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Collignon A, Dion-Albert L, Ménard C, Coelho-Santos V. Sex, hormones and cerebrovascular function: from development to disorder. Fluids Barriers CNS 2024; 21:2. [PMID: 38178239 PMCID: PMC10768274 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00496-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper cerebrovascular development and neurogliovascular unit assembly are essential for brain growth and function throughout life, ensuring the continuous supply of nutrients and oxygen. This involves crucial events during pre- and postnatal stages through key pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Wnt signaling. These pathways are pivotal for brain vascular growth, expansion, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) maturation. Interestingly, during fetal and neonatal life, cerebrovascular formation coincides with the early peak activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, supporting the idea of sex hormonal influence on cerebrovascular development and barriergenesis.Sex hormonal dysregulation in early development has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders with highly sexually dimorphic features, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both disorders show higher prevalence in men, with varying symptoms between sexes, with boys exhibiting more externalizing behaviors, such as aggressivity or hyperactivity, and girls displaying higher internalizing behaviors, including anxiety, depression, or attention disorders. Indeed, ASD and ADHD are linked to high prenatal testosterone exposure and reduced aromatase expression, potentially explaining sex differences in prevalence and symptomatology. In line with this, high estrogen levels seem to attenuate ADHD symptoms. At the cerebrovascular level, sex- and region-specific variations of cerebral blood flow perfusion have been reported in both conditions, indicating an impact of gonadal hormones on the brain vascular system, disrupting its ability to respond to neuronal demands.This review aims to provide an overview of the existing knowledge concerning the impact of sex hormones on cerebrovascular formation and maturation, as well as the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we explore the concept of gonadal hormone interactions with brain vascular and BBB development to function, with a particular focus on the modulation of VEGF and Wnt signaling. We outline how these pathways may be involved in the underpinnings of ASD and ADHD. Outstanding questions and potential avenues for future research are highlighted, as uncovering sex-specific physiological and pathological aspects of brain vascular development might lead to innovative therapeutic approaches in the context of ASD, ADHD and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Collignon
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Laurence Dion-Albert
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Caroline Ménard
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Vanessa Coelho-Santos
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Institute of Physiology, Coimbra, Portugal.
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2
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Brown AR, Mitra S, Teskey GC, Boychuk JA. Complex forelimb movements and cortical topography evoked by intracortical microstimulation in male and female mice. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1866-1875. [PMID: 35511684 PMCID: PMC9977357 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The motor cortex is crucial for the voluntary control of skilled movement in mammals and is topographically organized into representations of the body (motor maps). Intracortical microstimulation of the motor cortex with long-duration pulse trains (LD-ICMS; ~500 ms) evokes complex movements, occurring in multiple joints or axial muscles, with characteristic movement postures and cortical topography across a variety of mammalian species. Although the laboratory mouse is extensively used in basic and pre-clinical research, high-resolution motor maps elicited with electrical LD-ICMS in both sexes of the adult mouse has yet to be reported. To address this knowledge gap, we performed LD-ICMS of the forelimb motor cortex in both male (n = 10) and naturally cycling female (n = 8) C57/BL6J mice under light ketamine-xylazine anesthesia. Complex and simple movements were evoked from historically defined caudal (CFA) and rostral (RFA) forelimb areas. Four complex forelimb movements were identified consisting of Elevate, Advance, Dig, and Retract postures with characteristic movement sequences and endpoints. Furthermore, evoked complex forelimb movements and cortical topography in mice were organized within the CFA in a unique manner relative to a qualitative comparison with the rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Brown
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - Shaarang Mitra
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - G Campbell Teskey
- Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jeffery A Boychuk
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
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Cotovio G, Rodrigues da Silva D, Real Lage E, Seybert C, Oliveira-Maia AJ. Hemispheric asymmetry of motor cortex excitability in mood disorders - Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 137:25-37. [PMID: 35240425 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.01.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mood disorders have been associated with lateralized brain dysfunction, on the left-side for depression and right-side for mania. Consistently, asymmetry of cortical excitability, as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been reported. Here, we reviewed and summarized work assessing such measures bilaterally in mood disorders. METHODS We performed a systematic review and extracted data to perform meta-analyses of interhemispheric asymmetry of motor cortex excitability, assessed with TMS, across different mood disorders and in healthy subjects. Additionally, potential predictors of interhemispheric asymmetry were explored. RESULTS Asymmetry of resting motor threshold (MT) among healthy volunteers was significant, favoring lower right relative to left-hemisphere excitability. MT was also significantly asymmetric in major depressive disorder (MDD), but with lower excitability of the left -hemisphere, when compared to the right, no longer observed in recovered patients. Findings on intracortical facilitation were similar. The few trials including bipolar depression revealed similar trends for imbalance, but with lower right hemisphere excitability, relative to the left. CONCLUSIONS There is interhemispheric asymmetry of motor cortical excitability in MDD, with lower excitability on left when compared to right-side. Interhemispheric asymmetry, with lower right relative to left-sided excitability, was found for bipolar depression and was also suggested for healthy volunteers, in a pattern that is clearly distinct from MDD. SIGNIFICANCE Mood disorders display asymmetric motor cortical excitability that is distinct from that found in healthy volunteers, supporting the presence of lateralized brain dysfunction in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Cotovio
- Champalimaud Research and Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, NMS , Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Estela Real Lage
- Champalimaud Research and Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, NMS , Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolina Seybert
- Champalimaud Research and Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Albino J Oliveira-Maia
- Champalimaud Research and Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, NMS , Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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4
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Gasparin A, Zortea M, Dos Santos VS, Carvalho F, Torres ILS, de Souza A, Fregni F, Caumo W. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Modulates the Effect of Sex on the Descending Pain Modulatory System in Healthy Volunteers. PAIN MEDICINE 2021; 21:2271-2279. [PMID: 32167540 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated sex differences and the influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the descending pain modulatory system (DPMS), as measured by change on the numerical pain scale (NPS; 0-10) during conditioned pain modulation (CPM task; primary outcome) and by function of the corticospinal motor pathway and heat pain thresholds (HPTs; secondary outcomes). METHODS This cross-sectional study included healthy volunteers ranging in age from 18 to 45 years (32 male and 24 female). Assessment included serum BDNF, HPT, change on the NPS (0-10) during the CPM task, and motor-evoked potential (MEP) using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). RESULTS The MEP (Mv) amplitude was larger in male participants compared with female participants (mean [SE] = 1.55 [0.34] vs mean [SE] = 1.27 [0.27], respectively, P = 0.001). The mean NPS (0-10) during CPM task changed more substantially for female compared with male participants (mean [SE] = -3.25 [2.01] vs mean [SE] = -2.29 [1.34], respectively, P = 0.040). In addition, a higher serum BDNF (adjusted index for age) was associated with a larger decrease of the NPS during CPM task (P = 0.003), although further regression analyses by sex showed that this was only significant for females (P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS Significant sex differences were identified in DPMS function and corticospinal motor pathway integrity. Nevertheless, BDNF was associated with the function of the DPMS in female but not male participants, indicating that sex and neuroplasticity state are crucial factors for pain perception in healthy subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Gasparin
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratory of Pain & Neuromodulation at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maxciel Zortea
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratory of Pain & Neuromodulation at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Souza Dos Santos
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratory of Pain & Neuromodulation at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Carvalho
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratory of Pain & Neuromodulation at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Iraci L S Torres
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Pharmacology Department, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Andressa de Souza
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Human Development, La Salle University Center, Canoas, Brazil
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wolnei Caumo
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratory of Pain & Neuromodulation at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Pain and Palliative Care Service at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Pain and Anesthesia in Surgery Department, School of Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Tool to Investigate Motor Cortex Excitability in Sport. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040432. [PMID: 33800662 PMCID: PMC8065474 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, since its introduction in 1985, has brought important innovations to the study of cortical excitability as it is a non-invasive method and, therefore, can be used both in healthy and sick subjects. Since the introduction of this cortical stimulation technique, it has been possible to deepen the neurophysiological aspects of motor activation and control. In this narrative review, we want to provide a brief overview regarding TMS as a tool to investigate changes in cortex excitability in athletes and highlight how this tool can be used to investigate the acute and chronic responses of the motor cortex in sport science. The parameters that could be used for the evaluation of cortical excitability and the relative relationship with motor coordination and muscle fatigue, will be also analyzed. Repetitive physical training is generally considered as a principal strategy for acquiring a motor skill, and this process can elicit cortical motor representational changes referred to as use-dependent plasticity. In training settings, physical practice combined with the observation of target movements can enhance cortical excitability and facilitate the process of learning. The data to date suggest that TMS is a valid technique to investigate the changes in motor cortex excitability in trained and untrained subjects. Recently, interest in the possible ergogenic effect of non-invasive brain stimulation in sport is growing and therefore in the future it could be useful to conduct new experiments to evaluate the impact on learning and motor performance of these techniques.
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6
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Carbine KA, Anderson J, Larson MJ, LeCheminant JD, Bailey BW. The relationship between exercise intensity and neurophysiological responses to food stimuli in women: A randomized crossover event-related potential (ERP) study. Int J Psychophysiol 2020; 158:349-361. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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7
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Chung SW, Thomson CJ, Lee S, Worsley RN, Rogasch NC, Kulkarni J, Thomson RH, Fitzgerald PB, Segrave RA. The influence of endogenous estrogen on high-frequency prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation. Brain Stimul 2019; 12:1271-1279. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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Evidence of the Homeostatic Regulation With the Combination of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Physical Activity. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2019; 97:727-733. [PMID: 29683810 DOI: 10.1097/phm.0000000000000956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can optimize beneficial effects induced by motor practice in patients with neurological disorders. However, possibly because of homeostatic regulation, the conditioning effects of tDCS are often imprecise and variable, limiting its therapeutic application. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to explore the magnitude and direction of the after effects induced by physical activity (PA) on tDCS-preconditioned cortical excitability (CE). DESIGN First, a crossover experiment was performed with 12 subjects to determine whether a single session of low-, moderate-, and high-intensity PA on a treadmill modulates the motor CE measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation. In a second crossover experiment, we investigated long-lasting changes (until 90 mins) of the effects induced by PA (with intensities defined by the first experiment) on motor CE after the subject had been preconditioned by tDCS (using different polarities). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS In experiment 1, we found that high- and moderate-intensity PA modulate the CE. Experiment 2 demonstrated that preconditioning the CE using tDCS homeostatically changes the direction and magnitude of after effects induced by subsequent PA plasticity caused by motor activity. In conclusion, the results suggest that the direction of after effects induced by the combination of physical exercise with tDCS on the CE is regulated within a physiologically defined range.
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Chaves AR, Wallack EM, Kelly LP, Pretty RW, Wiseman HD, Chen A, Moore CS, Stefanelli M, Ploughman M. Asymmetry of Brain Excitability: A New Biomarker that Predicts Objective and Subjective Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis. Behav Brain Res 2019; 359:281-291. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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10
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Chagas AP, Monteiro M, Mazer V, Baltar A, Marques D, Carneiro M, Rodrigues de Araújo MDG, Piscitelli D, Monte-Silva K. Cortical excitability variability: Insights into biological and behavioral characteristics of healthy individuals. J Neurol Sci 2018; 390:172-177. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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12
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Latella C, Hendy A, Vanderwesthuizen D, Teo WP. The modulation of corticospinal excitability and inhibition following acute resistance exercise in males and females. Eur J Sport Sci 2018; 18:984-993. [DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2018.1467489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Latella
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
| | - Ashlee Hendy
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Dan Vanderwesthuizen
- Clinical Exercise Science & Rehabilitation, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Footscray, Australia
| | - Wei-Peng Teo
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
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Perciavalle V, Blandini M, Fecarotta P, Buscemi A, Di Corrado D, Bertolo L, Fichera F, Coco M. The role of deep breathing on stress. Neurol Sci 2016; 38:451-458. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-016-2790-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Wu YJ, Tseng P, Huang HW, Hu JF, Juan CH, Hsu KS, Lin CC. The Facilitative Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Visuospatial Working Memory in Patients with Diabetic Polyneuropathy: A Pre-post Sham-Controlled Study. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:479. [PMID: 27733822 PMCID: PMC5039168 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus can lead to diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and cognitive deficits that manifest as peripheral and central neuropathy, respectively. In this study we investigated the relationship between visuospatial working memory (VSWM) capacity and DPN severity, and attempted to improve VSWM in DPN patients via the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Sixteen DPN patients and 16 age- and education-matched healthy control subjects received Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) for baseline cognitive assessment. A forward- and backward-recall computerized Corsi block tapping task (CBT), both with and without a concurrent motor interference task was used to measure VSWM capacity. Each DPN patient underwent a pre-treatment CBT, followed by tDCS or sham treatment, then a post-treatment CBT on two separate days. We found that although patients with severe DPN (Dyck’s grade 2a or 2b) showed comparable general intelligence scores on WAIS-IV as their age- and education-matched healthy counterparts, they nonetheless showed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on MOCA and working memory deficit on digit-span test of WAIS-IV. Furthermore, patients’ peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was positively correlated with their VSWM span in the most difficult CBT condition that involved backward-recall with motor interference such that patients with worse NCV also had lower VSWM span. Most importantly, anodal tDCS over the right DLPFC was able to improve low-performing patients’ VSWM span to be on par with the high-performers, thereby eliminating the correlation between NCV and VSWM. In summary, these findings suggest that (1) MCI and severe peripheral neuropathy can coexist with unequal severity in diabetic patients, (2) the positive correlation of VSWM and NCV suggests a link between peripheral and central neuropathies, and (3) anodal tDCS over the right DLPFC can improve DPN patients’ VSWM, particularly for the low-performing patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jen Wu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityTainan, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityTainan, Taiwan
| | - Philip Tseng
- Graduate Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical UniversityTaipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Center, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical UniversityNew Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Han-Wei Huang
- Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jon-Fan Hu
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Cognitive Science, College of Social Sciences, National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hung Juan
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Central University Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Kuei-Sen Hsu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chou-Ching Lin
- Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan
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Ma D, Shuler JM, Kumar A, Stanford QR, Tungtur S, Nishimune H, Stanford JA. Effects of Tongue Force Training on Bulbar Motor Function in the Female SOD1-G93A Rat Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2016; 31:147-156. [PMID: 27573800 DOI: 10.1177/1545968316666956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of exercise in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is controversial. Although moderate exercise appears to be beneficial for limb muscles in ALS, the effects of exercise on bulbar muscles such as the tongue have not been studied. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of tongue force training on bulbar motor function in the SOD1-G93A rat model of ALS. METHODS We compared the effects of tongue force training on bulbar motor function and neuromuscular junction innervation in female SOD1-G93A rats and age-matched female wild-type controls. Half of each group underwent afternoon tongue force training sessions, and all rats were tested under minimal force conditions in the mornings. RESULTS Tongue force did not differ between the SOD1-G93A rats and healthy controls during the morning testing sessions, nor was it affected by training. Surprisingly, decreases in tongue motility, the number of licks per session, and body weight were greater in the tongue force-trained SOD1-G93A rats. Forelimb grip force, survival, and denervation of the genioglossus (GG) muscle did not differ between the trained and untrained SOD1-G93A rats. GG innervation was correlated with changes in tongue force but not tongue motility in SOD1-G93A rats at end stage. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate a potential deleterious effect of tongue force training on tongue motility in female SOD1-G93A rats. The lack of a relationship between GG innervation and tongue motility suggests that factors other than lower-motor neuron integrity likely accounted for this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delin Ma
- 1 Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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Moscatelli F, Valenzano A, Petito A, Triggiani AI, Ciliberti MAP, Luongo L, Carotenuto M, Esposito M, Messina A, Monda V, Monda M, Capranica L, Messina G, Cibelli G. Relationship between blood lactate and cortical excitability between taekwondo athletes and non-athletes after hand-grip exercise. Somatosens Mot Res 2016; 33:137-44. [PMID: 27412765 DOI: 10.1080/08990220.2016.1203305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In taekwondo competitions, fatigue has a large influence on performance. Recent studies have reported that the excitability in the primary hand motor cortex, investigated with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is enhanced at the end of a maximal exercise and that this improvement correlates with blood lactate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between blood lactate and cortical excitability in taekwondo athletes and non-athletes. METHODS The excitability of the primary motor cortex was measured before and after fatiguing hand-grip exercise by TMS. Capillary blood lactate was measured at rest (pre-test), at the end (0 min), and at 3 and 10 min after the exercise by using a "Lactate Pro" portable lactate analyzer. RESULTS Significant differences in cortical excitability between the two groups were found after the exercise (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we found a significant relationship between cortical excitability and blood lactate (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The present findings showed changes in the excitability in the athletes group and also in the non-athletes group. However, blood lactate seems to have the greater effect in trained subjects compared to untrained subjects. In fact, it appears that, during extremely intensive exercise in taekwondo athletes, lactate may delay the onset of fatigue not only by maintaining the excitability of muscle, but also by increasing the excitability of the primary motor cortex more than in non-athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenzo Moscatelli
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Foggia , Foggia , Italy ;,b Department of Motor, Human and Health Science , University of Rome, "Foro Italico" , Rome , Italy
| | - Anna Valenzano
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Foggia , Foggia , Italy
| | - Annamaria Petito
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Foggia , Foggia , Italy
| | | | | | - Livio Luongo
- c Department of Experimental Medicine , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- d Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy
| | - Maria Esposito
- d Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy
| | - Antonietta Messina
- c Department of Experimental Medicine , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy
| | - Vincenzo Monda
- c Department of Experimental Medicine , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy
| | - Marcellino Monda
- c Department of Experimental Medicine , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy
| | - Laura Capranica
- b Department of Motor, Human and Health Science , University of Rome, "Foro Italico" , Rome , Italy
| | - Giovanni Messina
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Foggia , Foggia , Italy ;,c Department of Experimental Medicine , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cibelli
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Foggia , Foggia , Italy
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Coco M, Perciavalle V, Cavallari P, Perciavalle V. Effects of an Exhaustive Exercise on Motor Skill Learning and on the Excitability of Primary Motor Cortex and Supplementary Motor Area. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e2978. [PMID: 26986109 PMCID: PMC4839890 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000002978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined, on 28 healthy adult subjects, the possible correlations of an exhaustive exercise, and the consequent high blood lactate levels, on immediate (explicit) and delayed (implicit) motor execution of sequential finger movements (cognitive task). Moreover, we determined with transcranial magnetic stimulation whether changes in motor performance are associated with variations in excitability of primary motor area (M1) and supplementary motor area (SMA). We observed that, after an acute exhaustive exercise, the large increase of blood lactate is associated with a significant worsening of both explicit and implicit sequential visuomotor task paradigms, without gender differences. We also found that, at the end of the exhaustive exercise, there is a change of excitability in both M1 and SMA. In particular, the excitability of M1 was increased whereas that of SMA decreased and, also in this case, without gender differences. These results support the idea that an increase of blood lactate after an exhaustive exercise appears to have a protective effect at level of primary cortical areas (as M1), although at the expense of efficiency of adjacent cortical regions (as SMA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinella Coco
- From the Section of Physiology of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy (MC, ViP); Section of Human Physiology of the Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy (PC); and Department of Sciences of Formation, Universita' degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy (VaP)
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Mathar D, Horstmann A, Pleger B, Villringer A, Neumann J. Is it Worth the Effort? Novel Insights into Obesity-Associated Alterations in Cost-Benefit Decision-Making. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 9:360. [PMID: 26793079 PMCID: PMC4709417 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cost-benefit decision-making entails the process of evaluating potential actions according to the trade-off between the expected reward (benefit) and the anticipated effort (costs). Recent research revealed that dopaminergic transmission within the fronto-striatal circuitry strongly modulates cost-benefit decision-making. Alterations within the dopaminergic fronto-striatal system have been associated with obesity, but little is known about cost-benefit decision-making differences in obese compared with lean individuals. With a newly developed experimental task we investigate obesity-associated alterations in cost-benefit decision-making, utilizing physical effort by handgrip-force exertion and both food and non-food rewards. We relate our behavioral findings to alterations in local gray matter volume assessed by structural MRI. Obese compared with lean subjects were less willing to engage in physical effort in particular for high-caloric sweet snack food. Further, self-reported body dissatisfaction negatively correlated with the willingness to invest effort for sweet snacks in obese men. On a structural level, obesity was associated with reductions in gray matter volume in bilateral prefrontal cortex. Nucleus accumbens volume positively correlated with task induced implicit food craving. Our results challenge the common notion that obese individuals are willing to work harder to obtain high-caloric food and emphasize the need for further exploration of the underlying neural mechanisms regarding cost-benefit decision-making differences in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mathar
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany; IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical CenterLeipzig, Germany
| | - Annette Horstmann
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany; IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical CenterLeipzig, Germany
| | - Burkhard Pleger
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany; IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical CenterLeipzig, Germany; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital LeipzigLeipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany; IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical CenterLeipzig, Germany; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital LeipzigLeipzig, Germany; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Mind and Brain Institute, Humboldt-UniversityBerlin, Germany
| | - Jane Neumann
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany; IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical CenterLeipzig, Germany
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Brückner S, Kammer T. High visual demand following theta burst stimulation modulates the effect on visual cortex excitability. Front Hum Neurosci 2015; 9:591. [PMID: 26578935 PMCID: PMC4623200 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulatory effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) depend on the activity of the stimulated cortical area before, during, and even after application. In the present study, we investigated the effects of theta burst stimulation (TBS) on visual cortex excitability using phosphene threshold (PTs). In a between-group design either continuous or intermittent TBS was applied with 100% of individual PT intensity. We varied visual demand following stimulation in form of high demand (acuity task) or low demand (looking at the wall). No change of PTs was observed directly after TBS. We found increased PTs only if subjects had high visual demand following continuous TBS. With low visual demand following stimulation no change of PT was observed. Intermittent TBS had no effect on visual cortex excitability at all. Since other studies showed increased PTs following continuous TBS using subthreshold intensities, our results highlight the importance of stimulation intensity applying TBS to the visual cortex. Furthermore, the state of the neurons in the stimulated cortex area not only before but also following TBS has an important influence on the effects of stimulation, making it necessary to scrupulously control for activity during the whole experimental session in a study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Brückner
- Section for Neurostimulation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Kammer
- Section for Neurostimulation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm Ulm, Germany
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Perciavalle V, Maci T, Perciavalle V, Massimino S, Coco M. Working memory and blood lactate levels. Neurol Sci 2015; 36:2129-36. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-015-2329-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Pérez-Carro R, Cauli O, López-Larrubia P. Multiparametric magnetic resonance in the assessment of the gender differences in a high-grade glioma rat model. EJNMMI Res 2014; 4:44. [PMID: 26116110 PMCID: PMC4452640 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-014-0044-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma, the most frequent and aggressive of all astrocytomas, presents a clear predominance in male humans, but the assessment of sexual differences in its tumourigenesis and growth has received little attention so far. In this study, we aim to identify gender-dependent surrogate markers in an animal model of this cancer by means of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and biochemical and behavioural studies. Methods A high-grade glioma model developed in male and female rats was used. Multiparametric magnetic resonance images and localized spectra were acquired. The MR parameters linked to tumoural features were quantified. Motor and metabolic activity was also assessed. Postmortem analyses were carried out to measure indicators of malignancy, tumoural metabolism and viability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Results Statistically significant differences dependent on the animal sex were found in the study of pathological indicators like oedema, inflammation, cellularity and microvasculature. Results suggest higher cell proliferative rate, inflammation and vasogenic oedema and or necrosis in glioma-bearing male rats. Haemodynamic parameters measured indicated a major disruption of the BBB, postmortem confirmed, in this sex. Metabolomic and energetic metabolism activity data are in agreement with a major malignancy and aggressiveness of this cancer model on males. Conclusions Gender differences should be taken into account in preclinical studies of glioblastoma models, in the characterization of the tumoural behaviour and consequently in the development and validation of new therapeutic approaches. MR imaging and spectroscopy allow to non-invasively monitor this sexual dimorphism in the diagnosis and prognosis of brain cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Pérez-Carro
- Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in the Study of the Central Nervous System, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas 'Alberto Sols', CSIC-UAM, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain,
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Coco M, Alagona G, Perciavalle V, Perciavalle V, Cavallari P, Caronni A. Changes in cortical excitability and blood lactate after a fatiguing hand-grip exercise. Somatosens Mot Res 2013; 31:35-9. [DOI: 10.3109/08990220.2013.834816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Perciavalle V, Alagona G, Maci T, Petralia MC, Costanzo E, Perciavalle V, Coco M. Attentional processes during submaximal exercises. Somatosens Mot Res 2013; 31:1-6. [DOI: 10.3109/08990220.2013.796924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Coco M, Alagona G, Perciavalle V, Rapisarda G, Costanzo E, Perciavalle V. Brainstem excitability is not influenced by blood lactate levels. Somatosens Mot Res 2013; 30:90-5. [DOI: 10.3109/08990220.2013.769949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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