1
|
Kiani P, Hassanzadeh G, Jameie SB, Batouli SAH. Exploration of the white matter bundles connected to the pineal gland: A DTI study. Surg Radiol Anat 2024:10.1007/s00276-024-03445-3. [PMID: 39102045 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-024-03445-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pineal gland (PG) is a structure located in the midline of the brain, and is considered as a main part of the epithalamus. There are reports on the role of this area for brain function by hormone secretion, as well as few reports on its role in brain cognition. However, little knowledge is available on the PG, and in particular on the structural connectivity of this region with the other brain structures. METHODS Using diffusion-weighted images collected by a 3T MRI scanner, and using a sample of 61 (29 F) mentally and physically healthy young individuals in the age range of 20-30 years old, we tried to extract the white matter bundles connected to the PG. Based on prior knowledge, seven target bundles were suggested to be between the PG body and the PG roots, Pons, Periventricular region, thalamus, caudate, lentiform, suprachiasmatic nuclei, and the supercervical ganglia. RESULTS Nearly all the target bundles were successfully extracted, with the exception of the lentiform. Rate of identification of the tracts was different, with the bundle between the PG body and roots having the highest identification rate (97%); then it was with the Pons (70%), Periventricular region (57%), SCN (55%), left thalamus (52%), right thalamus (47%), left caudate (27%) and right caudate (22%). CONCLUSION This study is an attempt to expand our knowledge on the neuroanatomy of the PG, which might help for identifying further roles for it in brain functionality, and also be a help for the treatment of some disorders in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pejman Kiani
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No.88, Italia Street, Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Hassanzadeh
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No.88, Italia Street, Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Digital Health, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No.88, Italia Street, Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran.
- BrainEE Research Group, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen C, Tassou A, Morales V, Scherrer G. Graph theory analysis reveals an assortative pain network vulnerable to attacks. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21985. [PMID: 38082002 PMCID: PMC10713541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49458-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural substrate of pain experience has been described as a dense network of connected brain regions. However, the connectivity pattern of these brain regions remains elusive, precluding a deeper understanding of how pain emerges from the structural connectivity. Here, we employ graph theory to systematically characterize the architecture of a comprehensive pain network, including both cortical and subcortical brain areas. This structural brain network consists of 49 nodes denoting pain-related brain areas, linked by edges representing their relative incoming and outgoing axonal projection strengths. Within this network, 63% of brain areas share reciprocal connections, reflecting a dense network. The clustering coefficient, a measurement of the probability that adjacent nodes are connected, indicates that brain areas in the pain network tend to cluster together. Community detection, the process of discovering cohesive groups in complex networks, successfully reveals two known subnetworks that specifically mediate the sensory and affective components of pain, respectively. Assortativity analysis, which evaluates the tendency of nodes to connect with other nodes that have similar features, indicates that the pain network is assortative. Finally, robustness, the resistance of a complex network to failures and perturbations, indicates that the pain network displays a high degree of error tolerance (local failure rarely affects the global information carried by the network) but is vulnerable to attacks (selective removal of hub nodes critically changes network connectivity). Taken together, graph theory analysis unveils an assortative structural pain network in the brain that processes nociceptive information. Furthermore, the vulnerability of this network to attack presents the possibility of alleviating pain by targeting the most connected brain areas in the network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chong Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Adrien Tassou
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Valentina Morales
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Grégory Scherrer
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- New York Stem Cell Foundation ‒ Robertson Investigator, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang R, Chen J. Research progress on the role of orphan receptor GPR139 in neuropsychiatric behaviours. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176150. [PMID: 38059447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The study of orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) holds much promise for increasing our understanding of neuropsychiatric diseases and for the development of new therapeutic strategies for these diseases. GPR139 is an orphan GPCR expressed in the central nervous system, especially in areas of the brain that control movement, motivation, and reward, and those that regulate neuropsychiatric behaviour. This review provides information about the discovery, tissue expression, signal transduction pathways, and physiological functions of GPR139, as well as how GPR139 interacts with other GPCRs, which form heteromeric complexes that affect their pharmacology and function. We also discuss the utility and therapeutic potential of ligands that target GPR139, including the pharmacological properties of reported agonists and antagonists. Finally, we highlight the pathologic role of GPR139 in neuropsychiatric behaviour and its potential as a therapeutic target in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rumin Zhang
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China; School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China; School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China; Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV47AL, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pereira AR, Alemi M, Cerqueira-Nunes M, Monteiro C, Galhardo V, Cardoso-Cruz H. Dynamics of Lateral Habenula-Ventral Tegmental Area Microcircuit on Pain-Related Cognitive Dysfunctions. Neurol Int 2023; 15:1303-1319. [PMID: 37987455 PMCID: PMC10660716 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint15040082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a health problem that affects the ability to work and perform other activities, and it generally worsens over time. Understanding the complex pain interaction with brain circuits could help predict which patients are at risk of developing central dysfunctions. Increasing evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggests that aberrant activity of the lateral habenula (LHb) is associated with depressive symptoms characterized by excessive negative focus, leading to high-level cognitive dysfunctions. The primary output region of the LHb is the ventral tegmental area (VTA), through a bidirectional connection. Recently, there has been growing interest in the complex interactions between the LHb and VTA, particularly regarding their crucial roles in behavior regulation and their potential involvement in the pathological impact of chronic pain on cognitive functions. In this review, we briefly discuss the structural and functional roles of the LHb-VTA microcircuit and their impact on cognition and mood disorders in order to support future studies addressing brain plasticity during chronic pain conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Raquel Pereira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde—Pain Neurobiology Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.A.); (M.C.-N.); (C.M.); (V.G.)
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina—Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mobina Alemi
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde—Pain Neurobiology Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.A.); (M.C.-N.); (C.M.); (V.G.)
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina—Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Cerqueira-Nunes
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde—Pain Neurobiology Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.A.); (M.C.-N.); (C.M.); (V.G.)
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina—Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Programa Doutoral em Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Clara Monteiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde—Pain Neurobiology Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.A.); (M.C.-N.); (C.M.); (V.G.)
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina—Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vasco Galhardo
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde—Pain Neurobiology Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.A.); (M.C.-N.); (C.M.); (V.G.)
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina—Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Helder Cardoso-Cruz
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde—Pain Neurobiology Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.A.); (M.C.-N.); (C.M.); (V.G.)
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina—Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sachella TE, Ihidoype MR, Proulx CD, Pafundo DE, Medina JH, Mendez P, Piriz J. A novel role for the lateral habenula in fear learning. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1210-1219. [PMID: 35217797 PMCID: PMC9018839 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01294-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an extreme form of aversion that underlies pathological conditions such as panic or phobias. Fear conditioning (FC) is the best-understood model of fear learning. In FC the context and a cue are independently associated with a threatening unconditioned stimulus (US). The lateral habenula (LHb) is a general encoder of aversion. However, its role in fear learning remains poorly understood. Here we studied in rats the role of the LHb in FC using optogenetics and pharmacological tools. We found that inhibition or activation of the LHb during entire FC training impaired both cued and contextual FC. In contrast, optogenetic inhibition of the LHb restricted to cue and US presentation impaired cued but not contextual FC. In either case, simultaneous activation of contextual and cued components of FC, by the presentation of the cue in the training context, recovered the conditioned fear response. Our results support the notion that the LHb is required for the formation of independent contextual and cued fear memories, a previously uncharacterized function for this structure, that could be critical in fear generalization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomas E. Sachella
- grid.423606.50000 0001 1945 2152Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica “Bernardo Houssay” (IFIBIO-Houssay), Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Universidad de Buenos Aires y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marina R. Ihidoype
- grid.423606.50000 0001 1945 2152Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica “Bernardo Houssay” (IFIBIO-Houssay), Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Universidad de Buenos Aires y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Christophe D. Proulx
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390CERVO Brain Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec Canada
| | - Diego E. Pafundo
- grid.423606.50000 0001 1945 2152Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica “Bernardo Houssay” (IFIBIO-Houssay), Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Universidad de Buenos Aires y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge H. Medina
- grid.423606.50000 0001 1945 2152Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia “Prof. E. De Robertis” (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina ,grid.441574.70000000090137393Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Mendez
- grid.419043.b0000 0001 2177 5516Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, España
| | - Joaquin Piriz
- Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica "Bernardo Houssay" (IFIBIO-Houssay), Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Universidad de Buenos Aires y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baker PM, Mathis V, Lecourtier L, Simmons SC, Nugent FS, Hill S, Mizumori SJY. Lateral Habenula Beyond Avoidance: Roles in Stress, Memory, and Decision-Making With Implications for Psychiatric Disorders. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:826475. [PMID: 35308564 PMCID: PMC8930415 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.826475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this Perspective review, we highlight some of the less explored aspects of lateral habenula (LHb) function in contextual memory, sleep, and behavioral flexibility. We provide evidence that LHb is well-situated to integrate different internal state and multimodal sensory information from memory-, stress-, motivational-, and reward-related circuits essential for both survival and decision making. We further discuss the impact of early life stress (ELS) on LHb function as an example of stress-induced hyperactivity and dysregulation of neuromodulatory systems within the LHb that promote anhedonia and motivational deficits following ELS. We acknowledge that recent technological advancements in manipulation and recording of neural circuits in simplified and well-controlled behavioral paradigms have been invaluable in our understanding of the critical role of LHb in motivation and emotional regulation as well as the involvement of LHb dysfunction in stress-induced psychopathology. However, we also argue that the use of ethologically-relevant behaviors with consideration of complex aspects of decision-making is warranted for future studies of LHb contributions in a wide range of psychiatric illnesses. We conclude this Perspective with some of the outstanding issues for the field to consider where a multi-systems approach is needed to investigate the complex nature of LHb circuitry interactions with environmental stimuli that predisposes psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip M. Baker
- Department of Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Phillip M. Baker,
| | - Victor Mathis
- CNRS UPR 3212, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lucas Lecourtier
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Lucas Lecourtier,
| | - Sarah C. Simmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fereshteh S. Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Fereshteh S. Nugent,
| | - Sierra Hill
- Department of Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sheri J. Y. Mizumori
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Sheri J. Y. Mizumori,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sisakhti M, Shafaghi L, Batouli SAH. The Volumetric Changes of the Pineal Gland with Age: An Atlas-based Structural Analysis. Exp Aging Res 2022; 48:474-504. [DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2022.2033593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Minoo Sisakhti
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran
| | - Lida Shafaghi
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Computational Cognition, Humanlab Technologies, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Reward and aversion encoding in the lateral habenula for innate and learned behaviours. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:3. [PMID: 35013094 PMCID: PMC8748902 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01774-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout life, individuals experience a vast array of positive and aversive events that trigger adaptive behavioural responses. These events are often unpredicted and engage actions that are likely anchored on innate behavioural programs expressed by each individual member of virtually all animal species. In a second step, environmental cues, that are initially neutral, acquire value through the association with external sensory stimuli, and become instrumental to predict upcoming positive or negative events. This process ultimately prompts learned goal-directed actions allowing the pursuit of rewarding experience or the avoidance of a danger. Both innate and learned behavioural programs are evolutionarily conserved and fundamental for survival. Among the brain structures participating in the encoding of positive/negative stimuli and contributing to innate and learned behaviours is the epithalamic lateral habenula (LHb). The LHb provides top-down control of monoaminergic systems, responds to unexpected appetitive/aversive stimuli as well as external cues that predict the upcoming rewards or punishments. Accordingly, the LHb controls a number of behaviours that are innate (originating from unpredicted stimuli), and learned (stemming from predictive cues). In this review, we will discuss the progresses that rodent's experimental work made in identifying how LHb activity governs these vital processes, and we will provide a view on how these findings integrate within a complex circuit connectivity.
Collapse
|
9
|
Roy N, Parhar I. Habenula orphan G-protein coupled receptors in the pathophysiology of fear and anxiety. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:870-883. [PMID: 34801259 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The phasic emotion, fear, and the tonic emotion, anxiety, have been conventionally inspected in clinical frameworks to epitomize memory acquisition, storage, and retrieval. However, inappropriate expression of learned fear in a safe environment and its resistance to suppression is a cardinal feature of various fear-related disorders. A significant body of literature suggests the involvement of extra-amygdala circuitry in fear disorders. Consistent with this view, the present review underlies incentives for the association between the habenula and fear memory. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important to understand the molecular mechanisms central to fear learning due to their neuromodulatory role. The efficacy of a pharmacological strategy aimed at exploiting habenular-GPCR desensitization machinery can serve as a therapeutic target combating the pathophysiology of fear disorders. Originating from this milieu, the conserved nature of orphan GPCRs in the brain, with some having the highest expression in the habenula can lead to recent endeavors in understanding its functionality in fear circuitry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nisa Roy
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Ishwar Parhar
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Castillo Díaz F, Caffino L, Fumagalli F. Bidirectional role of dopamine in learning and memory-active forgetting. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:953-963. [PMID: 34655655 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons projecting from the Substantia Nigra to the Striatum play a critical role in motor functions while dopaminergic neurons originating in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and projecting to the Nucleus Accumbens, Hippocampus and other cortical structures regulate rewarding learning. While VTA mainly consists of dopaminergic neurons, excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) VTA-neurons have also been described: these neurons may also modulate and contribute to shape the final dopaminergic response, which is critical for memory formation. However, given the large amount of information that is handled daily by our brain, it is essential that irrelevant information be deleted. Recently, apart from the well-established role of dopamine (DA) in learning, it has been shown that DA plays a critical role in the intrinsic active forgetting mechanisms that control storage information, contributing to the deletion of a consolidated memory. These new insights may be instrumental to identify therapies for those disorders that involve memory alterations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Castillo Díaz
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lateral Habenula Mediates Defensive Responses Only When Threat and Safety Memories Are in Conflict. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0482-20.2021. [PMID: 33712440 PMCID: PMC8059882 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0482-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival depends on the ability to adaptively react or execute actions based on previous aversive salient experiences. Although lateral habenula (LHb) activity has been broadly implicated in the regulation of aversively motivated responses, it is not clear under which conditions this brain structure is necessary to regulate defensive responses to a threat. To address this issue, we combined pharmacological inactivations with behavioral tasks that involve aversive and appetitive events and evaluated defensive responses in rats. We found that LHb pharmacological inactivation did not affect cued threat conditioning (fear) and extinction (safety) learning and memory, anxiety-like or reward-seeking behaviors. Surprisingly, we found that LHb inactivation abolished reactive defensive responses (tone-elicited freezing) only when threat (conditioning) and safety memories (extinction and latent inhibition) compete during retrieval. Consistently, we found that LHb inactivation impaired active defensive responses [platform-mediated avoidance (PMA)], thereby biasing choice behavior (between avoiding a threat or approaching food) toward reward-seeking responses. Together, our findings suggest that LHb activity mediates defensive responses only when guided by competing threat and safety memories, consequently revealing a previously uncharacterized role for LHb in experience-dependent emotional conflict.
Collapse
|
12
|
Pastor V, Medina JH. Medial prefrontal cortical control of reward- and aversion-based behavioral output: Bottom-up modulation. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:3039-3062. [PMID: 33660363 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
How does the brain guide our actions? This is a complex issue, where the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a crucial role. The mPFC is essential for cognitive flexibility and decision making. These functions are related to reward- and aversion-based learning, which ultimately drive behavior. Though, cortical projections and modulatory systems that may regulate those processes in the mPFC are less understood. How does the mPFC regulate approach-avoidance behavior in the case of conflicting aversive and appetitive stimuli? This is likely dependent on the bottom-up neuromodulation of the mPFC projection neurons. In this review, we integrate behavioral-, pharmacological-, and viral-based circuit manipulation data showing the involvement of mPFC dopaminergic, noradrenergic, cholinergic, and serotoninergic inputs in reward and aversion processing. Given that an incorrect balance of reward and aversion value could be a key problem in mental diseases such as substance use disorders, we discuss outstanding questions for future research on the role of mPFC modulation in reward and aversion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Pastor
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge Horacio Medina
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Habenula GPR139 is associated with fear learning in the zebrafish. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5549. [PMID: 33692406 PMCID: PMC7946892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85002-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptor 139 (GPR139) is an evolutionarily conserved orphan receptor, predominantly expressing in the habenula of vertebrate species. The habenula has recently been implicated in aversive response and its associated learning. Here, we tested the hypothesis that GPR139 signalling in the habenula may play a role in fear learning in the zebrafish. We examined the effect of intraperitoneal injections of a human GPR139-selective agonist (JNJ-63533054) on alarm substance-induced fear learning using conditioned place avoidance paradigm, where an aversive stimulus is paired with one compartment, while its absence is associated with the other compartment of the apparatus. The results indicate that fish treated with 1 µg/g body weight of GPR139 agonist displayed no difference in locomotor activity and alarm substance-induced fear response. However, avoidance to fear-conditioned compartment was diminished, which suggests that the agonist blocks the consolidation of contextual fear memory. On the other hand, fish treated with 0.1 µg/g body weight of GPR139 agonist spent a significantly longer time in the unconditioned neutral compartment as compared to the conditioned (punished and unpunished) compartments. These results suggest that activation of GPR139 signalling in the habenula may be involved in fear learning and the decision-making process in the zebrafish.
Collapse
|
14
|
Sivalingam M, Ogawa S, Parhar IS. Habenula kisspeptin retrieves morphine impaired fear memory in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19569. [PMID: 33177592 PMCID: PMC7659006 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76287-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The habenula is an evolutionarily conserved brain structure, which has recently been implicated in fear memory. In the zebrafish, kisspeptin (Kiss1) is predominantly expressed in the habenula, which has been implicated as a modulator of fear response. Hence, in the present study, we questioned whether Kiss1 has a role in fear memory and morphine-induced fear memory impairment using an odorant cue (alarm substances, AS)-induced fear avoidance paradigm in adult zebrafish, whereby the fear-conditioned memory can be assessed by a change of basal place preference (= avoidance) of fish due to AS-induced fear experience. Subsequently, to examine the possible role of Kiss1 neurons-serotonergic pathway, kiss1 mRNA and serotonin levels were measured. AS exposure triggered fear episodes and fear-conditioned place avoidance. Morphine treatment followed by AS exposure, significantly impaired fear memory with increased time-spent in AS-paired compartment. However, fish administered with Kiss1 (10–21 mol/fish) after morphine treatment had significantly lower kiss1 mRNA levels but retained fear memory. In addition, the total brain serotonin levels were significantly increased in AS- and Kiss1-treated groups as compared to control and morphine treated group. These results suggest that habenular Kiss1 might be involved in consolidation or retrieval of fear memory through the serotonin system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mageswary Sivalingam
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Satoshi Ogawa
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ishwar S Parhar
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kisspeptin-1 regulates forebrain dopaminergic neurons in the zebrafish. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19361. [PMID: 33168887 PMCID: PMC7652893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75777-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The habenula is a phylogenetically conserved epithalamic structure, which conveys negative information via inhibition of mesolimbic dopamine neurons. We have previously shown the expression of kisspeptin (Kiss1) in the habenula and its role in the modulation of fear responses in the zebrafish. In this study, to investigate whether habenular Kiss1 regulates fear responses via dopamine neurons in the zebrafish, Kiss1 peptides were intracranially administered close to the habenula, and the expression of dopamine-related genes (th1, th2 and dat) were examined in the brain using real-time PCR and dopamine levels using LC–MS/MS. th1 mRNA levels and dopamine levels were significantly increased in the telencephalon 24-h and 30-min after Kiss1 administration, respectively. In fish administered with Kiss1, expression of neural activity marker gene, npas4a and kiss1 gene were significantly decreased in the ventral habenula. Application of neural tracer into the median raphe, site of habenular Kiss1 neural terminal projections showed tracer-labelled projections in the medial forebrain bundle towards the telencephalon where dopamine neurons reside. These results suggest that Kiss1 negatively regulates its own neuronal activity in the ventral habenula via autocrine action. This, in turn affects neurons of the median raphe via interneurons, which project to the telencephalic dopaminergic neurons.
Collapse
|
16
|
Bertone-Cueto NI, Makarova J, Mosqueira A, García-Violini D, Sánchez-Peña R, Herreras O, Belluscio M, Piriz J. Volume-Conducted Origin of the Field Potential at the Lateral Habenula. Front Syst Neurosci 2020; 13:78. [PMID: 31998083 PMCID: PMC6961596 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2019.00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Field potentials (FPs) are easily reached signals that provide information about the brain's processing. However, FP should be interpreted cautiously since their biophysical bases are complex. The lateral habenula (LHb) is a brain structure involved in the encoding of aversive motivational values. Previous work indicates that the activity of the LHb is relevant for hippocampal-dependent learning. Moreover, it has been proposed that the interaction of the LHb with the hippocampal network is evidenced by the synchronization of LHb and hippocampal FPs during theta rhythm. However, the origin of the habenular FP has not been analyzed. Hence, its validity as a measurement of LHb activity has not been proven. In this work, we used electrophysiological recordings in anesthetized rats and feed-forward modeling to investigate biophysical basis of the FP recorded in the LHb. Our results indicate that the FP in the LHb during theta rhythm is a volume-conducted signal from the hippocampus. This result highlight that FPs must be thoroughly analyzed before its biological interpretation and argues against the use of the habenular FP signal as a readout of the activity of the LHb.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Iván Bertone-Cueto
- Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica “Houssay” (IFIBIO “Houssay”), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Alejo Mosqueira
- Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica “Houssay” (IFIBIO “Houssay”), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | | | - Mariano Belluscio
- Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica “Houssay” (IFIBIO “Houssay”), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Joaquin Piriz
- Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica “Houssay” (IFIBIO “Houssay”), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Li W, Zuo W, Wu W, Zuo QK, Fu R, Wu L, Zhang H, Ndukwe M, Ye JH. Activation of glycine receptors in the lateral habenula rescues anxiety- and depression-like behaviors associated with alcohol withdrawal and reduces alcohol intake in rats. Neuropharmacology 2019; 157:107688. [PMID: 31254534 PMCID: PMC6677595 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb) is activated by a range of aversive states including those related to alcohol withdrawal and has glycine receptors (GlyRs), a sensitive target of alcohol. However, whether GlyRs in the LHb contribute to alcohol-related behaviors is unknown. Here, we report that rats experiencing withdrawal from chronic alcohol consumption showed higher anxiety and sensitivity to stress compared to their alcohol-naïve counterparts. Intra-LHb injection of glycine attenuated these aberrant behaviors and reduced alcohol intake upon alcohol re-access. Glycine's effect was blocked by strychnine, a GlyR antagonist, indicating that it was mediated by strychnine-sensitive GlyRs. Conversely, intra-LHb strychnine elicited anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in Naïve rats but not in withdrawal rats. Additionally, both the frequency and the amplitude of the spontaneous IPSCs were lower in LHb neurons in slices of withdrawal rats compared to naïve rats. Also, there were sporadic strychnine-sensitive synaptic events in some LHb neurons. Bath perfusion of strychnine induced a depolarizing inward current and increased action potential firings in LHb neurons. By contrast, bath perfusion of glycine or sarcosine, a glycine transporter subtype 1 inhibitor, inhibited LHb activity. Collectively, these data reveal that LHb neurons are under the tonic glycine inhibition both in physiological and pathological conditions. Activation of GlyRs reverses LHb hyperactivity, alleviates aberrant behaviors, and reduces alcohol intake, thus highlighting the GlyRs in the LHb as a potential therapeutic target for alcohol-use disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Wanhong Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Qi Kang Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Rao Fu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Liangzhi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Michael Ndukwe
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jiang-Hong Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Macpherson T, Mizoguchi H, Yamanaka A, Hikida T. Preproenkephalin-expressing ventral pallidal neurons control inhibitory avoidance learning. Neurochem Int 2019; 126:11-18. [PMID: 30797970 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The ventral pallidum (VP) is a critical component of the basal ganglia neurocircuitry regulating learning and decision making; however, its precise role in controlling associative learning of environmental stimuli conditioned to appetitive or aversive outcomes is still unclear. Here, we investigated the expression of preproenkephalin, a polypeptide hormone previously shown to be expressed in nucleus accumbens neurons controlling aversive learning, within GABAergic and glutamatergic VP neurons. Next, we explored the behavioral consequences of chemicogenetic inhibition or excitation of preproenkephalin-expressing VP neurons on associative learning of reward- or aversion-paired stimuli in autoshaping and inhibitory avoidance tasks, respectively. We reveal for the first time that preproenkephalin is expressed predominantly in GABAergic rather than glutamatergic VP neurons, and that excitation of these preproenkephalin-expressing VP neurons was sufficient to impair inhibitory avoidance learning. These findings indicate the necessity for inhibition of preproenkephalin-expressing VP neurons for avoidance learning, and suggest these neurons as a potential therapeutic target for psychiatric disorders associated with maladaptive aversive learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Macpherson
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mizoguchi
- Research Center for Next-Generation Drug Development, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Hikida
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Browne CA, Hammack R, Lucki I. Dysregulation of the Lateral Habenula in Major Depressive Disorder. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2018; 10:46. [PMID: 30581384 PMCID: PMC6292991 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and preclinical evidence implicates hyperexcitability of the lateral habenula (LHb) in the development of psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD). This discrete epithalamic nucleus acts as a relay hub linking forebrain limbic structures with midbrain aminergic centers. Central to reward processing, learning and goal directed behavior, the LHb has emerged as a critical regulator of the behaviors that are impaired in depression. Stress-induced activation of the LHb produces depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, anhedonia and aversion in preclinical studies. Moreover, deep brain stimulation of the LHb in humans has been shown to alleviate chronic unremitting depression in treatment resistant depression. The diverse neurochemical processes arising in the LHb that underscore the emergence and treatment of MDD are considered in this review, including recent optogenetic studies that probe the anatomical connections of the LHb.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Browne
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Robert Hammack
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Understanding how stored information emerges is a main question in the neurobiology of memory that is now increasingly gaining attention. However, molecular events underlying this memory stage, including involvement of protein synthesis, are not well defined. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a central regulator of protein synthesis, has been implicated in synaptic plasticity and is required for memory formation. Using inhibitory avoidance (IA), we evaluated the role of mTORC1 in memory retrieval. Infusion of a selective mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin, into the dorsal hippocampus 15 or 40 min but not 3 h before testing at 24 h reversibly disrupted memory expression even in animals that had already expressed IA memory. Emetine, a general protein synthesis inhibitor, provoked a similar impairment. mTORC1 inhibition did not interfere with short-term memory retrieval. When infused before test at 7 or 14 but not at 28 days after training, rapamycin impaired memory expression. mTORC1 blockade in retrosplenial cortex, another structure required for IA memory, also impaired memory retention. In addition, pretest intrahippocampal rapamycin infusion impaired object location memory retrieval. Our results support the idea that ongoing protein synthesis mediated by activation of mTORC1 pathway is necessary for long but not for short term memory.
Collapse
|
21
|
Medina JH. Neural, Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Active Forgetting. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 12:3. [PMID: 29467630 PMCID: PMC5808127 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurobiology of memory formation attracts much attention in the last five decades. Conversely, the rules that govern and the mechanisms underlying forgetting are less understood. In addition to retroactive interference, retrieval-induced forgetting and passive decay of time, it has been recently demonstrated that the nervous system has a diversity of active and inherent processes involved in forgetting. In Drosophila, some operate mainly at an early stage of memory formation and involves dopamine (DA) neurons, specific postsynaptic DA receptor subtypes, Rac1 activation and induces rapid active forgetting. In mammals, others regulate forgetting and persistence of seemingly consolidated memories and implicate the activity of DA receptor subtypes and AMPA receptors in the hippocampus (HP) and related structures to activate parallel signaling pathways controlling active time-dependent forgetting. Most of them may involve plastic changes in synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors including specific removal of GluA2 AMPA receptors. Forgetting at longer timescales might also include changes in adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the HP. Therefore, based on relevance or value considerations neuronal circuits may regulate in a time-dependent manner what is formed, stored, and maintained and what is forgotten.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge H Medina
- Laboratorio de Memoria, IBCN Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Castillo Díaz F, Kramar CP, Hernandez MA, Medina JH. Activation of D1/5 Dopamine Receptors in the Dorsal Medial Prefrontal Cortex Promotes Incubated-Like Aversive Responses. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:209. [PMID: 29163081 PMCID: PMC5674926 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that neurons of the mammalian medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) modulate different behavioral outputs, including several memory types. This behavioral modulation is, at least in part, under the control of the D1-like Dopamine (DA) receptor (D1/5R) which comprises D1 and D5-specific subtypes (D1R and D5R, respectively). Here, combining a set of behavioral assays with pharmacology, we determined whether the activation of D1/5R in the mPFC during almost neutral or weak negative-valence experiences induces aversive behaviors. The intra mPFC bilateral infusion of the D1/5R agonist SKF 38393 (6.25 μg/side) immediately after exposing rats to the white compartment of a place conditioning apparatus promotes a incubated-like aversive memory when tested 7 days thereafter, but it was not seen 24 h after conditioning. No signs of fear or changes in the anxiety state were observed after the exposure to the white compartment. This aversive response is observed only when the experience paired with the mPFC D1/5R activation has a context component involved. By using specific agonists for D1R or D5R subtypes we suggest that D5R mediate the induction of the aversive behavior. No aversive effects were observed when the D1/5R agonist was infused into the dorsal hippocampus (HP), the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) or the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of rats exposed to the white compartment. Taken together, our present findings endorse the idea that activation of mPFC D1/5R is sufficient to induce incubated-like aversive memories after exposing rats to an apparent neutral or weak negative-valence environment and that mPFC might be considered a key brain region involved in providing adaptive emotional behaviors in response to an ever-changing environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Castillo Díaz
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia P Kramar
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Micaela A Hernandez
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge H Medina
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Fisiología Facultad de Medicina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Liu WH, Valton V, Wang LZ, Zhu YH, Roiser JP. Association between habenula dysfunction and motivational symptoms in unmedicated major depressive disorder. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2017; 12:1520-1533. [PMID: 28575424 PMCID: PMC5629818 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The lateral habenula plays a central role in reward and punishment processing and has been suggested to drive the cardinal symptom of anhedonia in depression. This hypothesis is largely based on observations of habenula hypermetabolism in animal models of depression, but the activity of habenula and its relationship with clinical symptoms in patients with depression remains unclear. High-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and computational modelling were used to investigate the activity of the habenula during a probabilistic reinforcement learning task with rewarding and punishing outcomes in 21 unmedicated patients with major depression and 17 healthy participants. High-resolution anatomical scans were also acquired to assess group differences in habenula volume. Healthy individuals displayed the expected activation in the left habenula during receipt of punishment and this pattern was confirmed in the computational analysis of prediction error processing. In depressed patients, there was a trend towards attenuated left habenula activation to punishment, while greater left habenula activation was associated with more severe depressive symptoms and anhedonia. We also identified greater habenula volume in patients with depression, which was associated with anhedonic symptoms. Habenula dysfunction may contribute to abnormal response to punishment in patients with depression, and symptoms such as anhedonia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hua Liu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China
- School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Vincent Valton
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ling-Zhi Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Hua Zhu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Jonathan P. Roiser
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Role of the lateral habenula in memory through online processing of information. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 162:69-78. [PMID: 28709783 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.07.004] [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: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Our memory abilities, whether they involve short-term working memory or long-term episodic or procedural memories, are essential for our well-being, our capacity to adapt to constraints of our environment and survival. Therefore, several key brain regions and neurotransmitter systems are engaged in the processing of sensory information to either maintain such information in working memory so that it will quickly be used, and/or participate in the elaboration and storage of enduring traces useful for longer periods of time. Animal research has recently attracted attention on the lateral habenula which, as shown in rodents and non-human primates, seems to process information stemming in the main regions involved in memory processing, e.g., the medial prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, the amygdala, the septal region, the basal ganglia, and participates in the control of key memory-related neurotransmitters systems, i.e., dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine. Recently, the lateral habenula has been involved in working and spatial reference memories, in rodents, likely by participating in online processing of contextual information. In addition, several behavioral studies strongly suggest that it is also involved in the processing of the emotional valance of incoming information in order to adapt to particularly stressful situations. Therefore, the lateral habenula appears like a key region at the interface between cognition and emotion to participate in the selection of appropriate behaviors.
Collapse
|
25
|
Zuo W, Fu R, Hopf FW, Xie G, Krnjević K, Li J, Ye JH. Ethanol drives aversive conditioning through dopamine 1 receptor and glutamate receptor-mediated activation of lateral habenula neurons. Addict Biol 2017; 22:103-116. [PMID: 26283508 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
There has been increasing interest in the lateral habenula (LHb) given its potent regulatory role in many aversion-related behaviors. Interestingly, ethanol can be rewarding as well as aversive; we therefore investigated whether ethanol exposure alters pacemaker firing or glutamate receptor signaling in LHb neurons in vitro and also whether LHb activity in vivo might contribute to the acquisition of conditioned place aversion to ethanol. Surprisingly, in epithalamic slices, low doses of ethanol (1.4 mM) strongly accelerated LHb neuron firing (by ~60%), and ethanol's effects were much reduced by blocking glutamate receptors. Ethanol increased presynaptic glutamate release, and about half of this effect was mediated by dopamine subtype 1 receptors (D1Rs) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signaling pathways. In agreement with these findings, c-Fos immunoreactivity in LHb regions was enhanced after a single administration of a low dose of ethanol (0.25 g/kg i.p.). Importantly, the same dose of ethanol in vivo also produced strong conditioned place aversion, and this was prevented by inhibiting D1Rs or neuronal activity within the LHb. By contrast, a higher dose (2 g/kg) led to ethanol conditioned place preference, which was enhanced by inhibiting neuronal activity or D1Rs within the LHb and suppressed by infusing aminomethylphosphonic acid or the D1R agonist SKF38393 within the LHb. Our in vitro and in vivo observations show, for the first time, that ethanol increases LHb excitation, mediated by D1R and glutamate receptors, and may underlie a LHb aversive signal that contributes to ethanol-related aversion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanhong Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, New Jersey Medical School; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Newark NJ USA
| | - Rao Fu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, New Jersey Medical School; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Newark NJ USA
| | - Frederic Woodward Hopf
- Department of Neurology; University of California at San Francisco; San Francisco CA USA
| | - Guiqin Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, New Jersey Medical School; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Newark NJ USA
| | | | - Jing Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, New Jersey Medical School; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Newark NJ USA
| | - Jiang-Hong Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, New Jersey Medical School; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Newark NJ USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Dopamine D1-like receptor in lateral habenula nucleus affects contextual fear memory and long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 in rats. Behav Brain Res 2016; 321:61-68. [PMID: 28025067 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The Lateral Habenula (LHb) plays an important role in emotion and cognition. Recent experiments suggest that LHb has functional interaction with the hippocampus and plays an important role in spatial learning. LHb is reciprocally connected with midbrain monoaminergic brain areas such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, the role of dopamine type 1 receptor (D1R) in LHb in learning and memory is not clear yet. In the present study, D1R agonist or antagonist were administered bilaterally into the LHb in rats. We found that both D1R agonist and antagonist impaired the acquisition of contextual fear memory in rats. D1R agonist or antagonist also impaired long term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses in freely moving rats and attenuated learning induced phosphorylation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit 1 (GluA1) at Ser831 and Ser845 in hippocampus. Taken together, our results suggested that dysfunction of D1R in LHb affected the function of hippocampus.
Collapse
|
27
|
Stewart AM, Ullmann JF, Norton WH, Brennan CH, Parker MO, Gerlai R, Kalueff AV. Molecular psychiatry of zebrafish. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:2-17. [PMID: 25349164 PMCID: PMC4318706 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Revised: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Due to their well-characterized neural development and high genetic homology to mammals, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a powerful model organism in the field of biological psychiatry. Here, we discuss the molecular psychiatry of zebrafish, and its implications for translational neuroscience research and modeling central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In particular, we outline recent genetic and technological developments allowing for in vivo examinations, high-throughput screening and whole-brain analyses in larval and adult zebrafish. We also summarize the application of these molecular techniques to the understanding of neuropsychiatric disease, outlining the potential of zebrafish for modeling complex brain disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), aggression, post-traumatic stress and substance abuse. Critically evaluating the advantages and limitations of larval and adult fish tests, we suggest that zebrafish models become a rapidly emerging new field in modern molecular psychiatry research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Michael Stewart
- ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
| | - Jeremy F.P. Ullmann
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - William H.J. Norton
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Caroline H. Brennan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1-4NS, UK
| | - Matthew O. Parker
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1-4NS, UK
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd N Mississauga, Ontario L5L1C6, Canada
| | - Allan V. Kalueff
- ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- Research Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524025, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kramar CP, Flavia Barbano M, Medina JH. Dopamine D1/D5 receptors in the dorsal hippocampus are required for the acquisition and expression of a single trial cocaine-associated memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2014; 116:172-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2014.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
29
|
Gonzalez MC, Kramar CP, Tomaiuolo M, Katche C, Weisstaub N, Cammarota M, Medina JH. Medial prefrontal cortex dopamine controls the persistent storage of aversive memories. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:408. [PMID: 25506318 PMCID: PMC4246460 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is essential for initial memory processing and expression but its involvement in persistent memory storage has seldom been studied. Using the hippocampus dependent inhibitory avoidance learning task and the hippocampus-independent conditioned taste aversion paradigm together with specific dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists we found that persistence but not formation of long-term aversive memories requires dopamine D1/D5 receptors activation in mPFC immediately after training and, depending on the task, between 6 and 12 h later. Our results indicate that besides its well-known participation in retrieval and early consolidation, mPFC also modulates the endurance of long-lasting aversive memories regardless of whether formation of the aversive mnemonic trace requires the participation of the hippocampus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María C Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Memoria, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia P Kramar
- Laboratorio de Memoria, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Micol Tomaiuolo
- Laboratorio de Memoria, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cynthia Katche
- Laboratorio de Memoria, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Noelia Weisstaub
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Sistemas, IFIBIO Houssay, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Cammarota
- Memory Research Laboratory, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) Natal, Brazil
| | - Jorge H Medina
- Laboratorio de Memoria, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb) is a small epithalamic structure that projects via the fasciculus retroflexus to the midbrain. The LHb is known to modulate midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, including inhibition of ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons via glutamatergic excitation of the GABAergic rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg). A variety of lines of evidence show activity in LHb and the LHb-RMTg pathway is correlated with, and is sufficient to support, punishment learning. However, it is not immediately clear whether LHb is necessary for punishment. Here we used a within-subjects punishment task to assess the role of LHb in the acquisition and expression of punishment as well as in aversive choice. Rats that pressed two individually presented levers for pellet rewards rapidly suppressed responding to one lever if it also caused footshock deliveries (punished lever) but continued pressing a second lever that did not cause footshock (unpunished lever). Infusions of an AMPA receptor antagonist (NBQX) into LHb had no effect on the acquisition or expression of this punishment, or on aversive choice, but did increase locomotion. Infusion of the sodium channel blocker bupivacaine likewise had no effect on expression of punishment. However, infusion of the calcium channel blocker mibefradil did affect expression of punishment by significantly decreasing the latency with which rats responded on the punished lever and significantly increasing unpunished lever-pressing. Taken together, these findings indicate that the LHb plays a limited role in punishment, influencing only latency to respond. This role is linked to calcium channel permeability and not AMPA receptor or sodium channel permeability.
Collapse
|