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Mineur YS, Garcia-Rivas V, Thomas MA, Soares AR, McKee SA, Picciotto MR. Sex differences in stress-induced alcohol intake: a review of preclinical studies focused on amygdala and inflammatory pathways. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2041-2061. [PMID: 35359158 PMCID: PMC9704113 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06120-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies suggest that women are more likely than men to relapse to alcohol drinking in response to stress; however, the mechanisms underlying this sex difference are not well understood. A number of preclinical behavioral models have been used to study stress-induced alcohol intake. Here, we review paradigms used to study effects of stress on alcohol intake in rodents, focusing on findings relevant to sex differences. To date, studies of sex differences in stress-induced alcohol drinking have been somewhat limited; however, there is evidence that amygdala-centered circuits contribute to effects of stress on alcohol seeking. In addition, we present an overview of inflammatory pathways leading to microglial activation that may contribute to alcohol-dependent behaviors. We propose that sex differences in neuronal function and inflammatory signaling in circuits centered on the amygdala are involved in sex-dependent effects on stress-induced alcohol seeking and suggest that this is an important area for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann S Mineur
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Vernon Garcia-Rivas
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Merrilee A Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Alexa R Soares
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
- Yale Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sherry A McKee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Marina R Picciotto
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA.
- Yale Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, New Haven, CT, USA.
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2
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Vantrease JE, Avonts B, Padival M, DeJoseph MR, Urban JH, Rosenkranz JA. Sex Differences in the Activity of Basolateral Amygdalar Neurons That Project to the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis and Their Role in Anticipatory Anxiety. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4488-4504. [PMID: 35477901 PMCID: PMC9172066 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1499-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal fear and anxiety can manifest as psychiatric disorders. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is implicated in sustained responding to, or anticipation of, an aversive event which can be expressed as anticipatory anxiety. The BLA is also active during anticipatory anxiety and sends projections to the BNST. However, little is known about the role for BLA neurons that project to BNST (BLA-BNST) in anticipatory anxiety in rodents. To address this, we tested whether chemogenetic inactivation of the BLA-BNST pathway attenuates sustained conditioned responses produced by anticipation of an aversive stimulus. For comparison, we also assessed BLA-BNST inactivation during social interaction, which is sensitive to unlearned anxiety. We found that BLA-BNST inactivation reduced conditioned sustained freezing and increased social behaviors, but surprisingly, only in males. To determine whether sex differences in BLA-BNST neuronal activity contribute to the differences in behavior, we used in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological approaches. In males, BLA-BNST projection neurons were more active and excitable, which coincided with a smaller after-hyperpolarization current (I AHP) compared with other BLA neurons; whereas in females, BLA-BNST neurons were less excitable and had larger I AHP compared with other BLA neurons. These findings demonstrate that activity of BLA-BNST neurons mediates conditioned anticipatory anxiety-like behavior in males. The lack of a role of BLA-BNST in females in this behavior, possibly because of low excitability of these neurons, also highlights the need for caution when generalizing the role of specific neurocircuits in fear and anxiety.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Anxiety disorders disproportionately affect women. This hints toward sex differences within anxiety neurocircuitry, yet most of our understanding is derived from male rodents. Furthermore, debilitating anticipation of adverse events is among the most severe anxiety symptoms, but little is known about anticipatory anxiety neurocircuitry. Here we demonstrated that BLA-BNST activity is required for anticipatory anxiety to a prolonged aversive cue, but only in males. Moreover, BLA-BNST neurons are hypoactive and less excitable in females. These results uncover BLA-BNST as a key component of anticipatory anxiety circuitry, and cellular differences may explain the sex-dependent role of this circuit. Uncovering this disparity provides evidence that the assumed basic circuitry of an anxiety behavior might not readily transpose from males to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime E Vantrease
- Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Brittany Avonts
- Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Mallika Padival
- Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - M Regina DeJoseph
- Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Janice H Urban
- Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - J Amiel Rosenkranz
- Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
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Barney TM, Vore AS, Trapp SL, Finkenberg CL, Pugliesi DR, Schmalzle MM, Evans SH, Varlinskaya EI, Deak T. Circulating corticosterone levels mediate the relationship between acute ethanol intoxication and markers of NF-κB activation in male rats. Neuropharmacology 2022; 210:109044. [PMID: 35341791 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Binge drinking is a harmful pattern of alcohol use that is associated with a number of serious health problems. Of particular interest are the rapid alterations in neuroimmune gene expression and the concurrent activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation associated with high intensity drinking. Using a rat model of acute binge-like ethanol exposure, the present studies were designed to assess the role of corticosterone (CORT) in ethanol-induced neuroimmune gene expression changes, particularly those associated with the NFκB signaling pathway, including rapid induction of IL-6 and IκBα, and suppression of IL-1β and TNFα gene expression evident after administration of moderate to high doses of ethanol (1.5-3.5 g/kg ip) during intoxication (3 h post-injection). Experiment 1 tested whether inhibition of CORT synthesis with metyrapone and aminoglutethimide (100 mg/kg each, sc) would block ethanol-induced changes in neuroimmune gene expression. Results indicated that rapid alterations in IκBα, IL-1β, and TNFα expression were completely blocked by pretreatment with the glucocorticoid synthesis inhibitors, an effect that was reinstated by co-administration of exogenous CORT (3.75 mg/kg) in Experiment 2. Experiment 3 assessed whether these rapid alterations in neuroimmune gene expression would be evident when rats were challenged with a subthreshold dose of ethanol (1.5 g/kg) in combination with 2.5 mg/kg CORT, which showed limited evidence for additive effects of low-dose CORT combined with a moderate dose of ethanol. Acute inhibition of mineralocorticoid (spironolactone) or glucocorticoid (mifepristone) receptors, alone (Experiment 4) or combined (Experiment 5) had no effect on ethanol-induced changes in neuroimmune gene expression, presumably due to poor CNS penetrance of these drugs. Finally, Experiments 6 and 7 showed that dexamethasone (subcutaneous; a GR agonist) recapitulated effects of ethanol. Overall, we conclude that ethanol-induced CORT synthesis and release is responsible for suppression of IL-1β, TNFα, and induction of IκBα in the hippocampus through GR signaling. Interventions designed to curb these changes may reduce drinking, and subdue detrimental neuroimmune activation induced by ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaddeus M Barney
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Andrew S Vore
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Sarah L Trapp
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Cristal L Finkenberg
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Dominique R Pugliesi
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Megha M Schmalzle
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Shani H Evans
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Elena I Varlinskaya
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Terrence Deak
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
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Zhu J, Wang C, Wang Y, Guo C, Lu P, Mou F, Shao S. Electroacupuncture alleviates anxiety and modulates amygdala CRH/CRHR1 signaling in single prolonged stress mice. Acupunct Med 2022; 40:369-378. [PMID: 35044840 DOI: 10.1177/09645284211056352] [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: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety-related psychiatric disorder, manifesting high comorbidity with anxiety disorders. Its underlying neurobiological mechanisms have been associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction and stress hormones. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a primary stress hormone, expressed in the hypothalamus and amygdala. Electroacupuncture (EA) can improve mood disorders, but its mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of EA on PTSD and explore the related mechanisms. METHODS We used single prolonged stress (SPS) mice to establish a PTSD model, and EA was performed after SPS or 7 days later for a week. Then we observed their fear and anxiety-like behavior through cue-induced fear condition tests, open field test and the elevated zero maze. CRH and CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) protein levels in the amygdala were measured in SPS mice after EA intervention. RESULTS We found that EA at ST36 and GV20 improved fear and anxiety behavior in SPS mice. The amygdala CRH and CRHR1 protein levels increased in the SPS mice, and this effect was reversed by the EA intervention. CRHR1 inhibition by the CRHR1 antagonist NBI 27914 alleviated anxiety behavior in SPS mice. CONCLUSION CRH/CRHR1 signaling in the amygdala may contribute to the anxiolytic effect of EA in SPS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institutes of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunxia Guo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pingping Lu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangfang Mou
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuijin Shao
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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5
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Ferland-Beckham C, Chaby LE, Daskalakis NP, Knox D, Liberzon I, Lim MM, McIntyre C, Perrine SA, Risbrough VB, Sabban EL, Jeromin A, Haas M. Systematic Review and Methodological Considerations for the Use of Single Prolonged Stress and Fear Extinction Retention in Rodents. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:652636. [PMID: 34054443 PMCID: PMC8162789 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.652636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event that can lead to lifelong burden that increases mortality and adverse health outcomes. Yet, no new treatments have reached the market in two decades. Thus, screening potential interventions for PTSD is of high priority. Animal models often serve as a critical translational tool to bring new therapeutics from bench to bedside. However, the lack of concordance of some human clinical trial outcomes with preclinical animal efficacy findings has led to a questioning of the methods of how animal studies are conducted and translational validity established. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to determine methodological variability in studies that applied a prominent animal model of trauma-like stress, single prolonged stress (SPS). The SPS model has been utilized to evaluate a myriad of PTSD-relevant outcomes including extinction retention. Rodents exposed to SPS express an extinction retention deficit, a phenotype identified in humans with PTSD, in which fear memory is aberrantly retained after fear memory extinction. The current systematic review examines methodological variation across all phases of the SPS paradigm, as well as strategies for behavioral coding, data processing, statistical approach, and the depiction of data. Solutions for key challenges and sources of variation within these domains are discussed. In response to methodological variation in SPS studies, an expert panel was convened to generate methodological considerations to guide researchers in the application of SPS and the evaluation of extinction retention as a test for a PTSD-like phenotype. Many of these guidelines are applicable to all rodent paradigms developed to model trauma effects or learned fear processes relevant to PTSD, and not limited to SPS. Efforts toward optimizing preclinical model application are essential for enhancing the reproducibility and translational validity of preclinical findings, and should be conducted for all preclinical psychiatric research models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren E Chaby
- Cohen Veterans Bioscience, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Nikolaos P Daskalakis
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Dayan Knox
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Israel Liberzon
- Department of Psychiatry, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Miranda M Lim
- Departments of Neurology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Medicine, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Sleep Disorders Clinic, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Christa McIntyre
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Shane A Perrine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States.,Research Service, John. D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Victoria B Risbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Center for Excellence in Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | | | - Magali Haas
- Cohen Veterans Bioscience, New York City, NY, United States
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Ornelas LC, Tyler RE, Irukulapati P, Paladugu S, Besheer J. Increased alcohol self-administration following exposure to the predator odor TMT in active coping female rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 402:113068. [PMID: 33333108 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid. Additionally, individual differences in response to stress suggest resilient and susceptible populations. The current study exposed male and female Long Evans rats to the synthetically produced predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) to examine individual differences in stress-reactive behaviors (digging and immobility) and whether these differences were related to subsequent alcohol drinking. Male and female Long Evans rats were trained on operant alcohol self-administration. After 9 sessions, rats underwent exposure to TMT or water (Control) in a distinct context. 6 days after TMT exposure, rats underwent re-exposure to the TMT-paired context (without TMT), and a series of behavioral assessments (acoustic startle, zero maze, light/dark box), after which rats resumed alcohol self-administration. TMT subgroups were created using a ratio of digging to immobility behavior during TMT exposure and rats with a ratio score < 1.0 or> 1.0 were grouped into TMT-1 (low digging/high immobility) or TMT-2 (high digging/low immobility), respectively. All male rats exposed to TMT met criteria for TMT-1, while female rats were divided into the two subgroups. In females, high digging/low immobility behavior during TMT exposure (TMT-2) was related to increased alcohol self-administration, but this was not observed in males or females that engaged in low digging/high immobility (TMT-1). These data show that individual differences in stress-reactivity can lead to lasting behavioral changes which may lead to a better understanding of increases in alcohol drinking following stress in females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan E Tyler
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, United States; Neuroscience Curriculum, United States
| | | | | | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, United States; Neuroscience Curriculum, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States.
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Hsiao HT, Liu YC, Liu PY, Wu SN. Concerted suppression of I h and activation of I K(M) by ivabradine, an HCN-channel inhibitor, in pituitary cells and hippocampal neurons. Brain Res Bull 2019; 149:11-20. [PMID: 30951796 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Ivabradine (IVA), a heart-rate reducing agent, is recognized as an inhibitor of hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) and also reported to ameliorate inflammatory or neuropathic pain. However, to what extent this agent can perturb another types of membrane ion currents in neurons or endocrine cells remains to be largely unknown. Therefore, the Ih or other types of ionic currents in pituitary tumor (GH3) cells and in hippocampal mHippoE-14 neurons was studied with or without the presence of IVA or other related compounds. The IVA addition caused a time- and concentration-dependent reduction in the amplitude of Ih with an IC50 value of 0.64 μM and a KD value of 0.68 μM. IVA (0.3 μM) shifted the Ih activation curve to a more negative potential by approximately 8 mV, despite no concomitant change in the gating charge. Additionally, IVA was found to increase M-type K+ current (IK(M)) together with a rightward shift in the activation curve. In cell-attached current recordings, IVA (3 μM) applied to the bath increased the open probability of M-type K+ channels; however, it did not modify single-channel conductance of the channel. In current-clamp voltage recordings, IVA suppressed the firing of spontaneous action potentials in GH3 cells; and, further addition of linopirdine attenuated its suppression of firing. In hippocampal mHippoE-14 neurons, IVA also effectively increased IK(M) amplitude. In summary, both inhibition of Ih and activation of IK(M) caused by IVA can synergistically combine to influence electrical behaviors in different types of electrically excitable cells occurring in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Tsung Hsiao
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Chin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Yen Liu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Nan Wu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan City, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan City, Taiwan.
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