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Ohta H, Nozawa T, Nakano T, Morimoto Y, Ishizuka T. Nonlinear age-related differences in probabilistic learning in mice: A 5-armed bandit task study. Neurobiol Aging 2024; 142:8-16. [PMID: 39029360 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
This study explores the impact of aging on reinforcement learning in mice, focusing on changes in learning rates and behavioral strategies. A 5-armed bandit task (5-ABT) and a computational Q-learning model were used to evaluate the positive and negative learning rates and the inverse temperature across three age groups (3, 12, and 18 months). Results showed a significant decline in the negative learning rate of 18-month-old mice, which was not observed for the positive learning rate. This suggests that older mice maintain the ability to learn from successful experiences while decreasing the ability to learn from negative outcomes. We also observed a significant age-dependent variation in inverse temperature, reflecting a shift in action selection policy. Middle-aged mice (12 months) exhibited higher inverse temperature, indicating a higher reliance on previous rewarding experiences and reduced exploratory behaviors, when compared to both younger and older mice. This study provides new insights into aging research by demonstrating that there are age-related differences in specific components of reinforcement learning, which exhibit a non-linear pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Ohta
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan.
| | - Takashi Nozawa
- Mejiro University, 4-31-1 Naka-Ochiai, Shinjuku, Tokyo 161-8539, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakano
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; International Center for Brain Science (ICBS), Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Yuji Morimoto
- Department of Physiology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ishizuka
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
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2
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Febo M, Mahar R, Rodriguez NA, Buraima J, Pompilus M, Pinto AM, Grudny MM, Bruijnzeel AW, Merritt ME. Age-related differences in affective behaviors in mice: possible role of prefrontal cortical-hippocampal functional connectivity and metabolomic profiles. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1356086. [PMID: 38524115 PMCID: PMC10957556 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1356086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The differential expression of emotional reactivity from early to late adulthood may involve maturation of prefrontal cortical responses to negative valence stimuli. In mice, age-related changes in affective behaviors have been reported, but the functional neural circuitry warrants further investigation. Methods We assessed age variations in affective behaviors and functional connectivity in male and female C57BL6/J mice. Mice aged 10, 30 and 60 weeks (wo) were tested over 8 weeks for open field activity, sucrose preference, social interactions, fear conditioning, and functional neuroimaging. Prefrontal cortical and hippocampal tissues were excised for metabolomics. Results Our results indicate that young and old mice differ significantly in affective behavioral, functional connectome and prefrontal cortical-hippocampal metabolome. Young mice show a greater responsivity to novel environmental and social stimuli compared to older mice. Conversely, late middle-aged mice (60wo group) display variable patterns of fear conditioning and during re-testing in a modified context. Functional connectivity between a temporal cortical/auditory cortex network and subregions of the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral hippocampus, and a greater network modularity and assortative mixing of nodes was stronger in young versus older adult mice. Metabolome analyses identified differences in several essential amino acids between 10wo mice and the other age groups. Discussion The results support differential expression of 'emotionality' across distinct stages of the mouse lifespan involving greater prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity and neurochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Rohit Mahar
- Department of Chemistry, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Nicholas A. Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Joy Buraima
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Marjory Pompilus
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Aeja M. Pinto
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matteo M. Grudny
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Adriaan W. Bruijnzeel
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matthew E. Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
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3
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Febo M, Mahar R, Rodriguez NA, Buraima J, Pompilus M, Pinto AM, Grudny MM, Bruijnzeel AW, Merritt ME. Age-Related Differences in Affective Behaviors in Mice: Possible Role of Prefrontal Cortical-Hippocampal Functional Connectivity and Metabolomic Profiles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.13.566691. [PMID: 38014219 PMCID: PMC10680600 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.13.566691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The differential expression of emotional reactivity from early to late adulthood may involve maturation of prefrontal cortical responses to negative valence stimuli. In mice, age-related changes in affective behaviors have been reported, but the functional neural circuitry warrants further investigation. We assessed age variations in affective behaviors and functional connectivity in male and female C57BL6/J mice. Mice aged 10, 30 and 60 weeks (wo) were tested over 8 weeks for open field activity, sucrose preference, social interactions, fear conditioning, and functional neuroimaging. Prefrontal cortical and hippocampal tissues were excised for metabolomics. Our results indicate that young and old mice differ significantly in affective behavioral, functional connectome and prefrontal cortical-hippocampal metabolome. Young mice show a greater responsivity to novel environmental and social stimuli compared to older mice. Conversely, late middle-aged mice (60wo group) display variable patterns of fear conditioning and with re-testing with a modified context. Functional connectivity between a temporal cortical/auditory cortex network and subregions of the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral hippocampus, and a greater network modularity and assortative mixing of nodes was stronger in young versus older adult mice. Metabolome analyses identified differences in several essential amino acids between 10wo mice and the other age groups. The results support differential expression of 'emotionality' across distinct stages of the mouse lifespan involving greater prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity and neurochemistry.
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4
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Dalla C, Jaric I, Pavlidi P, Hodes GE, Kokras N, Bespalov A, Kas MJ, Steckler T, Kabbaj M, Würbel H, Marrocco J, Tollkuhn J, Shansky R, Bangasser D, Becker JB, McCarthy M, Ferland-Beckham C. Practical solutions for including sex as a biological variable (SABV) in preclinical neuropsychopharmacological research. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 401:110003. [PMID: 37918446 PMCID: PMC10842858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.110003] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Recently, many funding agencies have released guidelines on the importance of considering sex as a biological variable (SABV) as an experimental factor, aiming to address sex differences and avoid possible sex biases to enhance the reproducibility and translational relevance of preclinical research. In neuroscience and pharmacology, the female sex is often omitted from experimental designs, with researchers generalizing male-driven outcomes to both sexes, risking a biased or limited understanding of disease mechanisms and thus potentially ineffective therapeutics. Herein, we describe key methodological aspects that should be considered when sex is factored into in vitro and in vivo experiments and provide practical knowledge for researchers to incorporate SABV into preclinical research. Both age and sex significantly influence biological and behavioral processes due to critical changes at different timepoints of development for males and females and due to hormonal fluctuations across the rodent lifespan. We show that including both sexes does not require larger sample sizes, and even if sex is included as an independent variable in the study design, a moderate increase in sample size is sufficient. Moreover, the importance of tracking hormone levels in both sexes and the differentiation between sex differences and sex-related strategy in behaviors are explained. Finally, the lack of robust data on how biological sex influences the pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), or toxicological effects of various preclinically administered drugs to animals due to the exclusion of female animals is discussed, and methodological strategies to enhance the rigor and translational relevance of preclinical research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
| | - Ivana Jaric
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pavlina Pavlidi
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Anton Bespalov
- Partnership for Assessment and Accreditation of Scientific Practice (PAASP GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martien J Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Mohamed Kabbaj
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Neurosciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, USA
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jordan Marrocco
- Department of Biology, Touro University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Shansky
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02128, USA
| | - Debra Bangasser
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jill B Becker
- Department of Psychology and Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Baltimore MD, USA
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Portalés A, Chamero P, Jurado S. Natural and Pathological Aging Distinctively Impacts the Pheromone Detection System and Social Behavior. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:4641-4658. [PMID: 37129797 PMCID: PMC10293359 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03362-3] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Normal aging and many age-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease cause deficits in olfaction; however, it is currently unknown how natural and pathological aging impacts the detection of social odors which might contribute to the impoverishment of social behavior at old age further worsening overall health. Analysis of the vomeronasal organ, the main gateway to pheromone-encoded information, indicated that natural and pathological aging distinctively affects the neurogenic ability of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium. Whereas cell proliferation remained majorly preserved in 1-year-old APP/PS1 mice, naturally aged animals exhibited significant deficiencies in the number of mature, proliferative, and progenitor cells. These alterations may support age-related deficits in the recognition of social cues and the display of social behavior. Our findings indicate that aging disrupts the processing of social olfactory cues decreasing social odor exploration, discrimination, and habituation in both wild-type senescent (2-year-old) mice and in 1-year-old double mutant model of Alzheimer's disease (APP/PS1). Furthermore, social novelty was diminished in 1-year-old APP/PS1 mice, indicating that alterations in the processing of social cues are accelerated during pathological aging. This study reveals fundamental differences in the cellular processes by which natural and pathological aging disrupts the exploration of social information and social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Portalés
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Miguel Hernández (CSIC-UMH), 03550, Sant Joan d´Alacant, Spain
| | - Pablo Chamero
- Laboratoire de Physiologie de La Reproduction Et Des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, University of Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Sandra Jurado
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Miguel Hernández (CSIC-UMH), 03550, Sant Joan d´Alacant, Spain.
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6
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Bertran-Gonzalez J, Dinale C, Matamales M. Restoring the youthful state of striatal plasticity in aged mice re-enables cognitive control of action. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1997-2007.e5. [PMID: 37141886 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.020] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Multidisciplinary evidence suggests that the control of voluntary action arbitrates between two major forms of behavioral processing: cognitively guided (or goal directed) and autonomously guided (or habitual). Brain-state irregularities affecting the striatum-such as aging-commonly shift control toward the latter, although the responsible neural mechanisms remain unknown. Combining instrumental conditioning with cell-specific mapping and chemogenetics in striatal neurons, we explored strategies that invigorate goal-directed capacity in aged mice. We found that, under conditions favoring goal-directed control, aged animals resiliently expressed autonomously guided behavior, a response that was underpinned by a characteristic one-to-one functional engagement of the two main neuronal populations in the striatum-D1- and D2-dopamine receptor-expressing spiny projection neurons (SPNs). Chemogenetically induced desensitization of D2-SPN signaling in aged transgenic mice recapitulated the striatal plasticity state observed in young mice, an effect that shifted behavior toward vigorous, goal-directed action. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the neural bases of behavioral control and propose neural system interventions that enhance cognitive functioning in habit-prone brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Bertran-Gonzalez
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Caroline Dinale
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Miriam Matamales
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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7
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Konar-Nié M, Guzman-Castillo A, Armijo-Weingart L, Aguayo LG. Aging in nucleus accumbens and its impact on alcohol use disorders. Alcohol 2023; 107:73-90. [PMID: 36087859 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ethanol is one of the most widely consumed drugs in the world and prolonged excessive ethanol intake might lead to alcohol use disorders (AUDs), which are characterized by neuroadaptations in different brain regions, such as in the reward circuitry. In addition, the global population is aging, and it appears that they are increasing their ethanol consumption. Although research involving the effects of alcohol in aging subjects is limited, differential effects have been described. For example, studies in human subjects show that older adults perform worse in tests assessing working memory, attention, and cognition as compared to younger adults. Interestingly, in the field of the neurobiological basis of ethanol actions, there is a significant dichotomy between what we know about the effects of ethanol on neurochemical targets in young animals and how it might affect them in the aging brain. To be able to understand the distinct effects of ethanol in the aging brain, the following questions need to be answered: (1) How does physiological aging impact the function of an ethanol-relevant region (e.g., the nucleus accumbens)? and (2) How does ethanol affect these neurobiological systems in the aged brain? This review discusses the available data to try to understand how aging affects the nucleus accumbens (nAc) and its neurochemical response to alcohol. The data show that there is little information on the effects of ethanol in aged mice and rats, and that many studies had considered 2-3-month-old mice as adults, which needs to be reconsidered since more recent literature defines 6 months as young adults and >18 months as an older mouse. Considering the actual relevance of an aged worldwide population and that this segment is drinking more frequently, it appears at least reasonable to explore how ethanol affects the brain in adult and aged models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena Konar-Nié
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile.
| | - Alejandra Guzman-Castillo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile; Programa en Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile.
| | - Lorena Armijo-Weingart
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile; Programa en Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile.
| | - Luis Gerardo Aguayo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile; Programa en Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile.
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8
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Sangüesa G, Batlle M, Muñoz-Moreno E, Soria G, Alcarraz A, Rubies C, Sitjà-Roqueta L, Solana E, Martínez-Heras E, Meza-Ramos A, Amaro S, Llufriu S, Mont L, Guasch E. Intense long-term training impairs brain health compared with moderate exercise: Experimental evidence and mechanisms. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1518:282-298. [PMID: 36256544 PMCID: PMC10092505 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The consequences of extremely intense long-term exercise for brain health remain unknown. We studied the effects of strenuous exercise on brain structure and function, its dose-response relationship, and mechanisms in a rat model of endurance training. Five-week-old male Wistar rats were assigned to moderate (MOD) or intense (INT) exercise or a sedentary (SED) group for 16 weeks. MOD rats showed the highest motivation and learning capacity in operant conditioning experiments; SED and INT presented similar results. In vivo MRI demonstrated enhanced global and regional connectivity efficiency and clustering as well as a higher cerebral blood flow (CBF) in MOD but not INT rats compared with SED. In the cortex, downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation complex IV and AMPK activation denoted mitochondrial dysfunction in INT rats. An imbalance in cortical antioxidant capacity was found between MOD and INT rats. The MOD group showed the lowest hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory markers were similar in all groups. In conclusion, strenuous long-term exercise yields a lesser improvement in learning ability than moderate exercise. Blunting of MOD-induced improvements in CBF and connectivity efficiency, accompanied by impaired mitochondrial energetics and, possibly, transient local oxidative stress, may underlie the findings in intensively trained rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Sangüesa
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Cardiovascular (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Batlle
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Cardiovascular (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Emma Muñoz-Moreno
- Experimental 7T MRI Unit, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Soria
- Experimental 7T MRI Unit, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Laboratory of Surgical Neuroanatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anna Alcarraz
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Cira Rubies
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Laia Sitjà-Roqueta
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Solana
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Eloy Martínez-Heras
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Aline Meza-Ramos
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico City, Mexico.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sergi Amaro
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Comprehensive Stroke Center, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sara Llufriu
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lluís Mont
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Cardiovascular (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain.,Cardiovascular Institute, Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Eduard Guasch
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Cardiovascular (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain.,Cardiovascular Institute, Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina seu Casanova, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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9
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Osterlund Oltmanns JR, Schaeffer EA, Blackwell AA, Lake RI, Einhaus RM, Kartje GL, Wallace DG. Age-related changes in the organization of spontaneously occurring behaviors. Behav Processes 2022; 201:104713. [PMID: 35901935 PMCID: PMC10436331 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104713] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Age-related changes in spatial and temporal processing have been documented across a range of species. Rodent studies typically investigate differences in performance between adult and senescent animals; however, progressive loss of neurons in the hippocampus and cortex has been observed to occur as early as after adolescence. Therefore, the current study evaluated the effects of age in three- and ten-month-old female rats on the organization of movement in open field and food protection behaviors, two tasks that have previously dissociated hippocampal and cortical pathology. Age-related differences were observed in general measures of locomotion, spatial orientation, and attentional processing. The results of the current study are consistent with age-related changes in the processing of spatial information and motivation that occur earlier in life than previously anticipated. These observations establish a foundation for future studies evaluating interventions that influence these age-related differences in performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - E A Schaeffer
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - A A Blackwell
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - R I Lake
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - R M Einhaus
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - G L Kartje
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago Health, Sciences Division, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - D G Wallace
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA.
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Jamali S, Aliyari Shoorehdeli M, Daliri MR, Haghparast A. Differential Aspects of Natural and Morphine Reward-related Behaviors in Conditioned Place Preference Paradigm. Basic Clin Neurosci 2022; 13:731-744. [PMID: 37313024 PMCID: PMC10258599 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.2021.3071.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Natural rewards are essential for survival. However, drug-seeking behaviors can be maladaptive and endanger survival. The present study was conducted to enhance our understanding of how animals respond to food and morphine as natural and drug rewards, respectively, in a conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Methods We designed a protocol to induce food CPP and compare it as a natural reward with morphine CPP in rats. The protocol for reward induction in both groups (foods and morphine) consisted of three phases: pre-test, conditioning, and post-test. In morphine groups, we injected morphine as a reward (5 mg/kg, SC). To induce natural reward, we used two different protocols. In the first one, the rats were deprived of food for 24 h. In the other method, the rats were restricted to food for 14 days. During the conditioning period, the animals received daily chow, biscuits, or popcorn as a reward inducer. Results Results revealed that CPP was not induced in food-deprived rats. A combination of food restriction (as a facilitator) and a biscuit or popcorn-induced reward using CPP. In contrast, food deprivation did not facilitate food CPP in response to regular food. Interestingly the CPP score of the group which received biscuits during a 7-day conditioning period was more than that of the morphine group. Conclusion In conclusion, food restriction could be a better protocol than food deprivation to facilitate food reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shole Jamali
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Aliyari Shoorehdeli
- Department of Mechatronics, School of Electrical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Daliri
- School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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11
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Proteome profile of telencephalon associates attenuated neurogenesis with chronic stress induced mood disorder phenotypes in zebrafish model. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 204:173170. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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12
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Circadian modulation of motivation in mice. Behav Brain Res 2020; 382:112471. [PMID: 31958519 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Most living organisms have a circadian timing system adapted to optimize the daily rhythm of exposure to the environment. This circadian system modulates several behavioral and physiological processes, including the response to natural and drug rewards. Food is the most potent natural reward across species. Food-seeking is known to be mediated by dopaminergic and serotonergic transmission in cortico-limbic pathways. In the present work, we show evidence of a circadian modulation of motivation for food reward in young (4-months old) and aged (over 1.5 years old) C57BL/6 mice. Motivation was assayed through the progressive ratio (PR) schedule. Mice under a 12:12 light/dark (LD) cycle exhibited a diurnal rhythm in motivation, becoming more motivated during the night, coincident with their active phase. This rhythm was also evident under constant dark conditions, indicating the endogenous nature of this modulation. However, circadian arrhythmicity induced by chronic exposure to constant light conditions impaired the performance in the task causing low motivation levels. Furthermore, the day/night difference in motivation was also evident even without caloric restriction when using a palatable reward. All these results were found to be unaffected by aging. Taken together, our results indicate that motivation for food reward is regulated in a circadian manner, independent of the nutritional status and the nature of the reward, and that this rhythmic modulation is not affected by aging. These results may contribute to improve treatment related to psychiatric disorders or drugs of abuse, taking into account potential mechanisms of circadian modulation of motivational states.
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13
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Appetitive Memory with Survival Benefit Is Robust Across Aging in Drosophila. J Neurosci 2020; 40:2296-2304. [PMID: 31992587 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2045-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of memory declines with advancing age. However, susceptibility to memory impairments depends on several factors, including the robustness of memory, the responsible neural circuits, and the internal state of aged individuals. How age-dependent changes in internal states and neural circuits affect memory formation remains unclear. Here, we show in Drosophila melanogaster that aged flies of both sexes form robust appetitive memory conditioned with nutritious sugar, which suppresses their high mortality rates during starvation. In contrast, aging impairs the formation of appetitive memory conditioned with non-nutritious sugar that lacks survival benefits for the flies. We found that aging enhanced the preference for nutritious sugar over non-nutritious sugar correlated with an age-dependent increase in the expression of Drosophila neuropeptide F, an ortholog of mammalian neuropeptide Y. Furthermore, a subset of dopaminergic neurons that signal the sweet taste of sugar decreases its function with aging, while a subset of dopaminergic neurons that signal the nutritional value of sugar maintains its function with age. Our results suggest that aging impairs the ability to form memories without survival benefits; however, the ability to form memories with survival benefits is maintained through age-dependent changes in the neural circuits and neuropeptides.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The susceptibility to age-dependent memory impairments depends on the strength of the memory, changes in the responsible neurons, and internal states of aged individuals. How age-dependent changes in such internal states affect neural activity and memory formation remains unclear. We show in Drosophila melanogaster that aged flies of both sexes form robust appetitive memory conditioned with nutritious sugar, which has survival benefits for aged flies. In contrast, aging impairs the formation of appetitive memory conditioned with non-nutritious sugar that lacks survival benefits for the flies. Aging changes the neural circuits including dopamine neurons and neuropeptide F-expressing neurons, leading to the age-dependent impairment in memory with insufficient survival benefits and the preservation of the ability to form memory with survival benefits.
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14
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Cheng J, Wang J, Ma X, Ullah R, Shen Y, Zhou YD. Anterior Paraventricular Thalamus to Nucleus Accumbens Projection Is Involved in Feeding Behavior in a Novel Environment. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:202. [PMID: 29930498 PMCID: PMC5999750 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging food in a novel environment is essential for survival. Animals coordinate the complex motivated states and decide whether to initiate feeding or escape from unfamiliar scenes. Neurons in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) receive multiple inputs from the hypothalamus, forebrain, and caudal brainstem that are known to regulate feeding behavior. The PVT neurons also project to the forebrain regions that are involved in reward and motivation. Notably, the PVT neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are activated when an incentive stimulus is presented. Optogenetic activation of the PVT-NAc path has been shown to increase the motivation for sucrose-seeking in instrumental tasks. However, how the PVT circuitry regulates the feeding behavior in a novel environment remains largely obscure. In the present study, we found that the activity of glutamatergic neurons in the anterior PVT (aPVT) projecting to the NAc dictates the novelty-suppressed feeding behavior in mice. Optogenetic activation of the aPVT-NAc projection increased the feeding time and food consumption in mice under a moderate food restriction in a novel open field where the food was placed in the central area. The exploratory and anxiety-like behaviors, however, were not altered by the aPVT-NAc activation. Our work reveals that activation of the aPVT-NAc pathway in mice generates a motivation to consume food in a novel environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Cheng
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jincheng Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaolin Ma
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rahim Ullah
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Shen
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Dong Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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15
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Klawonn AM, Wilhelms DB, Lindström SH, Singh AK, Jaarola M, Wess J, Fritz M, Engblom D. Muscarinic M4 Receptors on Cholinergic and Dopamine D1 Receptor-Expressing Neurons Have Opposing Functionality for Positive Reinforcement and Influence Impulsivity. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:139. [PMID: 29740282 PMCID: PMC5928231 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotransmitter acetylcholine has been implicated in reward learning and drug addiction. However, the roles of the various cholinergic receptor subtypes on different neuron populations remain elusive. Here we study the function of muscarinic M4 receptors (M4Rs) in dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) expressing neurons and cholinergic neurons (expressing choline acetyltransferase; ChAT), during various reward-enforced behaviors and in a “waiting”-impulsivity test. We applied cell-type-specific gene deletions targeting M4Rs in D1RCre or ChATCre mice. Mice lacking M4Rs in D1R-neurons displayed greater cocaine seeking and drug-primed reinstatement than their littermate controls in a Pavlovian conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Furthermore, the M4R-D1RCre mice initiated significantly more premature responses (PRs) in the 5-choice-serial-reaction-time-task (5CSRTT) than their littermate controls, indicating impaired waiting impulse control. In contrast, mice lacking M4Rs in cholinergic neurons did not acquire cocaine Pavlovian conditioning. The M4R-ChATCre mice were also unable to learn positive reinforcement to either natural reward or cocaine in an operant runway paradigm. Immediate early gene (IEG) expression (cFos and FosB) induced by repeated cocaine injections was significantly increased in the forebrain of M4R-D1RCre mice, whereas it remained normal in the M4R-ChATCre mice. Our study illustrates that muscarinic M4Rs on specific neural populations, either cholinergic or D1R-expressing, are pivotal for learning processes related to both natural reward and drugs of abuse, with opposing functionality. Furthermore, we found that neurons expressing both M4Rs and D1Rs are important for signaling impulse control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Klawonn
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Daniel B Wilhelms
- Department of Medical and Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sarah H Lindström
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anand Kumar Singh
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Maarit Jaarola
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jürgen Wess
- Molecular Signaling Section, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael Fritz
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - David Engblom
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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16
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Brancato A, Cavallaro A, Lavanco G, Plescia F, Cannizzaro C. Reward-related limbic memory and stimulation of the cannabinoid system: An upgrade in value attribution? J Psychopharmacol 2018; 32:204-214. [PMID: 28880120 DOI: 10.1177/0269881117725683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
While a lot is known about the mechanisms promoting aversive learning, the impact of rewarding factors on memory has received comparatively less attention. This research investigates reward-related explicit memory in male rats, by taking advantage of the emotional-object recognition test. This is based on the prior association, during conditioned learning, between a rewarding experience (the encounter with a receptive female rat) and an object; afterwards rat discrimination and recognition of the 'emotional object' is recorded in the presence of a novel object, as a measure of positive limbic memory formation. Since endocannabinoids are critical for processing reward and motivation, the consequences of the stimulation of cannabinoid signalling are also assessed by the administration of WIN 55,212-2 at pre- and post-conditioning time. Our results show that rats encode the association between object and rewarding experience, form positive limbic memory of the emotional object, and retrieve this information in the face of novelty. Stimulation of the cannabinoid system at pre-conditioning time is able to strengthen reward-related explicit memory in the presence of novelty, whereas post-conditioning activation increases approach behaviour to novel stimuli. The assessment of limbic memory by the emotional-object recognition test can help unveiling the addictive and confounding properties of psychotropic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Brancato
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care 'G. D'Alessandro', University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Angela Cavallaro
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care 'G. D'Alessandro', University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gianluca Lavanco
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care 'G. D'Alessandro', University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fulvio Plescia
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care 'G. D'Alessandro', University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Carla Cannizzaro
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care 'G. D'Alessandro', University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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17
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Brust V, Schindler PM, Lewejohann L. Lifetime development of behavioural phenotype in the house mouse (Mus musculus). Front Zool 2015; 12 Suppl 1:S17. [PMID: 26816516 PMCID: PMC4722345 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-12-s1-s17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
With each trajectory taken during the ontogeny of an individual, the number of optional behavioural phenotypes that can be expressed across its life span is reduced. The initial range of phenotypic plasticity is largely determined by the genetic material/composition of the gametes whereas interacting with the given environment shapes individuals to adapt to/cope with specific demands. In mammalian species, the phenotype is shaped as the foetus grows, depending on the environment in the uterus, which in turn depends on the outer environment the mother experiences during pregnancy. After birth, a complex interaction between innate constitution and environmental conditions shapes individual lifetime trajectories, bringing about a wide range of diversity among individual subjects. In laboratory mice inbreeding has been systematically induced in order to reduce the genetic variability between experimental subjects. In addition, within most laboratories conducting behavioural phenotyping with mice, breeding and housing conditions are highly standardised. Despite such standardisation efforts a considerable amount of variability persists in the behaviour of mice. There is good evidence that phenotypic variation is not merely random but might involve individual specific behavioural patterns consistent over time. In order to understand the mechanisms and the possible adaptive value of the maintenance of individuality we review the emergence of behavioural phenotypes over the course of the life of (laboratory) mice. We present a literature review summarizing developmental stages of behavioural development of mice along with three illustrative case studies. We conclude that the accumulation of environmental differences and experiences lead to a “mouse individuality” that becomes increasingly stable over the lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Brust
- Behavioral Biology, University of Osnabrueck, Barbarastrasse 11, 49076 Osnabrueck, Germany
| | - Philipp M Schindler
- Behavioral Biology, University of Osnabrueck, Barbarastrasse 11, 49076 Osnabrueck, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- Behavioral Biology, University of Osnabrueck, Barbarastrasse 11, 49076 Osnabrueck, Germany
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