1
|
Li J, Zhang C, Meng Y, Yang S, Xia J, Chen H, Liao W. Morphometric brain organization across the human lifespan reveals increased dispersion linked to cognitive performance. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002647. [PMID: 38900742 PMCID: PMC11189252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The human brain is organized as segregation and integration units and follows complex developmental trajectories throughout life. The cortical manifold provides a new means of studying the brain's organization in a multidimensional connectivity gradient space. However, how the brain's morphometric organization changes across the human lifespan remains unclear. Here, leveraging structural magnetic resonance imaging scans from 1,790 healthy individuals aged 8 to 89 years, we investigated age-related global, within- and between-network dispersions to reveal the segregation and integration of brain networks from 3D manifolds based on morphometric similarity network (MSN), combining multiple features conceptualized as a "fingerprint" of an individual's brain. Developmental trajectories of global dispersion unfolded along patterns of molecular brain organization, such as acetylcholine receptor. Communities were increasingly dispersed with age, reflecting more disassortative morphometric similarity profiles within a community. Increasing within-network dispersion of primary motor and association cortices mediated the influence of age on the cognitive flexibility of executive functions. We also found that the secondary sensory cortices were decreasingly dispersed with the rest of the cortices during aging, possibly indicating a shift of secondary sensory cortices across the human lifespan from an extreme to a more central position in 3D manifolds. Together, our results reveal the age-related segregation and integration of MSN from the perspective of a multidimensional gradient space, providing new insights into lifespan changes in multiple morphometric features of the brain, as well as the influence of such changes on cognitive performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Li
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Meng
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Siqi Yang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Xia
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Huafu Chen
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Liao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chakraborty S, Haast RAM, Onuska KM, Kanel P, Prado MAM, Prado VF, Khan AR, Schmitz TW. Multimodal gradients of basal forebrain connectivity across the neocortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.26.541324. [PMID: 37292595 PMCID: PMC10245994 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.26.541324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The cholinergic innervation of the cortex originates almost entirely from populations of neurons in the basal forebrain (BF). Structurally, the ascending BF cholinergic projections are highly branched, with individual cells targeting multiple different cortical regions. However, it is not known whether the structural organization of basal forebrain projections reflects their functional integration with the cortex. We therefore used high-resolution 7T diffusion and resting state functional MRI in humans to examine multimodal gradients of BF cholinergic connectivity with the cortex. Moving from anteromedial to posterolateral BF, we observed reduced tethering between structural and functional connectivity gradients, with the most pronounced dissimilarity localized in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NbM). The cortical expression of this structure-function gradient revealed progressively weaker tethering moving from unimodal to transmodal cortex, with the lowest tethering in midcingulo-insular cortex. We used human [ 18 F] fluoroethoxy-benzovesamicol (FEOBV) PET to demonstrate that cortical areas with higher concentrations of cholinergic innervation tend to exhibit lower tethering between BF structural and functional connectivity, suggesting a pattern of increasingly diffuse axonal arborization. Anterograde viral tracing of cholinergic projections and [ 18 F] FEOBV PET in mice confirmed a gradient of axonal arborization across individual BF cholinergic neurons. Like humans, cholinergic neurons with the highest arborization project to cingulo-insular areas of the mouse isocortex. Altogether, our findings reveal that BF cholinergic neurons vary in their branch complexity, with certain subpopulations exhibiting greater modularity and others greater diffusivity in the functional integration of their cortical targets.
Collapse
|
3
|
Chakraborty S, Lee SK, Arnold SM, Haast RAM, Khan AR, Schmitz TW. Focal acetylcholinergic modulation of the human midcingulo-insular network during attention: Meta-analytic neuroimaging and behavioral evidence. J Neurochem 2024; 168:397-413. [PMID: 37864501 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15990] [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: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The basal forebrain cholinergic neurons provide acetylcholine to the cortex via large projections. Recent molecular imaging work in humans indicates that the cortical cholinergic innervation is not uniformly distributed, but rather may disproportionately innervate cortical areas relevant to supervisory attention. In this study, we therefore reexamined the spatial relationship between acetylcholinergic modulation and attention in the human cortex using meta-analytic strategies targeting both pharmacological and non-pharmacological neuroimaging studies. We found that pharmaco-modulation of acetylcholine evoked both increased activity in the anterior cingulate and decreased activity in the opercular and insular cortex. In large independent meta-analyses of non-pharmacological neuroimaging research, we demonstrate that during attentional engagement these cortical areas exhibit (1) task-related co-activation with the basal forebrain, (2) task-related co-activation with one another, and (3) spatial overlap with dense cholinergic innervations originating from the basal forebrain, as estimated by multimodal positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Finally, we provide meta-analytic evidence that pharmaco-modulation of acetylcholine also induces a speeding of responses to targets with no apparent tradeoff in accuracy. In sum, we demonstrate in humans that acetylcholinergic modulation of midcingulo-insular hubs of the ventral attention/salience network via basal forebrain afferents may coordinate selection of task relevant information, thereby facilitating cognition and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sudesna Chakraborty
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sun Kyun Lee
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah M Arnold
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roy A M Haast
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- CRMBM, CNRS UMR 7339, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Ali R Khan
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taylor W Schmitz
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Roqué PJ, Barria A, Zhang X, Hashimoto JG, Costa LG, Guizzetti M. Synaptogenesis by Cholinergic Stimulation of Astrocytes. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:3212-3227. [PMID: 37402036 PMCID: PMC10493036 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-03979-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes release numerous factors known to contribute to the process of synaptogenesis, yet knowledge about the signals that control their release is limited. We hypothesized that neuron-derived signals stimulate astrocytes, which respond to neurons through the modulation of astrocyte-released synaptogenic factors. Here we investigate the effect of cholinergic stimulation of astrocytes on synaptogenesis in co-cultured neurons. Using a culture system where primary rat astrocytes and primary rat neurons are first grown separately allowed us to independently manipulate astrocyte cholinergic signaling. Subsequent co-culture of pre-stimulated astrocytes with naïve neurons enabled us to assess how prior stimulation of astrocyte acetylcholine receptors uniquely modulates neuronal synapse formation. Pre-treatment of astrocytes with the acetylcholine receptor agonist carbachol increased the expression of synaptic proteins, the number of pre- and postsynaptic puncta, and the number of functional synapses in hippocampal neurons after 24 h in co-culture. Astrocyte secretion of the synaptogenic protein thrombospondin-1 increased after cholinergic stimulation and inhibition of the receptor for thrombospondins prevented the increase in neuronal synaptic structures. Thus, we identified a novel mechanism of neuron-astrocyte-neuron communication, where neuronal release of acetylcholine stimulates astrocytes to release synaptogenic proteins leading to increased synaptogenesis in neurons. This study provides new insights into the role of neurotransmitter receptors in developing astrocytes and into our understanding of the modulation of astrocyte-induced synaptogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J Roqué
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrés Barria
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Joel G Hashimoto
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lucio G Costa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine & Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marina Guizzetti
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bava JM, Wang Z, Bick SK, Englot DJ, Constantinidis C. Improving Visual Working Memory with Cholinergic Deep Brain Stimulation. Brain Sci 2023; 13:917. [PMID: 37371395 PMCID: PMC10296349 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine is a critical modulatory neurotransmitter for cognitive function. Cholinergic drugs improve cognitive performance and enhance neuronal activity in the sensory and association cortices. An alternative means of improving cognitive function is through the use of deep brain stimulation. Prior animal studies have demonstrated that stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert through DBS improves cognitive performance on a visual working memory task to the same degree as cholinesterase inhibitors. Additionally, unlike current pharmacological treatments for neurocognitive disorders, DBS does not lose efficacy over time and adverse effects are rare. These findings suggest that DBS may be a promising alternative for treating cognitive impairments in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Thus, further research and human trials should be considered to assess the potential of DBS as a therapeutic treatment for these disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janki M. Bava
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (J.M.B.); (D.J.E.)
| | - Zhengyang Wang
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
| | - Sarah K. Bick
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Dario J. Englot
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (J.M.B.); (D.J.E.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Christos Constantinidis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (J.M.B.); (D.J.E.)
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Orlando IF, Shine JM, Robbins TW, Rowe JB, O'Callaghan C. Noradrenergic and cholinergic systems take centre stage in neuropsychiatric diseases of ageing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 149:105167. [PMID: 37054802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Noradrenergic and cholinergic systems are among the most vulnerable brain systems in neuropsychiatric diseases of ageing, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and progressive supranuclear palsy. As these systems fail, they contribute directly to many of the characteristic cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. However, their contribution to symptoms is not sufficiently understood, and pharmacological interventions targeting noradrenergic and cholinergic systems have met with mixed success. Part of the challenge is the complex neurobiology of these systems, operating across multiple timescales, and with non-linear changes across the adult lifespan and disease course. We address these challenges in a detailed review of the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems, outlining their roles in cognition and behaviour, and how they influence neuropsychiatric symptoms in disease. By bridging across levels of analysis, we highlight opportunities for improving drug therapies and for pursuing personalised medicine strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella F Orlando
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - James M Shine
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Claire O'Callaghan
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yinka OS, Olubunmi OP, Zabdiel AA, Oladele OJ, Taiye AS, Ayodele A, Adetutu FO, Afees OJ, Kayode AA. Peroral Exposure to Cannabis Sativa Ethanol Extract Caused Neuronal Degeneration and Astrogliosis in Wistar Rats' Prefrontal Cortex. Ann Neurosci 2023; 30:84-95. [PMID: 37706104 PMCID: PMC10496793 DOI: 10.1177/09727531221120988] [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: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite widespread concerns about its possible side effects, notably on the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which mediates cognitive processes, the use of Cannabis sativa as a medicinal and recreational drug is expanding exponentially. This study evaluated possible behavioral alterations, neurotransmitter levels, histological, and immunohistochemical changes in the PFC of Wistar rats exposed to Cannabis sativa. Purpose To evaluate the effect of graded doses of Cannabis sativa on the PFC using behavioural, histological, and immunohistochemical approaches. Methods Twenty-eight juvenile male Wistar rats weighing between 70 g and 100 g were procured and assigned into groups A-D (n = 7 each). Group A served as control which received distilled water only as a placebo; rats in groups B, C, and D which were the treatment groups were orally exposed to graded doses of Cannabis sativa (10 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg, respectively). Rats in all experimental groups were exposed to Cannabis sativa for 21 days, followed by behavioral tests using the open field test for locomotor, anxiety, and exploratory activities, while the Y-maze test was for spatial memory assessment. Rats for biochemical analysis were cervically dislocated and rats for tissue processing were intracardially perfused following neurobehavioral tests. Sequel to sacrifice, brain tissues were excised and prefrontal cortices were obtained for the neurotransmitter (glutamate, acetylcholine, and dopamine) and enzymatic assay (Cytochrome C oxidase (CcO) and Glucose 6- Phosphate Dehydrogenase-G-6-PDH). Brain tissues were fixed in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin (NBF) for histological demonstration of the PFC cytoarchitecture using H&E and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for astrocyte evaluation. Results Glutamate and dopamine levels were significantly increased (F = 24.44, P = .0132) in groups D, and B, C, and D, respectively, compared to control; likewise, the activities of CcO and G-6-PDH were also significantly elevated (F = 96.28, P = .0001) (F = 167.5, P = .0001) in groups C and D compared to the control. Cannabis sativa impaired locomotor activity and spatial memory in B and D and D, respectively. All Cannabis sativa exposed groups demonstrated evidence of neurodegeneration in the exposed groups; GFAP immunoexpression was evident in all groups with a marked increase in group D. Conclusion Cannabis sativa altered neurotransmitter levels, energy metabolism, locomotor, and exploratory activity, and spatial working memory, with neuronal degeneration as well as reactive astrogliosis in the PFC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olatunji Sunday Yinka
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Benjamin Carson (Snr.) College of Medical and Health Sciences, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria
- Anatomy Department, Adventist School of Medicine of East-Central Africa, Adventist University of Central Africa, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Ogunnaike Philip Olubunmi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Benjamin Carson (Snr.) College of Medical and Health Sciences, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Abijo Ayodeji Zabdiel
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Benjamin Carson (Snr.) College of Medical and Health Sciences, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Owolabi Joshua Oladele
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Benjamin Carson (Snr.) College of Medical and Health Sciences, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria
- Anatomy Department, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Adelodun Stephen Taiye
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Benjamin Carson (Snr.) College of Medical and Health Sciences, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Adeoye Ayodele
- Department of Education, School of Education and Humanities, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Fasesan Oluwatoyin Adetutu
- Department of Psychiatry, Ben Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Olanrewaju John Afees
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Benjamin Carson (Snr.) College of Medical and Health Sciences, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Adegbite Ademola Kayode
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Benjamin Carson (Snr.) College of Medical and Health Sciences, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Roqué PJ, Barria A, Zhang X, Costa LG, Guizzetti M. Synaptogenesis by Cholinergic Stimulation of Astrocytes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2566078. [PMID: 36824819 PMCID: PMC9949182 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2566078/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes release numerous factors known to contribute to the process of synaptogenesis, yet knowledge about the signals that control their release is limited. We hypothesized that neuron-derived signals stimulate astrocytes, which respond by signaling back to neurons through the modulation of astrocyte-released synaptogenic factors. Here we investigate the effect of cholinergic stimulation of astrocytes on synaptogenesis in co-cultured neurons. Using a culture system where primary rat astrocytes and primary rat neurons are first grown separately allowed us to independently manipulate astrocyte cholinergic signaling. Subsequent co-culture of pre-stimulated astrocytes with naïve neurons enabled us to assess how prior stimulation of astrocyte acetylcholine receptors uniquely modulates neuronal synapse formation. Pre-treatment of astrocytes with the acetylcholine receptor agonist carbachol increased the expression of synaptic proteins, the number of pre- and postsynaptic puncta, and the number of functional synapses in hippocampal neurons after 24 hours in co-culture. Astrocyte secretion of the synaptogenic protein thrombospondin-1 increased after cholinergic stimulation and the inhibition of the target receptor for thrombospondins prevented the observed increase in neuronal synaptic structures. Thus, we identified a novel mechanism of neuron-astrocyte-neuron communication, i.e. , neuronal release of acetylcholine stimulates astrocytes to release synaptogenic proteins leading to increased synaptogenesis in neurons. This study provides new insights into the role of neurotransmitter receptors in developing astrocytes and into our understanding of the modulation of astrocyte-induced synaptogenesis.
Collapse
|
9
|
Sarpal DK, Blazer A, Wilson JD, Calabro FJ, Foran W, Kahn CE, Luna B, Chengappa KNR. Relationship between plasma clozapine/N-desmethylclozapine and changes in basal forebrain-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex coupling in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2022; 243:170-177. [PMID: 35381515 PMCID: PMC9189030 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.03.014] [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: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Clozapine (CLZ) demonstrates a unique clinical efficacy relative to other antipsychotic drugs. Previous work has linked the plasma ratio of CLZ and its major metabolite, N-desmethylclozapine (NDMC), to an inverse relationship with cognition via putative action on the cholinergic system. However, neuroimaging correlates of CLZ/NDMC remain unknown. Here, we examined changes in basal forebrain functional connectivity with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and secondly, cognition in relation to the CLZ/NDMC ratio. A cohort of nineteen chronically ill participants with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) undergoing 12 weeks of CLZ treatment were included. Measures of cognition and plasma CLZ/NDMC ratios were obtained in addition to resting-state functional neuroimaging scans, captured at baseline and after 12 weeks of CLZ treatment. We observed a significant correlation between basal forebrain-DLPFC connectivity and CLZ/NDMC ratios across CLZ treatment (p = 0.02). Consistent with previous findings, we also demonstrate a positive relationship between CLZ/NDMC ratio and working memory (p = 0.03). These findings may reflect the action of CLZ and NDMC on the muscarinic cholinergic system, highlighting a possible neural correlate of cognition across treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepak K. Sarpal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Annie Blazer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James D. Wilson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Finnegan J. Calabro
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - William Foran
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Charles E. Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Beatriz Luna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - KN Roy Chengappa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
During evolution, the cerebral cortex advances by increasing in surface and the introduction of new cytoarchitectonic areas among which the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is considered to be the substrate of highest cognitive functions. Although neurons of the PFC are generated before birth, the differentiation of its neurons and development of synaptic connections in humans extend to the 3rd decade of life. During this period, synapses as well as neurotransmitter systems including their receptors and transporters, are initially overproduced followed by selective elimination. Advanced methods applied to human and animal models, enable investigation of the cellular mechanisms and role of specific genes, non-coding regulatory elements and signaling molecules in control of prefrontal neuronal production and phenotypic fate, as well as neuronal migration to establish layering of the PFC. Likewise, various genetic approaches in combination with functional assays and immunohistochemical and imaging methods reveal roles of neurotransmitter systems during maturation of the PFC. Disruption, or even a slight slowing of the rate of neuronal production, migration and synaptogenesis by genetic or environmental factors, can induce gross as well as subtle changes that eventually can lead to cognitive impairment. An understanding of the development and evolution of the PFC provide insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of congenital neuropsychiatric diseases as well as idiopathic developmental disorders that cause intellectual disabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon M Kolk
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Pasko Rakic
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rhythmicity of Prefrontal Local Field Potentials after Nucleus Basalis Stimulation. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0380-21.2022. [PMID: 35058309 PMCID: PMC8856705 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0380-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The action of acetylcholine in the cortex is critical for cognitive functions and cholinergic drugs can improve functions such as attention and working memory. An alternative means of enhancing cholinergic neuromodulation in primates is the intermittent electrical stimulation of the cortical source of acetylcholine, the nucleus basalis (NB) of Meynert. NB stimulation generally increases firing rate of neurons in the prefrontal cortex, however its effects on single neurons are diverse and complex. We sought to understand how NB stimulation affects global measures of neural activity by recording and analyzing local field potentials (LFPs) in monkeys as they performed working memory tasks. NB stimulation primarily decreased power in the alpha frequency range during the delay interval of working memory tasks. The effect was consistent across variants of the task. No consistent modulation in the delay interval of the task was observed in the gamma frequency range, which has previously been implicated in the maintenance of working memory. Our results reveal global effects of cholinergic neuromodulation via deep brain stimulation, an emerging intervention for the improvement of cognitive function.
Collapse
|
12
|
Qi XL, Liu R, Singh B, Bestue D, Compte A, Vazdarjanova AI, Blake DT, Constantinidis C. Nucleus basalis stimulation enhances working memory by stabilizing stimulus representations in primate prefrontal cortical activity. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109469. [PMID: 34348147 PMCID: PMC8385230 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine plays a critical role in the neocortex. Cholinergic agonists and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can enhance cognitive functioning, as does intermittent electrical stimulation of the cortical source of acetylcholine, the nucleus basalis (NB) of Meynert. Here we show in two male monkeys how NB stimulation affects working memory and alters its neural code. NB stimulation increases dorsolateral prefrontal activity during the delay period of spatial working memory tasks and broadens selectivity for stimuli but does not strengthen phasic responses to each neuron's optimal visual stimulus. Paradoxically, despite this decrease in neuronal selectivity, performance improves in many task conditions, likely indicating increased delay period stability. Performance under NB stimulation does decline if distractors similar to the target are presented, consistent with reduced prefrontal selectivity. Our results indicate that stimulation of the cholinergic forebrain increases prefrontal neural activity, and this neuromodulatory tone can improve cognitive performance, subject to a stability-accuracy tradeoff.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Lian Qi
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Ruifeng Liu
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Balbir Singh
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - David Bestue
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Compte
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Almira I Vazdarjanova
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, MCG, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - David T Blake
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Christos Constantinidis
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lockhofen DEL, Mulert C. Neurochemistry of Visual Attention. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:643597. [PMID: 34025339 PMCID: PMC8133366 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.643597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual attention is the cognitive process that mediates the selection of important information from the environment. This selection is usually controlled by bottom-up and top-down attentional biasing. Since for most humans vision is the dominant sense, visual attention is critically important for higher-order cognitive functions and related deficits are a core symptom of many neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Here, we summarize the importance and relative contributions of different neuromodulators and neurotransmitters to the neural mechanisms of top-down and bottom-up attentional control. We will not only review the roles of widely accepted neuromodulators, such as acetylcholine, dopamine and noradrenaline, but also the contributions of other modulatory substances. In doing so, we hope to shed some light on the current understanding of the role of neurochemistry in shaping neuron properties contributing to the allocation of attention in the visual field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christoph Mulert
- Center for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Justus-Liebig University, Hessen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Vijayraghavan S, Everling S. Neuromodulation of Persistent Activity and Working Memory Circuitry in Primate Prefrontal Cortex by Muscarinic Receptors. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:648624. [PMID: 33790746 PMCID: PMC8005543 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.648624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulation by acetylcholine plays a vital role in shaping the physiology and functions of cerebral cortex. Cholinergic neuromodulation influences brain-state transitions, controls the gating of cortical sensory stimulus responses, and has been shown to influence the generation and maintenance of persistent activity in prefrontal cortex. Here we review our current understanding of the role of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in primate prefrontal cortex during its engagement in the performance of working memory tasks. We summarize the localization of muscarinic receptors in prefrontal cortex, review the effects of muscarinic neuromodulation on arousal, working memory and cognitive control tasks, and describe the effects of muscarinic M1 receptor stimulation and blockade on the generation and maintenance of persistent activity of prefrontal neurons encoding working memory representations. Recent studies describing the pharmacological effects of M1 receptors on prefrontal persistent activity demonstrate the heterogeneity of muscarinic actions and delineate unexpected modulatory effects discovered in primate prefrontal cortex when compared with studies in rodents. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which muscarinic receptors regulate prefrontal cognitive control circuitry will inform the search of muscarinic-based therapeutic targets in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susheel Vijayraghavan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stefan Everling
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Venkatesan S, Jeoung HS, Chen T, Power SK, Liu Y, Lambe EK. Endogenous Acetylcholine and Its Modulation of Cortical Microcircuits to Enhance Cognition. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 45:47-69. [PMID: 32601996 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Acetylcholine regulates the cerebral cortex to sharpen sensory perception and enhance attentional focus. The cellular and circuit mechanisms of this cholinergic modulation are under active investigation in sensory and prefrontal cortex, but the universality of these mechanisms across the cerebral cortex is not clear. Anatomical maps suggest that the sensory and prefrontal cortices receive distinct cholinergic projections and have subtle differences in the expression of cholinergic receptors and the metabolic enzyme acetylcholinesterase. First, we briefly review this anatomical literature and the recent progress in the field. Next, we discuss in detail the electrophysiological effects of cholinergic receptor subtypes and the cell and circuit consequences of their stimulation by endogenous acetylcholine as established by recent optogenetic work. Finally, we explore the behavioral ramifications of in vivo manipulations of endogenous acetylcholine. We find broader similarities than we expected between the cholinergic regulation of sensory and prefrontal cortex, but there are some differences and some gaps in knowledge. In visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortex, the cell and circuit mechanisms of cholinergic sharpening of sensory perception have been probed in vivo with calcium imaging and optogenetic experiments to simultaneously test mechanism and measure the consequences of manipulation. By contrast, ascertaining the links between attentional performance and cholinergic modulation of specific prefrontal microcircuits is more complicated due to the nature of the required tasks. However, ex vivo optogenetic manipulations point to differences in the cholinergic modulation of sensory and prefrontal cortex. Understanding how and where acetylcholine acts within the cerebral cortex to shape cognition is essential to pinpoint novel treatment targets for the perceptual and attention deficits found in multiple psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ha-Seul Jeoung
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tianhui Chen
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Saige K Power
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yupeng Liu
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Evelyn K Lambe
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kunchulia M, Kotaria N, Pilz K, Kotorashvili A, Herzog MH. Associations between genetic variations and global motion perception. Exp Brain Res 2019; 237:2729-2734. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05627-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
|