1
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Kim EJ, Kong MS, Park S, Cho J, Kim JJ. Periaqueductal gray activates antipredatory neural responses in the amygdala of foraging rats. eLife 2024; 12:RP88733. [PMID: 39133827 PMCID: PMC11318971 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Pavlovian fear conditioning research suggests that the interaction between the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) acts as a prediction error mechanism in the formation of associative fear memories. However, their roles in responding to naturalistic predatory threats, characterized by less explicit cues and the absence of reiterative trial-and-error learning events, remain unexplored. In this study, we conducted single-unit recordings in rats during an 'approach food-avoid predator' task, focusing on the responsiveness of dPAG and BLA neurons to a rapidly approaching robot predator. Optogenetic stimulation of the dPAG triggered fleeing behaviors and increased BLA activity in naive rats. Notably, BLA neurons activated by dPAG stimulation displayed immediate responses to the robot, demonstrating heightened synchronous activity compared to BLA neurons that did not respond to dPAG stimulation. Additionally, the use of anterograde and retrograde tracer injections into the dPAG and BLA, respectively, coupled with c-Fos activation in response to predatory threats, indicates that the midline thalamus may play an intermediary role in innate antipredatory-defensive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Joo Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Mi-Seon Kong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Sanggeon Park
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Jeiwon Cho
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Jeansok John Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
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2
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Jiang S, Song B, Liu Z, Shen S, Qian W, Sun J, Chen G, Zhu Y. Neuronal activity in the anterior paraventricular nucleus of thalamus positively correlated with sweetener consumption in mice. Neurosci Res 2024; 205:16-26. [PMID: 38364907 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2024.02.002] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Although the brain can discriminate between various sweet substances, the underlying neural mechanisms of this complex behavior remain elusive. This study examines the role of the anterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (aPVT) in governing sweet preference in mice. We fed the mice six different diets with equal sweetness for six weeks: control diet (CD), high sucrose diet (HSD), high stevioside diet (HSSD), high xylitol diet (HXD), high glycyrrhizin diet (HGD), and high mogroside diet (HMD). The mice exhibited a marked preference specifically for the HSD and HSSD. Following consumption of these diets, c-Fos expression levels in the aPVT were significantly higher in these two groups compared to the others. Utilizing fiber photometry calcium imaging, we observed rapid activation of aPVT neurons in response to sucrose and stevioside intake, but not to xylitol or water. Our findings suggest that aPVT activity aligns with sweet preference in mice, and notably, stevioside is the sole plant-based sweetener that elicits an aPVT response comparable to that of sucrose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaolei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Optical Technology and Instrument for Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; The Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases Institute of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bo Song
- Key Laboratory of Optical Technology and Instrument for Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Zhongdong Liu
- Grain College, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo, Sã o Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Shuifa Shen
- Hefei lnstitutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; School of Intelligent Manufacturing, Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction, Jinhua 322100, China
| | - Weiliang Qian
- Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo, Sã o Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, No.2004 Hongli Road, Shenzhen 518028, China
| | - Gaowei Chen
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases Institute of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases Institute of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, China.
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3
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Fischer C, Schreiber Y, Nitsch R, Vogt J, Thomas D, Geisslinger G, Tegeder I. Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptors LPAR5 and LPAR2 Inversely Control Hydroxychloroquine-Evoked Itch and Scratching in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8177. [PMID: 39125747 PMCID: PMC11312285 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158177] [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: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) evoke nociception and itch in mice and humans. In this study, we assessed the signaling paths. Hydroxychloroquine was injected intradermally to evoke itch in mice, which evoked an increase of LPAs in the skin and in the thalamus, suggesting that peripheral and central LPA receptors (LPARs) were involved in HCQ-evoked pruriception. To unravel the signaling paths, we assessed the localization of candidate genes and itching behavior in knockout models addressing LPAR5, LPAR2, autotaxin/ENPP2 and the lysophospholipid phosphatases, as well as the plasticity-related genes Prg1/LPPR4 and Prg2/LPPR3. LacZ reporter studies and RNAscope revealed LPAR5 in neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and in skin keratinocytes, LPAR2 in cortical and thalamic neurons, and Prg1 in neuronal structures of the dorsal horn, thalamus and SSC. HCQ-evoked scratching behavior was reduced in sensory neuron-specific Advillin-LPAR5-/- mice (peripheral) but increased in LPAR2-/- and Prg1-/- mice (central), and it was not affected by deficiency of glial autotaxin (GFAP-ENPP2-/-) or Prg2 (PRG2-/-). Heat and mechanical nociception were not affected by any of the genotypes. The behavior suggested that HCQ-mediated itch involves the activation of peripheral LPAR5, which was supported by reduced itch upon treatment with an LPAR5 antagonist and autotaxin inhibitor. Further, HCQ-evoked calcium fluxes were reduced in primary sensory neurons of Advillin-LPAR5-/- mice. The results suggest that LPA-mediated itch is primarily mediated via peripheral LPAR5, suggesting that a topical LPAR5 blocker might suppress "non-histaminergic" itch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Fischer
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (C.F.); (D.T.); (G.G.)
| | - Yannick Schreiber
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
| | - Robert Nitsch
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, WWU Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Johannes Vogt
- Department of Molecular and Translational Neurosciences, Institute for Anatomy and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), and Cologne Excellence Cluster for Aging associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50923 Köln, Germany;
| | - Dominique Thomas
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (C.F.); (D.T.); (G.G.)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (C.F.); (D.T.); (G.G.)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence of Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (C.F.); (D.T.); (G.G.)
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4
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Kim EJ, Kong MS, Park S, Cho J, Kim JJ. Periaqueductal gray activates antipredatory neural responses in the amygdala of foraging rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.19.541463. [PMID: 38559038 PMCID: PMC10979854 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.19.541463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Pavlovian fear conditioning research suggests that the interaction between the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) acts as a prediction error mechanism in the formation of associative fear memories. However, their roles in responding to naturalistic predatory threats, characterized by less explicit cues and the absence of reiterative trial-and-error learning events, remain unexplored. In this study, we conducted single-unit recordings in rats during an 'approach food-avoid predator' task, focusing on the responsiveness of dPAG and BLA neurons to a rapidly approaching robot predator. Optogenetic stimulation of the dPAG triggered fleeing behaviors and increased BLA activity in naive rats. Notably, BLA neurons activated by dPAG stimulation displayed immediate responses to the robot, demonstrating heightened synchronous activity compared to BLA neurons that did not respond to dPAG stimulation. Additionally, the use of anterograde and retrograde tracer injections into the dPAG and BLA, respectively, coupled with c-Fos activation in response to predatory threats, indicates that the midline thalamus may play an intermediary role in innate antipredatory defensive functioning.
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5
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Kooiker CL, Birnie MT, Floriou-Servou A, Ding Q, Thiagarajan N, Hardy M, Baram TZ. Paraventricular Thalamus Neuronal Ensembles Encode Early-life Adversity and Mediate the Consequent Sex-dependent Disruptions of Adult Reward Behaviors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.28.591547. [PMID: 38746198 PMCID: PMC11092514 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.28.591547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Early-life adversity increases risk for mental illnesses including depression and substance use disorders, disorders characterized by dysregulated reward behaviors. However, the mechanisms by which transient ELA enduringly impacts reward circuitries are not well understood. In mice, ELA leads to anhedonia-like behaviors in males and augmented motivation for palatable food and sex-reward cues in females. Here, the use of genetic tagging demonstrated robust, preferential, and sex-specific activation of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) during ELA and a potentiated reactivation of these PVT neurons during a reward task in adult ELA mice. Chemogenetic manipulation of specific ensembles of PVT neurons engaged during ELA identified a role for the posterior PVT in ELA-induced aberrantly augmented reward behaviors in females. In contrast, anterior PVT neurons activated during ELA were required for the anhedonia-like behaviors in males. Thus, the PVT encodes adverse experiences early-in life, prior to the emergence of the hippocampal memory system, and contributes critically to the lasting, sex-modulated impacts of ELA on reward behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L. Kooiker
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Matthew T. Birnie
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Amalia Floriou-Servou
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Qinxin Ding
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Neeraj Thiagarajan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mason Hardy
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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6
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Casile A, Marraudino M, Bonaldo B, Micioni Di Bonaventura MV, Nasini S, Cifani C, Gotti S. Novel rat model of gaming disorder: assessment of social reward and sex differences in behavior and c-Fos brain activity. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06576-y. [PMID: 38575792 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06576-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE In 2018, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) classified Gaming Disorder (GD) as a mental disorder. GD mainly occurs among adolescents, who, after developing addiction, show psychopathological traits, such as social anxiety, depression, social isolation, and attention deficit. However, the different studies conducted in humans so far show several limitations, such as the lack of demographic heterogeneity and equal representation of age, differences in the type of game and in the follow-up period. Furthermore, at present, no animal models specific to GD are available. OBJECTIVES To address the lack of an experimental model for GD, in the present work, we proposed a new GD rat model to investigate some peculiar tracts of the disorder. METHODS Two-month-old Wistar Kyoto rats, both males and females, were subject to a five-week training with a new innovative touch-screen platform. After five weeks of training, rats were assessed for: (a) their attachment to the play under several conditions, (b) their hyperactivity during gaming, and (c) the maintenance of these conditions after a period of game pause and reward interruption. After sacrifice, using immunohistochemistry techniques, the immunoreactivity of c-Fos (a marker of neuronal activity) was analyzed to study different neural areas. RESULTS After the training, the rats subjected to GD protocol developed GD-related traits (e.g., hyperactivity, loss control), and the behavioral phenotype was maintained consistently over time. These aspects were completely absent in the control groups. Lastly, the analysis of c-Fos immunoreactivity in prelimbic cortex (PrL), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), nucleus Accumbens, amygdala and bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) highlighted significant alterations in the GD groups compared to controls, suggesting modifications in neural activity related to the development of the GD phenotype. CONCLUSIONS The proposal of a new GD rat model could represent an innovative tool to investigate, in both sexes, the behavioral and neurobiological features of this disorder, the possible role of external factors in the predisposition and susceptibility and the development of new pharmacological therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Casile
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 9, Camerino, 62032, Italy.
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, 10, Orbassano, Turin, TO, 10043, Italy.
| | - Marilena Marraudino
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, 10, Orbassano, Turin, TO, 10043, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", Via Cherasco 15, Turin, TO, 10126, Italy
| | - Brigitta Bonaldo
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, 10, Orbassano, Turin, TO, 10043, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", Via Cherasco 15, Turin, TO, 10126, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences and Research Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), Novara, Italy
| | | | - Sofia Nasini
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Padua, Largo Egidio Meneghetti, 2, Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 9, Camerino, 62032, Italy.
| | - Stefano Gotti
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, 10, Orbassano, Turin, TO, 10043, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", Via Cherasco 15, Turin, TO, 10126, Italy
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Paniccia JE, Vollmer KM, Green LM, Grant RI, Winston KT, Buchmaier S, Westphal AM, Clarke RE, Doncheck EM, Bordieanu B, Manusky LM, Martino MR, Ward AL, Rinker JA, McGinty JF, Scofield MD, Otis JM. Restoration of a paraventricular thalamo-accumbal behavioral suppression circuit prevents reinstatement of heroin seeking. Neuron 2024; 112:772-785.e9. [PMID: 38141605 PMCID: PMC10939883 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.024] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Lack of behavioral suppression typifies substance use disorders, yet the neural circuit underpinnings of drug-induced behavioral disinhibition remain unclear. Here, we employ deep-brain two-photon calcium imaging in heroin self-administering mice, longitudinally tracking adaptations within a paraventricular thalamus to nucleus accumbens behavioral inhibition circuit from the onset of heroin use to reinstatement. We find that select thalamo-accumbal neuronal ensembles become profoundly hypoactive across the development of heroin seeking and use. Electrophysiological experiments further reveal persistent adaptations at thalamo-accumbal parvalbumin interneuronal synapses, whereas functional rescue of these synapses prevents multiple triggers from initiating reinstatement of heroin seeking. Finally, we find an enrichment of μ-opioid receptors in output- and cell-type-specific paraventricular thalamic neurons, which provide a mechanism for heroin-induced synaptic plasticity and behavioral disinhibition. These findings reveal key circuit adaptations that underlie behavioral disinhibition in opioid dependence and further suggest that recovery of this system would reduce relapse susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline E Paniccia
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Kelsey M Vollmer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Lisa M Green
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Roger I Grant
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Kion T Winston
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Sophie Buchmaier
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Annaka M Westphal
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Rachel E Clarke
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Doncheck
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Bogdan Bordieanu
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Logan M Manusky
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Michael R Martino
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Amy L Ward
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Jennifer A Rinker
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Jacqueline F McGinty
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Michael D Scofield
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - James M Otis
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Ralph Johnson Veterans Administration, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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8
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McDevitt DS, Wade QW, McKendrick GE, Nelsen J, Starostina M, Tran N, Blendy JA, Graziane NM. The Paraventricular Thalamic Nucleus and Its Projections in Regulating Reward and Context Associations. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0524-23.2024. [PMID: 38351131 PMCID: PMC10883411 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0524-23.2024] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is a brain region that mediates aversive and reward-related behaviors as shown in animals exposed to fear conditioning, natural rewards, or drugs of abuse. However, it is unknown whether manipulations of the PVT, in the absence of external factors or stimuli (e.g., fear, natural rewards, or drugs of abuse), are sufficient to drive reward-related behaviors. Additionally, it is unknown whether drugs of abuse administered directly into the PVT are sufficient to drive reward-related behaviors. Here, using behavioral as well as pathway and cell-type specific approaches, we manipulate PVT activity as well as the PVT-to-nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) neurocircuit to explore reward phenotypes. First, we show that bath perfusion of morphine (10 µM) caused hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential, increased rheobase, and decreased intrinsic membrane excitability in PVT neurons that project to the NAcSh. Additionally, we found that direct injections of morphine (50 ng) in the PVT of mice were sufficient to generate conditioned place preference (CPP) for the morphine-paired chamber. Mimicking the inhibitory effect of morphine, we employed a chemogenetic approach to inhibit PVT neurons that projected to the NAcSh and found that pairing the inhibition of these PVT neurons with a specific context evoked the acquisition of CPP. Lastly, using brain slice electrophysiology, we found that bath-perfused morphine (10 µM) significantly reduced PVT excitatory synaptic transmission on both dopamine D1 and D2 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons in the NAcSh, but that inhibiting PVT afferents in the NAcSh was not sufficient to evoke CPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon S McDevitt
- Neuroscience Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
| | - Quinn W Wade
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
| | - Greer E McKendrick
- Neuroscience Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
| | - Jacob Nelsen
- Doctor of Medicine Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
| | - Mariya Starostina
- Doctor of Medicine Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
| | - Nam Tran
- Doctor of Medicine Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
| | - Julie A Blendy
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Nicholas M Graziane
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
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9
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Li SH, Li S, Kirouac GJ. Analysis of Monosynaptic Inputs to Thalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Neurons Innervating the Shell of the Nucleus Accumbens and Central Extended Amygdala. Neuroscience 2024; 537:151-164. [PMID: 38056620 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.033] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) sends dense projections to the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh), dorsolateral region of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTDL) and the lateral region of central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL). Projection specific modulation of these pathways has been shown to regulate appetitive and aversive behavioral responses. The present investigation applied an intersectional monosynaptic rabies tracing approach to quantify the brain-wide sources of afferent input to PVT neurons that primarily project to the NAcSh, BSTDL and CeL. The results demonstrate that these projection neurons receive monosynaptic input from similar brain regions. The prefrontal cortex and the ventral subiculum of the hippocampus were major sources of input to the PVT projection neurons. In addition, the lateral septal nucleus, thalamic reticular nucleus and the hypothalamic medial preoptic area, dorsomedial, ventromedial, and arcuate nuclei were sources of input. The subfornical organ, parasubthalamic nucleus, periaqueductal gray matter, lateral parabrachial nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract were consistent but lesser sources of input. This input-output relationship is consistent with recent observations that PVT neurons have axons that bifurcate extensively to divergently innervate the NAcSh, BSTDL and CeL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Hong Li
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Sa Li
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Gilbert J Kirouac
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W2, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W2, Canada.
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10
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Kesner AJ, Mozaffarilegha M, Thirtamara Rajamani K, Arima Y, Harony-Nicolas H, Hashimotodani Y, Ito HT, Song J, Ikemoto S. Hypothalamic Supramammillary Control of Cognition and Motivation. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7538-7546. [PMID: 37940587 PMCID: PMC10634554 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1320-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The supramammillary nucleus (SuM) is a small region in the ventromedial posterior hypothalamus. The SuM has been relatively understudied with much of the prior focus being on its connection with septo-hippocampal circuitry. Thus, most studies conducted until the 21st century examined its role in hippocampal processes, such as theta rhythm and learning/memory. In recent years, the SuM has been "rediscovered" as a crucial hub for several behavioral and cognitive processes, including reward-seeking, exploration, and social memory. Additionally, it has been shown to play significant roles in hippocampal plasticity and adult neurogenesis. This review highlights findings from recent studies using cutting-edge systems neuroscience tools that have shed light on these fascinating roles for the SuM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Kesner
- Unit on Motivation and Arousal, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | | | - Keerthi Thirtamara Rajamani
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Yosuke Arima
- Neurocircuitry of Motivation Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
- Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Friedman Brain Institute, Mindich Child Health and Development Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Yuki Hashimotodani
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto Japan 610-0394
| | - Hiroshi T Ito
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 60438
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Satoshi Ikemoto
- Neurocircuitry of Motivation Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
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11
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Kooiker CL, Chen Y, Birnie MT, Baram TZ. Genetic Tagging Uncovers a Robust, Selective Activation of the Thalamic Paraventricular Nucleus by Adverse Experiences Early in Life. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:746-755. [PMID: 37881549 PMCID: PMC10593902 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Early-life adversity (ELA) is associated with increased risk for mood disorders, including depression and substance use disorders. These disorders are characterized by impaired reward-related behaviors, suggesting compromised operations of reward-related brain circuits. However, the brain regions engaged by ELA that mediate these enduring consequences of ELA remain largely unknown. In an animal model of ELA, we identified aberrant reward-seeking behaviors, a discovery that provides a framework for assessing the underlying circuits. Methods Employing TRAP2 (targeted recombination in active populations) male and female mice, in which neurons activated within a defined time frame are permanently tagged, we compared ELA- and control-reared mice, assessing the quantity and distribution of ELA-related neuronal activation. After validating the TRAP2 results using native c-Fos labeling, we defined the molecular identity of this population of activated neurons. Results We uniquely demonstrated that the TRAP2 system is feasible and efficacious in neonatal mice. Surprisingly, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus was robustly and almost exclusively activated by ELA and was the only region distinguishing ELA from typical rearing. Remarkably, a large proportion of ELA-activated paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus neurons expressed CRF1, the receptor for the stress-related peptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone, but these neurons did not express corticotropin-releasing hormone itself. Conclusions The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, an important component of reward circuits that is known to encode remote, emotionally salient experiences to influence future motivated behaviors, encodes adverse experiences as remote as those occurring during the early postnatal period and is thus poised to contribute to the enduring deficits in reward-related behaviors consequent to ELA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L. Kooiker
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Yuncai Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Matthew T. Birnie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
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12
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Refaeli R, Kreisel T, Groysman M, Adamsky A, Goshen I. Engram stability and maturation during systems consolidation. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3942-3950.e3. [PMID: 37586373 PMCID: PMC10524918 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Remote memories play an important role in how we perceive the world, and they are rooted throughout the brain in "engrams": ensembles of cells that are formed during acquisition. Upon their reactivation, a specific memory can be recalled.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Many studies have focused on the ensembles in CA1 of the hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, the evolution of these components during systems' consolidation has not yet been comprehensively addressed.13,14,15,16 By applying transgenic approaches for ensemble identification, CLARITY, retro-AAV, and pseudo-rabies virus for circuit mapping, and chemogenetics for functional interrogation, we addressed the dynamics of recent and remote CA1 ensembles. We expected both stability (as they represent the same memory) and maturation (over time). Indeed, we found that CA1 engrams remain stable between recent and remote recalls, and the inhibition of engrams for recent recall during remote recall functionally impairs memory. We also found that new cells in the remote recall engram in the CA1 are not added randomly during maturation but differ according to their connections. First, we show in two ways that the anterograde CA1 → ACC engram cell projection grows larger. Finally, in the retrograde projections, the ACC reduces input to CA1 engram cells, whereas input from the entorhinal cortex and paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus increases. Our results shine fresh light on systems' consolidation by providing a deeper understanding of engram stability and maturation in the transition from recent to remote memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Refaeli
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Tirzah Kreisel
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Maya Groysman
- ELSC Vector Core Facility, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Adar Adamsky
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Inbal Goshen
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
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13
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Cho D, O'Berry K, Possa-Paranhos IC, Butts J, Palanikumar N, Sweeney P. Paraventricular Thalamic MC3R Circuits Link Energy Homeostasis with Anxiety-Related Behavior. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6280-6296. [PMID: 37591737 PMCID: PMC10490510 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0704-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic melanocortin system is critically involved in sensing stored energy and communicating this information throughout the brain, including to brain regions controlling motivation and emotion. This system consists of first-order agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and downstream neurons containing the melanocortin-3 (MC3R) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). Although extensive work has characterized the function of downstream MC4R neurons, the identity and function of MC3R-containing neurons are poorly understood. Here, we used neuroanatomical and circuit manipulation approaches in mice to identify a novel pathway linking hypothalamic melanocortin neurons to melanocortin-3 receptor neurons located in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) in male and female mice. MC3R neurons in PVT are innervated by hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons and are activated by anorexigenic and aversive stimuli. Consistently, chemogenetic activation of PVT MC3R neurons increases anxiety-related behavior and reduces feeding in hungry mice, whereas inhibition of PVT MC3R neurons reduces anxiety-related behavior. These studies position PVT MC3R neurons as important cellular substrates linking energy status with neural circuitry regulating anxiety-related behavior and represent a promising potential target for diseases at the intersection of metabolism and anxiety-related behavior such as anorexia nervosa.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Animals must constantly adapt their behavior to changing internal and external challenges, and impairments in appropriately responding to these challenges are a hallmark of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we demonstrate that paraventricular thalamic neurons containing the melanocortin-3 receptor respond to energy-state-related information and external challenges to regulate anxiety-related behavior in mice. Thus, these neurons represent a potential target for understanding the neurobiology of disorders at the intersection of metabolism and psychiatry such as anorexia nervosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dajin Cho
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Kyle O'Berry
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Ingrid Camila Possa-Paranhos
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Jared Butts
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Naraen Palanikumar
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Patrick Sweeney
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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14
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Rivera-Irizarry JK, Hámor PU, Rowson SA, Asfouri J, Liu D, Zallar LJ, Garcia AF, Skelly MJ, Pleil KE. Valence and salience encoding by parallel circuits from the paraventricular thalamus to the nucleus accumbens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.03.547570. [PMID: 37461604 PMCID: PMC10349961 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.03.547570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
The anterior and posterior subregions of the paraventricular thalamus (aPVT and pPVT, respectively) play unique roles in learned behaviors, from fear conditioning to alcohol/drug intake, potentially through differentially organized projections to limbic brain regions including the nucleus accumbens medial shell (mNAcSh). Here, we found that the aPVT projects broadly to the mNAcSh and that the aPVT-mNAcSh circuit encodes positive valence, such that in vivo manipulations of the circuit modulated both innately programmed and learned behavioral responses to positively and negatively valenced stimuli, particularly in females. Further, the endogenous activity of aPVT presynaptic terminals in the mNAcSh was greater in response to positively than negatively valenced stimuli, and the probability of synaptic glutamate release from aPVT neurons in the mNAcSh was higher in females than males. In contrast, we found that the pPVT-mNAcSh circuit encodes stimulus salience regardless of valence. While pPVT-mNAcSh circuit inhibition suppressed behavioral responses in both sexes, circuit activation increased behavioral responses to stimuli only in males. Our results point to circuit-specific stimulus feature encoding by parallel PVT-mNAcSh circuits that have sex-dependent biases in organization and function.
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15
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Smith-Osborne L, Duong A, Resendez A, Palme R, Fadok JP. Female dominance hierarchies influence responses to psychosocial stressors. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1535-1549.e5. [PMID: 37003262 PMCID: PMC10321215 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.020] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Social species form dominance hierarchies to ensure survival and promote reproductive success. Traditionally studied in males, rodent hierarchies are considered despotic, and dominant social rank results from a history of winning agonistic encounters. By contrast, female hierarchies are thought to be less despotic, and rank is conferred by intrinsic traits. Both social buffering and elevated social status confer resilience to depression, anxiety, and other consequences of chronic stress. Here, we investigate whether female social hierarchies and individual traits related to social rank likewise influence stress resilience. We observe the formation of dyadic female hierarchies under varying conditions of ambient light and circadian phase and subject mice to two forms of chronic psychosocial stress: social isolation or social instability. We find that stable female hierarchies emerge rapidly in dyads. Individual behavioral and endocrinological traits are characteristic of rank, some of which are circadian phase dependent. Further, female social rank is predicted by behavior and stress status prior to social introduction. Other behavioral characteristics suggest that rank is motivation-based, indicating that female rank identity serves an evolutionarily relevant purpose. Rank is associated with alterations in behavior in response to social instability stress and prolonged social isolation, but the different forms of stress produce disparate rank responses in endocrine status. Histological examination of c-Fos protein expression identified brain regions that respond to social novelty or social reunion following chronic isolation in a rank-specific manner. Collectively, female rank is linked to neurobiology, and hierarchies exert context-specific influence upon stress outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Smith-Osborne
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA; Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA.
| | - Anh Duong
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA; Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Alexis Resendez
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA; Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonathan P Fadok
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA; Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
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16
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Jung C, Kim J, Choi S, Seo YK, Park KS, Choi Y, Choi SM, Kwon O, Song Y, Kim J, Cho G, Cheong C, Napadow V, Jung IC, Kim H. Attenuated facial movement in depressed women is associated with symptom severity, and nucleus accumbens functional connectivity. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103380. [PMID: 36989853 PMCID: PMC10074984 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
It is assumed that mood can be inferred from one's facial expression. While this association may prove to be an objective marker for mood disorders, few studies have explicitly evaluated this linkage. The facial movement responses of women with major depressive disorder (n = 66) and healthy controls (n = 46) under emotional stimuli were recorded using webcam. To boost facial movements, the naturalistic audio-visual stimuli were presented. To assess consistent global patterns across facial movements, scores for facial action units were extracted and projected onto principal component using principal component analysis. The associations of component for facial movements with functional brain circuitry was also investigated. Clusters of mouth movements, such as lip press and stretch, identified by principal component analysis, were attenuated in depressive patients compared to those in healthy controls. This component of facial movements was associated with depressive symptoms, and the strengths of resting brain functional connectivity between nucleus accumbens and both posterior insular cortex and thalamus. The evaluation of facial movements may prove to be a promising quantitative marker for assessing depressive symptoms and their underlying brain circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjin Jung
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Electronics and Information Convergence Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Gyeonggi, South Korea
| | - Jieun Kim
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sunyoung Choi
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Young Kyung Seo
- Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Ki-Sun Park
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Youngeun Choi
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sung Min Choi
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Ojin Kwon
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Youngkyu Song
- Bio-Chemical Analysis Team, Ochang Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Chungbuk, South Korea
| | - Jooyeon Kim
- Bio-Chemical Analysis Team, Ochang Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Chungbuk, South Korea
| | - Gyunggoo Cho
- Bio-Chemical Analysis Team, Ochang Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Chungbuk, South Korea
| | - Chaejoon Cheong
- Bio-Chemical Analysis Team, Ochang Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Chungbuk, South Korea
| | - Vitaly Napadow
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - In Chul Jung
- Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, South Korea.
| | - Hyungjun Kim
- Division of KM Science Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
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17
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Li L, Zhang H, Zheng Z, Ma N, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhang J, Su S, Zang W, Shao J, Cao J. Perioperative sleep deprivation activates the paraventricular thalamic nucleus resulting in persistent postoperative incisional pain in mice. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:1074310. [PMID: 36620195 PMCID: PMC9813598 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.1074310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The duration of postsurgical pain is closely correlated with perioperative stress. Most patients suffer short-term sleep disorder/deprivation before and/or after surgery, which leads to extended postsurgical pain by an undetermined mechanism. The paraventricular thalamus (PVT) is a critical area that contributes to the regulation of feeding, awakening, and emotional states. However, whether the middle PVT is involved in postoperative pain or the extension of postoperative pain caused by perioperative sleep deprivation has not yet been investigated. Methods We established a model of postoperative pain by plantar incision with perioperative rapid eye movement sleep deprivation (REMSD) 6 h/day for 3 consecutive days in mice. The excitability of the CaMKIIα+ neurons in the middle PVT (mPVTCaMKIIα) was detected by immunofluorescence and fiber photometry. The activation/inhibition of mPVTCaMKIIα neurons was conducted by chemogenetics. Results REMSD prolonged the duration of postsurgical pain and increased the excitability of mPVTCaMKIIα neurons. In addition, mPVTCaMKIIα neurons showed increased excitability in response to nociceptive stimuli or painful conditions. However, REMSD did not delay postsurgical pain recovery following the ablation of CaMKIIα neurons in the mPVT. The activation of mPVTCaMKIIα neurons prolonged the duration of postsurgical pain and elicited anxiety-like behaviors. In contrast, inhibition of mPVTCaMKIIα neurons reduced the postsurgical pain after REMSD. Conclusion Our data revealed that the CaMKIIα neurons in the mPVT are involved in the extension of the postsurgical pain duration induced by REMSD, and represented a novel potential target to treat postoperative pain induced by REMSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Huijie Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhenli Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,Department of Medical Record Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Nan Ma
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yidan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yaping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Songxue Su
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Weidong Zang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jinping Shao
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,*Correspondence: Jinping Shao,
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,Jing Cao,
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18
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Vollmer KM, Green LM, Grant RI, Winston KT, Doncheck EM, Bowen CW, Paniccia JE, Clarke RE, Tiller A, Siegler PN, Bordieanu B, Siemsen BM, Denton AR, Westphal AM, Jhou TC, Rinker JA, McGinty JF, Scofield MD, Otis JM. An opioid-gated thalamoaccumbal circuit for the suppression of reward seeking in mice. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6865. [PMID: 36369508 PMCID: PMC9652456 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34517-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Suppression of dangerous or inappropriate reward-motivated behaviors is critical for survival, whereas therapeutic or recreational opioid use can unleash detrimental behavioral actions and addiction. Nevertheless, the neuronal systems that suppress maladaptive motivated behaviors remain unclear, and whether opioids disengage those systems is unknown. In a mouse model using two-photon calcium imaging in vivo, we identify paraventricular thalamostriatal neuronal ensembles that are inhibited upon sucrose self-administration and seeking, yet these neurons are tonically active when behavior is suppressed by a fear-provoking predator odor, a pharmacological stressor, or inhibitory learning. Electrophysiological, optogenetic, and chemogenetic experiments reveal that thalamostriatal neurons innervate accumbal parvalbumin interneurons through synapses enriched with calcium permeable AMPA receptors, and activity within this circuit is necessary and sufficient for the suppression of sucrose seeking regardless of the behavioral suppressor administered. Furthermore, systemic or intra-accumbal opioid injections rapidly dysregulate thalamostriatal ensemble dynamics, weaken thalamostriatal synaptic innervation of downstream neurons, and unleash reward-seeking behaviors in a manner that is reversed by genetic deletion of thalamic µ-opioid receptors. Overall, our findings reveal a thalamostriatal to parvalbumin interneuron circuit that is both required for the suppression of reward seeking and rapidly disengaged by opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Vollmer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Lisa M Green
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Roger I Grant
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Kion T Winston
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Doncheck
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Christopher W Bowen
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Jacqueline E Paniccia
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Rachel E Clarke
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Annika Tiller
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Preston N Siegler
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Bogdan Bordieanu
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Benjamin M Siemsen
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Adam R Denton
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Annaka M Westphal
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Thomas C Jhou
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Jennifer A Rinker
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Jacqueline F McGinty
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Michael D Scofield
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - James M Otis
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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19
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Neural activity in afferent projections to the infralimbic cortex is associated with individual differences in the recall of fear extinction. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13703. [PMID: 35953525 PMCID: PMC9372091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17895-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by an impaired ability to extinguish fear responses to trauma-associated cues. Studies in humans and non-human animals point to differences in the engagement of certain frontal cortical regions as key mediators determining whether or not fear extinction is successful, however the neural circuit interactions that dictate the differential involvement of these regions are not well understood. To better understand how individual differences in extinction recall are reflected in differences in neural circuit activity, we labeled projections to the infralimbic cortex (IL) in rats using a retrograde tracer and compared neural activity within, and outside, of IL-projecting neurons. We analyzed these data in groups separated on the basis of how well rats retained extinction memory. We found that within IL-projecting cells, neurons in the posterior paraventricular thalamus showed heightened activity in rats that showed good extinction recall. Outside of the IL-projecting cells, increased Fos activity was observed in good extinction rats in select regions of the claustrum and ventral hippocampus. Our results indicate that differences in extinction recall are associated with a specific pattern of neural activity both within and outside of projections to the IL.
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20
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Herzallah MM, Amir A, Paré D. Influence of Rat Central Thalamic Neurons on Foraging Behavior in a Hazardous Environment. J Neurosci 2022; 42:6053-6068. [PMID: 35772968 PMCID: PMC9351640 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0461-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Foraging entails a complex balance between approach and avoidance alongside sensorimotor and homeostatic processes under the control of multiple cortical and subcortical areas. Recently, it has become clear that several thalamic nuclei located near the midline regulate motivated behaviors. However, one midline thalamic nucleus that projects to key nodes in the foraging network, the central medial thalamic nucleus (CMT), has received little attention so far. Therefore, the present study examined CMT contributions to foraging behavior using inactivation and unit recording techniques in male rats. Inactivation of CMT or the basolateral amygdala (BLA) with muscimol abolished the normally cautious behavior of rats in the foraging task. Moreover, CMT neurons showed large but heterogeneous activity changes during the foraging task, with many neurons decreasing or increasing their discharge rates, with a modest bias for the latter. A generalized linear model revealed that the nature (inhibitory vs excitatory) and relative magnitude of the activity modulations seen in CMT neurons differed markedly from those of principal BLA cells but were very similar to those of fast-spiking BLA interneurons. Together, these findings suggest that CMT is an important regulator of foraging behavior. In the Discussion, we consider how CMT is integrated into the network of structures that regulate foraging.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Foraging entails a complex balance between approach and avoidance alongside sensorimotor and homeostatic processes under the control of multiple cortical and subcortical areas. Although the central medial thalamic nucleus (CMT) is connected to many nodes in this network, its role in the regulation of foraging behavior has not been investigated so far. Here, we examined CMT contributions to foraging behavior using inactivation and unit recording techniques. We found that CMT inactivation abolishes the normally cautious foraging behavior of rats and that CMT neurons show large but heterogeneous changes in firing rates during the foraging task. Together, these results suggest that CMT is an important regulator of foraging behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad M Herzallah
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
- Palestinian Neuroscience Initiative, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine 20002
| | - Alon Amir
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
| | - Denis Paré
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102,
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21
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Moscarello JM, Penzo MA. The central nucleus of the amygdala and the construction of defensive modes across the threat-imminence continuum. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:999-1008. [PMID: 35915178 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01130-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In nature, animals display defensive behaviors that reflect the spatiotemporal distance of threats. Laboratory-based paradigms that elicit specific defensive responses in rodents have provided valuable insight into the brain mechanisms that mediate the construction of defensive modes with varying degrees of threat imminence. In this Review, we discuss accumulating evidence that the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) plays a key role in this process. Specifically, we propose that the mutually inhibitory circuits of the CeA use a winner-takes-all strategy that supports transitioning across defensive modes and the execution of specific defensive behaviors to previously formed threat associations. Our proposal provides a conceptual framework in which seemingly divergent observations regarding CeA function can be interpreted and identifies various areas of priority for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Moscarello
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Mario A Penzo
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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22
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Kirouac GJ, Li S, Li S. Convergence of monosynaptic inputs from neurons in the brainstem and forebrain on parabrachial neurons that project to the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2409-2437. [PMID: 35838792 PMCID: PMC9418111 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02534-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) projects to areas of the forebrain involved in regulating behavior. Homeostatic challenges and salient cues activate the PVT and evidence shows that the PVT regulates appetitive and aversive responses. The brainstem is a source of afferents to the PVT and the present study was done to determine if the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) is a relay for inputs to the PVT. Retrograde tracing experiments with cholera toxin B (CTB) demonstrate that the LPB contains more PVT projecting neurons than other regions of the brainstem including the catecholamine cell groups. The hypothesis that the LPB is a relay for signals to the PVT was assessed using an intersectional monosynaptic rabies tracing approach. Sources of inputs to LPB included the reticular formation; periaqueductal gray (PAG); nucleus cuneiformis; and superior and inferior colliculi. Distinctive clusters of input cells to LPB-PVT projecting neurons were also found in the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTDL) and the lateral central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL). Anterograde viral tracing demonstrates that LPB-PVT neurons densely innervate all regions of the PVT in addition to providing collateral innervation to the preoptic area, lateral hypothalamus, zona incerta and PAG but not the BSTDL and CeL. The paper discusses the anatomical evidence that suggests that the PVT is part of a network of interconnected neurons involved in arousal, homeostasis, and the regulation of behavioral states with forebrain regions potentially providing descending modulation or gating of signals relayed from the LPB to the PVT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert J Kirouac
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada. .,Departments of Psychiatry and Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada.
| | - Sa Li
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Shuanghong Li
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
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23
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Totty MS, Maren S. Neural Oscillations in Aversively Motivated Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:936036. [PMID: 35846784 PMCID: PMC9284508 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.936036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fear and anxiety-based disorders are highly debilitating and among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders. These disorders are associated with abnormal network oscillations in the brain, yet a comprehensive understanding of the role of network oscillations in the regulation of aversively motivated behavior is lacking. In this review, we examine the oscillatory correlates of fear and anxiety with a particular focus on rhythms in the theta and gamma-range. First, we describe neural oscillations and their link to neural function by detailing the role of well-studied theta and gamma rhythms to spatial and memory functions of the hippocampus. We then describe how theta and gamma oscillations act to synchronize brain structures to guide adaptive fear and anxiety-like behavior. In short, that hippocampal network oscillations act to integrate spatial information with motivationally salient information from the amygdala during states of anxiety before routing this information via theta oscillations to appropriate target regions, such as the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, theta and gamma oscillations develop in the amygdala and neocortical areas during the encoding of fear memories, and interregional synchronization reflects the retrieval of both recent and remotely encoded fear memories. Finally, we argue that the thalamic nucleus reuniens represents a key node synchronizing prefrontal-hippocampal theta dynamics for the retrieval of episodic extinction memories in the hippocampus.
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24
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Viena TD, Rasch GE, Allen TA. Dual medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus projecting neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:1857-1869. [PMID: 35279742 PMCID: PMC11229420 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02478-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus (PVT) of the midline thalamus is a critical higher-order cortico-thalamo-cortical integration site that plays a critical role in various behaviors including reward seeking, cue saliency, and emotional memory. Anatomical studies have shown that PVT projects to both medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus (HC). However, dual mPFC-HC projecting neurons which could serve a role in synchronizing mPFC and HC activity during PVT-dependent behaviors, have not been explored. Here we used a dual retrograde adenoassociated virus (AAV) tracing approach to characterize the location and proportion of different projection populations that send collaterals to mPFC and/or ventral hippocampus (vHC) in rats. Additionally, we examined the distribution of calcium binding proteins calretinin (CR) and calbindin (CB) with respect to these projection populations in PVT. We found that PVT contains separate populations of cells that project to mPFC, vHC, and those that innervate both regions. Interestingly, dual mPFC-HC projecting cells expressed neither CR nor CB. Topographically, CB+ and CR+ containing cells clustered around dual projecting neurons in PVT. These results are consistent with the features of dual mPFC-vHC projecting cells in the nucleus reuniens (RE) and suggestive of a functional mPFC-PVT-vHC system that may support mPFC-vHC interactions in PVT-dependent behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana D Viena
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Gabriela E Rasch
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Timothy A Allen
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
- Deparment of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
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25
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Gaspari S, Quenneville S, Rodriguez Sanchez‐Archidona A, Thorens B, Croizier S. Structural and molecular characterization of paraventricular thalamic glucokinase-expressing neuronal circuits in the mouse. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:1773-1949. [PMID: 35303367 PMCID: PMC9542162 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The thalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVT) is a structure highly interconnected with several nuclei ranging from forebrain to hypothalamus and brainstem. Numerous rodent studies have examined afferent and efferent connections of the PVT and their contribution to behavior, revealing its important role in the integration of arousal cues. However, the majority of these studies used a region‐oriented approach, without considering the neuronal subtype diversity of the nucleus. In the present study, we provide the anatomical and transcriptomic characterization of a subpopulation of PVT neurons molecularly defined by the expression of glucokinase (Gck). Combining a genetically modified mouse model with viral tracing approaches, we mapped both the anterograde and the retrograde projections of Gck‐positive neurons of the anterior PVT (GckaPVT). Our results demonstrated that GckaPVT neurons innervate several nuclei throughout the brain axis. The strongest connections are with forebrain areas associated with reward and stress and with hypothalamic structures involved in energy balance and feeding regulation. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of the Gck‐expressing neurons revealed that they are enriched in receptors for hypothalamic‐derived neuropeptides, adhesion molecules, and obesity and diabetes susceptibility transcription factors. Using retrograde labeling combined with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we identify that GckaPVT neurons receive direct inputs from well‐defined hypothalamic populations, including arginine‐vasopressin‐, melanin‐concentrating hormone‐, orexin‐, and proopiomelanocortin‐expressing neurons. This detailed anatomical and transcriptomic characterization of GckaPVT neurons provides a basis for functional studies of the integration of homeostatic and hedonic aspects of energy homeostasis, and for deciphering the potential role of these neurons in obesity and diabetes development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevasti Gaspari
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Simon Quenneville
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | | | - Bernard Thorens
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Sophie Croizier
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
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26
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Barettino C, Ballesteros-Gonzalez Á, Aylón A, Soler-Sanchis X, Ortí L, Díaz S, Reillo I, García-García F, Iborra FJ, Lai C, Dehorter N, Leinekugel X, Flames N, Del Pino I. Developmental Disruption of Erbb4 in Pet1+ Neurons Impairs Serotonergic Sub-System Connectivity and Memory Formation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:770458. [PMID: 34957103 PMCID: PMC8703035 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.770458] [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: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The serotonergic system of mammals innervates virtually all the central nervous system and regulates a broad spectrum of behavioral and physiological functions. In mammals, serotonergic neurons located in the rostral raphe nuclei encompass diverse sub-systems characterized by specific circuitry and functional features. Substantial evidence suggest that functional diversity of serotonergic circuits has a molecular and connectivity basis. However, the landscape of intrinsic developmental mechanisms guiding the formation of serotonergic sub-systems is unclear. Here, we employed developmental disruption of gene expression specific to serotonergic subsets to probe the contribution of the tyrosine kinase receptor ErbB4 to serotonergic circuit formation and function. Through an in vivo loss-of-function approach, we found that ErbB4 expression occurring in a subset of serotonergic neurons, is necessary for axonal arborization of defined long-range projections to the forebrain but is dispensable for the innervation of other targets of the serotonergic system. We also found that Erbb4-deletion does not change the global excitability or the number of neurons with serotonin content in the dorsal raphe nuclei. In addition, ErbB4-deficiency in serotonergic neurons leads to specific behavioral deficits in memory processing that involve aversive or social components. Altogether, our work unveils a developmental mechanism intrinsically acting through ErbB4 in subsets of serotonergic neurons to orchestrate a precise long-range circuit and ultimately involved in the formation of emotional and social memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela Barettino
- Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Andrés Aylón
- Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Leticia Ortí
- Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center, Valencia, Spain
| | - Selene Díaz
- Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center, Valencia, Spain
| | - Isabel Reillo
- Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, IBV-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco García-García
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Cary Lai
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | | | - Xavier Leinekugel
- Institut de Neurobiology de la Méditerranée (INMED, UMR1249), INSERM, Marseille, France
| | - Nuria Flames
- Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, IBV-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Isabel Del Pino
- Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center, Valencia, Spain
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27
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Fernandez-Leon JA, Engelke DS, Aquino-Miranda G, Goodson A, Rasheed MN, Do Monte FH. Neural correlates and determinants of approach-avoidance conflict in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex. eLife 2021; 10:74950. [PMID: 34913438 PMCID: PMC8853658 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The recollection of environmental cues associated with threat or reward allows animals to select the most appropriate behavioral responses. Neurons in the prelimbic (PL) cortex respond to both threat- and reward-associated cues. However, it remains unknown whether PL regulates threat-avoidance vs. reward-approaching responses when an animals’ decision depends on previously associated memories. Using a conflict model in which male Long–Evans rats retrieve memories of shock- and food-paired cues, we observed two distinct phenotypes during conflict: (1) rats that continued to press a lever for food (Pressers) and (2) rats that exhibited a complete suppression in food seeking (Non-pressers). Single-unit recordings revealed that increased risk-taking behavior in Pressers is associated with persistent food-cue responses in PL, and reduced spontaneous activity in PL glutamatergic (PLGLUT) neurons during conflict. Activating PLGLUT neurons in Pressers attenuated food-seeking responses in a neutral context, whereas inhibiting PLGLUT neurons in Non-pressers reduced defensive responses and increased food approaching during conflict. Our results establish a causal role for PLGLUT neurons in mediating individual variability in memory-based risky decision-making by regulating threat-avoidance vs. reward-approach behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas S Engelke
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, United States
| | - Guillermo Aquino-Miranda
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, United States
| | | | - Maria N Rasheed
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, United States
| | - Fabricio H Do Monte
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, United States
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28
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Lucantonio F, Kim E, Su Z, Chang AJ, Bari BA, Cohen JY. Aversive stimuli bias corticothalamic responses to motivationally significant cues. eLife 2021; 10:57634. [PMID: 34738905 PMCID: PMC8570692 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Making predictions about future rewards or punishments is fundamental to adaptive behavior. These processes are influenced by prior experience. For example, prior exposure to aversive stimuli or stressors changes behavioral responses to negative- and positive-value predictive cues. Here, we demonstrate a role for medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT; mPFC→PVT) in this process. We found that a history of aversive stimuli negatively biased behavioral responses to motivationally relevant cues in mice and that this negative bias was associated with hyperactivity in mPFC→PVT neurons during exposure to those cues. Furthermore, artificially mimicking this hyperactive response with selective optogenetic excitation of the same pathway recapitulated the negative behavioral bias induced by aversive stimuli, whereas optogenetic inactivation of mPFC→PVT neurons prevented the development of the negative bias. Together, our results highlight how information flow within the mPFC→PVT circuit is critical for making predictions about motivationally-relevant outcomes as a function of prior experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Lucantonio
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Eunyoung Kim
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Zhixiao Su
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Anna J Chang
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Bilal A Bari
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jeremiah Y Cohen
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
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29
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Giannotti G, Gong S, Fayette N, Heinsbroek JA, Orfila JE, Herson PS, Ford CP, Peters J. Extinction blunts paraventricular thalamic contributions to heroin relapse. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109605. [PMID: 34433067 PMCID: PMC8418780 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we use optogenetics and chemogenetics to investigate the contribution of the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) to nucleus accumbens (NAc) pathway in aversion and heroin relapse in two different heroin self-administration models in rats. In one model, rats undergo forced abstinence in the home cage prior to relapse testing, and in the other, they undergo extinction training, a procedure that is likened to cognitive behavioral therapy. We find that the PVT→NAc pathway is both sufficient and necessary to drive aversion and heroin seeking after abstinence, but not extinction. The ability of extinction to reduce this pathway's contribution to heroin relapse is accompanied by a loss of synaptic plasticity in PVT inputs onto a specific subset of NAc neurons. Thus, extinction may exert therapeutic reductions in opioid seeking by altering synaptic plasticity within the PVT→NAc pathway, resulting in reduced aversion during opioid withdrawal as well as reduced relapse propensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Giannotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Sheng Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Nicholas Fayette
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jasper A Heinsbroek
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - James E Orfila
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Paco S Herson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Christopher P Ford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jamie Peters
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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30
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Levine OB, Skelly MJ, Miller JD, Rivera-Irizarry JK, Rowson SA, DiBerto JF, Rinker JA, Thiele TE, Kash TL, Pleil KE. The paraventricular thalamus provides a polysynaptic brake on limbic CRF neurons to sex-dependently blunt binge alcohol drinking and avoidance behavior in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5080. [PMID: 34426574 PMCID: PMC8382748 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25368-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) neurons that synthesize corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) drive binge alcohol drinking and anxiety. Here, we found that female C57BL/6J mice binge drink more than males and have greater basal BNSTCRF neuron excitability and synaptic excitation. We identified a dense VGLUT2 + synaptic input from the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) that releases glutamate directly onto BNSTCRF neurons but also engages a large BNST interneuron population to ultimately inhibit BNSTCRF neurons, and this polysynaptic PVTVGLUT2-BNSTCRF circuit is more robust in females than males. Chemogenetic inhibition of the PVTBNST projection promoted binge alcohol drinking only in female mice, while activation reduced avoidance behavior in both sexes. Lastly, repeated binge drinking produced a female-like phenotype in the male PVT-BNSTCRF excitatory synapse without altering the function of PVTBNST neurons per se. Our data describe a complex, feedforward inhibitory PVTVGLUT2-BNSTCRF circuit that is sex-dependent in its function, behavioral roles, and alcohol-induced plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia B Levine
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Jane Skelly
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- Psychology Department, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, USA
| | - John D Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jean K Rivera-Irizarry
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sydney A Rowson
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey F DiBerto
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer A Rinker
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Todd E Thiele
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Thomas L Kash
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kristen E Pleil
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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31
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Ma J, du Hoffmann J, Kindel M, Beas BS, Chudasama Y, Penzo MA. Divergent projections of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus mediate the selection of passive and active defensive behaviors. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1429-1440. [PMID: 34413514 PMCID: PMC8484052 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00912-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The appropriate selection of passive and active defensive behaviors in threatening situations is essential for survival. Previous studies have shown that passive defensive responses depend on activity of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), whereas active ones primarily rely on the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, the mechanisms underlying flexible switching between these two types of responses remain unknown. Here, we show in mice that the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) mediates the selection of defensive behaviors through its interaction with the CeA and the NAc. We show that the PVT–CeA pathway drives conditioned freezing responses, whereas the PVT–NAc pathway is inhibited during freezing and instead signals active avoidance events. Optogenetic manipulations revealed that activity in the PVT–CeA or PVT–NAc pathway biases behavior toward the selection of passive or active defensive responses, respectively. These findings provide evidence that the PVT mediates flexible switching between opposing defensive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ma
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Johann du Hoffmann
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany.,Rodent Behavioral Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Morgan Kindel
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - B Sofia Beas
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yogita Chudasama
- Rodent Behavioral Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Section on Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mario A Penzo
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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De Groote A, de Kerchove d'Exaerde A. Thalamo-Nucleus Accumbens Projections in Motivated Behaviors and Addiction. Front Syst Neurosci 2021; 15:711350. [PMID: 34335197 PMCID: PMC8322971 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2021.711350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventral striatum, also called nucleus accumbens (NAc), has long been known to integrate information from cortical, thalamic, midbrain and limbic nuclei to mediate goal-directed behaviors. Until recently thalamic afferents have been overlooked when studying the functions and connectivity of the NAc. However, findings from recent studies have shed light on the importance and roles of precise Thalamus to NAc connections in motivated behaviors and in addiction. In this review, we summarize studies using techniques such as chemo- and optogenetics, electrophysiology and in vivo calcium imaging to elucidate the complex functioning of the thalamo-NAc afferents, with a particular highlight on the projections from the Paraventricular Thalamus (PVT) to the NAc. We will focus on the recent advances in the understanding of the roles of these neuronal connections in motivated behaviors, with a special emphasis on their implications in addiction, from cue-reward association to the mechanisms driving relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie De Groote
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alban de Kerchove d'Exaerde
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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33
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Iglesias AG, Flagel SB. The Paraventricular Thalamus as a Critical Node of Motivated Behavior via the Hypothalamic-Thalamic-Striatal Circuit. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:706713. [PMID: 34220458 PMCID: PMC8250420 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.706713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we highlight evidence that supports a role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) in motivated behavior. We include a neuroanatomical and neurochemical overview, outlining what is known of the cellular makeup of the region and its most prominent afferent and efferent connections. We discuss how these connections and distinctions across the anterior-posterior axis correspond to the perceived function of the PVT. We then focus on the hypothalamic-thalamic-striatal circuit and the neuroanatomical and functional placement of the PVT within this circuit. In this regard, the PVT is ideally positioned to integrate information regarding internal states and the external environment and translate it into motivated actions. Based on data that has emerged in recent years, including that from our laboratory, we posit that orexinergic (OX) innervation from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the PVT encodes the incentive motivational value of reward cues and thereby alters the signaling of the glutamatergic neurons projecting from the PVT to the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh). The PVT-NAcSh pathway then modulates dopamine activity and resultant cue-motivated behaviors. As we and others apply novel tools and approaches to studying the PVT we will continue to refine the anatomical, cellular, and functional definitions currently ascribed to this nucleus and further elucidate its role in motivated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G. Iglesias
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Shelly B. Flagel
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Pickering CA, Mazarakis ND. Viral Vector Delivery of DREADDs for CNS Therapy. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 21:191-206. [PMID: 33573551 DOI: 10.2174/1566523221666210211102435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) are genetically modified G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), that can be activated by a synthetic ligand which is otherwise inert at endogenous receptors. DREADDs can be expressed in cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and subsequently offer the opportunity for remote and reversible silencing or activation of the target cells when the synthetic ligand is systemically administered. In neuroscience, DREADDs have thus far shown to be useful tools for several areas of research and offer considerable potential for the development of gene therapy strategies for neurological disorders. However, in order to design a DREADD-based gene therapy, it is necessary to first evaluate the viral vector delivery methods utilised in the literature to deliver these chemogenetic tools. This review evaluates each of the prominent strategies currently utilised for DREADD delivery, discussing their respective advantages and limitations. We focus on adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based and lentivirus-based systems, and the manipulation of these through cell-type specific promoters and pseudotyping. Furthermore, we address how virally mediated DREADD delivery could be improved in order to make it a viable gene therapy strategy and thus expand its translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceri A Pickering
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D Mazarakis
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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35
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Extensive divergence of projections to the forebrain from neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:1779-1802. [PMID: 34032911 PMCID: PMC8203552 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02289-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) respond to emotionally salient events and project densely to subcortical regions known to mediate adaptive behavioral responses. The areas of the forebrain most densely innervated by the PVT include striatal-like subcortical regions that consist of the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh), the dorsolateral region of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTDL) and the lateral-capsular division of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL). A recent tracing experiment demonstrated that the PVT is composed of two intermixed populations of neurons that primarily project to either the dorsomedial (dmNAcSh) or ventromedial region of the NAcSh (vmNAcSh) with many of the vmNAcSh projecting neurons providing collateral innervation of the BSTDL and CeL. The present study used triple injections of the retrograde tracer cholera toxin B to provide a detailed map of the location of PVT neurons that provide collaterals to the vmNAcSh, BSTDL and CeL. These neurons were intermixed throughout the PVT and did not form uniquely localized subpopulations. An intersectional viral anterograde tracing approach was used to demonstrate that regardless of its presumed target of innervation (dmNAcSh, vmNAcSh, BSTDL, or CeL), most neurons in the PVT provide collateral innervation to a common set of forebrain regions. The paper shows that PVT-dmNAcSh projecting neurons provide the most divergent projection system and that these neurons express the immediate early gene product cFos following an aversive incident. We propose that the PVT may regulate a broad range of responses to physiological and psychological challenges by simultaneously influencing functionally diverse regions of the forebrain that include the cortex, striatal-like regions in the basal forebrain and a number of hypothalamic nuclei.
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36
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Engelke DS, Zhang XO, O'Malley JJ, Fernandez-Leon JA, Li S, Kirouac GJ, Beierlein M, Do-Monte FH. A hypothalamic-thalamostriatal circuit that controls approach-avoidance conflict in rats. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2517. [PMID: 33947849 PMCID: PMC8097010 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22730-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival depends on a balance between seeking rewards and avoiding potential threats, but the neural circuits that regulate this motivational conflict remain largely unknown. Using an approach-food vs. avoid-predator threat conflict test in rats, we identified a subpopulation of neurons in the anterior portion of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (aPVT) which express corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and are preferentially recruited during conflict. Inactivation of aPVTCRF neurons during conflict biases animal's response toward food, whereas activation of these cells recapitulates the food-seeking suppression observed during conflict. aPVTCRF neurons project densely to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and activity in this pathway reduces food seeking and increases avoidance. In addition, we identified the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) as a critical input to aPVTCRF neurons, and demonstrated that VMH-aPVT neurons mediate defensive behaviors exclusively during conflict. Together, our findings describe a hypothalamic-thalamostriatal circuit that suppresses reward-seeking behavior under the competing demands of avoiding threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Engelke
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - X O Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J J O'Malley
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J A Fernandez-Leon
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Li
- Department of Oral Biol., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - G J Kirouac
- Department of Oral Biol., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - M Beierlein
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - F H Do-Monte
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Quiñones-Laracuente K, Vega-Medina A, Quirk GJ. Time-Dependent Recruitment of Prelimbic Prefrontal Circuits for Retrieval of Fear Memory. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:665116. [PMID: 34012387 PMCID: PMC8126619 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.665116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-lasting nature of fear memories is essential for survival, but the neural circuitry for retrieval of these associations changes with the passage of time. We previously reported a time-dependent shift from prefrontal-amygdalar circuits to prefrontal-thalamic circuits for the retrieval of auditory fear conditioning. However, little is known about the time-dependent changes in the originating site, the prefrontal cortex. Here we monitored the responses of prelimbic (PL) prefrontal neurons to conditioned tones at early (2 h) vs. late (4 days) timepoints following training. Using c-Fos, we find that PL neurons projecting to the amygdala are activated early after learning, but not later, whereas PL neurons projecting to the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) show the opposite pattern. Using unit recording, we find that PL neurons in layer V (the origin of projections to amygdala) showed cue-induced excitation at earlier but not later timepoints, whereas PL neurons in Layer VI (the origin of projections to PVT) showed cue-induced inhibition at later, but not earlier, timepoints, along with an increase in spontaneous firing rate. Thus, soon after conditioning, there are conditioned excitatory responses in PL layer V which influence the amygdala. With the passage of time, however, retrieval of fear memories shifts to inhibitory responses in PL layer VI which influence the midline thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gregory J. Quirk
- Laboratory of Gregory J. Quirk, Departments of Psychiatry, Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
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38
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Petrovich GD. The Function of Paraventricular Thalamic Circuitry in Adaptive Control of Feeding Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:671096. [PMID: 33986649 PMCID: PMC8110711 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.671096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a complex area that is uniquely embedded across the core feeding, reward, arousal, and stress circuits. The PVT role in the control of feeding behavior is discussed here within a framework of adaptive behavioral guidance based on the body’s energy state and competing drives. The survival of an organism depends on bodily energy resources and promotion of feeding over other behaviors is adaptive except when in danger or sated. The PVT is structurally set up to respond to homeostatic and hedonic needs to feed, and to integrate those signals with physiological and environmental stress, as well as anticipatory needs and other cognitive inputs. It can regulate both food foraging (seeking) and consumption and may balance their expression. The PVT is proposed to accomplish these functions through a network of connections with the brainstem, hypothalamic, striatal, and cortical areas. The connectivity of the PVT further indicates that it could broadcast the information about energy use/gain and behavioral choice to impact cognitive processes—learning, memory, and decision-making—through connections with the medial and lateral prefrontal cortical areas, the hippocampal formation, and the amygdala. The PVT is structurally complex and recent evidence for specific PVT pathways in different aspects of feeding behavior will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorica D Petrovich
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
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39
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Kark SM, Birnie MT, Baram TZ, Yassa MA. Functional Connectivity of the Human Paraventricular Thalamic Nucleus: Insights From High Field Functional MRI. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:662293. [PMID: 33967711 PMCID: PMC8096909 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.662293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is a small but highly connected nucleus of the dorsal midline thalamus. The PVT has garnered recent attention as a context-sensitive node within the thalamocortical arousal system that modulates state-dependent motivated behaviors. Once considered related to generalized arousal responses with non-specific impacts on behavior, accumulating evidence bolsters the contemporary view that discrete midline thalamic subnuclei belong to specialized corticolimbic and corticostriatal circuits related to attention, emotions, and cognition. However, the functional connectivity patterns of the human PVT have yet to be mapped. Here, we combined high-quality, high-resolution 7T and 3T resting state MRI data from 121 young adult participants from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) and thalamic subnuclei atlas masks to investigate resting state functional connectivity of the human PVT. The 7T results demonstrated extensive positive functional connectivity with the brainstem, midbrain, ventral and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior and posterior cingulate, ventral striatum, hippocampus, and amygdala. These connections persist upon controlling for functional connectivity of the rest of the thalamus. Whole-brain contrasts provided further evidence that, compared to three nearby midline thalamic subnuclei, functional connectivity of the PVT is strong with the hippocampus, amygdala, ventral and dorsal mPFC, and middle temporal gyrus. These findings suggest that, even during rest, the human PVT is functionally coupled with many regions known to be structurally connected to rodent and non-human primate PVT. Further, cosine similarity analysis results suggested the PVT is integrated into the default mode network (DMN), an intrinsic connectivity network associated with episodic memory and self-referential thought. The current work provides a much-needed foundation for ongoing and future work examining the functional roles of the PVT in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Kark
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Matthew T. Birnie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Michael A. Yassa
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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40
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The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus: an integrative node underlying homeostatic behavior. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:538-549. [PMID: 33775435 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Early anatomical evidence suggested that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) regulates arousal, as well as emotional and motivated behaviors. We discuss recent studies using modern techniques which now confirm and expand the involvement of the rodent PVT in these functions. Despite the emerging notion that the PVT is implicated in various behavioral processes, a recurrent theme is that activity in this brain region depends on internal state information arriving from the hypothalamus and brainstem, and is influenced by prior experience. We propose that the primary function of the PVT is to detect homeostatic challenges by integrating information about prior experiences, competing needs, and internal state to guide adaptive behavioral responses aimed at restoring homeostasis.
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41
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Bubb EJ, Aggleton JP, O’Mara SM, Nelson AJD. Chemogenetics Reveal an Anterior Cingulate-Thalamic Pathway for Attending to Task-Relevant Information. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:2169-2186. [PMID: 33251536 PMCID: PMC7945017 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In a changing environment, organisms need to decide when to select items that resemble previously rewarded stimuli and when it is best to switch to other stimulus types. Here, we used chemogenetic techniques to provide causal evidence that activity in the rodent anterior cingulate cortex and its efferents to the anterior thalamic nuclei modulate the ability to attend to reliable predictors of important outcomes. Rats completed an attentional set-shifting paradigm that first measures the ability to master serial discriminations involving a constant stimulus dimension that reliably predicts reinforcement (intradimensional-shift), followed by the ability to shift attention to a previously irrelevant class of stimuli when reinforcement contingencies change (extradimensional-shift). Chemogenetic disruption of the anterior cingulate cortex (Experiment 1) as well as selective disruption of anterior cingulate efferents to the anterior thalamic nuclei (Experiment 2) impaired intradimensional learning but facilitated 2 sets of extradimensional-shifts. This pattern of results signals the loss of a corticothalamic system for cognitive control that preferentially processes stimuli resembling those previously associated with reward. Previous studies highlight a separate medial prefrontal system that promotes the converse pattern, that is, switching to hitherto inconsistent predictors of reward when contingencies change. Competition between these 2 systems regulates cognitive flexibility and choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J Bubb
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales CF10 3AT, UK
| | - John P Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Shane M O’Mara
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
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42
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Worden R, Bennett MS, Neacsu V. The Thalamus as a Blackboard for Perception and Planning. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:633872. [PMID: 33732119 PMCID: PMC7956969 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.633872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that the thalamus acts as a blackboard, on which the computations of different cortical modules are composed, coordinated, and integrated. This article asks what blackboard role the thalamus might play, and whether that role is consistent with the neuroanatomy of the thalamus. It does so in a context of Bayesian belief updating, expressed as a Free Energy Principle. We suggest that the thalamus-as-a-blackboard offers important questions for research in spatial cognition. Several prominent features of the thalamus-including its lack of olfactory relay function, its lack of internal excitatory connections, its regular and conserved shape, its inhibitory interneurons, triadic synapses, and diffuse cortical connectivity-are consistent with a blackboard role.Different thalamic nuclei may play different blackboard roles: (1) the Pulvinar, through its reciprocal connections to posterior cortical regions, coordinates perceptual inference about "what is where" from multi-sense-data. (2) The Mediodorsal (MD) nucleus, through its connections to the prefrontal cortex, and the other thalamic nuclei linked to the motor cortex, uses the same generative model for planning and learning novel spatial movements. (3) The paraventricular nucleus may compute risk-reward trade-offs. We also propose that as any new movement is practiced a few times, cortico-thalamocortical (CTC) links entrain the corresponding cortico-cortical links, through a process akin to supervised learning. Subsequently, the movement becomes a fast unconscious habit, not requiring the MD nucleus or other thalamic nuclei, and bypassing the thalamic bottleneck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Worden
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Max S. Bennett
- Independent Researcher, New York, NY, United States
- Bluecore, New York, NY, United States
| | - Victorita Neacsu
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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43
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Rowson SA, Pleil KE. Influences of Stress and Sex on the Paraventricular Thalamus: Implications for Motivated Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:636203. [PMID: 33716683 PMCID: PMC7953143 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.636203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a critical neural hub for the regulation of a variety of motivated behaviors, integrating stress and reward information from environmental stimuli to guide discrete behaviors via several limbic projections. Neurons in the PVT are activated by acute and chronic stressors, however several roles of the PVT in behavior modulation emerge only following repeated stress exposure, pointing to a role for hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis modulation of PVT function. Further, there may be a reciprocal relationship between the PVT and HPA axis in which chronic stress-induced recruitment of the PVT elicits an additional role for the PVT to regulate motivated behavior by modulating HPA physiology and thus the neuroendocrine response to stress itself. This complex interaction may make the PVT and its role in influencing motivated behavior particularly susceptible to chronic stress-induced plasticity in the PVT, especially in females who display increased susceptibility to stress-induced maladaptive behaviors associated with neuropsychiatric diseases. Though literature is describing the sex-specific effects of acute and chronic stress exposure on HPA axis activation and motivated behaviors, the impact of sex on the role of the PVT in modulating the behavioral and neuroendocrine response to stress is less well established. Here, we review what is currently known regarding the acute and chronic stress-induced activation and behavioral role of the PVT in male and female rodents. We further explore stress hormone and neuropeptide signaling mechanisms by which the HPA axis and PVT interact and discuss the implications for sex-dependent effects of chronic stress on the PVT's role in motivated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristen E. Pleil
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
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44
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Smith NK, Grueter BA. Hunger-driven adaptive prioritization of behavior. FEBS J 2021; 289:922-936. [PMID: 33630426 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In order to survive, an animal must adapt its behavioral priorities to accommodate changing internal and external conditions. Hunger, a universally recognized interoceptive signal, promotes food intake though increasingly well-understood neural circuits. Less understood, is how hunger is integrated into the neural computations that guide nonfeeding behaviors. Within the brain, agouti-related peptide neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus have been found to powerfully stimulate feeding in addition to mediating other hunger-driven behavioral phenotypes. In this review, we compile the behavioral plasticity downstream of hunger and present identified or potential molecular and neural circuit mechanisms. We catalogue hunger's ability to increase exploration, decrease anxiety, and alter social behavior, among other phenotypes. Finally, we suggest paths forward for understanding hunger-driven behavioral adaptation and discuss the benefits of understanding state-dependent modulation of neural circuits controlling behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas K Smith
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Brad A Grueter
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Bravo-Rivera H, Rubio Arzola P, Caban-Murillo A, Vélez-Avilés AN, Ayala-Rosario SN, Quirk GJ. Characterizing Different Strategies for Resolving Approach-Avoidance Conflict. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:608922. [PMID: 33716644 PMCID: PMC7947632 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.608922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of animals to maximize benefits and minimize costs during approach-avoidance conflicts is an important evolutionary tool, but little is known about the emergence of specific strategies for conflict resolution. Accordingly, we developed a simple approach-avoidance conflict task in rats that pits the motivation to press a lever for sucrose against the motivation to step onto a distant platform to avoid a footshock delivered at the end of a 30 s tone (sucrose is available only during the tone). Rats received conflict training for 16 days to give them a chance to optimize their strategy by learning to properly time the expression of both behaviors across the tone. Rats unexpectedly separated into three distinct subgroups: those pressing early in the tone and avoiding later (Timers, 49%); those avoiding throughout the tone (Avoidance-preferring, 32%); and those pressing throughout the tone (Approach-preferring, 19%). The immediate early gene cFos revealed that Timers showed increased activity in the ventral striatum and midline thalamus relative to the other two subgroups, Avoidance-preferring rats showed increased activity in the amygdala, and Approach-preferring rats showed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex. This pattern is consistent with low fear and high behavioral flexibility in Timers, suggesting the potential of this task to reveal the neural mechanisms of conflict resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Bravo-Rivera
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Patricia Rubio Arzola
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Albit Caban-Murillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Adriana N. Vélez-Avilés
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Shantée N. Ayala-Rosario
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Gregory J. Quirk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Kirouac GJ. The Paraventricular Nucleus of the Thalamus as an Integrating and Relay Node in the Brain Anxiety Network. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:627633. [PMID: 33732118 PMCID: PMC7959748 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.627633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain anxiety network is composed of a number of interconnected cortical regions that detect threats and execute appropriate defensive responses via projections to the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh), dorsolateral region of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTDL) and lateral region of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL). The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is anatomically positioned to integrate threat- and arousal-related signals from cortex and hypothalamus and then relay these signals to neural circuits in the NAcSh, BSTDL, and CeL that mediate defensive responses. This review describes the anatomical connections of the PVT that support the view that the PVT may be a critical node in the brain anxiety network. Experimental findings are reviewed showing that the arousal peptides orexins (hypocretins) act at the PVT to promote avoidance of potential threats especially following exposure of rats to a single episode of footshocks. Recent anatomical and experimental findings are discussed which show that neurons in the PVT provide divergent projections to subcortical regions that mediate defensive behaviors and that the projection to the NAcSh is critical for the enhanced social avoidance displayed in rats exposed to footshocks. A theoretical model is proposed for how the PVT integrates cortical and hypothalamic signals to modulate the behavioral responses associated with anxiety and other challenging situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert J. Kirouac
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Motivational competition and the paraventricular thalamus. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:193-207. [PMID: 33609570 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although significant progress has been made in understanding the behavioral and brain mechanisms for motivational systems, much less is known about competition between motivational states or motivational conflict (e.g., approach - avoidance conflict). Despite being produced under diverse conditions, behavior during motivational competition has two signatures: bistability and metastability. These signatures reveal the operation of positive feedback mechanisms in behavioral selection. Different neuronal architectures can instantiate this selection to achieve bistability and metastability in behavior, but each relies on circuit-level inhibition to achieve rapid and stable selection between competing tendencies. Paraventricular thalamus (PVT) is identified as critical to this circuit level inhibition, resolving motivational competition via its extensive projections to local inhibitory networks in the ventral striatum and extended amygdala, enabling adaptive responding under motivational conflict.
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Zhou K, Zhu L, Hou G, Chen X, Chen B, Yang C, Zhu Y. The Contribution of Thalamic Nuclei in Salience Processing. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:634618. [PMID: 33664657 PMCID: PMC7920982 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.634618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain continuously receives diverse information about the external environment and changes in the homeostatic state. The attribution of salience determines which stimuli capture attention and, therefore, plays an essential role in regulating emotions and guiding behaviors. Although the thalamus is included in the salience network, the neural mechanism of how the thalamus contributes to salience processing remains elusive. In this mini-review, we will focus on recent advances in understanding the specific roles of distinct thalamic nuclei in salience processing. We will summarize the functional connections between thalamus nuclei and other key nodes in the salience network. We will highlight the convergence of neural circuits involved in reward and pain processing, arousal, and attention control in thalamic structures. We will discuss how thalamic activities represent salience information in associative learning and how thalamic neurons modulate adaptive behaviors. Lastly, we will review recent studies which investigate the contribution of thalamic dysfunction to aberrant salience processing in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as drug addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia. Based on emerging evidence from both human and rodent research, we propose that the thalamus, different from previous studies that as an information relay, has a broader role in coordinating the cognitive process and regulating emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuikui Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guoqiang Hou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xueyu Chen
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chuanzhong Yang
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
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Sofia Beas B, Gu X, Leng Y, Koita O, Rodriguez-Gonzalez S, Kindel M, Matikainen-Ankney BA, Larsen RS, Kravitz AV, Hoon MA, Penzo MA. A ventrolateral medulla-midline thalamic circuit for hypoglycemic feeding. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6218. [PMID: 33277492 PMCID: PMC7719163 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19980-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Marked deficits in glucose availability, or glucoprivation, elicit organism-wide counter-regulatory responses whose purpose is to restore glucose homeostasis. However, while catecholamine neurons of the ventrolateral medulla (VLMCA) are thought to orchestrate these responses, the circuit and cellular mechanisms underlying specific counter-regulatory responses are largely unknown. Here, we combined anatomical, imaging, optogenetic and behavioral approaches to interrogate the circuit mechanisms by which VLMCA neurons orchestrate glucoprivation-induced food seeking behavior. Using these approaches, we found that VLMCA neurons form functional connections with nucleus accumbens (NAc)-projecting neurons of the posterior portion of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (pPVT). Importantly, optogenetic manipulations revealed that while activation of VLMCA projections to the pPVT was sufficient to elicit robust feeding behavior in well fed mice, inhibition of VLMCA-pPVT communication significantly impaired glucoprivation-induced feeding while leaving other major counterregulatory responses intact. Collectively our findings identify the VLMCA-pPVT-NAc pathway as a previously-neglected node selectively controlling glucoprivation-induced food seeking. Moreover, by identifying the ventrolateral medulla as a direct source of metabolic information to the midline thalamus, our results support a growing body of literature on the role of the PVT in homeostatic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Sofia Beas
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xinglong Gu
- Molecular Genetics Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yan Leng
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Omar Koita
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Morgan Kindel
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mark A Hoon
- Molecular Genetics Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Mario A Penzo
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Lustberg D, Tillage RP, Bai Y, Pruitt M, Liles LC, Weinshenker D. Noradrenergic circuits in the forebrain control affective responses to novelty. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:3337-3355. [PMID: 32821984 PMCID: PMC7572912 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05615-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE In rodents, exposure to novel environments elicits initial anxiety-like behavior (neophobia) followed by intense exploration (neophilia) that gradually subsides as the environment becomes familiar. Thus, innate novelty-induced behaviors are useful indices of anxiety and motivation in animal models of psychiatric disease. Noradrenergic neurons are activated by novelty and implicated in exploratory and anxiety-like responses, but the role of norepinephrine (NE) in neophobia has not been clearly delineated. OBJECTIVE We sought to define the role of central NE transmission in neophilic and neophobic behaviors. METHODS We assessed dopamine β-hydroxylase knockout (Dbh -/-) mice lacking NE and their NE-competent (Dbh +/-) littermate controls in neophilic (novelty-induced locomotion; NIL) and neophobic (novelty-suppressed feeding; NSF) behavioral tests with subsequent quantification of brain-wide c-fos induction. We complimented the gene knockout approach with pharmacological interventions. RESULTS Dbh -/- mice exhibited blunted locomotor responses in the NIL task and completely lacked neophobia in the NSF test. Neophobia was rescued in Dbh -/- mice by acute pharmacological restoration of central NE with the synthetic precursor L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS), and attenuated in control mice by the inhibitory α2-adrenergic autoreceptor agonist guanfacine. Following either NSF or NIL, Dbh -/- mice demonstrated reduced c-fos in the anterior cingulate cortex, medial septum, ventral hippocampus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and basolateral amygdala. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that central NE signaling is required for the expression of both neophilic and neophobic behaviors. Further, we describe a putative noradrenergic novelty network as a potential therapeutic target for treating anxiety and substance abuse disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Rachel P Tillage
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Molly Pruitt
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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