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Tripathi K, Hazra S, Hazra JD, Mandel S, Anunu R, Kriebel M, Volkmer H, Richter-Levin G. Selective knockdown of GABAA-α2 subunit in the dorsal dentate gyrus in adulthood induces anxiety, learning and memory deficits and impairs synaptic plasticity. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:4393-4408. [PMID: 38858171 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Animal studies and clinical trials suggest that maintenance of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic activity may be crucial in coping with stressful conditions, anxiety and mood disorders. Drugs highly efficient in promoting anxiolysis were shown to activate this system, particularly via the α2-subunit of type A receptors (GABAA α2). Given the high expression of GABAA α2 in the dentate gyrus (DG) sub-field of the hippocampus, we sought to examine whether manipulation of the α2 subunit in this area will evoke changes in emotional behaviour, memory and learning as well as in synaptic plasticity. We found that knockdown of GABAAα2 receptor specifically in the dorsal DG of rats caused increased anxiety without affecting locomotor activity. Spatial memory and learning in the Morris water maze were also impaired in GABAAα2 receptor knocked down rats, an effect accompanied by alterations in synaptic plasticity, as assessed by long-term potentiation in the DG. Our findings provide further support to the notion that emotional information processing in the hippocampus may be controlled, at least in part, via the inhibitory GABAA α2 receptor subunit, opening a potential avenue for early interventions from pre- puberty into adulthood, as a strategy for controlling anxiety-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Tripathi
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Somoday Hazra
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Joyeeta Dutta Hazra
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Silvia Mandel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ruchi Anunu
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Martin Kriebel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Hansjurgen Volkmer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Gal Richter-Levin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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2
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Cui K, Qi X, Liu Z, Sun W, Jiao P, Liu C, Tong J, Sun X, Sun H, Fu S, Wang J, Zheng Y, Liu T, Cui S, Liu F, Mao J, Zheng J, Wan Y, Yi M. Dominant activities of fear engram cells in the dorsal dentate gyrus underlie fear generalization in mice. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002679. [PMID: 38995985 PMCID: PMC11244812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over-generalized fear is a maladaptive response to harmless stimuli or situations characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders. The dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG) contains engram cells that play a crucial role in accurate memory retrieval. However, the coordination mechanism of neuronal subpopulations within the dDG network during fear generalization is not well understood. Here, with the Tet-off system combined with immunostaining and two-photon calcium imaging, we report that dDG fear engram cells labeled in the conditioned context constitutes a significantly higher proportion of dDG neurons activated in a similar context where mice show generalized fear. The activation of these dDG fear engram cells encoding the conditioned context is both sufficient and necessary for inducing fear generalization in the similar context. Activities of mossy cells in the ventral dentate gyrus (vMCs) are significantly suppressed in mice showing fear generalization in a similar context, and activating the vMCs-dDG pathway suppresses generalized but not conditioned fear. Finally, modifying fear memory engrams in the dDG with "safety" signals effectively rescues fear generalization. These findings reveal that the competitive advantage of dDG engram cells underlies fear generalization, which can be rescued by activating the vMCs-dDG pathway or modifying fear memory engrams, and provide novel insights into the dDG network as the neuronal basis of fear generalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Cui
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
| | - Xuetao Qi
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zilong Liu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiqi Sun
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Peijie Jiao
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
| | - Jifu Tong
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Haojie Sun
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Su Fu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yawen Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyu Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Cui
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengyu Liu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Mao
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - You Wan
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ming Yi
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
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3
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Zuniga A, Han J, Miller-Crews I, Agee LA, Hofmann HA, Drew MR. Extinction training suppresses activity of fear memory ensembles across the hippocampus and alters transcriptomes of fear-encoding cells. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01897-0. [PMID: 38877180 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01897-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Contextual fear conditioning has been shown to activate a set of "fear ensemble" cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) whose reactivation is necessary and sufficient for expression of contextual fear. We previously demonstrated that extinction learning suppresses reactivation of these fear ensemble cells and activates a competing set of DG cells-the "extinction ensemble." Here, we tested whether extinction was sufficient to suppress reactivation in other regions and used single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of cells in the dorsal dentate gyrus to examine how extinction affects the transcriptomic activity of fear ensemble and fear recall-activated cells. Our results confirm the suppressive effects of extinction in the dorsal and ventral dentate gyrus and demonstrate that this same effect extends to fear ensemble cells located in the dorsal CA1. Interestingly, the extinction-induced suppression of fear ensemble activity was not detected in ventral CA1. Our snRNA-seq analysis demonstrates that extinction training markedly changes transcription patterns in fear ensemble cells and that cells activated during recall of fear and recall of extinction have distinct transcriptomic profiles. Together, our results indicate that extinction training suppresses a broad portion of the fear ensemble in the hippocampus, and this suppression is accompanied by changes in the transcriptomes of fear ensemble cells and the emergence of a transcriptionally unique extinction ensemble.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Zuniga
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Center for Learning and Memory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Ave, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA
| | - Jiawei Han
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Isaac Miller-Crews
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laura A Agee
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Center for Learning and Memory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hans A Hofmann
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Michael R Drew
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Center for Learning and Memory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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4
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Lazarov O, Gupta M, Kumar P, Morrissey Z, Phan T. Memory circuits in dementia: The engram, hippocampal neurogenesis and Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 236:102601. [PMID: 38570083 PMCID: PMC11221328 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Here, we provide an in-depth consideration of our current understanding of engrams, spanning from molecular to network levels, and hippocampal neurogenesis, in health and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review highlights novel findings in these emerging research fields and future research directions for novel therapeutic avenues for memory failure in dementia. Engrams, memory in AD, and hippocampal neurogenesis have each been extensively studied. The integration of these topics, however, has been relatively less deliberated, and is the focus of this review. We primarily focus on the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, which is a key area of episodic memory formation. Episodic memory is significantly impaired in AD, and is also the site of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Advancements in technology, especially opto- and chemogenetics, have made sophisticated manipulations of engram cells possible. Furthermore, innovative methods have emerged for monitoring neurons, even specific neuronal populations, in vivo while animals engage in tasks, such as calcium imaging. In vivo calcium imaging contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of engram cells. Critically, studies of the engram in the DG using these technologies have shown the important contribution of hippocampal neurogenesis for memory in both health and AD. Together, the discussion of these topics provides a holistic perspective that motivates questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orly Lazarov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Muskan Gupta
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Pavan Kumar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Zachery Morrissey
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Trongha Phan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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5
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Mukadam AA, Chester JA. Line- and sex-dependent effects of juvenile stress on contextual fear- and anxiety-related behavior in high- and low-alcohol-preferring mouse lines. Behav Brain Res 2024; 463:114899. [PMID: 38342379 PMCID: PMC10954351 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Juvenile stress (JS) is a known risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), both of which are frequently co-morbid. Data suggest there may be common, genetically-influenced biological responses to stress that contribute to the development of both AUD and PTSD. The present study investigated the impact of JS on contextual fear learning and extinction, as well as corticosterone (CORT) responses before and after JS, before and after contextual fear conditioning (CFC), and after fear extinction in male and female high-alcohol-preferring (HAP2) and low-alcohol-preferring (LAP2) mouse lines. We also measured unconditioned anxiety-related behavior in the light-dark-transition test before CFC. HAP2 and LAP2 mice did not differ in fear acquisition, but HAP2 mice showed faster fear extinction compared to LAP2 mice. No effects of JS were seen in HAP2 mice, whereas in LAP2 mice, JS reduced fear acquisition in males and facilitated fear extinction in females. Females showed greater fear-related behavior relative to males, regardless of subgroup. HAP2 males demonstrated more anxiolytic-like responses than LAP2 males and LAP2 females demonstrated more anxiolytic-like responses than LAP2 males in the light-dark transition test. HAP2 and LAP2 mice did not differ in CORT during the juvenile stage; however, adult LAP2 mice showed greater CORT levels than HAP2 mice at baseline and after CFC and extinction testing. These findings build upon prior work in these unique mouse lines that differ in genetic propensity toward alcohol preference and provide new information regarding contextual fear learning and extinction mechanisms theorized to contribute to co-morbid AUD and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arbaaz A Mukadam
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Julia A Chester
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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6
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Goodman EJ, Biltz RG, Packer JM, DiSabato DJ, Swanson SP, Oliver B, Quan N, Sheridan JF, Godbout JP. Enhanced fear memory after social defeat in mice is dependent on interleukin-1 receptor signaling in glutamatergic neurons. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02456-1. [PMID: 38459193 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02456-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress is associated with increased anxiety, cognitive deficits, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Repeated social defeat (RSD) in mice causes long-term stress-sensitization associated with increased microglia activation, monocyte accumulation, and enhanced interleukin (IL)-1 signaling in endothelia and neurons. With stress-sensitization, mice have amplified neuronal, immune, and behavioral responses to acute stress 24 days later. This is clinically relevant as it shares key aspects with post-traumatic stress disorder. The mechanisms underlying stress-sensitization are unclear, but enhanced fear memory may be critical. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of microglia and IL-1R1 signaling in neurons in the development of sensitization and increased fear memory after RSD. Here, RSD accelerated fear acquisition, delayed fear extinction, and increased cued-based freezing at 0.5 day. The enhancement in contextual fear memory after RSD persisted 24 days later. Next, microglia were depleted with a CSF1R antagonist prior to RSD and several parameters were assessed. Microglia depletion blocked monocyte recruitment to the brain. Nonetheless, neuronal reactivity (pCREB) and IL-1β RNA expression in the hippocampus and enhanced fear memory after RSD were microglial-independent. Because IL-1β RNA was prominent in the hippocampus after RSD even with microglia depletion, IL-1R1 mediated signaling in glutamatergic neurons was assessed using neuronal Vglut2+/IL-1R1-/- mice. RSD-induced neuronal reactivity (pCREB) in the hippocampus and enhancement in fear memory were dependent on neuronal IL-1R1 signaling. Furthermore, single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) showed that RSD influenced transcription in specific hippocampal neurons (DG neurons, CA2/3, CA1 neurons) associated with glutamate signaling, inflammation and synaptic plasticity, which were neuronal IL-1R1-dependent. Furthermore, snRNAseq data provided evidence that RSD increased CREB, BDNF, and calcium signaling in DG neurons in an IL-1R1-dependent manner. Collectively, increased IL-1R1-mediated signaling (monocytes/microglia independent) in glutamatergic neurons after RSD enhanced neuronal reactivity and fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan J Goodman
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Rebecca G Biltz
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan M Packer
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Damon J DiSabato
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Samuel P Swanson
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Braeden Oliver
- Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ning Quan
- Department of Biomedical Science, Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - John F Sheridan
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Jonathan P Godbout
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Vandael D, Jonas P. Structure, biophysics, and circuit function of a "giant" cortical presynaptic terminal. Science 2024; 383:eadg6757. [PMID: 38452088 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg6757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampal mossy fiber synapse, formed between axons of dentate gyrus granule cells and dendrites of CA3 pyramidal neurons, is a key synapse in the trisynaptic circuitry of the hippocampus. Because of its comparatively large size, this synapse is accessible to direct presynaptic recording, allowing a rigorous investigation of the biophysical mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity. Furthermore, because of its placement in the very center of the hippocampal memory circuit, this synapse seems to be critically involved in several higher network functions, such as learning, memory, pattern separation, and pattern completion. Recent work based on new technologies in both nanoanatomy and nanophysiology, including presynaptic patch-clamp recording, paired recording, super-resolution light microscopy, and freeze-fracture and "flash-and-freeze" electron microscopy, has provided new insights into the structure, biophysics, and network function of this intriguing synapse. This brings us one step closer to answering a fundamental question in neuroscience: how basic synaptic properties shape higher network computations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Vandael
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), A-3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Peter Jonas
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), A-3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
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8
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Krasne FB, Fanselow MS. Remote memory in a Bayesian model of context fear conditioning (BaconREM). Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1295969. [PMID: 38515786 PMCID: PMC10955142 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1295969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, we propose a model of remote memory (BaconREM), which is an extension of a previously published Bayesian model of context fear learning (BACON) that accounts for many aspects of recently learned context fear. BaconREM simulates most known phenomenology of remote context fear as studied in rodents and makes new predictions. In particular, it predicts the well-known observation that fear that was conditioned to a recently encoded context becomes hippocampus-independent and shows much-enhanced generalization ("hyper-generalization") when systems consolidation occurs (i.e., when memory becomes remote). However, the model also predicts that there should be circumstances under which the generalizability of remote fear may not increase or even decrease. It also predicts the established finding that a "reminder" exposure to a feared context can abolish hyper-generalization while at the same time making remote fear again hippocampus-dependent. This observation has in the past been taken to suggest that reminders facilitate access to detail memory that remains permanently in the hippocampus even after systems consolidation is complete. However, the present model simulates this result even though it totally moves all the contextual memory that it retains to the neo-cortex when context fear becomes remote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franklin B. Krasne
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael S. Fanselow
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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9
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Trask J, MacCallum PE, Rideout H, Preisser EL, Blundell JJ. Rapamycin attenuates reconsolidation of a backwards-conditioned aversive stimuli in female mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:601-612. [PMID: 38311691 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06544-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is known to mediate consolidation and reconsolidation of aversive memories. Most studies in this area use a forward conditioning paradigm in which the conditioned stimulus (CS) precedes the unconditioned stimulus (US). Little is known, however, about the neurobiological underpinnings of backwards (BW) conditioning paradigms, particularly in female mice. In BW conditioning, the CS does not become directly associated with the US; it instead evokes conditioned fear by reactivating a memory of the conditioning context and indirectly retrieving a memory of the aversive US. OBJECTIVES We sought to examine BW conditioned fear memory processes in female mice. First, we examined whether freezing to a BW CS is mediated by fear to the conditioning context. Second, we tested whether blocking consolidation of a BW CS attenuated memory of the CS and conditioning context. Finally, we tested whether blocking reconsolidation of a BW CS attenuated memory of the conditioning context. RESULTS We show that conditioned freezing to a BW CS is mediated by fear to the conditioning context. Furthermore, rapamycin-an mTOR inhibitor, when given immediately following BW conditioning, impairs consolidation of both cued and contextual fear memory. Similarly, rapamycin given following retrieval of a BW CS blocks context recall. Rapamycin is acting on reconsolidation as CS retrieval is necessary to see the effects of rapamycin on context memory recall. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides novel evidence that indirect retrieval cues are sensitive to rapamycin in female mice. The capacity to indirectly reactivate memories and render them susceptible to disruption is critical in the translation of reconsolidation-based approaches to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Trask
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Phillip E MacCallum
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Haley Rideout
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Evan L Preisser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jacqueline J Blundell
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.
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10
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Chapman DP, Power SD, Vicini S, Ryan TJ, Burns MP. Amnesia after Repeated Head Impact Is Caused by Impaired Synaptic Plasticity in the Memory Engram. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1560232024. [PMID: 38228367 PMCID: PMC10883615 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1560-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Subconcussive head impacts are associated with the development of acute and chronic cognitive deficits. We recently reported that high-frequency head impact (HFHI) causes chronic cognitive deficits in mice through synaptic changes. To better understand the mechanisms underlying HFHI-induced memory decline, we used TRAP2/Ai32 transgenic mice to enable visualization and manipulation of memory engrams. We labeled the fear memory engram in male and female mice exposed to an aversive experience and subjected them to sham or HFHI. Upon subsequent exposure to natural memory recall cues, sham, but not HFHI, mice successfully retrieved fearful memories. In sham mice the hippocampal engram neurons exhibited synaptic plasticity, evident in amplified AMPA:NMDA ratio, enhanced AMPA-weighted tau, and increased dendritic spine volume compared with nonengram neurons. In contrast, although HFHI mice retained a comparable number of hippocampal engram neurons, these neurons did not undergo synaptic plasticity. This lack of plasticity coincided with impaired activation of the engram network, leading to retrograde amnesia in HFHI mice. We validated that the memory deficits induced by HFHI stem from synaptic plasticity impairments by artificially activating the engram using optogenetics and found that stimulated memory recall was identical in both sham and HFHI mice. Our work shows that chronic cognitive impairment after HFHI is a result of deficiencies in synaptic plasticity instead of a loss in neuronal infrastructure, and we can reinstate a forgotten memory in the amnestic brain by stimulating the memory engram. Targeting synaptic plasticity may have therapeutic potential for treating memory impairments caused by repeated head impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Chapman
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Sarah D Power
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40 Ireland
- Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40 Ireland
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefano Vicini
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
- Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Tomás J Ryan
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40 Ireland
- Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40 Ireland
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Child & Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, ON, MSG IMI, Canada
| | - Mark P Burns
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
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11
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Plas SL, Tuna T, Bayer H, Juliano VAL, Sweck SO, Arellano Perez AD, Hassell JE, Maren S. Neural circuits for the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memory. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1352797. [PMID: 38370858 PMCID: PMC10869525 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1352797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The regulation of fear memories is critical for adaptive behaviors and dysregulation of these processes is implicated in trauma- and stress-related disorders. Treatments for these disorders include pharmacological interventions as well as exposure-based therapies, which rely upon extinction learning. Considerable attention has been directed toward elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying fear and extinction learning. In this review, we will discuss historic discoveries and emerging evidence on the neural mechanisms of the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memories. We will focus on neural circuits regulating the acquisition and extinction of Pavlovian fear conditioning in rodent models, particularly the role of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the contextual control of extinguished fear memories. We will also consider new work revealing an important role for the thalamic nucleus reuniens in the modulation of prefrontal-hippocampal interactions in extinction learning and memory. Finally, we will explore the effects of stress on this circuit and the clinical implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Plas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Tuğçe Tuna
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Hugo Bayer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Vitor A. L. Juliano
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Samantha O. Sweck
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Angel D. Arellano Perez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - James E. Hassell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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12
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Vasudevan K, Hassell JE, Maren S. Hippocampal Engrams and Contextual Memory. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 38:45-66. [PMID: 39008010 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62983-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Memories are not formed in a vacuum and often include rich details about the time and place in which events occur. Contextual stimuli promote the retrieval of events that have previously occurred in the encoding context and limit the retrieval of context-inappropriate information. Contexts that are associated with traumatic or harmful events both directly elicit fear and serve as reminders of aversive events associated with trauma. It has long been appreciated that the hippocampus is involved in contextual learning and memory and is central to contextual fear conditioning. However, little is known about the underlying neuronal mechanisms underlying the encoding and retrieval of contextual fear memories. Recent advancements in neuronal labeling methods, including activity-dependent tagging of cellular ensembles encoding memory ("engrams"), provide unique insight into the neural substrates of memory in the hippocampus. Moreover, these methods allow for the selective manipulation of memory ensembles. Attenuating or erasing fear memories may have considerable therapeutic value for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder or other trauma- or stressor-related conditions. In this chapter, we review the role of the hippocampus in contextual fear conditioning in rodents and explore recent work implicating hippocampal ensembles in the encoding and retrieval of aversive memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithika Vasudevan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - James E Hassell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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13
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Zhang XO, Zhang Y, Cho CE, Engelke DS, Smolen P, Byrne JH, Do-Monte FH. Enhancing Associative Learning in Rats With a Computationally Designed Training Protocol. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:165-181. [PMID: 38298784 PMCID: PMC10829654 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Learning requires the activation of protein kinases with distinct temporal dynamics. In Aplysia, nonassociative learning can be enhanced by a computationally designed learning protocol with intertrial intervals (ITIs) that maximize the interaction between fast-activated PKA (protein kinase A) and slow-activated ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase). Whether a similar strategy can enhance associative learning in mammals is unknown. Methods We simulated 1000 training protocols with varying ITIs to predict an optimal protocol based on empirical data for PKA and ERK dynamics in rat hippocampus. Adult male rats received the optimal protocol or control protocols in auditory fear conditioning and fear extinction experiments. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate pCREB (phosphorylated cAMP response element binding)\protein levels in brain regions that have been implicated in fear acquisition. Results Rats exposed to the optimal conditioning protocol with irregular ITIs exhibited impaired extinction memory acquisition within the session using a standard footshock intensity, and stronger fear memory retrieval and spontaneous recovery with a weaker footshock intensity, compared with rats that received massed or spaced conditioning protocols with fixed ITIs. Rats exposed to the optimal extinction protocol displayed improved extinction of contextual fear memory and reduced spontaneous recovery compared with rats that received standard extinction protocols. Moreover, the optimal conditioning protocol increased pCREB levels in the dentate gyrus of the dorsal hippocampus, suggesting enhanced induction of long-term potentiation. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that a computational model-driven behavioral intervention can enhance associative learning in mammals and may provide insight into strategies to improve cognition in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu O. Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Yili Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Claire E. Cho
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Douglas S. Engelke
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Paul Smolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - John H. Byrne
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Fabricio H. Do-Monte
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
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14
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Yelhekar TD, Meng M, Doupe J, Lin Y. All IEGs Are Not Created Equal-Molecular Sorting Within the Memory Engram. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 38:81-109. [PMID: 39008012 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62983-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
When neurons are recruited to form the memory engram, they are driven to activate the expression of a series of immediate-early genes (IEGs). While these IEGs have been used relatively indiscriminately to identify the so-called engram neurons, recent research has demonstrated that different IEG ensembles can be physically and functionally distinct within the memory engram. This inherent heterogeneity of the memory engram is driven by the diversity in the functions and distributions of different IEGs. This process, which we call molecular sorting, is analogous to sorting the entire population of engram neurons into different sub-engrams molecularly defined by different IEGs. In this chapter, we will describe the molecular sorting process by systematically reviewing published work on engram ensemble cells defined by the following four major IEGs: Fos, Npas4, Arc, and Egr1. By comparing and contrasting these likely different components of the memory engram, we hope to gain a better understanding of the logic and significance behind the molecular sorting process for memory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar D Yelhekar
- Department of Psychiatry, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Meizhen Meng
- Department of Psychiatry, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Joslyn Doupe
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Yingxi Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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15
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Zuniga A, Han J, Miller-Crews I, Agee LA, Hofmann HA, Drew MR. Extinction Training Suppresses Activity of Fear Memory Ensembles Across the Hippocampus and Alters Transcriptomes of Fear-Encoding Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.31.573787. [PMID: 38260411 PMCID: PMC10802378 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.31.573787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Contextual fear conditioning has been shown to activate a set of "fear ensemble" cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) whose reactivation is necessary and sufficient for expression of contextual fear. We previously demonstrated that extinction learning suppresses reactivation of these fear ensemble cells and activates a competing set of DG cells - the "extinction ensemble." Here, we tested whether extinction was sufficient to suppress reactivation in other regions and used single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of cells in the dorsal dentate gyrus to examine how extinction affects the transcriptomic activity of fear ensemble and fear recall-activated cells. Our results confirm the suppressive effects of extinction in the dorsal and ventral dentate gyrus and demonstrate that this same effect extends to fear ensemble cells located in the dorsal CA1. Interestingly, the extinction-induced suppression of fear ensemble activity was not detected in ventral CA1. Our snRNA-seq analysis demonstrates that extinction training markedly changes transcription patterns in fear ensemble cells and that cells activated during recall of fear and recall of extinction have distinct transcriptomic profiles. Together, our results indicate that extinction training suppresses a broad portion of the fear ensemble in the hippocampus, and this suppression is accompanied by changes in the transcriptomes of fear ensemble cells and the emergence of a transcriptionally unique extinction ensemble.
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16
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Khilazheva ED, Mosiagina AI, Panina YA, Belozor OS, Komleva YK. Impact of NLRP3 Depletion on Aging-Related Metaflammation, Cognitive Function, and Social Behavior in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16580. [PMID: 38068904 PMCID: PMC10705877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosenescence and chronic inflammation associated with old age accompany brain aging and the loss of complex behaviors. Neuroinflammation in the hippocampus plays a pivotal role in the development of cognitive impairment and anxiety. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully explained. In this study, we aimed to investigate the disruption of insulin signaling and the mechanisms underlying metabolic inflammation ("metaflammation") in the brains of wild-type (WT) and NLRP3 knockout (KO) mice of different ages. We found a significant upregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus during aging, leading to an increase in the expression of phosphorylated metaflammation proteinases and inflammatory markers, along with an increase in the number of senescent cells. Additionally, metaflammation causes anxiety and impairs social preference behavior in aged mice. On the other hand, deletion of NLRP3 improves some behavioral and biochemical characteristics associated with aging, such as signal memory, neuroinflammation, and metabolic inflammation, but not anxious behavior. These results are associated with reduced IL-18 signaling and the PKR/IKKβ/IRS1 pathway as well as the SASP phenotype. In NLRP3 gene deletion conditions, PKR is down-regulated. Therefore, it is likely that slowing aging through various NLRP3 inhibition mechanisms will lessen the corresponding cognitive decline with aging. Thus, the genetic knockout of the NLRP3 inflammasome can be seen as a new therapeutic strategy for slowing down central nervous system (CNS) aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena D. Khilazheva
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia (A.I.M.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
| | - Angelina I. Mosiagina
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia (A.I.M.)
| | - Yulia A. Panina
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia (A.I.M.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
| | - Olga S. Belozor
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia (A.I.M.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
| | - Yulia K. Komleva
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia (A.I.M.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry, Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
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17
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Wei Q, Kumar V, Moore S, Li F, Murphy GG, Watson SJ, Akil H. High emotional reactivity is associated with activation of a molecularly distinct hippocampal-amygdala circuit modulated by the glucocorticoid receptor. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 27:100581. [PMID: 37928820 PMCID: PMC10623371 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotions are characterized not only by their valence but also by whether they are stable or labile. Yet, we do not understand the molecular or circuit mechanisms that control the dynamic nature of emotional responses. We have shown that glucocorticoid receptor overexpression in the forebrain (GRov) leads to a highly reactive mouse with increased anxiety behavior coupled with greater swings in emotional responses. This phenotype is established early in development and persists into adulthood. However, the neural circuitry mediating this lifelong emotional lability remains unknown. In the present study, optogenetic stimulation in ventral dentate gyrus (vDG) of GRov mice led to a greater range and a prolonged duration of anxiety behavior. cFos expression analysis showed that the amplified behavioral response to vDG activation in GRov mice is coupled to increased neuronal activity in specific brain regions. Relative to wild type mice, GRov mice displayed glutamatergic/GABAergic activation imbalance in ventral CA1 (vCA1) and selectively increased glutamatergic activation in the basal posterior amygdaloid complex. Moreover, forebrain GR overexpression led to increased activation of molecularly distinct subpopulations of neurons within the hippocampus and the posterior basolateral amygdala (pBLA) as evident from the increased cFos co-labeling in the calbindin1+ glutamatergic neurons in vCA1 and in the DARPP-32/Ppp1r1b+ glutamatergic neurons in pBLA. We propose that a molecularly distinct hippocampal-amygdala circuit is shaped by stress early in life and tunes the dynamics of emotional responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wei
- Corresponding author. Michigan Neuroscience Institute University of Michigan 205 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Vivek Kumar
- Corresponding author. Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Shannon Moore
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Fei Li
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Geoffrey G. Murphy
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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18
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Pan Y, Zong Q, Li G, Wu Z, Du T, Zhang Y, Huang Z, Ma K. Nuclear localization of alpha-synuclein induces anxiety-like behavior in mice by decreasing hippocampal neurogenesis and pathologically affecting amygdala circuits. Neurosci Lett 2023; 816:137490. [PMID: 37742940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Fear and anxiety are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and may be caused by pathologies outside the dopaminergic system. Increasing evidence has shown that alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is involved in the development of anxiety in PD. In this study, we examined the effects of α-syn nuclear translocation on anxiety-like behavior in mice by overexpressing α-syn in the nuclei of the cell in the hippocampus. Our results show that α-syn overexpression in the nuclei increased the excitability of hippocampal neurons and activated NG2 glial cells and promoted the synthesis and release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). And nuclear localization of α-syn led to the loss of neurotrophic factors and decreased neurogenesis. Meanwhile, the hippocampus and amygdala acted synergistically, resulting in pathologic accumulation of α-syn and gliosis in the amygdala and caused loss of interneurons. These events led to the impairments of hippocampus and amygdala function, which ultimately induced anxiety-like behavior in mice. The findings obtained in our present study indicate that excessive nuclear translocation of α-syn in hippocampal neurons and damage to the amygdala circuits may be important in the development of anxiety in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Pan
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Qinglan Zong
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Guoxiang Li
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Zhengcun Wu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Tingfu Du
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China.
| | - Zhangqiong Huang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China.
| | - Kaili Ma
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China.
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19
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Bonanno GR, Met Hoxha E, Robinson PK, Ferrara NC, Trask S. Fear Reduced Through Unconditional Stimulus Deflation Is Behaviorally Distinct From Extinction and Differentially Engages the Amygdala. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:756-765. [PMID: 37881558 PMCID: PMC10593882 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Context fear memory can be reliably reduced by subsequent pairings of that context with a weaker shock. This procedure shares similarities with extinction learning: both involve extended time in the conditioning chamber following training and reduce context-elicited fear. Unlike extinction, this weak-shock exposure has been hypothesized to engage reconsolidation-like processes that weaken the original memory. Methods We directly compared the weak-shock procedure with extinction using male and female Long Evans rats. Results Both repeated weak-shock exposure and extinction resulted in decreased context freezing relative to animals that received context fear conditioning but no subsequent context exposure. Conditioning with the weak shock was not enough to form a persistent context-shock association on its own, suggesting that the weak-shock procedure does not create a new memory. Weak-shock exposure in a new context can still reduce freezing elicited by the training context, suggesting that it reduces responding through a different process than extinction, which does not transcend context. Finally, reduced fear behavior produced through both extinction and weak-shock exposure was mirrored by reduced zif268 expression in the basolateral amygdala. However, only the weak-shock procedure resulted in changes in lysine-48 polyubiquitin tagging in the synapse of the basolateral amygdala, suggesting that this procedure produced long-lasting changes in synaptic function within the basolateral amygdala. Conclusions These results suggest that the weak-shock procedure does not rely on the creation of a new inhibitory memory, as in extinction, and instead may alter the original representation of the shock to reduce fear responding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erisa Met Hoxha
- Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Payton K. Robinson
- Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Nicole C. Ferrara
- Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, North Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sydney Trask
- Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana
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20
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Pagano R, Salamian A, Skonieczna E, Wojtas B, Gielniewski B, Harda Z, Cały A, Havekes R, Abel T, Radwanska K. Molecular fingerprints in the hippocampus of alcohol seeking during withdrawal. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3337670. [PMID: 37841864 PMCID: PMC10571638 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3337670/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by pathological motivation to consume alcohol and cognitive inflexibility, leading to excessive alcohol seeking and use. Due to limited understanding of the molecular basis of the disease, there are few pharmacological interventions available to combat AUD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular correlates of impaired extinction of alcohol seeking during alcohol withdrawal using a mouse model of AUD implemented in the automated IntelliCage social system. This model enabled us to distinguish between animals exhibiting AUD-prone and AUD-resistant phenotypes, based on the presence of ≥ 2 or < 2 criteria of AUD, respectively. We utilized new generation RNA sequencing to identify genes that were differentially expressed in the hippocampus and amygdala of mice meeting ≥ 2 or < 2 criteria, as these brain regions are implicated in alcohol motivation, seeking, consumption and the cognitive inflexibility characteristic of AUD. To complement the sequencing studies, we conducted ex vivo electrophysiology experiments. Our findings revealed significant dysregulation of the hippocampal genes associated with the actin cytoskeleton and synaptic function, including actin binding molecule cofilin, during alcohol withdrawal in mice meeting ≥ 2 criteria compared to those meeting < 2 criteria. Moreover, this dysregulation was accompanied by impaired synaptic transmission in the molecular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (ML-DG). Additionally, we demonstrated that overexpression of cofilin in the polymorphic layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (PoDG) inhibited ML-DG synapses, increased motivation to seek alcohol, impaired extinction of alcohol seeking and increased correlation between AUD behaviors, resembling the phenotype observed in mice meeting ≥ 2 criteria. Overall, our study uncovers a novel mechanism linking increased hippocampal cofilin expression with the AUD phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pagano
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Edyta Skonieczna
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wojtas
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Bartek Gielniewski
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Zofia Harda
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
- current address: Department Molecular Neuropharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Cały
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Robbert Havekes
- Neurobiology expertise group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ted Abel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kasia Radwanska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
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21
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Pagano R, Salamian A, Skonieczna E, Wojtas B, Gielniewski B, Harda Z, Cały A, Havekes R, Abel T, Radwanska K. Molecular fingerprints in the hippocampus of alcohol seeking during withdrawal. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.24.554622. [PMID: 37662388 PMCID: PMC10473700 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.24.554622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by excessive alcohol seeking and use. Here, we investigated the molecular correlates of impaired extinction of alcohol seeking using a multidimentional mouse model of AUD. We distinguished AUD-prone and AUD-resistant mice, based on the presence of ≥ 2 or < 2 criteria of AUD and utilized RNA sequencing to identify genes that were differentially expressed in the hippocampus and amygdala of mice meeting ≥ 2 or < 2 criteria, as these brain regions are implicated in alcohol motivation, seeking, consumption and the cognitive inflexibility characteristic of AUD. Our findings revealed dysregulation of the genes associated with the actin cytoskeleton, including actin binding molecule cofilin, and impaired synaptic transmission in the hippocampi of mice meeting ≥ 2 criteria. Overexpression of cofilin in the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus (PoDG) inhibited ML-DG synapses, increased motivation to seek alcohol and impaired extinction of alcohol seeking, resembling the phenotype observed in mice meeting ≥ 2 criteria. Overall, our study uncovers a novel mechanism linking increased hippocampal cofilin expression with the AUD phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pagano
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Edyta Skonieczna
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wojtas
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Bartek Gielniewski
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Zofia Harda
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
- current address: Department Molecular Neuropharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Cały
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Robbert Havekes
- Neurobiology expertise group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ted Abel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kasia Radwanska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
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22
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Borzello M, Ramirez S, Treves A, Lee I, Scharfman H, Stark C, Knierim JJ, Rangel LM. Assessments of dentate gyrus function: discoveries and debates. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:502-517. [PMID: 37316588 PMCID: PMC10529488 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00710-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There has been considerable speculation regarding the function of the dentate gyrus (DG) - a subregion of the mammalian hippocampus - in learning and memory. In this Perspective article, we compare leading theories of DG function. We note that these theories all critically rely on the generation of distinct patterns of activity in the region to signal differences between experiences and to reduce interference between memories. However, these theories are divided by the roles they attribute to the DG during learning and recall and by the contributions they ascribe to specific inputs or cell types within the DG. These differences influence the information that the DG is thought to impart to downstream structures. We work towards a holistic view of the role of DG in learning and memory by first developing three critical questions to foster a dialogue between the leading theories. We then evaluate the extent to which previous studies address our questions, highlight remaining areas of conflict, and suggest future experiments to bridge these theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Borzello
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Steve Ramirez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Inah Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Helen Scharfman
- Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiology and Psychiatry and the Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- The Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Craig Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behaviour, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - James J Knierim
- Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lara M Rangel
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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23
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Xiang G, Liu X, Wang J, Lu S, Yu M, Zhang Y, Sun B, Huang B, Lu XY, Li X, Zhang D. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α activation facilitates contextual fear extinction and modulates intrinsic excitability of dentate gyrus neurons. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:206. [PMID: 37322045 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus encodes contextual information associated with fear, and cell activity in the DG is required for acquisition and extinction of contextual fear. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we show that mice deficient for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) exhibited a slower rate of contextual fear extinction. Furthermore, selective deletion of PPARα in the DG attenuated, while activation of PPARα in the DG by local infusion of aspirin facilitated extinction of contextual fear. The intrinsic excitability of DG granule neurons was reduced by PPARα deficiency but increased by activation of PPARα with aspirin. Using RNA-Seq transcriptome we found that the transcription level of neuropeptide S receptor 1 (Npsr1) was tightly correlated with PPARα activation. Our results provide evidence that PPARα plays an important role in regulating DG neuronal excitability and contextual fear extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Xiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jiangong Wang
- Institute of Metabolic and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, 256600, China
| | - Shunshun Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Meng Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Bin Sun
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Bin Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xin-Yun Lu
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Xingang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China.
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24
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Neudert MK, Schäfer A, Zehtner RI, Fricke S, Seinsche RJ, Kruse O, Stark R, Hermann A. Behavioral pattern separation is associated with neural and electrodermal correlates of context-dependent fear conditioning. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5577. [PMID: 37019951 PMCID: PMC10076331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31504-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippocampus-dependent pattern separation is considered as a relevant factor for context discrimination and might therefore impact the contextual modulation of conditioned fear. However, the association between pattern separation and context-dependent fear conditioning has not been investigated so far. In the current study, 72 healthy female students completed the Mnemonic Similarity Task, a measure of behavioral pattern separation, in addition to a context-dependent fear conditioning paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The paradigm included fear acquisition in context A and extinction training in context B on a first day, as well as retrieval testing of the fear and extinction memories in the safe context B (extinction recall) and a novel context C (fear renewal) one day later. Main outcome measures comprised skin conductance responses (SCRs) and blood oxygen level-dependent responses in brain regions of the fear and extinction circuit. Regarding retrieval testing, pattern separation did not correlate with extinction recall, but with stronger dorsal anterior cingulate cortex activation and conditioned SCRs (trend) during fear renewal, indicating a stronger retrieval of the fear memory trace. Our findings suggest that behavioral pattern separation ability seems to be important for context-dependent fear modulation, which is impaired in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K Neudert
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Axel Schäfer
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Phillips University Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Raphaela I Zehtner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Susanne Fricke
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rosa J Seinsche
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Phillips University Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andrea Hermann
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Phillips University Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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25
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Zhong J, Li C, Peng L, Pan Y, Yang Y, Guo Q, Zhong T. Repeated neonatal isoflurane exposure facilitated stress-related fear extinction impairment in male mice and was associated with ΔFosB accumulation in the basolateral amygdala and the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Behav Brain Res 2023; 446:114416. [PMID: 37003493 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Volatile anesthetics elicit neurodevelopmental toxicity in rodents and primates and lead to more exaggerated anxiety-like behavior in response to future stress. Anxiety and fear are closely correlated and maladaptive fear-associated learning is regarded as the core mechanism underlying anxiety-related disorders. However, little is known about the interaction between early-life anesthetic exposure and future stress and the accompanying effect on fear-associated learning. In the present study, we evaluated the alterations in fear-associated learning (fear acquisition and extinction) occurring in mice receiving repeated neonatal isoflurane exposure and chronic variable stress (CVS) successively through a series of fear conditioning, fear reinforcing, and fear extinction paradigms. The corticosterone (CORT) response during CVS and the immunohistochemical levels of ΔFosB and c-Fos expression in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) after the extinction retrieval test were also investigated. The results showed that neonatal isoflurane exposure could increase CORT levels following the first diurnal CVS procedure, but not after completion of the whole CVS paradigm. Neonatal isoflurane exposure exerted a repressive effect on fear acquisition, in contrast to that seen with CVS. Neonatal isoflurane exposure and CVS both exerted suppressive effects on fear extinction and there was a significant synergy between them. Furthermore, neonatal isoflurane exposure facilitated CVS-mediated ΔFosB accumulation in the BLA and the hippocampal DG, which may have been responsible for c-Fos expression deficits and fear extinction impairment. Collectively, these findings contribute to the understanding of the interaction between early-life anesthetic exposure and future stress, as well as the accompanying behavioral alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- JiaLing Zhong
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - ChunLin Li
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - LuoFang Peng
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China; Teaching and Research Section of Clinical Nursing, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China.
| | - Yudan Pan
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Yong Yang
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - QuLian Guo
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Tao Zhong
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha city, Hunan Province, PR China.
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26
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Vyleta NP, Snyder JS. Enhanced excitability but mature action potential waveforms at mossy fiber terminals of young, adult-born hippocampal neurons in mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:290. [PMID: 36934174 PMCID: PMC10024705 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04678-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult-born granule neurons pass through immature critical periods where they display enhanced somatic excitability and afferent plasticity, which is believed to endow them with unique roles in hippocampal learning and memory. Using patch clamp recordings in mouse hippocampal slices, here we show that young neuron hyper-excitability is also observed at presynaptic mossy fiber terminals onto CA3 pyramidal neurons. However, action potential waveforms mature faster in the bouton than in the soma, suggesting rapid efferent functionality during immature stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Vyleta
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jason S Snyder
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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27
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Venkataraman A, Dias BG. Expanding the canon: An inclusive neurobiology of thalamic and subthalamic fear circuits. Neuropharmacology 2023; 226:109380. [PMID: 36572176 PMCID: PMC9984284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Appropriate expression of fear in the face of threats in the environment is essential for survival. The sustained expression of fear in the absence of threat signals is a central pathological feature of trauma- and anxiety-related disorders. Our understanding of the neural circuitry that controls fear inhibition coalesces around the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. By discussing thalamic and sub-thalamic influences on fear-related learning and expression in this review, we suggest a more inclusive neurobiological framework that expands our canonical view of fear. First, we visit how fear-related learning and expression is influenced by the aforementioned canonical brain regions. Next, we review emerging data that shed light on new roles for thalamic and subthalamic nuclei in fear-related learning and expression. Then, we highlight how these neuroanatomical hubs can modulate fear via integration of sensory and salient stimuli, gating information flow and calibrating behavioral responses, as well as maintaining and updating memory representations. Finally, we propose that the presence of this thalamic and sub-thalamic neuroanatomy in parallel with the tripartite prefrontal cortex-amygdala-hippocampus circuit allows for dynamic modulation of information based on interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Venkataraman
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Brian George Dias
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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28
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Nalberczak-Skóra M, Beroun A, Skonieczna E, Cały A, Ziółkowska M, Pagano R, Taheri P, Kalita K, Salamian A, Radwanska K. Impaired synaptic transmission in dorsal dentate gyrus increases impulsive alcohol seeking. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:436-447. [PMID: 36182989 PMCID: PMC9852589 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01464-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Both human and animal studies indicate that the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is highly exploited by drug and alcohol abuse. Yet, it is poorly understood how DG dysfunction affects addiction-related behaviors. Here, we used an animal model of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in automated IntelliCages and performed local genetic manipulation to investigate how synaptic transmission in the dorsal DG (dDG) affects alcohol-related behaviors. We show that a cue light induces potentiation-like plasticity of dDG synapses in alcohol-naive mice. This process is impaired in mice trained to drink alcohol. Acamprosate (ACA), a drug that reduces alcohol relapse, rescues the impairment of dDG synaptic transmission in alcohol mice. A molecular manipulation that reduces dDG synaptic AMPAR and NMDAR levels increases impulsive alcohol seeking during cue relapse (CR) in alcohol mice but does not affect alcohol reward, motivation or craving. These findings suggest that hindered dDG synaptic transmission specifically underlies impulsive alcohol seeking induced by alcohol cues, a core symptom of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Nalberczak-Skóra
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland ,grid.460447.50000 0001 2161 9572Experimental Psychopathology Lab, Institute of Psychology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Beroun
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Edyta Skonieczna
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Cały
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Ziółkowska
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Roberto Pagano
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pegah Taheri
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kalita
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kasia Radwanska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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29
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Exploration driven by a medial preoptic circuit facilitates fear extinction in mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:106. [PMID: 36707677 PMCID: PMC9883483 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04442-9] [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: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive exposure to fear-associated targets is a typical treatment for patients with panic or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The success of exposure therapy depends on the active exploration of a fear-eliciting target despite an innate drive to avoid it. Here, we found that a circuit running from CaMKIIα-positive neurons of the medial preoptic area to the ventral periaqueductal gray (MPA-vPAG) facilitates the exploration of a fear-conditioned zone and subsequent fear extinction in mice. Activation or inhibition of this circuit did not induce preference/avoidance of a specific zone. Repeated entries into the fear-conditioned zone, induced by the motivation to chase a head-mounted object due to MPA-vPAG circuit photostimulation, facilitated fear extinction. Our results show how the brain forms extinction memory against avoidance of a fearful target and suggest a circuit-based mechanism of exposure therapy.
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30
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Fernández-Blanco Á, Zamora-Moratalla A, Sabariego-Navarro M, Dierssen M. Defective engram allocation contributes to impaired fear memory performance in Down syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523460. [PMID: 36711850 PMCID: PMC9882045 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic form of intellectual disability (ID). The cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to ID in DS are not completely understood. Recent evidence indicates that a given memory is encoded by sparsely distributed neurons, highly activated during learning, the engram cells. Intriguingly, mechanisms that are of paramount importance for engram formation are impaired in DS. Here we explored engram formation in a DS mouse model, the Ts65Dn and we found a reduced number of engram cells in the dentate gyrus (DG), suggesting reduced neuronal allocation to engrams. We also show that trisomic engram cells present reduced number of mature spines than WT engram cells and their excitability is not enhanced during memory recall. In fact, activation of engram cells using a chemogenetic approach does not recover memory deficits in Ts65Dn. Altogether, our findings suggest that perturbations in engram neurons may play a significant role in memory alterations in DS.
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31
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Zhang TR, Askari B, Kesici A, Guilherme E, Vila-Rodriguez F, Snyder JS. Intermittent theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation induces hippocampal mossy fibre plasticity in male but not female mice. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:310-323. [PMID: 36484786 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induces electric fields that depolarise or hyperpolarise neurons. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a patterned form of TMS that is delivered at the theta frequency (~5 Hz), induces neuroplasticity in the hippocampus, a brain region that is implicated in memory and learning. One form of plasticity that is unique to the hippocampus is adult neurogenesis; however, little is known about whether TMS or iTBS in particular affects newborn neurons. Here, we therefore applied repeated sessions of iTBS to male and female mice and measured the extent of adult neurogenesis and the morphological features of immature neurons. We found that repeated sessions of iTBS did not significantly increase the amount of neurogenesis or affect the gross dendritic morphology of new neurons, and there were no sex differences in neurogenesis rates or aspects of afferent morphology. In contrast, efferent properties of newborn neurons varied as a function of sex and stimulation. Chronic iTBS increased the size of mossy fibre terminals, which synapse onto Cornu Ammonis 3 (CA3) pyramidal neurons, but only in males. iTBS also increased the number of terminal-associated filopodia, putative synapses onto inhibitory interneurons but only in male mice. This efferent plasticity could result from a general trophic effect, or it could reflect accelerated maturation of immature neurons. Given the important role of mossy fibre synapses in hippocampal learning, our results identify a neurobiological effect of iTBS that might be associated with sex-specific changes in cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Rui Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Baran Askari
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aydan Kesici
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Evelyn Guilherme
- Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlo, Brazil
| | - Fidel Vila-Rodriguez
- Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason S Snyder
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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32
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Kim EG, Chang W, Shin S, Adhikari AS, Seol GH, Song DY, Min SS. Maternal separation in mice leads to anxiety-like/aggressive behavior and increases immunoreactivity for glutamic acid decarboxylase and parvalbumin in the adolescence ventral hippocampus. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 27:113-125. [PMID: 36575939 PMCID: PMC9806646 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2023.27.1.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
It has been reported that stressful events in early life influence behavior in adulthood and are associated with different psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder. Maternal separation (MS) is a representative animal model for reproducing childhood stress. It is used as an animal model for depression, and has well-known effects, such as increasing anxiety behavior and causing abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This study investigated the effect of MS on anxiety or aggression-like behavior and the number of GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus. Mice were separated from their dams for four hours per day for 19 d from postnatal day two. Elevated plus maze (EPM) test, resident-intruder (RI) test, and counted glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) or parvalbumin (PV) positive cells in the hippocampus were executed using immunohistochemistry. The maternal segregation group exhibited increased anxiety and aggression in the EPM test and the RI test. GAD67-positive neurons were increased in the hippocampal regions we observed: dentate gyrus (DG), CA3, CA1, subiculum, presubiculum, and parasubiculum. PV-positive neurons were increased in the DG, CA3, presubiculum, and parasubiculum. Consistent with behavioral changes, corticosterone was increased in the MS group, suggesting that the behavioral changes induced by MS were expressed through the effect on the HPA axis. Altogether, MS alters anxiety and aggression levels, possibly through alteration of cytoarchitecture and output of the ventral hippocampus that induces the dysfunction of the HPA axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eu-Gene Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea
| | - Wonseok Chang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea
| | - SangYep Shin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea,Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu 41062, Korea
| | - Anjana Silwal Adhikari
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea
| | - Geun Hee Seol
- Department of Basic Nursing Science, Korea University School of Nursing, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Dae-Yong Song
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea,Correspondence Dae-Yong Song, E-mail: , Sun Seek Min, E-mail:
| | - Sun Seek Min
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea,Correspondence Dae-Yong Song, E-mail: , Sun Seek Min, E-mail:
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Dai Z, Liu Y, Nie L, Chen W, Xu X, Li Y, Zhang J, Shen F, Sui N, Liang J. Locus coeruleus input-modulated reactivation of dentate gyrus opioid-withdrawal engrams promotes extinction. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:327-340. [PMID: 36302846 PMCID: PMC9751301 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01477-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Extinction training during the reconsolidation window following memory recall is an effective behavioral pattern for promoting the extinction of pathological memory. However, promoted extinction by recall-extinction procedure has not been universally replicated in different studies. One potential reason for this may relate to whether initially acquired memory is successfully activated. Thus, the methods for inducing the memory into an active or plastic condition may contribute to promoting its extinction. The aim of this study is to find and demonstrate a manipulatable neural circuit that engages in the memory recall process and where its activation improves the extinction process through recall-extinction procedure. Here, naloxone-precipitated conditioned place aversion (CPA) in morphine-dependent mice was mainly used as a pathological memory model. We found that the locus coeruleus (LC)-dentate gyrus (DG) circuit was necessary for CPA memory recall and that artificial activation of LC inputs to the DG just prior to initiating a recall-extinction procedure significantly promoted extinction learning. We also found that activating this circuit caused an increase in the ensemble size of DG engram cells activated during the extinction, which was confirmed by a cFos targeted strategy to label cells combined with immunohistochemical and in vivo calcium imaging techniques. Collectively, our data uncover that the recall experience is important for updating the memory during the reconsolidation window; they also suggest a promising neural circuit or target based on the recall-extinction procedure for weakening pathological aversion memory, such as opioid withdrawal memory and fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lina Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weiqi Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yonghui Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Sui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Fölsz O, Trouche S, Croset V. Adult-born neurons add flexibility to hippocampal memories. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1128623. [PMID: 36875670 PMCID: PMC9975346 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1128623] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Although most neurons are generated embryonically, neurogenesis is maintained at low rates in specific brain areas throughout adulthood, including the dentate gyrus of the mammalian hippocampus. Episodic-like memories encoded in the hippocampus require the dentate gyrus to decorrelate similar experiences by generating distinct neuronal representations from overlapping inputs (pattern separation). Adult-born neurons integrating into the dentate gyrus circuit compete with resident mature cells for neuronal inputs and outputs, and recruit inhibitory circuits to limit hippocampal activity. They display transient hyperexcitability and hyperplasticity during maturation, making them more likely to be recruited by any given experience. Behavioral evidence suggests that adult-born neurons support pattern separation in the rodent dentate gyrus during encoding, and they have been proposed to provide a temporal stamp to memories encoded in close succession. The constant addition of neurons gradually degrades old connections, promoting generalization and ultimately forgetting of remote memories in the hippocampus. This makes space for new memories, preventing saturation and interference. Overall, a small population of adult-born neurons appears to make a unique contribution to hippocampal information encoding and removal. Although several inconsistencies regarding the functional relevance of neurogenesis remain, in this review we argue that immature neurons confer a unique form of transience on the dentate gyrus that complements synaptic plasticity to help animals flexibly adapt to changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Fölsz
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.,MSc in Neuroscience Programme, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stéphanie Trouche
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Vincent Croset
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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Aberrant ventral dentate gyrus structure and function in trauma susceptible mice. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:502. [PMID: 36473832 PMCID: PMC9723770 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02264-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder vulnerable individuals can develop following a traumatic event, whereas others are resilient. Enhanced insight into the mechanistic underpinnings contributing to these inter-individual differences in trauma susceptibility is key to improved treatment and prevention. Aberrant function of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) may contribute to its psychopathology, with the dorsal DG potentially encoding trauma memory generalization and the ventral DG anxiety. Using a mouse model, we hypothesized that susceptibility to develop PTSD-like symptoms following trauma will be underpinned by aberrant DG structure and function. Mice were exposed to a traumatic event (unpredictable, inescapable foot shocks) and tested for PTSD-like symptomatology following recovery. In four independent experiments, DG neuronal morphology, synaptic protein gene and protein expression, and neuronal activity during trauma encoding and recall were assessed. Behaviorally, trauma-susceptible animals displayed increased anxiety-like behavior already prior to trauma, increased novelty-induced freezing, but no clear differences in remote trauma memory recall. Comparison of the ventral DG of trauma susceptible vs resilient mice revealed lower spine density, reduced expression of the postsynaptic protein homer1b/c gene and protein, a larger population of neurons active during trauma encoding, and a greater presence of somatostatin neurons. In contrast, the dorsal DG of trauma-susceptible animals did not differ in terms of spine density or gene expression but displayed more active neurons during trauma encoding and a lower amount of somatostatin neurons. Collectively, we here report on specific structural and functional changes in the ventral DG in trauma susceptible male mice.
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New Positive TRPC6 Modulator Penetrates Blood–Brain Barrier, Eliminates Synaptic Deficiency and Restores Memory Deficit in 5xFAD Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113552. [PMID: 36362339 PMCID: PMC9653995 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse loss in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients correlates with cognitive dysfunctions. Drugs that limit synaptic loss are promising pharmacological agents. The transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 6 (TRPC6) regulates the formation of an excitatory synapse. Positive regulation of TRPC6 results in increased synapse formation and enhances learning and memory in animal models. The novel selective TRPC6 agonist, 3-(3-,4-Dihydro-6,7-dimethoxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-isoquinolinyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one, has recently been identified. Here we present in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, pharmacokinetic and in vivo studies of this compound. We demonstrate that it binds to the extracellular agonist binding site of the human TRPC6, protects hippocampal mushroom spines from amyloid toxicity in vitro, efficiently recovers synaptic plasticity in 5xFAD brain slices, penetrates the blood–brain barrier and recovers cognitive deficits in 5xFAD mice. We suggest that C20 might be recognized as the novel TRPC6-selective drug suitable to treat synaptic deficiency in Alzheimer’s disease-affected hippocampal neurons.
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Zheng Y, Liu XL, Nishiyama S, Ranganath C, O’Reilly RC. Correcting the hebbian mistake: Toward a fully error-driven hippocampus. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010589. [PMID: 36219613 PMCID: PMC9586412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus plays a critical role in the rapid learning of new episodic memories. Many computational models propose that the hippocampus is an autoassociator that relies on Hebbian learning (i.e., "cells that fire together, wire together"). However, Hebbian learning is computationally suboptimal as it does not learn in a way that is driven toward, and limited by, the objective of achieving effective retrieval. Thus, Hebbian learning results in more interference and a lower overall capacity. Our previous computational models have utilized a powerful, biologically plausible form of error-driven learning in hippocampal CA1 and entorhinal cortex (EC) (functioning as a sparse autoencoder) by contrasting local activity states at different phases in the theta cycle. Based on specific neural data and a recent abstract computational model, we propose a new model called Theremin (Total Hippocampal ERror MINimization) that extends error-driven learning to area CA3-the mnemonic heart of the hippocampal system. In the model, CA3 responds to the EC monosynaptic input prior to the EC disynaptic input through dentate gyrus (DG), giving rise to a temporal difference between these two activation states, which drives error-driven learning in the EC→CA3 and CA3↔CA3 projections. In effect, DG serves as a teacher to CA3, correcting its patterns into more pattern-separated ones, thereby reducing interference. Results showed that Theremin, compared with our original Hebbian-based model, has significantly increased capacity and learning speed. The model makes several novel predictions that can be tested in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicong Zheng
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Xiaonan L. Liu
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Satoru Nishiyama
- Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Charan Ranganath
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Randall C. O’Reilly
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Jo JK, Lee G, Nguyen CD, Park SE, Kim EJ, Kim HW, Seo SH, Cho KM, Kwon SJ, Kim JH, Son HS. Effects of Donepezil Treatment on Brain Metabolites, Gut Microbiota, and Gut Metabolites in an Amyloid Beta-Induced Cognitive Impairment Mouse Pilot Model. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27196591. [PMID: 36235127 PMCID: PMC9572896 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Accumulated clinical and biomedical evidence indicates that the gut microbiota and their metabolites affect brain function and behavior in various central nervous system disorders. This study was performed to investigate the changes in brain metabolites and composition of the fecal microbial community following injection of amyloid β (Aβ) and donepezil treatment of Aβ-injected mice using metataxonomics and metabolomics. Aβ treatment caused cognitive dysfunction, while donepezil resulted in the successful recovery of memory impairment. The Aβ + donepezil group showed a significantly higher relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia than the Aβ group. The relative abundance of 12 taxa, including Blautia and Akkermansia, differed significantly between the groups. The Aβ + donepezil group had higher levels of oxalate, glycerol, xylose, and palmitoleate in feces and oxalate, pyroglutamic acid, hypoxanthine, and inosine in brain tissues than the Aβ group. The levels of pyroglutamic acid, glutamic acid, and phenylalanine showed similar changes in vivo and in vitro using HT-22 cells. The major metabolic pathways in the brain tissues and gut microbiota affected by Aβ or donepezil treatment of Aβ-injected mice were related to amino acid pathways and sugar metabolism, respectively. These findings suggest that alterations in the gut microbiota might influence the induction and amelioration of Aβ-induced cognitive dysfunction via the gut–brain axis. This study could provide basic data on the effects of Aβ and donepezil on gut microbiota and metabolites in an Aβ-induced cognitive impairment mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Kwon Jo
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Gihyun Lee
- Department of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju 58245, Korea
| | - Cong Duc Nguyen
- Department of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju 58245, Korea
| | - Seong-Eun Park
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Eun-Ju Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Hyun-Woo Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | | | | | | | - Jae-Hong Kim
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju 58245, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.-H.K.); (H.-S.S.); Tel.: +82-62-350-7209 (J.-H.K.); +82-2-3290-3053 (H.-S.S.)
| | - Hong-Seok Son
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.-H.K.); (H.-S.S.); Tel.: +82-62-350-7209 (J.-H.K.); +82-2-3290-3053 (H.-S.S.)
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Miller LN, Weiss C, Disterhoft JF. Learning-related changes in cellular activity within mouse dentate gyrus during trace eyeblink conditioning. Hippocampus 2022; 32:776-794. [PMID: 36018285 PMCID: PMC9489639 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Because the dentate gyrus serves as the first site for information processing in the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit, it an important structure for the formation of associative memories. Previous findings in rabbit had recorded populations of cells within dentate gyrus that may bridge the temporal gap between stimuli to support memory formation during trace eyeblink conditioning, an associative learning task. However, this previous work was unable to identify the types of cells demonstrating this type of activity. To explore these changes further, we did in vivo single-neuron recording in conjunction with physiological determination of cell types to investigate the functional role of granule cells, mossy cells, and interneurons in dentate gyrus during learning. Tetrode recordings were performed in young-adult mice during training on trace eyeblink conditioning, a hippocampal-dependent temporal associative memory task. Conditioned mice were able to successfully learn the task, with male mice learning at a faster rate than female mice. In the conditioned group, granule cells tended to show an increase in firing rate during conditioned stimulus presentation while mossy cells showed a decrease in firing rate during the trace interval and the unconditioned stimulus. Interestingly, populations of interneurons demonstrated learning-related increases and decreases in activity that began at onset of the conditioned stimulus and persisted through the trace interval. The current study also found a significant increase in theta power during stimuli presentation in conditioned animals, and this change in theta decreased over time. Ultimately, these data suggest unique involvement of granule cells, mossy cells, and interneurons in dentate gyrus in the formation of a trace associative memory. This work expands our knowledge of dentate gyrus function, helping to discern how aging and disease might disrupt this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa N. Miller
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Craig Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - John F. Disterhoft
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
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40
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Progression in Time of Dentate Gyrus Granule Cell Layer Widening due to Excitotoxicity Occurs along In Vivo LTP Reinstatement and Contextual Fear Memory Recovery. Neural Plast 2022; 2022:7432842. [PMID: 36213614 PMCID: PMC9533134 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7432842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The dentate gyrus (DG) is the gateway of sensory information arriving from the perforant pathway (PP) to the hippocampus. The adequate integration of incoming information into the DG is paramount in the execution of hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions. An abnormal DG granule cell layer (GCL) widening due to granule cell dispersion has been reported under hyperexcitation conditions in animal models as well as in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, but also in patients with no apparent relation to epilepsy. Strikingly, it is unclear whether the presence and severity of GCL widening along time affect synaptic processing arising from the PP and alter the performance in hippocampal-mediated behaviors. To evaluate the above, we injected excitotoxic kainic acid (KA) unilaterally into the DG of mice and analyzed the evolution of GCL widening at 10 and 30 days post injection (dpi), while analyzing if KA-induced GCL widening affected in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) in the PP-DG pathway, as well as the performance in learning and memory through contextual fear conditioning. Our results show that at 10 dpi, when a subtle GCL widening was observed, LTP induction, as well as contextual fear memory, were impaired. However, at 30 dpi when a pronounced increase in GCL widening was found, LTP induction and contextual fear memory were already reestablished. These results highlight the plastic potential of the DG to recover some of its functions despite a major structural alteration such as abnormal GCL widening.
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41
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Grella SL, Fortin AH, Ruesch E, Bladon JH, Reynolds LF, Gross A, Shpokayte M, Cincotta C, Zaki Y, Ramirez S. Reactivating hippocampal-mediated memories during reconsolidation to disrupt fear. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4733. [PMID: 36096993 PMCID: PMC9468169 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32246-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Memories are stored in the brain as cellular ensembles activated during learning and reactivated during retrieval. Using the Tet-tag system in mice, we label dorsal dentate gyrus neurons activated by positive, neutral or negative experiences with channelrhodopsin-2. Following fear-conditioning, these cells are artificially reactivated during fear memory recall. Optical stimulation of a competing positive memory is sufficient to update the memory during reconsolidation, thereby reducing conditioned fear acutely and enduringly. Moreover, mice demonstrate operant responding for reactivation of a positive memory, confirming its rewarding properties. These results show that interference from a rewarding experience can counteract negative affective states. While memory-updating, induced by memory reactivation, involves a relatively small set of neurons, we also find that activating a large population of randomly labeled dorsal dentate gyrus neurons is effective in promoting reconsolidation. Importantly, memory-updating is specific to the fear memory. These findings implicate the dorsal dentate gyrus as a potential therapeutic node for modulating memories to suppress fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Grella
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Amanda H Fortin
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Evan Ruesch
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - John H Bladon
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Leanna F Reynolds
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Abby Gross
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Monika Shpokayte
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Christine Cincotta
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Yosif Zaki
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Steve Ramirez
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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Gong Z, Wang Z, Jiang L, Wang X, Zhang B, Vashisth MK, Zhou Q. Neuronal activity in the dorsal dentate gyrus during extinction regulates fear memory extinction and renewal. Exp Neurol 2022; 358:114224. [PMID: 36089058 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114224] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Memory extinction and renewal are major factors that limits the efficacy of exposure therapy. The dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG) plays a crucial role in spatial memory, and epigenetic modifications in the dDG play an important role in fear memory renewal. However, whether dDG activity regulates fear memory extinction and renewal remains unclear. In this study, we showed that an extinction procedure that prevents fear memory renewal (extinction within the reconsolidation window) leads to increased c-fos expression in the dDG. Chemicogenetic activation of dDG excitatory neurons during extinction training elevated fear memory extinction and prevented renewal, whereas inhibition of dDG excitatory neurons inhibited fear memory extinction. We also demonstrated that inhibiting fear engram cells (neurons active during fear acquisition) during extinction training inhibits fear memory extinction. Therefore, dDG activity during fear extinction plays an important role in fear memory extinction and renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiting Gong
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Zongliang Wang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Le Jiang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xiaobing Wang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Bensi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Manoj Kumar Vashisth
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.
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Mishra R, Phan T, Kumar P, Morrissey Z, Gupta M, Hollands C, Shetti A, Lopez KL, Maienschein-Cline M, Suh H, Hen R, Lazarov O. Augmenting neurogenesis rescues memory impairments in Alzheimer's disease by restoring the memory-storing neurons. J Exp Med 2022; 219:e20220391. [PMID: 35984475 PMCID: PMC9399756 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20220391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal neurogenesis is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) mouse models. However, it is unknown whether new neurons play a causative role in memory deficits. Here, we show that immature neurons were actively recruited into the engram following a hippocampus-dependent task. However, their recruitment is severely deficient in FAD. Recruited immature neurons exhibited compromised spine density and altered transcript profile. Targeted augmentation of neurogenesis in FAD mice restored the number of new neurons in the engram, the dendritic spine density, and the transcription signature of both immature and mature neurons, ultimately leading to the rescue of memory. Chemogenetic inactivation of immature neurons following enhanced neurogenesis in AD, reversed mouse performance, and diminished memory. Notably, AD-linked App, ApoE, and Adam10 were of the top differentially expressed genes in the engram. Collectively, these observations suggest that defective neurogenesis contributes to memory failure in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Mishra
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Trongha Phan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Pavan Kumar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Zachery Morrissey
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
- The Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Muskan Gupta
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Carolyn Hollands
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Aashutosh Shetti
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Kyra Lauren Lopez
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Hoonkyo Suh
- Department of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Rene Hen
- Department of Psychiatry, Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Orly Lazarov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
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Trott JM, Krasne FB, Fanselow MS. Sex differences in contextual fear learning and generalization: a behavioral and computational analysis of hippocampal functioning. Learn Mem 2022; 29:283-296. [PMID: 36206390 PMCID: PMC9488020 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053515.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
There are sex differences in anxiety disorders with regard to occurrence and severity of episodes such that females tend to experience more frequent and more severe episodes. Contextual fear learning and generalization are especially relevant to anxiety disorders, which are often defined by expressing fear and/or anxiety in safe contexts. In contextual fear conditioning, a representation of the context must first be created, and then that representation must be paired with an aversive consequence. With some variation, the experiments presented here use a 3-d procedure in which day 1 consists of pre-exposure to the to-be-shocked context, day 2 consists of a single context-shock pairing after some placement-to-shock interval (PSI), and day 3 consists of testing in either the same or a novel context. With shorter pre-exposure periods, male rats showed more contextual fear, consistent with previous literature; however, after longer pre-exposure periods, female rats showed greater contextual fear. Additionally, while pre-exposure and PSI are both periods of time prior to the shock, it was found that they were not equivalent to each other. Animals with 120 sec of pre-exposure and a 30-sec PSI show a differential level and time course of fear expression than animals who received no pre-exposure and a 150-sec PSI, and this further depended on sex of the rat. Additionally, an experiment comparing recently versus remotely acquired contextual fear was run. Males were again shown to have greater contextual fear at both time points, and this contextual fear incubated/increased over time in males but not females. To facilitate identification of what processes caused sex differences, we used BaconX, a conceptual and computational model of hippocampal contextual learning. Computational simulations using this model predicted many of our key findings. Furthermore, these simulations suggest potential mechanisms with regard to hippocampal computation; namely, an increased feature sampling rate in males, which may account for the sex differences presented here and in prior literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Trott
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Franklin B Krasne
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Michael S Fanselow
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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Khilazheva ED, Belozor OS, Panina YA, Gorina YV, Mosyagina AI, Vasiliev AV, Malinovskaya NA, Komleva YK. The Role of Metaflammation in the Development of Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype and Cognitive Dysfunction in Aging Mice. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093022050222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Featherstone RE, Shimada T, Crown LM, Melnychenko O, Yi J, Matsumoto M, Tajinda K, Mihara T, Adachi M, Siegel SJ. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα heterozygous knockout mice show electroencephalogram and behavioral changes characteristic of a subpopulation of schizophrenia and intellectual impairment. Neuroscience 2022; 499:104-117. [PMID: 35901933 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive deficit remains an intractable symptom of schizophrenia, accounting for substantial disability. Despite this, little is known about the cause of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. Recent studies suggest that schizophrenia patients show several changes in dentate gyrus structure and functional characteristic of immaturity. The immature dentate gyrus (iDG) has been replicated in several mouse models, most notably the αCaMKII heterozygous mouse (CaMKIIa-hKO). The current study characterizes behavioral phenotypes of CaMKIIa-hKO mice and determines their neurophysiological profile using electroencephalogram (EEG) recording from hippocampus. CaMKIIa-hKO mice were hypoactive in home-cage environment; however, they displayed less anxiety-like phenotype, suggestive of impulsivity-like behavior. In addition, severe cognitive dysfunction was evident in CaMKIIa-hKO mice as examined by novel object recognition and contextual fear conditioning. Several EEG phenomena established in both patients and relevant animal models indicate key pathological changes associated with the disease, include auditory event-related potentials and time-frequency EEG oscillations. CaMKIIa-hKO mice showed altered event-related potentials characterized by an increase in amplitude of the N40 and P80, as well as increased P80 latency. These mice also showed increased power in theta range time-frequency measures. Additionally, CaMKIIa-hKO mice showed spontaneous bursts of spike wave activity, possibly indicating absence seizures. The GABAB agonist baclofen increased, while the GABAB antagonist CGP35348 and the T-Type Ca2+ channel blocker Ethosuximide decreased spike wave burst frequency. None of these changes in event-related potentials or EEG oscillations are characteristic of those observed in general population of patients with schizophrenia; yet, CaMKIIa-hKO mice likely model a subpopulation of patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Featherstone
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los, Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Takeshi Shimada
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma, Inc, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Lindsey M Crown
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los, Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Olya Melnychenko
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los, Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Janice Yi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los, Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Takuma Mihara
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma, Inc, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Megumi Adachi
- Astellas Research Institute of America, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Steven J Siegel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los, Angeles, CA, USA.
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Region-Specific Characteristics of Astrocytes and Microglia: A Possible Involvement in Aging and Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121902. [PMID: 35741031 PMCID: PMC9220858 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although different regions of the brain are dedicated to specific functions, the intra- and inter-regional heterogeneity of astrocytes and microglia in these regions has not yet been fully understood. Recently, an advancement in various technologies, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, has allowed for the discovery of astrocytes and microglia with distinct molecular fingerprints and varying functions in the brain. In addition, the regional heterogeneity of astrocytes and microglia exhibits different functions in several situations, such as aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, investigating the region-specific astrocytes and microglia is important in understanding the overall function of the brain. In this review, we summarize up-to-date research on various intra- and inter-regional heterogeneities of astrocytes and microglia, and provide information on how they can be applied to aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Anxiety and hippocampal neuronal activity: Relationship and potential mechanisms. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:431-449. [PMID: 34873665 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00973-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus has been implicated in modulating anxiety. It interacts with a variety of brain regions, both cortical and subcortical areas regulating emotion and stress responses, including prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, and the nucleus accumbens, to adjust anxiety levels in response to a variety of stressful conditions. Growing evidence indicates that anxiety is associated with increased neuronal excitability in the hippocampus, and alterations in local regulation of hippocampal excitability have been suggested to underlie behavioral disruptions characteristic of certain anxiety disorders. Furthermore, studies have shown that some anxiolytics can treat anxiety by altering the excitability and plasticity of hippocampal neurons. Hence, identifying cellular and molecular mechanisms and neural circuits that regulate hippocampal excitability in anxiety may be beneficial for developing targeted interventions for treatment of anxiety disorders particularly for the treatment-resistant cases. We first briefly review a role of the hippocampus in fear. We then review the evidence indicating a relationship between the hippocampal activity and fear/anxiety and discuss some possible mechanisms underlying stress-induced hippocampal excitability and anxiety-related behavior.
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Eom K, Lee HR, Hyun JH, An H, Lee YS, Ho WK, Lee SH. Gradual decorrelation of CA3 ensembles associated with contextual discrimination learning is impaired by Kv1.2 insufficiency. Hippocampus 2022; 32:193-216. [PMID: 34964210 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The associative network of hippocampal CA3 is thought to contribute to rapid formation of contextual memory from one-trial learning, but the network mechanisms underlying decorrelation of neuronal ensembles in CA3 is largely unknown. Kv1.2 expressions in rodent CA3 pyramidal cells (CA3-PCs) are polarized to distal apical dendrites, and its downregulation specifically enhances dendritic responses to perforant pathway (PP) synaptic inputs. We found that haploinsufficiency of Kv1.2 (Kcna2+/-) in CA3-PCs, but not Kv1.1 (Kcna1+/-), lowers the threshold for long-term potentiation (LTP) at PP-CA3 synapses, and that the Kcna2+/- mice are normal in discrimination of distinct contexts but impaired in discrimination of similar but slightly distinct contexts. We further examined the neuronal ensembles in CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG), which represent the two similar contexts using in situ hybridization of immediate early genes, Homer1a and Arc. The size and overlap of CA3 ensembles activated by the first visit to the similar contexts were not different between wild type and Kcna2+/- mice, but these ensemble parameters diverged over training days between genotypes, suggesting that abnormal plastic changes at PP-CA3 synapses of Kcna2+/- mice is responsible for the impaired pattern separation. Unlike CA3, DG ensembles were not different between two genotype mice. The DG ensembles were already separated on the first day, and their overlap did not further evolve. Eventually, the Kcna2+/- mice exhibited larger CA3 ensemble size and overlap upon retrieval of two contexts, compared to wild type or Kcna1+/- mice. These results suggest that sparse LTP at PP-CA3 synapse probably supervised by mossy fiber inputs is essential for gradual decorrelation of CA3 ensembles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kisang Eom
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung Ro Lee
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Ho Hyun
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunhoe An
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Seok Lee
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Kyung Ho
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Ho Lee
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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50
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El-Domiaty HF, El-Roghy ES, Salem HR. Combination of magnesium supplementation with treadmill exercise improves memory deficit in aged rats by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis and plasticity: a functional and histological study. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2022; 47:296-308. [PMID: 35225658 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2021-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the possible ameliorative effects of co-supplementation with Mg2+ and treadmill exercise on memory deficit in aged rats. Fifty male albino rats (10 young and 40 aged rats) were divided into 5 groups (10 rats/group): young, aged sedentary, aged exercised, aged Mg2+-supplemented, and aged exercised and Mg2+-supplemented. Memory was assessed using the Y-maze and novel object recognition tests. Plasma samples were collected for measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP). Subsequently, brain malondialdehyde and catalase levels were measured. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the hippocampi were performed. Our results showed impaired memory in aged sedentary rats, with significantly elevated plasma CRP and brain malondialdehyde levels and decreased brain catalase. The hippocampus of aged sedentary rats showed cellular degeneration, downregulation of synaptophysin (SYP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and upregulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and caspase-3. Mg2+ supplementation and/or treadmill exercise significantly improved memory tests in aged rats, which could be explained by the upregulation of hippocampal SYP and PCNA expression and downregulation of GFAP and caspase-3 expression with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The combined therapy had a better effect than both treatments alone, confirming the role of Mg2+ supplementation with physical exercise in enhancing age-related memory deficit. Novelty: Magnesium supplementation with treadmill exercise improves memory deficit in aged rats. The possible mechanisms are upregulation of the hippocampal synaptophysin and PCNA, downregulation of GFAP and caspase-3, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Fathy El-Domiaty
- Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt
| | - Eman S El-Roghy
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt
| | - Heba Rady Salem
- Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt
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