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Clark PJ, Brodnik ZD, España RA. Chemogenetic Signaling in Space and Time: Considerations for Designing Neuroscience Experiments Using DREADDs. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:328-346. [PMID: 36408535 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221134587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The use of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) has led to significant advances in our understanding of the neural circuits that govern behavior. By allowing selective control over cellular activity and signaling, DREADDs have become an integral tool for defining the pathways and cellular phenotypes that regulate sleep, pain, motor activity, goal-directed behaviors, and a variety of other processes. In this review, we provide a brief overview of DREADDs and discuss notable discoveries in the neurosciences with an emphasis on circuit mechanisms. We then highlight methodological approaches to achieve pathway specific activation of DREADDs. Finally, we discuss spatial and temporal constraints of DREADDs signaling and how these features can be incorporated into experimental designs to precisely dissect circuits of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Clark
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zachary D Brodnik
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rodrigo A España
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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2
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Liao Y, Wen R, Fu S, Cheng X, Ren S, Lu M, Qian L, Luo F, Wang Y, Xiao Q, Wang X, Ye H, Zhang X, Jiang C, Li X, Li S, Dang R, Liu Y, Kang J, Yao Z, Yan J, Xiong J, Wang Y, Wu S, Chen X, Li Y, Xia J, Hu Z, He C. Spatial memory requires hypocretins to elevate medial entorhinal gamma oscillations. Neuron 2024; 112:155-173.e8. [PMID: 37944520 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The hypocretin (Hcrt) (also known as orexin) neuropeptidic wakefulness-promoting system is implicated in the regulation of spatial memory, but its specific role and mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we revealed the innervation of the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) by Hcrt neurons in mice. Using the genetically encoded G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based Hcrt sensor, we observed a significant increase in Hcrt levels in the MEC during novel object-place exploration. We identified the function of Hcrt at presynaptic glutamatergic terminals, where it recruits fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive neurons and promotes gamma oscillations. Bidirectional manipulations of Hcrt neurons' projections from the lateral hypothalamus (LHHcrt) to MEC revealed the essential role of this pathway in regulating object-place memory encoding, but not recall, through the modulation of gamma oscillations. Our findings highlight the significance of the LHHcrt-MEC circuitry in supporting spatial memory and reveal a unique neural basis for the hypothalamic regulation of spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiang Liao
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Ruyi Wen
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Shengwei Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiaofang Cheng
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Shuancheng Ren
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Minmin Lu
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Ling Qian
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Fenlan Luo
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yaling Wang
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qin Xiao
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hengying Ye
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xiaolong Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Chenggang Jiang
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing 400021, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Shiyin Li
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Ruozhi Dang
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Junjun Kang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Zhongxiang Yao
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jiaxiang Xiong
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yanjiang Wang
- Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China; Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing 400064, China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Xiaowei Chen
- Brain Research Center, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing 400064, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jianxia Xia
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Zhian Hu
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing 400064, China.
| | - Chao He
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain and Intelligence, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
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Aomine Y, Oyama Y, Sakurai K, Macpherson T, Ozawa T, Hikida T. Clozapine N-oxide, compound 21, and JHU37160 do not influence effortful reward-seeking behavior in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:89-96. [PMID: 37792024 PMCID: PMC10774210 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06465-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Clozapine N-oxide (CNO) has been developed as a ligand to selectively activate designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). However, previous studies have revealed that peripherally injected CNO is reverse-metabolized into clozapine, which, in addition to activating DREADDs, acts as an antagonist at various neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting potential off-target effects of CNO on animal physiology and behaviors. Recently, second-generation DREADD agonists compound 21 (C21) and JHU37160 (J60) have been developed, but their off-target effects are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES The present studies assessed the effect of novel DREADD ligands on reward-seeking behavior. METHODS We first tested the possible effect of acute i.p. injection of low-to-moderate (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 mg/kg) of CNO, C21, and J60 on motivated reward-seeking behavior in wild-type mice. We then examined whether a high dose (10 mg/kg) of these drugs might be able to alter responding. RESULTS Low-to-moderate doses of all drugs and a high dose of CNO or C21 did not alter operant lick responding for a reward under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, in which the number of operant lick responses to obtain a reward increases after each reward collection. However, high-dose J60 resulted in a total lack of responding that was later observed in an open field arena to be due to a sedative effect. CONCLUSIONS This study provides definitive evidence that commonly used doses of CNO, C21, and J60 have negligible off-target effects on motivated reward-seeking but urges caution when using high doses of J60 due to sedative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiatsu Aomine
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Oyama
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koki Sakurai
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Protein Profiling and Functional Proteomics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tom Macpherson
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ozawa
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Takatoshi Hikida
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
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Dheer A, Bosco DB, Zheng J, Wang L, Zhao S, Haruwaka K, Yi MH, Barath A, Tian DS, Wu LJ. Chemogenetic approaches reveal dual functions of microglia in seizures. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:406-418. [PMID: 37926132 PMCID: PMC10841657 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia are key players in maintaining brain homeostasis and exhibit phenotypic alterations in response to epileptic stimuli. However, it is still relatively unknown if these alterations are pro- or anti-epileptic. To unravel this dilemma, we employed chemogenetic manipulation of microglia using the artificial Gi-Dreadd receptor within a kainic acid (KA) induced murine seizure model. Our results indicate that acute Gi-Dreadd activation with Clozapine-N-Oxide can reduce seizure severity. Additionally, we observed increased interaction between microglia and neuronal soma, which correlated with reduced neuronal hyperactivity. Interestingly, prolonged activation of microglial Gi-Dreadds by repeated doses of CNO over 3 days, arrested microglia in a less active, homeostatic-like state, which associated with increased neuronal loss after KA induced seizures. RNAseq analysis revealed that prolonged activation of Gi-Dreadd interferes with interferon β signaling and microglia proliferation. Thus, our findings highlight the importance of microglial Gi signaling not only during status epilepticus (SE) but also within later seizure induced pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aastha Dheer
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dale B Bosco
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jiaying Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lingxiao Wang
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Shunyi Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Min-Hee Yi
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Abhijeet Barath
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dai-Shi Tian
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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5
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Wang F, Chen X, Bo B, Zhang T, Liu K, Jiang J, Wang Y, Xie H, Liang Z, Guan JS. State-dependent memory retrieval: insights from neural dynamics and behavioral perspectives. Learn Mem 2023; 30:325-337. [PMID: 38114331 PMCID: PMC10750866 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053893.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Memory retrieval is strikingly susceptible to external states (environment) and internal states (mood states and alcohol), yet we know little about the underlying mechanisms. We examined how internally generated states influence successful memory retrieval using the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of laboratory mice during memory retrieval. Mice exhibited a strong tendency to perform memory retrieval correctly only in the reinstated mammillary body-inhibited state, in which mice were trained to discriminate auditory stimuli in go/no-go tasks. fMRI revealed that distinct auditory cues engaged differential brain regions, which were primed by internal state. Specifically, a cue associated with a reward activated the lateral amygdala, while a cue signaling no reward predominantly activated the postsubiculum. Modifying these internal states significantly altered the neural activity balance between these regions. Optogenetic inhibition of those regions in the precue period blocked the retrieval of type-specific memories. Our findings suggest that memory retrieval is under the control of two interrelated neural circuits underlying the neural basis of state-dependent memory retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Cerebrovascular Disease Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xu Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Binshi Bo
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Sciences and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Tianfu Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Kaiyuan Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Life of Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
- Headache Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Hong Xie
- Institute of Photonic Chips, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Zhifeng Liang
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Sciences and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ji-Song Guan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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6
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Codeluppi SA, Xu M, Bansal Y, Lepack AE, Duric V, Chow M, Muir J, Bagot RC, Licznerski P, Wilber SL, Sanacora G, Sibille E, Duman RS, Pittenger C, Banasr M. Prefrontal cortex astroglia modulate anhedonia-like behavior. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4632-4641. [PMID: 37696873 PMCID: PMC10914619 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02246-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Reductions of astroglia expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are consistently found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of patients with depression and in rodent chronic stress models. Here, we examine the consequences of PFC GFAP+ cell depletion and cell activity enhancement on depressive-like behaviors in rodents. Using viral expression of diphtheria toxin receptor in PFC GFAP+ cells, which allows experimental depletion of these cells following diphtheria toxin administration, we demonstrated that PFC GFAP+ cell depletion induced anhedonia-like behavior within 2 days and lasting up to 8 days, but no anxiety-like deficits. Conversely, activating PFC GFAP+ cell activity for 3 weeks using designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) reversed chronic restraint stress-induced anhedonia-like deficits, but not anxiety-like deficits. Our results highlight a critical role of cortical astroglia in the development of anhedonia and further support the idea of targeting astroglia for the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Codeluppi
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Y Bansal
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A E Lepack
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - V Duric
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, IA, USA
| | - M Chow
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J Muir
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - R C Bagot
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - P Licznerski
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - S L Wilber
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - G Sanacora
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - E Sibille
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - R S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C Pittenger
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M Banasr
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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7
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Robinson HL, Nicholson KL, Shelton KL, Hamilton PJ, Banks ML. Comparison of three DREADD agonists acting on Gq-DREADDs in the ventral tegmental area to alter locomotor activity in tyrosine hydroxylase:Cre male and female rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 455:114674. [PMID: 37722510 PMCID: PMC10918529 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114674] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Despite the increasingly pervasive use of chemogenetic tools in preclinical neuroscience research, the in vivo pharmacology of DREADD agonists remains poorly understood. The pharmacological effects of any ligand acting at receptors, engineered or endogenous, are influenced by numerous factors including potency, time course, and receptor selectivity. Thus, rigorous comparison of the potency and time course of available DREADD ligands may provide an empirical foundation for ligand selection. OBJECTIVES Compare the behavioral pharmacology of three different DREADD ligands clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), compound 21 (C21), and deschloroclozapine (DCZ) in a locomotor activity assay in tyrosine hydroxylase:cre recombinase (TH:Cre) male and female rats. METHODS Locomotor activity in nine adult TH:Cre Sprague-Dawley rats (5 female, 4 male) was monitored for two hours following administration of d-amphetamine (vehicle, 0.1-3.2 mg/kg, IP), DCZ (vehicle, 0.32-320 µg/kg, IP), CNO (vehicle, 0.32-10 mg/kg), and C21 (vehicle, 0.1-3.2 mg/kg, IP). Behavioral sessions were conducted twice per week prior to and starting three weeks after bilateral intra-VTA hM3Dq DREADD virus injection. RESULTS d-Amphetamine significantly increased locomotor activity pre- and post-DREADD virus injection. DCZ, CNO, and C21 did not alter locomotor activity pre-DREADD virus injection. There was no significant effect of DCZ, CNO, and C21 on locomotor activity post-DREADD virus injection; however, large individual differences in both behavioral response and receptor expression were observed. CONCLUSIONS Large individual variability was observed in both DREADD agonist behavioral effects and receptor expression. These results suggest further basic research would facilitate the utility of these chemogenetic tools for behavioral neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Robinson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Katherine L Nicholson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Keith L Shelton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Peter J Hamilton
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Matthew L Banks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
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8
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Speers LJ, Chin P, Bilkey DK. No evidence that acute clozapine administration alters CA1 phase precession in rats. Brain Res 2023; 1814:148446. [PMID: 37301424 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampal phase precession, wherein there is a systematic shift in the phase of neural firing against the underlying theta activity, is proposed to play an important role in the sequencing of information in memory. Previous research shows that the starting phase of precession is more variable in rats following maternal immune activation (MIA), a known risk factor for schizophrenia. Since starting phase variability has the potential to disorganize the construction of sequences of information, we tested whether the atypical antipsychotic clozapine, which ameliorates some cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, alters this aspect of phase precession. Either saline or clozapine (5 mg/kg) was administered to rats and then CA1 place cell activity was recorded from the CA1 region of the hippocampus as the animals ran around a rectangular track for food reward. When compared to saline trials, acute administration of clozapine did not affect any place cell properties, including those related to phase precession, in either control or MIA animals. Clozapine did, however, produce a reduction in locomotion speed, indicating that its presence had some effect on behaviour. These results help to constrain explanations of phase precession mechanisms and their potential role in sequence learning deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phoebe Chin
- Psychology Dept., Otago Univ., Dunedin, New Zealand
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9
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Codeluppi S, Xu M, Bansal Y, Lepack A, Duric V, Chow M, Muir. J, Bagot R, Licznerski P, Wilber S, Sanacora G, Sibille E, Duman R, Pittenger C, Banasr M. Prefrontal Cortex Astroglia Modulate Anhedonia-like Behavior. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3093428. [PMID: 37461693 PMCID: PMC10350119 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3093428/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Reductions of astroglia expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are consistently found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of patients with depression and in rodent chronic stress models. Here, we examine the consequences of PFC GFAP+ cell depletion and cell activity enhancement on depressive-like behaviors in rodents. Using viral expression of diphtheria toxin receptor in PFC GFAP+ cells, which allows experimental depletion of these cells following diphtheria toxin administration, we demonstrated that PFC GFAP+ cell depletion induced anhedonia-like behavior within 2 days and lasting up to 8 days, but no anxiety-like deficits. Conversely, activating PFC GFAP+ cell activity for 3 weeks using designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) reversed chronic restraint stress-induced anhedonia-like deficits, but not anxiety-like deficits. Our results highlight a critical role of cortical astroglia in the development of anhedonia and further support the idea of targeting astroglia for the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.A. Codeluppi
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - M. Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Y. Bansal
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - A.E. Lepack
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - V. Duric
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Des Moines University, Iowa, USA
| | - M. Chow
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - J. Muir.
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - R.C. Bagot
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - P. Licznerski
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - S.L. Wilber
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - G. Sanacora
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - E. Sibille
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - R.S. Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - C. Pittenger
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - M. Banasr
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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10
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Jeon YJ, Park JC, Jang YS, Kim DH, Choi BR, Kim JM, Kim JJ, Han JS. Chemogenetic modulation of the medial prefrontal cortex regulates resistance to acute stress-induced cognitive impairments. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:4806-4814. [PMID: 36156637 PMCID: PMC10110428 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac381] [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: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been implicated in regulating resistance to the effects of acute uncontrollable stress. We previously showed that mPFC-lesioned animals exhibit impaired object recognition memory after acute exposure to a brief stress that had no effect in normal animals. Here, we used designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs to determine how modulating mPFC activity affects recognition-memory performance under stressful conditions. Specifically, animals with chemogenetic excitation or inhibition of the mPFC underwent either a brief ineffective stress (20-min restraint + 20 tail shocks) or a prolonged effective stress (60-min restraint + 60 tail shocks). Subsequent recognition memory tests showed that animals with chemogenetic mPFC inhibition exposed to brief stress showed impairment in an object recognition memory task, whereas those with chemogenetic mPFC excitation exposed to prolonged stress did not. Thus, the present findings the decreased mPFC activity exacerbates acute stress effects on memory function whereas increased mPFC activity counters these stress effects provide evidence that the mPFC bidirectionally modulates stress resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jae Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Cheol Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Sun Jang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hee Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Ryoung Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Min Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61669, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeansok J Kim
- Department of Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, United States
| | - Jung-Soo Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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11
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Lawson KA, Ruiz CM, Mahler SV. A head-to-head comparison of two DREADD agonists for suppressing operant behavior in rats via VTA dopamine neuron inhibition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.27.534429. [PMID: 37034819 PMCID: PMC10081263 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.27.534429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Rationale Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are a tool for "remote control" of defined neuronal populations during behavior. These receptors are inert unless bound by an experimenter-administered designer drug, most commonly clozapine-n-oxide (CNO). However, questions have emerged about the suitability of CNO as a systemically administered DREADD agonist. Objectives Second-generation agonists such as JHU37160 (J60) have been developed, which may have more favorable properties than CNO. Here we sought to directly compare effects of CNO (0, 1, 5, & 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and J60 (0, 0.03, 0.3, & 3 mg/kg, i.p.) on operant food pursuit. Methods Male and female TH:Cre+ rats and their wildtype (WT) littermates received cre-dependent hM4Di-mCherry vector injections into ventral tegmental area (VTA), causing inhibitory DREADD expression in VTA dopamine neurons in TH:Cre+ rats. Rats were trained to stably lever press for palatable food on a fixed ratio 10 schedule, and doses of both agonists were tested on separate days in a counterbalanced order. Results All three CNO doses reduced operant food seeking in rats with DREADDs, and no CNO dose had behavioral effects in WT controls. The highest tested J60 dose significantly reduced responding in DREADD rats, but this dose also increased responding in WTs, indicating non-specific effects. The magnitude of CNO and J60 effects in TH:Cre+ rats were correlated and were present in both sexes. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the usefulness of directly comparing DREADD agonists when optimizing behavioral chemogenetics, and highlight the importance of proper controls, regardless of the DREADD agonist employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate A Lawson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Christina M Ruiz
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Stephen V Mahler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
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12
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Traut J, Mengual JP, Meijer EJ, McKillop LE, Alfonsa H, Hoerder-Suabedissen A, Song SH, Fehér KD, Riemann D, Molnar Z, Akerman CJ, Vyazovskiy VV, Krone LB. Effects of clozapine-N-oxide and compound 21 on sleep in laboratory mice. eLife 2023; 12:e84740. [PMID: 36892930 PMCID: PMC9998087 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are chemogenetic tools for remote control of targeted cell populations using chemical actuators that bind to modified receptors. Despite the popularity of DREADDs in neuroscience and sleep research, potential effects of the DREADD actuator clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) on sleep have never been systematically tested. Here, we show that intraperitoneal injections of commonly used CNO doses (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) alter sleep in wild-type male laboratory mice. Using electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) to analyse sleep, we found a dose-dependent suppression of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, changes in EEG spectral power during non-REM (NREM) sleep, and altered sleep architecture in a pattern previously reported for clozapine. Effects of CNO on sleep could arise from back-metabolism to clozapine or binding to endogenous neurotransmitter receptors. Interestingly, we found that the novel DREADD actuator, compound 21 (C21, 3 mg/kg), similarly modulates sleep despite a lack of back-metabolism to clozapine. Our results demonstrate that both CNO and C21 can modulate sleep of mice not expressing DREADD receptors. This implies that back-metabolism to clozapine is not the sole mechanism underlying side effects of chemogenetic actuators. Therefore, any chemogenetic experiment should include a DREADD-free control group injected with the same CNO, C21, or newly developed actuator. We suggest that electrophysiological sleep assessment could serve as a sensitive tool to test the biological inertness of novel chemogenetic actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Traut
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jose Prius Mengual
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Elise J Meijer
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura E McKillop
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Hannah Alfonsa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Seo Ho Song
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Kristoffer D Fehér
- Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Division of Psychiatric SpecialtiesGenevaSwitzerland
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Dieter Riemann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Zoltan Molnar
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Colin J Akerman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Vladyslav V Vyazovskiy
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Lukas B Krone
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryOxfordUnited Kingdom
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Centre for Experimental Neurology, University of BernBernSwitzerland
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13
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Cushnie AK, Bullock DN, Manea AM, Tang W, Zimmermann J, Heilbronner SR. The use of chemogenetic actuator ligands in nonhuman primate DREADDs-fMRI. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 4:100072. [PMID: 36691404 PMCID: PMC9860110 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) are engineered receptors that allow for genetically targeted, reversible manipulation of cellular activity via systemic drug administration. DREADD induced manipulations are initiated via the binding of an actuator ligand. Therefore, the use of DREADDs is contingent on the availability of actuator ligands. Actuator ligands low-dose clozapine (CLZ) and deschloroclozapine (DCZ) are highly selective for DREADDs, and, upon binding, induce physiological and behavioral changes in rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs). Despite this reported specificity, both CLZ and DCZ have partial affinity for a variety of endogenous receptors and can induce dose-specific changes even in naïve animals. As such, this study aimed to examine the effects of CLZ and DCZ on resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) and intrinsic neural timescales (INTs) in naïve NHPs. In doing so, we evaluated whether CLZ and DCZ - in the absence of DREADDs - are inert by examining these ligands' effects on the intrinsic functional properties of the brain. Low-dose DCZ did not induce consistent changes in rs-FC or INTs prior to the expression of DREADDs; however, a high dose resulted in subject-specific changes in rs-FC and INTs. In contrast, CLZ administration induced consistent changes in rs-FC and INTs prior to DREADD expression in our subjects. Our results caution against the use of CLZ by explicitly demonstrating the impact of off-target effects that can confound experimental results. Altogether, these data endorse the use of low dose DCZ for future DREADD-based experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana K. Cushnie
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Daniel N. Bullock
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Ana M.G. Manea
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Computer Science, Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, 47408, USA
| | - Jan Zimmermann
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Sarah R. Heilbronner
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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14
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Raper J, Eldridge MAG, Sternson SM, Shim JY, Fomani GP, Richmond BJ, Wichmann T, Galvan A. Characterization of Ultrapotent Chemogenetic Ligands for Research Applications in Nonhuman Primates. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3118-3125. [PMID: 36279419 PMCID: PMC9910343 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemogenetics is a technique for obtaining selective pharmacological control over a cell population by expressing an engineered receptor that is selectively activated by an exogenously administered ligand. A promising approach for neuronal modulation involves the use of "Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules" (PSAMs); these chemogenetic receptors are selectively activated by ultrapotent "Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules" (uPSEMs). To extend the use of PSAM/PSEMs to studies in nonhuman primates, it is necessary to thoroughly characterize the efficacy and safety of these tools. We describe the time course and brain penetrance in rhesus monkeys of two compounds with promising binding specificity and efficacy profiles in in vitro studies, uPSEM792 and uPSEM817, after systemic administration. Rhesus monkeys received subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of uPSEM817 (0.064 mg/kg) or uPSEM792 (0.87 mg/kg), and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected over 48 h. Both compounds exhibited good brain penetrance, relatively slow washout, and negligible conversion to potential metabolites─varenicline or hydroxyvarenicline. In addition, we found that neither of these uPSEMs significantly altered the heart rate or sleep. Our results indicate that both compounds are suitable candidates for neuroscience studies using PSAMs in nonhuman primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Raper
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
| | - Mark A G Eldridge
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jalene Y Shim
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Grace P Fomani
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Barry J Richmond
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Thomas Wichmann
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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15
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Irvine KA, Peters CM, Vazey EM, Ferguson AR, Clark JD. Activation of the Locus Coeruleus Mediated by Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drug Restores Descending Nociceptive Inhibition after Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:964-978. [PMID: 35412843 PMCID: PMC9467637 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of endogenous pain control mechanisms including descending pain inhibition has been linked to several forms of pain including chronic pain after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The locus coeruleus (LC) is the principal noradrenergic (NA) nucleus participating in descending pain inhibition. We therefore hypothesized that selectively stimulating LC neurons would reduce nociception after TBI. All experiments used a well-characterized rat lateral fluid percussion model of TBI. NA neurons were stimulated by administering clozapine N-oxide (CNO) to rats selectively expressing a designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drug (DREADD) viral construct in their LC's. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds were measured using von Frey fibers. The efficacy of diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC), a critical endogenous pain control mechanism, was assessed using the hindpaw administration of capsaicin. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated the selective expression of the DREADD construct in LC neurons after stereotactic injection. During the 1st week after TBI, when rats demonstrated hindlimb (HL) nociceptive sensitization, CNO administration provided transient anti-allodynia in DREADD-expressing rats but not in rats injected with control virus. Seven weeks after TBI we observed a complete loss of DNIC in response to capsaicin. However, CNO administration largely restored DNIC in TBI DREADD-expressing rats but not those injected with control virus. Unexpectedly, the effects of LC activation in the DREADD-expressing rats were blocked by the α-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin, but not the α-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist atipamezole. These results suggest that directly stimulating the LC after TBI can reduce both early and late manifestations of dysfunctional endogenous pain regulation. Clinical approaches to activating descending pain circuits may reduce suffering in those with pain after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen-Amanda Irvine
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine; Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.,Anesthesiology Service; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Address correspondence to: Karen-Amanda Irvine, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Christopher M. Peters
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elena M. Vazey
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adam R. Ferguson
- University of California San Francisco, Brain and Spinal Injury Center, Department of Neurosurgery, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - J. David Clark
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine; Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.,Anesthesiology Service; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
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16
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Suárez-Pereira I, Llorca-Torralba M, Bravo L, Camarena-Delgado C, Soriano-Mas C, Berrocoso E. The Role of the Locus Coeruleus in Pain and Associated Stress-Related Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:786-797. [PMID: 35164940 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC)-noradrenergic system is the main source of noradrenaline in the central nervous system and is involved intensively in modulating pain and stress-related disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder and anxiety) and in their comorbidity. However, the mechanisms involving the LC that underlie these effects have not been fully elucidated, in part owing to the technical difficulties inherent in exploring such a tiny nucleus. However, novel research tools are now available that have helped redefine the LC system, moving away from the traditional view of LC as a homogeneous structure that exerts a uniform influence on neural activity. Indeed, innovative techniques such as DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) and optogenetics have demonstrated the functional heterogeneity of LC, and novel magnetic resonance imaging applications combined with pupillometry have opened the way to evaluate LC activity in vivo. This review aims to bring together the data available on the efferent activity of the LC-noradrenergic system in relation to pain and its comorbidity with anxiodepressive disorders. Acute pain triggers a robust LC stress response, producing spinal cord-mediated endogenous analgesia while promoting aversion, vigilance, and threat detection through its ascending efferents. However, this protective biological system fails in chronic pain, and LC activity produces pain facilitation, anxiety, increased aversive memory, and behavioral despair, acting at the medulla, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala levels. Thus, the activation/deactivation of specific LC projections contributes to different behavioral outcomes in the shift from acute to chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Suárez-Pereira
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Meritxell Llorca-Torralba
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Bravo
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Camarena-Delgado
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Carles Soriano-Mas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychobiology and Methodology in Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Berrocoso
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain; Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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17
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Nentwig TB, Obray JD, Vaughan DT, Chandler LJ. Behavioral and slice electrophysiological assessment of DREADD ligand, deschloroclozapine (DCZ) in rats. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6595. [PMID: 35449195 PMCID: PMC9023443 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10668-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) have become a premier neuroscience research tool for enabling reversible manipulations of cellular activity following experimenter-controlled delivery of a DREADD-specific ligand. However, several DREADD ligands, e.g., clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), have metabolic and off-target effects that may confound experimental findings. New DREADD ligands aim to reduce metabolic and potential off-target effects while maintaining strong efficacy for the designer receptors. Recently a novel DREADD ligand, deschloroclozapine (DCZ), was shown to induce chemogenetic-mediated cellular and behavioral effects in mice and monkeys without detectable side effects. The goal of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of systemic DCZ for DREADD-based chemogenetic manipulations in behavioral and slice electrophysiological applications in rats. We demonstrate that a relatively low dose of DCZ (0.1 mg/kg) supports excitatory DREADD-mediated cFos induction, DREADD-mediated inhibition of a central amygdala-dependent behavior, and DREADD-mediated inhibition of neuronal activity in a slice electrophysiology preparation. In addition, we show that this dose of DCZ does not alter gross locomotor activity or induce a place preference/aversion in control rats without DREADD expression. Together, our findings support the use of systemic DCZ for DREADD-based manipulaations in rats, and provide evidence that DCZ is a superior alternative to CNO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd B Nentwig
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 30 Courtenay St, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - J Daniel Obray
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 30 Courtenay St, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Dylan T Vaughan
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 30 Courtenay St, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - L Judson Chandler
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 30 Courtenay St, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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18
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Chemogenetics as a neuromodulatory approach to treating neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders. Mol Ther 2022; 30:990-1005. [PMID: 34861415 PMCID: PMC8899595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemogenetics enables precise, non-invasive, and reversible modulation of neural activity via the activation of engineered receptors that are pharmacologically selective to endogenous or exogenous ligands. With recent advances in therapeutic gene delivery, chemogenetics is poised to support novel interventions against neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders. To evaluate its translational potential, we performed a scoping review of applications of chemogenetics that led to the reversal of molecular and behavioral deficits in studies relevant to neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders. In this review, we present these findings and discuss the potential and challenges for using chemogenetics as a precision medicine-based neuromodulation strategy.
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19
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Rodd ZA, Engleman EA, Truitt WA, Burke AR, Molosh AI, Bell RL, Hauser SR. CNO administration increases dopamine and glutamate in the medial prefrontal cortex of wistar rats: Further concerns for the validity of the CNO-activated DREADD procedure. Neuroscience 2022; 491:176-184. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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20
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Dorsal striatal dopamine induces fronto-cortical hypoactivity and attenuates anxiety and compulsive behaviors in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:454-464. [PMID: 34725486 PMCID: PMC8559920 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01207-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dorsal striatal dopamine transmission engages the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit, which is implicated in many neuropsychiatric diseases, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Yet it is unknown if dorsal striatal dopamine hyperactivity is the cause or consequence of changes elsewhere in the CSTC circuit. Classical pharmacological and neurotoxic manipulations of the CSTC and other brain circuits suffer from various drawbacks related to off-target effects and adaptive changes. Chemogenetics, on the other hand, enables a highly selective targeting of specific neuronal populations within a given circuit. In this study, we developed a chemogenetic method for selective activation of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, which innervates the dorsal striatum in the rat. We used this model to investigate effects of targeted dopamine activation on CSTC circuit function, especially in fronto-cortical regions. We found that chemogenetic activation of these neurons increased movement (as expected with increased dopamine release), rearings and time spent in center, while also lower self-grooming. Furthermore, this activation increased prepulse inhibition of the startle response in females. Remarkably, we observed reduced [18F]FDG metabolism in the frontal cortex, following dopamine activation in the dorsal striatum, while total glutamate levels- in this region were increased. This result is in accord with clinical studies of increased [18F]FDG metabolism and lower glutamate levels in similar regions of the brain of people with OCD. Taken together, the present chemogenetic model adds a mechanistic basis with behavioral and translational relevance to prior clinical neuroimaging studies showing deficits in fronto-cortical glucose metabolism across a variety of clinical populations (e.g. addiction, risky decision-making, compulsivity or obesity).
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21
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Remifentanil self-administration in mice promotes sex-specific prefrontal cortex dysfunction underlying deficits in cognitive flexibility. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1734-1745. [PMID: 34012018 PMCID: PMC8358018 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01028-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Opioid-based drugs are frequently used for pain management in both males and females despite the known risk of prefrontal cortex dysfunction and cognitive impairments. Although poorly understood, loss of cognitive control following chronic drug use has been linked to decreased activation of frontal cortex regions. Here, we show that self-administration of the potent opioid, remifentanil, causes a long-lasting hypoactive basal state evidenced by a decrease in ex vivo excitability that is paralleled by an increase in firing capacity of layer 5/6 pyramidal neurons in the prelimbic, but not infralimbic region of the medial prefrontal cortex. This phenomenon was observed in females after as few as 5 days and up to 25-30 days of self-administration. In contrast, pyramidal neurons in males showed increased excitability following 10-16 days of self-administration, with hypoactive states arising only following 25-30 days of self-administration. The emergence of a hypoactive, but not hyperactive basal state following remifentanil self-administration aligned with deficits in cognitive flexibility as assessed using an operant-based attentional set-shifting task. In females, the hypoactive basal state is driven by a reduction in excitatory synaptic transmission mediated by AMPA-type glutamate receptors. Alternatively, hyper- and hypoactive states in males align selectively with decreased and increased GABAB signaling, respectively. Chemogenetic compensation for this hypoactive state prior to testing restored cognitive flexibility, basal hypoactive state, and remifentanil-induced plasticity. These data define cellular and synaptic mechanisms by which opioids impair prefrontal function and cognitive control; indicating that interventions aimed at targeting opioid-induced adaptations should be tailored based on biological sex.
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Huang Y, Jiang H, Zheng Q, Fok AHK, Li X, Lau CG, Lai CSW. Environmental enrichment or selective activation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons ameliorates synaptic and behavioral deficits in animal models with schizophrenia-like behaviors during adolescence. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2533-2552. [PMID: 33473150 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-01005-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic deficit-induced excitation and inhibition (E/I) imbalance have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Using in vivo two-photon microscopy, we examined the dynamic plasticity of dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons (PNs) and "en passant" axonal bouton of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PVINs) in the frontal association (FrA) cortex in two adolescent mouse models with schizophrenia-like behaviors. Simultaneous imaging of PN dendritic spines and PV axonal boutons showed that repeated exposure to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist MK801 during adolescence disrupted the normal developmental balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic structures. This MK801-induced structural E/I imbalance significantly correlated with animal recognition memory deficits and could be ameliorated by environmental enrichment (EE). In addition, selective chemogenetic activation of PVINs in the FrA mimicked the effects of EE on both synaptic plasticity and animal behavior, while selective inhibition of PVIN abolished EE's beneficial effects. Electrophysiological recordings showed that chronic MK801 treatment significantly suppressed the frequency of mEPSC/mIPSC ratio of layer (L) 2/3 PNs and significantly reduced the resting membrane potential of PVINs, the latter was rescued by selective activation of PVINs. Such manipulations of PVINs also showed similar effects in PV-Cre; ErbB4fl/fl animal model with schizophrenia-like behaviors. EE or selective activation of PVINs in the FrA restored behavioral deficits and structural E/I imbalance in adolescent PV-Cre; ErbB4fl/fl mice, while selective inhibition of PVINs abolished EE's beneficial effects. Our findings suggest that the PVIN activity in the FrA plays a crucial role in regulating excitatory and inhibitory synaptic structural dynamics and animal behaviors, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Hehai Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Qiyu Zheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Albert Hiu Ka Fok
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Xiaoyang Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - C Geoffrey Lau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.,Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Cora Sau Wan Lai
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. .,State Key Laboratory of Cognitive and Brain Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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Glutamatergic Neurons in the Preoptic Hypothalamus Promote Wakefulness, Destabilize NREM Sleep, Suppress REM Sleep, and Regulate Cortical Dynamics. J Neurosci 2021; 41:3462-3478. [PMID: 33664133 PMCID: PMC8051693 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2718-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and experimental data from the last nine decades indicate that the preoptic area of the hypothalamus is a critical node in a brain network that controls sleep onset and homeostasis. By contrast, we recently reported that a group of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral and medial preoptic area increases wakefulness, challenging the long-standing notion in sleep neurobiology that the preoptic area is exclusively somnogenic. Clinical and experimental data from the last nine decades indicate that the preoptic area of the hypothalamus is a critical node in a brain network that controls sleep onset and homeostasis. By contrast, we recently reported that a group of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral and medial preoptic area increases wakefulness, challenging the long-standing notion in sleep neurobiology that the preoptic area is exclusively somnogenic. However, the precise role of these subcortical neurons in the control of behavioral state transitions and cortical dynamics remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we used conditional expression of excitatory hM3Dq receptors in these preoptic glutamatergic (Vglut2+) neurons and show that their activation initiates wakefulness, decreases non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and causes a persistent suppression of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. We also demonstrate, for the first time, that activation of these preoptic glutamatergic neurons causes a high degree of NREM sleep fragmentation, promotes state instability with frequent arousals from sleep, decreases body temperature, and shifts cortical dynamics (including oscillations, connectivity, and complexity) to a more wake-like state. We conclude that a subset of preoptic glutamatergic neurons can initiate, but not maintain, arousals from sleep, and their inactivation may be required for NREM stability and REM sleep generation. Further, these data provide novel empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis that the preoptic area causally contributes to the regulation of both sleep and wakefulness. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Historically, the preoptic area of the hypothalamus has been considered a key site for sleep generation. However, emerging modeling and empirical data suggest that this region might play a dual role in sleep-wake control. We demonstrate that chemogenetic stimulation of preoptic glutamatergic neurons produces brief arousals that fragment sleep, persistently suppresses REM sleep, causes hypothermia, and shifts EEG patterns toward a “lighter” NREM sleep state. We propose that preoptic glutamatergic neurons can initiate, but not maintain, arousal from sleep and gate REM sleep generation, possibly to block REM-like intrusions during NREM-to-wake transitions. In contrast to the long-standing notion in sleep neurobiology that the preoptic area is exclusively somnogenic, we provide further evidence that preoptic neurons also generate wakefulness.
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Goossens MG, Boon P, Wadman W, Van den Haute C, Baekelandt V, Verstraete AG, Vonck K, Larsen LE, Sprengers M, Carrette E, Desloovere J, Meurs A, Delbeke J, Vanhove C, Raedt R. Long-term chemogenetic suppression of seizures in a multifocal rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2021; 62:659-670. [PMID: 33570167 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE One third of epilepsy patients do not become seizure-free using conventional medication. Therefore, there is a need for alternative treatments. Preclinical research using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) has demonstrated initial success in suppressing epileptic activity. Here, we evaluated whether long-term chemogenetic seizure suppression could be obtained in the intraperitoneal kainic acid rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy, when DREADDs were selectively expressed in excitatory hippocampal neurons. METHODS Epileptic male Sprague Dawley rats received unilateral hippocampal injections of adeno-associated viral vector encoding the inhibitory DREADD hM4D(Gi), preceded by a cell-specific promotor targeting excitatory neurons. The effect of clozapine-mediated DREADD activation on dentate gyrus evoked potentials and spontaneous electrographic seizures was evaluated. Animals were systemically treated with single (.1 mg/kg/24 h) or repeated (.1 mg/kg/6 h) injections of clozapine. In addition, long-term continuous release of clozapine and olanzapine (2.8 mg/kg/7 days) using implantable minipumps was evaluated. All treatments were administered during the chronic epileptic phase and between 1.5 and 13.5 months after viral transduction. RESULTS In the DREADD group, dentate gyrus evoked potentials were inhibited after clozapine treatment. Only in DREADD-expressing animals, clozapine reduced seizure frequency during the first 6 h postinjection. When administered repeatedly, seizures were suppressed during the entire day. Long-term treatment with clozapine and olanzapine both resulted in significant seizure-suppressing effects for multiple days. Histological analysis revealed DREADD expression in both hippocampi and some cortical regions. However, lesions were also detected at the site of vector injection. SIGNIFICANCE This study shows that inhibition of the hippocampus using chemogenetics results in potent seizure-suppressing effects in the intraperitoneal kainic acid rat model, even 1 year after viral transduction. Despite a need for further optimization, chemogenetic neuromodulation represents a promising treatment prospect for temporal lobe epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Boon
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wytse Wadman
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chris Van den Haute
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Center for Molecular Medicine and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Viral Vector Core, Center for Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Center for Molecular Medicine and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alain G Verstraete
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristl Vonck
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lars E Larsen
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Sprengers
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evelien Carrette
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jana Desloovere
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alfred Meurs
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jean Delbeke
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian Vanhove
- IBiTech, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robrecht Raedt
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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25
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Yi MH, Liu YU, Liu K, Chen T, Bosco DB, Zheng J, Xie M, Zhou L, Qu W, Wu LJ. Chemogenetic manipulation of microglia inhibits neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 92:78-89. [PMID: 33221486 PMCID: PMC7897256 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia play an important role in the central sensitization and chronic pain. However, a direct connection between microglial function and pain development in vivo remains incompletely understood. To address this issue, we applied chemogenetic approach by using CX3CR1creER/+:R26LSL-hM4Di/+ transgenic mice to enable expression of inhibitory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (Gi DREADD) in microglia. We found that microglial Gi DREADD activation inhibited spinal nerve transection (SNT)-induced microglial reactivity as well as chronic pain in both male and female mice. Gi DREADD activation downregulated the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) and its downstream target pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). Using in vivo spinal cord recording, we found that activation of microglial Gi DREADD attenuated synaptic transmission following SNT. Our results demonstrate that microglial Gi DREADD reduces neuroinflammation, synaptic function and neuropathic pain after SNT. Thus, chemogenetic approaches provide a potential opportunity for interrogating microglial function and neuropathic pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Hee Yi
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Yong U. Liu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Kevin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA,Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08854 USA
| | - Tingjun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Dale B. Bosco
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Jiaying Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Manling Xie
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Lijun Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wenchun Qu
- Department of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; Departments of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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26
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Naneix F, Bakoyiannis I, Santoyo-Zedillo M, Bosch-Bouju C, Pacheco-Lopez G, Coutureau E, Ferreira G. Chemogenetic silencing of hippocampus and amygdala reveals a double dissociation in periadolescent obesogenic diet-induced memory alterations. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2020; 178:107354. [PMID: 33276069 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In addition to numerous metabolic comorbidities, obesity is associated with several adverse neurobiological outcomes, especially learning and memory alterations. Obesity prevalence is rising dramatically in youth and is persisting in adulthood. This is especially worrying since adolescence is a crucial period for the maturation of certain brain regions playing a central role in memory processes such as the hippocampus and the amygdala. We previously showed that periadolescent, but not adult, exposure to obesogenic high-fat diet (HFD) had opposite effects on hippocampus- and amygdala-dependent memory, impairing the former and enhancing the latter. However, the causal role of these two brain regions in periadolescent HFD-induced memory alterations remains unclear. Here, we first showed that periadolescent HFD induced long-term, but not short-term, object recognition memory deficits, specifically when rats were exposed to a novel context. Using chemogenetic approaches to inhibit targeted brain regions, we then demonstrated that recognition memory deficits are dependent on the activity of the ventral hippocampus, but not the basolateral amygdala. On the contrary, the HFD- induced enhancement of conditioned odor aversion specifically requires amygdala activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that HFD consumption throughout adolescence impairs long-term object recognition memory through alterations of ventral hippocampal activity during memory acquisition. Moreover, these results further highlight the bidirectional effects of adolescent HFD on hippocampal and amygdala functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Naneix
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33077, Bordeaux, France; Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Ioannis Bakoyiannis
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33077, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marianela Santoyo-Zedillo
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33077, Bordeaux, France; Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Campus Lerma, Mexico
| | | | - Gustavo Pacheco-Lopez
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Campus Lerma, Mexico
| | | | - Guillaume Ferreira
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33077, Bordeaux, France.
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27
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Soto PL. Single‐case experimental designs for behavioral neuroscience. J Exp Anal Behav 2020; 114:447-467. [DOI: 10.1002/jeab.633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul L. Soto
- Department of Psychology Louisiana State University
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Tran FH, Spears SL, Ahn KJ, Eisch AJ, Yun S. Does chronic systemic injection of the DREADD agonists clozapine-N-oxide or Compound 21 change behavior relevant to locomotion, exploration, anxiety, and depression in male non-DREADD-expressing mice? Neurosci Lett 2020; 739:135432. [PMID: 33080350 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) are chemogenetic tools commonly-used to manipulate brain activity. The most widely-used synthetic DREADD ligand, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), is back-metabolized to clozapine which can itself activate endogenous receptors. Studies in non-DREADD-expressing rodents suggest CNO or a DREADD agonist that lacks active metabolites, such as Compound 21 (C21), change rodent behavior (e.g. decrease locomotion), but chronic injection of CNO does not change locomotion. However, it is unknown if chronic CNO changes behaviors relevant to locomotion, exploration, anxiety, and depression, or if chronic C21 changes any aspect of mouse behavior. Here non-DREADD-expressing mice received i.p. Vehicle (Veh), CNO, or C21 (1 mg/kg) 5 days/week for 16 weeks and behaviors were assessed over time. Veh, CNO, and C21 mice had similar weight gain over the 16-week-experiment. During the 3rd injection week, CNO and C21 mice explored more than Veh mice in a novel context and had more open field center entries; however, groups were similar in other measures of locomotion and anxiety. During the 14th-16th injection weeks, Veh, CNO, and C21 mice had similar locomotion and anxiety-like behaviors. We interpret these data as showing chronic Veh, CNO, and C21 injections given to male non-DREADD-expressing mice largely lack behavioral effects. These data may be helpful for behavioral neuroscientists when study design requires repeated injection of these DREADD agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fionya H Tran
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Stella L Spears
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Kyung J Ahn
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Amelia J Eisch
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Sanghee Yun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Upright NA, Baxter MG. Effect of chemogenetic actuator drugs on prefrontal cortex-dependent working memory in nonhuman primates. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:1793-1798. [PMID: 32193513 PMCID: PMC7608232 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0660-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The most common chemogenetic neuromodulatory system, designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), uses a non-endogenous actuator ligand to activate a modified muscarinic acetylcholine receptor that is insensitive to acetylcholine. It is crucial in studies using these systems to test the potential effects of DREADD actuators prior to any DREADD transduction, so that effects of DREADDs can be attributed to the chemogenetic system rather than the actuator drug, particularly in experiments using nonhuman primates. We investigated working memory performance after injections of three DREADD actuators, clozapine, olanzapine, and deschloroclozapine, in four male rhesus monkeys tested in a spatial delayed response task before any DREADD transduction took place. Performance at 0.1 mg/kg clozapine and 0.1 mg/kg deschloroclozapine did not differ from vehicle in any of the four subjects. 0.2 mg/kg clozapine impaired working memory function in three of the four monkeys. Two monkeys were impaired after 0.1 mg/kg olanzapine and two were impaired after 0.3 mg/kg deschloroclozapine. We speculate that the unique neuropharmacology of prefrontal cortex function makes the primate prefrontal cortex especially vulnerable to off-target effects of DREADD actuator drugs with affinity for endogenous monoaminergic receptor systems. These findings underscore the importance of within-subject controls for DREADD actuator drugs in the specific tasks under study to confirm that effects following DREADD receptor transduction are not owing to the actuator drug itself. They also suggest that off-target effects of DREADD actuators may limit translational applications of chemogenetic neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Upright
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Mark G Baxter
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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30
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Nakamura Y, Nakamura Y, Pelosi A, Djemai B, Debacker C, Hervé D, Girault JA, Tsurugizawa T. fMRI detects bilateral brain network activation following unilateral chemogenetic activation of direct striatal projection neurons. Neuroimage 2020; 220:117079. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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31
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Goutaudier R, Coizet V, Carcenac C, Carnicella S. Compound 21, a two-edged sword with both DREADD-selective and off-target outcomes in rats. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238156. [PMID: 32946510 PMCID: PMC7500623 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) represent a technical revolution in integrative neuroscience. However, the first used ligands exhibited dose-dependent selectivity for their molecular target, leading to potential unspecific effects. Compound 21 (C21) was recently proposed as an alternative, but in vivo characterization of its properties is not sufficient yet. Here, we evaluated its potency to selectively modulate the activity of nigral dopaminergic (DA) neurons through the canonical DREADD receptor hM4Di using TH-Cre rats. In males, 1 mg.kg-1 of C21 strongly increased nigral neurons activity in control animals, indicative of a significant off-target effect. Reducing the dose to 0.5 mg.kg-1 circumvented this unspecific effect, while activated the inhibitory DREADDs and selectively reduced nigral neurons firing. In females, 0.5 mg.kg-1 of C21 induced a transient and residual off-target effect that may mitigated the inhibitory DREADDs-mediated effect. This study raises up the necessity to test selectivity and efficacy of chosen ligands for each new experimental condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Goutaudier
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, U1216, Université, Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Véronique Coizet
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, U1216, Université, Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Carole Carcenac
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, U1216, Université, Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Sebastien Carnicella
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, U1216, Université, Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- * E-mail:
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Binding of clozapine to the GABA B receptor: clinical and structural insights. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:1910-1919. [PMID: 32203158 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0709-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Clozapine is the gold-standard agent for treatment resistant schizophrenia but its mechanism of action remains unclear. There is emerging evidence of the potential role of the GABAB receptor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. It has been hypothesised that clozapine can mediate its actions via the GABAB receptor. Baclofen is currently recognised as the prototype GABAB receptor agonist. There are some potential clinical similarities between clozapine and baclofen. Indeed, baclofen has been previously proposed for use as an antipsychotic agent. Our analysis of the X-ray crystal structure of GABAB receptor along with molecular docking calculations, suggests that clozapine could directly bind to the GABAB receptor similar to that of baclofen. This finding could lead to a better understanding of the pharmacological uniqueness of clozapine, potential development of a biomarker for treatment resistant schizophrenia and the development of more targeted treatments leading to personalisation of treatment.
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Smith LC, Kimbrough A. Leveraging Neural Networks in Preclinical Alcohol Research. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E578. [PMID: 32825739 PMCID: PMC7565429 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10090578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is a pervasive healthcare issue with significant socioeconomic consequences. There is a plethora of neural imaging techniques available at the clinical and preclinical level, including magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional (3D) tissue imaging techniques. Network-based approaches can be applied to imaging data to create neural networks that model the functional and structural connectivity of the brain. These networks can be used to changes to brain-wide neural signaling caused by brain states associated with alcohol use. Neural networks can be further used to identify key brain regions or neural "hubs" involved in alcohol drinking. Here, we briefly review the current imaging and neurocircuit manipulation methods. Then, we discuss clinical and preclinical studies using network-based approaches related to substance use disorders and alcohol drinking. Finally, we discuss how preclinical 3D imaging in combination with network approaches can be applied alone and in combination with other approaches to better understand alcohol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C. Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, MC 0667, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Adam Kimbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, MC 0667, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Deconstructing the Direct Reciprocal Hippocampal-Anterior Thalamic Pathways for Spatial Learning. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6978-6990. [PMID: 32753513 PMCID: PMC7470921 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0874-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is essential for normal memory but does not act in isolation. The anterior thalamic nuclei may represent one vital partner. Using DREADDs, the behavioral consequences of transiently disrupting anterior thalamic function were examined, followed by inactivation of the dorsal subiculum. Next, the anterograde transport of an adeno-associated virus expressing DREADDs was paired with localized intracerebral infusions of a ligand to target specific input pathways. In this way, the direct projections from the anterior thalamic nuclei to the dorsal hippocampal formation were inhibited, followed by separate inhibition of the dorsal subiculum projections to the anterior thalamic nuclei. To assay spatial working memory, all animals performed a reinforced T-maze alternation task, then a more challenging version that nullifies intramaze cues. Across all four experiments, deficits emerged on the spatial alternation task that precluded the use of intramaze cues. Inhibiting dorsal subiculum projections to the anterior thalamic nuclei produced the severest spatial working memory deficit. This deficit revealed the key contribution of dorsal subiculum projections to the anteromedial and anteroventral thalamic nuclei for the processing of allocentric information, projections not associated with head-direction information. The overall pattern of results provides consistent causal evidence of the two-way functional significance of direct hippocampal-anterior thalamic interactions for spatial processing. At the same time, these findings are consistent with hypotheses that these same, reciprocal interactions underlie the common core symptoms of temporal lobe and diencephalic anterograde amnesia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It has long been conjectured that the anterior thalamic nuclei might be key partners with the hippocampal formation and that, respectively, they are principally responsible for diencephalic and temporal lobe amnesia. However, direct causal evidence for this functional relationship is lacking. Here, we examined the behavioral consequences of transiently silencing the direct reciprocal interconnections between these two brain regions on tests of spatial learning. Disrupting information flow from the hippocampal formation to the anterior thalamic nuclei and vice versa impaired performance on tests of spatial learning. By revealing the conjoint importance of hippocampal-anterior thalamic pathways, these findings help explain why pathology in either the medial diencephalon or the medial temporal lobes can result in profound anterograde amnesic syndromes.
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Durieux L, Mathis V, Herbeaux K, Muller M, Barbelivien A, Mathis C, Schlichter R, Hugel S, Majchrzak M, Lecourtier L. Involvement of the lateral habenula in fear memory. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:2029-2044. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02107-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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36
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Optimizing clozapine for chemogenetic neuromodulation of somatosensory cortex. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6001. [PMID: 32265461 PMCID: PMC7138833 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62923-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Clozapine (CLZ) has been proposed as an agonist for Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), to replace Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO); however, there are no reliable guidelines for the use of CLZ for chemogenetic neuromodulation. We titrated the optimal dose of CLZ required to evoke changes in neural activity whilst avoiding off-target effects. We also performed [18F]Fluoro-deoxy-glucose micro positron emission tomography (FDG-microPET) scans to determine the global effect of CLZ-induced hM3D(Gq) DREADD activation in the rat brain. Our results show that low doses of CLZ (0.1 and 0.01 mg/kg) successfully induced neural responses without off-target effects. CLZ at 1 mg/kg evoked a stronger and longer-lasting neural response but produced off-target effects, observed as changes in locomotor behavior and FDG-microPET imaging. Unexpectedly, FDG-microPET imaging failed to demonstrate an increase in regional glucose metabolism in the stimulated cortex during CLZ chemogenetic neuromodulation. Therefore, caution should be used when interpreting FDG-PET images in the context of cortical chemogenetic activation.
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37
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Guarino S, Conrad SE, Papini MR. Frustrative nonreward: Chemogenetic inactivation of the central amygdala abolishes the effect of reward downshift without affecting alcohol intake. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2020; 169:107173. [PMID: 32001338 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The role of the central amygdala (CeA) in the adjustment to a 32-to-2% sucrose downshift in the consummatory successive negative contrast (cSNC) task and in a free-choice 10% alcohol-water preference task (PT) was studied using chemogenetic inactivation. cSNC is a model of frustrative nonreward that enhances alcohol consumption. In Experiment 1, sessions 1-10 involved 5-min access to 32% sucrose and sessions 11-12 involved access to 2% sucrose. Vehicle or clozapine N-oxide (CNO; 1 or 3 mg/kg, ip), used later to activate the inhibitory designer receptor, was administered 30 min before sessions 11-12. There was no evidence that CNO affected consummatory behavior after the sucrose downshift. In Experiment 2, all animals received an infusion of the inhibitory designer receptor hM4D(Gi) into the CeA. After recovery, animals received access to either 32% or 2% sucrose on sessions 1-10, followed by 2% sucrose on sessions 11-12. Immediately after each 5-min sucrose session, animals received a 2-bottle, 1-h PT with 10% alcohol and water. CNO (3 mg/kg, ip) or vehicle was administered 30 min before sessions 11-12. CeA inactivation prior to sucrose downshift eliminated the cSNC effect, which was observed in vehicle controls. However, there was no evidence that CeA inactivation affected preference for 10% alcohol over water. These results support the hypothesis that CeA activity is critical for cSNC effect, an outcome consistent with the view that the amygdala plays a central role in frustrative nonreward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Guarino
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA
| | - Shannon E Conrad
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA
| | - Mauricio R Papini
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.
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DREADDs: The Power of the Lock, the Weakness of the Key. Favoring the Pursuit of Specific Conditions Rather than Specific Ligands. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0171-19.2019. [PMID: 31562177 PMCID: PMC6791830 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0171-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Raper J, Murphy L, Richardson R, Romm Z, Kovacs-Balint Z, Payne C, Galvan A. Chemogenetic Inhibition of the Amygdala Modulates Emotional Behavior Expression in Infant Rhesus Monkeys. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0360-19.2019. [PMID: 31541000 PMCID: PMC6791827 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0360-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Manipulation of neuronal activity during the early postnatal period in monkeys has been largely limited to permanent lesion studies, which can be impacted by developmental plasticity leading to reorganization and compensation from other brain structures that can interfere with the interpretations of results. Chemogenetic tools, such as DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs), can transiently and reversibly activate or inactivate brain structures, avoiding the pitfalls of permanent lesions to better address important developmental neuroscience questions. We demonstrate that inhibitory DREADDs in the amygdala can be used to manipulate socioemotional behavior in infant monkeys. Two infant rhesus monkeys (1 male, 1 female) received AAV5-hSyn-HA-hM4Di-IRES-mCitrine injections bilaterally in the amygdala at 9 months of age. DREADD activation after systemic administration of either clozapine-N-oxide or low-dose clozapine resulted in decreased freezing and anxiety on the human intruder paradigm and changed the looking patterns on a socioemotional attention eye-tracking task, compared with vehicle administration. The DREADD-induced behaviors were reminiscent of, but not identical to, those seen after permanent amygdala lesions in infant monkeys, such that neonatal lesions produce a more extensive array of behavioral changes in response to the human intruder task that were not seen with DREADD-evoked inhibition of this region. Our results may help support the notion that the more extensive behavior changes seen after early lesions are manifested from brain reorganization that occur after permanent damage. The current study provides a proof of principle that DREADDs can be used in young infant monkeys to transiently and reversibly manipulate behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Raper
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Lauren Murphy
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Rebecca Richardson
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Zoe Romm
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Zsofia Kovacs-Balint
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | | | - Adriana Galvan
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
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40
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Panthi S, Leitch B. The impact of silencing feed-forward parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons in the cortico-thalamocortical network on seizure generation and behaviour. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 132:104610. [PMID: 31494287 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Feed-forward inhibition (FFI) is an essential mechanism within the brain, to regulate neuronal firing and prevent runaway excitation. In the cortico-thalamocortical (CTC) network, fast spiking parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) inhibitory interneurons regulate the firing of pyramidal cells in the cortex and relay neurons in the thalamus. PV+ interneuron dysfunction has been implicated in several neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Previously, we demonstrated that loss of excitatory AMPA-receptors, specifically at synapses on PV+ interneurons in CTC feedforward microcircuits, occurs in the stargazer mouse model of absence epilepsy. These mice present with absence seizures characterized by spike and wave discharges (SWDs) on electroencephalogram (EEG) and concomitant behavioural arrest, similar to childhood absence epilepsy. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of loss of FFI within the CTC on absence seizure generation and behaviour using new Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drug (DREADD) technology. We crossed PV-Cre mice with Cre-dependent hM4Di DREADD strains of mice, which allowed Cre-recombinase-mediated restricted expression of inhibitory Gi-DREADDs in PV+ interneurons. We then tested the impact of global and focal (within the CTC network) silencing of PV+ interneurons. CNO mediated silencing of all PV+ interneurons by intraperitoneal injection caused the impairment of motor control, decreased locomotion and increased anxiety in a dose-dependent manner. Such silencing generated pathological oscillations similar to absence-like seizures. Focal silencing of PV+ interneurons within cortical or thalamic feedforward microcircuits, induced SWD-like oscillations and associated behavioural arrest. Epileptiform activity on EEG appeared significantly sooner after focal injection compared to peripheral injection of CNO. However, the mean duration of each oscillatory burst and spike frequency was similar, irrespective of mode of CNO delivery. No significant changes were observed in vehicle-treated or non-DREADD wild-type control animals. These data suggest that dysfunctional feed-forward inhibition in CTC microcircuits may be an important target for future therapy strategies for some patients with absence seizures. Additionally, silencing of PV+ interneurons in other brain regions may contribute to anxiety related neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandesh Panthi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Beulah Leitch
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Martinez VK, Saldana-Morales F, Sun JJ, Zhu PJ, Costa-Mattioli M, Ray RS. Off-Target Effects of Clozapine-N-Oxide on the Chemosensory Reflex Are Masked by High Stress Levels. Front Physiol 2019; 10:521. [PMID: 31178741 PMCID: PMC6538678 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory chemosensory circuits are implicated in several physiological and behavioral disorders ranging from sudden infant death syndrome to panic disorder. Thus, a comprehensive map of the chemosensory network would be of significant value. To delineate chemosensory neuronal populations, we have utilized pharmacogenetic Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD) perturbations for acute neuronal perturbations in respiratory circuit mapping. Recent studies show that the biologically inert DREADD ligand clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) is back-metabolized into the bioactive compound clozapine in rodents, emphasizing the need for CNO-only DREADD-free controls, which have been carried out in several studies. However, we show that high CNO doses used in several chemosensory circuit mapping studies nonetheless affect the chemosensory ventilatory reflexes in control mice, which is unmasked by extensive habituation. Here, unhabituated control animals showed no differences in respiratory parameters after CNO administration, whereas habituated animals receiving the commonly used dose of 10 mg/kg of CNO show a deficit in the hypercapnic (high CO2) chemosensory reflex, which is not present in 1 mg/kg CNO treated or saline control groups. Our findings indicate that even in appropriately controlled studies, additional masked CNO off-target effects may exist and underscore the importance of using minimal doses of activating ligand in combination with high levels of habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vena K Martinez
- Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Memory Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Fatima Saldana-Morales
- Memory Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jenny J Sun
- Memory Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ping Jun Zhu
- Memory Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mauro Costa-Mattioli
- Memory Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Russell S Ray
- Memory Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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