1
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Ferguson B, Glick C, Huguenard JR. Prefrontal PV interneurons facilitate attention and are linked to attentional dysfunction in a mouse model of absence epilepsy. eLife 2023; 12:e78349. [PMID: 37014118 PMCID: PMC10072875 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78349] [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: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Absence seizures are characterized by brief periods of unconsciousness accompanied by lapses in motor function that can occur hundreds of times throughout the day. Outside of these frequent moments of unconsciousness, approximately a third of people living with the disorder experience treatment-resistant attention impairments. Convergent evidence suggests prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction may underlie attention impairments in affected patients. To examine this, we use a combination of slice physiology, fiber photometry, electrocorticography (ECoG), optogenetics, and behavior in the Scn8a+/-mouse model of absence epilepsy. Attention function was measured using a novel visual attention task where a light cue that varied in duration predicted the location of a food reward. In Scn8a+/-mice, we find altered parvalbumin interneuron (PVIN) output in the medial PFC (mPFC) in vitro and PVIN hypoactivity along with reductions in gamma power during cue presentation in vivo. This was associated with poorer attention performance in Scn8a+/-mice that could be rescued by gamma-frequency optogenetic stimulation of PVINs. This highlights cue-related PVIN activity as an important mechanism for attention and suggests PVINs may represent a therapeutic target for cognitive comorbidities in absence epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brielle Ferguson
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Program in Neurobiology and Department of Neurology, Boston Children's HospitalBostonUnited States
| | - Cameron Glick
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - John R Huguenard
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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2
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Amorim L, Dá Mesquita S, Jacinto L, Castelhano-Carlos MJ, Santos NC, Leite-Almeida H, Sousa N. Shaping social behavior in an enriched environment. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:999325. [PMID: 36311866 PMCID: PMC9606827 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.999325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Access to vital needs shapes social orders. In rats, social systems tend to maintain a certain stability, but alterations in the physical environment can change inter-individual relations, which consequently can alter social orders. Principles governing social systems are, however, difficult to study and most analyses have been restricted to dyads of animals over short periods of time, hardly capturing the complexity and temporal dynamics of social interactions. Herein, we studied social interactions in a colony of six rats living in a customized enriched environment (PhenoWorld, PhW), under variable conditions of access/availability to limited resources. Reductions in food accessibility and availability resulted in a marked heterogeneity in sniffing, chasing and fighting/struggling behaviors, and, in the latter condition, an overall increase of these displays. The introduction of the possibility of interaction with a female rat also increased the amount of sniffing and fighting/struggling in a homogeneous manner. Results also showed that individual food retrieval success had no association with fighting/struggling when food pellets are delivered to the animals. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between fighting/struggling and impulsivity as measured by the amount of premature responses in the Variable-to-Signal-Test outside of the PhW providing external validation to our measures. To sum up, through continuous monitoring of a group of rats in the PhW, we demonstrated how variations in access to reinforcers modulate social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Amorim
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sandro Dá Mesquita
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luís Jacinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Magda J. Castelhano-Carlos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nadine Correia Santos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Nuno Sousa,
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3
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Neuropsychiatric and Cognitive Deficits in Parkinson's Disease and Their Modeling in Rodents. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9060684. [PMID: 34204380 PMCID: PMC8234051 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with a large burden of non-motor symptoms including olfactory and autonomic dysfunction, as well as neuropsychiatric (depression, anxiety, apathy) and cognitive disorders (executive dysfunctions, memory and learning impairments). Some of these non-motor symptoms may precede the onset of motor symptoms by several years, and they significantly worsen during the course of the disease. The lack of systematic improvement of these non-motor features by dopamine replacement therapy underlines their multifactorial origin, with an involvement of monoaminergic and cholinergic systems, as well as alpha-synuclein pathology in frontal and limbic cortical circuits. Here we describe mood and neuropsychiatric disorders in PD and review their occurrence in rodent models of PD. Altogether, toxin-based rodent models of PD indicate a significant but non-exclusive contribution of mesencephalic dopaminergic loss in anxiety, apathy, and depressive-like behaviors, as well as in learning and memory deficits. Gene-based models display significant deficits in learning and memory, as well as executive functions, highlighting the contribution of alpha-synuclein pathology to these non-motor deficits. Collectively, neuropsychiatric and cognitive deficits are recapitulated to some extent in rodent models, providing partial but nevertheless useful options to understand the pathophysiology of non-motor symptoms and develop therapeutic options for these debilitating symptoms of PD.
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4
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Esteves M, Moreira PS, Sousa N, Leite-Almeida H. Assessing Impulsivity in Humans and Rodents: Taking the Translational Road. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:647922. [PMID: 34025369 PMCID: PMC8134540 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.647922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct encompassing domains of behavioral inhibition as well as of decision making. It is often adaptive and associated with fast responses, being in that sense physiological. However, abnormal manifestations of impulsive behavior can be observed in contexts of drug abuse and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among others. A number of tools have therefore been devised to assess the different facets of impulsivity in both normal and pathological contexts. In this narrative review, we systematize behavioral and self-reported measures of impulsivity and critically discuss their constructs and limitations, establishing a parallel between assessments in humans and rodents. The first rely on paradigms that are typically designed to assess a specific dimension of impulsivity, within either impulsive action (inability to suppress a prepotent action) or impulsive choice, which implies a decision that weighs the costs and benefits of the options. On the other hand, self-reported measures are performed through questionnaires, allowing assessment of impulsivity dimensions that would be difficult to mimic in an experimental setting (e.g., positive/negative urgency and lack of premeditation) and which are therefore difficult (if not impossible) to measure in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro Silva Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal.,Psychological Neuroscience Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
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5
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Chronic pain impact on rodents’ behavioral repertoire. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:101-127. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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6
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Jiménez-Urbieta H, Gago B, Quiroga-Varela A, Rodríguez-Chinchilla T, Merino-Galán L, Delgado-Alvarado M, Navalpotro-Gómez I, Belloso-Iguerategui A, Marin C, Rodríguez-Oroz MC. Motor impulsivity and delay intolerance are elicited in a dose-dependent manner with a dopaminergic agonist in parkinsonian rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2419-2431. [PMID: 32440779 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05544-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Impulse control disorders (ICD) and other impulsive-compulsive behaviours are frequently found in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients treated with dopaminergic agonists. To date, there are no available animal models to investigate their pathophysiology and determine whether they can be elicited by varying doses of dopaminergic drugs. In addition, there is some controversy regarding the predispositional pattern of striatal dopaminergic depletion. OBJECTIVES To study the effect of two doses of pramipexole (PPX) on motor impulsivity, delay intolerance and compulsive-like behaviour. METHODS Male rats with mild dopaminergic denervation in the dorsolateral striatum (bilateral injections of 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA)) treated with two doses of PPX (0.25 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg) and tested in the variable delay-to-signal paradigm. RESULTS Partial (50%) dopaminergic depletion did not induce significant changes in motor impulsivity or delay intolerance. However, 0.25 mg/kg of PPX increased motor impulsivity, while 3 mg/kg of PPX increased both motor impulsivity and delay intolerance. These effects were independent of the drug's antiparkinsonian effects. Importantly, impulsivity scores before and after dopaminergic lesion were positively associated with the impulsivity observed after administering 3 mg/kg of PPX. No compulsive-like behaviour was induced by PPX administration. CONCLUSIONS We described a rat model, with a moderate dorsolateral dopaminergic lesion resembling that suffered by patients with early PD, that develops different types of impulsivity in a dose-dependent manner dissociated from motor benefits when treated with PPX. This model recapitulates key features of abnormal impulsivity in PD and may be useful for deepening our understanding of the pathophysiology of ICD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Belén Gago
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ana Quiroga-Varela
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Leyre Merino-Galán
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Manuel Delgado-Alvarado
- Neurology Department, Sierrallana Hospital, Torrelavega, Spain.,Psychiatry Research Area, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Concepció Marin
- IRCE, Institut d' investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - María C Rodríguez-Oroz
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. .,Ikerbasque Foundation, Bilbao, Spain. .,Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), San Sebastián, Spain. .,Servicio de Neurología, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
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7
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Cunha AM, Teixeira FG, Guimarães MR, Esteves M, Pereira-Mendes J, Soares AR, Almeida A, Sousa N, Salgado AJ, Leite-Almeida H. Unilateral accumbal dopamine depletion affects decision-making in a side-specific manner. Exp Neurol 2020; 327:113221. [PMID: 32027930 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms underlying affective and cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain less studied than motor symptoms. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) is affected in PD and due to its well-known involvement in motivation is an interesting target in this context. Furthermore, PD is frequently asymmetrical, with side-specific deficits aligning with evidences of accumbal laterality. We therefore used a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model to study the role of left and right NAc dopamine depletion in a battery of behavioral tasks. 2 months old male rats were used in all experiments. Habitual-based and goal-directed decision-making, impulsivity, anxiety- and depressive-like behavior and motor performance were tested 3 weeks after left (6-OHDA L) or right (6-OHDA R) NAc lesion was induced. Upon contingency degradation, 6-OHDA R decrease their lever press rate less than Sham and 6-OHDA L, indicating an impairment in the shift from habit-based to goal-directed strategies. On the other hand, 6-OHDA L lesions lead to increased rates of premature responding when delays where increased in the variable delay-to-signal test. Importantly, in both paradigms task acquisition was similar between groups. In the same line we found no differences in the amount of sugared pellets eaten when freely available as well as in both general and fine motor behaviors. In conclusion, left and right NAc play distinct roles in the contingency degradation and impulsivity. More studies are needed to understand the mechanisms behind this functional lateralization and its implications for PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - F G Teixeira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - M R Guimarães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - M Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - J Pereira-Mendes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A R Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - N Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A J Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - H Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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8
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Cunha AM, Esteves M, Pereira-Mendes J, Guimarães MR, Almeida A, Leite-Almeida H. High trait impulsivity potentiates the effects of chronic pain on impulsive behavior. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN 2019; 7:100042. [PMID: 31890992 PMCID: PMC6928455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2019.100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
We explored a potential relation between trait and chronic pain-induced impulsivity. Low trait impulsivity rats with neuropathic pain perform similarly to controls. High trait impulsivity rats are delay intolerant in chronic pain conditions. Trait characteristics influence chronic pain comorbid manifestations.
Preclinical studies on impulsive decision-making in chronic pain conditions are sparse and often contradictory. Outbred rat populations are heterogeneous regarding trait impulsivity manifestations and therefore we hypothesized that chronic pain-related alterations depend on individual traits. To test this hypothesis, we used male Wistar-Han rats in two independent experiments. Firstly, we tested the impact of spared nerve injury (SNI) in impulsive behavior evaluated by the variable delay-to-signal test (VDS). In the second experiment, SNI impact on impulsivity was again tested, but in groups previously categorized as high (HI) and low (LI) trait impulsivity in the VDS. Results showed that in an heterogenous population SNI-related impact on motor impulsivity and delay intolerance cannot be detected. However, when baseline impulsivity was considered, HI showed a significantly higher delay intolerance than the respective controls more prevalent in left-lesioned animals and appearing to result from a response correction on prematurity from VDS I to VDS II, which was present in Sham and right-lesioned animals. In conclusion, baseline differences should be more often considered when analyzing chronic pain impact. While this study pertained to impulsive behavior, other reports indicate that this can be generalized to other behavioral dimensions and that trait differences can influence not only the manifestation of comorbid behaviors but also pain itself in a complex and not totally understood manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Pereira-Mendes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marco Rafael Guimarães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
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9
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Soares AR, Esteves M, Moreira PS, Cunha AM, Guimarães MR, Carvalho MM, Raposo-Lima C, Morgado P, Carvalho AF, Coimbra B, Melo A, Rodrigues AJ, Salgado AJ, Pêgo JM, Cerqueira JJ, Costa P, Sousa N, Almeida A, Leite-Almeida H. Trait determinants of impulsive behavior: a comprehensive analysis of 188 rats. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17666. [PMID: 30518850 PMCID: PMC6281674 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35537-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Impulsivity is a naturally occurring behavior that, when accentuated, can be found in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. The expression of trait impulsivity has been shown to change with a variety of factors, such as age and sex, but the existing literature does not reflect widespread consensus regarding the influence of modulating effects. We designed the present study to investigate, in a cohort of significant size (188 rats), the impact of four specific parameters, namely sex, age, strain and phase of estrous cycle, using the variable delay-to-signal (VDS) task. This cohort included (i) control animals from previous experiments; (ii) animals specifically raised for this study; and (iii) animals previously used for breeding purposes. Aging was associated with a general decrease in action impulsivity and an increase in delay tolerance. Females generally performed more impulsive actions than males but no differences were observed regarding delay intolerance. In terms of estrous cycle, no differences in impulsive behavior were observed and regarding strain, Wistar Han animals were, in general, more impulsive than Sprague-Dawley. In addition to further confirming, in a substantial study cohort, the decrease in impulsivity with age, we have demonstrated that both the strain and sex influences modulate different aspects of impulsive behavior manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rosa Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Pedro Silva Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marco Rafael Guimarães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Miguel Murteira Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Catarina Raposo-Lima
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Pedro Morgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Franky Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Department of General Surgery, Hospital of Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - António Melo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - António José Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - José Miguel Pêgo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João José Cerqueira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrício Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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10
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Soares-Cunha C, Coimbra B, Borges S, Domingues AV, Silva D, Sousa N, Rodrigues AJ. Mild Prenatal Stress Causes Emotional and Brain Structural Modifications in Rats of Both Sexes. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:129. [PMID: 30034328 PMCID: PMC6043801 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress or high levels of glucocorticoids (GCs) during developmental periods is known to induce persistent effects in the neuroendocrine circuits that control stress response, which may underlie individuals’ increased risk for developing neuropsychiatric conditions later in life, such as anxiety or depression. We developed a rat model (Wistar han) of mild exposure to unpredictable prenatal stress (PS), which consists in a 4-h stressor administered three times per week on a random basis; stressors include strobe lights, noise and restrain. Pregnant dams subjected to this protocol present disrupted circadian corticosterone secretion and increased corticosterone secretion upon acute stress exposure. Regarding progeny, both young adult (2 months old) male and female rats present increased levels of circulating corticosterone and hyperactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to acute stress exposure. Both sexes present anxious- and depressive-like behaviors, shown by the decreased time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM) and in the light side of the light-dark box (LDB), and by increased immobility time in the forced swim test, respectively. Interestingly, these results were accompanied by structural modifications of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) and hippocampus, as well as decreased norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the BNST, and serotonin levels in the hippocampus. In summary, we characterize a new model of mild PS, and show that stressful events during pregnancy can lead to long-lasting structural and neurochemical effects in the offspring, which affect behavior in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sónia Borges
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Verónica Domingues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Deolinda Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center-Braga (2CA), Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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11
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Cunha AM, Esteves M, das Neves SP, Borges S, Guimarães MR, Sousa N, Almeida A, Leite-Almeida H. Pawedness Trait Test (PaTRaT)-A New Paradigm to Evaluate Paw Preference and Dexterity in Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:192. [PMID: 29089877 PMCID: PMC5651527 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In rodents, dexterity is commonly analyzed in preference paradigms in which animals are given the chance to use either the left or the right front paws to manipulate food. However, paw preference and dexterity at population and individual levels are controversial as results are incongruent across paradigms. We have therefore developed a semi-quantitative method—the pawdeness trait test (PaTRaT)—to evaluate paw preference degree in rats. The PaTRaT consists in a classification system, ranging from +4 to −4 where increasingly positive and negative values reflect the bias for left or right paw use, respectively. Sprague-Dawley male rats were confined into a metal rectangular mesh cylinder, from which they can see, smell and reach sugared rewards with their paws. Due to its size, the reward could only cross the mesh if aligned with its diagonal, imposing additional coordination. Animals were allowed to retrieve 10 rewards per session in a total of four sessions while their behavior was recorded. PaTRaT was repeated 4 and 8 weeks after the first evaluation. To exclude potential bias, rats were also tested for paw fine movement and general locomotion in other behavioral paradigms as well as impulsivity (variable delay-to-signal, VDS), memory and cognitive flexibility (water maze). At the population level 54% of the animals presented a rightward bias. Individually, all animals presented marked side-preferences, >2 and <−2 for left- and right-sided bias, respectively, and this preference was stable across the three evaluations. Inter-rater consistency was very high between two experienced raters and substantial when two additional inexperienced raters were included. Left- and right-biased animals presented no differences in the ability to perform fine movements with any of the forelimbs (staircase) and general locomotor performance. Additionally, these groups performed similarly in executive function and memory tasks. In conclusion, PaTRaT is able to reliably classify rats’ pawedness direction and degree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sofia P das Neves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia Borges
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Marco R Guimarães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
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12
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Carvalho MM, Campos FL, Marques M, Soares-Cunha C, Kokras N, Dalla C, Leite-Almeida H, Sousa N, Salgado AJ. Effect of Levodopa on Reward and Impulsivity in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:145. [PMID: 28848409 PMCID: PMC5550717 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of dopamine replacement therapies (DRT) in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can lead to the development of dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) and impulse control disorders (ICD), behavioral disturbances characterized by compulsive DRT self-medication and development of impulsive behaviors. However, the mechanisms behind these disturbances are poorly understood. In animal models of PD, the assessment of the rewarding properties of levodopa (LD), one of the most common drugs used in PD, has produced conflicting results, and its ability to promote increased impulsivity is still understudied. Moreover, it is unclear whether acute and chronic LD therapy differently affects reward and impulsivity. In this study we aimed at assessing, in an animal model of PD with bilateral mesostriatal and mesocorticolimbic degeneration, the behavioral effects of LD therapy regarding reward and impulsivity. Animals with either sham or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced bilateral lesions in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) were exposed to acute and chronic LD treatment. We used the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to evaluate the rewarding effects of LD, whereas impulsive behavior was measured with the variable delay-to-signal (VDS) task. Correlation analyses between behavioral measurements of reward or impulsivity and lesion extent in SNc/VTA were performed to pinpoint possible anatomical links of LD-induced behavioral changes. We show that LD, particularly when administered chronically, caused the development of impulsive-like behaviors in 6-OHDA-lesioned animals in the VDS. However, neither acute or chronic LD administration had rewarding effects in 6-OHDA-lesioned animals in the CPP. Our results show that in a bilateral rat model of PD, LD leads to the development of impulsive behaviors, strengthening the association between DRT and DDS/ICD in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel M Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate LaboratoryGuimarães, Portugal
| | - Filipa L Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate LaboratoryGuimarães, Portugal
| | - Mariana Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate LaboratoryGuimarães, Portugal
| | - Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate LaboratoryGuimarães, Portugal
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of AthensAthens, Greece.,First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of AthensAthens, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of AthensAthens, Greece
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate LaboratoryGuimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate LaboratoryGuimarães, Portugal
| | - António J Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate LaboratoryGuimarães, Portugal
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13
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Schifani C, Sukhanov I, Dorofeikova M, Bespalov A. Novel reinforcement learning paradigm based on response patterning under interval schedules of reinforcement. Behav Brain Res 2017; 331:276-281. [PMID: 28457882 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There is a need to develop cognitive tasks that address valid neuropsychological constructs implicated in disease mechanisms and can be used in animals and humans to guide novel drug discovery. Present experiments aimed to characterize a novel reinforcement learning task based on a classical operant behavioral phenomenon observed in multiple species - differences in response patterning under variable (VI) vs fixed interval (FI) schedules of reinforcement. Wistar rats were trained to press a lever for food under VI30s and later weekly test sessions were introduced with reinforcement schedule switched to FI30s. During the FI30s test session, post-reinforcement pauses (PRPs) gradually grew towards the end of the session reaching 22-43% of the initial values. Animals could be retrained under VI30s conditions, and FI30s test sessions were repeated over a period of several months without appreciable signs of a practice effect. Administration of the non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 ((5S,10R)-(+)-5-Methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate) prior to FI30s sessions prevented adjustment of PRPs associated with the change from VI to FI schedule. This effect was most pronounced at the highest tested dose of MK-801 and appeared to be independent of the effects of this dose on response rates. These results provide initial evidence for the possibility to use different response patterning under VI and FI schedules with equivalent reinforcement density for studying effects of drug treatment on reinforcement learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Schifani
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Research, AbbVie, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
| | - Ilya Sukhanov
- Institute of Pharmacology, Pavlov Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mariia Dorofeikova
- Institute of Pharmacology, Pavlov Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anton Bespalov
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Research, AbbVie, Ludwigshafen, Germany; Institute of Pharmacology, Pavlov Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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14
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Siemian JN, Xue Z, Blough BE, Li JX. Comparison of some behavioral effects of d- and l-methamphetamine in adult male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:2167-2176. [PMID: 28386698 PMCID: PMC5482751 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4623-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Both l- and d-methamphetamine (l- and d-MA) are more potent to release norpepinephrine (NE) than dopamine, and the selectivity is greater for l-MA than d-MA. Little is known of the in vivo pharmacology of l-MA. OBJECTIVE This study compared the effects of l-MA and d-MA in assays of nociception, behavioral disruption, and impulsivity. METHODS Antinociceptive effects of d- and l-MA were examined in two pain assays: the warm water tail withdrawal test for acute nociception and the von Frey test in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-treated rats for chronic inflammatory pain. Food-maintained operant responding and locomotion tests were used to assess generalized behavioral disruption. The 5-choice serial reaction time test (5-CSRTT) was used to assess drug-induced effects on impulse control. A delay discounting procedure was used to determine drug-induced changes in sensitivity to reinforcer delay (impulsive choice). RESULTS l-MA (3.2-10 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent antinociception in both pain assays, decreased the rate of food-maintained operant responding, and decreased locomotor activity at a higher dose (17.8 mg/kg). In contrast, d-MA (0.32-3.2 mg/kg) did not produce antinociception in either assay, produced biphasic effects on response rate, and increased locomotor activity. In the 5-CSRTT, d-MA but not l-MA produced significant increase in premature responses. In the delay discounting procedure, both drugs did not affect the delay function at doses that did not increase omissions. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that d- and l-MA have different behavioral profiles. Consideration should be given to these differences in future studies when l-MA is proposed for potential therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin N. Siemian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Zhaoxia Xue
- Department of Medical Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Bruce E. Blough
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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15
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Melo A, Leite-Almeida H, Ferreira C, Sousa N, Pêgo JM. Exposure to Ketamine Anesthesia Affects Rat Impulsive Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:226. [PMID: 27932959 PMCID: PMC5121127 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Ketamine is a general anesthetic (GA) that activates several neurotransmitter pathways in various part of the brain. The acute effects as GA are the most well-known and sought-after: to induce loss of responsiveness and to produce immobility during invasive procedures. However, there is a concern that repeated exposure might induce behavioral changes that could outlast their acute effect. Most research in this field describes how GA affects cognition and memory. Our work is to access if general anesthesia with ketamine can disrupt the motivational behavior trait, more specifically measuring impulsive behavior. Methods: Aiming to evaluate the effects of exposure to repeat anesthetic procedures with ketamine in motivational behavior, we tested animals in a paradigm of impulsive behavior, the variable delay-to-signal (VDS). In addition, accumbal and striatal medium spiny neurons morphology was assessed. Results: Our results demonstrated that previous exposure to ketamine deep-anesthesia affects inhibitory control (impulsive behavior). Specifically, ketamine exposed animals maintain a subnormal impulsive rate in the initial periods of the delays. However, in longer delays while control animals progressively refrain their premature unrewarded actions, ketamine-exposed animals show a different profile of response with higher premature unrewarded actions in the last seconds. Animals exposed to multiple ketamine anesthesia also failed to show an increase in premature unrewarded actions between the initial and final periods of 3 s delays. These behavioral alterations are paralleled by an increase in dendritic length of medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Conclusions: This demonstrates that ketamine anesthesia acutely affects impulsive behavior. Interestingly, it also opens up the prospect of using ketamine as an agent with the ability to modulate impulsivity trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- António Melo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Clara Ferreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - José M Pêgo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
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16
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Moreira PS, Sotiropoulos I, Silva J, Takashima A, Sousa N, Leite-Almeida H, Costa PS. The Advantages of Structural Equation Modeling to Address the Complexity of Spatial Reference Learning. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:18. [PMID: 26955327 PMCID: PMC4767929 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cognitive performance is a complex process influenced by multiple factors. Cognitive assessment in experimental animals is often based on longitudinal datasets analyzed using uni- and multi-variate analyses, that do not account for the temporal dimension of cognitive performance and also do not adequately quantify the relative contribution of individual factors onto the overall behavioral outcome. To circumvent these limitations, we applied an Autoregressive Latent Trajectory (ALT) to analyze the Morris water maze (MWM) test in a complex experimental design involving four factors: stress, age, sex, and genotype. Outcomes were compared with a traditional Mixed-Design Factorial ANOVA (MDF ANOVA). Results: In both the MDF ANOVA and ALT models, sex, and stress had a significant effect on learning throughout the 9 days. However, on the ALT approach, the effects of sex were restricted to the learning growth. Unlike the MDF ANOVA, the ALT model revealed the influence of single factors at each specific learning stage and quantified the cross interactions among them. In addition, ALT allows us to consider the influence of baseline performance, a critical and unsolved problem that frequently yields inaccurate interpretations in the classical ANOVA model. Discussion: Our findings suggest the beneficial use of ALT models in the analysis of complex longitudinal datasets offering a better biological interpretation of the interrelationship of the factors that may influence cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro S Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Akihiko Takashima
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Laboratory for Alzheimers DiseaseSaitama, Japan; Department of Aging Neurobiology, National Center for Geriatrics and GerontologyOhbu, Japan
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrício S Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães, Portugal
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17
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Turner KM, Peak J, Burne THJ. Measuring Attention in Rodents: Comparison of a Modified Signal Detection Task and the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 9:370. [PMID: 26834597 PMCID: PMC4712267 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric research has utilized cognitive testing in rodents to improve our understanding of cognitive deficits and for preclinical drug development. However, more sophisticated cognitive tasks have not been as widely exploited due to low throughput and the extensive training time required. We developed a modified signal detection task (SDT) based on the growing body of literature aimed at improving cognitive testing in rodents. This study directly compares performance on the modified SDT with a traditional test for measuring attention, the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained on either the 5CSRTT or the SDT. Briefly, the 5CSRTT required rodents to pay attention to a spatial array of five apertures and respond with a nose poke when an aperture was illuminated. The SDT required the rat to attend to a light panel and respond either left or right to indicate the presence of a signal. In addition, modifications were made to the reward delivery, timing, control of body positioning, and the self-initiation of trials. It was found that less training time was required for the SDT, with both sessions to criteria and daily session duration significantly reduced. Rats performed with a high level of accuracy (>87%) on both tasks, however omissions were far more frequent on the 5CSRTT. The signal duration was reduced on both tasks as a manipulation of task difficulty relevant to attention and a similar pattern of decreasing accuracy was observed on both tasks. These results demonstrate some of the advantages of the SDT over the traditional 5CSRTT as being higher throughput with reduced training time, fewer omission responses and their body position was controlled at stimulus onset. In addition, rats performing the SDT had comparable high levels of accuracy. These results highlight the differences and similarities between the 5CSRTT and a modified SDT as tools for assessing attention in preclinical animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karly M Turner
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - James Peak
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Thomas H J Burne
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandSt. Lucia, QLD, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental HealthRichlands, QLD, Australia
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