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Yates JR. Aberrant glutamatergic systems underlying impulsive behaviors: Insights from clinical and preclinical research. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 135:111107. [PMID: 39098647 PMCID: PMC11409449 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111107] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Impulsivity is a broad construct that often refers to one of several distinct behaviors and can be measured with self-report questionnaires and behavioral paradigms. Several psychiatric conditions are characterized by one or more forms of impulsive behavior, most notably the impulsive/hyperactive subtype of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, and substance use disorders. Monoaminergic neurotransmitters are known to mediate impulsive behaviors and are implicated in various psychiatric conditions. However, growing evidence suggests that glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the mammalian brain, regulates important functions that become dysregulated in conditions like ADHD. The purpose of the current review is to discuss clinical and preclinical evidence linking glutamate to separate aspects of impulsivity, specifically motor impulsivity, impulsive choice, and affective impulsivity. Hyperactive glutamatergic activity in the corticostriatal and the cerebro-cerebellar pathways are major determinants of motor impulsivity. Conversely, hypoactive glutamatergic activity in frontal cortical areas and hippocampus and hyperactive glutamatergic activity in anterior cingulate cortex and nucleus accumbens mediate impulsive choice. Affective impulsivity is controlled by similar glutamatergic dysfunction observed for motor impulsivity, except a hyperactive limbic system is also involved. Loss of glutamate homeostasis in prefrontal and nucleus accumbens may contribute to motor impulsivity/affective impulsivity and impulsive choice, respectively. These results are important as they can lead to novel treatments for those with a condition characterized by increased impulsivity that are resistant to conventional treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Yates
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, 1 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA.
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2
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Mochizuki T, Manita S, Shimura H, Kira S, Sawada N, Bito H, Sakimura K, Augustine GJ, Mitsui T, Takeda M, Kitamura K. Optogenetic stimulation of neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex induces changes in intravesical bladder pressure and the micturition reflex. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6367. [PMID: 38493201 PMCID: PMC10944464 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56806-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Lower urinary tract (LUT) function is controlled by the central nervous system, including higher-order cognitive brain regions. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is one of these regions, but the role of its activity in LUT function remains poorly understood. In the present study, we conducted optogenetic experiments to manipulate neural activity in mouse ACC while monitoring bladder pressure to elucidate how the activity of ACC regulates LUT function. Selective optogenetic stimulation of excitatory neurons in ACC induced a sharp increase in bladder pressure, whereas activation of inhibitory neurons in ACC prolonged the interval between bladder contractions. Pharmacological manipulation of ACC also altered bladder contractions, consistent with those observed in optogenetic experiments. Optogenetic mapping of the cortical area responsible for eliciting the increase in bladder pressure revealed that stimulation to ACC showed more potent effects than the neighboring motor cortical areas. These results suggest that ACC plays a crucial role in initiating the bladder pressure change and the micturition reflex. Thus, the balance between excitation and inhibition in ACC may regulate the reflex bidirectionally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Mochizuki
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Satoshi Manita
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shimura
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Satoru Kira
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Norifumi Sawada
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Bito
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | | | - Takahiko Mitsui
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masayuki Takeda
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kitamura
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan.
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3
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Gillespie B, Panthi S, Sundram S, Hill RA. The impact of maternal immune activation on GABAergic interneuron development: A systematic review of rodent studies and their translational implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 156:105488. [PMID: 38042358 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105488] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Mothers exposed to infections during pregnancy disproportionally birth children who develop autism and schizophrenia, disorders associated with altered GABAergic function. The maternal immune activation (MIA) model recapitulates this risk factor, with many studies also reporting disruptions to GABAergic interneuron expression, protein, cellular density and function. However, it is unclear if there are species, sex, age, region, or GABAergic subtype specific vulnerabilities to MIA. Furthermore, to fully comprehend the impact of MIA on the GABAergic system a synthesised account of molecular, cellular, electrophysiological and behavioural findings was required. To this end we conducted a systematic review of GABAergic interneuron changes in the MIA model, focusing on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We reviewed 102 articles that revealed robust changes in a number of GABAergic markers that present as gestationally-specific, region-specific and sometimes sex-specific. Disruptions to GABAergic markers coincided with distinct behavioural phenotypes, including memory, sensorimotor gating, anxiety, and sociability. Findings suggest the MIA model is a valid tool for testing novel therapeutics designed to recover GABAergic function and associated behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Sandesh Panthi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Suresh Sundram
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Rachel A Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
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Hong J, Li JN, Wu FL, Bao SY, Sun HX, Zhu KH, Cai ZP, Li F, Li YQ. Projections from anteromedial thalamus nucleus to the midcingulate cortex mediate pain and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Neurochem Int 2023; 171:105640. [PMID: 37951541 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated the involvement of the midcingulate cortex (MCC) and its downstream pathway in pain regulation. However, the mechanism via which pain information is conveyed to the MCC remains unclear. The present study utilized immunohistochemistry, chemogenetics, optogenetics, and behavior detection methods to explore the involvement of MCC, anteromedial thalamus nucleus (AM), and AM-MCC pathway in pain and emotional regulation. Chemogenetics or optogenetics methods were employed to activate/inhibit MCCCaMKIIα, AMCaMKIIα, AMCaMKIIα-MCC pathway. This manipulation evokes/relieves mechanical and partial heat hyperalgesia, as well as anxiety-like behaviors. In the complete Freund,s adjuvant (CFA) inflammatory pain model, chemogenetic inhibition of the AMCaMKIIα-MCCCaMKIIα pathway contributed to pain relief. Notably, this study presented the first evidence implicating the AM in the regulation of nociception and negative emotions. Additionally, it was observed that the MCC primarily receives projections from the AM, highlighting the crucial role of this pathway in the transmission of pain and emotional information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hong
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, 014040, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jia-Ni Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Feng-Ling Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Shang-Yi Bao
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Han-Xue Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Department of Human Anatomy, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Ke-Hua Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Zhi-Ping Cai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, 014040, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Yun-Qing Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, 014040, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Dali University, Dali, 671000, China.
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Biro L, Miskolczi C, Szebik H, Bruzsik B, Varga ZK, Szente L, Toth M, Halasz J, Mikics E. Post-weaning social isolation in male mice leads to abnormal aggression and disrupted network organization in the prefrontal cortex: Contribution of parvalbumin interneurons with or without perineuronal nets. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 25:100546. [PMID: 37323648 PMCID: PMC10265620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Adverse social experiences during childhood increase the risk of developing aggression-related psychopathologies. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a key regulator of social behavior, where experience-dependent network development is tied to the maturation of parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons. Maltreatment in childhood could impact PFC development and lead to disturbances in social behavior during later life. However, our knowledge regarding the impact of early-life social stress on PFC operation and PV+ cell function is still scarce. Here, we used post-weaning social isolation (PWSI) to model early-life social neglect in mice and to study the associated neuronal changes in the PFC, additionally distinguishing between the two main subpopulations of PV+ interneurons, i.e. those without or those enwrapped by perineuronal nets (PNN). For the first time to such detailed extent in mice, we show that PWSI induced disturbances in social behavior, including abnormal aggression, excessive vigilance and fragmented behavioral organization. PWSI mice showed altered resting-state and fighting-induced co-activation patterns between orbitofrontal and medial PFC (mPFC) subregions, with a particularly highly elevated activity in the mPFC. Surprisingly, aggressive interaction was associated with a higher recruitment of mPFC PV+ neurons that were surrounded by PNN in PWSI mice that seemed to mediate the emergence of social deficits. PWSI did not affect the number of PV+ neurons and PNN density, but enhanced PV and PNN intensity as well as cortical and subcortical glutamatergic drive onto mPFC PV+ neurons. Our results suggest that the increased excitatory input of PV+ cells could emerge as a compensatory mechanism for the PV+ neuron-mediated impaired inhibition of mPFC layer 5 pyramidal neurons, since we found lower numbers of GABAergic PV+ puncta on the perisomatic region of these cells. In conclusion, PWSI leads to altered PV-PNN activity and impaired excitatory/inhibitory balance in the mPFC, which possibly contributes to social behavioral disruptions seen in PWSI mice. Our data advances our understanding on how early-life social stress can impact the maturing PFC and lead to the development of social abnormalities in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laszlo Biro
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
| | - Christina Miskolczi
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
- Janos Szentagothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Ulloi ut 26., Hungary
| | - Huba Szebik
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
- Janos Szentagothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Ulloi ut 26., Hungary
| | - Biborka Bruzsik
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
| | - Zoltan Kristof Varga
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
| | - Laszlo Szente
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
- Janos Szentagothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Ulloi ut 26., Hungary
| | - Mate Toth
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
| | - Jozsef Halasz
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
| | - Eva Mikics
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43., Hungary
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6
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Francis-Oliveira J, Leitzel O, Niwa M. Are the Anterior and Mid-Cingulate Cortices Distinct in Rodents? Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:914359. [PMID: 35721461 PMCID: PMC9200948 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.914359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in cognitive control, emotional regulation, and motivation. In this Perspective article, we discuss the nomenclature of the subdivisions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), since the anatomical definitions of the PFC subregions have been confusing. Although the mid-cingulate cortex (MCC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) have distinct features in humans and non-human primates, it is unclear whether these regions serve different functions in rodents. Accurate mapping of the cingulate cortex in rodents is important to allow comparisons between species. A proposed change in the nomenclature of the rodent cingulate cortex to anterior cingulate cortex (aCg) and mid-cingulate cortex (mCg) is presented based on our data. We show evidence for distinct cortico-cortical projections from the aCg and mCg to the PrL. The aCg→PrL neurons were abundant in layer VI, while the mCg→PrL neurons were mainly distributed in layer V. In addition, a sex difference was detected in the aCg, with males having a higher proportion of layer V neurons projecting to the PrL than females. Based on this laminar distribution and considering that layer V and VI send efferent projections to different brain areas such as the brain stem, amygdala, and thalamus, we propose that aCg and mCg need to be considered separate entities for future rodent studies. This new definition will put into perspective the role of rodent cingulate cortex in diverse aspects of cognition and facilitate interspecies comparisons in cingulate cortex research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Francis-Oliveira
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Owen Leitzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Minae Niwa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Minae Niwa,
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7
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Qi C, Chen A, Mao H, Hu E, Ge J, Ma G, Ren K, Xue Q, Wang W, Wu S. Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Imbalance Caused by Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Deficits During Development in a Valproic Acid Mouse Model of Autism. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:860275. [PMID: 35465089 PMCID: PMC9019547 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.860275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors, such as medication during pregnancy, are one of the major causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Valproic acid (VPA) intake during pregnancy has been reported to dramatically elevate autism risk in offspring. Recently, researchers have proposed that VPA exposure could induce excitatory or inhibitory synaptic dysfunction. However, it remains to be determined whether and how alterations in the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance contribute to VPA-induced ASD in a mouse model. In the present study, we explored changes in the E/I balance during different developmental periods in a VPA mouse model. We found that typical markers of pre- and postsynaptic excitatory and inhibitory function involved in E/I balance markedly decreased during development, reflecting difficulties in the development of synaptic plasticity in VPA-exposed mice. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin that promotes the formation and maturation of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses during postnatal development, was severely reduced in the VPA-exposed group. Treatment with exogenous BDNF during the critical E/I imbalance period rescued synaptic functions and autism-like behaviors, such as social defects. With these results, we experimentally showed that social dysfunction in the VPA mouse model of autism might be caused by E/I imbalance stemming from BDNF deficits during the developmental stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuchu Qi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Andi Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Honghui Mao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Erling Hu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Junye Ge
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
| | - Guaiguai Ma
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yan’an, China
| | - Keke Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qian Xue
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wenting Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Wenting Wang,
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Shengxi Wu,
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Yang SS, Mack NR, Shu Y, Gao WJ. Prefrontal GABAergic Interneurons Gate Long-Range Afferents to Regulate Prefrontal Cortex-Associated Complex Behaviors. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:716408. [PMID: 34322002 PMCID: PMC8313241 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.716408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prefrontal cortical GABAergic interneurons (INs) and their innervations are essential for the execution of complex behaviors such as working memory, social behavior, and fear expression. These behavior regulations are highly dependent on primary long-range afferents originating from the subcortical structures such as mediodorsal thalamus (MD), ventral hippocampus (vHPC), and basolateral amygdala (BLA). In turn, the regulatory effects of these inputs are mediated by activation of parvalbumin-expressing (PV) and/or somatostatin expressing (SST) INs within the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Here we review how each of these long-range afferents from the MD, vHPC, or BLA recruits a subset of the prefrontal interneuron population to exert precise control of specific PFC-dependent behaviors. Specifically, we first summarize the anatomical connections of different long-range inputs formed on prefrontal GABAergic INs, focusing on PV versus SST cells. Next, we elaborate on the role of prefrontal PV- and SST- INs in regulating MD afferents-mediated cognitive behaviors. We also examine how prefrontal PV- and SST- INs gate vHPC afferents in spatial working memory and fear expression. Finally, we discuss the possibility that prefrontal PV-INs mediate fear conditioning, predominantly driven by the BLA-mPFC pathway. This review will provide a broad view of how multiple long-range inputs converge on prefrontal interneurons to regulate complex behaviors and novel future directions to understand how PFC controls different behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha-Sha Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nancy R. Mack
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yousheng Shu
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Wen-Jun Gao,
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Structural Degradation in Midcingulate Cortex Is Associated with Pathological Aggression in Mice. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070868. [PMID: 34209993 PMCID: PMC8301779 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological aggression is a debilitating feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders, and cingulate cortex is one of the brain areas centrally implicated in its control. Here we explore the specific role of midcingulate cortex (MCC) in the development of pathological aggression. To this end, we investigated the structural and functional degeneration of MCC in the BALB/cJ strain, a mouse model for pathological aggression. Compared to control animals from the BALB/cByJ strain, BALB/cJ mice expressed consistently heightened levels of aggression, as assessed by the resident-intruder test. At the same time, immunohistochemistry demonstrated stark structural degradation in the MCC of aggressive BALB/cJ mice: Decreased neuron density and widespread neuron death were accompanied by increased microglia and astroglia concentrations and reactive astrogliosis. cFos staining indicated that this degradation had functional consequences: MCC activity did not differ between BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ mice at baseline, but unlike BALB/cByJ mice, BALB/cJ mice failed to activate MCC during resident-intruder encounters. This suggests that structural and functional impairments of MCC, triggered by neuronal degeneration, may be one of the drivers of pathological aggression in mice, highlighting MCC as a potential key area for pathologies of aggression in humans.
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10
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van Heukelum S, Tulva K, Geers FE, van Dulm S, Ruisch IH, Mill J, Viana JF, Beckmann CF, Buitelaar JK, Poelmans G, Glennon JC, Vogt BA, Havenith MN, França ASC. A central role for anterior cingulate cortex in the control of pathological aggression. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2321-2333.e5. [PMID: 33857429 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Controlling aggression is a crucial skill in social species like rodents and humans and has been associated with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Here, we directly link the failed regulation of aggression in BALB/cJ mice to ACC hypofunction. We first show that ACC in BALB/cJ mice is structurally degraded: neuron density is decreased, with pervasive neuron death and reactive astroglia. Gene-set enrichment analysis suggested that this process is driven by neuronal degeneration, which then triggers toxic astrogliosis. cFos expression across ACC indicated functional consequences: during aggressive encounters, ACC was engaged in control mice, but not BALB/cJ mice. Chemogenetically activating ACC during aggressive encounters drastically suppressed pathological aggression but left species-typical aggression intact. The network effects of our chemogenetic perturbation suggest that this behavioral rescue is mediated by suppression of amygdala and hypothalamus and activation of mediodorsal thalamus. Together, these findings highlight the central role of ACC in curbing pathological aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina van Heukelum
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Kerli Tulva
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Femke E Geers
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne van Dulm
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - I Hyun Ruisch
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Joana F Viana
- The Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Geert Poelmans
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brent A Vogt
- Cingulum Neurosciences Institute, Manlius, NY, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martha N Havenith
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Zero-Noise Lab, Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, 60528 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
| | - Arthur S C França
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Sterley TL, Bains JS. Social communication of affective states. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:44-51. [PMID: 33434768 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Social interactions promote the communication of explicit and implicit information between individuals. Implicit or subconscious sharing of cues can be useful in conveying affective states. Knowing the affective state of others can guide future interactions, while an inability to decipher another's affective state is a core feature of autism spectrum disorder. The precise neural circuitry and mechanisms involved in communicating affective states are not well understood. Over the past few years, a number of important observations in rodent models have increased our knowledge of the neural processes for social communication of affective state. Here we highlight these contributions by first describing the rodent models used to investigate social communication of affect and then summarising the neural circuitry and processes implicated by these rodent models. We relate these findings to humans as well as to the current global context where social interactions have been modified by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni-Lee Sterley
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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12
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Neonatal immune challenge induces female-specific changes in social behavior and somatostatin cell number. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 90:332-345. [PMID: 32860938 PMCID: PMC7556772 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Decreases in social behavior are a hallmark aspect of acute "sickness behavior" in response to infection. However, immune insults that occur during the perinatal period may have long-lasting consequences for adult social behavior by impacting the developmental organization of underlying neural circuits. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, are sensitive to immune stimulation and play a critical role in the developmental sculpting of neural circuits, making them likely mediators of this process. Here, we investigated the impact of a postnatal day (PND) 4 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge on social behavior in adult mice. Somewhat surprisingly, neonatal LPS treatment decreased sociability in adult female, but not male mice. LPS-treated females also displayed reduced social interaction and social memory in a social discrimination task as compared to saline-treated females. Somatostatin (SST) interneurons within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) have recently been suggested to modulate a variety of social behaviors. Interestingly, the female-specific changes in social behavior observed here were accompanied by an increase in SST interneuron number in the ACC. Finally, these changes in social behavior and SST cell number do not appear to depend on microglial inflammatory signaling, because microglia-specific genetic knock-down of myeloid differentiation response protein 88 (MyD88; the removal of which prevents LPS from increasing proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and IL-1β) did not prevent these LPS-induced changes. This study provides novel evidence for enduring effects of neonatal immune activation on social behavior and SST interneurons in females, largely independent of microglial inflammatory signaling.
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van Heukelum S, Mars RB, Guthrie M, Buitelaar JK, Beckmann CF, Tiesinga PHE, Vogt BA, Glennon JC, Havenith MN. Where is Cingulate Cortex? A Cross-Species View. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:285-299. [PMID: 32353333 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
To compare findings across species, neuroscience relies on cross-species homologies, particularly in terms of brain areas. For cingulate cortex, a structure implicated in behavioural adaptation and control, a homologous definition across mammals is available - but currently not employed by most rodent researchers. The standard partitioning of rodent cingulate cortex is inconsistent with that in any other model species, including humans. Reviewing the existing literature, we show that the homologous definition better aligns results of rodent studies with those of other species, and reveals a clearer structural and functional organisation within rodent cingulate cortex itself. Based on these insights, we call for widespread adoption of the homologous nomenclature, and reinterpretation of previous studies originally based on the nonhomologous partitioning of rodent cingulate cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina van Heukelum
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Rogier B Mars
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Martin Guthrie
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul H E Tiesinga
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Brent A Vogt
- Cingulum Neurosciences Institute, 4435 Stephanie Drive, Manlius, NY 13104, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Martha N Havenith
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Zero-Noise Lab, Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, 60528 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
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