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Michel L, Molina P, Mameli M. The behavioral relevance of a modular organization in the lateral habenula. Neuron 2024; 112:2669-2685. [PMID: 38772374 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.04.026] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Behavioral strategies for survival rely on the updates the brain continuously makes based on the surrounding environment. External stimuli-neutral, positive, and negative-relay core information to the brain, where a complex anatomical network rapidly organizes actions, including approach or escape, and regulates emotions. Human neuroimaging and physiology in nonhuman primates, rodents, and teleosts suggest a pivotal role of the lateral habenula in translating external information into survival behaviors. Here, we review the literature describing how discrete habenular modules-reflecting the molecular signatures, anatomical connectivity, and functional components-are recruited by environmental stimuli and cooperate to prompt specific behavioral outcomes. We argue that integration of these findings in the context of valence processing for reinforcing or discouraging behaviors is necessary, offering a compelling model to guide future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Michel
- The Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, The University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Molina
- The Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, The University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Mameli
- The Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, The University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland; Inserm, UMR-S 839, 75005 Paris, France.
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2
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Gomes-Ribeiro J, Martins J, Sereno J, Deslauriers-Gauthier S, Summavielle T, Coelho JE, Remondes M, Castelo-Branco M, Lopes LV. Mapping functional traces of opioid memories in the rat brain. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae281. [PMID: 39229487 PMCID: PMC11369824 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Addiction to psychoactive substances is a maladaptive learned behaviour. Contexts surrounding drug use integrate this aberrant mnemonic process and hold strong relapse-triggering ability. Here, we asked where context and salience might be concurrently represented in the brain during retrieval of drug-context paired associations. For this, we developed a morphine-conditioned place preference protocol that allows contextual stimuli presentation inside a magnetic resonance imaging scanner and investigated differences in activity and connectivity at context recall. We found context-specific responses to stimulus onset in multiple brain regions, namely, limbic, sensory and striatal. Differences in functional interconnectivity were found among amygdala, lateral habenula, and lateral septum. We also investigated alterations to resting-state functional connectivity and found increased centrality of the lateral septum in a proposed limbic network, as well as increased functional connectivity of the lateral habenula and hippocampal 'cornu ammonis' 1 region, after a protocol of associative drug-context. Finally, we found that pre- conditioned place preference resting-state connectivity of the lateral habenula and amygdala was predictive of inter-individual conditioned place preference score differences. Overall, our findings show that drug and saline-paired contexts establish distinct memory traces in overlapping functional brain microcircuits and that intrinsic connectivity of the habenula, septum, and amygdala likely underlies the individual maladaptive contextual learning to opioid exposure. We have identified functional maps of acquisition and retrieval of drug-related memory that may support the relapse-triggering ability of opioid-associated sensory and contextual cues. These findings may clarify the inter-individual sensitivity and vulnerability seen in addiction to opioids found in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Gomes-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Martins
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Sereno
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CQC, Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Teresa Summavielle
- Addiction Biology Group, i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana E Coelho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Remondes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luísa V Lopes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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3
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Flerlage WJ, Simmons SC, Thomas EH, Gouty S, Tsuda MC, Wu TJ, Armstrong RC, Cox BM, Nugent FS. Effects of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Modulation of Lateral Habenula Excitability and Motivated Behavior. J Neurotrauma 2024. [PMID: 38943284 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2024.0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a significant health burden due to mTBI-related chronic debilitating cognitive and psychiatric morbidities. Recent evidence from our laboratory suggests a possible dysregulation within reward/motivational circuit function at the level of a subcortical structure, the lateral habenula (LHb), where we demonstrated a causal role for hyperactive LHb in mTBI-induced motivational deficits in self-care grooming behavior in young adult male mice when exposed to mTBI during late adolescence (at ∼8 weeks old). In this study, we extended this observation by further characterizing neurobehavioral effects of this repetitive closed head injury model of mTBI in both young adult male and female mice on LHb excitability, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) modulation of LHb activity, and behavioral responses of motivation to self-care behavior and approach versus avoidance behavior in the presence of a social- or threat-related stimulus. We show that mTBI increases LHb spontaneous tonic activity in female mice similar to what we previously observed in male mice, as well as promoting LHb neuronal hyperexcitability and hyperpolarization-induced LHb bursting in both male and female mice. Interestingly, mTBI only increases LHb intrinsic excitability in male mice coincident with higher levels of the hyperpolarization-activated cation currents (HCN/Ih) and reduces levels of the M-type potassium currents while potentiating M-currents without altering intrinsic excitability in LHb neurons of female mice. Because persistent dysregulation of brain CRF systems is suggested to contribute to chronic psychiatric morbidities and that LHb neurons are highly responsive to CRF, we tested whether the LHb CRF subsystem becomes engaged following mTBI. We found that in vitro inhibition of CRF receptor type 1 (CRFR1) within the LHb reverses mTBI-induced enhancement of LHb tonic activity and hyperexcitability in both sexes, suggesting that an augmented intra-LHb CRF-CRFR1-mediated signaling contributes to the overall LHb hyperactivity following mTBI. Behaviorally, mTBI diminishes motivation for self-care grooming in female mice as in male mice. mTBI also alters defensive behaviors in the looming shadow task by shifting the innate defensive behaviors toward more passive action locking rather than escape behaviors in response to an aerial threat in both male and female mice, as well as prolonging the latency to escape responses in female mice. While this model of mTBI reduces social preference in male mice, it induces higher social novelty seeking during the novel social encounters in both male and female mice. Overall, our study provides further translational validity for the use of this pre-clinical model of mTBI for investigation of mTBI-related reward circuit dysfunction and mood/motivation-related behavioral deficits in both sexes while uncovering a few sexually dimorphic neurobehavioral effects of this model that may differentially affect young males and females when exposed to this type of mTBI during late adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Flerlage
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah C Simmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Emily H Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mumeko C Tsuda
- Preclinical Behavior and Modeling Core, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - T John Wu
- Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Regina C Armstrong
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian M Cox
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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4
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Flerlage WJ, Simmons SC, Thomas EH, Gouty S, Tsuda MC, Wu TJ, Armstrong RC, Cox BM, Nugent FS. Effects of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Modulation of Lateral Habenula Excitability and Motivated Behavior. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.16.589760. [PMID: 38798343 PMCID: PMC11118357 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.16.589760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a significant health burden due to mTBI-related chronic debilitating cognitive and psychiatric morbidities. Recent evidence from our laboratory suggests a possible dysregulation within reward/motivational circuit function at the level of a subcortical structure, the lateral habenula (LHb), where we demonstrated a causal role for hyperactive LHb in mTBI-induced motivational deficits in self-care grooming behavior in young adult male mice when exposed to mTBI injury during late adolescence (at ~8 weeks old). Here we extended this observation by further characterizing neurobehavioral effects of this repetitive closed head injury model of mTBI in both young adult male and female mice on LHb excitability, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) modulation of LHb activity, and behavioral responses of motivation to self-care behavior, and approach versus avoidance behavior in the presence of a social- or threat-related stimulus. We show that mTBI increases LHb spontaneous tonic activity in female mice similar to what we previously observed in male mice as well as promoting LHb neuronal hyperexcitability and hyperpolarization-induced LHb bursting in both male and female mice. Interestingly, mTBI only increases LHb intrinsic excitability in male mice coincident with higher levels of the hyperpolarization-activated cation currents (HCN/Ih) and reduces levels of the M-type potassium currents while potentiating M-currents without altering intrinsic excitability in LHb neurons of female mice. Since persistent dysregulation of brain CRF systems is suggested to contribute to chronic psychiatric morbidities and that LHb neurons are highly responsive to CRF, we then tested whether LHb CRF subsystem becomes engaged following mTBI. We found that in vitro inhibition of CRF receptor type 1 (CRFR1) within the LHb normalizes mTBI-induced enhancement of LHb tonic activity and hyperexcitability in both sexes, suggesting that an augmented intra-LHb CRF-CRFR1-mediated signaling contributes to the overall LHb hyperactivity following mTBI. Behaviorally, mTBI diminishes motivation for self-care grooming in female mice as in male mice. mTBI also alters defensive behaviors in the looming shadow task by shifting the innate defensive behaviors towards more passive action-locking rather than escape behaviors in response to an aerial threat in both male and female mice as well as prolonging the latency to escape responses in female mice. While, this model of mTBI reduces social preference in male mice, it induces higher social novelty seeking during the novel social encounters in both male and female mice. Overall, our study provides further translational validity for the use of this preclinical model of mTBI for investigation of mTBI-related reward circuit dysfunction and mood/motivation-related behavioral deficits in both sexes while uncovering a few sexually dimorphic neurobehavioral effects of this model that may differentially affect young males and females when exposed to this type of mTBI injury during late adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Flerlage
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Sarah C. Simmons
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Emily H. Thomas
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Mumeko C. Tsuda
- Preclinical Behavior and Modeling Core, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
| | - T. John Wu
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Regina C. Armstrong
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Brian M. Cox
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Fereshteh S. Nugent
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
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5
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Simmons SC, Flerlage WJ, Langlois LD, Shepard RD, Bouslog C, Thomas EH, Gouty KM, Sanderson JL, Gouty S, Cox BM, Dell'Acqua ML, Nugent FS. AKAP150-anchored PKA regulates synaptic transmission and plasticity, neuronal excitability and CRF neuromodulation in the mouse lateral habenula. Commun Biol 2024; 7:345. [PMID: 38509283 PMCID: PMC10954712 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06041-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The scaffolding A-kinase anchoring protein 150 (AKAP150) is critically involved in kinase and phosphatase regulation of synaptic transmission/plasticity, and neuronal excitability. Emerging evidence also suggests that AKAP150 signaling may play a key role in brain's processing of rewarding/aversive experiences, however its role in the lateral habenula (LHb, as an important brain reward circuitry) is completely unknown. Using whole cell patch clamp recordings in LHb of male wildtype and ΔPKA knockin mice (with deficiency in AKAP-anchoring of PKA), here we show that the genetic disruption of PKA anchoring to AKAP150 significantly reduces AMPA receptor-mediated glutamatergic transmission and prevents the induction of presynaptic endocannabinoid-mediated long-term depression in LHb neurons. Moreover, ΔPKA mutation potentiates GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory transmission while increasing LHb intrinsic excitability through suppression of medium afterhyperpolarizations. ΔPKA mutation-induced suppression of medium afterhyperpolarizations also blunts the synaptic and neuroexcitatory actions of the stress neuromodulator, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), in mouse LHb. Altogether, our data suggest that AKAP150 complex signaling plays a critical role in regulation of AMPA and GABAA receptor synaptic strength, glutamatergic plasticity and CRF neuromodulation possibly through AMPA receptor and potassium channel trafficking and endocannabinoid signaling within the LHb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Simmons
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - William J Flerlage
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ludovic D Langlois
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ryan D Shepard
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Christopher Bouslog
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Emily H Thomas
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Kaitlyn M Gouty
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Jennifer L Sanderson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Brian M Cox
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Mark L Dell'Acqua
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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Simmons S, Flerlage W, Langlois L, Shepard R, Bouslog C, Thomas E, Gouty K, Sanderson J, Gouty S, Cox B, Dell’Acqua M, Nugent F. AKAP150-anchored PKA regulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity, neuronal excitability and CRF neuromodulation in the lateral habenula. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.06.570160. [PMID: 38106086 PMCID: PMC10723374 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies of hippocampal synaptic function in learning and memory have established the functional significance of the scaffolding A-kinase anchoring protein 150 (AKAP150) in kinase and phosphatase regulation of synaptic receptor and ion channel trafficking/function and hence synaptic transmission/plasticity, and neuronal excitability. Emerging evidence also suggests that AKAP150 signaling may play a critical role in brain's processing of rewarding/aversive experiences. Here we focused on an unexplored role of AKAP150 in the lateral habenula (LHb), a diencephalic brain region that integrates and relays negative reward signals from forebrain striatal and limbic structures to midbrain monoaminergic centers. LHb aberrant activity (specifically hyperactivity) is also linked to depression. Using whole cell patch clamp recordings in LHb of male wildtype (WT) and ΔPKA knockin mice (with deficiency in AKAP-anchoring of PKA), we found that the genetic disruption of PKA anchoring to AKAP150 significantly reduced AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated glutamatergic transmission and prevented the induction of presynaptic endocannabinoid (eCB)-mediated long-term depression (LTD) in LHb neurons. Moreover, ΔPKA mutation potentiated GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated inhibitory transmission postsynaptically while increasing LHb intrinsic neuronal excitability through suppression of medium afterhyperpolarizations (mAHPs). Given that LHb is a highly stress-responsive brain region, we further tested the effects of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) stress neuromodulator on synaptic transmission and intrinsic excitability of LHb neurons in WT and ΔPKA mice. As in our earlier study in rat LHb, CRF significantly suppressed GABAergic transmission onto LHb neurons and increased intrinsic excitability by diminishing small-conductance potassium (SK) channel-mediated mAHPs. ΔPKA mutation-induced suppression of mAHPs also blunted the synaptic and neuroexcitatory actions of CRF in mouse LHb. Altogether, our data suggest that AKAP150 complex signaling plays a critical role in regulation of AMPAR and GABAAR synaptic strength, glutamatergic plasticity and CRF neuromodulation possibly through AMPAR and potassium channel trafficking and eCB signaling within the LHb.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.C. Simmons
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - W.J. Flerlage
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - L.D. Langlois
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - R.D. Shepard
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - C. Bouslog
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - E.H. Thomas
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - K.M. Gouty
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - J.L. Sanderson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - S. Gouty
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - B.M. Cox
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - M.L. Dell’Acqua
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - F.S. Nugent
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
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Flannery JS, Jorgensen NA, Kwon SJ, Prinstein MJ, Telzer EH, Lindquist KA. Developmental Changes in Habenular and Striatal Social Reinforcement Responsivity Across Adolescence Linked With Substance Use. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:888-897. [PMID: 37120062 PMCID: PMC10611899 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.04.018] [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] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Habenula (HB) function is implicated in substance use disorders and is involved in inhibiting dopamine release in the ventral striatum (VS). While blunted VS reward responsivity is implicated in risk for later substance use, links between HB reinforcement processing and progression of use have not, to our knowledge, been examined among adolescents. In the present study, we longitudinally assessed HB and VS responsivity to social rewards and punishments across adolescence and examined associations with substance use. METHODS Within a longitudinal design, 170 adolescents (53.5% female) completed 1 to 3 functional magnetic resonance imaging scans across 6th to 9th grade and reported yearly substance use across 6th to 11th grade. We examined VS and HB responsivity to social reinforcement during a social incentive delay task in which adolescents received social rewards (smiling faces) and punishments (scowling faces). RESULTS We observed increased VS responsivity to social rewards (vs. reward omissions) and increased VS, but decreased HB, responsivity to social punishment avoidance versus receipt. However, contrary to hypotheses, the HB displayed increased responsivity to social rewards (vs. reward omissions). Further, adolescents reporting regular substance use displayed longitudinally declining HB responsivity to social rewards (vs. reward omissions), whereas adolescents reporting no substance use displayed longitudinally increasing HB responsivity. In contrast, whereas VS responsivity to punishment avoidance versus receipt increased longitudinally among regular substance users, it stayed relatively stable among nonusers. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that differential HB and VS social reinforcement processing trajectories across adolescence are associated with substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Flannery
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
| | - Nathan A Jorgensen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Seh-Joo Kwon
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Mitchell J Prinstein
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Eva H Telzer
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kristen A Lindquist
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Hajikarim-Hamedani A, Heidari A, Sadat-Shirazi MS, Mahboubi S, Raminfard S, Khalifeh S, Zarrindast MR. The role of lateral habenula NMDA receptors in tramadol-induced conditioning. Behav Pharmacol 2023:00008877-990000000-00048. [PMID: 37401401 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The role of the lateral habenula (LHb) as a hub for receiving and relaying signals from the limbic system to serotonergic, dopaminergic, and norepinephrinergic regions in the brainstem makes this area a critical region in the control of reward and addiction. Behavioral evidence reveals the vital role of the LHb in negative symptoms during withdrawal. In this investigation, we study the role of the LHb N-Methyl D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the modulation of tramadol reward. Male adult Wistar rats were used in this study. The effect of intra-LHb micro-injection of NMDAR agonist (NMDA, 0.1, 0.5, 2 µg/rat) and antagonist (D-AP5, 0.1, 0.5, 1 µg/rat) was evaluated in conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. The obtained results showed that intra-LHb administration of NMDA induced place aversion dose-dependently, while blockade of NMDAR in the LHb using D-AP5 micro-injection led to an increased preference score in the CPP task. Co-administration of NMDA (0.5 µg/rat) with tramadol (4 mg/kg) reduced preference score, while co-administration of D-AP5 (0.5 µg/rat) with a non-effective dose of tramadol (1 mg/kg) potentiate the rewarding effect of tramadol. LHb receives inputs from the limbic system and projects to the monoaminergic nuclei in the brainstem. It has been declared that NMDAR is expressed in LHb, and as obtained data revealed, these receptors could modulate the rewarding effect of tramadol. Therefore, NMDA receptors in the LHb might be a new target for modulating tramadol abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah Mahboubi
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
| | - Samira Raminfard
- Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center (ADIR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences
| | - Solmaz Khalifeh
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Tehran Medical Sciences, Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Islamic Azad University
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Tehran Medical Sciences, Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Islamic Azad University
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Flerlage WJ, Langlois LD, Rusnak M, Simmons SC, Gouty S, Armstrong RC, Cox BM, Symes AJ, Tsuda MC, Nugent FS. Involvement of Lateral Habenula Dysfunction in Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Motivational Deficits. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:125-140. [PMID: 35972745 PMCID: PMC9917318 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Affective disorders including depression (characterized by reduced motivation, social withdrawal, and anhedonia), anxiety, and irritability are frequently reported as long-term consequences of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in addition to cognitive deficits, suggesting a possible dysregulation within mood/motivational neural circuits. One of the important brain regions that control motivation and mood is the lateral habenula (LHb), whose hyperactivity is associated with depression. Here, we used a repetitive closed-head injury mTBI model that is associated with social deficits in adult male mice and explored the possible long-term alterations in LHb activity and motivated behavior 10-18 days post-injury. We found that mTBI increased the proportion of spontaneous tonically active LHb neurons yet decreased the proportion of LHb neurons displaying bursting activity. Additionally, mTBI diminished spontaneous glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic activity onto LHb neurons, while synaptic excitation and inhibition (E/I) balance was shifted toward excitation through a greater suppression of GABAergic transmission. Behaviorally, mTBI increased the latency in grooming behavior in the sucrose splash test suggesting reduced self-care motivated behavior following mTBI. To show whether limiting LHb hyperactivity could restore motivational deficits in grooming behavior, we then tested the effects of Gi (hM4Di)-DREADD-mediated inhibition of LHb activity in the sucrose splash test. We found that chemogenetic inhibition of LHb glutamatergic neurons was sufficient to reverse mTBI-induced delays in grooming behavior. Overall, our study provides the first evidence for persistent LHb neuronal dysfunction due to an altered synaptic integration as causal neural correlates of dysregulated motivational states by mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Flerlage
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ludovic D. Langlois
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Milan Rusnak
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah C. Simmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Regina C. Armstrong
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian M. Cox
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Aviva J. Symes
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mumeko C. Tsuda
- Preclinical Behavior and Modeling Core, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fereshteh S. Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Address correspondence to: Fereshteh S. Nugent, PhD, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences,, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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10
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Baker PM, Mathis V, Lecourtier L, Simmons SC, Nugent FS, Hill S, Mizumori SJY. Lateral Habenula Beyond Avoidance: Roles in Stress, Memory, and Decision-Making With Implications for Psychiatric Disorders. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:826475. [PMID: 35308564 PMCID: PMC8930415 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.826475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this Perspective review, we highlight some of the less explored aspects of lateral habenula (LHb) function in contextual memory, sleep, and behavioral flexibility. We provide evidence that LHb is well-situated to integrate different internal state and multimodal sensory information from memory-, stress-, motivational-, and reward-related circuits essential for both survival and decision making. We further discuss the impact of early life stress (ELS) on LHb function as an example of stress-induced hyperactivity and dysregulation of neuromodulatory systems within the LHb that promote anhedonia and motivational deficits following ELS. We acknowledge that recent technological advancements in manipulation and recording of neural circuits in simplified and well-controlled behavioral paradigms have been invaluable in our understanding of the critical role of LHb in motivation and emotional regulation as well as the involvement of LHb dysfunction in stress-induced psychopathology. However, we also argue that the use of ethologically-relevant behaviors with consideration of complex aspects of decision-making is warranted for future studies of LHb contributions in a wide range of psychiatric illnesses. We conclude this Perspective with some of the outstanding issues for the field to consider where a multi-systems approach is needed to investigate the complex nature of LHb circuitry interactions with environmental stimuli that predisposes psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip M. Baker
- Department of Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Phillip M. Baker,
| | - Victor Mathis
- CNRS UPR 3212, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lucas Lecourtier
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Lucas Lecourtier,
| | - Sarah C. Simmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fereshteh S. Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Fereshteh S. Nugent,
| | - Sierra Hill
- Department of Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sheri J. Y. Mizumori
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Sheri J. Y. Mizumori,
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11
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Sonkusare S, Ding Q, Zhang Y, Wang L, Gong H, Mandali A, Manssuer L, Zhao YJ, Pan Y, Zhang C, Li D, Sun B, Voon V. Power signatures of habenular neuronal signals in patients with bipolar or unipolar depressive disorders correlate with their disease severity. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:72. [PMID: 35194027 PMCID: PMC8863838 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01830-3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The habenula is an epithalamic structure implicated in negative reward mechanisms and plays a downstream modulatory role in regulation of dopaminergic and serotonergic functions. Human and animal studies show its hyperactivity in depression which is curtailed by the antidepressant response of ketamine. Deep brain stimulation of habenula (DBS) for major depression have also shown promising results. However, direct neuronal activity of habenula in human studies have rarely been reported. Here, in a cross-sectional design, we acquired both spontaneous resting state and emotional task-induced neuronal recordings from habenula from treatment resistant depressed patients undergoing DBS surgery. We first characterise the aperiodic component (1/f slope) of the power spectrum, interpreted to signify excitation-inhibition balance, in resting and task state. This aperiodicity for left habenula correlated between rest and task and which was significantly positively correlated with depression severity. Time-frequency responses to the emotional picture viewing task show condition differences in beta and gamma frequencies for left habenula and alpha for right habenula. Notably, alpha activity for right habenula was negatively correlated with depression severity. Overall, from direct habenular recordings, we thus show findings convergent with depression models of aberrant excitatory glutamatergic output of the habenula driving inhibition of monoaminergic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Sonkusare
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiong Ding
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Linbin Wang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hengfen Gong
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Alekhya Mandali
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Luis Manssuer
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Jie Zhao
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yixin Pan
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chencheng Zhang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dianyou Li
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bomin Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Valerie Voon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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12
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Ogawa S, Parhar IS. Role of Habenula in Social and Reproductive Behaviors in Fish: Comparison With Mammals. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:818782. [PMID: 35221943 PMCID: PMC8867168 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.818782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Social behaviors such as mating, parenting, fighting, and avoiding are essential functions as a communication tool in social animals, and are critical for the survival of individuals and species. Social behaviors are controlled by a complex circuitry that comprises several key social brain regions, which is called the social behavior network (SBN). The SBN further integrates social information with external and internal factors to select appropriate behavioral responses to social circumstances, called social decision-making. The social decision-making network (SDMN) and SBN are structurally, neurochemically and functionally conserved in vertebrates. The social decision-making process is also closely influenced by emotional assessment. The habenula has recently been recognized as a crucial center for emotion-associated adaptation behaviors. Here we review the potential role of the habenula in social function with a special emphasis on fish studies. Further, based on evolutional, molecular, morphological, and behavioral perspectives, we discuss the crucial role of the habenula in the vertebrate SDMN.
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13
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Langlois LD, Berman RY, Shepard RD, Simmons SC, Tsuda MC, Gouty S, Choi KH, Nugent FS. Potentiation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission onto lateral habenula neurons following early life stress and intravenous morphine self-administration in rats. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13064. [PMID: 34036710 PMCID: PMC8613295 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Early life stress presents an important risk factor for drug addiction and comorbid depression and anxiety through persistent effects on the mesolimbic dopamine pathways. Using an early life stress model for child neglect (a single 24 h episode of maternal deprivation, MD) in rats, recent published works from our lab show that MD induces dysfunction in the ventral tegmental area and its negative controller, the lateral habenula (LHb). MD-induced potentiation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission onto LHb neurons shifts the coordination of excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance towards excitation, resulting in an increase in the overall spontaneous neuronal activity with elevation in bursting and tonic firing, and in the intrinsic excitability of LHb neurons in early adolescent male rats. Here, we explored how MD affects intravenous morphine self-administration (MSA) acquisition and sucrose preference as well as glutamatergic synaptic function in LHb neurons of adult male rats self-administering morphine. We found that MD-induced increases in LHb neuronal and glutamatergic synaptic activity and E/I ratio persisted into adulthood. Moreover, MD significantly reduced morphine intake, triggered anhedonia-like behaviour in the sucrose preference test and was associated with persistent glutamatergic potentiation 24 h after the last MSA session. MSA also altered the decay time kinetics of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor (AMPAR) currents in LHb neurons of control rats during this time period. Our data highlight that early life stress-induced glutamatergic plasticity in LHb may dampen the positive reinforcing and motivational properties of both natural rewards and opioids, and may contribute to the development of anhedonia and dysphoric states associated with opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic D. Langlois
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Rina Y. Berman
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Ryan D. Shepard
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Sarah C. Simmons
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Mumeko C. Tsuda
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Rat Behavior Core, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Kwang H. Choi
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Fereshteh S. Nugent
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
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14
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Zuo W, Zuo Q, Wu L, Mei Q, Shah M, Zheng J, Li D, Xu Y, Ye JH. Roles of corticotropin-releasing factor signaling in the lateral habenula in anxiety-like and alcohol drinking behaviors in male rats. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100395. [PMID: 34568522 PMCID: PMC8449174 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling in the mesocorticolimbic system is known to modulate anxiety-like behavior and alcohol consumption, behaviors that also have been associated with the hyper-glutamatergic state of the lateral habenula (LHb) neurons in rats. However, the role of CRF signaling in the LHb on the glutamate transmission, anxiety-like behaviors and alcohol consumption is unknown. Here, we used male rats that had been consuming alcohol for three months to address this gap in the literature. First, using electrophysiological techniques, we evaluated CRF's effects on the glutamate transmission in LHb neurons in brain slices. CRF facilitated glutamate transmission. The facilitation was greater in neurons of alcohol-withdrawing rats than in those of naïve rats. The facilitation was mimicked by the activation of CRF receptor 1 (CRF1R) but attenuated by the activation of CRF receptor 2 (CRF2R). This facilitation was mediated by upregulating CRF1R-protein kinase A signaling. Conversely, protein kinase C blockade attenuated CRF's facilitation in neurons of naïve rats but promoted it in neurons of alcohol-withdrawing rats. Next, using site-direct pharmacology, we evaluated the role of CRF signaling in the LHb on anxiety-like behaviors and alcohol consumption. Intra-LHb inhibition of CRF1R or activation of CRF2R ameliorated the anxiety-like behaviors in alcohol-withdrawing rats and reduced their alcohol intake when drinking was resumed. These observations provide the first direct behavioral pharmacological and cellular evidence that CRF signaling in the LHb modulates glutamate transmission, anxiety-like behaviors and alcohol consumption, and that adaptation occurs in CRF signaling in the LHb after chronic alcohol consumption. CRF regulates glutamate transmission in the lateral habenula of male rats. CRF1R blockage or CRF2R activation in the LHb reduces anxiety in male rats. CRF1R blockage/CRF2R activation in the LHb reduces alcohol consumption in male rats. Acute ethanol facilitates LHb glutamate transmission involving CRF signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanhong Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Qikang Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Liangzhi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Qinghua Mei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Manan Shah
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jiayi Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ding Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jiang-Hong Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
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15
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Reichard HA, Schiffer HH, Monenschein H, Atienza JM, Corbett G, Skaggs AW, Collia DR, Ray WJ, Serrats J, Bliesath J, Kaushal N, Lam BP, Amador-Arjona A, Rahbaek L, McConn DJ, Mulligan VJ, Brice N, Gaskin PLR, Cilia J, Hitchcock S. Discovery of TAK-041: a Potent and Selective GPR139 Agonist Explored for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms Associated with Schizophrenia. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11527-11542. [PMID: 34260228 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The orphan G-protein-coupled receptor GPR139 is highly expressed in the habenula, a small brain nucleus that has been linked to depression, schizophrenia (SCZ), and substance-use disorder. High-throughput screening and a medicinal chemistry structure-activity relationship strategy identified a novel series of potent and selective benzotriazinone-based GPR139 agonists. Herein, we describe the chemistry optimization that led to the discovery and validation of multiple potent and selective in vivo GPR139 agonist tool compounds, including our clinical candidate TAK-041, also known as NBI-1065846 (compound 56). The pharmacological characterization of these GPR139 agonists in vivo demonstrated GPR139-agonist-dependent modulation of habenula cell activity and revealed consistent in vivo efficacy to rescue social interaction deficits in the BALB/c mouse strain. The clinical GPR139 agonist TAK-041 is being explored as a novel drug to treat negative symptoms in SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Reichard
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Hans H Schiffer
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Holger Monenschein
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Josephine M Atienza
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Gerard Corbett
- Takeda Cambridge Ltd., 418 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 0PZ, U.K
| | - Alton W Skaggs
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Deanna R Collia
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - William J Ray
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Jordi Serrats
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Joshua Bliesath
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Nidhi Kaushal
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Betty P Lam
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Alejandro Amador-Arjona
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Lisa Rahbaek
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Donavon J McConn
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Victoria J Mulligan
- Takeda Cambridge Ltd., 418 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 0PZ, U.K
| | - Nicola Brice
- Takeda Cambridge Ltd., 418 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 0PZ, U.K
| | - Philip L R Gaskin
- Takeda Cambridge Ltd., 418 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 0PZ, U.K
| | - Jackie Cilia
- Takeda Cambridge Ltd., 418 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 0PZ, U.K
| | - Stephen Hitchcock
- Takeda California, Inc., 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
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16
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Lokshina Y, Nickelsen T, Liberzon I. Reward Processing and Circuit Dysregulation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:559401. [PMID: 34122157 PMCID: PMC8193060 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.559401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Past decades have witnessed substantial progress in understanding of neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to generation of various PTSD symptoms, including intrusive memories, physiological arousal and avoidance of trauma reminders. However, the neurobiology of anhedonia and emotional numbing in PTSD, that have been conceptualized as reward processing deficits - reward wanting (anticipation of reward) and reward liking (satisfaction with reward outcome), respectively, remains largely unexplored. Empirical evidence on reward processing in PTSD is rather limited, and no studies have examined association of reward processing abnormalities and neurocircuitry-based models of PTSD pathophysiology. The manuscript briefly summarizes "state of the science" of both human reward processing, and of PTSD implicated neurocircuitry, as well as empirical evidence of reward processing deficits in PTSD. We then summarize current gaps in the literature and outline key future directions, further illustrating it by the example of two alternative explanations of PTSD pathophysiology potentially affecting reward processing via different neurobiological pathways. Studying reward processing in PTSD will not only advance the understanding of their link, but also could enhance current treatment approaches by specifically targeting anhedonia and emotional symptoms in PTSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Lokshina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Tetiana Nickelsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Israel Liberzon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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17
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Bombardi C, Delicata F, Tagliavia C, Grandis A, Pierucci M, Marino Gammazza A, Casarrubea M, De Deurwaerdère P, Di Giovanni G. Lateral Habenula 5-HT 2C Receptor Function Is Altered by Acute and Chronic Nicotine Exposures. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094775. [PMID: 33946328 PMCID: PMC8124296 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is important in some nicotine actions in the CNS. Among all the 5-HT receptors (5-HTRs), the 5-HT2CR has emerged as a promising drug target for smoking cessation. The 5-HT2CRs within the lateral habenula (LHb) may be crucial for nicotine addiction. Here we showed that after acute nicotine tartrate (2 mg/kg, i.p.) exposure, the 5-HT2CR agonist Ro 60-0175 (5–640 µg/kg, i.v.) increased the electrical activity of 42% of the LHb recorded neurons in vivo in rats. Conversely, after chronic nicotine treatment (6 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 14 days), Ro 60-0175 was incapable of affecting the LHb neuronal discharge. Moreover, acute nicotine exposure increased the 5-HT2CR-immunoreactive (IR) area while decreasing the number of 5-HT2CR-IR neurons in the LHb. On the other hand, chronic nicotine increased both the 5-HT2CR-IR area and 5-HT2CR-IR LHb neurons in the LHb. Western blot analysis confirmed these findings and further revealed an increase of 5-HT2CR expression in the medial prefrontal cortex after chronic nicotine exposure not detected by the immunohistochemistry. Altogether, these data show that acute and chronic nicotine exposure differentially affect the central 5-HT2CR function mainly in the LHb and this may be relevant in nicotine addiction and its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Bombardi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (C.B.); (C.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Francis Delicata
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, Malta; (F.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Claudio Tagliavia
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (C.B.); (C.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Annamaria Grandis
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (C.B.); (C.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Massimo Pierucci
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, Malta; (F.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Antonella Marino Gammazza
- Section of Human Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Casarrubea
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Human Physiology Section “Giuseppe Pagano”, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Philippe De Deurwaerdère
- Unité Mixte de Recherche 5287, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 146 rue Léo Saignat, B.P.281, CEDEX, F-33000 Bordeaux, France;
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, Malta; (F.D.); (M.P.)
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +356-23402776
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The Emerging Role of LHb CaMKII in the Comorbidity of Depressive and Alcohol Use Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218123. [PMID: 33143210 PMCID: PMC7663385 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Depressive disorders and alcohol use disorders are widespread among the general population and are significant public health and economic burdens. Alcohol use disorders often co-occur with other psychiatric conditions and this dual diagnosis is called comorbidity. Depressive disorders invariably contribute to the development and worsening of alcohol use disorders, and vice versa. The mechanisms underlying these disorders and their comorbidities remain unclear. Recently, interest in the lateral habenula, a small epithalamic brain structure, has increased because it becomes hyperactive in depression and alcohol use disorders, and can inhibit dopamine and serotonin neurons in the midbrain reward center, the hypofunction of which is believed to be a critical contributor to the etiology of depressive disorders and alcohol use disorders as well as their comorbidities. Additionally, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the lateral habenula has emerged as a critical player in the etiology of these comorbidities. This review analyzes the interplay of CaMKII signaling in the lateral habenula associated with depressive disorders and alcohol use disorders, in addition to the often-comorbid nature of these disorders. Although most of the CaMKII signaling pathway's core components have been discovered, much remains to be learned about the biochemical events that propagate and link between depression and alcohol abuse. As the field rapidly advances, it is expected that further understanding of the pathology involved will allow for targeted treatments.
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McKendrick G, Graziane NM. Drug-Induced Conditioned Place Preference and Its Practical Use in Substance Use Disorder Research. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:582147. [PMID: 33132862 PMCID: PMC7550834 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.582147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm is a well-established model utilized to study the role of context associations in reward-related behaviors, including both natural rewards and drugs of abuse. In this review article, we discuss the basic history, various uses, and considerations that are tied to this technique. There are many potential takeaway implications of this model, including negative affective states, conditioned drug effects, memory, and motivation, which are all considered here. We also discuss the neurobiology of CPP including relevant brain regions, molecular signaling cascades, and neuromodulatory systems. We further examine some of our prior findings and how they integrate CPP with self-administration paradigms. Overall, by describing the fundamentals of CPP, findings from the past few decades, and implications of using CPP as a research paradigm, we have endeavored to support the case that the CPP method is specifically advantageous for studying the role of a form of Pavlovian learning that associates drug use with the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greer McKendrick
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas M Graziane
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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20
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Zack M, St George R, Clark L. Dopaminergic signaling of uncertainty and the aetiology of gambling addiction. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 99:109853. [PMID: 31870708 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Although there is increasing clinical recognition of behavioral addictions, of which gambling disorder is the prototype example, there is a limited understanding of the psychological properties of (non-substance-related) behaviors that enable them to become 'addictive' in a way that is comparable to drugs of abuse. According to an influential application of reinforcement learning to substance addictions, the direct effects of drugs to release dopamine can create a perpetual escalation of incentive salience. This article focusses on reward uncertainty, which is proposed to be the core feature of gambling that creates the capacity for addiction. We describe the neuro-dynamics of the dopamine response to uncertainty that may allow a similar escalation of incentive salience, and its relevance to behavioral addictions. We review translational evidence from both preclinical animal models and human clinical research, including studies in people with gambling disorder. Further, we describe the evidence for 1) the effects of the omission of expected reward as a stressor and to promote sensitization, 2) the effect of the resolution of reward uncertainty as a source of value, 3) structural characteristics of modern Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) in leveraging these mechanisms, 4) analogies to the aberrant salience hypothesis of psychosis for creating and maintaining gambling-related cognitive distortions. This neurobiologically-inspired model has implications for harm profiling of other putative behavioral addictions, as well as offering avenues for enhancing neurological, pharmacological and psychological treatments for gambling disorder, and harm reduction strategies for EGM design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Zack
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell St, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Ross St George
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.
| | - Luke Clark
- Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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21
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Hu H, Cui Y, Yang Y. Circuits and functions of the lateral habenula in health and in disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:277-295. [PMID: 32269316 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0292-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed exponentially growing interest in the lateral habenula (LHb) owing to new discoveries relating to its critical role in regulating negatively motivated behaviour and its implication in major depression. The LHb, sometimes referred to as the brain's 'antireward centre', receives inputs from diverse limbic forebrain and basal ganglia structures, and targets essentially all midbrain neuromodulatory systems, including the noradrenergic, serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. Its unique anatomical position enables the LHb to act as a hub that integrates value-based, sensory and experience-dependent information to regulate various motivational, cognitive and motor processes. Dysfunction of the LHb may contribute to the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, especially major depression. Recently, exciting progress has been made in identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms in the LHb that underlie negative emotional state in animal models of drug withdrawal and major depression. A future challenge is to translate these advances into effective clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailan Hu
- Department of Psychiatry of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China. .,Fountain-Valley Institute for Life Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yihui Cui
- The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Yang
- The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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22
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Elevation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Function in the Lateral Habenula Mediates Aversive Behaviors in Alcohol-withdrawn Rats. Anesthesiology 2020; 130:592-608. [PMID: 30676422 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000002615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS TOPIC Chronic alcohol use and withdrawal leads to increased pain perception, anxiety, and depression. These aberrant behaviors are accompanied by increased excitatory glutamatergic transmission to, and activity of, the lateral habenula neurons.Vanilloid type 1, or TRPV1, channels are expressed in the habenula and they facilitate glutamatergic transmission. Whether TRPV1 channel plays a role in habenula hyperactivity is not clear. WHAT THIS ARTICLE TELLS US THAT IS NEW Glutamatergic transmission in the lateral habenula was inhibited by TRPV1 channel antagonists. In vivo, local administration of TRPV1 antagonists into the lateral habenula attenuated hyperalgesia, anxiety, and relapse-like drinking in rats who chronically consumed alcohol.The data suggest that enhanced TRPV1 channel function during withdrawal may contribute to aberrant behavior that promotes relapse alcohol consumption. BACKGROUND Recent rat studies indicate that alcohol withdrawal can trigger a negative emotional state including anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and hyperalgesia, as well as elevated glutamatergic transmission and activity in lateral habenula neurons. TRPV1, a vanilloid receptor expressed in the habenula, is involved in pain, alcohol dependence, and glutamatergic transmission. The authors therefore hypothesized that TRPV1 contributes to the changes in both the behavioral phenotypes and the habenula activity in alcohol-withdrawn rats. METHODS Adult male Long-Evans rats (n = 110 and 280 for electrophysiology and behaviors, respectively), randomly assigned into the alcohol and water (Naïve) groups, were trained to consume either alcohol or water-only using an intermittent-access procedure. Slice electrophysiology was used to measure spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and firing of lateral habenula neurons. The primary outcome was the change in alcohol-related behaviors and lateral habenula activity induced by pharmacologic manipulation of TRPV1 activity. RESULTS The basal frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and firing of lateral habenula neurons in alcohol-withdrawn rats was significantly increased. The TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine (10 µM) induced a stronger inhibition on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (mean ± SD; by 26.1 ± 27.9% [n = 11] vs. 6.7 ± 18.6% [n = 17], P = 0.027) and firing (by 23.4 ± 17.6% [n = 9] vs. 11.9 ± 16.3% [n = 12], P = 0.025) in Withdrawn rats than Naive rats. By contrast, the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin (3 μM) produced a weaker potentiation in Withdrawn than Naïve rats (spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents: by 203.6 ± 124.7% [n = 20] vs. 415.2 ± 424.3% [n = 15], P < 0.001; firing: 38.1 ± 14.7% [n = 11] vs. 73.9 ± 41.9% [n = 11], P < 0.001). Conversely, capsaicin's actions in Naïve but not in Withdrawn rats were significantly attenuated by the pretreatment of TRPV1 endogenous agonist N-Oleoyldopamine. In Withdrawn rats, intra-habenula infusion of TRPV1 antagonists attenuated hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behaviors, decreased alcohol consumption upon resuming drinking, and elicited a conditioned place preference. CONCLUSIONS Enhanced TRPV1 function may contribute to increased glutamatergic transmission and activity of lateral habenula neurons, resulting in the aberrant behaviors during ethanol withdrawal.
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Acute and Chronic Nicotine Exposures Differentially Affect Central Serotonin 2A Receptor Function: Focus on the Lateral Habenula. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051873. [PMID: 32182934 PMCID: PMC7084359 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine addiction is a serious public health problem causing millions of deaths worldwide. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is involved in central nervous system (CNS) nicotine effects, and it has been suggested as a promising pharmacological target for smoking cessation. In this regard, what is particularly interesting are the 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) and the lateral habenula (LHb), a central area in nicotine addiction that we showed to be under a strong 5-HT2AR-modulation. Single-cell extracellular recording of LHb neurons was used to study the 5-HT2AR function by intravenously administrating the potent agonist TCB-2. Acute nicotine (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, i.p.) and chronic nicotine (6 mg/kg/day for 14 days) differently affected both the 5-HT2AR-immuno reactive (IR) neuron number and the 5-HT2AR immunostaining area in the different brain areas studied. After acute nicotine, TCB-2 cumulative doses (5–640 µg/kg, intravenous, i.v.) bidirectionally affected the activity of 74% of LHb recorded neurons. After chronic nicotine treatment, TCB-2 was only capable of decreasing the LHb firing rate. The expression of 5-HT2AR under acute and chronic nicotine exposure was studied in the LHb and in other brain areas involved in nicotine effects in rats by using immunohistochemistry. These data reveal that acute and chronic nicotine differentially affect the 5-HT2AR function in different brain areas and this might be relevant in nicotine addiction and its treatment.
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Projection-Specific Potentiation of Ventral Pallidal Glutamatergic Outputs after Abstinence from Cocaine. J Neurosci 2019; 40:1276-1285. [PMID: 31836662 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0929-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventral pallidum (VP) is a central node in the reward system that is strongly implicated in reward and addiction. Although the majority of VP neurons are GABAergic and encode reward, recent studies revealed a novel glutamatergic neuronal population in the VP [VP neurons expressing the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VPVGluT2)], whose activation generates aversion. Withdrawal from drugs has been shown to induce drastic synaptic changes in neuronal populations associated with reward, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) or nucleus accumbens neurons, but less is known about cocaine-induced synaptic changes in neurons classically linked with aversion. Here, we demonstrate that VPVGluT2 neurons contact different targets with different intensities, and that cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) training followed by abstinence selectively potentiates their synapses on targets that encode aversion. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings combined with optogenetics in male and female transgenic mice, we show that VPVGluT2 neurons preferentially contact aversion-related neurons, such as lateral habenula neurons and VTA GABAergic neurons, with minor input to reward-related neurons, such as VTA dopamine and VP GABA neurons. Moreover, after cocaine CPP and abstinence, the VPVGluT2 input to the aversion-related structures is potentiated, whereas the input to the reward-related structures is depressed. Thus, cocaine CPP followed by abstinence may allow VPVGluT2 neurons to recruit aversion-related targets more readily and therefore be part of the mechanism underlying the aversive symptoms seen after withdrawal.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The biggest problem in drug addiction is the high propensity to relapse. One central driver for relapse events is the negative aversive symptoms experienced by addicts during withdrawal. In this work, we propose a possible mechanism for the intensification of aversive feelings after withdrawal that involves the glutamatergic neurons of the ventral pallidum. We show not only that these neurons are most strongly connected to aversive targets, such as the lateral habenula, but also that, after abstinence, their synapses on aversive targets are strengthened, whereas the synapses on other rewarding targets are weakened. These data illustrate how after abstinence from cocaine, aversive pathways change in a manner that may contribute to relapse.
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25
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Le Foll B, French L. Transcriptomic Characterization of the Human Habenula Highlights Drug Metabolism and the Neuroimmune System. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:742. [PMID: 30429765 PMCID: PMC6220030 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to size and accessibility, most information about the habenula is derived from rodent studies. To better understand the molecular signature of the habenula we characterized the genes that have high expression in the habenula. We compared anatomical expression profiles of three normal adult human brains and four fetal brains. We used gene set enrichment analyses to determine if genes annotated to specific molecular functions, cellular components, and biological processes are enriched in the habenula. We also tested gene sets related to depression and addiction to determine if they uniquely involve the habenula. As expected, we observed high habenular expression of GPR151, nicotinic cholinergic receptors, and cilia-associated genes (medial division). Genes identified in genetic studies of smoking and associated with nicotine response were enriched in the habenula. Genes associated with major depressive disorder did not have enriched expression in the habenula but genes negatively correlated with hedonic well-being were, providing a link to anhedonia. We observed enrichment of genes associated with diseases that are comorbid with addictions (hematopoiesis, thrombosis, liver cirrhosis, pneumonia, and pulmonary fibrosis) and depression (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease). These inflammatory diseases mark a neuroimmune signature that is supported by genes associated with mast cells, acute inflammatory response, and leukocyte migration. We also found enrichment of cytochrome p450 genes suggesting the habenula is uniquely sensitive to endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. Our results suggest the habenula receives negative reward signals from immune and drug processing molecules. This is consistent with the habenular role in the "anti-reward" system and suggests it may be a key bridge between autoimmune disorders, drug use, and psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Le Foll
- Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Brain and Therapeutics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leon French
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Brain and Therapeutics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
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26
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Shepard RD, Langlois LD, Browne CA, Berenji A, Lucki I, Nugent FS. Ketamine Reverses Lateral Habenula Neuronal Dysfunction and Behavioral Immobility in the Forced Swim Test Following Maternal Deprivation in Late Adolescent Rats. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2018; 10:39. [PMID: 30425634 PMCID: PMC6218426 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that the long-term effects of adverse early life stressors on vulnerability to drug addiction and mood disorders are related to dysfunction of brain monoaminergic signaling in reward circuits. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the lateral habenula (LHb) as LHb dysfunction is linked to the development of mental health disorders through monoaminergic dysregulation within brain reward/motivational circuits and may represent a critical target for novel anti-depressants, such as ketamine. Here, we show that maternal deprivation (MD), a severe early life stressor, increases LHb intrinsic excitability and LHb bursting activity, and is associated with the development of increased immobility in the forced swim test (FST) in late-adolescent male rats. A single in vivo injection of ketamine is sufficient to exert prolonged antidepressant effects through reversal of this early life stress-induced LHb neuronal dysfunction and the response in the FST. Our assessment of ketamine’s long-lasting beneficial effects on reversal of MD-associated changes in LHb neuronal function and behavior highlights the critical role of the LHb in pathophysiology of depression associated with severe early life stress and in response to novel fast-acting antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D Shepard
- Department of Pharmacology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ludovic D Langlois
- Department of Pharmacology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Caroline A Browne
- Department of Pharmacology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Aylar Berenji
- Department of Pharmacology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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McDevitt DS, Graziane NM. Neuronal mechanisms mediating pathological reward-related behaviors: A focus on silent synapses in the nucleus accumbens. Pharmacol Res 2018; 136:90-96. [PMID: 30171902 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The compulsive drive to seek drugs despite negative consequences relies heavily on drug-induced alterations that occur within the reward neurocircuit. These alterations include changes in neuromodulator and neurotransmitter systems that ultimately lock behaviors into an inflexible and permanent state. To provide clinicians with improved treatment options, researchers are trying to identify, as potential targets of therapeutic intervention, the neural mechanisms mediating an "addictive-like state". Here, we discuss how drug-induced generation of silent synapses in the nucleus accumbens may be a potential therapeutic target capable of reversing drug-related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon S McDevitt
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033 USA; Neuroscience graduate program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033 USA
| | - Nicholas M Graziane
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033 USA.
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