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Thomou C, Nussbaumer M, Grammenou E, Komini C, Vlaikou AM, Papageorgiou MP, Filiou MD. Early Handling Exerts Anxiolytic Effects and Alters Brain Mitochondrial Dynamics in Adult High Anxiety Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04116-5. [PMID: 38761326 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04116-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Early handling (EH), the brief separation of pups from their mother during early life, has been shown to exert beneficial effects. However, the impact of EH in a high anxiety background as well as the role of brain mitochondria in shaping EH-driven responses remain elusive.Here, we used a high (HAB) vs. normal (NAB) anxiety-related behavior mouse model to study how EH affects pup and dam behavior in divergent anxiety backgrounds. We also investigated EH-induced effects at the protein and mRNA levels in adult male HAB mice in the hypothalamus, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus by examining the same mitochondrial/energy pathways and mitochondrial dynamics mechanisms (fission, fusion, biogenesis, and mitophagy) in all three brain regions.EH exerts anxiolytic effects in adult HAB but not NAB male mice and does not affect HAB or NAB maternal behavior, although basal HAB vs. NAB maternal behaviors differ. In adult HAB male mice, EH does not impact oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and oxidative stress in any of the brain regions studied but leads to increased protein expression of glycolysis enzymes and a correlation of anxiety-related behavior with Krebs cycle enzymes in HAB mice in the hypothalamus. Intriguingly, EH alters mitochondrial dynamics by increasing hypothalamic DRP1, OPA1, and PGC1a protein levels. At the mRNA level, we observe altered, EH-driven mitochondrial dynamics mRNA signatures which predominantly affect the prefrontal cortex.Taken together, our results show that EH exerts anxiolytic effects in adulthood in high anxiety and modulates mitochondrial dynamics pathways in a brain region-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Thomou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Markus Nussbaumer
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Eleni Grammenou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Komini
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Angeliki-Maria Vlaikou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Maria P Papageorgiou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Michaela D Filiou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece.
- Institute of Biosciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
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2
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Burenkova OV, Grigorenko EL. The role of epigenetic mechanisms in the long-term effects of early-life adversity and mother-infant relationship on physiology and behavior of offspring in laboratory rats and mice. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22479. [PMID: 38470450 PMCID: PMC10959231 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Maternal care during the early postnatal period of altricial mammals is a key factor in the survival and adaptation of offspring to environmental conditions. Natural variations in maternal care and experimental manipulations with maternal-child relationships modeling early-life adversity (ELA) in laboratory rats and mice have a strong long-term influence on the physiology and behavior of offspring in rats and mice. This literature review is devoted to the latest research on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in these effects of ELA and mother-infant relationship, with a focus on the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. An important part of this review is dedicated to pharmacological interventions and epigenetic editing as tools for studying the causal role of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of physiological and behavioral profiles. A special section of the manuscript will discuss the translational potential of the discussed research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V. Burenkova
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elena L. Grigorenko
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Cognitive Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Research Administration, Moscow State University for Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
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3
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Ito M, Ito H, Miyoshi K, Kanai-Azuma M. Chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress during the perinatal period induces depressive-like outcomes in female mice. Brain Res 2024; 1825:148734. [PMID: 38110072 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148734] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Depression is more prevalent in women than in men. Perinatal stress is one of the main risk factors for depression in women. However, there is no suitable female model for perinatal depression that uses the social defeat stress (SDS) paradigm. The standard chronic SDS protocol, which is the most useful method for developing a depression-like model, is effective only in male mice. Thus, this study aimed to characterize a novel SDS method for producing a perinatal depression-like model mouse. We induced chronic SDS in perinatal female mice, wherein chronic non-discriminatory SDS (ND-SDS) was used to induce substantial stress in female mice. The female mice were placed in aggressive ICR mouse cages with sentinel male mice under ND-SDS conditions. Stressed female mice subjected to ND-SDS during the perinatal period efficiently exhibited stress-susceptible phenotypes, such as a social avoidance phenotype and anhedonic behavior, whereas stressed female mice subjected to SDS did not show depressive-like behaviors. These results indicate that chronic ND-SDS in perinatal females could be used to develop a female perinatal depression-like model that can be used to study women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Ito
- Department of Basic Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793 Japan; Research Facility Center for Science and Technology, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793 Japan
| | - Hikaru Ito
- Department of Basic Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793 Japan; Research Facility Center for Science and Technology, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793 Japan; Department of Experimental Animal Model for Human Disease, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan; Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan.
| | - Kaori Miyoshi
- Department of Experimental Animal Model for Human Disease, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan; Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan
| | - Masami Kanai-Azuma
- Department of Experimental Animal Model for Human Disease, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan; Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan
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4
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Sharma K, Govar AA, Ghimire B, Nishimori K, Hammock E, Teruyama R. Sexually dimorphic oxytocin receptor-expressing (OXTR) neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) in the postpartum female mouse are involved in maternal behavior. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13337. [PMID: 37784240 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13337] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Maternal care is crucial for the survival and development of offspring. Oxytocin modulates maternal behavior by binding to oxytocin receptors (OXTRs) in various parts of the brain. Previously, we showed that OXTRs are expressed in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) of female, but not male mice. Because the AVPV is involved in the regulation of maternal behavior and oxytocin enhances its induction, this finding leads to the hypothesis that the female specific population of OXTR neurons in the AVPV regulates maternal behavior. To address this hypothesis, OXTR-Venus reporter mice were used to assess if expression levels of OXTR in the AVPV are changed during the postpartum period. The total number of OXTR-Venus neurons was significantly greater in postpartum dams compared to virgin females. To assess efferent projections of the AVPV-OXTR neurons, a Cre-dependent fluorescent protein (tdTomato) expressing a viral vector was injected into one side of the AVPV of female OXTR-Cre mice. Fibers expressing tdTomato were found in hypothalamic areas containing oxytocin neurons (the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei) and the midbrain areas (the ventral tegmental area and periaqueductal gray) that are involved in the regulation of maternal motivation. To assess if activity of the AVPV-OXTR neurons is involved in the regulation of maternal behaviors, a chemogenetic approach was employed. Specific inhibition of activity of AVPV-OXTR neurons completely abolished pup retrieval and nest building behaviors. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that AVPV-OXTR neurons in postpartum female mice constitute an important node in the neural circuitry that regulates maternal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaustubh Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Armita A Govar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Bandana Ghimire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Laboratory of Obesity and Internal Inflammation, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Elizabeth Hammock
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Ryoichi Teruyama
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Harper KM, Harp SJ, Moy SS. Prenatal stress unmasks behavioral phenotypes in genetic mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1271225. [PMID: 37809038 PMCID: PMC10556231 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1271225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are complex conditions characterized by heterogeneous clinical profiles and symptoms that arise in infancy and childhood. NDDs are often attributed to a complicated interaction between genetic risk and environmental factors, suggesting a need for preclinical models reflecting the combined impact of heritable susceptibility and environmental effects. A notable advantage of "two-hit" models is the power to reveal underlying vulnerability that may not be detected in studies employing only genetic or environmental alterations. In this review, we summarize existing literature that investigates detrimental interactions between prenatal stress (PNS) and genes associated with NDDs, with a focus on behavioral phenotyping approaches in mouse models. A challenge in determining the overall role of PNS exposure in genetic models is the diversity of approaches for inducing stress, variability in developmental timepoints for exposure, and differences in phenotyping regimens across laboratories. Identification of optimal stress protocols and critical windows for developmental effects would greatly improve the use of PNS in gene × environment mouse models of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Harper
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Samuel J. Harp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Sheryl S. Moy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Li Y, Shi DD, Wang Z. Adolescent nonpharmacological interventions for early-life stress and their mechanisms. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114580. [PMID: 37453516 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Those with a negative experience of psychosocial stress during the early stage of life not only have a high susceptibility of the psychiatric disorder in all phases of their life span, but they also demonstrate more severe symptoms and poorer response to treatment compared to those without a history of early-life stress. The interventions targeted to early-life stress may improve the effectiveness of treating and preventing psychiatric disorders. Brain regions associated with mood and cognition develop rapidly and own heightened plasticity during adolescence. So, manipulating nonpharmacological interventions in fewer side effects and higher acceptance during adolescence, which is a probable window of opportunity, may ameliorate or even reverse the constantly deteriorating impact of early-life stress. The present article reviews animal and people studies about adolescent nonpharmacological interventions for early-life stress. We aim to discuss whether those adolescent nonpharmacological interventions can promote individuals' psychological health who expose to early-life stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong-Dong Shi
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Institute of Psychological and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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7
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Quintrell E, Wyrwoll C, Rosenow T, Larcombe A, Kelty E. The effects of acamprosate on maternal and neonatal outcomes in a mouse model of alcohol use disorders. Physiol Behav 2023; 259:114037. [PMID: 36427542 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the teratogenic effects of alcohol, little is known about the safety of pharmacotherapies such as acamprosate for the treatment of alcohol use disorders in pregnancy. The aims of this study were to investigate, in a mouse model, the effects of maternally administered acamprosate on maternal and neonatal health, offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour, as well as examine whether acamprosate reduces the neurological harm associated with alcohol consumption in pregnancy. METHODS Dams were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: (i) control (water), (ii) acamprosate (1.6 g/L), (iii) alcohol (5% v/v) or (iv) acamprosate and alcohol (1.6 g/L; 5% v/v ethanol) and exposed from 2-weeks pre-pregnancy until postpartum day 7. Gestational outcomes including litter size and sex ratio were assessed, in addition to early-life markers of neurodevelopment. At 8 weeks of age, motor coordination, anxiety, locomotion, and memory of the adult offspring were also examined. RESULTS Exposure to acamprosate did not affect maternal and birth outcomes (mating success, gestational weight gain, litter size, sex ratio), neonatal outcomes (head and body length, postnatal weight) or neurodevelopmental markers (righting reflex and negative geotaxis). Acamprosate exposure did not affect offspring motor control, locomotion or anxiety, however the effects on short-term memory remain uncertain. Prenatal alcohol exposed offspring exhibited various alterations, such as lower postnatal weight, smaller head (p = 0.04) and body lengths (p = 0.046) at postnatal day 70 (males only), increased negative geotaxis speed (p = 0.03), an increased time spent in the inner zone of the open field (p = 0.02). Acamprosate mitigated the effects of alcohol for negative geotaxis at postnatal day 7 (p = 0.01) and female offspring weight at postnatal day 70 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Overall, we show that prenatal acamprosate exposure was not associated with poor maternal or neonatal health outcomes or impaired neurodevelopment and behaviour. However, acamprosate's effects on short-term memory remain uncertain. We present preliminary evidence to suggest acamprosate displayed some neuroprotective effects against damage caused by in utero alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebony Quintrell
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia Australia; Respiratory Environmental Health, Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Caitlin Wyrwoll
- Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tim Rosenow
- The Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Alexander Larcombe
- Respiratory Environmental Health, Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Erin Kelty
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia Australia.
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8
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Michetti C, Falace A, Benfenati F, Fassio A. Synaptic genes and neurodevelopmental disorders: From molecular mechanisms to developmental strategies of behavioral testing. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 173:105856. [PMID: 36070836 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptopathies are a class of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by modification in genes coding for synaptic proteins. These proteins oversee the process of neurotransmission, mainly controlling the fusion and recycling of synaptic vesicles at the presynaptic terminal, the expression and localization of receptors at the postsynapse and the coupling between the pre- and the postsynaptic compartments. Murine models, with homozygous or heterozygous deletion for several synaptic genes or knock-in for specific pathogenic mutations, have been developed. They have proved to be extremely informative for understanding synaptic physiology, as well as for clarifying the patho-mechanisms leading to developmental delay, epilepsy and motor, cognitive and social impairments that are the most common clinical manifestations of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the onset of these disorders emerges during infancy and adolescence while the behavioral phenotyping is often conducted in adult mice, missing important information about the impact of synaptic development and maturation on the manifestation of the behavioral phenotype. Here, we review the main achievements obtained by behavioral testing in murine models of synaptopathies and propose a battery of behavioral tests to improve classification, diagnosis and efficacy of potential therapeutic treatments. Our aim is to underlie the importance of studying behavioral development and better focusing on disease onset and phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Michetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Antonio Falace
- Pediatric Neurology, Neurogenetics and Neurobiology Unit and Laboratories, Children's Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Fassio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
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9
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Takano Y, Umezawa M, Kubota N, Takeda K, Yanagita S. Effects of music exposure during pregnancy on maternal behavior in mother rats. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10029. [PMID: 35991990 PMCID: PMC9382262 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated the possibility of positive effects of exposure to music during pregnancy on mental function in humans and animals. Although there remains a core belief in the positive effects of music during pregnancy, the underlying neurobehavioral mechanisms of these effects remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between maternal nurturing behavior and the oxytocinergic system to elucidate the effect of music on mental health during pregnancy in an experimental investigation using animal models. Pregnant rats were exposed to Mozart sonatas, and their nurturing behavior after delivery was assessed using behavioral analyses. The neural activities of the oxytocinergic system, which are associated with nurturing behavior, were investigated using FosB immunohistochemistry. Music during pregnancy significantly increased the licking behavior of mothers towards pups, which is representative of positive nurturing behavior. In contrast, this alteration in maternal behavior was shown to have no marked effect on the structure or activity of the oxytocinergic system. This study provided possible evidence that exposure to music during pregnancy had a positive effect on postnatal maternal behavior. The results also suggest that the oxytocinergic system, considered a strong candidate for the neural system that regulates maternal behavior, may not be associated with this behavioral change. Understanding the relationship between other neural systems, physiological responses, and nurturing behaviors will provide a more comprehensive explanation of the mechanisms by which music exposure during pregnancy has a positive effect on mental health. Pregnant rats were exposed to Mozart sonatas and their nurturing behavior was investigated. Exposure to music during pregnancy has a positive effect on postnatal maternal behavior. Maternal behavior had no marked effect on the structure or activity of the oxytocinergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurika Takano
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Masakazu Umezawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Natsuko Kubota
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Ken Takeda
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sanyo-Onoda City University, Sanyo-Onoda, Yamaguchi 756-0884, Japan
| | - Shinya Yanagita
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Corresponding author.
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10
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Cox WR, Faliagkas L, Besseling A, van der Loo RJ, Spijker S, Kindt M, Rao-Ruiz P. Interfering With Contextual Fear Memories by Post-reactivation Administration of Propranolol in Mice: A Series of Null Findings. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:893572. [PMID: 35832291 PMCID: PMC9272000 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.893572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-reactivation amnesia of contextual fear memories by blockade of noradrenergic signaling has been shown to have limited replicability in rodents. This is usually attributed to several boundary conditions that gate the destabilization of memory during its retrieval. How these boundary conditions can be overcome, and what neural mechanisms underlie post-reactivation changes in contextual fear memories remain largely unknown. Here, we report a series of experiments in a contextual fear-conditioning paradigm in mice, that were aimed at solving these issues. We first attempted to obtain a training paradigm that would consistently result in contextual fear memory that could be destabilized upon reactivation, enabling post-retrieval amnesia by the administration of propranolol. Unexpectedly, our attempts were unsuccessful to this end. Specifically, over a series of experiments in which we varied different parameters of the fear acquisition procedure, at best small and inconsistent effects were observed. Additionally, we found that propranolol did not alter retrieval-induced neural activity, as measured by the number of c-Fos+ cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. To determine whether propranolol was perhaps ineffective in interfering with reactivated contextual fear memories, we also included anisomycin (i.e., a potent and well-known amnesic drug) in several experiments, and measures of synaptic glutamate receptor subunit GluA2 (i.e., a marker of memory destabilization). No post-retrieval amnesia by anisomycin and no altered GluA2 expression by reactivation was observed, suggesting that the memories did not undergo destabilization. The null findings are surprising, given that the training paradigms we implemented were previously shown to result in memories that could be modified upon reactivation. Together, our observations illustrate the elusive nature of reactivation-dependent changes in non-human fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter R. Cox
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Leonidas Faliagkas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Amber Besseling
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rolinka J. van der Loo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sabine Spijker
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Merel Kindt
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Priyanka Rao-Ruiz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Priyanka Rao-Ruiz
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11
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Fabregat M, Niño-Rivero S, Pose S, Cárdenas-Rodríguez M, Bresque M, Hernández K, Prieto-Echagüe V, Schlapp G, Crispo M, Lagos P, Lago N, Escande C, Irigoín F, Badano JL. Generation and characterization of Ccdc28b mutant mice links the Bardet-Biedl associated gene with mild social behavioral phenotypes. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009896. [PMID: 35653384 PMCID: PMC9197067 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
CCDC28B (coiled-coil domain-containing protein 28B) was identified as a modifier in the ciliopathy Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). Our previous work in cells and zebrafish showed that CCDC28B plays a role regulating cilia length in a mechanism that is not completely understood. Here we report the generation of a Ccdc28b mutant mouse using CRISPR/Cas9 (Ccdc28b mut). Depletion of CCDC28B resulted in a mild phenotype. Ccdc28b mut animals i) do not present clear structural cilia affectation, although we did observe mild defects in cilia density and cilia length in some tissues, ii) reproduce normally, and iii) do not develop retinal degeneration or obesity, two hallmark features of reported BBS murine models. In contrast, Ccdc28b mut mice did show clear social interaction defects as well as stereotypical behaviors. This finding is indeed relevant regarding CCDC28B as a modifier of BBS since behavioral phenotypes have been documented in BBS. Overall, this work reports a novel mouse model that will be key to continue evaluating genetic interactions in BBS, deciphering the contribution of CCDC28B to modulate the presentation of BBS phenotypes. In addition, our data underscores a novel link between CCDC28B and behavioral defects, providing a novel opportunity to further our understanding of the genetic, cellular, and molecular basis of these complex phenotypes. BBS is caused by mutations in any one of 22 genes known to date. In some families, BBS can be inherited as an oligogenic trait whereby mutations in more than one BBS gene collaborate in the presentation of the syndrome. In addition, CCDC28B was originally identified as a modifier of BBS, whereby a reduction in CCDC28B levels was associated with a more severe presentation of the syndrome. Different mechanisms, all relying on functional redundancy, have been proposed to explain these genetic interactions. The characterization of BBS proteins supported this functional redundancy hypothesis: BBS proteins play a role in cilia maintenance/function and subsets of BBS proteins can even interact directly in multiprotein complexes. We have previously shown that CCDC28B also participates in cilia biology regulating the length of the organelle: knockdown of CCDC28B in cells results in cilia shortening and targeting ccdc28b in zebrafish also results in early embryonic phenotypes characteristic of other cilia mutants. In this work, we generated a Ccdc28b mutant mouse to determine whether abrogating Ccdc28b function would be sufficient to cause a ciliopathy phenotype in mammals, and to generate a tool to continue dissecting its modifying role in the context of BBS. Overall, Ccdc28b mutant mice presented a mild phenotype, a finding fully compatible with its role as a modifier, rather than a causal BBS gene. In addition, we found that Ccdc28b mutants showed behavioral phenotypes, similar to the deficits observed in rodent autism spectrum disorder (ASD) models. Thus, our results underscore a novel causal link between CCDC28B and behavioral phenotypes in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Fabregat
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- INDICyO Institutional Program, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sofía Niño-Rivero
- Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sabrina Pose
- Neuroinflammation and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Magdalena Cárdenas-Rodríguez
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- INDICyO Institutional Program, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mariana Bresque
- INDICyO Institutional Program, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Metabolic Diseases and Aging Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Karina Hernández
- Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Victoria Prieto-Echagüe
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- INDICyO Institutional Program, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Geraldine Schlapp
- Laboratory Animal Biotechnology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Martina Crispo
- Laboratory Animal Biotechnology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Patricia Lagos
- Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Natalia Lago
- Neuroinflammation and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Escande
- INDICyO Institutional Program, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Metabolic Diseases and Aging Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Florencia Irigoín
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- INDICyO Institutional Program, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- * E-mail: (FI); (JLB)
| | - Jose L. Badano
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- INDICyO Institutional Program, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- * E-mail: (FI); (JLB)
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12
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Yao Y, Uddin MN, Manley K, Lawrence DA. Improvements of autism-like behaviors but limited effects on immune cell metabolism after mitochondrial replacement in BTBR T Itpr3/J mice. J Neuroimmunol 2022; 368:577893. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Coria-Avila GA, Pfaus JG, Orihuela A, Domínguez-Oliva A, José-Pérez N, Hernández LA, Mota-Rojas D. The Neurobiology of Behavior and Its Applicability for Animal Welfare: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12070928. [PMID: 35405916 PMCID: PMC8997080 DOI: 10.3390/ani12070928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Animal welfare is the result of physical and psychological well-being and is expected to occur if animals are free: (1) from hunger, thirst and malnutrition, (2) from discomfort, (3) from pain, (4) to express normal behavior, and (5) from fear and distress. Nevertheless, well-being is not a constant state but rather the result of certain brain dynamics underlying innate motivated behaviors and learned responses. Thus, by understanding the foundations of the neurobiology of behavior we fathom how emotions and well-being occur in the brain. Herein, we discuss the potential applicability of this approach for animal welfare. First, we provide a general view of the basic responses coordinated by the central nervous system from the processing of internal and external stimuli. Then, we discuss how those stimuli mediate activity in seven neurobiological systems that evoke innate emotional and behavioral responses that directly influence well-being and biological fitness. Finally, we discuss the basic mechanisms of learning and how it affects motivated responses and welfare. Abstract Understanding the foundations of the neurobiology of behavior and well-being can help us better achieve animal welfare. Behavior is the expression of several physiological, endocrine, motor and emotional responses that are coordinated by the central nervous system from the processing of internal and external stimuli. In mammals, seven basic emotional systems have been described that when activated by the right stimuli evoke positive or negative innate responses that evolved to facilitate biological fitness. This review describes the process of how those neurobiological systems can directly influence animal welfare. We also describe examples of the interaction between primary (innate) and secondary (learned) processes that influence behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genaro A. Coria-Avila
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Avenida Luis Castelazo S/N, Col. Industrial Ánimas, Xalapa 91190, Mexico;
- Correspondence: (G.A.C.-A.); (D.M.-R.)
| | - James G. Pfaus
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Avenida Luis Castelazo S/N, Col. Industrial Ánimas, Xalapa 91190, Mexico;
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Charles University, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Czech National Institute of Mental Health, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Agustín Orihuela
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico;
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.D.-O.); (N.J.-P.); (L.A.H.)
| | - Nancy José-Pérez
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.D.-O.); (N.J.-P.); (L.A.H.)
| | - Laura Astrid Hernández
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.D.-O.); (N.J.-P.); (L.A.H.)
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.D.-O.); (N.J.-P.); (L.A.H.)
- Correspondence: (G.A.C.-A.); (D.M.-R.)
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14
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Murra D, Hilde KL, Fitzpatrick A, Maras PM, Watson SJ, Akil H. Characterizing the behavioral and neuroendocrine features of susceptibility and resilience to social stress. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 17:100437. [PMID: 35242893 PMCID: PMC8857076 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Evaluating and coping with stressful social events as they unfold is a critical strategy in overcoming them without long-lasting detrimental effects. Individuals display a wide range of responses to stress, which can manifest in a variety of outcomes for the brain as well as subsequent behavior. Chronic Social Defeat Stress (CSDS) in mice has been widely used to model individual variation following a social stressor. Following a course of repeated intermittent psychological and physical stress, mice diverge into separate populations of social reactivity: resilient (socially interactive) and susceptible (socially avoidant) animals. A rich body of work reveals distinct neurobiological and behavioral consequences of this experience that map onto the resilient and susceptible groups. However, the range of factors that emerge over the course of defeat have not been fully described. Therefore, in the current study, we focused on characterizing behavioral, physiological, and neuroendocrine profiles of mice in three separate phases: before, during, and following CSDS. We found that following CSDS, traditional read-outs of anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors do not map on to the resilient and susceptible groups. By contrast, behavioral coping strategies used during the initial social stress encounter better predict which mice will eventually become resilient or susceptible. In particular, mice that will emerge as susceptible display greater escape behavior on Day 1 of social defeat than those that will emerge as resilient, indicating early differences in coping mechanisms used between the two groups. We further show that the social avoidance phenotype in susceptible mice is specific to the aggressor strain and does not generalize to conspecifics or other strains, indicating that there may be features of threat discrimination that are specific to the susceptible mice. Our findings suggest that there are costs and benefits to both the resilient and susceptible outcomes, reflected in their ability to cope and adapt to the social stressor.
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15
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Wang IF, Wang Y, Yang YH, Huang GJ, Tsai KJ, Shen CKJ. Activation of a hippocampal CREB-pCREB-miRNA-MEF2 axis modulates individual variation of spatial learning and memory capability. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109477. [PMID: 34348143 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation is a fundamental prerequisite for cell and organism evolution by natural selection. Whereas the role of stochastic gene expression in phenotypic diversity of genetically identical cells is well studied, not much is known regarding the relationship between stochastic gene expression and individual behavioral variation in animals. We demonstrate that a specific miRNA (miR-466f-3p) is upregulated in the hippocampus of a portion of individual inbred mice upon a Morris water maze task. Significantly, miR-466f-3p positively regulates the neuron morphology, function and spatial learning, and memory capability of mice. Mechanistically, miR-466f-3p represses translation of MEF2A, a negative regulator of learning/memory. Finally, we show that varied upregulation of hippocampal miR-466f-3p results from randomized phosphorylation of hippocampal cyclic AMP (cAMP)-response element binding (CREB) in individuals. This finding of modulation of spatial learning and memory via a randomized hippocampal signaling axis upon neuronal stimulation represents a demonstration of how variation in tissue gene expression lead to varied animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Fang Wang
- Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yihan Wang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hua Yang
- Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan; Research Center of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
| | - Guo-Jen Huang
- Department and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou 33302, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Jer Tsai
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan; Research Center of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan.
| | - Che-Kun James Shen
- Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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16
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Saré RM, Lemons A, Smith CB. Behavior Testing in Rodents: Highlighting Potential Confounds Affecting Variability and Reproducibility. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040522. [PMID: 33924037 PMCID: PMC8073298 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of brain disorders including neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases are essential for increasing our understanding of underlying pathology and for preclinical testing of potential treatments. Some of the most important outcome measures in such studies are behavioral. Unfortunately, reports from different labs are often conflicting, and preclinical studies in rodent models are not often corroborated in human trials. There are many well-established tests for assessing various behavioral readouts, but subtle aspects can influence measurements. Features such as housing conditions, conditions of testing, and the sex and strain of the animals can all have effects on tests of behavior. In the conduct of behavior testing, it is important to keep these features in mind to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of results. In this review, we highlight factors that we and others have encountered that can influence behavioral measures. Our goal is to increase awareness of factors that can affect behavior in rodents and to emphasize the need for detailed reporting of methods.
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17
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Valera-Marín G, Young LJ, Camacho F, Paredes RG, Rodríguez VM, Díaz NF, Portillo W. Raised without a father: monoparental care effects over development, sexual behavior, sexual reward, and pair bonding in prairie voles. Behav Brain Res 2021; 408:113264. [PMID: 33775781 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Around 5 % of mammals are socially monogamous and both parents provide care to the pups (biparental, BP). Prairie voles are socially monogamous rodents extensively used to understand the neurobiological basis of pair bond formation and the consequences that the absence of one parent has in the offspring. Pair bonding, characterized by selective affiliation with a sexual partner, is facilitated in prairie voles by mating for 6 h or cohabitation without mating for 24 h. It was previously shown that prairie voles raised by their mother alone (monoparental, MP) show delayed pair bond formation upon reaching adulthood. In this study we evaluated the effects of BP and MP care provided on the offspring's development, ability to detect olfactory cues, preference for sexually relevant odors, display of sexual behavior, as well as the rewarding effects of mating. We also measured dopamine and serotonin concentration in the nucleus accumbens (ventral striatum) and dorsal striatum after cohabitation and mating (CM) to determine if differences in these neurotransmitters could underlie the delay in pair bond formation in MP voles. Our data showed that MP voles received less licking/grooming than BP voles, but no developmental differences between groups were found. No differences were found in the detection and discrimination of olfactory cues or preference for sexually relevant odors, as all groups innately preferred opposite sex odors. No differences were found in the display of sexual behavior. However, CM induced reinforcing properties only in BP males, followed by a preference for their sexual partner in BP but not MP males. BP males showed an increase in dopamine turnover (DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA) in the nucleus accumbens in comparison to MP voles. No differences in dopamine, serotonin or their metabolites were found in the dorsal striatum. Our results indicate that MP voles that received less licking behavior exhibit a delay in pair bond formation possibly because the sexual interaction is not rewarding enough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Valera-Marín
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd., Atlanta, GA, 30329, United States
| | - Francisco Camacho
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico
| | - Raúl G Paredes
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico; Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla, UNAM, Mexico
| | - Verónica M Rodríguez
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico
| | - Néstor F Díaz
- Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Montes Urales 800, Col. Lomas Virreyes, Del. Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, 11000, Mexico.
| | - Wendy Portillo
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico.
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18
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Jiménez JA, Zylka MJ. Controlling litter effects to enhance rigor and reproducibility with rodent models of neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neurodev Disord 2021; 13:2. [PMID: 33397279 PMCID: PMC7780384 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09353-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Research with rodents is crucial for expanding our understanding of genetic and environmental risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). However, there is growing concern about the number of animal studies that are difficult to replicate, potentially undermining the validity of results. These concerns have prompted funding agencies and academic journals to implement more rigorous standards in an effort to increase reproducibility in research. However, these standards fail to address a major source of variability in rodent research brought on by the “litter effect,” the fact that rodents from the same litter are phenotypically more similar to one other than rodents from different litters of the same strain. We show that the litter effect accounts for 30–60% of the variability associated with commonly studied phenotypes, including brain, placenta, and body weight. Moreover, we show how failure to control for litter-to-litter variation can mask a phenotype in Chd8V986*/+ mice that model haploinsufficiency of CHD8, a high-confidence autism gene. Thus, if not properly controlled, the litter effect has the potential to negatively influence rigor and reproducibility of NDD research. While efforts have been made to educate scientists on the importance of controlling for litter effects in previous publications, our analysis of the recent literature (2015–2020) shows that the vast majority of NDD studies focused on genetic risks, including mutant mouse studies, and environmental risks, such as air pollution and valproic acid exposure, do not correct for litter effects or report information on the number of litters used. We outline best practices to help scientists minimize the impact of litter-to-litter variability and to enhance rigor and reproducibility in future NDD studies using rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Jiménez
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mark J Zylka
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. .,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. .,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Lee YM, Mu A, Wallace M, Gengatharan JM, Furst AJ, Bode L, Metallo CM, Ayres JS. Microbiota control of maternal behavior regulates early postnatal growth of offspring. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/5/eabe6563. [PMID: 33514556 PMCID: PMC7846171 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Maternal behavior is necessary for optimal development and growth of offspring. The intestinal microbiota has emerged as a critical regulator of growth and development in the early postnatal period life. Here, we describe the identification of an intestinal Escherichia coli strain that is pathogenic to the maternal-offspring system during the early postnatal stage of life and results in growth stunting of the offspring. However, rather than having a direct pathogenic effect on the infant, we found that this particular E. coli strain was pathogenic to the dams by interfering with the maturation of maternal behavior. This resulted in malnourishment of the pups and impaired insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling, leading to the consequential stunted growth. Our work provides a new understanding of how the microbiota regulates postnatal growth and an additional variable that must be considered when studying the regulation of maternal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujung Michelle Lee
- Molecular and Systems Physiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andre Mu
- Molecular and Systems Physiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Martina Wallace
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92092, USA
| | - Jivani M Gengatharan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92092, USA
| | - Annalee J Furst
- Department of Pediatrics and Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MOMI CORE), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92092, USA
| | - Lars Bode
- Department of Pediatrics and Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MOMI CORE), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92092, USA
| | - Christian M Metallo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92092, USA
| | - Janelle S Ayres
- Molecular and Systems Physiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Khambadkone SG, Cordner ZA, Tamashiro KLK. Maternal stressors and the developmental origins of neuropsychiatric risk. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 57:100834. [PMID: 32084515 PMCID: PMC7243665 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The maternal environment during pregnancy is critical for fetal development and perinatal perturbations can prime offspring disease risk. Here, we briefly review evidence linking two well-characterized maternal stressors - psychosocial stress and infection - to increased neuropsychiatric risk in offspring. In the current climate of increasing obesity and globalization of the Western-style diet, maternal overnutrition emerges as a pressing public health concern. We focus our attention on recent epidemiological and animal model evidence showing that, like psychosocial stress and infection, maternal overnutrition can also increase offspring neuropsychiatric risk. Using lessons learned from the psychosocial stress and infection literature, we discuss how altered maternal and placental physiology in the setting of overnutrition may contribute to abnormal fetal development and resulting neuropsychiatric outcomes. A better understanding of converging pathophysiological pathways shared between stressors may enable development of interventions against neuropsychiatric illnesses that may be beneficial across stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seva G Khambadkone
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Cellular & Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zachary A Cordner
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kellie L K Tamashiro
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Cellular & Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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21
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Bartsch VB, Lord JS, Diering GH, Zylka MJ. Mania- and anxiety-like behavior and impaired maternal care in female diacylglycerol kinase eta and iota double knockout mice. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12570. [PMID: 30985063 PMCID: PMC6800745 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies linked diacylglycerol kinase eta and iota to mood disorders, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and both genes are expressed throughout the brain. Here, we generated and behaviorally characterized female mice lacking Dgkh alone, Dgki alone, and double Dgkh/Dgki-knockout (dKO) mice. We found that fewer than 30% of newborn pups raised by dKO females survived to weaning, while over 85% of pups survived to weaning when raised by wild-type (WT) females. Poor survival under the care of dKO mothers was unrelated to pup genotype. Moreover, pups from dKO dams survived when fostered by WT dams, suggesting the poor survival rate of dKO-raised litters was related to impaired maternal care by dKO dams. Nest building was similar between WT and dKO dams; however, some dKO females failed to retrieve any pups in a retrieval assay. Pups raised by dKO dams had smaller or absent milk spots and reduced weight, indicative of impaired nursing. Unlike WT females, postpartum dKO females showed erratic, panicked responses to cage disturbances. Virgin dKO females showed behavioral signs of anxiety and mania, which were not seen in mice lacking either Dgkh or Dgki alone. Our research indicates that combined deletion of Dgkh and Dgki impairs maternal behavior in the early postpartum period, and suggests female dKO mice model symptoms of mania and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria B. Bartsch
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Julia S. Lord
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina,UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Graham H. Diering
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina,UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Mark J. Zylka
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina,UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Bond C, Johnson J, Chaudhary V, McCarthy E, McWhorter M, Woehrle N. Perinatal fluoxetine exposure results in social deficits and reduced monoamine oxidase gene expression in mice. Brain Res 2020; 1727:146282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Tatemoto P, Bernardino T, Alves L, Zanella AJ. Sham-Chewing in Sows Is Associated With Decreased Fear Responses in Their Offspring. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:390. [PMID: 31803762 PMCID: PMC6877698 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We hypothesized that sham-chewing expressed by the dam during gestation affects fetus programming. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of maternal sham-chewing on offspring welfare indicators, such as behavior and physiology. Sows that exhibited consistent sham-chewing on at least two of 6 days of observation (N = 7) were compared with sows that had never performed sham-chewing (non-sham-chewing sows; N = 4) during these 6 days. Salivary samples from sows and piglets were collected and cortisol concentrations were analyzed to assess the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity as cortisol is a physiological indicator of welfare. Moreover, placental tissue was collected, right after farrowing, to assess cortisol and cortisone concentration. Piglet behavior and fear tests were performed after weaning (one couple per sow). In the fear tests, data was collected in an open field test to determine the states of fear indicators. Non-sham-chewing sows had lower concentrations of cortisol on days 91 and 92 of gestation in the morning. In addition to this, placental cortisol was higher among sham-chewing sows than non-sham-chewing sows. In the open field test, piglets born from non-sham-chewing sows demonstrated more latency to move in the arena and less activity, indicating more fear. Based on our data, we concluded that the expression of maternal sham-chewing is related to less fear in their offspring. Although stereotypies have been studied, attention has not been devoted to the effects of the prenatal period in considering a fetal reprogramming approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Tatemoto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Center for Comparative Studies in Sustainability, Health and Welfare, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Reshetnikov VV, Ryabushkina YA, Bondar NP. Impact of mothers’ experience and early‐life stress on aggression and cognition in adult male mice. Dev Psychobiol 2019; 62:36-49. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliy V. Reshetnikov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) Novosibirsk Russia
| | - Yulia A. Ryabushkina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) Novosibirsk Russia
- Novosibirsk State University Novosibirsk Russia
| | - Natalia P. Bondar
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) Novosibirsk Russia
- Novosibirsk State University Novosibirsk Russia
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25
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Coley EJL, Demaestri C, Ganguly P, Honeycutt JA, Peterzell S, Rose N, Ahmed N, Holschbach M, Trivedi M, Brenhouse HC. Cross-Generational Transmission of Early Life Stress Effects on HPA Regulators and Bdnf Are Mediated by Sex, Lineage, and Upbringing. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:101. [PMID: 31143105 PMCID: PMC6521572 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) is a potent developmental disruptor and increases the risk for psychopathology. Various forms of ELS have been studied in both humans and rodents, and have been implicated in altered DNA methylation, gene transcription, stress hormone levels, and behavior. Although recent studies have focused on stress-induced epigenetic changes, the extent to which ELS alters HPA axis function and stress responsivity across generations, whether these effects are sex-specific, and how lineage interacts with upbringing to impact these effects, remain unclear. To address these points, two generations of rodents were utilized, with the first generation subjected to ELS via maternal separation, and the second to a balanced cross-fostering paradigm. We hypothesized that ELS would disrupt normative development in both generations, manifesting as altered methylation and expression of genes associated with stress signaling pathways (Nr3c1, Nr3c2, and Bdnf), blunted corticosterone (CORT), and anxiety-like behaviors. Additionally, we expected deficits in the second generation to be modulated by caretaking environment and for the pattern of results to differ between the sexes. Results suggest that direct exposure to ELS leads to sex-specific effects on gene regulation and HPA functioning in adulthood, with maternal separation leading to increases in Bdnf methylation in both sexes, decreases in Bdnf expression in females, and decreases in Nr3c1 methylation in males, as well as blunted CORT and less anxiety-like behavior in females. These alterations converged with caretaking to impart perturbations upon the subsequent generation. Across sex, ELS lineage led to decreased methylation of Nr3c1, and increased methylation of Bdnf. In fostered animals, upbringing by a previously stressed mother interacted with offspring lineage to impact methylation of Nr3c1 and Bdnf. Upbringing was also implicated in altered anxiety-like behavior in males, and baseline CORT levels in females. Such effects may correspond with observed alterations in maternal behavior across groups. In conclusion, ELS conferred enduring sex-specific alterations, both first-hand and trans-generationally via lineage and upbringing. Importantly, lineage of cross-fostered pups was sufficient to normalize or disturb maternal behavior of foster-dams, an observation requiring further elucidation. These results have implications for multi-generational effects of ELS in humans and may motivate early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena J L Coley
- Developmental Neuropsychobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Camila Demaestri
- Developmental Neuropsychobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Prabarna Ganguly
- Developmental Neuropsychobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer A Honeycutt
- Developmental Neuropsychobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shayna Peterzell
- Developmental Neuropsychobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Natasha Rose
- Neural Metabolism and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Nida Ahmed
- Neural Metabolism and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Mary Holschbach
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Malav Trivedi
- Neural Metabolism and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Heather C Brenhouse
- Developmental Neuropsychobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
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Kiser DP, Popp S, Schmitt-Böhrer AG, Strekalova T, van den Hove DL, Lesch KP, Rivero O. Early-life stress impairs developmental programming in Cadherin 13 (CDH13)-deficient mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:158-168. [PMID: 30165120 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cadherin-13 (CDH13), a member of the calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule family, has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders, but also to depression. In the adult brain, CDH13 expression is restricted e.g. to the presynaptic compartment of inhibitory GABAergic synapses in the hippocampus and Cdh13 knockout mice show an increased inhibitory drive onto hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, leading to a shift in excitatory/inhibitory balance. CDH13 is also moderating migration of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus, establishing projections preferentially to the thalamus and cerebellum during brain development. Furthermore, CDH13 is upregulated by chronic stress as well as in depression, suggesting a role in early-life adaptation to stressful experience. Here, we therefore investigated the interaction between Cdh13 variation and neonatal maternal separation (MS) in mice. METHODS Male and female wild-type (Cdh13+/+), heterozygous (Cdh13+/-) and homozygous (Cdh13-/-) knockout mice exposed to MS, or daily handling as control, were subjected to a battery of behavioural tests to assess motor activity, learning and memory as well as anxiety-like behaviour. A transcriptome analysis of the hippocampus was performed in an independent cohort of mice which was exposed to MS or handling, but remained naïve for behavioural testing. RESULTS MS lead to increased anxiety-like behaviour in Cdh13-/- mice compared to the other two MS groups. Cdh13-/- mice showed a context-dependent effect on stress- and anxiety-related behaviour, impaired extinction learning following contextual fear conditioning and decreased impulsivity, as well as a mild decrease in errors in the Barnes maze and reduced risk-taking in the light-dark transition test after MS. We also show sex differences, with increased locomotor activity in female Cdh13-/- mice, but unaltered impulsivity and activity in male Cdh13-/- mice. Transcriptome analysis revealed several pathways associated with cell surface/adhesion molecules to be altered following Cdh13 deficiency, together with an influence on endoplasmic reticulum function. CONCLUSION MS resulted in increased stress resilience, increased exploration and an overall anxiolytic behavioural phenotype in male Cdh13+/+ and Cdh13+/- mice. Cdh13 deficiency, however, obliterated most of the effects caused by early-life stress, with Cdh13-/- mice exhibiting delayed habituation, no reduction of anxiety-like behaviour and decreased fear extinction. Our behavioural findings indicate a role of CDH13 in the programming of and adaptation to early-life stress. Finally, our transcriptomic data support the view of CDH13 as a neuroprotective factor as well as a mediator in cell-cell interactions, with an impact on synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik P Kiser
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sandy Popp
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Angelika G Schmitt-Böhrer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Germany; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Department of Translational Neuroscience, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel L van den Hove
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Germany; Department of Translational Neuroscience, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Germany; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Department of Translational Neuroscience, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Olga Rivero
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Germany.
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27
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Long-term behavioural effects of maternal obesity in C57BL/6J mice. Physiol Behav 2019; 199:306-313. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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28
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Berger S, Ronovsky M, Horvath O, Berger A, Pollak DD. Impact of maternal immune activation on maternal care behavior, offspring emotionality and intergenerational transmission in C3H/He mice. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 70:131-140. [PMID: 29481858 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a well-established model for the investigation of the deleterious effects of gestational infection on offspring mental health later in life. Hence, MIA represents a critical environmental variable determining brain development and the depending neural and behavioral functions in the progeny. Transgenerational transmission of some of the effects of MIA has been recently reported using the Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly (I:C)) MIA model in C57BL/6 (C57) inbred mice. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms and the possible relevance of the specific genetic make-up of the inbred mouse strain used. Here we set out to characterize the effects of gestational Poly (I:C) treatment in C3H/HeNCrl mice (C3H), focusing on maternal care and offspring depression-like behavior and its intergenerational potential. miRNA expression in the offspring hippocampus in the F1 and F2 generations was examined as possible mechanism contributing to the observed behavioral effects. The impact of MIA on maternal care and its transmission to F1 females was previously observed in C57 mice was also found in C3H mice. Depression-like behavior in the adult offspring in C3H F1 and F2 females differed from reports of the C57 strain in the literature, suggesting a potential modulating role of the genetic background in the Poly(I:C) MIA mouse model. As the pattern of expression of selected candidate miRNAs in the F1 and F2 offspring hippocampus was not conserved between the two generations, it is unlikely to be a direct consequence of altered maternal care, or to be an immediate determinant of offspring emotionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Berger
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Marianne Ronovsky
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Orsolya Horvath
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Berger
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela D Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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Abstract
Olfaction is a fundamental sense in most animal species. In mammals, the olfactory system comprises several subpopulations of sensory neurons located throughout the nasal cavity, which detect a variety of chemostimuli, including odorants, intraspecies and interspecies chemical communication cues. Some of these compounds are important for regulating innate and learned behaviors, and endocrine changes in response to other animals in the environment. With a particular focus on laboratory rodent species, this chapter provides a comprehensive description of the most important behavioral assays used for studying the olfactory system, and is meant to be a practical guide for those who study olfaction-mediated behaviors or who have an interest in deciphering the molecular, cellular, or neural mechanisms through which the sense of smell controls the generation of adaptive behavioral outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Papes
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Thiago S Nakahara
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio P Camargo
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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30
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Ronovsky M, Berger S, Zambon A, Reisinger SN, Horvath O, Pollak A, Lindtner C, Berger A, Pollak DD. Maternal immune activation transgenerationally modulates maternal care and offspring depression-like behavior. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 63:127-136. [PMID: 27765645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational infection is increasingly being recognized for its involvement as causative mechanism in severe developmental brain abnormalities and its contribution to the pathogenesis of psychopathologies later in life. First observations in the widely accepted maternal immune activation (MIA) model based upon the systemic administration of the viral mimetic Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) have recently suggested a transmission of behavioral and transcriptional traits across generations. Although maternal care behavior (MCB) is known as essential mediator of the transgenerational effects of environmental challenges on offspring brain function and behavior, the possible propagation of alterations of MCB resulting from MIA to following generations has not yet been examined. Here we show that poly(I:C) stimulation at embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) leads to aberrant MCB and that this effect is transmitted to the female F1 offspring. The transgenerational effects on MCB are paralleled by enhanced depression-like behavior in the second generation F2 offspring with contributions of both maternal and paternal heritages. Examination of offspring hippocampal expression of genes known as targets of MCB and relevant for ensuing non-genetic transmission of altered brain function and behavior revealed transgenerationally conserved and modified expressional patterns in the F1 and F2 generation. Collectively these data firstly demonstrate the transgenerational transmission of the impact of gestational immune activation on the reproductive care behavior of the mother. Behavioral and molecular characteristics of first and second generation offspring suggest transgenerationally imprinted consequences of gestational infection on psychopathological traits related to mood disorders which remain to be examined in future cross-fostering experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Ronovsky
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefanie Berger
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Alice Zambon
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonali N Reisinger
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Orsolya Horvath
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Arnold Pollak
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Lindtner
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Berger
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela D Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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Coleman G, Canal MM. Postnatal Light Effects on Pup Stress Axis Development Are Independent of Maternal Behavior. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:46. [PMID: 28239333 PMCID: PMC5300984 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Postnatal environment shapes brain development during key critical periods. We have recently found that postnatal light environment has long-term effects on the stress and circadian systems, which can lead to altered stress responses, circadian behavior and a depressive phenotype in adulthood. However, it is still unclear how light experience affects the postnatal development of specific stress markers in the pup brain and the role played by maternal behavior and stress. To test this, we raised mice under either light-dark cycles (LD), constant light (LL) or constant darkness (DD) during the suckling stage. After weaning, all mice were exposed to LD until adulthood. Results show that postnatal light environment does not have any significant effects on dam stress levels (plasma corticosterone concentration, Arginine-vasopressin and Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein expression in the brain) or maternal behavior, including licking and grooming. Light environment does not have a major effect on litter characteristics or pup growth either. Interestingly, light environment during the suckling stage significantly impacted Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and Gr mRNA expression in pup brain during development. Furthermore, a difference in Crh mRNA expression between LL- and DD-raised mice was still observed in adulthood, long after the exposure to abnormal light environments had stopped. Taken together, these data suggest that the long-term effects of postnatal light environment on the pups' stress system cannot be attributed to alterations in either maternal behavior and/or stress axis function. Instead, postnatal light experience may act directly on the pup stress axis and/or indirectly via circadian system alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Coleman
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre Manchester, UK
| | - Maria M Canal
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre Manchester, UK
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32
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Ambrée O, Klassen I, Förster I, Arolt V, Scheu S, Alferink J. Reduced locomotor activity and exploratory behavior in CC chemokine receptor 4 deficient mice. Behav Brain Res 2016; 314:87-95. [PMID: 27469058 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Chemokines and their receptors are key regulators of immune cell trafficking and activation. Recent findings suggest that they may also play pathophysiological roles in psychiatric diseases like depression and anxiety disorders. The CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and its two ligands, CCL17 and CCL22, are functionally involved in neuroinflammation as well as anti-infectious and autoimmune responses. However, their influence on behavior remains unknown. Here we characterized the functional role of the CCR4-CCL17 chemokine-receptor axis in the modulation of anxiety-related behavior, locomotor activity, and object exploration and recognition. Additionally, we investigated social exploration of CCR4 and CCL17 knockout mice and wild type (WT) controls. CCR4 knockout (CCR4(-/-)) mice exhibited fewer anxiety-related behaviors in the elevated plus-maze, diminished locomotor activity, exploratory behavior, and social exploration, while their recognition memory was not affected. In contrast, CCL17 deficient mice did not show an altered behavior compared to WT mice regarding locomotor activity, anxiety-related behavior, social exploration, and object recognition memory. In the dark-light and object recognition tests, CCL17(-/-) mice even covered longer distances than WT mice. These data demonstrate a mechanistic or developmental role of CCR4 in the regulation of locomotor and exploratory behaviors, whereas the ligand CCL17 appears not to be involved in the behaviors measured here. Thus, either CCL17 and the alternative ligand CCL22 may be redundant, or CCL22 is the main activator of CCR4 in these processes. Taken together, these findings contribute to the growing evidence regarding the involvement of chemokines and their receptors in the regulation of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Ambrée
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany.
| | - Irene Klassen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Irmgard Förster
- Immunology and Environment, Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Volker Arolt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefanie Scheu
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Judith Alferink
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Cluster of Excellence EXC 1003, Cells in Motion, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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33
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Ragan CM, Harding KM, Lonstein JS. Associations among within-litter differences in early mothering received and later emotional behaviors, mothering, and cortical tryptophan hydroxylase-2 expression in female laboratory rats. Horm Behav 2016; 77:62-71. [PMID: 26219576 PMCID: PMC7005883 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "Parental Care". The effects of differential maternal care received on offspring phenotype in rodents has been extensively studied between litters, but the consequences of differential mothering within litters on offspring neurobehavioral development have been rarely examined. We here investigated how variability in maternal care received among female rat siblings (measured four times daily on postnatal days 4, 6, 8, and 10) relates to the siblings' later emotional and maternal behaviors. As previously reported, we found that some female pups received up to three times more maternal licking bouts compared to their sisters; this difference was positively correlated with the pups' body weights. The number of maternal licking bouts that females received was negatively correlated with their later neophobic behaviors in an open field during periadolescence, but positively correlated with their anxiety-related behavior in an elevated plus maze during adulthood. Licking received was also positively correlated with females' later likelihood to retrieve pups in a maternal sensitization paradigm. In addition, females' neophobia during adolescence and anxiety-related behavior during adulthood predicted some aspects of both postpartum and sensitized maternal responsiveness. Medial prefrontal cortex expression of tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2; enzyme necessary for serotonin synthesis) was negatively associated with early maternal licking received. Interestingly, cortical TPH2 was positively associated with the maternal responsiveness of sensitized virgins but negatively associated with it in postpartum females. These results indicate that within-litter differences in maternal care received is an often neglected, but important, contributor to individual differences in offspring socioemotional behaviors as well as to the cortical serotonin neurochemistry that may influence these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Ragan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Kaitlyn M Harding
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Joseph S Lonstein
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Martín-Sánchez A, Valera-Marín G, Hernández-Martínez A, Lanuza E, Martínez-García F, Agustín-Pavón C. Wired for motherhood: induction of maternal care but not maternal aggression in virgin female CD1 mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:197. [PMID: 26257621 PMCID: PMC4512027 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Virgin adult female mice display nearly spontaneous maternal care towards foster pups after a short period of sensitization. This indicates that maternal care is triggered by sensory stimulation provided by the pups and that its onset is largely independent on the physiological events related to gestation, parturition and lactation. Conversely, the factors influencing maternal aggression are poorly understood. In this study, we sought to characterize two models of maternal sensitization in the outbred CD1 strain. To do so, a group of virgin females (godmothers) were exposed to continuous cohabitation with a lactating dam and their pups from the moment of parturition, whereas a second group (pup-sensitized females), were exposed 2 h daily to foster pups. Both groups were tested for maternal behavior on postnatal days 2–4. Godmothers expressed full maternal care from the first test. Also, they expressed higher levels of crouching than dams. Pup-sensitized females differed from dams in all measures of pup-directed behavior in the first test, and expressed full maternal care after two sessions of contact with pups. However, both protocols failed to induce maternal aggression toward a male intruder after full onset of pup-directed maternal behavior, even in the presence of pups. Our study confirms that adult female mice need a short sensitization period before the onset of maternal care. Further, it shows that pup-oriented and non-pup-oriented components of maternal behavior are under different physiological control. We conclude that the godmother model might be useful to study the physiological and neural bases of the maternal behavior repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martín-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun), Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facultat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I Castelló de la Plana, Spain ; Departaments de Biologia Cel·lular i de Biologia Funcional, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València València, Spain
| | - Guillermo Valera-Marín
- Departaments de Biologia Cel·lular i de Biologia Funcional, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València València, Spain
| | - Adoración Hernández-Martínez
- Departaments de Biologia Cel·lular i de Biologia Funcional, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València València, Spain
| | - Enrique Lanuza
- Departaments de Biologia Cel·lular i de Biologia Funcional, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València València, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-García
- Laboratory of Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun), Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facultat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Carmen Agustín-Pavón
- Laboratory of Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun), Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facultat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I Castelló de la Plana, Spain
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Henschen CW, Palmiter RD, Darvas M. Restoration of dopamine signaling to the dorsal striatum is sufficient for aspects of active maternal behavior in female mice. Endocrinology 2013; 154:4316-27. [PMID: 23959937 PMCID: PMC5398593 DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Striatal dopamine (DA) is important for motivated behaviors, including maternal behavior. Recent evidence linking the dorsal striatum with goal-directed behavior suggests that DA signaling in the dorsal striatum, not just the nucleus accumbens, could be involved in maternal behavior. To investigate this question, we tested the maternal behavior of mice with DA genetically restricted to the dorsal striatum. These mice had a mild deficit in pup retrieval but had normal licking/grooming and nursing behavior; consequently, pups were weaned successfully. We also tested a separate group of mice with severely depleted DA in all striatal areas. They had severe deficits in pup retrieval and licking/grooming behavior, whereas nursing behavior was left intact; again, pups survived to weaning at normal rates. We conclude that DA signaling in the striatum is a part of the circuitry mediating maternal behavior and is specifically relevant for active, but not passive, maternal behaviors. In addition, DA in the dorsal striatum is sufficient to allow for active maternal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Henschen
- Department of Biochemistry, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 357370, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.
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Jensen Peña C, Champagne FA. Implications of temporal variation in maternal care for the prediction of neurobiological and behavioral outcomes in offspring. Behav Neurosci 2013; 127:33-46. [PMID: 23398440 DOI: 10.1037/a0031219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies in Long-Evans rats demonstrated a significant relationship between variation in pup licking/grooming and arched-back nursing (LG-ABN) and offspring development. However, maternal care is dynamic and exhibits significant temporal variation. In the current study, we assessed temporal variation in LG and ABN in lactating rats across the circadian cycle and determined the impact of these behaviors for the prediction of offspring hypothalamic gene expression, anxiety-like behavior, and responsiveness to a high fat diet (HFD). We find that distinguishing between dams that engage in stable individual differences in maternal behavior (Low, Mid, High) requires assessment across the light-dark phases of the light cycle and across multiple postpartum days. Among juvenile female offspring, we find a positive correlation between maternal LG and mRNA levels of estrogen receptor alpha and beta and the oxytocin receptor (when LG is assessed across the light-dark cycle or in the dark phase). In young adults, we find sex-specific effects, with female High LG offspring exhibiting increased exploration of a novel environment and increased latency to approach HFD, and male High LG offspring displaying increased activity in a novel environment and reduced HFD consumption. Importantly, these effects on behavior were primarily evident when LG was assessed across the light-dark cycle and ABN was not associated with these measures. Overall, our findings illustrate the dissociation between the effects of LG and ABN on offspring development and provide critical insights into the temporal characteristics of maternal behavior that have methodological implications for the study of maternal effects.
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Kloke V, Heiming RS, Bölting S, Kaiser S, Lewejohann L, Lesch KP, Sachser N. Unexpected effects of early-life adversity and social enrichment on the anxiety profile of mice varying in serotonin transporter genotype. Behav Brain Res 2013; 247:248-58. [PMID: 23567893 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Revised: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Developmental mechanisms that shape behaviour are under environmental as well as genetic influence, commonly referred to as gene-by-environment interaction (GxE). Here, we compared the role of different early environments - adverse, standard, and enriched - for the modulation of the anxiety profile in mice varying in serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genotype. Early-life adversity was simulated by exposing lactating 5-HTT +/- dams to soiled bedding of unfamiliar males (UMB), signalling the danger of infanticide. An enriched early environment was established by communal nesting (CN). 5-HTT +/- females of a third group were housed under standard nesting conditions (SN) of individual nesting. The offspring (5-HTT +/+, 5-HTT +/-, and 5-HTT -/-) were analyzed for anxiety-like and exploratory behaviour in a battery of tests. The main findings were: (1) Maternal care was reduced in UMB compared to CN dams. (2) There was no significant variation in state anxiety levels between UMB, SN, and CN offspring. (3) UMB offspring showed significantly lower levels of trait anxiety compared to CN offspring, while SN offspring were intermediate. (4) There was a significant main effect of genotype, with highest levels of state and trait anxiety in 5-HTT -/- mice. The findings corroborate that anxiety profiles in mice can be affected by both early environmental conditions and 5-HTT genotype. Notably, state and trait anxiety of an individual can independently be affected by the early environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Kloke
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Germany.
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Abstract
Adverse early life experience, such as childhood abuse, neglect, and trauma, increases lifetime risk for mental illness. To investigate underlying mechanisms, the maternal separation (MS) paradigm was developed and validated as an animal model of early adversity in rats, reliably effecting long-term changes to anxiety, gene expression, and stress response. However, across-species validation of core findings in mice has met with limited success. To re-visit parameters governing the effectiveness of MS in mice, this study investigated the effect of MS on maternal care, offspring behavior, and offspring stress-induced corticosterone response in the c57bl/6 mouse strain. The results from this study suggest that: (i) levels of maternal care increase as a function of separation duration immediately after daily MS, but long-term care remains unchanged; and (ii) c57bl/6 mice are resilient to MS, exhibiting subtle decreases in anxiety and unchanged stress-induced corticosterone response as adults, irrespective of separation duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence S Own
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, 205 Zina Pitcher Place, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5720, USA
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Paternal social enrichment effects on maternal behavior and offspring growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109 Suppl 2:17232-8. [PMID: 23045657 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1121083109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Paternal environmental experiences are significant predictors of developmental outcomes in offspring and can occur even in the absence of paternal care. Although there has been a recent focus on the role of environmentally induced changes in the male germline in producing these effects, the potential mediating role of mothers has not been investigated. A role for mothers in the transmission of paternal effects has been well acknowledged in behavioral ecology, which predicts that females will dynamically adjust their reproductive investment in response to the qualities of their mate. In the present study, we show that a lifetime of socially enriched compared with impoverished housing conditions shifts anxiety-like behavior and gene expression of male mice. Females that mate with enriched-reared males exhibit increased levels of pup nursing and licking toward their offspring, which are associated with changes in gene expression within the maternal hypothalamus. Significantly, these changes in maternal behavior are correlated with the general levels of anxiety exhibited by their male mates. Further, we show that paternal environmental enrichment results in increased growth of their offspring. These results suggest that maternal-paternal interactions at mating may guide offspring development, with significant implications for the transgenerational transmission of paternal environmental experiences.
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