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Warwick RA, Riccitelli S, Heukamp AS, Yaakov H, Swain BP, Ankri L, Mayzel J, Gilead N, Parness-Yossifon R, Di Marco S, Rivlin-Etzion M. Top-down modulation of the retinal code via histaminergic neurons of the hypothalamus. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk4062. [PMID: 39196935 PMCID: PMC11352916 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk4062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian retina is considered an autonomous circuit, yet work dating back to Ramon y Cajal indicates that it receives inputs from the brain. How such inputs affect retinal processing has remained unknown. We confirmed brain-to-retina projections of histaminergic neurons from the mouse hypothalamus. Histamine application ex vivo altered the activity of various retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), including direction-selective RGCs that gained responses to high motion velocities. These results were reproduced in vivo with optic tract recordings where histaminergic retinopetal axons were activated chemogenetically. Such changes could improve vision of fast-moving objects (e.g., while running), which fits with the known increased activity of histaminergic neurons during arousal. An antihistamine drug reduced optomotor responses to high-speed moving stimuli in freely moving mice. In humans, the same antihistamine nonuniformly modulated visual sensitivity across the visual field, indicating an evolutionary conserved function of the histaminergic system. Our findings expose a previously unappreciated role for brain-to-retina projections in modulating retinal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah A. Warwick
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Serena Riccitelli
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Alina S. Heukamp
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hadar Yaakov
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bani Prasad Swain
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lea Ankri
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jonathan Mayzel
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noa Gilead
- Ophthalmology Department, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Stefano Di Marco
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
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Wang M, Yao SQ, Huang Y, Liang JJ, Xu Y, Chen S, Wang Y, Ng TK, Chu WK, Cui Q, Cen LP. Casein kinase-2 inhibition promotes retinal ganglion cell survival after acute intraocular pressure elevation. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1112-1118. [PMID: 37862216 PMCID: PMC10749609 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Intraocular pressure elevation can induce retinal ganglion cell death and is a clinically reversible risk factor for glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness. We previously demonstrated that casein kinase-2 inhibition can promote retinal ganglion cell survival and axonal regeneration in rats after optic nerve injury. To investigate the underlying mechanism, in the current study we increased the intraocular pressure of adult rats to 75 mmHg for 2 hours and then administered a casein kinase-2 inhibitor (4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-2-azabenzimidazole or 2-dimethylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole) by intravitreal injection. We found that intravitreal injection of 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-2-azabenzimidazole or 2-dimethylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole promoted retinal ganglion cell survival and reduced the number of infiltrating macrophages. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathway was involved in the response to intraocular pressure elevation but was not modulated by the casein kinase-2 inhibitors. Furthermore, casein kinase-2 inhibition downregulated the expression of genes (Cck, Htrsa, Nef1, Htrlb, Prph, Chat, Slc18a3, Slc5a7, Scn1b, Crybb2, Tsga10ip, and Vstm21) involved in intraocular pressure elevation. Our data indicate that inhibition of casein kinase-2 can enhance retinal ganglion cell survival in rats after acute intraocular pressure elevation via macrophage inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shi-Qi Yao
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yao Huang
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Jian Liang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yanxuan Xu
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shaowan Chen
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuhang Wang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tsz Kin Ng
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Wai Kit Chu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Qi Cui
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Ling-Ping Cen
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
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Aydin H, Bucak IH, Altunisik E. Does levetiracetam use affect visual evoked potentials in the treatment of childhood epilepsy? Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2024; 76:86-92. [PMID: 33820402 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5276.21.05879-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Side effects of antiepileptic drugs vary depending on the drug itself, drug dose and duration of use. One of these side effects is related to vision. METHODS Patients who had been ordered visual evoked potential (VEP) measurements for various reasons between October 1st, 2017 and October 1st, 2019 at a pediatric neurology outpatient clinic and who were on levetiracetam monotherapy for at least six months for the treatment of focal/generalized epilepsy were included in the study and their files were scanned retrospectively (study group: SG). Patient files were evaluated for age, gender, dose and duration of levetiracetam use, presence of a family history of epilepsy, EEG result, cranial magnetic resonance imaging and VEP test results and the parameters were recorded. Twenty-four patients of similar age range without epilepsy were included in the study as the control group (CG). RESULTS Eighteen patients 8 boys (44.4%), 10 girls (55.6%) and 24 healthy controls 9 boys (37.5%), 15 girls (62.5%) were included in the study and control groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found when the mean VEP latencies were compared between the patient and control groups for the right (P=0.451) and left (P=0.323) eyes. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups, respectively, when VEP amplitudes of the right and left eyes of the SG and CG were compared (P=0.001; P=0.001). There is no correlation between levetiracetam dose and duration of treatment and VEP parameters. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in this study showed that levetiracetam use affected VEP amplitude outcome but did not affect VEP latency outcome in pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilal Aydin
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Türkiye -
| | - Ibrahim H Bucak
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Türkiye
| | - Erman Altunisik
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Türkiye
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Reggiani JDS, Jiang Q, Barbini M, Lutas A, Liang L, Fernando J, Deng F, Wan J, Li Y, Chen C, Andermann ML. Brainstem serotonin neurons selectively gate retinal information flow to thalamus. Neuron 2023; 111:711-726.e11. [PMID: 36584680 PMCID: PMC10131437 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types relay parallel streams of visual feature information. We hypothesized that neuromodulators might efficiently control which visual information streams reach the cortex by selectively gating transmission from specific RGC axons in the thalamus. Using fiber photometry recordings, we found that optogenetic stimulation of serotonergic axons in primary visual thalamus of awake mice suppressed ongoing and visually evoked calcium activity and glutamate release from RGC boutons. Two-photon calcium imaging revealed that serotonin axon stimulation suppressed RGC boutons that responded strongly to global changes in luminance more than those responding only to local visual stimuli, while the converse was true for suppression induced by increases in arousal. Converging evidence suggests that differential expression of the 5-HT1B receptor on RGC presynaptic terminals, but not differential density of nearby serotonin axons, may contribute to the selective serotonergic gating of specific visual information streams before they can activate thalamocortical neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine D S Reggiani
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qiufen Jiang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Melanie Barbini
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew Lutas
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Liang Liang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jesseba Fernando
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jinxia Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chinfei Chen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Mark L Andermann
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Retinal Inputs to the Thalamus Are Selectively Gated by Arousal. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3923-3934.e9. [PMID: 32795442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The brain can flexibly filter out sensory information in a manner that depends on behavioral state. In the visual thalamus and cortex, arousal and locomotion are associated with changes in the magnitude of responses to visual stimuli. Here, we asked whether such modulation of visual responses might already occur at an earlier stage in this visual pathway. We measured neural activity of retinal axons using wide-field and two-photon calcium imaging in awake mouse thalamus across arousal states associated with different pupil sizes. Surprisingly, visual responses to drifting gratings in retinal axonal boutons were robustly modulated by arousal level in a manner that varied across stimulus dimensions and across functionally distinct subsets of boutons. At low and intermediate spatial frequencies, the majority of boutons were suppressed by arousal. In contrast, at high spatial frequencies, boutons tuned to regions of visual space ahead of the mouse showed enhancement of responses. Arousal-related modulation also varied with a bouton's preference for luminance changes and direction or axis of motion, with greater response suppression in boutons tuned to luminance decrements versus increments, and in boutons preferring motion along directions or axes of optic flow. Together, our results suggest that differential modulation of distinct visual information channels by arousal state occurs at very early stages of visual processing, before the information is transmitted to neurons in visual thalamus. Such early filtering may provide an efficient means of optimizing central visual processing and perception across behavioral contexts.
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Esmaeeli S, Murphy K, Swords GM, Ibrahim BA, Brown JW, Llano DA. Visual hallucinations, thalamocortical physiology and Lewy body disease: A review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 103:337-351. [PMID: 31195000 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
One of the core diagnostic criteria for Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is the presence of visual hallucinations. The presence of hallucinations, along with fluctuations in the level of arousal and sleep disturbance, point to potential pathological mechanisms at the level of the thalamus. However, the potential role of thalamic dysfunction in DLB, particularly as it relates to the presence of formed visual hallucinations is not known. Here, we review the literature on the pathophysiology of DLB with respect to modern theories of thalamocortical function and attempt to derive an understanding of how such hallucinations arise. Based on the available literature, we propose that combined thalamic-thalamic reticular nucleus and thalamocortical pathology may explain the phenomenology of visual hallucinations in DLB. In particular, diminished α7 cholinergic activity in the thalamic reticular nucleus may critically disinhibit thalamocortical activity. Further, concentrated pathological changes within the posterior regions of the thalamus may explain the predilection for the hallucinations to be visual in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shooka Esmaeeli
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Kathleen Murphy
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Gabriel M Swords
- University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Baher A Ibrahim
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Jeffrey W Brown
- University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Daniel A Llano
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Carle Neuroscience Institute, Urbana, IL, United States.
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7
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Abstract
The thalamocortical (TC) relay neuron of the dorsoLateral Geniculate Nucleus (dLGN) has borne its imprecise label for many decades in spite of strong evidence that its role in visual processing transcends the implied simplicity of the term "relay". The retinogeniculate synapse is the site of communication between a retinal ganglion cell and a TC neuron of the dLGN. Activation of retinal fibers in the optic tract causes reliable, rapid, and robust postsynaptic potentials that drive postsynaptics spikes in a TC neuron. Cortical and subcortical modulatory systems have been known for decades to regulate retinogeniculate transmission. The dynamic properties that the retinogeniculate synapse itself exhibits during and after developmental refinement further enrich the role of the dLGN in the transmission of the retinal signal. Here we consider the structural and functional substrates for retinogeniculate synaptic transmission and plasticity, and reflect on how the complexity of the retinogeniculate synapse imparts a novel dynamic and influential capacity to subcortical processing of visual information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Y Litvina
- Department of Neurology,F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center,Children's Hospital, Boston,Boston,Massachusetts 02115
| | - Chinfei Chen
- Department of Neurology,F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center,Children's Hospital, Boston,Boston,Massachusetts 02115
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8
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual hallucinations are a common phenomenon, among the older adult population. They can be functional or organic in aetiology. However, new onset visual hallucinations in this population are strongly suggestive of organic brain disease. Visual impairment, cerebrovascular disease and Parkinson's disease are three causes of visual hallucinations, considered in this case series. The evidence in the literature, for the treatment of these conditions is scant at best. There is a paucity of randomised controlled trials available concerning possible therapeutic options. Aims/Methods We describe three case reports of visual hallucinations due to diverse underlying aetiologies. We then discuss the aetiologies of visual hallucinations in general and then in these particular cases and finally include results of a literature search examining the available evidence for any therapeutic options proposed. RESULTS Our three cases have different, underlying aetiologies. One case is of Charles Bonnet syndrome. The next is of visual hallucinations associated with vascular dementia. The final case is of visual hallucinations associated with Parkinson's disease. The first two cases are of particular interest due to the efficacy of Amisulpride in both clinical scenarios. CONCLUSIONS Visual hallucinations are a common phenomenon in the elderly population They can be due to a myriad of underlying causes. There are a number of neurochemical factors and neuroanatomical structures implicated. The evidence for psychopharmacological interventions is scanty. Randomised controlled trials are lacking in the area. An interesting finding in this case series, was of the clinical utility of Amisulpiride. Given this agent's unique psychopharmacological profile it is possible that it may be efficacious in other cases of visual hallucinations associated with particular neurochemical factors.
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Pickard GE, So KF, Pu M. Dorsal raphe nucleus projecting retinal ganglion cells: Why Y cells? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 57:118-31. [PMID: 26363667 PMCID: PMC4646079 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion Y (alpha) cells are found in retinas ranging from frogs to mice to primates. The highly conserved nature of the large, fast conducting retinal Y cell is a testament to its fundamental task, although precisely what this task is remained ill-defined. The recent discovery that Y-alpha retinal ganglion cells send axon collaterals to the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in addition to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), medial interlaminar nucleus (MIN), pretectum and the superior colliculus (SC) has offered new insights into the important survival tasks performed by these cells with highly branched axons. We propose that in addition to its role in visual perception, the Y-alpha retinal ganglion cell provides concurrent signals via axon collaterals to the DRN, the major source of serotonergic afferents to the forebrain, to dramatically inhibit 5-HT activity during orientation or alerting/escape responses, which dis-facilitates ongoing tonic motor activity while dis-inhibiting sensory information processing throughout the visual system. The new data provide a fresh view of these evolutionarily old retinal ganglion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary E Pickard
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, United States; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, United States; GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Mingliang Pu
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory on Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory for Visual Impairment and Restoration (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Yang YC, Hu CC, Lai YC. Non-additive modulation of synaptic transmission by serotonin, adenosine, and cholinergic modulators in the sensory thalamus. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:60. [PMID: 25852468 PMCID: PMC4360759 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The thalamus relays sensory information to the cortex. Oscillatory activities of the thalamocortical network are modulated by monoamines, acetylcholine, and adenosine, and could be the key features characteristic of different vigilance states. Although the thalamus is almost always subject to the actions of more than just one neuromodulators, reports on the modulatory effect of coexisting neuromodulators on thalamic synaptic transmission are unexpectedly scarce. We found that, if present alone, monoamine or adenosine decreases retinothalamic synaptic strength and short-term depression, whereas cholinergic modulators generally enhance postsynaptic response to presynaptic activity. However, coexistence of different modulators tends to produce non-additive effect, not predictable based on the action of individual modulators. Acetylcholine, acting via nicotinic receptors, can interact with either serotonin or adenosine to abolish most short-term synaptic depression. Moreover, the coexistence of adenosine and monoamine, with or without acetylcholine, results in robustly decreased synaptic strength and transforms short-term synaptic depression to facilitation. These findings are consistent with a view that acetylcholine is essential for an "enriched" sensory flow through the thalamus, and the flow is trimmed down by concomitant monoamine or adenosine (presumably for the wakefulness and rapid-eye movement, or REM, sleep states, respectively). In contrast, concomitant adenosine and monoamine would lead to a markedly "deprived" (and high-pass filtered) sensory flow, and thus the dramatic decrease of monoamine may constitute the basic demarcation between non-REM and REM sleep. The collective actions of different neuromodulators on thalamic synaptic transmission thus could be indispensable for the understanding of network responsiveness in different vigilance states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chin Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University Tao-Yuan, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chang Hu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University Tao-Yuan, Taiwan ; Department of Neurosurgery, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Lai
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
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11
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Yang YC, Hu CC, Huang CS, Chou PY. Thalamic synaptic transmission of sensory information modulated by synergistic interaction of adenosine and serotonin. J Neurochem 2013; 128:852-63. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Revised: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chin Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University; Tao-Yuan Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine; Chang Gung University; Tao-Yuan Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chang Hu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine; Chang Gung University; Tao-Yuan Taiwan
| | - Chen-Syuan Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University; Tao-Yuan Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine; Chang Gung University; Tao-Yuan Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yu Chou
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine; Chang Gung University; Tao-Yuan Taiwan
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Yamamori T. Selective gene expression in regions of primate neocortex: implications for cortical specialization. Prog Neurobiol 2011; 94:201-22. [PMID: 21621585 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2011.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2010] [Revised: 03/30/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The neocortex, which is characteristic of mammals, has evolved to play important roles in cognitive and perceptual functions. The localization of different functions in different regions of the neocortex was well established within the last century. Studies on the formation of the neocortex have advanced at the molecular level, thus clarifying the mechanisms that control neural or glial cell differentiation and sensory projections. However, mechanisms that underlie cortical area specialization remain unsolved. To address this problem, our approach has been to isolate and characterize the genes that are selectively expressed in particular subsets of neocortical areas in primates; these areas are most distinctive among mammals. By differential display and restriction landmark cDNA scanning (RLCS) methods, we have identified two major classes of genes that are specifically expressed in the adult macaque monkey neocortical areas: one is expressed in the primary sensory areas, particularly, in the primary visual cortex (V1) and the other is expressed in the association areas. The genes that show these specific expression patterns are limited to only several gene families among our large-scale screening. In this review, I first describe the isolation and characterization of these genes, along with another class of genes specifically expressed in motor areas. Then, I discuss their functional significance in the primate neocortex. Finally, I discuss the implication of these gene expression patterns in neocortical specialization in primates and possible future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Yamamori
- Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan.
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13
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Bauernfeind AL, Dietrich MS, Blackford JU, Charboneau EJ, Lillevig JG, Cannistraci CJ, Woodward ND, Cao A, Watkins T, Di Iorio CR, Cascio C, Salomon RM, Cowan RL. Human Ecstasy use is associated with increased cortical excitability: an fMRI study. Neuropsychopharmacology 2011; 36:1127-41. [PMID: 21326196 PMCID: PMC3079831 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2010.244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The serotonergic neurotoxin, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/Ecstasy), is a highly popular recreational drug. Human recreational MDMA users have neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric impairments, and human neuroimaging data are consistent with animal reports of serotonin neurotoxicity. However, functional neuroimaging studies have not found consistent effects of MDMA on brain neurophysiology in human users. Several lines of evidence suggest that studying MDMA effects in visual system might reveal the general cortical and subcortical neurophysiological consequences of MDMA use. We used 3 T functional magnetic resonance imaging during visual stimulation to compare visual system lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and Brodmann Area (BA) 17 and BA 18 activation in 20 long abstinent (479.95±580.65 days) MDMA users and 20 non-MDMA user controls. Lifetime quantity of MDMA use was strongly positively correlated with blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal intensity in bilateral LGN (r(s)=0.59; p=0.007), BA 17 (r(s)=0.50; p=0.027), and BA 18 (r(s)=0.48; p=0.031), and with the spatial extent of activation in BA 17 (r(s)=0.059; p=0.007) and BA 18 (r(s)=0.55; p=0.013). There were no between-group differences in brain activation in any region, but the heaviest MDMA users showed a significantly greater spatial extent of activation than controls in BA 17 (p=0.031) and BA 18 (p=0.049). These results suggest that human recreational MDMA use may be associated with a long-lasting increase in cortical excitability, possibly through loss of serotonin input to cortical and subcortical regions. When considered in the context of previous results, cortical hyper-excitability may be a biomarker for MDMA-induced serotonin neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Bauernfeind
- Psychiatric Neuroimaging Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
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14
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Watakabe A, Komatsu Y, Sadakane O, Shimegi S, Takahata T, Higo N, Tochitani S, Hashikawa T, Naito T, Osaki H, Sakamoto H, Okamoto M, Ishikawa A, Hara SI, Akasaki T, Sato H, Yamamori T. Enriched expression of serotonin 1B and 2A receptor genes in macaque visual cortex and their bidirectional modulatory effects on neuronal responses. Cereb Cortex 2009; 19:1915-28. [PMID: 19056862 PMCID: PMC2705701 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhn219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To study the molecular mechanism how cortical areas are specialized in adult primates, we searched for area-specific genes in macaque monkeys and found striking enrichment of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) 1B receptor mRNA, and to a lesser extent, of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA, in the primary visual area (V1). In situ hybridization analyses revealed that both mRNA species were highly concentrated in the geniculorecipient layers IVA and IVC, where they were coexpressed in the same neurons. Monocular inactivation by tetrodotoxin injection resulted in a strong and rapid (<3 h) downregulation of these mRNAs, suggesting the retinal activity dependency of their expression. Consistent with the high expression level in V1, clear modulatory effects of 5-HT1B and 5-HT2A receptor agonists on the responses of V1 neurons were observed in in vivo electrophysiological experiments. The modulatory effect of the 5-HT1B agonist was dependent on the firing rate of the recorded neurons: The effect tended to be facilitative for neurons with a high firing rate, and suppressive for those with a low firing rate. The 5-HT2A agonist showed opposite effects. These results suggest that this serotonergic system controls the visual response in V1 for optimization of information processing toward the incoming visual inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiya Watakabe
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, Graduate University for Advanced Studies, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yusuke Komatsu
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Osamu Sadakane
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Satoshi Shimegi
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Toru Takahata
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Higo
- System Neuroscience Group, Neuroscience Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Umezono 1-1-1, Tsukuba 305-8568, Japan
| | - Shiro Tochitani
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, Graduate University for Advanced Studies, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Hashikawa
- Laboratory for Neural Architecture, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Naito
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Hironobu Osaki
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sakamoto
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Masahiro Okamoto
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Ayako Ishikawa
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Shin-ichiro Hara
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Takafumi Akasaki
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Sato
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yamamori
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, Graduate University for Advanced Studies, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
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15
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Furushima W, Inagaki M, Gunji A, Inoue Y, Kaga M, Mizutani S. Early signs of visual perception and evoked potentials in radiologically asymptomatic boys with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. J Child Neurol 2009; 24:927-35. [PMID: 19289696 DOI: 10.1177/0883073808331354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim was to identify the electrophysiological and psychological signs at a very early stage in asymptomatic boys with childhood cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Flash visual evoked potentials, pattern reversal, and visual event-related potentials were recorded in 6 radiologically asymptomatic boys with adrenoleukodystrophy and 22 control boys. The latency and amplitude of P100 of visual evoked potentials and P1 of event-related potentials were evaluated. Though all patients had normal intelligence quotient, performance intelligence quotient was significantly lower than verbal intelligence quotient in 2 patients. Both P100 and P1 amplitudes were significantly greater in adrenoleukodystrophy than in controls. The difference between performance intelligence quotient and verbal intelligence quotient exhibited significant correlation with P100 amplitude. Enlargement of visual evoked potentials might be a sign of cerebral involvement preceding the appearance of abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging. Follow-up of asymptomatic boys with both electrophysiological and neuropsychological tests may serve as an aid for deciding the timing of therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wakana Furushima
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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16
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Abstract
Since its first description in 1760, Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) has been reported in many studies. The main characteristics are visual hallucinations, preserved awareness of unreal visions, and absence of psychotic symptoms. CBS can occur with lesions located anywhere along the central visual pathway, from the eye to the calcarine fissure. Objective To describe patients with CBS and carry out a review of the literature. Methods Six patients with visual hallucinations were evaluated in an outpatient memory clinic between 2001 and 2008, and their clinical characteristics recorded. Results Four patients were female, and the mean age was 74.5±16.9 years. Three patients had visual loss secondary to eye disease and three due to cerebral lesions. The visions consisted of animals, persons, moving objects, bizarre creatures or colored forms, and were considered disturbing by five patients. Five patients received treatment, and only three reported partial benefit from the therapy. Complete recovery was not seen in any of the subjects. Conclusions CBS is relatively rare and its recognition is important to avoid misdiagnoses with psychiatric or dementing illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonel Tadao Takada
- Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology Unity - Hospital das Clínicas - University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Nitrini
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Department of Neurology, and Cognitive Disorders Reference Center (CEREDIC). Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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17
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Abstract
Cortical hyperexcitability in migraine could arise from abnormally weak inhibition or from strengthened intracortical excitatory mechanisms. The present study employed binocular rivalry to differentiate between these possibilities. Rivalry between static oriented grating patterns was examined in migraine with aura (MA), migraine without aura (MoA) and headache-free control participants. A non-significant trend toward elevated mean dominance intervals (monocular percepts, in seconds) was seen in both migraine groups at all contrasts. Second, significant interocular differences in rivalry dominance durations were seen in the MoA group compared with controls; this difference also approached significance in the MA group. Finally, both MA and MoA exhibited significantly greater visual discomfort than the control group in the presence of both static stripes and flickering visual stimuli. The rivalry results provide no support for weakened intracortical inhibition in migraine. Optical or neural precortical differences in the eyes' input strengths paired with enhanced recurrent cortical excitation can explain these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Wilkinson
- Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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18
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Serotonin evokes endocannabinoid release and retrogradely suppresses excitatory synapses. J Neurosci 2008; 28:6508-15. [PMID: 18562622 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0678-08.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
5-HT(2)-type serotonin receptors (5-HT(2)Rs) are widely expressed throughout the brain and mediate many of the modulatory effects of serotonin. It has been thought that postsynaptic 5-HT(2)Rs act primarily by depolarizing neurons and thereby increasing their excitability. However, it is also known that 5-HT(2)Rs are coupled to G(q/11)-type G-proteins and that some other types of G(q/11)-coupled receptors can regulate synapses by evoking endocannabinoid release and activating presynaptic cannabinoid-type 1 receptors (CB(1)Rs). Here, we examine whether activation of 5-HT(2)Rs can regulate synapses through such a mechanism by studying excitatory synapses onto cells in the inferior olive (IO). These cells express 5-HT(2)Rs on their soma and dendrites, and the IO receives extensive serotonergic input. We find that the excitatory synaptic inputs onto IO cells are strongly suppressed by serotonin receptor agonists as well as release of endogenous serotonin. Both 5-HT(2)Rs and 5-HT(1B)Rs contribute to this modulation by decreasing the probability of glutamate release from presynaptic boutons. The suppression by 5-HT(2)Rs is of particular interest because it is prevented by CB(1)R antagonists, and 5-HT(2)Rs are thought to be located only postsynaptically on IO cells. Our results indicate that serotonin activates 5-HT(2)Rs on IO neurons, thereby releasing endocannabinoids that act retrogradely to suppress glutamate release by activating presynaptic CB(1)Rs. These findings establish a link between serotonin signaling and endocannabinoid signaling. Based on the extensive distribution of 5-HT(2)Rs and CB(1)Rs, it seems likely that this mechanism could mediate many of the actions of 5-HT(2)Rs throughout the brain.
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19
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Gerstl F, Windischberger C, Mitterhauser M, Wadsak W, Holik A, Kletter K, Moser E, Kasper S, Lanzenberger R. Multimodal imaging of human early visual cortex by combining functional and molecular measurements with fMRI and PET. Neuroimage 2008; 41:204-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2007] [Revised: 02/26/2008] [Accepted: 02/27/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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20
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Sand T, Zhitniy N, White LR, Stovner LJ. Visual evoked potential latency, amplitude and habituation in migraine: A longitudinal study. Clin Neurophysiol 2008; 119:1020-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2008.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2007] [Revised: 12/24/2007] [Accepted: 01/23/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Liu X, Chen C. Different roles for AMPA and NMDA receptors in transmission at the immature retinogeniculate synapse. J Neurophysiol 2007; 99:629-43. [PMID: 18032559 DOI: 10.1152/jn.01171.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The relay of information at the retinogeniculate synapse, the connection between retina and visual thalamus, begins days before eye opening and is thought to play an important role in the maturation of neural circuits in the thalamus and visual cortex. Remarkably, during this period of development, the retinogeniculate synapse is immature, with single retinal ganglion cell inputs evoking an average peak excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) of only about 40 pA compared with 800 pA in mature synapses. Yet, at the mature synapse, EPSCs >400 pA are needed to drive relay neuron firing. This raises the question of how small-amplitude EPSCs can drive transmission at the immature retinogeniculate synapse. Here we find that several features of the immature synapse, compared with the mature synapse, contribute to synaptic transmission. First, although the peak amplitude of EPSC is small, the decay time course of both alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) currents is significantly slower. The prolonged time course of NMDAR currents is a result of the presence of both NR2B and NR2C/D subunits. In addition, the extended presence of neurotransmitter released prolongs the synaptic current time course. Second, reduced sensitivity to magnesium block results in significantly greater synaptic charge transfer through NMDAR. Third, AMPAR currents contribute to the spike latency, but not to temporal precision, at the immature synapse. Furthermore, intrinsic excitability is greater. These properties enable immature synapses with predominantly NMDARs and little or no AMPARs to contribute to the relay of information from retina to visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojin Liu
- Neurobiology Program, Division in Neuroscience, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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22
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Lang UE, Stogowski D, Schulze D, Domula M, Schmidt E, Gallinat J, Tugtekin SM, Felber W. Charles Bonnet Syndrome: successful treatment of visual hallucinations due to vision loss with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. J Psychopharmacol 2007; 21:553-5. [PMID: 17446204 DOI: 10.1177/0269881106075275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Visual hallucinations are a common and often distressing consequence of vision loss, particularly in age-related macular degeneration. Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is defined by the triad of complex visual hallucinations, ocular pathology causing visual deterioration and preserved cognitive status. So far, although this condition is frequent, no established treatment for CBS has been stated. We report here the case of a 78-year-old woman, who came in our hospital because of a 4-week long mild depressive symptomatology. For 1 year she experienced daily sudden, unexpected, vivid and elaborate hallucinations. Insight was completely present, so the patient stated that the hallucinations were unreal and that the faces, geometrical figures and animals she saw every day were possibly due to her vision loss. The Mini Mental State Examination, digit span and verbal fluency were administered and no cognitive impairment was reported. The visual acuity was hand motion. After 4 days of treatment with venlafaxine the hallucinations completely disappeared. This is the first case to show that selective serotonin (and noradrenalin) reuptake inhibitors may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for visual hallucinations associated with vision loss, and it adds to evidence implicating serotonergic pathways in the pathogenesis of visual hallucinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Undine E Lang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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