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Higa GSV, Viana FJC, Francis-Oliveira J, Cruvinel E, Franchin TS, Marcourakis T, Ulrich H, De Pasquale R. Serotonergic neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity. Neuropharmacology 2024; 257:110036. [PMID: 38876308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity constitutes a fundamental process in the reorganization of neural networks that underlie memory, cognition, emotional responses, and behavioral planning. At the core of this phenomenon lie Hebbian mechanisms, wherein frequent synaptic stimulation induces long-term potentiation (LTP), while less activation leads to long-term depression (LTD). The synaptic reorganization of neuronal networks is regulated by serotonin (5-HT), a neuromodulator capable of modify synaptic plasticity to appropriately respond to mental and behavioral states, such as alertness, attention, concentration, motivation, and mood. Lately, understanding the serotonergic Neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity has become imperative for unraveling its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. Through a comparative analysis across three main forebrain structures-the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, this review discusses the actions of 5-HT on synaptic plasticity, offering insights into its role as a neuromodulator involved in emotional and cognitive functions. By distinguishing between plastic and metaplastic effects, we provide a comprehensive overview about the mechanisms of 5-HT neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity and associated functions across different brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Shigueto Vilar Higa
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Felipe José Costa Viana
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - José Francis-Oliveira
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Emily Cruvinel
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Thainá Soares Franchin
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Tania Marcourakis
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto De Pasquale
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
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Looschen K, Khatri SN, Maulik M, Salisbury C, Carman AF, Corriveau K, Smith C, Manetti D, Romanelli MN, Arias HR, Gipson CD, Mitra S. Novel psychoplastogen DM506 reduces cue-induced heroin-seeking and inhibits tonic GABA currents in the Prelimbic Cortex. Neurochem Int 2024; 178:105785. [PMID: 38838988 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder is a major public health crisis that is manifested by persistent drug-seeking behavior and high relapse frequency. Most of the available treatments rely on targeting opioid receptors using small molecules that do not provide sustained symptom alleviation. Psychoplastogens are a novel class of non-opioid drugs that produce rapid and sustained effects on neuronal plasticity, intended to produce therapeutic benefits. Ibogalogs are synthetic derivatives of iboga alkaloids that lack hallucinogenic or adverse side effects. In the current study, we examine the therapeutic potential of DM506, a novel ibogalog lacking any cardiotoxic or hallucinogenic effects, in cue-induced seeking behavior following heroin self-administration. At a single systemic dose of 40 mg/kg, DM506 significantly decreased cue-induced seeking in both male and female rats at abstinence day 1 (AD1) following heroin self-administration. Upon re-testing for cue-induced seeking at AD14, we found that males receiving DM506 continued to show decreased cue-induced seeking, an effect not observed in females. Since there is evidence of psychedelics influencing tonic GABA currents, and opioid and psychoplastogen-mediated neuroadaptations in the medial prefrontal cortex (PrL) underlying its functional effects, we performed patch-clamp recordings on PrL slices of drug-naïve rats with an acute application or chronic incubation with DM506. Tonic GABA current was decreased in slices incubated with DM506 for 2 h. qPCR analysis did not reveal any differences in the mRNA levels of GABAA receptor α and δ subunits at AD14 in heroin and saline self-administered animals that received vehicle or DM506 at AD1. Overall, our data indicate that DM506 attenuates cue-induced heroin seeking and inhibits tonic GABA current in the prelimbic cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassandra Looschen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Shailesh Narayan Khatri
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Malabika Maulik
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Colin Salisbury
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Alaina F Carman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Katilyn Corriveau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Colton Smith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Dina Manetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Novella Romanelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Hugo R Arias
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tahlequah, USA
| | - Cassandra D Gipson
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Swarup Mitra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, USA.
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Azocar VH, Petersson P, Fuentes R, Fuentealba JA. Differential phase-amplitude coupling in nucleus accumbens and orbitofrontal cortex reflects decision-making during a delay discounting task. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 134:111064. [PMID: 38917880 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impulsive choice is characterized by the preference for a small immediate reward over a bigger delayed one. The mechanisms underlying impulsive choices are linked to the activity in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and the dorsolateral striatum (DLS). While the study of functional connectivity between brain areas has been key to understanding a variety of cognitive processes, it remains unclear whether functional connectivity differentiates impulsive-control decisions. METHODS To study the functional connectivity both between and within NAc, OFC, and DLS during a delay discounting task, we concurrently recorded local field potential in NAc, OFC, and DLS in rats. We then quantified the degree of phase-amplitude coupling (PAC), coherence, and Granger Causality between oscillatory activities in animals exhibiting either a high (HI) or low (LI) tendency for impulsive choices. RESULTS Our results showed a differential pattern of PAC during decision-making in OFC and NAc, but not in DLS. While theta-gamma PAC in OFC was associated with self-control decisions, a higher delta-gamma PAC in both OFC and NAc biased decisions toward impulsive choices in both HI and LI groups. Furthermore, during the reward event, Granger Causality analysis indicated a stronger NAc➔OFC gamma contribution in the HI group, while the LI group showed a higher OFC➔NAc gamma contribution. CONCLUSIONS The overactivity in NAc during reward in the HI group suggests that exacerbated contribution of NAcCore can lead to an overvaluation of reward that biases the behavior toward the impulsive choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- V H Azocar
- School of Pharmacy and Interdisciplinary Center of Neuroscience, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile; Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - P Petersson
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Group for Integrative Neurophysiology and Neurotechnology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - R Fuentes
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J A Fuentealba
- School of Pharmacy and Interdisciplinary Center of Neuroscience, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
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Chen HC, He P, McDonald M, Williamson MR, Varadharajan S, Lozzi B, Woo J, Choi DJ, Sardar D, Huang-Hobbs E, Sun H, Ippagunta SM, Jain A, Rao G, Merchant TE, Ellison DW, Noebels JL, Bertrand KC, Mack SC, Deneen B. Histone serotonylation regulates ependymoma tumorigenesis. Nature 2024; 632:903-910. [PMID: 39085609 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07751-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Bidirectional communication between tumours and neurons has emerged as a key facet of the tumour microenvironment that drives malignancy1,2. Another hallmark feature of cancer is epigenomic dysregulation, in which alterations in gene expression influence cell states and interactions with the tumour microenvironment3. Ependymoma (EPN) is a paediatric brain tumour that relies on epigenomic remodelling to engender malignancy4,5; however, how these epigenetic mechanisms intersect with extrinsic neuronal signalling during EPN tumour progression is unknown. Here we show that the activity of serotonergic neurons regulates EPN tumorigenesis, and that serotonin itself also serves as an activating modification on histones. We found that inhibiting histone serotonylation blocks EPN tumorigenesis and regulates the expression of a core set of developmental transcription factors. High-throughput, in vivo screening of these transcription factors revealed that ETV5 promotes EPN tumorigenesis and functions by enhancing repressive chromatin states. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the genes repressed by ETV5, and its overexpression suppresses EPN tumour progression and tumour-associated network hyperactivity through synaptic remodelling. Collectively, this study identifies histone serotonylation as a key driver of EPN tumorigenesis, and also reveals how neuronal signalling, neuro-epigenomics and developmental programs are intertwined to drive malignancy in brain cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Chi Chen
- Program in Cancer and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peihao He
- Program in Cancer and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Malcolm McDonald
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Development, Disease, Models and Therapeutics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael R Williamson
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Srinidhi Varadharajan
- Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brittney Lozzi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dong-Joo Choi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Debosmita Sardar
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emmet Huang-Hobbs
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hua Sun
- Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Siri M Ippagunta
- Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Antrix Jain
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ganesh Rao
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Thomas E Merchant
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - David W Ellison
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Noebels
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kelsey C Bertrand
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stephen C Mack
- Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Program in Cancer and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Program in Development, Disease, Models and Therapeutics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Díez-Solinska A, Goñi-Balentziaga O, Beitia-Oyarzabal G, Muñoz-Culla M, Vegas O, Azkona G. Chronic defeat stress induces monoamine level dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex but not in the hippocampus of OF1 male mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 467:115023. [PMID: 38688411 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Chronic social stress can increase susceptibility to chronic diseases such as depression. One of the most used models to study the physiological mechanisms and behavioral outcomes of this type of stress is chronic defeat stress (CDS) in male mice. OF1 male mice were subjected to a stress period lasting 18 days. During that time, non-stressed animals were housed in groups. The cluster analysis of the behavioral profile displayed during the first social interaction divided subjects into two groups: active/aggressive (AA) and passive/reactive (PR). The day after the end of the stress period, the following behavioral analyses were performed: the sucrose preference test (SPT) on day 19, the open field test (OFT) on day 20, and the forced swim test (FST) on day 21. Immediately after completing the last test, animals were weighed, and blood samples were obtained. Then, they were sacrificed, and their prefrontal cortices and hippocampi were removed and stored to analyze monoamine levels. Stressed animals displayed anhedonia, and solely the PR mice continued to show higher levels of immobility in the OFT and FST. All stressed animals, regardless of the coping strategy, presented higher plasma corticosterone levels. In addition, stressed mice showed lower levels of tyrosine, dopamine, DOPAC, MHPG, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and 5-HIAA levels but higher serotonin levels in the prefrontal cortex, not in the hippocampus. In conclusion, our results show that CSD induces differences in monoamine levels between brain areas, and these differences did not respond to the coping strategy adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Díez-Solinska
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian 20018, Spain
| | - Olatz Goñi-Balentziaga
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian 20018, Spain
| | - Garikoitz Beitia-Oyarzabal
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian 20018, Spain
| | - Maider Muñoz-Culla
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian 20018, Spain; Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Donostia-San Sebastian 20014, Spain
| | - Oscar Vegas
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian 20018, Spain; Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Donostia-San Sebastian 20014, Spain
| | - Garikoitz Azkona
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian 20018, Spain.
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Birgül Iyison N, Abboud C, Abboud D, Abdulrahman AO, Bondar AN, Dam J, Georgoussi Z, Giraldo J, Horvat A, Karoussiotis C, Paz-Castro A, Scarpa M, Schihada H, Scholz N, Güvenc Tuna B, Vardjan N. ERNEST COST action overview on the (patho)physiology of GPCRs and orphan GPCRs in the nervous system. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38825750 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16389] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large family of cell surface receptors that play a critical role in nervous system function by transmitting signals between cells and their environment. They are involved in many, if not all, nervous system processes, and their dysfunction has been linked to various neurological disorders representing important drug targets. This overview emphasises the GPCRs of the nervous system, which are the research focus of the members of ERNEST COST action (CA18133) working group 'Biological roles of signal transduction'. First, the (patho)physiological role of the nervous system GPCRs in the modulation of synapse function is discussed. We then debate the (patho)physiology and pharmacology of opioid, acetylcholine, chemokine, melatonin and adhesion GPCRs in the nervous system. Finally, we address the orphan GPCRs, their implication in the nervous system function and disease, and the challenges that need to be addressed to deorphanize them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Necla Birgül Iyison
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Bogazici, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Clauda Abboud
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Dayana Abboud
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | | | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute for Computational Biomedicine (IAS-5/INM-9), Jülich, Germany
| | - Julie Dam
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Zafiroula Georgoussi
- Laboratory of Cellular Signalling and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Jesús Giraldo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology and Bioinformatics, Unitat de Bioestadística and Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anemari Horvat
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology - Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Celica Biomedical, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Christos Karoussiotis
- Laboratory of Cellular Signalling and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Alba Paz-Castro
- Molecular Pharmacology of GPCRs research group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago, Spain
| | - Miriam Scarpa
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannes Schihada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Scholz
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bilge Güvenc Tuna
- Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nina Vardjan
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology - Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Celica Biomedical, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Gao M, Wang F, Sun C, Zhang S, Su R. Effects of olanzapine on hippocampal CA3 and the prefrontal cortex local field potentials. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 969:176396. [PMID: 38325793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Olanzapine is an antipsychotic drug applied in psychiatry to treat psychoses, especially schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders with similar or better improvement than haloperidol and risperidone in the treatment of depressive and negative symptoms. The effect of olanzapine on neural synchrony remains to be explored. We investigated the effects of olanzapine on gamma oscillations in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and frontal association cortex. Olanzapine reduced carbachol (CCh)-induced gamma oscillation power in CA3 slice and gamma oscillation power in the frontal association cortex in vivo. The power of theta oscillations was increased in the presence of olanzapine. The phase amplitude coupling of theta and gamma wave was strengthened by the administration of olanzapine in the frontal association cortex in vivo. Taken together, these results show that olanzapine modulates local field potential and the neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingwei Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Fuqi Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Chuanyao Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Shuzhuo Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Ruibin Su
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
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8
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Wiesman AI, da Silva Castanheira J, Fon EA, Baillet S. Alterations of Cortical Structure and Neurophysiology in Parkinson's Disease Are Aligned with Neurochemical Systems. Ann Neurol 2024; 95:802-816. [PMID: 38146745 PMCID: PMC11023768 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26871] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Parkinson's disease (PD) affects the structural integrity and neurophysiological signaling of the cortex. These alterations are related to the motor and cognitive symptoms of the disease. How these changes are related to the neurochemical systems of the cortex is unknown. METHODS We used T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure cortical thickness and task-free neurophysiological activity in patients with idiopathic PD (nMEG = 79, nMRI = 65) and matched healthy controls (nMEG = 65, nMRI = 37). Using linear mixed-effects models, we examined the topographical alignment of cortical structural and neurophysiological alterations in PD with cortical atlases of 19 neurotransmitter receptor and transporter densities. RESULTS We found that neurophysiological alterations in PD occur primarily in brain regions rich in acetylcholinergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic systems, with protective implications for cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. In contrast, cortical thinning occurs preferentially in regions rich in noradrenergic systems, and the strength of this alignment relates to motor deficits. INTERPRETATION This study shows that the spatial organization of neurophysiological and structural alterations in PD is relevant for nonmotor and motor impairments. The data also advance the identification of the neurochemical systems implicated. The approach uses novel nested atlas modeling methodology that is transferrable to research in other neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases and syndromes. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:802-816.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex I. Wiesman
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Edward A. Fon
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sylvain Baillet
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Natsubori A, Kwon S, Honda Y, Kojima T, Karashima A, Masamoto K, Honda M. Serotonergic regulation of cortical neurovascular coupling and hemodynamics upon awakening from sleep in mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2024:271678X241238843. [PMID: 38477254 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x241238843] [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] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the functional hyperemia of the brain responding to local neuronal activity. It is mediated by astrocytes and affected by subcortical ascending pathways in the cortex that convey information, such as sensory stimuli and the animal condition. Here, we investigate the influence of the raphe serotonergic system, a subcortical ascending arousal system in animals, on the modulation of cortical NVC and cerebral blood flow (CBF). Raphe serotonergic neurons were optogenically activated for 30 s, which immediately awakened the mice from non-rapid eye movement sleep. This caused a biphasic cortical hemodynamic change: a transient increase for a few seconds immediately after photostimulation onset, followed by a large progressive decrease during the stimulation period. Serotonergic neuron activation increased intracellular Ca2+ levels in cortical pyramidal neurons and astrocytes, demonstrating its effect on the NVC components. Pharmacological inhibition of cortical neuronal firing activity and astrocyte metabolic activity had small hypovolemic effects on serotonin-induced biphasic CBF changes, while blocking 5-HT1B receptors expressed primarily in cerebral vasculature attenuated the decreasing CBF phase. This suggests that serotonergic neuron activation leading to animal awakening could allow the NVC to exert a hyperemic function during a biphasic CBF response, with a predominant decrease in the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiyo Natsubori
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soojin Kwon
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Honda
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Karashima
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kazuto Masamoto
- Dept. Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering, Univ. of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Honda
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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10
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Luppi AI, Girn M, Rosas FE, Timmermann C, Roseman L, Erritzoe D, Nutt DJ, Stamatakis EA, Spreng RN, Xing L, Huttner WB, Carhart-Harris RL. A role for the serotonin 2A receptor in the expansion and functioning of human transmodal cortex. Brain 2024; 147:56-80. [PMID: 37703310 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad311] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrating independent but converging lines of research on brain function and neurodevelopment across scales, this article proposes that serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) signalling is an evolutionary and developmental driver and potent modulator of the macroscale functional organization of the human cerebral cortex. A wealth of evidence indicates that the anatomical and functional organization of the cortex follows a unimodal-to-transmodal gradient. Situated at the apex of this processing hierarchy-where it plays a central role in the integrative processes underpinning complex, human-defining cognition-the transmodal cortex has disproportionately expanded across human development and evolution. Notably, the adult human transmodal cortex is especially rich in 5-HT2AR expression and recent evidence suggests that, during early brain development, 5-HT2AR signalling on neural progenitor cells stimulates their proliferation-a critical process for evolutionarily-relevant cortical expansion. Drawing on multimodal neuroimaging and cross-species investigations, we argue that, by contributing to the expansion of the human cortex and being prevalent at the apex of its hierarchy in the adult brain, 5-HT2AR signalling plays a major role in both human cortical expansion and functioning. Owing to its unique excitatory and downstream cellular effects, neuronal 5-HT2AR agonism promotes neuroplasticity, learning and cognitive and psychological flexibility in a context-(hyper)sensitive manner with therapeutic potential. Overall, we delineate a dual role of 5-HT2ARs in enabling both the expansion and modulation of the human transmodal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea I Luppi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1SB, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Manesh Girn
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
- Psychedelics Division-Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California SanFrancisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Fernando E Rosas
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Christopher Timmermann
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Leor Roseman
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - David Erritzoe
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - David J Nutt
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Lei Xing
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Psychedelics Division-Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California SanFrancisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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11
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Arnone D, Wise T, Fitzgerald PB, Harmer CJ. The involvement of serotonin in major depression: nescience in disguise? Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:200-202. [PMID: 38374356 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02459-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Arnone
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King's College London, London, UK.
- Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Toby Wise
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paul B Fitzgerald
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Catherine J Harmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
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12
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Wojtas A, Gołembiowska K. Molecular and Medical Aspects of Psychedelics. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:241. [PMID: 38203411 PMCID: PMC10778977 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010241] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychedelics belong to the oldest psychoactive drugs. They arouse recent interest due to their therapeutic applications in the treatment of major depressive disorder, substance use disorder, end-of-life anxiety,= and anxiety symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this review, the current state of preclinical research on the mechanism of action, neurotoxicity, and behavioral impact of psychedelics is summarized. The effect of selective 5-HT2A receptor agonists, 25I- and 25B-NBOMe, after acute and repeated administration is characterized and compared with the effects of a less selective drug, psilocybin. The data show a significant effect of NBOMes on glutamatergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic neurotransmission in the frontal cortex, striatum, and nucleus accumbens. The increases in extracellular levels of neurotransmitters were not dose-dependent, which most likely resulted from the stimulation of the 5-HT2A receptor and subsequent activation of the 5-HT2C receptors. This effect was also observed in the wet dog shake test and locomotor activity. Chronic administration of NBOMes elicited rapid development of tolerance, genotoxicity, and activation of microglia. Acute treatment with psilocybin affected monoaminergic and aminoacidic neurotransmitters in the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus but not in the amygdala. Psilocybin exhibited anxiolytic properties resulting from intensification of GABAergic neurotransmission. The data indicate that NBOMes as selective 5-HT2A agonists exert a significant effect on neurotransmission and behavior of rats while also inducing oxidative DNA damage. In contrast to NBOMes, the effects induced by psilocybin suggest a broader therapeutic index of this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Krystyna Gołembiowska
- Unit II, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland;
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13
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Wojtas A, Bysiek A, Wawrzczak-Bargiela A, Maćkowiak M, Gołembiowska K. Limbic System Response to Psilocybin and Ketamine Administration in Rats: A Neurochemical and Behavioral Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:100. [PMID: 38203271 PMCID: PMC10779066 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of depression is related to the reduced volume of the hippocampus and amygdala and hypertrophy of the nucleus accumbens. The mechanism of these changes is not well understood; however, clinical studies have shown that the administration of the fast-acting antidepressant ketamine reversed the decrease in hippocampus and amygdala volume in depressed patients, and the magnitude of this effect correlated with the reduction in depressive symptoms. In the present study, we attempted to find out whether the psychedelic substance psilocybin affects neurotransmission in the limbic system in comparison to ketamine. Psilocybin and ketamine increased the release of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in the nucleus accumbens of naive rats as demonstrated using microdialysis. Both drugs influenced glutamate and GABA release in the nucleus accumbens, hippocampus and amygdala and increased ACh levels in the hippocampus. The changes in D2, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor density in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus were observed as a long-lasting effect. A marked anxiolytic effect of psilocybin in the acute phase and 24 h post-treatment was shown in the open field test. These data provide the neurobiological background for psilocybin's effect on stress, anxiety and structural changes in the limbic system and translate into the antidepressant effect of psilocybin in depressed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Wojtas
- Unit II, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (A.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Agnieszka Bysiek
- Unit II, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (A.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Agnieszka Wawrzczak-Bargiela
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.M.)
| | - Marzena Maćkowiak
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.M.)
| | - Krystyna Gołembiowska
- Unit II, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (A.W.); (A.B.)
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14
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Boucherie DE, Reneman L, Booij J, Martins D, Dipasquale O, Schrantee A. Modulation of functional networks related to the serotonin neurotransmitter system by citalopram: Evidence from a multimodal neuroimaging study. J Psychopharmacol 2023; 37:1209-1217. [PMID: 37947344 PMCID: PMC10714691 DOI: 10.1177/02698811231211154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) potentiate serotonergic neurotransmission by blocking the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), but the functional brain response to SSRIs involves neural circuits beyond regions with high 5-HTT expression. Currently, it is unclear whether and how changes in 5-HTT availability after SSRI administration modulate brain function of key serotoninergic circuits, including those characterized by high availability of the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1AR). AIM We investigated the association between 5-HTT availability and 5-HTT- and 5-HT1AR-enriched functional connectivity (FC) after an acute citalopram challenge. METHODS We analyzed multimodal data from a dose-response, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, in which 45 healthy women were randomized into three groups receiving placebo, a low (4 mg), or high (16 mg) oral dose of citalopram. Receptor-Enhanced Analysis of functional Connectivity by Targets was used to estimate 5-HTT- and 5-HT1AR-enriched FC from resting-state and task-based fMRI. 5-HTT availability was determined using [123I]FP-CIT single-photon emission computerized tomography. RESULTS 5-HTT availability was negatively correlated with resting-state 5-HTT-enriched FC, and with task-dependent 5-HT1AR-enriched FC. Our exploratory analyses revealed lower 5-HT1AR-enriched FC in the low-dose group compared to the high-dose group at rest and the placebo group during the emotional face-matching task. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings provide evidence for differential links between 5-HTT availability and brain function within 5-HTT and 5-HT1AR pathways and in context- and dose-dependent manner. As such, they support a potential pivotal role of the 5-HT1AR in the effects of citalopram on the brain and add to its potential as a therapeutic avenue for mood and anxiety disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne E Boucherie
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Reneman
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Booij
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Martins
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ottavia Dipasquale
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Anouk Schrantee
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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Parekh P, Begley P, Jessop M, Aplin M, Missir E, McMeekin H, Raczek G, Singh N, Dizdarevic S. Association between body mass index (BMI) and [ 123I]Ioflupane (DaTSCAN) availabilities in patients with parkinsonism using single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT). Eur J Hybrid Imaging 2023; 7:21. [PMID: 37981626 PMCID: PMC10657921 DOI: 10.1186/s41824-023-00181-6] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM [123I]Ioflupane (DaTSCAN) has a high binding affinity to the dopamine (DA) transporter (DaT) and tenfold less affinity to serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT). Both neurotransmitters are considered to contribute to body weight regulation. This study assesses the association between body mass index (BMI) and DaTSCAN availability in brain. METHOD Scans from 74 consecutive patients who had undergone DaTSCAN single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) were used to obtain semi- and absolute quantitative data in several volumes of interest (VOIs). Relative semi-quantitative specific binding ratios (SBRs) from Chang attenuated SPECT were obtained from GE DaTQUANT. Absolute normalised concentration (NC) was calculated from attenuation/scatter corrected SPECT-CT images, using an adapted version of the EARL Ltd (European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Research 4 Life) template. Scans were subdivided into either degenerative parkinsonism (abnormal = 49), borderline (n = 14) or scan without evidence of dopaminergic deficit (SWEDD = 11) using visual assessment and SBR values by two nuclear medicine consultants. RESULTS SBRs did not correlate with BMI. However, NC values correlated negatively in the entire cohort, with the strongest correlation in the frontal (r = - 0.649. p = 0.000), occipital (r = - 0.555, p = 0.000) regions and pons (r = - 0.555, p = 0.000). In the abnormal (n = 49) and SWEDD group (n = 11), NC of the frontal region was the most correlated with BMI (r = - 0.570, p = 0.000; r = - 0.813, p = 0.002, respectively). In the borderline group (n = 14), the left posterior putamen displayed the strongest correlation (r = - 0.765, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Absolute NC values demonstrate a strong inverse correlation with BMI, strongest in the extrastriatal regions. Due to the predominately non-overlapping distribution of DaT and SERT, this study suggests greater involvement of SERT in obesity with possible interplay with DA transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja Parekh
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, England
| | - Patrick Begley
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, England
| | - Maryam Jessop
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, England
| | - Mark Aplin
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, England
| | - Elena Missir
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, England
| | | | - Gosia Raczek
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, England
| | - Nitasha Singh
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, England
| | - Sabina Dizdarevic
- Clinical Imaging Science Centre, Neuroscience and Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, England.
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, England.
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, England.
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16
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Collins SA, Stinson HE, Himes A, Nestor-Kalinoski A, Ninan I. Sex-specific modulation of the medial prefrontal cortex by glutamatergic median raphe neurons. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg4800. [PMID: 37948526 PMCID: PMC10637752 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg4800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
A substantial proportion of raphe neurons are glutamatergic. However, little is known about how these glutamatergic neurons modulate the forebrain. We investigated how glutamatergic median raphe nucleus (MRN) input modulates the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a critical component of fear circuitry. We show that vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3)-expressing MRN neurons activate VGLUT3- and somatostatin-expressing neurons in the mPFC. Consistent with this modulation of mPFC GABAergic neurons, activation of MRN (VGLUT3) neurons enhances GABAergic transmission in mPFC pyramidal neurons and attenuates fear memory in female but not male mice. Serotonin plays a key role in MRN (VGLUT3) neuron-mediated GABAergic plasticity in the mPFC. In agreement with these female-specific effects, we observed sex differences in glutamatergic transmission onto MRN (VGLUT3) neurons and in mPFC (VGLUT3) neuron-mediated dual release of glutamate and GABA. Our results demonstrate a cell type-specific modulation of the mPFC by MRN (VGLUT3) neurons and reveal a sex-specific role of this neuromodulation in mPFC synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart A. Collins
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Hannah E. Stinson
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Amanda Himes
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Andrea Nestor-Kalinoski
- Department of Surgery, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ipe Ninan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
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17
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Davletshin AI, Matveeva AA, Poletaeva II, Evgen'ev MB, Garbuz DG. The role of molecular chaperones in the mechanisms of epileptogenesis. Cell Stress Chaperones 2023; 28:599-619. [PMID: 37755620 PMCID: PMC10746656 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-023-01378-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a group of neurological diseases which requires significant economic costs for the treatment and care of patients. The central point of epileptogenesis stems from the failure of synaptic signal transmission mechanisms, leading to excessive synchronous excitation of neurons and characteristic epileptic electroencephalogram activity, in typical cases being manifested as seizures and loss of consciousness. The causes of epilepsy are extremely diverse, which is one of the reasons for the complexity of selecting a treatment regimen for each individual case and the high frequency of pharmacoresistant cases. Therefore, the search for new drugs and methods of epilepsy treatment requires an advanced study of the molecular mechanisms of epileptogenesis. In this regard, the investigation of molecular chaperones as potential mediators of epileptogenesis seems promising because the chaperones are involved in the processing and regulation of the activity of many key proteins directly responsible for the generation of abnormal neuronal excitation in epilepsy. In this review, we try to systematize current data on the role of molecular chaperones in epileptogenesis and discuss the prospects for the use of chemical modulators of various chaperone groups' activity as promising antiepileptic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna A Matveeva
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology RAS, 119991, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Inga I Poletaeva
- Biology Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - David G Garbuz
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology RAS, 119991, Moscow, Russia
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18
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Banushi B, Polito V. A Comprehensive Review of the Current Status of the Cellular Neurobiology of Psychedelics. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1380. [PMID: 37997979 PMCID: PMC10669348 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have gained significant attention in recent years for their potential therapeutic effects on various psychiatric disorders. This review delves into the intricate cellular neurobiology of psychedelics, emphasizing their potential therapeutic applications in addressing the global burden of mental illness. It focuses on contemporary research into the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms underlying these substances, particularly the role of 5-HT2A receptor signaling and the promotion of plasticity through the TrkB-BDNF pathway. The review also discusses how psychedelics affect various receptors and pathways and explores their potential as anti-inflammatory agents. Overall, this research represents a significant development in biomedical sciences with the potential to transform mental health treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blerida Banushi
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Vince Polito
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia;
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19
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Custodio RJP, Ortiz DM, Lee HJ, Sayson LV, Kim M, Lee YS, Kim KM, Cheong JH, Kim HJ. Serotonin 2C receptors are also important in head-twitch responses in male mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06482-9. [PMID: 37882810 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06482-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Serotonergic psychedelics exert their effects via their high affinity for serotonin (5-HT) receptors, particularly through activating 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2AR), employing the frontal cortex-dependent head-twitch response (HTR). Although universally believed to be so, studies have not yet fully ascertained whether 5-HT2AR activation is the sole initiator of these psychedelic effects. This is because not all 5-HT2AR agonists exhibit similar pharmacologic properties. OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify and discriminate the roles of 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2CR in the HTR induced by Methallylescaline (MAL) and 4-Methyl-2,5,β-trimethoxyphenethylamine (BOD) in male mice. Also, an analysis of their potential neurotoxic properties was evaluated. METHODS Male mice treated with MAL and BOD were evaluated in different behavioral paradigms targeting HTR and neurotoxicity effects. Drug affinity, pharmacological blocking, and molecular analysis were also conducted to support the behavioral findings. The HTR induced by DOI has been extensively characterized in male mice, making it a good positive control for this study, specifically for comparing the pharmacological effects of our test compounds. RESULTS The activation of 5-HT2CR, alone or in concert with 5-HT2AR, produces a comparable degree of HTRs (at a dose of 1 mg·kg-1), with divergent 5-HT2CR- and 5-HT2AR-Gqα11-mediated signaling and enhanced neurotoxic properties (at a dose of 30 mg·kg-1) coupled with activated pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings show these compounds' potential psychedelic and neurotoxic effects in male mice. CONCLUSION These findings showed that while 5-HT2AR is the main initiator of HTR, the 5-HT2CR also has a distinct property that renders it effective in inducing HTR in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raly James Perez Custodio
- Networking Group Aging, Department of Ergonomics, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors - IfADo, Ardeystrasse 67, Dortmund, 44139, Germany.
| | - Darlene Mae Ortiz
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jun Lee
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Leandro Val Sayson
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Mikyung Kim
- Department of Chemistry & Life Science, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Sup Lee
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy & Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong-Man Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Cheong
- Institute for New Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Jiang Y, Zhou J, Song BL, Wang Y, Zhang DL, Zhang ZT, Li LF, Liu YJ. 5-HT1A receptor in the central amygdala and 5-HT2A receptor in the basolateral amygdala are involved in social hierarchy in male mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 957:176027. [PMID: 37659688 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Most social animals self-organize into dominance hierarchies that strongly influence their behavior and health. The serotonin (5-HT) system is believed to play an important role in the formation of social hierarchy. 5-HT receptors are abundantly expressed in the amygdala, which is considered as the central node for the perception and learning of social hierarchy. In this study, we assessed the functions of various 5-HT receptor subtypes related to social rank determination in different subregions of the amygdala using the confrontation tube test in mice. We revealed that most adult C57BL/6 J male mice exhibited a linear social rank after a few days of cohousing. The tube test ranks were slightly related to anxiety-like behavioral performance. After the tube test, the amygdala and 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus were activated in lower-rank individuals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that despite the high expression of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA in the central amygdala (CeA), 5-HT2A receptor mRNA expression was downregulated in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in higher-rank individuals. The dominant-subordinate relationship between mouse pairs could be switched via pharmacological modulation of these receptors in CeA and BLA, suggesting that these expression changes are essential for establishing social ranks. Our findings provide novel insights into the divergent functions of 5-HT receptors in the amygdala related to social hierarchy, which is closely related to our health and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jiang
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China
| | - Bai-Lin Song
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China
| | - Dong-Lin Zhang
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China
| | - Zheng-Tian Zhang
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China
| | - Lai-Fu Li
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China.
| | - Ying-Juan Liu
- Research Center of Henan Provincial Agricultural Biomass Resource Engineering and Technology, College of Life Science and Agriculture, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China.
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21
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Ku T, Tan X, Liu Y, Wang R, Fan L, Ren Z, Ning X, Li G, Sang N. Triazole fungicides exert neural differentiation alteration through H3K27me3 modifications: In vitro and in silico study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132225. [PMID: 37557044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Considering that humans are unavoidably exposed to triazole fungicides through the esophagus, respiratory tract, and skin contact, revealing the developmental toxicity of triazole fungicides is vital for health risk assessment. This study aimed to screen and discriminate neural developmental disorder chemicals in commonly used triazole fungicides, and explore the underlying harmful impacts on neurogenesis associated with histone modification abnormality in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). The triploblastic and neural differentiation models were constructed based on mESCs to expose six typical triazole fungicides (myclobutanil, tebuconazole, hexaconazole, propiconazole, difenoconazole, and flusilazole). The result demonstrated that although no cytotoxicity was observed, different triazole fungicides exhibited varying degrees of alterations in neural differentiation, including increased ectodermal differentiation, promoted neurogenesis, increased intracellular calcium ion levels, and disturbance of neurotransmitters. Molecular docking, cluster analysis, and multiple linear regressions demonstrated that the binding affinities between triazole fungicides and the Kdm6b-ligand binding domain were the dominant determinants of the neurodevelopmental response. This partially resulted in the reduced enrichment of H3K27me3 at the promoter region of the serotonin receptor 2 C gene, finally leading to disturbed neural differentiation. The data suggested potential adverse outcomes of triazole fungicides on embryonic neurogenesis even under sublethal doses through interfering histone modification, providing substantial evidence on the safety control of fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Ku
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Xin Tan
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Yutong Liu
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Lifan Fan
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Zhihua Ren
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Xia Ning
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Guangke Li
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Nan Sang
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China.
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22
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Long DR, Kinser A, Olalde-Welling A, Brewer L, Lim J, Matheny D, Long B, Roossien DH. 5-HT1A regulates axon outgrowth in a subpopulation of Drosophila serotonergic neurons. Dev Neurobiol 2023; 83:268-281. [PMID: 37714743 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22928] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Serotonergic neurons produce extensively branched axons that fill most of the central nervous system, where they modulate a wide variety of behaviors. Many behavioral disorders have been correlated with defective serotonergic axon morphologies. Proper behavioral output therefore depends on the precise outgrowth and targeting of serotonergic axons during development. To direct outgrowth, serotonergic neurons utilize serotonin as a signaling molecule prior to it assuming its neurotransmitter role. This process, termed serotonin autoregulation, regulates axon outgrowth, branching, and varicosity development of serotonergic neurons. However, the receptor that mediates serotonin autoregulation is unknown. Here we asked if serotonin receptor 5-HT1A plays a role in serotonergic axon outgrowth and branching. Using cultured Drosophila serotonergic neurons, we found that exogenous serotonin reduced axon length and branching only in those expressing 5-HT1A. Pharmacological activation of 5-HT1A led to reduced axon length and branching, whereas the disruption of 5-HT1A rescued outgrowth in the presence of exogenous serotonin. Altogether this suggests that 5-HT1A is a serotonin autoreceptor in a subpopulation of serotonergic neurons and initiates signaling pathways that regulate axon outgrowth and branching during Drosophila development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaney R Long
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA
| | - Ava Kinser
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Luke Brewer
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA
| | - Juri Lim
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA
| | - Dayle Matheny
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA
| | - Breanna Long
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA
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23
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González-Arias C, Sánchez-Ruiz A, Esparza J, Sánchez-Puelles C, Arancibia L, Ramírez-Franco J, Gobbo D, Kirchhoff F, Perea G. Dysfunctional serotonergic neuron-astrocyte signaling in depressive-like states. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3856-3873. [PMID: 37773446 PMCID: PMC10730416 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02269-8] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes play crucial roles in brain homeostasis and are regulatory elements of neuronal and synaptic physiology. Astrocytic alterations have been found in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients; however, the consequences of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling in MDD are poorly understood. Here, we found that corticosterone-treated juvenile mice (Cort-mice) showed altered astrocytic Ca2+ dynamics in mPFC both in resting conditions and during social interactions, in line with altered mice behavior. Additionally, Cort-mice displayed reduced serotonin (5-HT)-mediated Ca2+ signaling in mPFC astrocytes, and aberrant 5-HT-driven synaptic plasticity in layer 2/3 mPFC neurons. Downregulation of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling in naïve animals mimicked the synaptic deficits found in Cort-mice. Remarkably, boosting astrocyte Ca2+ signaling with Gq-DREADDS restored to the control levels mood and cognitive abilities in Cort-mice. This study highlights the important role of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling for homeostatic control of brain circuits and behavior, but also reveals its potential therapeutic value for depressive-like states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela González-Arias
- Cajal Institute, CSIC, 28002, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University-Cajal Institute, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Andrea Sánchez-Ruiz
- Cajal Institute, CSIC, 28002, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University-Cajal Institute, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Jorge Ramírez-Franco
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) & CNRS, UMR7289, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Davide Gobbo
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany
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24
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Jaster AM, González-Maeso J. Mechanisms and molecular targets surrounding the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3595-3612. [PMID: 37759040 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02274-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelics, also known as classical hallucinogens, have been investigated for decades due to their potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders. The results from clinical trials have shown promise for the use of psychedelics to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as to promote substantial decreases in the use of nicotine and alcohol. While these studies provide compelling evidence for the powerful subjective experience and prolonged therapeutic adaptations, the underlying molecular reasons for these robust and clinically meaningful improvements are still poorly understood. Preclinical studies assessing the targets and circuitry of the post-acute effects of classical psychedelics are ongoing. Current literature is split between a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR)-dependent or -independent signaling pathway, as researchers are attempting to harness the mechanisms behind the sustained post-acute therapeutically relevant effects. A combination of molecular, behavioral, and genetic techniques in neuropharmacology has begun to show promise for elucidating these mechanisms. As the field progresses, increasing evidence points towards the importance of the subjective experience induced by psychedelic-assisted therapy, but without further cross validation between clinical and preclinical research, the why behind the experience and its translational validity may be lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaina M Jaster
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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25
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Pham T, Hansel C. Intrinsic threshold plasticity: cholinergic activation and role in the neuronal recognition of incomplete input patterns. J Physiol 2023; 601:3221-3239. [PMID: 35879872 PMCID: PMC9873838 DOI: 10.1113/jp283473] [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: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Activity-dependent changes in membrane excitability are observed in neurons across brain areas and represent a cell-autonomous form of plasticity (intrinsic plasticity; IP) that in itself does not involve alterations in synaptic strength (synaptic plasticity; SP). Non-homeostatic IP may play an essential role in learning, e.g. by changing the action potential threshold near the soma. A computational problem, however, arises from the implication that such amplification does not discriminate between synaptic inputs and therefore may reduce the resolution of input representation. Here, we investigate consequences of IP for the performance of an artificial neural network in (a) the discrimination of unknown input patterns and (b) the recognition of known/learned patterns. While negative changes in threshold potentials in the output layer indeed reduce its ability to discriminate patterns, they benefit the recognition of known but incompletely presented patterns. An analysis of thresholds and IP-induced threshold changes in published sets of physiological data obtained from whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from L2/3 pyramidal neurons in (a) the primary visual cortex (V1) of awake macaques and (b) the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) of mice in vitro, respectively, reveals a difference between resting and threshold potentials of ∼15 mV for V1 and ∼25 mV for S1, and a total plasticity range of ∼10 mV (S1). The most efficient activity pattern to lower threshold is paired cholinergic and electric activation. Our findings show that threshold reduction promotes a shift in neural coding strategies from accurate faithful representation to interpretative assignment of input patterns to learned object categories. KEY POINTS: Intrinsic plasticity may change the action potential threshold near the soma of neurons (threshold plasticity), thus altering the input-output function for all synaptic inputs 'upstream' of the plasticity location. A potential problem arising from this shared amplification is that it may reduce the ability to discriminate between different input patterns. Here, we assess the performance of an artificial neural network in the discrimination of unknown input patterns as well as the recognition of known patterns subsequent to changes in the spike threshold. We observe that negative changes in threshold potentials do reduce discrimination performance, but at the same time improve performance in an object recognition task, in particular when patterns are incompletely presented. Analysis of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from pyramidal neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) of mice reveals that negative threshold changes preferentially result from electric stimulation of neurons paired with the activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuan Pham
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, The University of Chicago
| | - Christian Hansel
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, The University of Chicago
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago
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26
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Schmitz GP, Roth BL. G protein-coupled receptors as targets for transformative neuropsychiatric therapeutics. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C17-C28. [PMID: 37067459 PMCID: PMC10281788 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00397.2022] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of druggable genes in the human genome. Even though perhaps 30% of approved medications target GPCRs, they interact with only a small number of them. Here, we consider whether there might be new opportunities for transformative therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders by specifically targeting both known and understudied GPCRs. Using psychedelic drugs that target serotonin receptors as an example, we show how recent insights into the structure, function, signaling, and cell biology of these receptors have led to potentially novel therapeutics. We next focus on the possibility that nonpsychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonists might prove to be safe and rapidly acting antidepressants. Finally, we examine understudied and orphan GPCRs using the MRGPR family of receptors as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin P Schmitz
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
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27
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Contreras-Rodriguez O, Reales-Moreno M, Fernández-Barrès S, Cimpean A, Arnoriaga-Rodríguez M, Puig J, Biarnés C, Motger-Albertí A, Cano M, Fernández-Real JM. Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with depression, mesocorticolimbic volume, and inflammation. J Affect Disord 2023; 335:340-348. [PMID: 37207947 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPF) has been associated with depression and inflammation and preclinical studies showed that some UPF components disrupt the amygdala-hippocampal complex. We combine diet, clinical and brain imaging data to investigate the relationship between the UPF consumption, depressive symptoms, and brain volumes in humans, considering interactions with obesity, and the mediation effect of inflammation biomarkers. METHODS One-hundred fifty-two adults underwent diet, depressive symptoms, anatomic magnetic resonance imaging assessments and laboratory tests. Relationships between the % of UPF consumption (in grams) of the total diet, depressive symptoms, and gray matter brain volumes were explored using several adjusted regression models, and in interaction with the presence of obesity. Whether inflammatory biomarkers (i.e., white blood cell count, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, c-reactive protein) mediate the previous associations was investigated using R mediation package. RESULTS High UPF consumption was associated with higher depressive symptoms in all participants (β = 0.178, CI = 0.008-0.261) and in those with obesity (β = 0.214, CI = -0.004-0.333). Higher consumption was also associated with lower volumes in the posterior cingulate cortex and the left amygdala, which in the participants with obesity also encompassed the left ventral putamen and the dorsal frontal cortex. White blood count levels mediated the association between UPF consumption and depressive symptoms (p = 0.022). LIMITATIONS The present study precludes any causal conclusions. CONCLUSIONS UPF consumption is associated with depressive symptoms and lower volumes within the mesocorticolimbic brain network implicated in reward processes and conflict monitoring. Associations were partially dependent on obesity and white blood cell count.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Contreras-Rodriguez
- Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging (IDI), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII) and CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marta Reales-Moreno
- Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging (IDI), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain; Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, Spain
| | | | - Anna Cimpean
- Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging (IDI), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain
| | - María Arnoriaga-Rodríguez
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, Spain; Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition (UDEN), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Girona, Spain
| | - Josep Puig
- Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging (IDI), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain; Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, Spain; Institute of Diagnostic Imaging (IDI)-Research Unit (IDIR), Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Biarnés
- Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging (IDI), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain
| | - Anna Motger-Albertí
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, Spain; Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition (UDEN), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Girona, Spain
| | - Marta Cano
- Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII) and CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain; Sant Pau Mental Health Research Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Manuel Fernández-Real
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, Spain; Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition (UDEN), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IdIBGi), Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Girona, Spain.
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28
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Lu C, Zhu X, Feng Y, Ao W, Li J, Gao Z, Luo H, Chen M, Cai F, Zhan S, Li H, Sun W, Hu J. Atypical antipsychotics antagonize GABA A receptors in the ventral tegmental area GABA neurons to relieve psychotic behaviors. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2107-2121. [PMID: 36754983 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-01982-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Psychosis is an abnormal mental condition that can cause patients to lose contact with reality. It is a common symptom of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, sleep deprivation, and other mental disorders. Clinically, antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine and clozapine, are very effective in treatment for psychosis. To investigate the neural circuit mechanism that is affected by antipsychotics and identify more selective therapeutic targets, we employed a strategy by using these effective antipsychotics to identify antipsychotic neural substrates. We observed that local injection of antipsychotics into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) could reverse the sensorimotor gating defects induced by MK-801 injection in mice. Using in vivo fiber photometry, electrophysiological techniques, and chemogenetics, we found that antipsychotics could activate VTA gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons by blocking GABAA receptors. Moreover, we found that the VTAGABA nucleus accumbens (NAc) projection was crucially involved in such antipsychotic effects. In summary, our study identifies a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of psychosis and underscores the utility of a 'bedside-to-bench' approach for identifying neural circuits that influence psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Lu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaona Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yifan Feng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Weizhen Ao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Li
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilong Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 310024, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huoqing Luo
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Cai
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Shulu Zhan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongxia Li
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenzhi Sun
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, 102206, Beijing, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, 100069, Beijing, China.
| | - Ji Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
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29
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The high frequency oscillation in orbitofrontal cortex is susceptible to phenethylamine psychedelic 25C-NBOMe in male rats. Neuropharmacology 2023; 227:109452. [PMID: 36724866 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Serotoninergic psychedelics induced extensive alterations in perception and cognition, which has been attributable to its disruptive effect on oscillatory rhythms of prefrontal cortex. However, there is a lack of information how serotoninergic psychedelics affect the intra-prefrontal network, which intrinsically interact to accomplish perceptual processing. Uncovering the altered neural network caused by psychedelics helps to understand the mechanisms of their psychoactive effects and contribute to develop biological markers of psychedelic effects. In present study, we investigated the effects of substituted phenethylamine psychedelic 25C-NBOMe on neural oscillations in the intra-prefrontal and hippocampal-prefrontal network. The effective dose of 25C-NBOMe (0.1 mg/kg) disrupting sensorimotor gating in male Sprague-Dawley rats was used to observe its effects on neural oscillations in the prelimbic cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and hippocampus CA1. The power of high frequency oscillation (HFO, 120-150 Hz) was potentiated by 25C-NBOMe selectively in the OFC, with peaking at 20-30 min after treatment. 25C-NBOMe strengthened HFO coherence within the intra-prefrontal, rather than hippocampal-prefrontal network. Potentiated HFO in the OFC had a strong positive correlation with the strengthened inter-prefrontal HFO coherence by 25C-NBOMe. The 25C-NBOMe-induced alterations of rhythmic patterns were prevented by pre-treatment with selective serotonin 2A receptor antagonist MDL100,907. These results demonstrate that OFC rhythmic activity in HFO is relatively susceptible to substituted phenethylamine and potentially drives drug-induced rhythmic coherence within intra-prefrontal regions. Our findings provide additional insight into the neuropathophysiology of the psychoactive effects of psychedelics and indicate that the altered HFO might be applied as a potential biological marker of psychedelic effect.
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30
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Reitman ME, Tse V, Mi X, Willoughby DD, Peinado A, Aivazidis A, Myagmar BE, Simpson PC, Bayraktar OA, Yu G, Poskanzer KE. Norepinephrine links astrocytic activity to regulation of cortical state. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:579-593. [PMID: 36997759 PMCID: PMC10089924 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01284-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Cortical state, defined by population-level neuronal activity patterns, determines sensory perception. While arousal-associated neuromodulators-including norepinephrine (NE)-reduce cortical synchrony, how the cortex resynchronizes remains unknown. Furthermore, general mechanisms regulating cortical synchrony in the wake state are poorly understood. Using in vivo imaging and electrophysiology in mouse visual cortex, we describe a critical role for cortical astrocytes in circuit resynchronization. We characterize astrocytes' calcium responses to changes in behavioral arousal and NE, and show that astrocytes signal when arousal-driven neuronal activity is reduced and bi-hemispheric cortical synchrony is increased. Using in vivo pharmacology, we uncover a paradoxical, synchronizing response to Adra1a receptor stimulation. We reconcile these results by demonstrating that astrocyte-specific deletion of Adra1a enhances arousal-driven neuronal activity, while impairing arousal-related cortical synchrony. Our findings demonstrate that astrocytic NE signaling acts as a distinct neuromodulatory pathway, regulating cortical state and linking arousal-associated desynchrony to cortical circuit resynchronization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Reitman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Tse
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xuelong Mi
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Drew D Willoughby
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alba Peinado
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Bat-Erdene Myagmar
- Department of Medicine and Research Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paul C Simpson
- Department of Medicine and Research Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Guoqiang Yu
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Kira E Poskanzer
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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31
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Morgan AA, Alves ND, Stevens GS, Yeasmin TT, Mackay A, Power S, Sargin D, Hanna C, Adib AL, Ziolkowski-Blake A, Lambe EK, Ansorge MS. Medial Prefrontal Cortex Serotonin Input Regulates Cognitive Flexibility in Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.30.534775. [PMID: 37034804 PMCID: PMC10081203 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.30.534775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regulates cognitive flexibility and emotional behavior. Neurons that release serotonin project to the mPFC, and serotonergic drugs influence emotion and cognition. Yet, the specific roles of endogenous serotonin release in the mPFC on neurophysiology and behavior are unknown. We show that axonal serotonin release in the mPFC directly inhibits the major mPFC output neurons. In serotonergic neurons projecting from the dorsal raphe to the mPFC, we find endogenous activity signatures pre-reward retrieval and at reward retrieval during a cognitive flexibility task. In vivo optogenetic activation of this pathway during pre-reward retrieval selectively improved extradimensional rule shift performance while inhibition impaired it, demonstrating sufficiency and necessity for mPFC serotonin release in cognitive flexibility. Locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior were not affected by either optogenetic manipulation. Collectively, our data reveal a powerful and specific modulatory role of endogenous serotonin release from dorsal raphe-to-mPFC projecting neurons in cognitive flexibility.
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32
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Elwyn R, Mitchell J, Kohn MR, Driver C, Hay P, Lagopoulos J, Hermens DF. Novel ketamine and zinc treatment for anorexia nervosa and the potential beneficial interactions with the gut microbiome. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 148:105122. [PMID: 36907256 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105122] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe illness with diverse aetiological and maintaining contributors including neurobiological, metabolic, psychological, and social determining factors. In addition to nutritional recovery, multiple psychological and pharmacological therapies and brain-based stimulations have been explored; however, existing treatments have limited efficacy. This paper outlines a neurobiological model of glutamatergic and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic dysfunction, exacerbated by chronic gut microbiome dysbiosis and zinc depletion at a brain and gut level. The gut microbiome is established early in development, and early exposure to stress and adversity contribute to gut microbial disturbance in AN, early dysregulation to glutamatergic and GABAergic networks, interoceptive impairment, and inhibited caloric harvest from food (e.g., zinc malabsorption, competition for zinc ions between gut bacteria and host). Zinc is a key part of glutamatergic and GABAergic networks, and also affects leptin and gut microbial function; systems dysregulated in AN. Low doses of ketamine in conjunction with zinc, could provide an efficacious combination to act on NMDA receptors and normalise glutamatergic, GABAergic and gut function in AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosiel Elwyn
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia; SouthWest Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jules Mitchell
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia; SouthWest Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael R Kohn
- AYA Medicine Westmead Hospital, CRASH (Centre for Research into Adolescent's Health) Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney University, Australia; SouthWest Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Christina Driver
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia; SouthWest Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Phillipa Hay
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI) School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia; SouthWest Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Jim Lagopoulos
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia; SouthWest Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel F Hermens
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia; SouthWest Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
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33
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The Role of α-Synuclein in the Regulation of Serotonin System: Physiological and Pathological Features. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020541. [PMID: 36831077 PMCID: PMC9953742 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD), up to 50% of them experience cognitive changes, and psychiatric disturbances, such as anxiety and depression, often precede the onset of motor symptoms and have a negative impact on their quality of life. Pathologically, PD is characterized by the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the presence of intracellular inclusions, called Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, composed mostly of α-synuclein (α-Syn). Much of PD research has focused on the role of α-Syn aggregates in the degeneration of SNc DA neurons due to the impact of striatal DA deficits on classical motor phenotypes. However, abundant Lewy pathology is also found in other brain regions including the midbrain raphe nuclei, which may contribute to non-motor symptoms. Indeed, dysfunction of the serotonergic (5-HT) system, which regulates mood and emotional pathways, occurs during the premotor phase of PD. However, little is known about the functional consequences of α-Syn inclusions in this neuronal population other than DA neurons. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of α-Syn and its role in regulating the 5-HT function in health and disease. Understanding the relative contributions to α-Syn-linked alterations in the 5-HT system may provide a basis for identifying PD patients at risk for developing depression and could lead to a more targeted therapeutic approach.
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34
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Natsubori A, Hirai S, Kwon S, Ono D, Deng F, Wan J, Miyazawa M, Kojima T, Okado H, Karashima A, Li Y, Tanaka KF, Honda M. Serotonergic neurons control cortical neuronal intracellular energy dynamics by modulating astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle. iScience 2023; 26:105830. [PMID: 36713262 PMCID: PMC9881222 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105830] [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: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The central serotonergic system has multiple roles in animal physiology and behavior, including sleep-wake control. However, its function in controlling brain energy metabolism according to the state of animals remains undetermined. Through in vivo monitoring of energy metabolites and signaling, we demonstrated that optogenetic activation of raphe serotonergic neurons increased cortical neuronal intracellular concentration of ATP, an indispensable cellular energy molecule, which was suppressed by inhibiting neuronal uptake of lactate derived from astrocytes. Raphe serotonergic neuronal activation induced cortical astrocytic Ca2+ and cAMP surges and increased extracellular lactate concentrations, suggesting the facilitation of lactate release from astrocytes. Furthermore, chemogenetic inhibition of raphe serotonergic neurons partly attenuated the increase in cortical neuronal intracellular ATP levels as arousal increased in mice. Serotonergic neuronal activation promoted an increase in cortical neuronal intracellular ATP levels, partly mediated by the facilitation of the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle, contributing to state-dependent optimization of neuronal intracellular energy levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiyo Natsubori
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan,Corresponding author
| | - Shinobu Hirai
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Soojin Kwon
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ono
- Department of Neuroscience Ⅱ, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan,Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100871, China,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jinxia Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100871, China,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Momoka Miyazawa
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan,Faculty of Science Division Ⅱ, Tokyo University of Science, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Haruo Okado
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Akihiro Karashima
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai 982-8577, Japan
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100871, China,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kenji F. Tanaka
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Makoto Honda
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
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35
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Scholkmann F, Vollenweider FX. Psychedelics and fNIRS neuroimaging: exploring new opportunities. NEUROPHOTONICS 2023; 10:013506. [PMID: 36474478 PMCID: PMC9717437 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.10.1.013506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this Outlook paper, we explain to the optical neuroimaging community as well as the psychedelic research community the great potential of using optical neuroimaging with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to further explore the changes in brain activity induced by psychedelics. We explain why we believe now is the time to exploit the momentum of the current resurgence of research on the effects of psychedelics and the momentum of the increasing progress and popularity of the fNIRS technique to establish fNIRS in psychedelic research. With this article, we hope to contribute to this development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Scholkmann
- University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Department of Neonatology, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Bern, Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Franz X. Vollenweider
- University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Neuropsychopharmacology and Brain Imaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Zurich, Switzerland
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36
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Meccia J, Lopez J, Bagot RC. Probing the antidepressant potential of psilocybin: integrating insight from human research and animal models towards an understanding of neural circuit mechanisms. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:27-40. [PMID: 36564671 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06297-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Interest in the therapeutic potential of serotonergic psychedelic compounds including psilocybin has surged in recent years. While human clinical research suggests psilocybin holds promise as a rapid and long-lasting antidepressant, little is known about how its acute mechanisms of action mediate enduring alterations in cognition and behavior. Human neuroimaging studies point to both acute and sustained modulation of functional connectivity in key cortically dependent brain networks. Emerging evidence in preclinical models highlights the importance of psilocybin-induced neuroplasticity and alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Overviewing research in both humans and preclinical models suggests avenues to increase crosstalk between fields. We review how acute modulation of PFC circuits may contribute to long-term structural and functional alterations to mediate antidepressant effects. We highlight the potential for preclinical circuit and behavioral neuroscience approaches to provide basic mechanistic insight into how psilocybin modulates cognitive and affective neural circuits to support further development of psilocybin as a promising new treatment for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Meccia
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Ave Dr. Penfield, Montréal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Joëlle Lopez
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Ave Dr. Penfield, Montréal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Rosemary C Bagot
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Ave Dr. Penfield, Montréal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada. .,Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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37
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Ashoor O, Mohammed HS, Radwan NM, Elge-baly R. Long-term serotonin abnormalities in the brain of immature rats subjected to febrile seizures. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2023; 26:1068-1075. [PMID: 37605718 PMCID: PMC10440141 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2023.70273.15297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common neurological disorder at a young age in humans. Animal models of hyperthermia-induced seizures provide a tool to investigate the underlying mechanisms of FS related to epilepsy development and its co-morbidities. The present study investigates the alterations in monoamine neurotransmitters in two brain areas: the cortex and the hippo-campus in animals subjected to prolonged FS at their immature age. Materials and Methods Experimental animals were divided into three groups: cage-control group (NHT-NFS), positive hyperthermic control group (HT-NFS), and the hyperthermia-induced febrile seizure group (HT-FS). Each group was further subdivided into young (Y) and adult (A) groups. Results There were significant changes in the cortical and hippocampal serotonin neurotransmitters that were persistent until adulthood. However, the changes in the two other neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine, were transient and have been recovered in adulthood. Conclusion The present study sheds more light on the importance of monoamine neurotransmitters in epileptogenesis following FS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omnia Ashoor
- Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | | | - Nasr M. Radwan
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Reem Elge-baly
- Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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38
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Next generation genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for serotonin. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7525. [PMID: 36473867 PMCID: PMC9726753 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35200-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a family of genetically encoded serotonin (5-HT) sensors (sDarken) on the basis of the native 5-HT1A receptor and circularly permuted GFP. sDarken 5-HT sensors are bright in the unbound state and diminish their fluorescence upon binding of 5-HT. Sensor variants with different affinities for serotonin were engineered to increase the versatility in imaging of serotonin dynamics. Experiments in vitro and in vivo showed the feasibility of imaging serotonin dynamics with high temporal and spatial resolution. As demonstrated here, the designed sensors show excellent membrane expression, have high specificity and a superior signal-to-noise ratio, detect the endogenous release of serotonin and are suitable for two-photon in vivo imaging.
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39
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Caligiore D, Giocondo F, Silvetti M. The Neurodegenerative Elderly Syndrome (NES) hypothesis: Alzheimer and Parkinson are two faces of the same disease. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2022; 13:330-343. [PMID: 36247524 PMCID: PMC9554826 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) share monoamine and alpha-synuclein (αSyn) dysfunctions, often beginning years before clinical manifestations onset. The triggers for these impairments and the causes leading these early neurodegenerative processes to become AD or PD remain unclear. We address these issues by proposing a radically new perspective to frame AD and PD: they are different manifestations of one only disease we call "Neurodegenerative Elderly Syndrome (NES)". NES goes through three phases. The seeding stage, which starts years before clinical signs, and where the part of the brain-body affected by the initial αSyn and monoamine dysfunctions, influences the future possible progression of NES towards PD or AD. The compensatory stage, where the clinical symptoms are still silent thanks to compensatory mechanisms keeping monoamine concentrations homeostasis. The bifurcation stage, where NES becomes AD or PD. We present recent literature supporting NES and discuss how this hypothesis could radically change the comprehension of AD and PD comorbidities and the design of novel system-level diagnostic and therapeutic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Caligiore
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CTNLab-ISTC-CNR), Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, Rome 00185, Italy
- AI2Life s.r.l., Innovative Start-Up, ISTC-CNR Spin-Off, Via Sebino 32, Rome 00199, Italy
| | - Flora Giocondo
- Laboratory of Embodied Natural and Artificial Intelligence, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (LENAI-ISTC-CNR), Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Massimo Silvetti
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CTNLab-ISTC-CNR), Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, Rome 00185, Italy
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40
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Rodent Models of Audiogenic Epilepsy: Genetic Aspects, Advantages, Current Problems and Perspectives. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112934. [PMID: 36428502 PMCID: PMC9687921 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models of epilepsy are of great importance in epileptology. They are used to study the mechanisms of epileptogenesis, and search for new genes and regulatory pathways involved in the development of epilepsy as well as screening new antiepileptic drugs. Today, many methods of modeling epilepsy in animals are used, including electroconvulsive, pharmacological in intact animals, and genetic, with the predisposition for spontaneous or refractory epileptic seizures. Due to the simplicity of manipulation and universality, genetic models of audiogenic epilepsy in rodents stand out among this diversity. We tried to combine data on the genetics of audiogenic epilepsy in rodents, the relevance of various models of audiogenic epilepsy to certain epileptic syndromes in humans, and the advantages of using of rodent strains predisposed to audiogenic epilepsy in current epileptology.
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41
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Andrews PW, Bosyj C, Brenton L, Green L, Gasser PJ, Lowry CA, Pickel VM. All the brain's a stage for serotonin: the forgotten story of serotonin diffusion across cell membranes. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221565. [PMID: 36321487 PMCID: PMC9627707 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1565] [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] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In the conventional model of serotonin neurotransmission, serotonin released by neurons in the midbrain raphe nuclei exerts its actions on forebrain neurons by interacting with a large family of post-synaptic receptors. The actions of serotonin are terminated by active transport of serotonin back into the releasing neuron, which is mediated by the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). Because SERT is expressed pre-synaptically and is widely thought to be the only serotonin transporter in the forebrain, the conventional model does not include serotonin transport into post-synaptic neurons. However, a large body of evidence accumulating since the 1970s has shown that serotonin, despite having a positive charge, can cross cell membranes through a diffusion-like process. Multiple low-affinity, high-capacity, sodium-independent transporters, widely expressed in the brain, allow the carrier-mediated diffusion of serotonin into forebrain neurons. The amount of serotonin crossing cell membranes through this mechanism under physiological conditions is considerable. Most prominent textbooks fail to include this alternative method of serotonin uptake in the brain, and even most neuroscientists are unaware of it. This failure has limited our understanding of a key regulator of serotonergic neurotransmission, impeded research on the potential intracellular actions of serotonin in post-synaptic neurons and glial cells, and may have impeded our understanding of the mechanism by which antidepressant medications reduce depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Andrews
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine Bosyj
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luke Brenton
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura Green
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul J Gasser
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Center for Neuroscience, and Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Virginia M Pickel
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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42
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From mechanisms to markers: novel noninvasive EEG proxy markers of the neural excitation and inhibition system in humans. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:467. [PMID: 36344497 PMCID: PMC9640647 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02218-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain function is a product of the balance between excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) brain activity. Variation in the regulation of this activity is thought to give rise to normal variation in human traits, and disruptions are thought to potentially underlie a spectrum of neuropsychiatric conditions (e.g., Autism, Schizophrenia, Downs' Syndrome, intellectual disability). Hypotheses related to E/I dysfunction have the potential to provide cross-diagnostic explanations and to combine genetic and neurological evidence that exists within and between psychiatric conditions. However, the hypothesis has been difficult to test because: (1) it lacks specificity-an E/I dysfunction could pertain to any level in the neural system- neurotransmitters, single neurons/receptors, local networks of neurons, or global brain balance - most researchers do not define the level at which they are examining E/I function; (2) We lack validated methods for assessing E/I function at any of these neural levels in humans. As a result, it has not been possible to reliably or robustly test the E/I hypothesis of psychiatric disorders in a large cohort or longitudinal patient studies. Currently available, in vivo markers of E/I in humans either carry significant risks (e.g., deep brain electrode recordings or using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with radioactive tracers) and/or are highly restrictive (e.g., limited spatial extent for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). More recently, a range of novel Electroencephalography (EEG) features has been described, which could serve as proxy markers for E/I at a given level of inference. Thus, in this perspective review, we survey the theories and experimental evidence underlying 6 novel EEG markers and their biological underpinnings at a specific neural level. These cheap-to-record and scalable proxy markers may offer clinical utility for identifying subgroups within and between diagnostic categories, thus directing more tailored sub-grouping and, therefore, treatment strategies. However, we argue that studies in clinical populations are premature. To maximize the potential of prospective EEG markers, we first need to understand the link between underlying E/I mechanisms and measurement techniques.
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Adverse maternal environment affects hippocampal HTR2c variant expression and epigenetic characteristics in mouse offspring. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:1299-1308. [PMID: 35121849 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-01962-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An adverse maternal environment (AME) predisposes progeny towards cognitive impairment in humans and mice. Cognitive impairment associates with hippocampal dysfunction. An important regulator of hippocampal function is the hippocampal serotonergic system. Dysregulation of hippocampal serotonin receptor 2c (HTR2c) expression is linked with cognitive impairment. HTR2c contains multiple mRNA variants and isoforms that are epigenetically regulated including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small nucleolar RNA MBII-52. We tested the hypotheses that AME increases HTR2c variant expression and alters epigenetic modifications along the HTR2c gene locus. METHODS We create an AME through maternal Western diet and prenatal environmental stress in the mouse. We analyzed hippocampal HTR2c and variants' expression, DNA methylation and histone modifications along the gene locus, and MBII-52 levels in postnatal day 21 offspring. RESULTS AME significantly increased the expressions of total HTR2c and full-length variants (V201 and V202) concurrently with an altered epigenetic profile along the HTR2c gene locus in male offspring hippocampi. Moreover, increased full-length variants' expression in AME males was in line with increased MBII-52 levels. CONCLUSIONS AME affects male offspring hippocampal expression of HTR2c and full-length variants via epigenetic mechanisms. Altered hippocampal HTR2c expression may contribute to cognitive impairment seen in adult males in this model. IMPACT The key message of our article is that an adverse maternal environment increases expression of total HTR2c mRNA and protein, alters proportions of HTR2c mRNA variants, and impacts HTR2c epigenetic modifications in male offspring hippocampi relative to controls. Our findings add to the literature by providing the first report of altered HTR2c mRNA variant expression in association with altered epigenetic modifications in the hippocampus of offspring mice exposed to an adverse maternal environment. Our findings suggest that an adverse maternal environment affects the expression of genes previously determined to regulate cognitive function through an epigenetic mechanism in a sex-specific manner.
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Stoliker D, Egan GF, Friston KJ, Razi A. Neural Mechanisms and Psychology of Psychedelic Ego Dissolution. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:876-917. [PMID: 36786290 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies of psychedelics have advanced our understanding of hierarchical brain organization and the mechanisms underlying their subjective and therapeutic effects. The primary mechanism of action of classic psychedelics is binding to serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors. Agonist activity at these receptors leads to neuromodulatory changes in synaptic efficacy that can have a profound effect on hierarchical message-passing in the brain. Here, we review the cognitive and neuroimaging evidence for the effects of psychedelics: in particular, their influence on selfhood and subject-object boundaries-known as ego dissolution-surmised to underwrite their subjective and therapeutic effects. Agonism of 5-HT2A receptors, located at the apex of the cortical hierarchy, may have a particularly powerful effect on sentience and consciousness. These effects can endure well after the pharmacological half-life, suggesting that psychedelics may have effects on neural plasticity that may play a role in their therapeutic efficacy. Psychologically, this may be accompanied by a disarming of ego resistance that increases the repertoire of perceptual hypotheses and affords alternate pathways for thought and behavior, including those that undergird selfhood. We consider the interaction between serotonergic neuromodulation and sentience through the lens of hierarchical predictive coding, which speaks to the value of psychedelics in understanding how we make sense of the world and specific predictions about effective connectivity in cortical hierarchies that can be tested using functional neuroimaging. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Classic psychedelics bind to serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors. Their agonist activity at these receptors leads to neuromodulatory changes in synaptic efficacy, resulting in a profound effect on information processing in the brain. Here, we synthesize an abundance of brain imaging research with pharmacological and psychological interpretations informed by the framework of predictive coding. Moreover, predictive coding is suggested to offer more sophisticated interpretations of neuroimaging findings by bridging the role between the 5-HT2A receptors and large-scale brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon Stoliker
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
| | - Gary F Egan
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
| | - Karl J Friston
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
| | - Adeel Razi
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
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Dourron HM, Strauss C, Hendricks PS. Self-Entropic Broadening Theory: Toward a New Understanding of Self and Behavior Change Informed by Psychedelics and Psychosis. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:982-1027. [DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Shine JM, O’Callaghan C, Walpola IC, Wainstein G, Taylor N, Aru J, Huebner B, John YJ. Understanding the effects of serotonin in the brain through its role in the gastrointestinal tract. Brain 2022; 145:2967-2981. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The neuromodulatory arousal system imbues the nervous system with the flexibility and robustness required to facilitate adaptive behaviour. While there are well-understood mechanisms linking dopamine, noradrenaline and acetylcholine to distinct behavioural states, similar conclusions have not been as readily available for serotonin. Fascinatingly, despite clear links between serotonergic function and cognitive capacities as diverse as reward processing, exploration, and the psychedelic experience, over 95% of the serotonin in the body is released in the gastrointestinal tract, where it controls digestive muscle contractions (peristalsis). Here, we argue that framing neural serotonin as a rostral extension of the gastrointestinal serotonergic system dissolves much of the mystery associated with the central serotonergic system. Specifically, we outline that central serotonin activity mimics the effects of a digestion/satiety circuit mediated by hypothalamic control over descending serotonergic nuclei in the brainstem. We review commonalities and differences between these two circuits, with a focus on the heterogeneous expression of different classes of serotonin receptors in the brain. Much in the way that serotonin-induced peristalsis facilitates the work of digestion, serotonergic influences over cognition can be reframed as performing the work of cognition. Extending this analogy, we argue that the central serotonergic system allows the brain to arbitrate between different cognitive modes as a function of serotonergic tone: low activity facilitates cognitive automaticity, whereas higher activity helps to identify flexible solutions to problems, particularly if and when the initial responses fail. This perspective sheds light on otherwise disparate capacities mediated by serotonin, and also helps to understand why there are such pervasive links between serotonergic pathology and the symptoms of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ishan C Walpola
- Prince of Wales Hospital , Randwick, New South Wales , Australia
| | | | | | - Jaan Aru
- University of Tartu , Tartu , Estonia
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Souza R, Bueno D, Lima LB, Muchon MJ, Gonçalves L, Donato J, Shammah-Lagnado SJ, Metzger M. Top-down projections of the prefrontal cortex to the ventral tegmental area, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, and median raphe nucleus. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2465-2487. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02538-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kavanagh JJ, Taylor JL. Voluntary activation of muscle in humans: does serotonergic neuromodulation matter? J Physiol 2022; 600:3657-3670. [PMID: 35864781 PMCID: PMC9541597 DOI: 10.1113/jp282565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionotropic inputs to motoneurones have the capacity to depolarise and hyperpolarise the motoneurone, whereas neuromodulatory inputs control the state of excitability of the motoneurone. Intracellular recordings of motoneurones from in vitro and in situ animal preparations have provided extraordinary insight into the mechanisms that underpin how neuromodulators regulate neuronal excitability. However, far fewer studies have attempted to translate the findings from cellular and molecular studies into a human model. In this review, we focus on the role that serotonin plays in muscle activation in humans. Serotonin (5-HT) is a potent regulator of neuronal firing rates which can influence the force that can be generated by muscles during voluntary contractions. We firstly outline structural and functional characteristics of the serotonergic system, and then describe how motoneurone discharge can be facilitated and suppressed depending on the 5-HT receptor subtype that is activated. We then provide a narrative on how 5-HT effects can influence voluntary activation during muscle contractions in humans, and detail how 5-HT may be a mediator of exercise-induced fatigue that arises from the central nervous system. Abstract figure legend Inputs to neuromodulatory receptors on motoneurones, such as those involved in the serotonergic system, modify the motoneuroneâ¿¿s responsiveness to ionotropic input. The release of serotonin (5-HT) into the spinal cord is linked to the level of motor activity being performed, where 5-HT can increase the discharge rate of motoneurones via excitatory 5-HT receptors on the soma and dendrites. This in turn can lead to increased voluntary muscle activation (VA) and maximal force generation. However, intense release of 5-HT onto motoneurones may lead to a spill over of 5-HT into extracellular compartments to activate inhibitory 5-HT receptors on the axon initial segment. This can cause a reduction in motoneurone discharge rate, thus decreasing VA and maximal force generation. To gain insight into the serotonergic contributions to muscle activation in humans, pharmacological interventions have been employed to enhance the concentration of 5-HT in the central nervous system or activate selective 5-HT receptors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin J Kavanagh
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Janet L Taylor
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
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Jennings L, Basiri R. Amino Acids, B Vitamins, and Choline May Independently and Collaboratively Influence the Incidence and Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14142896. [PMID: 35889852 PMCID: PMC9318435 DOI: 10.3390/nu14142896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder of variable severity, characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior. In 2018, the incidence of ASD was 2.4 times higher than estimated in 2000. Behavior and brain development abnormalities are present in the complex disorder of ASD. Nutritional status plays a key role in the incidence and severity of the core symptoms of ASD. The aim of this study was to review the available peer-reviewed studies that evaluated the relationship between amino acids, choline, B vitamins, and ASD incidence and/or severity of symptoms. Through examining plasma profiles, urine samples, and dietary intake, researchers found that low choline, abnormal amino acid, and low B vitamin levels were present in children with ASD compared to those without ASD. The evidence supports the need for future research that implements simultaneous supplementation of all essential nutrients in individuals with ASD and among prenatal mothers. Future evidence could lead to scientific breakthroughs, ultimately reducing the rates of ASD incidence and severity of symptoms by applying nutritional interventions in at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel Jennings
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
| | - Raedeh Basiri
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
- Institute for Biohealth Innovation, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Correspondence:
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López-Terrones E, Celada P, Riga MS, Artigas F. Preferential in vivo inhibitory action of serotonin in rat infralimbic versus prelimbic cortex: relevance for antidepressant treatments. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:3000-3013. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The infralimbic (IL) cortex is the rodent equivalent of human ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC), which plays a key role in the pathophysiology and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission in IL [but not in the adjacent prelimbic (PrL) cortex] evokes antidepressant-like or depressive-like behaviors, associated with changes in serotonin (5-HT) function, highlighting the relevance of glutamate/serotonin interactions in IL for emotional control. 5-HT modulates neuronal activity in PrL and cingulate (Cg) cortex but its effects in IL are largely unknown. We therefore compared the in vivo effects of 5-HT on pyramidal neuron activity in IL (n = 61) and PrL (n = 50) of anesthetized rats. IL pyramidal neurons were more responsive to physiological dorsal raphe stimulation (0.9 Hz) than PrL neurons (84% vs. 64%, respectively) and were inhibited to a greater extent (64% vs. 36%, respectively). Orthodromic activations (8% in PrL) were absent in IL, whereas biphasic responses were similar (20%) in both areas. Excitations were mediated by 5-HT2A-R activation, whereas inhibitions involved 3 different components: 5-HT1A-R, 5-HT3-R and GABAA-R, respectively. The remarkable inhibitory action of 5-HT in IL suggests that 5-HT-enhancing drugs may exert their antidepressant action by normalizing a glutamatergic hyperactivity in the vACC of MDD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena López-Terrones
- Depart. de Neurociències i Terapèutica Experimental , Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, IIBB-CSIC; 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) , Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pau Celada
- Depart. de Neurociències i Terapèutica Experimental , Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, IIBB-CSIC; 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) , Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maurizio S Riga
- Depart. de Neurociències i Terapèutica Experimental , Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, IIBB-CSIC; 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) , Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER-CSIC) , 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francesc Artigas
- Depart. de Neurociències i Terapèutica Experimental , Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, IIBB-CSIC; 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) , Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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