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Bassi GS, Carvalho MC, Almada RC, Brandão ML. Inhibition of substance P-induced defensive behavior via neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism in the central and medial but not basolateral nuclei of the amygdala in male Wistar rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 77:146-154. [PMID: 28390968 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The production of unconditioned defensive behaviors has been related to the amygdala, a key component of the encephalic aversion system. Microinjection of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) in the amygdala elicits defensive behaviors via the activation of type 1 neurokinin (NK-1) receptors. However, no studies have investigated whether intra-amygdala SP/NK-1 mechanisms can elicit other types of defensive responses, such as antinociception and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). METHODS The present study investigated the effects of SP-induced activation of the neurokininergic system in three main nuclei of the amygdala-basolateral (BLA), central (CeA), and medial (MeA) nuclei-in rats that were subjected to the elevated plus maze (EPM), tail-flick test, and USV recording. The effects of SP in these amygdaloid nuclei were challenged with combined injections of the NK-1 receptor antagonist spantide. RESULTS The present study showed that SP injections in the CeA and MeA but not BLA exerted anxiogenic-like effects. In contrast to the CeA, the anxiogenic-like effects of SP in the MeA were not dependent on NK-1 mechanisms. In the tail-flick test, SP microinjections produced antinociceptive effects only in the MeA through NK-1 receptor activation. No USV emissions were detected after the SP microinjections. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that NK-1 receptors in the CeA and MeA but not BLA are involved in defensive reactions to conditions of fear. The present results may provide a better understanding of the neurochemical mediation of fear states.
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Affiliation(s)
- G S Bassi
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Av. do Café, 2.450, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14050-220, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuropsicofarmacologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil.
| | - M C Carvalho
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Av. do Café, 2.450, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14050-220, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuropsicofarmacologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - R C Almada
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Av. do Café, 2.450, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14050-220, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuropsicofarmacologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - M L Brandão
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Av. do Café, 2.450, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14050-220, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuropsicofarmacologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
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Modeling anorexia nervosa: transcriptional insights from human iPSC-derived neurons. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1060. [PMID: 28291261 PMCID: PMC5416680 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex and multifactorial disorder occurring predominantly in women. Despite having the highest mortality among psychiatric conditions, it still lacks robust and effective treatment. Disorders such as AN are most likely syndromes with multiple genetic contributions, however, genome-wide studies have been underpowered to reveal associations with this uncommon illness. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from adolescent females with AN and unaffected controls. These iPSCs were differentiated into neural cultures and subjected to extensive transcriptome analysis. Within a small cohort of patients who presented for treatment, we identified a novel gene that appears to contribute to AN pathophysiology, TACR1 (tachykinin 1 receptor). The participation of tachykinins in a variety of biological processes and their interactions with other neurotransmitters suggest novel mechanisms for how a disrupted tachykinin system might contribute to AN symptoms. Although TACR1 has been associated with psychiatric conditions, especially anxiety disorders, we believe this report is its first association with AN. Moreover, our human iPSC approach is a proof-of-concept that AN can be modeled in vitro with a full human genetic complement, and represents a new tool for understanding the elusive molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the disease.
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Schott AL, Zimmerberg B. Effects of Neurokinin-1 Receptor Inhibition on Anxiety Behavior in Neonatal Rats Selectively Bred for an Infantile Affective Trait. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/pp.2014.59096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Carvalho MC, Santos JM, Bassi GS, Brandão ML. Participation of NK1 receptors of the amygdala on the processing of different types of fear. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2013; 102:20-7. [PMID: 23567110 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2013.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The amygdala, medial hypothalamus, dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG), superior and inferior colliculus together constitutes the encephalic aversion system which has been considered the main neural substrate for the integration of unconditioned aversive behavioral states. Within the amygdala the basolateral nucleus (BLA) is thought to act as a filter for innate and learned aversive information to higher structures, whereas the central nucleus (CeA) is considered the main output for the expression of fear reactions through projections to limbic and brainstem regions. Although neurokinin (NK) receptors are abundant in the amygdala, their role in the processing and expression of fear is yet unclear. In this study, we examined the role of SP/NK1 receptor system of the CeA and BLA on the expression of defensive responses elaborated by Wistar rats submitted to elevated plus maze (EPM) and to electrical stimulation (ES) of the dPAG. For EPM test, cannulae were implanted in the CeA and BLA for injections of substance P (SP - 10 and 100pmol/0.2μL) and spantide (SPA - 10, 100 and 500pmol/0.2μL). For ES of dPAG, aversive thresholds for freezing and escape responses as well as post-stimulation freezing (PSF) were measured in rats treated with PBS and SPA (100pmol/0.2μL) in CeA. Injections of SP into the CeA, but not the BLA, produced anxiogenic-like effects in the EPM test. SPA injected into the CeA had no effect on the exploratory behavior of rats submitted to the EPM but blocked the effects of SP. The duration of dPAG-PSF was also reduced significantly following injection of SPA in CeA but had no effect on thresholds for freezing and escape responses. The EPM gives the animal a control over its environment i.e. the option to choose or not to enter into the open arm and dPAG-PSF is thought to reflect a period when the animal evaluates the significance of dPAG-evoked aversion once the unconditioned responses of freezing and escape were elicited. The data indicate that SP may be involved in mediating responses of the animal in only certain types of aversive behavior and suggests a differential participation of the NK1 receptors in the processing of distinct types of fear in the amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Carvalho
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Campus USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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