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Lee JY, Jung D, Royer S. Stochastic characterization of navigation strategies in an automated variant of the Barnes maze. eLife 2024; 12:RP88648. [PMID: 38899521 PMCID: PMC11189626 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88648] [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] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals can use a repertoire of strategies to navigate in an environment, and it remains an intriguing question how these strategies are selected based on the nature and familiarity of environments. To investigate this question, we developed a fully automated variant of the Barnes maze, characterized by 24 vestibules distributed along the periphery of a circular arena, and monitored the trajectories of mice over 15 days as they learned to navigate towards a goal vestibule from a random start vestibule. We show that the patterns of vestibule visits can be reproduced by the combination of three stochastic processes reminiscent of random, serial, and spatial strategies. The processes randomly selected vestibules based on either uniform (random) or biased (serial and spatial) probability distributions. They closely matched experimental data across a range of statistical distributions characterizing the length, distribution, step size, direction, and stereotypy of vestibule sequences, revealing a shift from random to spatial and serial strategies over time, with a strategy switch occurring approximately every six vestibule visits. Our study provides a novel apparatus and analysis toolset for tracking the repertoire of navigation strategies and demonstrates that a set of stochastic processes can largely account for exploration patterns in the Barnes maze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Young Lee
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Dahee Jung
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Sebastien Royer
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
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2
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Smyre SA, Bean NL, Stein BE, Rowland BA. The brain can develop conflicting multisensory principles to guide behavior. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae247. [PMID: 38879756 PMCID: PMC11179994 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Midbrain multisensory neurons undergo a significant postnatal transition in how they process cross-modal (e.g. visual-auditory) signals. In early stages, signals derived from common events are processed competitively; however, at later stages they are processed cooperatively such that their salience is enhanced. This transition reflects adaptation to cross-modal configurations that are consistently experienced and become informative about which correspond to common events. Tested here was the assumption that overt behaviors follow a similar maturation. Cats were reared in omnidirectional sound thereby compromising the experience needed for this developmental process. Animals were then repeatedly exposed to different configurations of visual and auditory stimuli (e.g. spatiotemporally congruent or spatially disparate) that varied on each side of space and their behavior was assessed using a detection/localization task. Animals showed enhanced performance to stimuli consistent with the experience provided: congruent stimuli elicited enhanced behaviors where spatially congruent cross-modal experience was provided, and spatially disparate stimuli elicited enhanced behaviors where spatially disparate cross-modal experience was provided. Cross-modal configurations not consistent with experience did not enhance responses. The presumptive benefit of such flexibility in the multisensory developmental process is to sensitize neural circuits (and the behaviors they control) to the features of the environment in which they will function. These experiments reveal that these processes have a high degree of flexibility, such that two (conflicting) multisensory principles can be implemented by cross-modal experience on opposite sides of space even within the same animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Smyre
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston Salem, NC 27157, United States
| | - Naomi L Bean
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston Salem, NC 27157, United States
| | - Barry E Stein
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston Salem, NC 27157, United States
| | - Benjamin A Rowland
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston Salem, NC 27157, United States
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3
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Ryczko D. The Mesencephalic Locomotor Region: Multiple Cell Types, Multiple Behavioral Roles, and Multiple Implications for Disease. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:347-366. [PMID: 36575956 PMCID: PMC11107129 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221139136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) controls locomotion in vertebrates. In humans with Parkinson disease, locomotor deficits are increasingly associated with decreased activity in the MLR. This brainstem region, commonly considered to include the cuneiform and pedunculopontine nuclei, has been explored as a target for deep brain stimulation to improve locomotor function, but the results are variable, from modest to promising. However, the MLR is a heterogeneous structure, and identification of the best cell type to target is only beginning. Here, I review the studies that uncovered the role of genetically defined MLR cell types, and I highlight the cells whose activation improves locomotor function in animal models of Parkinson disease. The promising cell types to activate comprise some glutamatergic neurons in the cuneiform and caudal pedunculopontine nuclei, as well as some cholinergic neurons of the pedunculopontine nucleus. Activation of MLR GABAergic neurons should be avoided, since they stop locomotion or evoke bouts flanked with numerous stops. MLR is also considered a potential target in spinal cord injury, supranuclear palsy, primary progressive freezing of gait, or stroke. Better targeting of the MLR cell types should be achieved through optimized deep brain stimulation protocols, pharmacotherapy, or the development of optogenetics for human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri Ryczko
- Département de Pharmacologie-Physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
- Neurosciences Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
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4
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Fischer G, Bättig L, Stienen MN, Curt A, Fehlings MG, Hejrati N. Advancements in neuroregenerative and neuroprotective therapies for traumatic spinal cord injury. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1372920. [PMID: 38812974 PMCID: PMC11133582 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1372920] [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: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs) continue to be a major healthcare concern, with a rising prevalence worldwide. In response to this growing medical challenge, considerable scientific attention has been devoted to developing neuroprotective and neuroregenerative strategies aimed at improving the prognosis and quality of life for individuals with SCIs. This comprehensive review aims to provide an up-to-date and thorough overview of the latest neuroregenerative and neuroprotective therapies currently under investigation. These strategies encompass a multifaceted approach that include neuropharmacological interventions, cell-based therapies, and other promising strategies such as biomaterial scaffolds and neuro-modulation therapies. In addition, the review discusses the importance of acute clinical management, including the role of hemodynamic management as well as timing and technical aspects of surgery as key factors mitigating the secondary injury following SCI. In conclusion, this review underscores the ongoing scientific efforts to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life, focusing on upcoming strategies for the management of traumatic SCI. Each section provides a working knowledge of the fundamental preclinical and patient trials relevant to clinicians while underscoring the pathophysiologic rationale for the therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Fischer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
- Spine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Linda Bättig
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
- Spine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Martin N. Stienen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
- Spine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nader Hejrati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
- Spine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
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5
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Zhang H, Zhu Z, Ma WX, Kong LX, Yuan PC, Bu LF, Han J, Huang ZL, Wang YQ. The contribution of periaqueductal gray in the regulation of physiological and pathological behaviors. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1380171. [PMID: 38650618 PMCID: PMC11034386 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1380171] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Periaqueductal gray (PAG), an integration center for neuronal signals, is located in the midbrain and regulates multiple physiological and pathological behaviors, including pain, defensive and aggressive behaviors, anxiety and depression, cardiovascular response, respiration, and sleep-wake behaviors. Due to the different neuroanatomical connections and functional characteristics of the four functional columns of PAG, different subregions of PAG synergistically regulate various instinctual behaviors. In the current review, we summarized the role and possible neurobiological mechanism of different subregions of PAG in the regulation of pain, defensive and aggressive behaviors, anxiety, and depression from the perspective of the up-down neuronal circuits of PAG. Furthermore, we proposed the potential clinical applications of PAG. Knowledge of these aspects will give us a better understanding of the key role of PAG in physiological and pathological behaviors and provide directions for future clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Zhe Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Xiang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling-Xi Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping-Chuan Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Li-Fang Bu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Han
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Qun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Reinshagen A. Grid cells: the missing link in understanding Parkinson's disease? Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1276714. [PMID: 38389787 PMCID: PMC10881698 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1276714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease (PD) are complex and not fully understood, and the box-and-arrow model among other current models present significant challenges. This paper explores the potential role of the allocentric brain and especially its grid cells in several PD motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, kinesia paradoxa, freezing of gait, the bottleneck phenomenon, and their dependency on cueing. It is argued that central hubs, like the locus coeruleus and the pedunculopontine nucleus, often narrowly interpreted in the context of PD, play an equally important role in governing the allocentric brain as the basal ganglia. Consequently, the motor and secondary motor (e.g., spatially related) symptoms of PD linked with dopamine depletion may be more closely tied to erroneous computation by grid cells than to the basal ganglia alone. Because grid cells and their associated central hubs introduce both spatial and temporal information to the brain influencing velocity perception they may cause bradykinesia or hyperkinesia as well. In summary, PD motor symptoms may primarily be an allocentric disturbance resulting from virtual faulty computation by grid cells revealed by dopamine depletion in PD.
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Lai TT, Tsai YH, Liou CW, Fan CH, Hou YT, Yao TH, Chuang HL, Wu WL. The gut microbiota modulate locomotion via vagus-dependent glucagon-like peptide-1 signaling. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2024; 10:2. [PMID: 38228675 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00477-w] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Locomotor activity is an innate behavior that can be triggered by gut-motivated conditions, such as appetite and metabolic condition. Various nutrient-sensing receptors distributed in the vagal terminal in the gut are crucial for signal transduction from the gut to the brain. The levels of gut hormones are closely associated with the colonization status of the gut microbiota, suggesting a complicated interaction among gut bacteria, gut hormones, and the brain. However, the detailed mechanism underlying gut microbiota-mediated endocrine signaling in the modulation of locomotion is still unclear. Herein, we show that broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail (ABX)-treated mice displayed hypolocomotion and elevated levels of the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Blockade of the GLP-1 receptor and subdiaphragmatic vagal transmission rescued the deficient locomotor phenotype in ABX-treated mice. Activation of the GLP-1 receptor and vagal projecting brain regions led to hypolocomotion. Finally, selective antibiotic treatment dramatically increased serum GLP-1 levels and decreased locomotion. Colonizing Lactobacillus reuteri and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in microbiota-deficient mice suppressed GLP-1 levels and restored the hypolocomotor phenotype. Our findings identify a mechanism by which specific gut microbes mediate host motor behavior via the enteroendocrine and vagal-dependent neural pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Ting Lai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsuan Tsai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Liou
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsiang Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Tian Hou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hsuan Yao
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Li Chuang
- National Laboratory Animal Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, Taipei, 115202, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Li Wu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
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8
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Morgenstern NA, Esposito MS. The Basal Ganglia and Mesencephalic Locomotor Region Connectivity Matrix. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1454-1472. [PMID: 37559244 PMCID: PMC11097982 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230809112840] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Although classically considered a relay station for basal ganglia (BG) output, the anatomy, connectivity, and function of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) were redefined during the last two decades. In striking opposition to what was initially thought, MLR and BG are actually reciprocally and intimately interconnected. New viral-based, optogenetic, and mapping technologies revealed that cholinergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic neurons coexist in this structure, which, in addition to extending descending projections, send long-range ascending fibers to the BG. These MLR projections to the BG convey motor and non-motor information to specific synaptic targets throughout different nuclei. Moreover, MLR efferent fibers originate from precise neuronal subpopulations located in particular MLR subregions, defining independent anatomo-functional subcircuits involved in particular aspects of animal behavior such as fast locomotion, explorative locomotion, posture, forelimb- related movements, speed, reinforcement, among others. In this review, we revised the literature produced during the last decade linking MLR and BG. We conclude that the classic framework considering the MLR as a homogeneous output structure passively receiving input from the BG needs to be revisited. We propose instead that the multiple subcircuits embedded in this region should be taken as independent entities that convey relevant and specific ascending information to the BG and, thus, actively participate in the execution and tuning of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás A. Morgenstern
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Instituto De Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria S. Esposito
- Department of Medical Physics, Centro Atomico Bariloche, CNEA, CONICET, Av. Bustillo 9500, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
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Spandole-Dinu S, Catrina AM, Voinea OC, Andone A, Radu S, Haidoiu C, Călborean O, Popescu DM, Suhăianu V, Baltag O, Tuță L, Roșu G. Pilot Study of the Long-Term Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure on the Mouse Brain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3025. [PMID: 36833719 PMCID: PMC9961585 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The increasing radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation pollution resulting from the development and use of technologies utilizing RF has sparked debate about the possible biological effects of said radiation. Of particular concern is the potential impact on the brain, due to the close proximity of communication devices to the head. The main aim of this study was to examine the effects of long-term exposure to RF on the brains of mice in a real-life scenario simulation compared to a laboratory setting. The animals were exposed continuously for 16 weeks to RF using a household Wi-Fi router and a laboratory device with a frequency of 2.45 GHz, and were compared to a sham-exposed group. Before and after exposure, the mice underwent behavioral tests (open-field test and Y-maze); at the end of the exposure period, the brain was harvested for histopathological analysis and assessment of DNA methylation levels. Long-term exposure of mice to 2.45 GHz RF radiation increased their locomotor activity, yet did not cause significant structural or morphological changes in their brains. Global DNA methylation was lower in exposed mice compared to sham mice. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these effects and to understand the potential effects of RF radiation on brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Spandole-Dinu
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana-Maria Catrina
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Oana Cristina Voinea
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alina Andone
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Speranța Radu
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cerasela Haidoiu
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Octavian Călborean
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Diana Mihaela Popescu
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vladimir Suhăianu
- “Cantacuzino” National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Octavian Baltag
- Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Leontin Tuță
- Center of Excellence in Communications and Information Technology, Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, 050141 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Georgiana Roșu
- Department of Military Systems and Equipment, Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, 050141 Bucharest, Romania
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10
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Togo H, Nakamura T, Wakasugi N, Takahashi Y, Hanakawa T. Interactions across emotional, cognitive and subcortical motor networks underlying freezing of gait. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103342. [PMID: 36739790 PMCID: PMC9932566 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Freezing of gait (FOG) is a gait disorder affecting patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and related disorders. The pathophysiology of FOG is unclear because of its phenomenological complexity involving motor, cognitive, and emotional aspects of behavior. Here we used resting-state functional MRI to retrieve functional connectivity (FC) correlated with the New FOG questionnaire (NFOGQ) reflecting severity of FOG in 67 patients with PD. NFOGQ scores were correlated with FCs in the extended basal ganglia network (BGN) involving the striatum and amygdala, and in the extra-cerebellum network (CBLN) involving the frontoparietal network (FPN). These FCs represented interactions across the emotional (amygdala), subcortical motor (BGN and CBLN), and cognitive networks (FPN). Using these FCs as features, we constructed statistical models that explained 40% of the inter-individual variances of FOG severity and that discriminated between PD patients with and without FOG. The amygdala, which connects to the subcortical motor (BGN and CBLN) and cognitive (FPN) networks, may have a pivotal role in interactions across the emotional, cognitive, and subcortical motor networks. Future refinement of the machine learning-based classifier using FCs may clarify the complex pathophysiology of FOG further and help diagnose and evaluate FOG in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Togo
- Department of Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Yoshida-Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Yoshida-Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan
| | - Noritaka Wakasugi
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan
| | - Yuji Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan
| | - Takashi Hanakawa
- Department of Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Yoshida-Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan.
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Abstract
The frontal lobe is crucial and contributes to controlling truncal motion, postural responses, and maintaining equilibrium and locomotion. The rich repertoire of frontal gait disorders gives some indication of this complexity. For human walking, it is necessary to simultaneously achieve at least two tasks, such as maintaining a bipedal upright posture and locomotion. Particularly, postural control plays an extremely significant role in enabling the subject to maintain stable gait behaviors to adapt to the environment. To achieve these requirements, the frontal cortex (1) uses cognitive information from the parietal, temporal, and occipital cortices, (2) creates plans and programs of gait behaviors, and (3) acts on the brainstem and spinal cord, where the core posture-gait mechanisms exist. Moreover, the frontal cortex enables one to achieve a variety of gait patterns in response to environmental changes by switching gait patterns from automatic routine to intentionally controlled and learning the new paradigms of gait strategy via networks with the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and limbic structures. This chapter discusses the role of each area of the frontal cortex in behavioral control and attempts to explain how frontal lobe controls walking with special reference to postural control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Takakusaki
- Department of Physiology, Division of Neuroscience, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
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12
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Wenger N, Vogt A, Skrobot M, Garulli EL, Kabaoglu B, Salchow-Hömmen C, Schauer T, Kroneberg D, Schuhmann M, Ip CW, Harms C, Endres M, Isaias I, Tovote P, Blum R. Rodent models for gait network disorders in Parkinson's disease - a translational perspective. Exp Neurol 2022; 352:114011. [PMID: 35176273 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Gait impairments in Parkinson's disease remain a scientific and therapeutic challenge. The advent of new deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices capable of recording brain activity from chronically implanted electrodes has fostered new studies of gait in freely moving patients. The hope is to identify gait-related neural biomarkers and improve therapy using closed-loop DBS. In this context, animal models offer the opportunity to investigate gait network activity at multiple biological scales and address unresolved questions from clinical research. Yet, the contribution of rodent models to the development of future neuromodulation therapies will rely on translational validity. In this review, we summarize the most effective strategies to model parkinsonian gait in rodents. We discuss how clinical observations have inspired targeted brain lesions in animal models, and whether resulting motor deficits and network oscillations match recent findings in humans. Gait impairments with hypo-, bradykinesia and altered limb rhythmicity were successfully modelled in rodents. However, clear evidence for the presence of freezing of gait was missing. The identification of reliable neural biomarkers for gait impairments has remained challenging in both animals and humans. Moving forward, we expect that the ongoing investigation of circuit specific neuromodulation strategies in animal models will lead to future optimizations of gait therapy in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus Wenger
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, Germany.
| | - Arend Vogt
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matej Skrobot
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa L Garulli
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Burce Kabaoglu
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christina Salchow-Hömmen
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Schauer
- Technische Universität Berlin, Control Systems Group, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Kroneberg
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
| | - Michael Schuhmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Chi Wang Ip
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Harms
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Endres
- Department of Neurology with experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin Site, Germany; DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease), Berlin Site, Germany
| | - Ioannis Isaias
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Philip Tovote
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 5, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany; Center for Mental Health, University of Wuerzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Robert Blum
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
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Peng Y, Schöneberg N, Esposito MS, Geiger JRP, Sharott A, Tovote P. Current approaches to characterize micro- and macroscale circuit mechanisms of Parkinson's disease in rodent models. Exp Neurol 2022; 351:114008. [PMID: 35149118 PMCID: PMC7612860 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114008] [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: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Accelerating technological progress in experimental neuroscience is increasing the scale as well as specificity of both observational and perturbational approaches to study circuit physiology. While these techniques have also been used to study disease mechanisms, a wider adoption of these approaches in the field of experimental neurology would greatly facilitate our understanding of neurological dysfunctions and their potential treatments at cellular and circuit level. In this review, we will introduce classic and novel methods ranging from single-cell electrophysiological recordings to state-of-the-art calcium imaging and cell-type specific optogenetic or chemogenetic stimulation. We will focus on their application in rodent models of Parkinson’s disease while also presenting their use in the context of motor control and basal ganglia function. By highlighting the scope and limitations of each method, we will discuss how they can be used to study pathophysiological mechanisms at local and global circuit levels and how novel frameworks can help to bridge these scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangfan Peng
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TH, United Kingdom.
| | - Nina Schöneberg
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 5, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Maria Soledad Esposito
- Medical Physics Department, Centro Atomico Bariloche, Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica (CNEA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET), Av. E. Bustillo 9500, R8402AGP San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Jörg R P Geiger
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrew Sharott
- MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TH, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Tovote
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 5, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany; Center for Mental Health, University of Wuerzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
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14
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Transcription factor gene Pea3 regulates erectile function during copulation in mice. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276069. [PMID: 36301850 PMCID: PMC9612450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Male mice with homozygous loss of function mutations of the transcription factor gene Pea3 (Pea3 null) are infertile due to their inability to inseminate females, however the specific deficits in male sexual behaviors that drive this phenotype are unknown. Here, the copulatory behavior of male mice (Pea3 null and control) with hormonally primed ovariectomized females was monitored via high-speed and high-resolution digital videography to assess for differences in female-directed social behaviors, gross sexual behaviors (mounting, thrusting), and erectile and ejaculatory function. Pea3 null male mice exhibit greatly reduced erectile function, with 44% of males displaying no visible erections during copulation, and 0% achieving sustained erections. As such, Pea3 null males are incapable of intromission and copulatory plug deposition, despite displaying largely normal female-directed social behaviors, mounting behaviors, and ejaculatory grasping behavior. Additionally, the organization and timing of thrusting behaviors is impaired in Pea3 null males. Our results show that the transcription factor gene Pea3 regulates the ability to achieve and maintain erections during copulation in mice.
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