a factor balancing the strong driving force of neurotrophic factors, electrical activity and calcium signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Gasterstädt
- Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Max Schröder
- Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lukas Cronin
- Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julian Kusch
- Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Rennau
- Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Brix Mücher
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stefan Herlitze
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Alexander Jack
- Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Petra Wahle
- Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- *Correspondence: Petra Wahle,
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49
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Liu Y, Xing H, Ernst AF, Liu C, Maugee C, Yokoi F, Lakshmana M, Li Y. Hyperactivity of Purkinje cell and motor deficits in C9orf72 knockout mice. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 121:103756. [PMID: 35843530 PMCID: PMC10369482 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9ORF72 gene is the most frequently reported genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The cerebellum has not traditionally been thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD, but recent evidence suggested a potential role. C9ORF72 is highly expressed in the cerebellum. Decreased C9ORF72 transcript and protein levels were detected in the postmortem cerebellum, suggesting a loss-of-function effect of C9ORF72 mutation. This study investigated the role of loss of C9ORF72 function using a C9orf72 knockout mouse line. C9orf72 deficiency led to motor impairment in rotarod, beam-walking, paw-print, open-field, and grip-strength tests. Purkinje cells are the sole output neurons in the cerebellum, and we next determined their involvement in the motor phenotypes. We found hyperactivity of Purkinje cells in the C9orf72 knockout mouse accompanied by a significant increase of the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BK) protein in the cerebellum. The link between BK and Purkinje cell firing was demonstrated by the acute application of the BK activator that increased the firing frequency of the Purkinje cells ex vivo. In vivo chemogenetic activation of Purkinje cells in wild-type mice led to similar motor deficits in rotarod and beam-walking tests. Our results highlight that C9ORF72 loss alters the activity of the Purkinje cell and potentially the pathogenesis of the disease. Manipulating the Purkinje cell firing or cerebellar output may contribute to C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuning Liu
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Hong Xing
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexis F Ernst
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Canna Liu
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Christian Maugee
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Fumiaki Yokoi
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Madepalli Lakshmana
- Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Yuqing Li
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
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50
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Abstract
The assembly of functional neuronal circuits requires appropriate numbers of distinct classes of neurons, but the mechanisms through which their relative proportions are established remain poorly defined. Investigating the mouse striatum, we found that the two most prominent subtypes of striatal interneurons, parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) GABAergic and cholinergic (ChAT+) interneurons, undergo extensive programmed cell death between the first and second postnatal weeks. Remarkably, the survival of PV+ and ChAT+ interneurons is regulated by distinct mechanisms mediated by their specific afferent connectivity. While long-range cortical inputs control PV+ interneuron survival, ChAT+ interneuron survival is regulated by local input from the medium spiny neurons. Our results identify input-specific circuit mechanisms that operate during the period of programmed cell death to establish the final number of interneurons in nascent striatal networks.
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