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Andrews SR, Harch PG. Systematic review and dosage analysis: hyperbaric oxygen therapy efficacy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1360311. [PMID: 38882688 PMCID: PMC11179433 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1360311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Studies of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment of mild traumatic brain injury persistent postconcussion syndrome in military and civilian subjects have shown simultaneous improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or PTSD symptoms, suggesting that HBOT may be an effective treatment for PTSD. This is a systematic review and dosage analysis of HBOT treatment of patients with PTSD symptoms. Methods PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Systematic Review Database were searched from September 18 to November 23, 2023, for all adult clinical studies published in English on HBOT and PTSD. Randomized trials and studies with symptomatic outcomes were selected for final analysis and analyzed according to the dose of oxygen and barometric pressure on symptom outcomes. Outcome assessment was for statistically significant change and Reliable Change or Clinically Significant Change according to the National Center for PTSD Guidelines. Methodologic quality and bias were determined with the PEDro Scale. Results Eight studies were included, all with < 75 subjects/study, total 393 subjects: seven randomized trials and one imaging case-controlled study. Six studies were on military subjects, one on civilian and military subjects, and one on civilians. Subjects were 3-450 months post trauma. Statistically significant symptomatic improvements, as well as Reliable Change or Clinically Significant changes, were achieved for patients treated with 40-60 HBOTS over a wide range of pressures from 1.3 to 2.0 ATA. There was a linear dose-response relationship for increased symptomatic improvement with increasing cumulative oxygen dose from 1002 to 11,400 atmosphere-minutes of oxygen. The greater symptomatic response was accompanied by a greater and severe reversible exacerbation of emotional symptoms at the highest oxygen doses in 30-39% of subjects. Other side effects were transient and minor. In three studies the symptomatic improvements were associated with functional and anatomic brain imaging changes. All 7 randomized trials were found to be of good-highest quality by PEDro scale scoring. Discussion In multiple randomized and randomized controlled clinical trials HBOT demonstrated statistically significant symptomatic improvements, Reliable Changes, or Clinically Significant Changes in patients with PTSD symptoms or PTSD over a wide range of pressure and oxygen doses. The highest doses were associated with a severe reversible exacerbation of emotional symptoms in 30-39% of subjects. Symptomatic improvements were supported by correlative functional and microstructural imaging changes in PTSD-affected brain regions. The imaging findings and hyperbaric oxygen therapy effects indicate that PTSD can no longer be considered strictly a psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan R Andrews
- Neuropsychological Services for Children and Adults, Metairie, LA, United States
| | - Paul G Harch
- Section of Emergency and Hyperbaric Medicine, Department of Medicine, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Knox D, Parikh V. Basal forebrain cholinergic systems as circuits through which traumatic stress disrupts emotional memory regulation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105569. [PMID: 38309497 PMCID: PMC10948307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105569] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Contextual and spatial systems facilitate changes in emotional memory regulation brought on by traumatic stress. Cholinergic basal forebrain (chBF) neurons provide input to contextual/spatial systems and although chBF neurons are important for emotional memory, it is unknown how they contribute to the traumatic stress effects on emotional memory. Clusters of chBF neurons that project to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) modulate fear conditioned suppression and passive avoidance, while clusters of chBF neurons that project to the hippocampus (Hipp) and PFC (i.e. cholinergic medial septum and diagonal bands of Broca (chMS/DBB neurons) are critical for fear extinction. Interestingly, neither Hipp nor PFC projecting chMS/DBB neurons are critical for fear extinction. The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is a contextual/spatial memory system that receives input from chMS/DBB neurons, but whether this chMS/DBB-RSC circuit facilitates traumatic stress effects on emotional memory remain unexplored. Traumatic stress leads to neuroinflammation and the buildup of reactive oxygen species. These two molecular processes may converge to disrupt chBF circuits enhancing the impact of traumatic stress on emotional memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayan Knox
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Plas SL, Tuna T, Bayer H, Juliano VAL, Sweck SO, Arellano Perez AD, Hassell JE, Maren S. Neural circuits for the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memory. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1352797. [PMID: 38370858 PMCID: PMC10869525 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1352797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The regulation of fear memories is critical for adaptive behaviors and dysregulation of these processes is implicated in trauma- and stress-related disorders. Treatments for these disorders include pharmacological interventions as well as exposure-based therapies, which rely upon extinction learning. Considerable attention has been directed toward elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying fear and extinction learning. In this review, we will discuss historic discoveries and emerging evidence on the neural mechanisms of the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memories. We will focus on neural circuits regulating the acquisition and extinction of Pavlovian fear conditioning in rodent models, particularly the role of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the contextual control of extinguished fear memories. We will also consider new work revealing an important role for the thalamic nucleus reuniens in the modulation of prefrontal-hippocampal interactions in extinction learning and memory. Finally, we will explore the effects of stress on this circuit and the clinical implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Plas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Tuğçe Tuna
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Hugo Bayer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Vitor A. L. Juliano
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Samantha O. Sweck
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Angel D. Arellano Perez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - James E. Hassell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Collins B, Biddle M, Wood DR, Boyapati S, Barth M, Jeun C, Knox D. The role of avoidance in modulating single prolonged stress effects on emotional memory in male and female rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114579. [PMID: 37451551 PMCID: PMC10530017 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114579] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is greater in women than men, but mechanisms via which this difference manifests remain under explored. The single prolonged stress (SPS) rodent model of traumatic stress has been used to identify mechanisms through which traumatic stress leads to deficits in retaining extinction (a core PTSD symptom), but has been mostly utilized in male model systems. Recent studies have observed that SPS leads to changes in persistent fear memory in female rats, though these results are variable. This variability could be driven by changes in behavioral strategy in females during extinction, but this possibility has not been sufficiently explored. To address this, we examined the impact of SPS on freezing and avoidance (a core PTSD symptom) during extinction in male and female rats. In male rats, SPS enhanced acquisition of conditioned freezing, but did not enhance freezing during extinction training or testing. SPS also decreased avoidance during extinction training, but not extinction testing. In female rats, SPS had no impact on conditioned freezing. Avoidance was not observed in control rats, but emerged in SPS/female rats during extinction testing. Furthermore, avoidance was negatively correlated with freezing in female rats (high avoidance associated with lower freezing), but this relationship was disrupted with SPS. The results suggest that introducing avoidance during extinction negates SPS effects on extinction retention in male and female rats, control/female rats engage in avoidance to regulate fear expression, and this relationship is disrupted with SPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey Collins
- Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Matthew Biddle
- Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Donna R Wood
- Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Sushma Boyapati
- Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Michelle Barth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Celine Jeun
- Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Dayan Knox
- Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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Huang G, Iqbal J, Shen D, Xue YX, Yang M, Jia X. MicroRNA expression profiles of stress susceptibility and resilience in the prelimbic and infralimbic cortex of rats after single prolonged stress. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1247714. [PMID: 37692297 PMCID: PMC10488707 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1247714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The experience of traumatic stress can engender lasting memories associated with the trauma, often resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, only a minority of individuals develop PTSD symptoms upon exposure. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the pathology of PTSD are poorly understood. Utilizing a rat model of PTSD, the Single Prolonged Stress (SPS) paradigm, we were able to differentiate between resilient and susceptible individuals. Fourteen days after the SPS exposure, we conducted the behavioral analyses using Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Open Field (OF) tests to identify male rats as trauma resilient or susceptible. We focused on the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PL) cortical regions, known to be crucial in regulating the stress response. Our investigation of stressed rats exposed to the SPS procedure yielded divergent response, and differential expression microRNAs (DEmiRs) analysis indicated significant differences in the IL and PL transcriptional response. In the IL cortex, the GO analysis revealed enriched GO terms in the resilient versus control comparison, specifically related to mitogen-activated protein kinase and MAP kinase signaling pathways for their molecular functions as well as cytosol and nucleoplasm for the biological process. In the susceptible versus resilient comparison, the changes in molecular functions were only manifested in the functions of regulation of transcription involved in the G1/S transition of the mitotic cell cycle and skeletal muscle satellite cell activation. However, no enriched GO terms were found in the susceptible versus control comparison. In the PL cortex, results indicated that the DEmiRs were enriched exclusively in the cellular component level of the endoplasmic reticulum lumen in the comparison between resilient and control rats. Overall, our study utilized an animal model of PTSD to investigate the potential correlation between stress-induced behavioral dysfunction and variations in miRNA expression. The aforementioned discoveries have the potential to pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches for PTSD, which could involve the targeted regulation of transcriptome expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengdi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Javed Iqbal
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dan Shen
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yan-xue Xue
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
- Affiliated Mental Health Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Clinical College of Mental Health, ShenZhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
- School of Mental Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaojian Jia
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
- Affiliated Mental Health Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Clinical College of Mental Health, ShenZhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
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Malik H, Usman M, Arif M, Ahmed Z, Ali G, Rauf K, Sewell RDE. Diosgenin normalization of disrupted behavioral and central neurochemical activity after single prolonged stress. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1232088. [PMID: 37663254 PMCID: PMC10468593 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1232088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental illness triggered by traumatic experiences such as wars, natural disasters, or catastrophes, and it is characterized by anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment. Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin with known neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to assess the pharmacological potential of diosgenin in a single prolonged stress (SPS) model of PTSD, plus other behavioral models along with any consequent alterations in brain neurochemistry in male mice. Methodology: SPS was induced by restraining animals for 2 h, followed by 20 min of forced swim, recuperation for 15 min, and finally, exposure to ether to induce anesthesia. The SPS-exposed animals were treated with diosgenin (20, 40, and 60 mg/kg) and compared with the positive controls, fluoxetine or donepezil, then they were observed for any changes in anxiety/depression-like behaviors, and cognitive impairment. After behavioral screening, postmortem serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, vitamin C, adenosine and its metabolites inosine and hypoxanthine were quantified in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum by high-performance liquid chromatography. Additionally, animal serum was screened for changes in corticosterone levels. Results: The results showed that diosgenin reversed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, and ameliorated cognitive impairment in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, diosgenin restored monoamine and vitamin C levels dose-dependently and modulated adenosine and its metabolites in the brain regions. Diosgenin also reinstated otherwise increased serum corticosterone levels in SPS mice. Conclusion: The findings suggest that diosgenin may be a potential candidate for improving symptoms of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hurmat Malik
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Usman
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Mehreen Arif
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Zainab Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Gowhar Ali
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Rauf
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Robert D. E. Sewell
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Lo Y, Yi PL, Hsiao YT, Lee TY, Chang FC. A prolonged stress rat model recapitulates some PTSD-like changes in sleep and neuronal connectivity. Commun Biol 2023; 6:716. [PMID: 37438582 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05090-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibits psychological abnormalities during fear memory processing in rodent models. To simulate long-term impaired fear extinction in PTSD patients, we constructed a seven-day model with multiple prolonged stress (MPS) by modifying manipulation repetitions, intensity, and unpredictability of stressors. Behavioral and neural changes following MPS conveyed longitudinal PTSD-like effects in rats for 6 weeks. Extended fear memory was estimated through fear retrieval induced-freezing behavior and increased long-term serum corticosterone concentrations after MPS manipulation. Additionally, memory retrieval and behavioral anxiety tasks continued enhancing theta oscillation activity in the prefrontal cortex-basal lateral amygdala-ventral hippocampus pathway for an extended period. Moreover, MPS and remote fear retrieval stimuli disrupted sleep-wake activities to consolidate fear memory. Our prolonged fear memory, neuronal connectivity, anxiety, and sleep alteration results demonstrated integrated chronic PTSD symptoms in an MPS-induced rodent model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Lo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Lu Yi
- Department of Sport Management, College of Tourism, Leisure and Sports, Aletheia University, New Taipei City, 25103, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Tse Hsiao
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Yen Lee
- Graduate Institute of Brain & Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 110225, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Chia Chang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Brain & Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 110225, Taiwan.
- Neurobiology & Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
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The role of estrogen receptor manipulation during traumatic stress on changes in emotional memory induced by traumatic stress. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:1049-1061. [PMID: 36879072 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06342-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Traumatic stress leads to persistent fear, which is a core feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD after trauma exposure, which suggests women are differentially sensitive to traumatic stress. However, it is unclear how this differential sensitivity manifests. Cyclical changes in vascular estrogen release could be a contributing factor where levels of vascular estrogens (and activation of estrogen receptors) at the time of traumatic stress alter the impact of traumatic stress. METHODS To examine this, we manipulated estrogen receptors at the time of stress and observed the effect this had on fear and extinction memory (within the single prolonged stress (SPS) paradigm) in female rats. In all experiments, freezing and darting were used to measure fear and extinction memory. RESULTS In Experiment 1, SPS enhanced freezing during extinction testing, and this effect was blocked by nuclear estrogen receptor antagonism prior to SPS. In Experiment 2, SPS decreased conditioned freezing during the acquisition and testing of extinction. Administration of 17β-estradiol altered freezing in control and SPS animals during the acquisition of extinction, but this treatment had no effect on freezing during the testing of extinction memory. In all experiments, darting was only observed to footshock onset during fear conditioning. CONCLUSION The results suggest multiple behaviors (or different behavioral paradigms) are needed to characterize the nature of traumatic stress effects on emotional memory in female rats and that nuclear estrogen receptor antagonism prior to SPS blocks SPS effects on emotional memory in female rats.
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Teal LB, Ingram SM, Bubser M, McClure E, Jones CK. The Evolving Role of Animal Models in the Discovery and Development of Novel Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 30:37-99. [PMID: 36928846 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21054-9_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Historically, animal models have been routinely used in the characterization of novel chemical entities (NCEs) for various psychiatric disorders. Animal models have been essential in the in vivo validation of novel drug targets, establishment of lead compound pharmacokinetic to pharmacodynamic relationships, optimization of lead compounds through preclinical candidate selection, and development of translational measures of target occupancy and functional target engagement. Yet, with decades of multiple NCE failures in Phase II and III efficacy trials for different psychiatric disorders, the utility and value of animal models in the drug discovery process have come under intense scrutiny along with the widespread withdrawal of the pharmaceutical industry from psychiatric drug discovery. More recently, the development and utilization of animal models for the discovery of psychiatric NCEs has undergone a dynamic evolution with the application of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework for better design of preclinical to clinical translational studies combined with innovative genetic, neural circuitry-based, and automated testing technologies. In this chapter, the authors will discuss this evolving role of animal models for improving the different stages of the discovery and development in the identification of next generation treatments for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Teal
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shalonda M Ingram
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael Bubser
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Elliott McClure
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Mohammadi-Farani A, Fakhri S, Jalili C, Samimi Z. Intra-mPFC injection of sodium butyrate promotes BDNF expression and ameliorates extinction recall impairment in an experimental paradigm of post-traumatic stress disorder. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 25:1150-1158. [PMID: 36246060 PMCID: PMC9526891 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2022.65000.14312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Therapeutic strategies that facilitate extinction are promising in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a crucial role in neural plasticity, a process needed for the retention of fear extinction. In this study, we investigated the effects of local administration of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, sodium butyrate (NaBu), on BDNF transcription and behavioral markers of extinction in the single prolonged stress (SPS) model of PTSD. Materials and Methods NaBu was infused into the infralimbic (IL) subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of male rats. The freezing response was recorded as the criterion to assess fear strength on the day of extinction as well as 24 hr later in the retention test. Other behavioral tests were also measured to evaluate the anxiety level, locomotor activity, and working memory on the retention day. HDAC activity and BDNF mRNA expression were evaluated after the behavioral experiments. Results NaBu facilitated the recall of fear extinction in SPS rats (P<0.0001). SPS rats had higher HDAC activity (P<0.0001) and lower BDNF expression (P<0.05) than non-SPS animals. Also, anxiety was higher in the SPS group (P<0.0001), but locomotor activity (P=0.61) and working memory (P=0.36) were not different between SPS and Non-SPS groups. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence that the mechanism of action of NaBu in the improvement of extinction recall is mediated, in part, by enhancing histone acetylation and reviving BDNF expression in IL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Mohammadi-Farani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran,Corresponding author: Ahmad Mohammadi-Farani. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Tel: +98-38-33333057;
| | - Sajad Fakhri
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Cyrus Jalili
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Zahra Samimi
- Department of Immunology, School of medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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Cotella EM, Nawreen N, Moloney RD, Martelle SE, Oshima KM, Lemen P, NiBlack JN, Julakanti RR, Fitzgerald M, Baccei ML, Herman JP. Adolescent Stress Confers Resilience to Traumatic Stress Later in Life: Role of the Prefrontal Cortex. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 3:274-282. [PMID: 37124346 PMCID: PMC10140393 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescent brains are sensitive to stressors. However, under certain circumstances, developmental stress can promote an adaptive phenotype, allowing individuals to cope better with adverse situations in adulthood, thereby contributing to resilience. Methods Sprague Dawley rats (50 males, 48 females) were subjected to adolescent chronic variable stress (adol CVS) for 2 weeks at postnatal day 45. At postnatal day 85, a group was subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS). After a week, animals were evaluated in an auditory-cued fear conditioning paradigm, and neuronal recruitment during reinstatement was assessed by Fos expression. Patch clamp electrophysiology (17-35 cells/group) was performed in male rats to examine physiological changes associated with resilience. Results Adol CVS blocked fear potentiation evoked by SPS. We observed that SPS impaired extinction (males) and enhanced reinstatement (both sexes) of the conditioned freezing response. Prior adol CVS prevented both effects. SPS effects were associated with a reduction of infralimbic (IL) cortex neuronal recruitment after reinstatement in males and increased engagement of the central amygdala in females, both also prevented by adol CVS, suggesting different neurocircuits involved in generating resilience between sexes. We explored the mechanism behind reduced IL recruitment in males by studying the intrinsic excitability of IL pyramidal neurons. SPS reduced excitability of IL neurons, and prior adol CVS prevented this effect. Conclusions Our data indicate that adolescent stress can impart resilience to the effects of traumatic stress on neuroplasticity and behavior. Our data provide a mechanistic link behind developmental stress-induced behavioral resilience and prefrontal (IL) cortical excitability in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelin M. Cotella
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Nawshaba Nawreen
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Rachel D. Moloney
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Susan E. Martelle
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kristen M. Oshima
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Paige Lemen
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jordan N. NiBlack
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Reetu R. Julakanti
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Maureen Fitzgerald
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Mark L. Baccei
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - James P. Herman
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Address correspondence to James P. Herman, Ph.D.
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Canto-de-Souza L, Demetrovich PG, Plas S, Souza RR, Epperson J, Wahlstrom KL, Nunes-de-Souza RL, LaLumiere RT, Planeta CS, McIntyre CK. Daily Optogenetic Stimulation of the Left Infralimbic Cortex Reverses Extinction Impairments in Male Rats Exposed to Single Prolonged Stress. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:780326. [PMID: 34987362 PMCID: PMC8721142 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.780326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex. PTSD-like pathophysiology and behaviors have been observed in rodents exposed to a single prolonged stress (SPS) procedure. When animals are left alone for 7 days after SPS treatment, they show increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired extinction of conditioned fear, and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex. Here, we tested the hypothesis that daily optogenetic stimulation of the infralimbic region (IL) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during the 7 days after SPS would reverse SPS effects on anxiety and fear extinction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent SPS and then received daily optogenetic stimulation (20 Hz, 2 s trains, every 10 s for 15 min/day) of glutamatergic neurons of the left or right IL for seven days. After this incubation period, rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Twenty-four hours after the EPM test, rats underwent auditory fear conditioning (AFC), extinction training and a retention test. SPS increased anxiety-like behavior in the EPM task and produced a profound impairment in extinction of AFC. Optogenetic stimulation of the left IL, but not right, during the 7-day incubation period reversed the extinction impairment. Optogenetic stimulation did not reverse the increased anxiety-like behavior, suggesting that the extinction effects are not due to a treatment-induced reduction in anxiety. Results indicate that increased activity of the left IL after traumatic experiences can prevent development of extinction impairments. These findings suggest that non-invasive brain stimulation may be a useful tool for preventing maladaptive responses to trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Canto-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil.,Institute of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Peyton G Demetrovich
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Samantha Plas
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Rimenez R Souza
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Joseph Epperson
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Krista L Wahlstrom
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Ricardo Luiz Nunes-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil.,Institute of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Ryan T LaLumiere
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Cleopatra Silva Planeta
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil.,Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Christa K McIntyre
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
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13
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Roughley S, Killcross S. The role of the infralimbic cortex in decision making processes. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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14
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Han D, Shi Y, Han F. The effects of orexin-A and orexin receptors on anxiety- and depression-related behaviors in a male rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder. J Comp Neurol 2021; 530:592-606. [PMID: 34387361 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Orexin neurons play an important role in stress-related mental disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anxiety- and depression-related symptoms commonly occur in combination with PTSD. However, the role of the orexin system in mediating alterations in these affective symptoms remains unclear. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is implicated in both cognitive and emotional processing. In the present study, we investigated anxiety- and depression-related behavioral changes using the elevated plus maze, the sucrose preference test, and the open field test in male rats with single prolonged stress (SPS) induced-PTSD. The expression of orexin-A in the hypothalamus and orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R) in the mPFC was detected and quantified by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found that the SPS rats exhibited enhanced levels of anxiety, reduced exploratory activities, and anhedonia. Furthermore, SPS resulted in reductions in the expression of orexin-A in the hypothalamus and the increased the expression of OX1R in the mPFC. The intracerebroventricular administration of orexin-A alleviated behavioral changes in SPS rats and partly restored the increased levels of OX1R in the mPFC. These results suggest that the orexin system plays a role in the anxiety- and depression-related symptoms observed in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Han
- PTSD Laboratory, Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Department of Neonatology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuxiu Shi
- PTSD Laboratory, Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fang Han
- PTSD Laboratory, Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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15
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Nawreen N, Baccei ML, Herman JP. Single Prolonged Stress Reduces Intrinsic Excitability and Excitatory Synaptic Drive Onto Pyramidal Neurons in the Infralimbic Prefrontal Cortex of Adult Male Rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:705660. [PMID: 34366790 PMCID: PMC8342808 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.705660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, debilitating mental illness marked by abnormal fear responses and deficits in extinction of fear memories. The pathophysiology of PTSD is linked to decreased activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). This study aims to investigate underlying functional changes in synaptic drive and intrinsic excitability of pyramidal neurons in the rodent homolog of the vmPFC, the infralimbic cortex (IL), following exposure to single prolonged stress (SPS), a paradigm that mimics core symptoms of PTSD in rats. Rats were exposed to SPS and allowed 1 week of recovery, following which brain slices containing the PFC were prepared for whole-cell patch clamp recordings from layer V pyramidal neurons in the IL. Our results indicate that SPS reduces spontaneous excitatory synaptic drive to pyramidal neurons. In addition, SPS decreases the intrinsic membrane excitability of IL PFC pyramidal cells, as indicated by an increase in rheobase, decrease in input resistance, hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential, and a reduction in repetitive firing rate. Our results suggest that SPS causes a lasting reduction in PFC activity, supporting a body of evidence linking traumatic stress with prefrontal hypoactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawshaba Nawreen
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Mark L Baccei
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - James P Herman
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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16
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Hou Y, Chen M, Wang C, Liu L, Mao H, Qu X, Shen X, Yu B, Liu S. Electroacupuncture Attenuates Anxiety-Like Behaviors in a Rat Model of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:690159. [PMID: 34248490 PMCID: PMC8264195 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.690159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising clinical approach to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet the mechanisms whereby EA can alleviate anxiety and other PTSD symptoms have yet to be clarified. In the present report, rats underwent EA for 14 consecutive days following modified single prolonged stress (MSPS) exposure. These animals were then evaluated in open field and elevated plus maze tests (OFT and EPM), while Fos immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) functional activation. In addition, an extracellular recording and stimulation system was used to analyze vmPFC inputs into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in these rats. Temporary vmPFC inactivation was further performed to assess whether this was sufficient to reverse the anxiolytic effects of EA. Overall, rats that underwent EA treatment spent more time in the central region (OFT) and the open arm (EPM) relative to MSPS model animals (P < 0.05). These MSPS model animals also exhibited significantly fewer activated Fos-positive nuclei in the vmPFC following behavioral testing, while EA was associated with a significant relative increase in c-Fos expression in this region. The transient inactivation of the vmPFC was sufficient to reverse the effects of EA treatment on anxiety-like behaviors in MSPS model rats. MSPS and SEA rats exhibiting no differences in bursting activity between baseline and vmPFC stimulation, whereas bursting activity rose relative to baseline upon ventral mPFC stimulation in EA treated and control rats. Together, these findings indicate that the vmPFC and its inputs into the VTA are functionally linked to the anxiolytic activity of EA, implicating this pathway in the EA-mediated treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchao Hou
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Meiyu Chen
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Can Wang
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lumin Liu
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huijuan Mao
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyi Qu
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyong Shen
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Liu
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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17
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Omura J, Fuchikami M, Araki M, Miyagi T, Okamoto Y, Morinobu S. Chemogenetic activation of the mPFC alleviates impaired fear memory extinction in an animal model of PTSD. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 108:110090. [PMID: 32896603 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Although impaired extinction of fear memory (EFM) is a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the mechanisms underlying the impairment are unknown. Activation of the infralimbic cortex (IL) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been reported to predict successful fear extinction, whereas functionally disrupting this region impairs extinction. We examined whether chemogenetic activation of the IL could alleviate impaired EFM in a single prolonged stress (SPS) rat model of PTSD. METHODS Chemogenetic activation of IL and prelimbic (PL) excitatory neurons was undertaken to evaluate EFM using a contextual fear conditioning paradigm. Neuronal activity in the IL was recorded using a 32-multichannel silicon electrode. To examine histological changes in the mPFC, apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining. RESULTS Chemogenetic activation of excitatory neurons in the IL, but not the PL, enhanced EFM in sham rats and resulted in alleviation of EFM impairment in SPS rats. The alleviation of impaired EFM in SPS rats was observed during the extinction test session. Neuronal activity in the IL of SPS rats was lower than that of sham rats after clozapine-n-oxide administration. Increased apoptosis was found in the IL of SPS rats. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that a decreased excitatory response in the IL due, at least in part, to an increase in apoptosis in SPS rats leads to impaired EFM, and that neuronal activation during extinction training could be useful for the treatment of impaired EFM in PTSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Omura
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Manabu Fuchikami
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Motoaki Araki
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Miyagi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Okamoto
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shigeru Morinobu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Science and Social Welfare, Kibi International University, Takahashi, Japan
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18
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Altered behaviour, dopamine and norepinephrine regulation in stressed mice heterozygous in TPH2 gene. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 108:110155. [PMID: 33127424 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Gene-environment interaction (GxE) determines the vulnerability of an individual to a spectrum of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Increased impulsivity, excessive aggression, and other behavioural characteristics are associated with variants within the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (Tph2) gene, a key enzyme in brain serotonin synthesis. This phenotype is recapitulated in naïve mice with complete, but not with partial Tph2 inactivation. Tph2 haploinsufficiency in animals reflects allelic variation of Tph2 facilitating the elucidation of respective GxE mechanisms. Recently, we showed excessive aggression and altered serotonin brain metabolism in heterozygous Tph2-deficient male mice (Tph2+/-) after predator stress exposure. Here, we sought to extend these studies by investigating aggressive and anxiety-like behaviours, sociability, and the brain metabolism of dopamine and noradrenaline. Separately, Tph2+/- mice were examined for exploration activity in a novel environment and for the potentiation of helplessness in the modified swim test (ModFST). Predation stress procedure increased measures of aggression, dominancy, and suppressed sociability in Tph2+/- mice, which was the opposite of that observed in control mice. Anxiety-like behaviour was unaltered in the mutants and elevated in controls. Tph2+/- mice exposed to environmental novelty or to the ModFST exhibited increased novelty exploration and no increase in floating behaviour compared to controls, which is suggestive of resilience to stress and despair. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed significant genotype-dependent differences in the metabolism of dopamine, and norepinephrine within the brain tissue. In conclusion, environmentally challenged Tph2+/- mice exhibit behaviours that resemble the behaviour of non-stressed null mutants, which reveals how GxE interaction studies can unmask latent genetically determined predispositions.
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19
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Zhang WH, Zhang JY, Holmes A, Pan BX. Amygdala Circuit Substrates for Stress Adaptation and Adversity. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:847-856. [PMID: 33691931 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Brain systems that promote maintenance of homeostasis in the face of stress have significant adaptive value. A growing body of work across species demonstrates a critical role for the amygdala in promoting homeostasis by regulating physiological and behavioral responses to stress. This review focuses on an emerging body of evidence that has begun to delineate the contribution of specific long-range amygdala circuits in mediating the effects of stress. After summarizing the major anatomical features of the amygdala and its connectivity to other limbic structures, we discuss recent findings from rodents showing how stress causes structural and functional remodeling of amygdala neuronal outputs to defined cortical and subcortical target regions. We also consider some of the environmental and genetic factors that have been found to moderate how the amygdala responds to stress and relate the emerging preclinical literature to the current understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Future effort to translate these findings to clinics may help to develop valuable tools for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hua Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jun-Yu Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institues of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
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20
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Piggott VM, Lloyd SC, Matchynski JI, Perrine SA, Conti AC. Traumatic Stress, Chronic Ethanol Exposure, or the Combination, Alter Cannabinoid System Components in Reward and Limbic Regions of the Mouse Brain. Molecules 2021; 26:2086. [PMID: 33917316 PMCID: PMC8038692 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26072086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cannabinoid system is independently affected by stress and chronic ethanol exposure. However, the extent to which co-occurrence of traumatic stress and chronic ethanol exposure modulates the cannabinoid system remains unclear. We examined levels of cannabinoid system components, anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, fatty acid amide hydrolase, and monoacylglycerol lipase after mouse single-prolonged stress (mSPS) or non-mSPS (Control) exposure, with chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor or without CIE vapor (Air) across several brain regions using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry or immunoblotting. Compared to mSPS-Air mice, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels in the anterior striatum were increased in mSPS-CIE mice. In the dorsal hippocampus, anandamide content was increased in Control-CIE mice compared to Control-Air, mSPS-Air, or mSPS-CIE mice. Finally, amygdalar anandamide content was increased in Control-CIE mice compared to Control-Air, or mSPS-CIE mice, but the anandamide content was decreased in mSPS-CIE compared to mSPS-Air mice. Based on these data we conclude that the effects of combined traumatic stress and chronic ethanol exposure on the cannabinoid system in reward pathway regions are driven by CIE exposure and that traumatic stress affects the cannabinoid components in limbic regions, warranting future investigation of neurotherapeutic treatment to attenuate these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica M. Piggott
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Scott C. Lloyd
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - James I. Matchynski
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Shane A. Perrine
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Alana C. Conti
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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21
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BDNF Protein and BDNF mRNA Expression of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Amygdala, and Hippocampus during Situational Reminder in the PTSD Animal Model. Behav Neurol 2021; 2021:6657716. [PMID: 33763156 PMCID: PMC7964114 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6657716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether BDNF protein and BDNF mRNA expression of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC; cingulated cortex area 1 (Cg1), prelimbic cortex (PrL), and infralimbic cortex (IL)), amygdala, and hippocampus (CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG)) was involved in fear of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the situational reminder of traumatic memory remains uncertain. Footshock rats experienced an inescapable footshock (3 mA, 10 s), and later we have measured fear behavior for 2 min in the footshock environment on the situational reminder phase. In the final retrieval of situational reminder, BDNF protein and mRNA levels were measured. The results showed that higher BDNF expression occurred in the Cg1, PrL, and amygdala. Lower BDNF expression occurred in the IL, CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG. BDNF mRNA levels were higher in the mPFC and amygdala but lower in the hippocampus. The neural connection analysis showed that BDNF protein and BDNF mRNA exhibited weak connections among the mPFC, amygdala, and hippocampus during situational reminders. The present data did not support the previous viewpoint in neuroimaging research that the mPFC and hippocampus revealed hypoactivity and the amygdala exhibited hyperactivity for PTSD symptoms. These findings should be discussed with the previous evidence and provide clinical implications for PTSD.
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22
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The synthetically produced predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline increases alcohol self-administration and alters basolateral amygdala response to alcohol in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:67-82. [PMID: 32978649 PMCID: PMC7796942 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05659-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric illness that can increase the risk for developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). While clinical data has been useful in identifying similarities in the neurobiological bases of these disorders, preclinical models are essential for understanding the mechanism(s) by which stressors increase the risk for escalated alcohol consumption. The purpose of these studies was to examine if exposure of male Long-Evans rats to the synthetically derived predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT; a component of fox feces) would increase sweetened alcohol self-administration, potentially by facilitating transfer of salience towards cues, and alter neuronal response to alcohol as measured by the immediate early gene c-Fos. In experiment 1, rats exposed to repeated (4×) TMT showed reductions in port entries in Pavlovian conditioned approach and increases in sweetened alcohol self-administration. In experiment 2, rats exposed to repeated TMT showed blunted basolateral amygdala c-Fos response to alcohol. In experiment 3, rats exposed to single, but not repeated TMT, showed increases in sweetened alcohol self-administration, and no change in anxiety-like behavior or hyperarousal. In experiment 4, rats continued to show a significant corticosterone response to TMT after repeated exposures. In summary, exposure of male rats to TMT can cause escalations in sweetened alcohol self-administration and reduction in BLA response to alcohol. These studies outline and utilize a novel preclinical model that can be used to further neurobiological understanding of the emergence of escalated alcohol consumption following stress exposure.
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23
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Wei J, Cheng J, Waddell NJ, Wang ZJ, Pang X, Cao Q, Liu A, Chitaman JM, Abreu K, Jasrotia RS, Duffney LJ, Zhang J, Dietz DM, Feng J, Yan Z. DNA Methyltransferase 3A Is Involved in the Sustained Effects of Chronic Stress on Synaptic Functions and Behaviors. Cereb Cortex 2020; 31:1998-2012. [PMID: 33230530 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms regulate aberrant gene transcription in stress-associated mental disorders. However, it remains to be elucidated about the role of DNA methylation and its catalyzing enzymes, DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), in this process. Here, we found that male rats exposed to chronic (2-week) unpredictable stress exhibited a substantial reduction of Dnmt3a after stress cessation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a key target region of stress. Treatment of unstressed control rats with DNMT inhibitors recapitulated the effect of chronic unpredictable stress on decreased AMPAR expression and function in PFC. In contrast, overexpression of Dnmt3a in PFC of stressed animals prevented the loss of glutamatergic responses. Moreover, the stress-induced behavioral abnormalities, including the impaired recognition memory, heightened aggression, and hyperlocomotion, were partially attenuated by Dnmt3a expression in PFC of stressed animals. Finally, we found that there were genome-wide DNA methylation changes and transcriptome alterations in PFC of stressed rats, both of which were enriched at several neural pathways, including glutamatergic synapse and microtubule-associated protein kinase signaling. These results have therefore recognized the potential role of DNA epigenetic modification in stress-induced disturbance of synaptic functions and cognitive and emotional processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wei
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jia Cheng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Nicholas J Waddell
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Xiaodong Pang
- Department of Statistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Aiyi Liu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Javed M Chitaman
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Kristen Abreu
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Rahul Singh Jasrotia
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Lara J Duffney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jinfeng Zhang
- Department of Statistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jian Feng
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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24
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Carlson HN, Weiner JL. The neural, behavioral, and epidemiological underpinnings of comorbid alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 157:69-142. [PMID: 33648676 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and (PTSD) frequently co-occur and individuals suffering from this dual diagnosis often exhibit increased symptom severity and poorer treatment outcomes than those with only one of these diseases. Although there have been significant advances in our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying each of these disorders, the neural underpinnings of the comorbid condition remain poorly understood. This chapter summarizes recent epidemiological findings on comorbid AUD and PTSD, with a focus on vulnerable populations, the temporal relationship between these disorders, and the clinical consequences associated with the dual diagnosis. We then review animal models of the comorbid condition and emerging human and non-human animal research that is beginning to identify maladaptive neural changes common to both disorders, primarily involving functional changes in brain reward and stress networks. We end by proposing a neural framework, based on the emerging field of affective valence encoding, that may better explain the epidemiological and neural findings on AUD and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah N Carlson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Jeff L Weiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.
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25
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Moser DA, Suardi F, Rossignol AS, Vital M, Manini A, Serpa SR, Schechter DS. Parental Reflective Functioning correlates to brain activation in response to video-stimuli of mother-child dyads: Links to maternal trauma history and PTSD. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 293:110985. [PMID: 31627112 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Parental Reflective Functioning is a parent's capacity to infer mental states in herself and her child. Parental Reflective Functioning is linked to the quality of parent-child attachment and promotes parent-child mutual emotion regulation. We examined neural correlates of parental reflective functioning and their relationship to physical abuse. Participants were mothers with (n = 26) and without (n = 22) history of childhood physical abuse. Parental reflective functioning was assessed by coding transcripts of maternal narrative responses on interviews. All mothers also underwent magnetic resonance imaging while watching video clips of children during mother-child separation and play. Parental reflective functioning was significantly lower among mothers with histories of childhood physical abuse. When mothers without history of childhood physical abuse watched scenes of separation versus play, brain activation was positively correlated with parental reflective functioning in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and negatively associated with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and insula. These associations were not present when limiting analyses to mothers reporting abuse histories. Regions subserving emotion regulation and empathy were associated with parental reflective functioning; yet these regions were not featured in maltreated mothers. These data suggest that childhood physical abuse exposure may alter the psychobiology that is linked to emotional comprehension and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Andreas Moser
- Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Rue de Lyon 38, 1203 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Francesca Suardi
- Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SPEA), University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ana Sancho Rossignol
- Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SPEA), University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marylène Vital
- Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SPEA), University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélia Manini
- Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SPEA), University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Rusconi Serpa
- Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SPEA), University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Scott Schechter
- University Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SUPEA), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
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26
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Metabolic effects induced by chronic stress in the amygdala of diabetic rats: A study based on ex vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy. Brain Res 2019; 1723:146377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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