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Granton E, Brown L, Defaye M, Moazen P, Almblad H, Randall TE, Rich JD, Geppert A, Abdullah NS, Hassanabad MF, Hiroki CH, Farias R, Nguyen AP, Schubert C, Lou Y, Andonegui G, Iftinca M, Raju D, Vargas MA, Howell PL, Füzesi T, Bains J, Kurrasch D, Harrison JJ, Altier C, Yipp BG. Biofilm exopolysaccharides alter sensory-neuron-mediated sickness during lung infection. Cell 2024; 187:1874-1888.e14. [PMID: 38518773 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.001] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Infections of the lung cause observable sickness thought to be secondary to inflammation. Signs of sickness are crucial to alert others via behavioral-immune responses to limit contact with contagious individuals. Gram-negative bacteria produce exopolysaccharide (EPS) that provides microbial protection; however, the impact of EPS on sickness remains uncertain. Using genome-engineered Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) strains, we compared EPS-producers versus non-producers and a virulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) lung infection model in male and female mice. EPS-negative P. aeruginosa and virulent E. coli infection caused severe sickness, behavioral alterations, inflammation, and hypothermia mediated by TLR4 detection of the exposed lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in lung TRPV1+ sensory neurons. However, inflammation did not account for sickness. Stimulation of lung nociceptors induced acute stress responses in the paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei by activating corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons responsible for sickness behavior and hypothermia. Thus, EPS-producing biofilm pathogens evade initiating a lung-brain sensory neuronal response that results in sickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Granton
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Luke Brown
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Manon Defaye
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Parisa Moazen
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Henrik Almblad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Trevor E Randall
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jacquelyn D Rich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Andrew Geppert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nasser S Abdullah
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mortaza F Hassanabad
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Carlos H Hiroki
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Raquel Farias
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Angela P Nguyen
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Courtney Schubert
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Yuefei Lou
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Graciela Andonegui
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mircea Iftinca
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Deepa Raju
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mario A Vargas
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - P Lynne Howell
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tamás Füzesi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine Optogenetics Core Facility, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jaideep Bains
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Deborah Kurrasch
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Joe Jonathan Harrison
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Christophe Altier
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Bryan G Yipp
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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Navarrete J, Schneider KN, Smith BM, Goodwin NL, Zhang YY, Salazar AS, Gonzalez YE, Anumolu P, Gross E, Tsai VS, Heshmati M, Golden SA. Individual Differences in Volitional Social Self-Administration and Motivation in Male and Female Mice Following Social Stress. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)00033-7. [PMID: 38244753 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.01.007] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A key challenge in developing treatments for neuropsychiatric illness is the disconnect between preclinical models and the complexity of human social behavior. We integrate voluntary social self-administration into a rodent model of social stress as a platform for the identification of fundamental brain and behavior mechanisms underlying stress-induced individual differences in social motivation. METHODS Here, we introduced an operant social stress procedure in male and female mice composed of 3 phases: 1) social self-administration training, 2) social stress exposure concurrent with reinforced self-administration testing, and 3) poststress operant testing under nonreinforced and reinforced conditions. We used social-defeat and witness-defeat stress in male and female mice. RESULTS Social defeat attenuated social reward seeking in males but not females, whereas witness defeat had no effect in males but promoted seeking behavior in females. We resolved social stress-induced changes to social motivation by aggregating z-scored operant metrics into a cumulative social index score to describe the spectrum of individual differences exhibited during operant social stress. Clustering does not adequately describe the relative distributions of social motivation following stress and is better described as a nonbinary behavioral distribution defined by the social index score, capturing a dynamic range of stress-related alterations in social motivation inclusive of sex as a biological variable. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that operant social stress can detect stable individual differences in stress-induced changes to social motivation. The inclusion of volitional behavior in social procedures may enhance the understanding of behavioral adaptations that promote stress resiliency and their mechanisms under more naturalistic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Navarrete
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kevin N Schneider
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Briana M Smith
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Nastacia L Goodwin
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Yizhe Y Zhang
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Axelle S Salazar
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Yahir E Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Pranav Anumolu
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ethan Gross
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Valerie S Tsai
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Mitra Heshmati
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sam A Golden
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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Petrie GN, Balsevich G, Füzesi T, Aukema RJ, Driever WPF, van der Stelt M, Bains JS, Hill MN. Disruption of tonic endocannabinoid signalling triggers cellular, behavioural and neuroendocrine responses consistent with a stress response. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:3146-3159. [PMID: 37482931 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16198] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Endocannabinoid (eCB) signalling gates many aspects of the stress response, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is controlled by corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) producing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Disruption of eCB signalling increases drive to the HPA axis, but the mechanisms subserving this process are poorly understood. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Using an array of cellular, endocrine and behavioural readouts associated with activation of CRH neurons in the PVN, we evaluated the contributions of tonic eCB signalling to the generation of a stress response. KEY RESULTS The CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist AM251, neutral antagonist NESS243 and NAPE PLD inhibitor LEI401 all uniformly increased Fos in the PVN, unmasked stress-linked behaviours, such as grooming, and increased circulating CORT, recapitulating the effects of stress. Similar effects were also seen after direct administration of AM251 into the PVN, while optogenetic inhibition of PVN CRH neurons ameliorated stress-like behavioural changes produced by disruption of eCB signalling. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data indicate that under resting conditions, constitutive eCB signalling restricts activation of the HPA axis through local regulation of CRH neurons in the PVN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin N Petrie
- Neuroscience Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Georgia Balsevich
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tamás Füzesi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert J Aukema
- Neuroscience Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wouter P F Driever
- Department of Molecular Physiology, LIC, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, LIC, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Rasiah NP, Loewen SP, Bains JS. Windows into stress: a glimpse at emerging roles for CRH PVN neurons. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1667-1691. [PMID: 36395349 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00056.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing hormone cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (CRHPVN) control the slow endocrine response to stress. The synapses on these cells are exquisitely sensitive to acute stress, leveraging local signals to leave a lasting imprint on this system. Additionally, recent work indicates that these cells also play key roles in the control of distinct stress and survival behaviors. Here we review these observations and provide a perspective on the role of CRHPVN neurons as integrative and malleable hubs for behavioral, physiological, and endocrine responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neilen P Rasiah
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Spencer P Loewen
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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5
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Rigney N, de Vries GJ, Petrulis A. Modulation of social behavior by distinct vasopressin sources. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1127792. [PMID: 36860367 PMCID: PMC9968743 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1127792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is well known for its peripheral effects on blood pressure and antidiuresis. However, AVP also modulates various social and anxiety-related behaviors by its actions in the brain, often sex-specifically, with effects typically being stronger in males than in females. AVP in the nervous system originates from several distinct sources which are, in turn, regulated by different inputs and regulatory factors. Based on both direct and indirect evidence, we can begin to define the specific role of AVP cell populations in social behavior, such as, social recognition, affiliation, pair bonding, parental behavior, mate competition, aggression, and social stress. Sex differences in function may be apparent in both sexually-dimorphic structures as well as ones without prominent structural differences within the hypothalamus. The understanding of how AVP systems are organized and function may ultimately lead to better therapeutic interventions for psychiatric disorders characterized by social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Rigney
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Sex differences in serotonergic control of rat social behaviour. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 223:173533. [PMID: 36858181 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE There is increasing evidence that enhancement of the salience of social stimuli can have a beneficial effect in managing many psychiatric conditions. There are, however, clear sex-related differences in social behaviour, including the neural mechanisms responsible for different aspects of social functions. OBJECTIVES We explored the role of the serotonergic system on rat social behaviour under baseline and under stressful conditions in female and male rats. METHODS Rats were treated with the selective serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitor escitalopram postnatally; a procedure known to cause a long-lasting reduction of serotonergic activity. In adulthood, social behaviour was tested in a social interaction test and in ultrasonic vocalisation (USVs) recording sessions before and after yohimbine-induced stress-like state. RESULTS Our data demonstrated that both female and, to a lesser extent, male escitalopram treated rats, exposed to a novel social situation, had fewer social exploration events and emitted fewer frequency-modulated calls with trills, trills and step calls, suggesting that an impaired function of the serotonergic system reduced the positive valence of social interaction. In a stress-like state, 50 kHz flat calls were increased only in female rats, indicating an increased seeking of social contact. However, the number of flat calls in escitalopram treated female rats was significantly lower compared with control rats. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that females may respond differently to serotonergic pharmacotherapy with respect to enhancement of beneficial effects of social support, especially in stress-related situations.
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Munier JJ, Marty VN, Spigelman I. Sex differences in α-adrenergic receptor function contribute to impaired hypothalamic metaplasticity following chronic intermittent ethanol exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:1384-1396. [PMID: 35791038 PMCID: PMC9612407 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit maladaptive responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to stress, which has been linked to high rates of relapse to drinking among abstinent individuals. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) parvocellular neuroendocrine cells (PNCs) within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) are critical to stress-induced HPA axis activation. Here, we investigate sex differences in synaptic transmission and plasticity in PNCs following the application of the stress-associated neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) in a rat model of AUD. METHODS Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 40 days of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor and 30 to 108 days of protracted withdrawal. We measured changes in holding current, evoked synaptic currents, and short-term glutamatergic plasticity (STP) in putative PNCs following the application of NE (10 μM) with and without the selective α1 adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist prazosin (10 μM) or the α2AR antagonist atipamezole (10 μM). The experiments were performed using whole-cell patch clamp recordings in slices from CIE rats and air-exposed controls. RESULTS NE application caused two distinct effects: a depolarizing, inward, postsynaptic current and a reduction in amplitude of an evoked glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic current (eEPSC). Both effects were sex- and CIE-specific. Prazosin blocked the postsynaptic inward current, while atipamezole blocked the NE-mediated suppression of eEPSCs. Additionally, STP formation was facilitated following NE application only in stress-naïve males and this response was lost in stressed animals exposed to a 30-min restraint stress following CIE exposure. Furthermore, NE + prazosin restored STP formation in stressed CIE males. CONCLUSIONS NE exerts excitatory and inhibitory effects on CRF PVN PNCs, and both effects are influenced by sex and CIE. Behavioral and hormonal responses to stress are influenced by STP formation within the PVN, which is lost following CIE and restored with the preapplication of prazosin. The selective blockade of α1AR may, therefore, ameliorate CIE-induced deficits in HPA responses to stress in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. Munier
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems and Function, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vincent N. Marty
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems and Function, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Igor Spigelman
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems and Function, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Uhl M, Schmeisser MJ, Schumann S. The Sexual Dimorphic Synapse: From Spine Density to Molecular Composition. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:818390. [PMID: 35250477 PMCID: PMC8894598 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.818390] [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: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A synaptic sexual dimorphism is relevant in the context of multiple neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Many of these disorders show a different prevalence and progression in woman and man. A similar variance is also present in corresponding animal models. To understand and characterize this dimorphism in pathologies it is important to first understand sex differences in unaffected individuals. Therefore, sexual differences have been studied since 1788, first focusing on brain weight, size, and volume. But as these measures are not directly related to brain function, the investigation of sexual dimorphism also expanded to other organizational levels of the brain. This review is focused on sexual dimorphism at the synaptic level, as these specialized structures are the smallest functional units of the brain, determining cell communication, connectivity, and plasticity. Multiple differences between males and females can be found on the levels of spine density, synaptic morphology, and molecular synapse composition. These differences support the importance of sex-disaggregated data. The specificity of changes to a particular brain region or circuit might support the idea of a mosaic brain, in which each tile individually lies on a continuum from masculinization to feminization. Moreover, synapses can be seen as the smallest tiles of the mosaic determining the classification of larger areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Uhl
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael J. Schmeisser
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- *Correspondence: Michael J. Schmeisser,
| | - Sven Schumann
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Sven Schumann,
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Qi Y, Bruch D, Krop P, Herrmann MJ, Latoschik ME, Deckert J, Hein G. Social buffering of human fear is shaped by gender, social concern, and the presence of real vs virtual agents. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:641. [PMID: 34930923 PMCID: PMC8688413 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01761-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of a partner can attenuate physiological fear responses, a phenomenon known as social buffering. However, not all individuals are equally sociable. Here we investigated whether social buffering of fear is shaped by sensitivity to social anxiety (social concern) and whether these effects are different in females and males. We collected skin conductance responses (SCRs) and affect ratings of female and male participants when they experienced aversive and neutral sounds alone (alone treatment) or in the presence of an unknown person of the same gender (social treatment). Individual differences in social concern were assessed based on a well-established questionnaire. Our results showed that social concern had a stronger effect on social buffering in females than in males. The lower females scored on social concern, the stronger the SCRs reduction in the social compared to the alone treatment. The effect of social concern on social buffering of fear in females disappeared if participants were paired with a virtual agent instead of a real person. Together, these results showed that social buffering of human fear is shaped by gender and social concern. In females, the presence of virtual agents can buffer fear, irrespective of individual differences in social concern. These findings specify factors that shape the social modulation of human fear, and thus might be relevant for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Qi
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, Translational Social Neuroscience Unit, University of Wurzburg, 97080, Wurzburg, Germany.
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Dorothée Bruch
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, Translational Social Neuroscience Unit, University of Wurzburg, 97080, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Krop
- Human-Computer Interaction, University of Wurzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Martin J Herrmann
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, Translational Social Neuroscience Unit, University of Wurzburg, 97080, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Marc E Latoschik
- Human-Computer Interaction, University of Wurzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Deckert
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, Translational Social Neuroscience Unit, University of Wurzburg, 97080, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Grit Hein
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, Translational Social Neuroscience Unit, University of Wurzburg, 97080, Wurzburg, Germany.
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Vasopressin Signaling Buffers Synaptic Metaplasticity in a Sex-specific Manner. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1377-1380. [PMID: 34059994 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00718-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Peen NF, Duque-Wilckens N, Trainor BC. Convergent neuroendocrine mechanisms of social buffering and stress contagion. Horm Behav 2021; 129:104933. [PMID: 33465346 PMCID: PMC7965339 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions play a key role in modulating the impact of stressful experiences. In some cases, social interactions can result in social buffering, the process in which the presence of one individual reduces the physiological and behavioral impact of stress in another individual. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that a key initiating factor of social buffering behaviors is the initiation of an anxiogenic state in the individual that was not directly exposed to the stress. This is referred to as stress contagion (a form of emotion contagion). Both processes involve the transmission of social information, suggesting that contagion and buffering could share similar neural mechanisms. In general, mechanistic studies of contagion and buffering are considered separately, even though behavioral studies show that a degree of contagion is usually necessary for social buffering behaviors to occur. Here we consider the extent to which the neuropeptides corticotropin releasing hormone and oxytocin are involved in contagion and stress buffering. We also assess the importance that frontal cortical areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex and infralimbic cortex play in these behavioral processes. We suggest that further work that directly compares neural mechanisms during stress contagion and stress buffering will be important for identifying what appear to be distinct but overlapping circuits mediating these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natanja F Peen
- Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA. USA
| | - Natalia Duque-Wilckens
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA. USA; Departments of Physiology and Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. USA
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA. USA.
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