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Alves CDO, Waku I, Chiossi JN, de Oliveira AR. Dopamine D2-like receptors on conditioned and unconditioned fear: A systematic review of rodent pharmacological studies. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 134:111080. [PMID: 38950840 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111080] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Growing evidence supports dopamine's role in aversive states, yet systematic reviews focusing on dopamine receptors in defensive behaviors are lacking. This study presents a systematic review of the literature examining the influence of drugs acting on dopamine D2-like receptors on unconditioned and conditioned fear in rodents. The review reveals a predominant use of adult male rats in the studies, with limited inclusion of female rodents. Commonly employed tests include the elevated plus maze and auditory-cued fear conditioning. The findings indicate that systemic administration of D2-like drugs has a notable impact on both innate and learned aversive states. Generally, antagonists tend to increase unconditioned fear, while agonists decrease it. Moreover, both agonists and antagonists typically reduce conditioned fear. These effects are attributed to the involvement of distinct neural circuits in these states. The observed increase in unconditioned fear induced by D2-like antagonists aligns with dopamine's role in suppressing midbrain-mediated responses. Conversely, the reduction in conditioned fear is likely a result of blocking dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway. The study highlights the need for future research to delve into sex differences, explore alternative testing paradigms, and identify specific neural substrates. Such investigations have the potential to advance our understanding of the neurobiology of aversive states and enhance the therapeutic application of dopaminergic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila de Oliveira Alves
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil; Institute of Neuroscience and Behavior (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Isabelle Waku
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Joyce Nonato Chiossi
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Amanda Ribeiro de Oliveira
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil; Institute of Neuroscience and Behavior (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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2
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Chang Z, Liu L, Lin L, Wang G, Zhang C, Tian H, Liu W, Wang L, Zhang B, Ren J, Zhang Y, Xie Y, Du X, Wei X, Wei L, Luo Y, Dong H, Li X, Zhao Z, Liang M, Zhang C, Wang X, Yu C, Qin W, Liu H. Selective disrupted gray matter volume covariance of amygdala subregions in schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1349989. [PMID: 38742128 PMCID: PMC11090100 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1349989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Although extensive structural and functional abnormalities have been reported in schizophrenia, the gray matter volume (GMV) covariance of the amygdala remain unknown. The amygdala contains several subregions with different connection patterns and functions, but it is unclear whether the GMV covariance of these subregions are selectively affected in schizophrenia. Methods To address this issue, we compared the GMV covariance of each amygdala subregion between 807 schizophrenia patients and 845 healthy controls from 11 centers. The amygdala was segmented into nine subregions using FreeSurfer (v7.1.1), including the lateral (La), basal (Ba), accessory-basal (AB), anterior-amygdaloid-area (AAA), central (Ce), medial (Me), cortical (Co), corticoamygdaloid-transition (CAT), and paralaminar (PL) nucleus. We developed an operational combat harmonization model for 11 centers, subsequently employing a voxel-wise general linear model to investigate the differences in GMV covariance between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls across these subregions and the entire brain, while adjusting for age, sex and TIV. Results Our findings revealed that five amygdala subregions of schizophrenia patients, including bilateral AAA, CAT, and right Ba, demonstrated significantly increased GMV covariance with the hippocampus, striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, and so on (permutation test, P< 0.05, corrected). These findings could be replicated in most centers. Rigorous correlation analysis failed to identify relationships between the altered GMV covariance with positive and negative symptom scale, duration of illness, and antipsychotic medication measure. Conclusion Our research is the first to discover selectively impaired GMV covariance patterns of amygdala subregion in a large multicenter sample size of patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyu Chang
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Liping Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Liyuan Lin
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, The Ninth Clinical School, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Psychopharmacology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, The Fourth Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, The Fourth Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, The Fourth Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Juanjuan Ren
- Department of Biochemistry and Psychopharmacology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingying Xie
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaotong Du
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaotong Wei
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Luli Wei
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yun Luo
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Haoyang Dong
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Congpei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xijin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Chunshui Yu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Huaigui Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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3
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Kaiya H. Anxious-depressive attack and rejection sensitivity-Toward a new approach to treatment-resistant depression. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2024; 44:17-28. [PMID: 38059339 PMCID: PMC10932773 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12399] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper aimed to find clues to treatment-resistant depression (TRD) solutions. Depression comorbid with anxiety is often treatment-resistant where anxious-depressive attack (ADA) often lurks. ADA is a recently proposed clinical idea for just a psychological version of a panic attack. It mostly begins with an abrupt surge of intense anxiety followed by uninterrupted intrusive thoughts; lasting ruminations about regret or worry produced by violent anxiety, agitation, and loneliness. Acting-out behaviors such as deliberate self-injury and over-dose may also be observed during the attack. As the basic psychopathology of ADA, rejection sensitivity (RS) was revealed by a structural equation model. It is said that the presence of RS in depressive disorders implies a poor prognosis. The following biological markers for RS were reviewed in the literature: first, the involvement of the μ-opioid receptor function in RS and, secondly, hypersensitivity of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) in the medial prefrontal cortex. The latter has been suggested in fear-conditioned animal experiments. Manipulation of the μ-opioid receptor function together with the DRD4 function may culminate in a treatment for RS, which could contribute to the development of a treatment for TRD via the improvement of ADA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisanobu Kaiya
- Panic Disorder Research CenterWarakukai Medical CorporationTokyoJapan
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4
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Hamati R, Ahrens J, Shvetz C, Holahan MR, Tuominen L. 65 years of research on dopamine's role in classical fear conditioning and extinction: A systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:1099-1140. [PMID: 37848184 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16157] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine, a catecholamine neurotransmitter, has historically been associated with the encoding of reward, whereas its role in aversion has received less attention. Here, we systematically gathered the vast evidence of the role of dopamine in the simplest forms of aversive learning: classical fear conditioning and extinction. In the past, crude methods were used to augment or inhibit dopamine to study its relationship with fear conditioning and extinction. More advanced techniques such as conditional genetic, chemogenic and optogenetic approaches now provide causal evidence for dopamine's role in these learning processes. Dopamine neurons encode conditioned stimuli during fear conditioning and extinction and convey the signal via activation of D1-4 receptor sites particularly in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and striatum. The coordinated activation of dopamine receptors allows for the continuous formation, consolidation, retrieval and updating of fear and extinction memory in a dynamic and reciprocal manner. Based on the reviewed literature, we conclude that dopamine is crucial for the encoding of classical fear conditioning and extinction and contributes in a way that is comparable to its role in encoding reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami Hamati
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Ahrens
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cecelia Shvetz
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew R Holahan
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauri Tuominen
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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5
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Jones MJ, Uzuneser TC, Clement T, Wang H, Ojima I, Rushlow WJ, Laviolette SR. Inhibition of fatty acid binding protein-5 in the basolateral amygdala induces anxiolytic effects and accelerates fear memory extinction. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:119-138. [PMID: 37747506 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06468-7] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The endocannabinoid (eCB) system critically controls anxiety and fear-related behaviours. Anandamide (AEA), a prominent eCB ligand, is a hydrophobic lipid that requires chaperone proteins such as Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (FABPs) for intracellular transport. Intracellular AEA transport is necessary for degradation, so blocking FABP activity increases AEA neurotransmission. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of a novel FABP5 inhibitor (SBFI-103) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) on anxiety and fear memory. METHODS We infused SBFI-103 (0.5 μg-5 μg) to the BLA of adult male Sprague Dawley rats and ran various anxiety and fear memory behavioural assays, neurophysiological recordings, and localized molecular signaling analyses. We also co-infused SBFI-103 with the AEA inhibitor, LEI-401 (3 μg and 10 μg) to investigate the potential role of AEA in these phenomena. RESULTS Acute intra-BLA administration of SBFI-103 produced strong anxiolytic effects across multiple behavioural tests. Furthermore, animals exhibited acute and long-term accelerated associative fear memory extinction following intra-BLA FABP5 inhibition. In addition, BLA FABP5 inhibition induced strong modulatory effects on putative PFC pyramidal neurons along with significantly increased gamma oscillation power. Finally, we observed local BLA changes in the phosphorylation activity of various anxiety- and fear memory-related molecular biomarkers in the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk signaling pathways. At all three levels of analyses, we found the functional effects of SBFI-103 depend on availability of the AEA ligand. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate a novel intra-BLA FABP5 signaling mechanism regulating anxiety and fear memory behaviours, neuronal activity states, local anxiety-related molecular pathways, and functional AEA modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, Canada
| | - Taygun C Uzuneser
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, Canada
| | - Timothy Clement
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discoveries, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Hehe Wang
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discoveries, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Iwao Ojima
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discoveries, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Walter J Rushlow
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, Canada.
- Lawson Health Research Institute, 268 Grosvenor St, London, ON, Canada.
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6
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Daniels S, El Mansari M, Hamoudeh R, Blier P. Ketamine promptly normalizes excess norepinephrine and enhances dopamine neuronal activity in Wistar Kyoto rats. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1276309. [PMID: 38026921 PMCID: PMC10644068 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1276309] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ketamine acts primarily by blocking the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor at the phencyclidine site. The rapid antidepressant properties of ketamine were demonstrated in the clinic and several behavioral models of depression in rodents. We hypothesized that the normalization of abnormal activity of monoamine neurons in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats contributes to the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine. A single administration of ketamine (10 mg/kg, i. p) or saline was administered to anesthetized WKY rats before in vivo electrophysiological recordings of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) serotonin (5-HT), locus coeruleus (LC) norepinephrine (NE) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neuronal activity. Pyramidal neurons from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were also recorded before and after a ketamine injection. In the VTA, ketamine elicited a significant increase in the population activity of DA neurons. This enhancement was consistent with findings in other depression-like models in which such a decreased population activity was observed. In the LC, ketamine normalized increased NE neuron burst activity found in WKY rats. In the DRN, ketamine did not significantly reverse 5-HT neuronal activity in WKY rats, which is dampened compared to Wistar rats. Ketamine did not significantly alter the neuronal activity of mPFC pyramidal neurons. These findings demonstrate that ketamine normalized NE neuronal activity and enhanced DA neuronal activity in WKY rats, which may contribute to its rapid antidepressant effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mostafa El Mansari
- Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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7
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Felix-Ortiz AC, Terrell JM, Gonzalez C, Msengi HD, Ramos AR, Boggan MB, Lopez-Pesina SM, Magalhães G, Burgos-Robles A. The infralimbic and prelimbic cortical areas bidirectionally regulate safety learning during normal and stress conditions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.05.539516. [PMID: 37205585 PMCID: PMC10187296 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.05.539516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Safety learning is a critical function for behavioral adaptation, environmental fitness, and mental health. Animal models have implicated the prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) subregions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in safety learning. However, whether these regions differentially contribute to safety learning and how their contributions become affected by stress still remain poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated these issues using a novel semi-naturalistic mouse model for threat and safety learning. As mice navigated within a test arena, they learned that specific zones were associated with either noxious cold temperatures ("threat") or pleasant warm temperatures ("safety"). Optogenetic-mediated inhibition revealed critical roles for the IL and PL regions for selectively controlling safety learning during these naturalistic conditions. This form of safety learning was also highly susceptible to stress pre-exposure, and while IL inhibition mimicked the deficits produced by stress, PL inhibition fully rescued safety learning in stress-exposed mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that IL and PL bidirectionally regulate safety learning during naturalistic situations, with the IL region promoting this function and the PL region suppressing it, especially after stress. A model of balanced IL and PL activity is proposed as a fundamental mechanism for controlling safety learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada C. Felix-Ortiz
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
| | - Jaelyn M. Terrell
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
| | - Carolina Gonzalez
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
| | - Hope D. Msengi
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
| | - Angelica R. Ramos
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
| | - Miranda B. Boggan
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
| | - Savannah M. Lopez-Pesina
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
| | - Gabrielle Magalhães
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States, 02215
| | - Anthony Burgos-Robles
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
- Brain Health Consortium, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78249
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8
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Singh S, Topolnik L. Inhibitory circuits in fear memory and fear-related disorders. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1122314. [PMID: 37035504 PMCID: PMC10076544 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1122314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear learning and memory rely on dynamic interactions between the excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations that make up the prefrontal cortical, amygdala, and hippocampal circuits. Whereas inhibition of excitatory principal cells (PCs) by GABAergic neurons restrains their excitation, inhibition of GABAergic neurons promotes the excitation of PCs through a process called disinhibition. Specifically, GABAergic interneurons that express parvalbumin (PV+) and somatostatin (SOM+) provide inhibition to different subcellular domains of PCs, whereas those that express the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP+) facilitate disinhibition of PCs by inhibiting PV+ and SOM+ interneurons. Importantly, although the main connectivity motifs and the underlying network functions of PV+, SOM+, and VIP+ interneurons are replicated across cortical and limbic areas, these inhibitory populations play region-specific roles in fear learning and memory. Here, we provide an overview of the fear processing in the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex based on the evidence obtained in human and animal studies. Moreover, focusing on recent findings obtained using genetically defined imaging and intervention strategies, we discuss the population-specific functions of PV+, SOM+, and VIP+ interneurons in fear circuits. Last, we review current insights that integrate the region-specific inhibitory and disinhibitory network patterns into fear memory acquisition and fear-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bio-informatics, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Neuroscience Axis, CRCHUQ, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Lisa Topolnik
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bio-informatics, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Neuroscience Axis, CRCHUQ, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Lisa Topolnik
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9
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Meisner OC, Nair A, Chang SWC. Amygdala connectivity and implications for social cognition and disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 187:381-403. [PMID: 35964984 PMCID: PMC9436700 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823493-8.00017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala is a hub of subcortical region that is crucial in a wide array of affective and motivation-related behaviors. While early research contributed significantly to our understanding of this region's extensive connections to other subcortical and cortical regions, recent methodological advances have enabled researchers to better understand the details of these circuits and their behavioral contributions. Much of this work has focused specifically on investigating the role of amygdala circuits in social cognition. In this chapter, we review both long-standing knowledge and novel research on the amygdala's structure, function, and involvement in social cognition. We focus specifically on the amygdala's circuits with the medial prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the hippocampus, as these regions share extensive anatomic and functional connections with the amygdala. Furthermore, we discuss how dysfunction in the amygdala may contribute to social deficits in clinical disorders including autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder, and Williams syndrome. We conclude that social functions mediated by the amygdala are orchestrated through multiple intricate interactions between the amygdala and its interconnected brain regions, endorsing the importance of understanding the amygdala from network perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia C Meisner
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Amrita Nair
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Steve W C Chang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
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10
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Murkar A, De Koninck J, Merali Z. Cannabinoids: Revealing their complexity and role in central networks of fear and anxiety. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:30-46. [PMID: 34487746 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The first aim of the present review is to provide an in-depth description of the cannabinoids and their known effects at various neuronal receptors. It reveals that cannabinoids are highly diverse, and recent work has highlighted that their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) are surprisingly more complex than previously recognized. Cannabinoid-sensitive receptors are widely distributed throughout the CNS where they act as primary modulators of neurotransmission. Secondly, we examine the role of cannabinoid receptors at key brain sites in the control of fear and anxiety. While our understanding of how cannabinoids specifically modulate these networks is mired by their complex interactions and diversity, a plausible framework(s) for their effects is proposed. Finally, we highlight some important knowledge gaps in our understanding of the mechanism(s) responsible for their effects on fear and anxiety in animal models and their use as therapeutic targets in humans. This is particularly important for our understanding of the phytocannabinoids used as novel clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Murkar
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Joseph De Koninck
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Zul Merali
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya; Carleton University, Neuroscience Department, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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11
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Stupin KN, Zenko MY, Rybnikova EA. Comparative Analysis of Pathobiochemical Changes in Major Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2021; 86:729-736. [PMID: 34225595 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921060109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Comparative analysis of available literature data on the pathogenetic neuroendocrine mechanisms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is provided in this review to identify their common features and differences. We discuss the multidirectional modifications of the activity of cortical and subcortical structures of the brain, levels of neurotransmitters and their receptors, and functions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in depression and PTSD. The analysis shows that these disorders are examples of opposite failures in the system of adaptive stress response of the body to stressful psychotraumatic events. On this basis, it is concluded that the currently widespread use of similar approaches to treat these disorders is not justified, despite the significant similarity of their anxiety-depressive symptoms; development of differential therapeutic strategies is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin N Stupin
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg, 199034, Russia
| | - Mikhail Y Zenko
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg, 199034, Russia
| | - Elena A Rybnikova
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
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12
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Hoffman AF, Hwang EK, Lupica CR. Impairment of Synaptic Plasticity by Cannabis, Δ 9-THC, and Synthetic Cannabinoids. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:cshperspect.a039743. [PMID: 32341064 PMCID: PMC8091957 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a039743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The ability of neurons to dynamically and flexibly encode synaptic inputs via short- and long-term plasticity is critical to an organism's ability to learn and adapt to the environment. Whereas synaptic plasticity may be encoded by pre- or postsynaptic mechanisms, current evidence suggests that optimization of learning requires both forms of plasticity. Endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs) play critical roles in modulating synaptic transmission via activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) in many central nervous system (CNS) regions, and the eCB system has been implicated, either directly or indirectly, in several forms of synaptic plasticity. Because of this, perturbations within the eCB signaling system can lead to impairments in a variety of learned behaviors. One agent of altered eCB signaling is exposure to "exogenous cannabinoids" such as the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis, Δ9-THC, or illicit synthetic cannabinoids that in many cases have higher potency and efficacy than Δ9-THC. Thus, by targeting the eCB system, these agonists can produce widespread impairment of synaptic plasticity by disrupting ongoing eCB function. Here, we review studies in which Δ9-THC and synthetic cannabinoids impair synaptic plasticity in a variety of neuronal circuits and examine evidence that this contributes to their well-documented ability to disrupt cognition and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Hoffman
- Electrophysiology Research Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
| | - Eun-Kyung Hwang
- Electrophysiology Research Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
| | - Carl R Lupica
- Electrophysiology Research Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
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13
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Tripathi A, Sato SS, Medini P. Cortico-cortical connectivity behind acoustic information transfer to mouse orbitofrontal cortex is sensitive to neuromodulation and displays local sensory gating: relevance in disorders with auditory hallucinations? J Psychiatry Neurosci 2021; 46:E371-E387. [PMID: 34043305 PMCID: PMC8327972 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.200131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Auditory hallucinations (which occur when the distinction between thoughts and perceptions is blurred) are common in psychotic disorders. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may be implicated, because it receives multiple inputs, including sound and affective value via the amygdala, orchestrating complex emotional responses. We aimed to elucidate the circuit and neuromodulatory mechanisms that underlie the processing of emotionally salient auditory stimuli in the OFC — mechanisms that may be involved in auditory hallucinations. METHODS We identified the cortico-cortical connectivity conveying auditory information to the mouse OFC; its sensitivity to neuromodulators involved in psychosis and postpartum depression, such as dopamine and neurosteroids; and its sensitivity to sensory gating (defective in dysexecutive syndromes). RESULTS Retrograde tracers in OFC revealed input cells in all auditory cortices. Acoustic responses were abolished by pharmacological and chemogenetic inactivation of the above-identified pathway. Acoustic responses in the OFC were reduced by local dopaminergic agonists and neurosteroids. Noticeably, apomorphine action lasted longer in the OFC than in auditory areas, and its effect was modality-specific (augmentation for visual responses), whereas neurosteroid action was sex-specific. Finally, acoustic responses in the OFC reverberated to the auditory association cortex via feedback connections and displayed sensory gating, a phenomenon of local origin, given that it was not detectable in input auditory cortices. LIMITATIONS Although our findings were for mice, connectivity and sensitivity to neuromodulation are conserved across mammals. CONCLUSION The corticocortical loop from the auditory association cortex to the OFC is dramatically sensitive to dopamine and neurosteroids. This suggests a clinically testable circuit behind auditory hallucinations. The function of OFC input–output circuits can be studied in mice with targeted and clinically relevant mutations related to their response to emotionally salient sounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushree Tripathi
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden (Tripathi, Sato, Medini)
| | - Sebastian Sulis Sato
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden (Tripathi, Sato, Medini)
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14
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Dinh HT, Nishimaru H, Le QV, Matsumoto J, Setogawa T, Maior RS, Tomaz C, Ono T, Nishijo H. Preferential Neuronal Responses to Snakes in the Monkey Medial Prefrontal Cortex Support an Evolutionary Origin for Ophidiophobia. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:653250. [PMID: 33841110 PMCID: PMC8024491 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.653250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ophidiophobia (snake phobia) is one of the most common specific phobias. It has been proposed that specific phobia may have an evolutionary origin, and that attentional bias to specific items may promote the onset of phobia. Noninvasive imaging studies of patients with specific phobia reported that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), especially the rostral part of the anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), and amygdala are activated during the presentation of phobogenic stimuli. We propose that the mPFC-amygdala circuit may be involved in the pathogenesis of phobia. The mPFC receives inputs from the phylogenically old subcortical visual pathway including the superior colliculus, pulvinar, and amygdala, while mPFC neurons are highly sensitive to snakes that are the first modern predator of primates, and discriminate snakes with striking postures from those with non-striking postures. Furthermore, the mPFC has been implicated in the attentional allocation and promotes amygdala-dependent aversive conditioning. These findings suggest that the rACC focuses attention on snakes, and promotes aversive conditioning to snakes, which may lead to anxiety and ophidiophobia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Trong Dinh
- System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hiroshi Nishimaru
- System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science (RCIBS), University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Quan Van Le
- System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Jumpei Matsumoto
- System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science (RCIBS), University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Setogawa
- System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science (RCIBS), University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Rafael S Maior
- Primate Center and Laboratory of Neurosciences and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Carlos Tomaz
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, CEUMA University, São Luis, Brazil
| | - Taketoshi Ono
- System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hisao Nishijo
- System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science (RCIBS), University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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15
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Aime M, Augusto E, Kouskoff V, Campelo T, Martin C, Humeau Y, Chenouard N, Gambino F. The integration of Gaussian noise by long-range amygdala inputs in frontal circuit promotes fear learning in mice. eLife 2020; 9:62594. [PMID: 33252331 PMCID: PMC7704104 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Survival depends on the ability of animals to select the appropriate behavior in response to threat and safety sensory cues. However, the synaptic and circuit mechanisms by which the brain learns to encode accurate predictors of threat and safety remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that frontal association cortex (FrA) pyramidal neurons of mice integrate auditory cues and basolateral amygdala (BLA) inputs non-linearly in a NMDAR-dependent manner. We found that the response of FrA pyramidal neurons was more pronounced to Gaussian noise than to pure frequency tones, and that the activation of BLA-to-FrA axons was the strongest in between conditioning pairings. Blocking BLA-to-FrA signaling specifically at the time of presentation of Gaussian noise (but not 8 kHz tone) between conditioning trials impaired the formation of auditory fear memories. Taken together, our data reveal a circuit mechanism that facilitates the formation of fear traces in the FrA, thus providing a new framework for probing discriminative learning and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Aime
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Elisabete Augusto
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Vladimir Kouskoff
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Tiago Campelo
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Christelle Martin
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yann Humeau
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nicolas Chenouard
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Frederic Gambino
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
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16
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Silvers JA, Callaghan BL, VanTieghem M, Choy T, O'Sullivan K, Tottenham N. An exploration of amygdala-prefrontal mechanisms in the intergenerational transmission of learned fear. Dev Sci 2020; 24:e13056. [PMID: 33103280 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Humans learn about their environments by observing others, including what to fear and what to trust. Observational fear learning may be especially important early in life when children turn to their parents to gather information about their world. Yet, the vast majority of empirical research on fear learning in youth has thus far focused on firsthand classical conditioning, which may fail to capture one of the primary means by which fears are acquired during development. To address this gap in the literature, the present study examined observational fear learning in youth (n = 33; age range: 6-17 years) as they watched videos of their parent and an "unfamiliar parent" (i.e., another participant's parent) undergo fear conditioning. Youth demonstrated stronger fear learning when observing their parent compared to an unfamiliar parent, as indicated by changes in their self-reported liking of the stimuli to which their parents were conditioned (CS+, a geometric shape paired with an aversive noise; CS-, a geometric shape never paired with an aversive noise) and amygdala responses. Parent trait anxiety was associated with youth learning better (i.e., reporting a stronger preference for the CS- relative to CS+), and exhibiting stronger medial prefrontal-amygdala connectivity. Neuroimaging data were additionally acquired from a subset of parents during firsthand conditioning, and parental amygdala and mPFC activation were associated with youth's neural recruitment. Together, these results suggest that youth preferentially learn fears via observation of their parents, and this learning is associated with emotional traits and neural recruitment in parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Silvers
- Department of Psychology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bridget L Callaghan
- Department of Psychology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Tricia Choy
- Graduate School of Education, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Nim Tottenham
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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17
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Serotonin-2B receptor antagonism increases the activity of dopamine and glutamate neurons in the presence of selective serotonin reuptake inhibition. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:2098-2105. [PMID: 32473594 PMCID: PMC7547697 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0723-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has implicated the serotonin-2B (5-HT2B) receptor as a possible contributor to the antidepressant-like response. Aripiprazole has been successfully used in combination with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treatment-resistant depression and it, among all receptors, exhibits the highest affinity for the 5-HT2B receptor. However, the potential contribution of such an antagonistic action on 5-HT2B receptors in the context of adjunct therapy is not known. In vivo electrophysiological recordings of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons, dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) 5-HT neurons and pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and the hippocampus were conducted in anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats after the administration of 5-HT2B receptor ligands alone or in combination with the SSRI escitalopram. An escitalopram-induced decrease in DA, but not 5-HT firing activity, was rescued by 2-day co-administration of the selective 5-HT2B receptor antagonist LY266097. In the mPFC, 14-day escitalopram administration alone had no effect on pyramidal neuron firing and burst activity, whereas, aripiprazole administered alone or in combination with escitalopram for 14 days increased pyramidal neuron firing and burst activity. Likewise, the administration of LY266097 alone or its addition on the last 3 days of a 14-day escitalopram regimen increased pyramidal neuron firing and burst activity. These results indicated that 5-HT2B receptors play, at least in part, a role in this enhancement. In the hippocampus, 5-HT2B receptor activation by BW723c86 decreased escitalopram-induced inhibition of 5-HT reuptake, which was reversed by a 5-HT2B receptor antagonist. Altogether, these results put into evidence the possibility that 5-HT2B receptor blockade contributes to the therapeutic effect of aripiprazole addition to SSRIs in depression.
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18
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de Lima MAX, Baldo MVC, Canteras NS. Revealing a Cortical Circuit Responsive to Predatory Threats and Mediating Contextual Fear Memory. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:3074-3090. [PMID: 30085040 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventral part of the anteromedial thalamic nucleus (AMv) receives substantial inputs from hypothalamic sites that are highly responsive to a live predator or its odor trace and represents an important thalamic hub for conveying predatory threat information to the cerebral cortex. In the present study, we begin by examining the cortico-amygdalar-hippocampal projections of the main AMv cortical targets, namely, the caudal prelimbic, rostral anterior cingulate, and medial visual areas, as well as the rostral part of the ventral retrosplenial area, one of the main targets of the anterior cingulate area. We observed that these areas form a clear cortical network. Next, we revealed that in animals exposed to a live cat, all of the elements of this circuit presented a differential increase in Fos, supporting the idea of a predator threat-responsive cortical network. Finally, we showed that bilateral cytotoxic lesions in each element of this cortical network did not change innate fear responses but drastically reduced contextual conditioning to the predator-associated environment. Overall, the present findings suggest that predator threat has an extensive representation in the cerebral cortex and revealed a cortical network that is responsive to predatory threats and exerts a critical role in processing fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcus Vinicius C Baldo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo; São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Newton Sabino Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo; São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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19
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Underlying Susceptibility to Eating Disorders and Drug Abuse: Genetic and Pharmacological Aspects of Dopamine D4 Receptors. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12082288. [PMID: 32751662 PMCID: PMC7468707 DOI: 10.3390/nu12082288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) has a predominant expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), brain area strictly involved in the modulation of reward processes related to both food and drug consumption. Additionally, the human DRD4 gene is characterized by a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the exon 3 and, among the polymorphic variants, the 7-repeat (7R) allele appears as a contributing factor in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying drug abuse, aberrant eating behaviors and related comorbidities. The 7R variant encodes for a receptor with a blunted intracellular response to dopamine, and carriers of this polymorphism might be more tempted to enhance dopamine levels in the brain, through the overconsumption of drugs of abuse or palatable food, considering their reinforcing properties. Moreover, the presence of this polymorphism seems to increase the susceptibility of individuals to engage maladaptive eating patterns in response to negative environmental stimuli. This review is focused on the role of DRD4 and DRD4 genetic polymorphism in these neuropsychiatric disorders in both clinical and preclinical studies. However, further research is needed to better clarify the complex DRD4 role, by using validated preclinical models and novel compounds more selective for DRD4.
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20
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Twining RC, Lepak K, Kirry AJ, Gilmartin MR. Ventral Hippocampal Input to the Prelimbic Cortex Dissociates the Context from the Cue Association in Trace Fear Memory. J Neurosci 2020; 40:3217-3230. [PMID: 32188770 PMCID: PMC7159889 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1453-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The PFC, through its high degree of interconnectivity with cortical and subcortical brain areas, mediates cognitive and emotional processes in support of adaptive behaviors. This includes the formation of fear memories when the anticipation of threat demands learning about temporal or contextual cues, as in trace fear conditioning. In this variant of fear learning, the association of a cue and shock across an empty trace interval of several seconds requires sustained cue-elicited firing in the prelimbic cortex (PL). However, it is unknown how and when distinct PL afferents contribute to different associative components of memory. Among the prominent inputs to PL, the hippocampus shares with PL a role in both working memory and contextual processing. Here we tested the necessity of direct hippocampal input to the PL for the acquisition of trace-cued fear memory and the simultaneously acquired contextual fear association. Optogenetic silencing of ventral hippocampal (VH) terminals in the PL of adult male Long-Evans rats selectively during paired trials revealed that direct communication between the VH and PL during training is necessary for contextual fear memory, but not for trace-cued fear acquisition. The pattern of the contextual memory deficit and the disruption of local PL firing during optogenetic silencing of VH-PL suggest that the VH continuously updates the PL with the current contextual state of the animal, which, when disrupted during memory acquisition, is detrimental to the subsequent rapid retrieval of aversive contextual associations.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Learning to anticipate threat from available contextual and discrete cues is crucial for survival. The prelimbic cortex is required for forming fear memories when temporal or contextual complexity is involved, as in trace fear conditioning. However, the respective contribution of distinct prelimbic afferents to the temporal and contextual components of memory is not known. We report that direct input from the ventral hippocampus enables the formation of the contextual, but not trace-cued, fear memory necessary for the subsequent rapid expression of a fear response. This finding dissociates the contextual and working-memory contributions of prelimbic cortex to the formation of a fear memory and demonstrates the crucial role for hippocampal input in contextual fear learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Twining
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Katie Lepak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Adam J Kirry
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Marieke R Gilmartin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
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21
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Abstract
Understanding the neurobiological basis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is fundamental to accurately diagnose this neuropathology and offer appropriate treatment options to patients. The lack of pharmacological effects, too often observed with the most currently used drugs, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), makes even more urgent the discovery of new pharmacological approaches. Reliable animal models of PTSD are difficult to establish because of the present limited understanding of the PTSD heterogeneity and of the influence of various environmental factors that trigger the disorder in humans. We summarize knowledge on the most frequently investigated animal models of PTSD, focusing on both their behavioral and neurobiological features. Most of them can reproduce not only behavioral endophenotypes, including anxiety-like behaviors or fear-related avoidance, but also neurobiological alterations, such as glucocorticoid receptor hypersensitivity or amygdala hyperactivity. Among the various models analyzed, we focus on the social isolation mouse model, which reproduces some deficits observed in humans with PTSD, such as abnormal neurosteroid biosynthesis, changes in GABAA receptor subunit expression and lack of pharmacological response to benzodiazepines. Neurosteroid biosynthesis and its interaction with the endocannabinoid system are altered in PTSD and are promising neuronal targets to discover novel PTSD agents. In this regard, we discuss pharmacological interventions and we highlight exciting new developments in the fields of research for novel reliable PTSD biomarkers that may enable precise diagnosis of the disorder and more successful pharmacological treatments for PTSD patients.
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22
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Zhang X, Ye X, Cheng R, Li Q, Xiao Z. An Emergent Discriminative Learning Is Elicited During Multifrequency Testing. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1244. [PMID: 31824246 PMCID: PMC6881306 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In auditory-conditioned fear learning, the freezing response is independent of the sound frequencies used, but the frequency of the conditioned sound is considered distinct from those of unrelated sounds based on electrophysiological responses in the auditory system. Whether an emergent discriminative learning underlies auditory fear conditioning and which nuclei and pathways are involved in it remain unclear. Using behavioral and electrophysiological assays, we found that the response of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons to a conditioned auditory stimulus (CS) was enhanced relative to the response to unrelated frequencies (UFs) after auditory fear conditioning, and mice could distinguish the CS during multifrequency testing, a phenomenon called emergent discriminative learning. After silencing the mPFC with muscimol, emergent discriminative learning was blocked. In addition, the pure tone responses of mPFC neurons were inhibited after injection of lidocaine in the ipsilateral primary auditory cortex (A1), and the emergent discriminative learning was blocked by silencing both sides of A1 with muscimol. This study, therefore, provides evidence for an emergent discriminative learning mediated by mPFC and A1 neurons after auditory fear conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingui Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianhua Ye
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Cheng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongju Xiao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Tan T, Wang W, Williams J, Ma K, Cao Q, Yan Z. Stress Exposure in Dopamine D4 Receptor Knockout Mice Induces Schizophrenia-Like Behaviors via Disruption of GABAergic Transmission. Schizophr Bull 2019; 45:1012-1023. [PMID: 30476265 PMCID: PMC6737476 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sby163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
A combination of genetic and environmental risk factors has been considered as the pathogenic cause for mental disorders including schizophrenia. Here, we sought to find out whether the abnormality of the dopamine system, coupled with the exposure to modest stress, is sufficient to trigger the manifestation of schizophrenia-like behaviors. We found that exposing dopamine D4 receptor knockout (D4KO) mice with 1-week restraint stress (2 h/d) induced significant deficits in sensorimotor gating, cognitive processes, social engagement, as well as the elevated exploratory behaviors, which are reminiscent to schizophrenia phenotypes. Electrophysiological studies found that GABAergic transmission was significantly reduced in prefrontal cortical neurons from stressed D4KO mice. Additionally, administration of diazepam, a GABA enhancer, restored GABAergic synaptic responses and ameliorated some behavioral abnormalities in stressed D4KO mice. These results have revealed that the combination of 2 key genetic and environmental susceptibility factors, dopamine dysfunction and stress, is a crucial trigger for schizophrenia-like phenotypes, and GABA system in the prefrontal cortex is a downstream convergent target that mediates some behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY,Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Jamal Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Kaijie Ma
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: 716-829-3058, fax: 716-829-2344, e-mail:
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24
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Fontana BD, Cleal M, Clay JM, Parker MO. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavioral laterality predicts increased short-term avoidance memory but not stress-reactivity responses. Anim Cogn 2019; 22:1051-1061. [PMID: 31342209 PMCID: PMC6834751 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01296-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Once considered a uniquely human attribute, behavioral laterality has proven to be ubiquitous among non-human animals, and is associated with several neurophenotypes in rodents and fishes. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a versatile vertebrate model system widely used in translational neuropsychiatric research owing to their highly conserved genetic homology, well-characterized physiological responses, and extensive behavioral repertoire. Although spontaneous left- and right-biased responses, and associated behavioral domains (e.g., stress reactivity, aggression, and learning), have previously been observed in other teleost species, no information relating to whether spontaneous motor left–right-bias responses of zebrafish predicts other behavioral domains has been described. Thus, we aimed to investigate the existence and incidence of natural left–right bias in adult zebrafish, exploiting an unconditioned continuous free movement pattern (FMP) Y-maze task, and to explore the relationship of biasedness on performance within different behavioral domains. This included learning about threat cues in a Pavlovian fear conditioning test, and locomotion and anxiety-related behavior in the novel tank diving test. Although laterality did not change locomotion or anxiety-related behaviors, we found that biased animals displayed a different search strategy in the Y-maze, making them easily discernable from their unbiased counterparts, and increased learning associated to fear cues. In conclusion, we showed, for the first time, that zebrafish exhibit a natural manifestation of motor behavioral lateralization which can influence aversive learning responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara D Fontana
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK.
| | - Madeleine Cleal
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK
| | - James M Clay
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
| | - Matthew O Parker
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK.
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA, 70458, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK.
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25
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Barón-Mendoza I, Del Moral-Sánchez I, Martínez-Marcial M, García O, Garzón-Cortés D, González-Arenas A. Dendritic complexity in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of the autistic-like mice C58/J. Neurosci Lett 2019; 703:149-155. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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26
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Dopamine D4 receptor gene expression plays important role in extinction and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in mice. Behav Brain Res 2019; 365:1-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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27
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Burke KJ, Bender KJ. Modulation of Ion Channels in the Axon: Mechanisms and Function. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:221. [PMID: 31156397 PMCID: PMC6533529 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The axon is responsible for integrating synaptic signals, generating action potentials (APs), propagating those APs to downstream synapses and converting them into patterns of neurotransmitter vesicle release. This process is mediated by a rich assortment of voltage-gated ion channels whose function can be affected on short and long time scales by activity. Moreover, neuromodulators control the activity of these proteins through G-protein coupled receptor signaling cascades. Here, we review cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in axonal ion channel modulation and examine how changes to ion channel function affect AP initiation, AP propagation, and the release of neurotransmitter. We then examine how these mechanisms could modulate synaptic function by focusing on three key features of synaptic information transmission: synaptic strength, synaptic variability, and short-term plasticity. Viewing these cellular mechanisms of neuromodulation from a functional perspective may assist in extending these findings to theories of neural circuit function and its neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin J. Bender
- Neuroscience Graduate Program and Department of Neurology, Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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28
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Raber J, Arzy S, Bertolus JB, Depue B, Haas HE, Hofmann SG, Kangas M, Kensinger E, Lowry CA, Marusak HA, Minnier J, Mouly AM, Mühlberger A, Norrholm SD, Peltonen K, Pinna G, Rabinak C, Shiban Y, Soreq H, van der Kooij MA, Lowe L, Weingast LT, Yamashita P, Boutros SW. Current understanding of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models and the value of a linguistic approach for analyzing fear learning and memory in humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 105:136-177. [PMID: 30970272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an emotion that serves as a driving factor in how organisms move through the world. In this review, we discuss the current understandings of the subjective experience of fear and the related biological processes involved in fear learning and memory. We first provide an overview of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models, encompassing the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms, the influence of genetic and environmental factors, and how fear learning paradigms have contributed to treatments for fear-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Current treatments as well as novel strategies, such as targeting the perisynaptic environment and use of virtual reality, are addressed. We review research on the subjective experience of fear and the role of autobiographical memory in fear-related disorders. We also discuss the gaps in our understanding of fear learning and memory, and the degree of consensus in the field. Lastly, the development of linguistic tools for assessments and treatment of fear learning and memory disorders is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Raber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Departments of Neurology and Radiation Medicine, and Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Shahar Arzy
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | | | - Brendan Depue
- Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Haley E Haas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Kangas
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Hilary A Marusak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jessica Minnier
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Mouly
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS-UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Seth Davin Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kirsi Peltonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Graziano Pinna
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christine Rabinak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Youssef Shiban
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hermona Soreq
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science and The Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Michael A van der Kooij
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitatsmedizin der Johannes Guttenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Leah T Weingast
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paula Yamashita
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sydney Weber Boutros
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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29
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Watters AJ, Rupert PE, Wolf DH, Calkins ME, Gur RC, Gur RE, Turetsky BI. Social aversive conditioning in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis and with psychosis: An ERP study. Schizophr Res 2018; 202:291-296. [PMID: 29937326 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognition and emotion processing are compromised in schizophrenia. Disruptions in these domains may also be present during the psychosis-risk state. Aversive conditioning is an established translational research paradigm to investigate affective reactivity and learning. Using an aversive conditioning ERP paradigm with social cues, we examined whether psychosis patients and at-risk youths differentially respond to aversively conditioned faces. METHODS Participants (ages 10-30) were enrolled into three demographically-matched groups: clinical risk for psychosis (CR, n = 32), psychosis (PS, n = 26), and healthy control (HC, n = 33). EEGs were recorded during a delay aversive conditioning task in which three neutral faces were paired with an aversive tone at 100%, 50% and 0% contingencies. Analysis focused on group differences in ERP peaks representing visual processing (occipital P120), emotional valence (frontal VPP), and directed attention (parietal-occipital P300), for dimensions of aversiveness (100% vs. 0%) and unpredictability (50% vs. 100% + 0%). RESULTS HC, but not CR or PS, showed increased P300 amplitude to aversive vs. non-aversive conditioned stimuli. CR, but not PS or HC, showed increased VPP amplitude to unpredictable vs. predictable stimuli. CONCLUSIONS PS and CR both fail to allocate appropriate salience to social cues that are predictably aversive. CR, but not PS exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to social cues that are of uncertain salience. Clinical risk for schizophrenia may involve neural abnormalities distinct from both healthy and fully-established disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Watters
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Petra E Rupert
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel H Wolf
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Monica E Calkins
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ruben C Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Raquel E Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bruce I Turetsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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30
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Uliana DL, Resstel LBM, Grace AA. Fear extinction disruption in a developmental rodent model of schizophrenia correlates with an impairment in basolateral amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex plasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:2459-2467. [PMID: 29973655 PMCID: PMC6180011 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0128-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients typically exhibit prominent negative symptoms associated with deficits in extinction recall and decreased ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity (vmPFC, analogous to medial PFC infralimbic segment in rodents). mPFC activity modulates the activity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) and this connectivity is related to extinction. mPFC and BLA activity has been shown to be altered in the methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) developmental disruption model of schizophrenia. However, it is unknown if there are alterations in extinction processes in this model. Therefore, we investigated extinction and the role of mPFC-BLA balance in MAM rats. Male offspring of pregnant rats treated with Saline or MAM (20 mg/kg; i.p.) on gestational day 17 were used in fear conditioning (contextual/tone) and electrophysiological experiments (mPFC-BLA plasticity). No difference was observed in conditioning, extinction, and test sessions in contextual fear conditioning. However, MAM-treated rats demonstrated impairment in extinction learning and recall in tone fear conditioning. Furthermore, high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the BLA decreased spike probability in the mPFC of saline-treated rats but not in MAM rats. NMDA antagonist microinjected into the BLA disrupted extinction learning and recall in control rats, resulting in a similar deficit as that observed in MAM-treated rats. These data demonstrate extinction impairment in the MAM model that is analogous to that observed in schizophrenia patients, that was probably due to disruption in the regulation of mPFC activity by glutamatergic neurotransmission in the BLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela L Uliana
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/SP, 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Leonardo B M Resstel
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Anthony A Grace
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
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31
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Caracheo BF, Grewal JJS, Seamans JK. Persistent Valence Representations by Ensembles of Anterior Cingulate Cortex Neurons. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 12:51. [PMID: 30386219 PMCID: PMC6199524 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responds to outcomes of a positive or negative valence, but past studies typically focus on one valence or the other, making it difficult to know how opposing valences are disambiguated. We recorded from ACC neurons as rats received tones followed by aversive, appetitive or null outcomes. The responses to the different tones/outcomes were highly inter-mixed at the single neuron level but combined to produce robust valence-specific representations at the ensemble level. The valence-specific patterns far outlasted the tones and outcomes, persisting throughout the long inter-trial intervals (ITIs) and even throughout trial blocks. When the trials were interleaved, the valence-specific patterns abruptly shifted at the start of each new trial. Overall the aversive trials had the greatest impact on the neurons. Thus within the ACC, valence-specificity is largely an emergent property of ensembles and valence-specific representations can appear quickly and persist long after the initiating event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barak F Caracheo
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jamie J S Grewal
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeremy K Seamans
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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32
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Burke KJ, Keeshen CM, Bender KJ. Two Forms of Synaptic Depression Produced by Differential Neuromodulation of Presynaptic Calcium Channels. Neuron 2018; 99:969-984.e7. [PMID: 30122380 PMCID: PMC7874512 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuromodulators are important regulators of synaptic transmission throughout the brain. At the presynaptic terminal, neuromodulation of calcium channels (CaVs) can affect transmission not only by changing neurotransmitter release probability, but also by shaping short-term plasticity (STP). Indeed, changes in STP are often considered a requirement for defining a presynaptic site of action. Nevertheless, some synapses exhibit non-canonical forms of neuromodulation, where release probability is altered without a corresponding change in STP. Here, we identify biophysical mechanisms whereby both canonical and non-canonical presynaptic neuromodulation can occur at the same synapse. At a subset of glutamatergic terminals in prefrontal cortex, GABAB and D1/D5 dopamine receptors suppress release probability with and without canonical increases in short-term facilitation by modulating different aspects of presynaptic CaV function. These findings establish a framework whereby signaling from multiple neuromodulators can converge on presynaptic CaVs to differentially tune release dynamics at the same synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth J Burke
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Caroline M Keeshen
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kevin J Bender
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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33
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Yizhar O, Klavir O. Reciprocal amygdala-prefrontal interactions in learning. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 52:149-155. [PMID: 29982085 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Animals constantly evaluate their environment in order to avoid potential threats and obtain reward in the form of food, shelter and social interactions. In order to appropriately respond to sensory cues from the environment, the brain needs to form and store multiple cue-outcome associations. These can then be used to form predictions of the valence of sounds, smells and other sensory inputs arising from the surroundings. However, these associations must be subject to constant update, as the environment can rapidly change. Failing to adapt to such change can be detrimental to survival. Several systems in the mammalian brain have evolved to perform these important behavioral functions. Among these systems, the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are prominent players. Although the amygdala has been shown to form strong cue-outcome associations, the prefrontal cortex is essential for modifying these associations through extinction and reversal learning, and synaptic plasticity occurring in the strong reciprocal connections between these structures is thought to underlie both adaptive and maladaptive learning. Here we review the synaptic organization of the amygdala-prefrontal circuit, and summarize the physiological and behavioral evidence for its involvement in appetitive and aversive learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofer Yizhar
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Oded Klavir
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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34
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Jobson CLM, Renard J, Szkudlarek H, Rosen LG, Pereira B, Wright DJ, Rushlow W, Laviolette SR. Adolescent Nicotine Exposure Induces Dysregulation of Mesocorticolimbic Activity States and Depressive and Anxiety-like Prefrontal Cortical Molecular Phenotypes Persisting into Adulthood. Cereb Cortex 2018; 29:3140-3153. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Considerable evidence demonstrates strong comorbidity between nicotine dependence and mood and anxiety disorders. Nevertheless, the neurobiological mechanisms linking adolescent nicotine exposure to mood and anxiety disorders are not known. Disturbances in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system, comprising the prefrontal cortex (PFC), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and nucleus accumbens (NAc), are correlates of mood and anxiety-related symptoms and this circuitry is strongly influenced by acute or chronic nicotine exposure. Using a combination of behavioral pharmacology, in vivo neuronal electrophysiology and molecular analyses, we examined and compared the effects of chronic nicotine exposure in rats during adolescence versus adulthood to characterize the mechanisms by which adolescent nicotine may selectively confer increased risk of developing mood and anxiety-related symptoms in later life. We report that exposure to nicotine, selectively during adolescence, induces profound and long-lasting neuronal, molecular and behavioral disturbances involving PFC DA D1R and downstream extracellular-signal-related kinase 1-2 (ERK 1-2) signaling. Remarkably, adolescent nicotine induced a persistent state of hyperactive DA activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) concomitant with hyperactive neuronal activity states in the PFC. Our findings identify several unique neuronal and molecular biomarkers that may serve as functional risk mechanisms for the long-lasting neuropsychiatric effects of adolescent smoking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L M Jobson
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justine Renard
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna Szkudlarek
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura G Rosen
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian Pereira
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel J Wright
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Walter Rushlow
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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35
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Rea K, McGowan F, Corcoran L, Roche M, Finn DP. The prefrontal cortical endocannabinoid system modulates fear-pain interactions in a subregion-specific manner. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 176:1492-1505. [PMID: 29847859 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The emotional processing and coordination of top-down responses to noxious and conditioned aversive stimuli involves the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Evidence suggests that subregions of the mPFC [infralimbic (IfL), prelimbic (PrL) and anterior cingulate (ACC) cortices] differentially alter the expression of contextually induced fear and nociceptive behaviour. We investigated the role of the endocannabinoid system in the IfL, PrL and ACC in formalin-evoked nociceptive behaviour, fear-conditioned analgesia (FCA) and conditioned fear in the presence of nociceptive tone. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH FCA was modelled in male Lister-hooded rats by assessing formalin-evoked nociceptive behaviour in an arena previously paired with footshock. The effects of intra-mPFC administration of AM251 [cannabinoid type 1 (CB1 ) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist], URB597 [fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor] or URB597 + AM251 on FCA and freezing behaviour were assessed. KEY RESULTS AM251 attenuated FCA when injected into the IfL or PrL and reduced contextually induced freezing behaviour when injected intra-IfL but not intra-PrL or intra-ACC. Intra-ACC administration of AM251 alone or in combination with URB597 had no effect on FCA or freezing. URB597 attenuated FCA and freezing behaviour when injected intra-IfL, prolonged the expression of FCA when injected intra-PrL and had no effect on these behaviours when injected intra-ACC. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest important and differing roles for FAAH substrates or CB1 receptors in the PrL, IfL and ACC in the expression of FCA and conditioned fear in the presence of nociceptive tone. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on 8th European Workshop on Cannabinoid Research. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Rea
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, NCBES, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Fiona McGowan
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, NCBES, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Louise Corcoran
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, NCBES, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michelle Roche
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, NCBES, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - David P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, NCBES, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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36
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Temporally dissociable effects of ketamine on neuronal discharge and gamma oscillations in rat thalamo-cortical networks. Neuropharmacology 2018; 137:13-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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37
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Jing Li J, Szkudlarek H, Renard J, Hudson R, Rushlow W, Laviolette SR. Fear Memory Recall Potentiates Opiate Reward Sensitivity through Dissociable Dopamine D1 versus D4 Receptor-Dependent Memory Mechanisms in the Prefrontal Cortex. J Neurosci 2018; 38:4543-4555. [PMID: 29686048 PMCID: PMC6705931 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3113-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Disturbances in prefrontal cortical (PFC) dopamine (DA) transmission are well established features of psychiatric disorders involving pathological memory processing, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. Transmission through PFC DA D4 receptors (D4Rs) has been shown to potentiate the emotional salience of normally nonsalient emotional memories, whereas transmission through PFC DA D1 receptors (D1Rs) has been demonstrated to selectively block recall of reward- or aversion-related associative memories. In the present study, using a combination of fear conditioning and opiate reward conditioning in male rats, we examined the role of PFC D4/D1R signaling during the processing of fear-related memory acquisition and recall and subsequent sensitivity to opiate reward memory formation. We report that PFC D4R activation potentiates the salience of normally subthreshold fear conditioning memory cues and simultaneously potentiates the rewarding effects of systemic or intra-ventral tegmental area (VTA) morphine conditioning cues. In contrast, blocking the recall of salient fear memories with intra-PFC D1R activation, blocks the ability of fear memory recall to potentiate systemic or intra-VTA morphine place preference. These effects were dependent upon dissociable PFC phosphorylation states involving calcium-calmodulin-kinase II or extracellular signal-related kinase 1-2, following intra-PFC D4 or D1R activation, respectively. Together, these findings reveal new insights into how aberrant PFC DAergic transmission and associated downstream molecular signaling pathways may modulate fear-related emotional memory processing and concomitantly increase opioid addiction vulnerability.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Post-traumatic stress disorder is highly comorbid with addiction. In this study, we use a translational model of fear memory conditioning to examine how transmission through dopamine D1 or D4 receptors, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), may differentially control acquisition or recall of fear memories and how these mechanisms might regulate sensitivity to the rewarding effects of opioids. We demonstrate that PFC D4 activation not only controls the salience of fear memory acquisition, but potentiates the rewarding effects of opioids. In contrast, PFC D1 receptor activation blocks recall of fear memories and prevents potentiation of opioid reward effects. Together, these findings demonstrate novel PFC mechanisms that may account for how emotional memory disturbances might increase the addictive liability of opioid-class drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roger Hudson
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and
- Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Walter Rushlow
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and
- Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and
- Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
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Song C, Moyer JR. Layer- and subregion-specific differences in the neurophysiological properties of rat medial prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons. J Neurophysiol 2018; 119:177-191. [PMID: 28978762 PMCID: PMC5866461 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00146.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is critical for the expression of long-term conditioned fear. However, the neural circuits involving fear memory acquisition and retrieval are still unclear. Two subregions within mPFC that have received a lot of attention are the prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) cortices (e.g., Santini E, Quirk GJ, Porter JT. J Neurosci 28: 4028-4036, 2008; Song C, Ehlers VL, Moyer JR Jr J Neurosci 35: 13511-13524, 2015). Interestingly, PL and IL may play distinct roles during fear memory acquisition and retrieval but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. One possibility is that the intrinsic membrane properties differ between these subregions. Thus, the current study was carried out to characterize the basic membrane properties of mPFC neurons in different layers and subregions. We found that pyramidal neurons in L2/3 were more hyperpolarized and less excitable than in L5. This was observed in both IL and PL and was associated with an enhanced h-current in L5 neurons. Within L2/3, IL neurons were more excitable than those in PL, which may be due to a lower spike threshold and higher input resistance in IL neurons. Within L5, the intrinsic excitability was comparable between neurons obtained in IL and PL. Thus, the heterogeneity in physiological properties of mPFC neurons may underlie the observed subregion-specific contribution of mPFC in cognitive function and emotional control, such as fear memory expression. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to demonstrate that medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) neurons are heterogeneous in both a layer- and a subregion-specific manner. Specifically, L5 neurons are more depolarized and more excitable than those neurons in L2/3, which is likely due to variations in h-current. Also, infralimbic neurons are more excitable than those of prelimbic neurons in layer 2/3, which may be due to differences in certain intrinsic properties, including input resistance and spike threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghui Song
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - James R Moyer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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39
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Carlisi CO, Robinson OJ. The role of prefrontal-subcortical circuitry in negative bias in anxiety: Translational, developmental and treatment perspectives. Brain Neurosci Adv 2018; 2:2398212818774223. [PMID: 30167466 PMCID: PMC6097108 DOI: 10.1177/2398212818774223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common cause of mental ill health in the developed world, but our understanding of symptoms and treatments is not presently grounded in knowledge of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. In this review, we discuss accumulating work that points to a role for prefrontal-subcortical brain circuitry in driving a core psychological symptom of anxiety disorders - negative affective bias. Specifically, we point to converging work across humans and animal models, suggesting a reciprocal relationship between dorsal and ventral prefrontal-amygdala circuits in promoting and inhibiting negative bias, respectively. We discuss how the developmental trajectory of these circuits may lead to the onset of anxiety during adolescence and, moreover, how effective pharmacological and psychological treatments may serve to shift the balance of activity within this circuitry to ameliorate negative bias symptoms. Together, these findings may bring us closer to a mechanistic, neurobiological understanding of anxiety disorders and their treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina O. Carlisi
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Oliver J. Robinson
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
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van den Munkhof HE, Arnt J, Celada P, Artigas F. The antipsychotic drug brexpiprazole reverses phencyclidine-induced disruptions of thalamocortical networks. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 27:1248-1257. [PMID: 29128144 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2017.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Brexpiprazole (BREX), a recently approved antipsychotic drug in the US and Canada, improves cognitive dysfunction in animal models, by still largely unknown mechanisms. BREX is a partial agonist at 5-HT1A and D2 receptors and antagonist at α1B- and α2C-adrenergic and 5-HT2A receptors all with a similar potency. The NMDA receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP), used as pharmacological model of schizophrenia, activates thalamocortical networks and decreases low frequency oscillations (LFO; <4 Hz). These effects are reversed by antipsychotics. Here we assessed the ability of BREX to reverse PCP-induced hyperactivity of thalamocortical circuits, and the involvement of 5-HT1A receptors in its therapeutic action. BREX reversed PCP-induced neuronal activation at a lower dose in centromedial/mediodorsal thalamic nuclei (CM/MD; 0.5mg/kg) than in pyramidal medial prefrontal cortex neurons (mPFC, 2mg/kg), perhaps due to antagonism at α1B-adrenoceptors, abundantly expressed in the thalamus. Conversely, a cumulative 0.5 mg/kg dose reversed a PCP-induced LFO decrease in mPFC but not in CM/MD. BREX reduced LFO in both areas, yet with a different dose-response, and moderately excited mPFC neurons. The latter effect was reversed by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635. Thus, BREX partly antagonizes PCP-induced thalamocortical hyperactivity, differentially in mPFC versus CM/MD. This regional selectivity may be related to the differential expression of α1B-, α2C-adrenergic and 5-HT2A receptors in both regions and/or different neuronal types. Furthermore, the pro-cognitive properties of BREX may be related to the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated increase in mPFC pyramidal neuron activity. Overall, the present data provide new insight on the brain elements involved in BREX's therapeutic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna E van den Munkhof
- Department of Neurochemistry and Neuropharmacology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jørn Arnt
- Lundbeck: Synaptic Transmission, Neuroscience Drug Discovery, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark; Sunred Pharma Consulting ApS, Svend Gonges Vej 11A, DK-2680 Solrod Strand, Denmark
| | - Pau Celada
- Department of Neurochemistry and Neuropharmacology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Francesc Artigas
- Department of Neurochemistry and Neuropharmacology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
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Inhibitory Gating of Basolateral Amygdala Inputs to the Prefrontal Cortex. J Neurosci 2017; 36:9391-406. [PMID: 27605614 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0874-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Interactions between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) regulate emotional behaviors. However, a circuit-level understanding of functional connections between these brain regions remains incomplete. The BLA sends prominent glutamatergic projections to the PFC, but the overall influence of these inputs is predominantly inhibitory. Here we combine targeted recordings and optogenetics to examine the synaptic underpinnings of this inhibition in the mouse infralimbic PFC. We find that BLA inputs preferentially target layer 2 corticoamygdala over neighboring corticostriatal neurons. However, these inputs make even stronger connections onto neighboring parvalbumin and somatostatin expressing interneurons. Inhibitory connections from these two populations of interneurons are also much stronger onto corticoamygdala neurons. Consequently, BLA inputs are able to drive robust feedforward inhibition via two parallel interneuron pathways. Moreover, the contributions of these interneurons shift during repetitive activity, due to differences in short-term synaptic dynamics. Thus, parvalbumin interneurons are activated at the start of stimulus trains, whereas somatostatin interneuron activation builds during these trains. Together, these results reveal how the BLA impacts the PFC through a complex interplay of direct excitation and feedforward inhibition. They also highlight the roles of targeted connections onto multiple projection neurons and interneurons in this cortical circuit. Our findings provide a mechanistic understanding for how the BLA can influence the PFC circuit, with important implications for how this circuit participates in the regulation of emotion. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) interact to control emotional behaviors. Here we show that BLA inputs elicit direct excitation and feedforward inhibition of layer 2 projection neurons in infralimbic PFC. BLA inputs are much stronger at corticoamygdala neurons compared with nearby corticostriatal neurons. However, these inputs are even more powerful at parvalbumin and somatostatin expressing interneurons. BLA inputs thus activate two parallel inhibitory networks, whose contributions change during repetitive activity. Finally, connections from these interneurons are also more powerful at corticoamygdala neurons compared with corticostriatal neurons. Together, our results demonstrate how the BLA predominantly inhibits the PFC via a complex sequence involving multiple cell-type and input-specific connections.
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Burgos-Robles A, Kimchi EY, Izadmehr EM, Porzenheim MJ, Ramos-Guasp WA, Nieh EH, Felix-Ortiz AC, Namburi P, Leppla CA, Presbrey KN, Anandalingam KK, Pagan-Rivera PA, Anahtar M, Beyeler A, Tye KM. Amygdala inputs to prefrontal cortex guide behavior amid conflicting cues of reward and punishment. Nat Neurosci 2017; 20:824-835. [PMID: 28436980 PMCID: PMC5448704 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Orchestrating appropriate behavioral responses in the face of competing signals that predict either rewards or threats in the environment is crucial for survival. The basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) and prelimbic (PL) medial prefrontal cortex have been implicated in reward-seeking and fear-related responses, but how information flows between these reciprocally connected structures to coordinate behavior is unknown. We recorded neuronal activity from the BLA and PL while rats performed a task wherein competing shock- and sucrose-predictive cues were simultaneously presented. The correlated firing primarily displayed a BLA→PL directionality during the shock-associated cue. Furthermore, BLA neurons optogenetically identified as projecting to PL more accurately predicted behavioral responses during competition than unidentified BLA neurons. Finally photostimulation of the BLA→PL projection increased freezing, whereas both chemogenetic and optogenetic inhibition reduced freezing. Therefore, the BLA→PL circuit is critical in governing the selection of behavioral responses in the face of competing signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Burgos-Robles
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eyal Y Kimchi
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ehsan M Izadmehr
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary Jane Porzenheim
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William A Ramos-Guasp
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Edward H Nieh
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ada C Felix-Ortiz
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Praneeth Namburi
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher A Leppla
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kara N Presbrey
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kavitha K Anandalingam
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pablo A Pagan-Rivera
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Melodi Anahtar
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna Beyeler
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kay M Tye
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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D3 Receptors Regulate Excitability in a Unique Class of Prefrontal Pyramidal Cells. J Neurosci 2017; 37:5846-5860. [PMID: 28522735 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0310-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The D3 dopamine receptor, a member of the Gi-coupled D2 family of dopamine receptors, is expressed throughout limbic circuits affected in neuropsychiatric disorders, including prefrontal cortex (PFC). These receptors are important for prefrontal executive function because pharmacological and genetic manipulations that affect prefrontal D3 receptors alter anxiety, social interaction, and reversal learning. However, the mechanisms by which D3 receptors regulate prefrontal circuits and whether D3 receptors regulate specific prefrontal subnetworks remains unknown. Here, we combine dopamine receptor reporter lines, anatomical tracing techniques, and electrophysiology to show that D3 receptor expression defines a novel subclass of layer 5 glutamatergic pyramidal cell in mouse PFC (either sex). D3-receptor-expressing pyramidal neurons are electrophysiologically and anatomically separable from neighboring neurons expressing D1 or D2 receptors based on their dendritic morphology and subthreshold and suprathreshold intrinsic excitability. D3-receptor-expressing neurons send axonal projections to intratelencephalic (IT) targets, including contralateral cortex, nucleus accumbens, and basolateral amygdala. Within these neurons, D3 receptor activation was found to regulate low-voltage-activated CaV3.2 calcium channels localized to the axon initial segment, which suppressed action potential (AP) excitability, particularly when APs occurred at high frequency. Therefore, these data indicate that D3 receptors regulate the excitability of a unique, IT prefrontal cell population, thereby defining novel circuitry and cellular actions for D3 receptors in PFC.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The D3 dopamine receptor, a member of the Gi-coupled D2 family of dopamine receptors, are expressed throughout limbic circuits, including prefrontal cortex (PFC). They are of broad interest as a site for therapeutic intervention in serious mental illness, yet we know very little about their distribution or function within PFC. Here, we show that D3 receptors define a unique population of glutamatergic principal cells in mouse PFC that largely lack expression of D1 or D2 receptors. Within these cells, we find that D3 receptors regulate the ability to generate high-frequency action potential bursts through mechanisms not supported by other dopamine receptors. These results define unique circuitry and cellular actions for D3 receptors in regulating PFC networks.
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Vergara MD, Keller VN, Fuentealba JA, Gysling K. Activation of type 4 dopaminergic receptors in the prelimbic area of medial prefrontal cortex is necessary for the expression of innate fear behavior. Behav Brain Res 2017; 324:130-137. [PMID: 28212942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The prelimbic area (PL) of the medial Prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is involved in the acquisition and expression of conditioned and innate fear. Both types of fear share several neuronal pathways. It has been documented that dopamine (DA) plays an important role in the regulation of aversive memories in the mPFC. The exposure to an aversive stimulus, such as the smell of a predator odor or the exposure to footshock stress is accompanied by an increase in mPFC DA release. Evidence suggests that the type 4 dopaminergic receptor (D4R) is the molecular target through which DA modulates fear expression. In fact, the mPFC is the brain region with the highest expression of D4R; however, the role of D4R in the expression of innate fear has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the principal objective of this work was to evaluate the participation of mPFC D4R in the expression of innate fear. Rats were exposed to the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and to the cat odor paradigm after the intra PL injection of L-745,870, selective D4R antagonist, to measure the expression of fear-related behaviors. Intra PL injection of L-745,870 increased the time spent in the EPM open arms and decreased freezing behavior in the cat odor paradigm. Our results also showed that D4R is expressed in GABAergic and pyramidal neurons in the PL region of PFC. Thus, D4R antagonism in the PL decreases the expression of innate fear-behavior indicating that the activation of D4R in the PL is necessary for the expression of innate fear-behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena D Vergara
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Victor N Keller
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José A Fuentealba
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Katia Gysling
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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45
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Manipulating fear associations via optogenetic modulation of amygdala inputs to prefrontal cortex. Nat Neurosci 2017; 20:836-844. [PMID: 28288126 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fear-related disorders are thought to reflect strong and persistent fear memories. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) form strong reciprocal synaptic connections that play a key role in acquisition and extinction of fear memories. While synaptic contacts of BLA cells onto mPFC neurons are likely to play a crucial role in this process, the BLA connects with several additional nuclei within the fear circuit that could relay fear-associated information to the mPFC, and the contribution of direct monosynaptic BLA-mPFC inputs is not yet clear. Here we establish an optogenetic stimulation protocol that induces synaptic depression in BLA-mPFC synapses. In behaving mice, optogenetic high-frequency stimulation of BLA inputs to mPFC interfered with retention of cued associations, attenuated previously acquired cue-associated responses in mPFC neurons and facilitated extinction. Our findings demonstrate the contribution of BLA inputs to mPFC in forming and maintaining cued fear associations.
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46
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Peterson AC, Zhang S, Hu S, Chao HH, Li CSR. The Effects of Age, from Young to Middle Adulthood, and Gender on Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Dopaminergic Midbrain. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:52. [PMID: 28223929 PMCID: PMC5293810 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the dopaminergic ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) is implicated in psychiatric disorders including attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), addiction, schizophrenia and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the prevalence of these disorders varies by age and sex, the underlying neural mechanism is not well understood. The objective of this study was to delineate the distinct resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the VTA and SNc and examine the effects of age, from young to middle-adulthood, and sex on the rsFC of these two dopaminergic structures in a data set of 250 healthy adults (18-49 years of age, 104 men). Using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals, we correlated the time course of the VTA and SNc to the time courses of all other brain voxels. At a corrected threshold, paired t-test showed stronger VTA connectivity to bilateral angular gyrus and superior/middle and orbital frontal regions and stronger SNc connectivity to the insula, thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) and amygdala. Compared to women, men showed a stronger VTA/SNc connectivity to the left posterior orbital gyrus. In linear regressions, men but not women showed age-related changes in VTA/SNc connectivity to a number of cortical and cerebellar regions. Supporting shared but also distinct cerebral rsFC of the VTA and SNc and gender differences in age-related changes from young and middle adulthood in VTA/SNc connectivity, these new findings help advance our understanding of the neural bases of many neuropsychiatric illnesses that implicate the dopaminergic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Peterson
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University North Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sien Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Herta H Chao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA; Veterans Administration Medical CenterWest Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA
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47
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Carreno FR, Donegan JJ, Boley AM, Shah A, DeGuzman M, Frazer A, Lodge DJ. Activation of a ventral hippocampus-medial prefrontal cortex pathway is both necessary and sufficient for an antidepressant response to ketamine. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:1298-308. [PMID: 26619811 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A single sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine exerts rapid and sustained antidepressant effects. Here, we examined the role of the ventral hippocampus (vHipp)-medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) pathway in ketamine's antidepressant response. Inactivation of the vHipp with lidocaine prevented the sustained, but not acute, antidepressant-like effect of ketamine as measured by the forced swim test (FST). Moreover, optogenetic as well as pharmacogenetic specific activation of the vHipp-mPFC pathway using DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) mimicked the antidepressant-like response to ketamine; importantly, this was pathway specific, in that activation of a vHipp to nucleus accumbens circuit did not do this. Furthermore, optogenetic inactivation of the vHipp/mPFC pathway at the time of FST completely reversed ketamine's antidepressant response. In addition, we found that a transient increase in TrkB receptor phosphorylation in the vHipp contributes to ketamine's sustained antidepressant response. These data demonstrate that activity in the vHipp-mPFC pathway is both necessary and sufficient for the antidepressant-like effect of ketamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- F R Carreno
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - J J Donegan
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - A M Boley
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - A Shah
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - M DeGuzman
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - A Frazer
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.,South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - D J Lodge
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Solis-Gaspar C, Vazquez-Roque RA, De Jesús Gómez-Villalobos M, Flores G. Cerebrolysin improves memory and ameliorates neuronal atrophy in spontaneously hypertensive, aged rats. Synapse 2016; 70:378-89. [DOI: 10.1002/syn.21912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Solis-Gaspar
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; 14 Sur 6301, CP 72570, Puebla México
| | - Ruben A. Vazquez-Roque
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; 14 Sur 6301, CP 72570, Puebla México
| | | | - Gonzalo Flores
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; 14 Sur 6301, CP 72570, Puebla México
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Novick AM, Mears M, Forster GL, Lei Y, Tejani-Butt SM, Watt MJ. Adolescent social defeat alters N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor expression and impairs fear learning in adulthood. Behav Brain Res 2016; 304:51-9. [PMID: 26876136 PMCID: PMC4795455 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Repeated social defeat of adolescent male rats results in adult mesocortical dopamine hypofunction, impaired working memory, and increased contextual anxiety-like behavior. Given the role of glutamate in dopamine regulation, cognition, and fear and anxiety, we investigated potential changes to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors following adolescent social defeat. As both NMDA receptors and mesocortical dopamine are implicated in the expression and extinction of conditioned fear, a separate cohort of rats was challenged with a classical fear conditioning paradigm to investigate whether fear learning is altered by adolescent defeat. Quantitative autoradiography was used to measure 3H-MK-801 binding to NMDA receptors in regions of the medial prefrontal cortex, caudate putamen, nucleus accumbens, amygdala and hippocampus. Assessment of fear learning was achieved using an auditory fear conditioning paradigm, with freezing toward the auditory tone used as a measure of conditioned fear. Compared to controls, adolescent social defeat decreased adult NMDA receptor expression in the infralimbic region of the prefrontal cortex and central amygdala, while increasing expression in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Previously defeated rats also displayed decreased conditioned freezing during the recall and first extinction periods, which may be related to the observed decreases and increases in NMDA receptors within the central amygdala and CA3, respectively. The alteration in NMDA receptors seen following adolescent social defeat suggests that dysfunction of glutamatergic systems, combined with mesocortical dopamine deficits, likely plays a role in the some of the long-term behavioral consequences of social stressors in adolescence seen in both preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Novick
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark St., Vermillion, SD 57069, USA.
| | - Mackenzie Mears
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark St., Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Gina L Forster
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark St., Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Yanlin Lei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, 600 S 43rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shanaz M Tejani-Butt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, 600 S 43rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael J Watt
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark St., Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
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50
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Sanguedo FV, Dias CVB, Dias FRC, Samuels RI, Carey RJ, Carrera MP. Reciprocal activation/inactivation of ERK in the amygdala and frontal cortex is correlated with the degree of novelty of an open-field environment. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:841-50. [PMID: 26685992 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-4163-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) has been used to identify brain areas activated by exogenous stimuli including psychostimulant drugs. OBJECTIVE Assess the role of the amygdala in emotional responses. METHODS Experimental manipulations were performed in which environmental familiarity was the variable. To provide the maximal degree of familiarity, ERK was measured after removal from the home cage and re-placement back into the same cage. To maximize exposure to an unfamiliar environment, ERK was measured following placement into a novel open field. To assess whether familiarity was the critical variable in the ERK response to the novel open field, ERK was also measured after either four or eight placements into the same environment. ERK quantification was carried out in the amygdala, frontal cortex, and the nucleus accumbens. RESULTS After home cage re-placement, ERK activation was found in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens but was absent in the amygdala. Following placement in a novel environment, ERK activation was more prominent in the amygdala than the frontal cortex or nucleus accumbens. In contrast, with habituation to the novel environment, ERK phosphors declined markedly in the amygdala but increased in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens to the level observed following home cage re-placement. CONCLUSIONS The differential responsiveness of the amygdala versus the frontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens to a novel versus a habituated environment is consistent with a reciprocal interaction between these neural systems and points to their important role in the mediation of behavioral activation to novelty and behavioral inactivation with habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Velasco Sanguedo
- Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil
| | - Caio Vitor Bueno Dias
- Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil
| | - Flavia Regina Cruz Dias
- Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil
| | - Richard Ian Samuels
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Robert J Carey
- Research and Development (151), VA Medical Center and SUNY Upstate Medical University, 800 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Marinete Pinheiro Carrera
- Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil.
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