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Gildawie KR, Wang K, Budge KE, Byrnes EM. Effects of Maternal Separation on Effort-based Responding for Sucrose Are Associated with c-Fos Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens Core. Neuroscience 2024; 537:174-188. [PMID: 38036058 PMCID: PMC10872495 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
In both people and animals, exposure to adverse experiences early in life can alter neurodevelopment and lead to long-term behavioral effects, including effects on reward processing. In the current study, we use a well-validated rodent model of maternal neglect, maternal separation (MS), to investigate the impact of early life adversity on reward learning and motivation and identify associated modifications in cellular activation in reward-relevant areas. Litters of Long-Evans rats were separated from the dam for either 15 min (brief) or 180 min (prolonged)/day from postnatal day (PND)2 to PND14. As adults, offspring were trained to lever press for a sucrose pellet using fixed ratio (FR) schedules and motivation was tested using a progressive ratio (PR) schedule over 10 daily sessions to assess sustained effects on effort-based responding. Immunohistochemical staining for c-Fos was conducted in a subset of animals that underwent an additional PR session. While there were no effects on reward learning, both MS180 males and females demonstrated increased effort-based responding on the first day of PR testing, while only MS180 males demonstrated a sustained increase in effort across all 10 days. MS180-induced changes in c-Fos expression in the dorsal and ventral striatum were observed, with subregion-specific effects along the rostrocaudal axis. Moreover, regression analyses suggest that motivated responding for a sucrose food reward in MS180-exposed, but not MS15-exposed animals, was associated with increased c-Fos expression in the rostral nucleus accumbens core. These findings implicate specific striatal regions in sex-specific modulation of sustained effort-based reward behavior following early life adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsea R Gildawie
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Katherine Wang
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Kerri E Budge
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Byrnes
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
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Dandi Ε, Theotokis P, Petri MC, Sideropoulou V, Spandou E, Tata DA. Environmental enrichment initiated in adolescence restores the reduced expression of synaptophysin and GFAP in the hippocampus of chronically stressed rats in a sex-specific manner. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22422. [PMID: 37796476 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22422] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aims at investigating whether environmental enrichment (EE) initiated in adolescence can alter chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-associated changes in astroglial and synaptic plasticity markers in male and female rats. To this end, we studied possible alterations in hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (SYN) in CUS rats previously housed in EE. Wistar rats on postnatal day (PND) 23 were housed for 10 weeks in standard housing (SH) or enriched conditions. On PND 66, animals were exposed to CUS for 4 weeks. SYN and GFAP expressions were evaluated in CA1 and CA3 subfields and dentate gyrus (DG). CUS reduced the expression of SYN in all hippocampal areas, whereas lower GFAP expression was evident only in CA1 and CA3. The reduced expression of SYN in DG and CA3 was evident to male SH/CUS rats, whereas the reduced GFAP expression in CA1 and CA3 was limited to SH/CUS females. EE housing increased the hippocampal expression of both markers and protected against CUS-associated decreases. Our findings indicate that the decreases in the expression of SYN and GFAP following CUS are region and sex-specific and underline the neuroprotective role of EE against these CUS-associated changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Εvgenia Dandi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Paschalis Theotokis
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology, 2nd Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Christina Petri
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vaia Sideropoulou
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Spandou
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Despina A Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Khaledi F, Dehkordi HT, Zarean E, Shahrani M, Amini-Khoei H. Possible role of NO/NMDA pathway in the autistic-like behaviors induced by maternal separation stress in mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292631. [PMID: 37815997 PMCID: PMC10564128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Maternal separation (MS) stress is an established model of early-life stress associated with autistic-like behaviors. Altered glutamatergic and nitrergic neurotransmissions may contribute to the pathophysiology of ASD. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these alterations and their relationship to MS-induced autistic-like behaviors remain unclear. Addressing this knowledge gap, this study aims to elucidate the involvement of the nitric oxide (NO)/ N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) pathway in MS-induced autistic-like behaviors in mice. This knowledge has the potential to guide future research, potentially leading to the development of targeted interventions or treatments aimed at modulating the NO/NMDA pathway to ameliorate ASD symptoms. Ninety male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice were assigned to six groups (n = 15) comprising a control group (treated with saline) and five groups subjected to MS and treated with saline, ketamine, NMDA, L-NAME, and L-arginine. Behavioral tests were conducted, including the three-chamber test, shuttle box, elevated plus-maze, and marble burying test. Gene expression of iNOS, nNOS, and NMDA-R subunits (NR2A and NR2B), along with nitrite levels, was evaluated in the hippocampus. The findings demonstrated that MS induced autistic-like behaviors, accompanied by increased gene expression of iNOS, nNOS, NR2B, NR2A, and elevated nitrite levels in the hippocampus. Modulation of the NO/NMDA pathway with activators and inhibitors altered the effects of MS. These results suggest that the NO/NMDA pathway plays a role in mediating the negative effects of MS and potentially contributes to the development of autistic-like behaviors in maternally separated mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Khaledi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Tahmasebi Dehkordi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Zarean
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Shahrani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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Borsini A, Giacobbe J, Mandal G, Boldrini M. Acute and long-term effects of adolescence stress exposure on rodent adult hippocampal neurogenesis, cognition, and behaviour. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4124-4137. [PMID: 37612364 PMCID: PMC10827658 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02229-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence represents a critical period for brain and behavioural health and characterised by the onset of mood, psychotic and anxiety disorders. In rodents, neurogenesis is very active during adolescence, when is particularly vulnerable to stress. Whether stress-related neurogenesis changes influence adolescence onset of psychiatric symptoms remains largely unknown. A systematic review was conducted on studies investigating changes in hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions, and behaviour, occurring after adolescence stress exposure in mice both acutely (at post-natal days 21-65) and in adulthood. A total of 37 studies were identified in the literature. Seven studies showed reduced hippocampal cell proliferation, and out of those two reported increased depressive-like behaviours, in adolescent rodents exposed to stress. Three studies reported a reduction in the number of new-born neurons, which however were not associated with changes in cognition or behaviour. Sixteen studies showed acutely reduced hippocampal neuroplasticity, including pre- and post-synaptic plasticity markers, dendritic spine length and density, and long-term potentiation after stress exposure. Cognitive impairments and depressive-like behaviours were reported by 11 of the 16 studies. Among studies who looked at adolescence stress exposure effects into adulthood, seven showed that the negative effects of stress observed during adolescence on either cell proliferation or hippocampal neuroplasticity, cognitive deficits and depressive-like behaviour, had variable impact in adulthood. Treating adolescent mice with antidepressants, glutamate receptor inhibitors, glucocorticoid antagonists, or healthy diet enriched in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A, prevented or reversed those detrimental changes. Future research should investigate the translational value of these preclinical findings. Developing novel tools for measuring hippocampal neurogenesis in live humans, would allow assessing neurogenic changes following stress exposure, investigating relationships with psychiatric symptom onset, and identifying effects of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Borsini
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Juliette Giacobbe
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gargi Mandal
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maura Boldrini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
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Dandi Ε, Spandou E, Dalla C, Tata DA. Τhe neuroprotective role of environmental enrichment against behavioral, morphological, neuroendocrine and molecular changes following chronic unpredictable mild stress: A systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:3003-3025. [PMID: 37461295 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental factors interact with biological and genetic factors influencing the development and well-being of an organism. The interest in better understanding the role of environment on behavior and physiology led to the development of animal models of environmental manipulations. Environmental enrichment (EE), an environmental condition that allows cognitive and sensory stimulation as well as social interaction, improves cognitive function, reduces anxiety and depressive-like behavior and promotes neuroplasticity. In addition, it exerts protection against neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive aging and deficits aggravated by stressful experiences. Given the beneficial effects of EE on the brain and behavior, preclinical studies have focused on its protective role as an alternative, non-invasive manipulation, to help an organism to cope better with stress. A valid, reliable and effective animal model of chronic stress that enhances anxiety and depression-like behavior is the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The variety of stressors and the unpredictability in the time and sequence of exposure to prevent habituation, render CUMS an ethologically relevant model. CUMS has been associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, elevation in the basal levels of stress hormones, reduction in brain volume, dendritic atrophy and alterations in markers of synaptic plasticity. Although numerous studies have underlined the compensatory role of EE against the negative effects of various chronic stress regimens (e.g. restraint and social isolation), research concerning the interaction between EE and CUMS is sparse. The purpose of the current systematic review is to present up-to-date research findings regarding the protective role of EE against the negative effects of CUMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Εvgenia Dandi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Spandou
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Despina A Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Zhang YM, Zhang MY, Wei RM, Zhang JY, Zhang KX, Luo BL, Ge YJ, Kong XY, Li XY, Chen GH. Subsequent maternal sleep deprivation aggravates neurobehavioral abnormalities, inflammation, and synaptic function in adult male mice exposed to prenatal inflammation. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1226300. [PMID: 37560531 PMCID: PMC10407227 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1226300] [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: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to inflammation increases the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Because of anatomical and hormonal alterations, pregnant women frequently experience sleep dysfunction, which can enhance the inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of maternal sleep deprivation on prenatal inflammation exposure-induced behavioral phenotypes in offspring and identify the associated mechanisms. METHODS Pregnant mice received an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gestational day 15 and were subsequently subjected to sleep deprivation during gestational days 15-21. Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by the open field test and the elevated plus maze test. Depression-like behavior was assessed by the tail suspension test and the forced swimming test. Cognitive function was determined using the Morris water maze test. The levels of markers of inflammation and synaptic function were examined employing general molecular biological techniques. RESULTS The results showed that prenatal exposure to LPS resulted in anxiety- and depression-like symptoms and learning and memory deficits, and these effects were exacerbated by maternal sleep deprivation. Furthermore, maternal sleep deprivation aggravated the prenatal LPS exposure-induced increase in the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α and decrease in the levels of postsynaptic density-95 and synaptophysin in the hippocampus. DISCUSSION Collectively, these results suggested that maternal sleep deprivation exacerbates anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment induced by prenatal LPS exposure, effects that were associated with an inflammatory response and synaptic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Ming Zhang
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Meng-Ying Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ru-Meng Wei
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jing-Ya Zhang
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kai-Xuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Bao-Ling Luo
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yi-Jun Ge
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Kong
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xue-Yan Li
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Gui-Hai Chen
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Hosseini E, Kianifard D. Effect of prenatal stress and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on anxiety-like behavior in female rats: With an emphasis on prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2949. [PMID: 36942730 PMCID: PMC10097060 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prenatal stress (PS) is a problematic situation resulting in psychological implications such as social anxiety. Ubiquitous extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have been confirmed as a potential physiological stressor; however, useful neuroregenerative effect of these types of electromagnetic fields has also frequently been reported. The aim of the present study was to survey the interaction of PS and ELF-EMF on anxiety-like behavior. METHOD A total of 24 female rats 40 days of age were distributed into four groups of 6 rats each: control, stress (their mothers were exposed to stress), EMF (their mothers underwent to ELF-EMF), and EMF/stress (their mothers concurrently underwent to stress and ELF-EMF). The rats were assayed using elevated plus-maze and open field tests. RESULTS Expressions of the hippocampus GAP-43, BDNF, and caspase-3 (cas-3) were detected by immunohistochemistry in Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Anxiety-like behavior increased in all treatment groups. Rats in the EMF/stress group presented more serious anxiety-like behavior. In all treatment groups, upregulated expression of cas-3 was seen in PFC, DG, and CA1 and downregulated expression of BDNF and GAP-43 was seen in PFC and DG and the CA1. Histomorphological study showed vast neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampus and PFC. CONCLUSION The results showed ,female rats that underwent PS or/and EMF exhibited critical anxiety-like behavior and this process may be attributed to neurodegeneration in PFC and DG of the hippocampus and possibly decreased synaptic plasticity so-called areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Hosseini
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Physiology, Department of basic science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Davoud Kianifard
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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Zhu X, Zhang F, You Y, Wang H, Yuan S, Wu B, Zhu R, Liu D, Yan F, Wang Z. S-Ketamine Exerts Antidepressant Effects by Regulating Rac1 GTPase Mediated Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus of Stressed Rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:299-314. [PMID: 35083636 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01180-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies have found that ketamine has a rapid and lasting antidepressant effect, especially in the case of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The molecular mechanisms, however, remain unclear. In this study, we observe the effects of S-Ketamine on the expression of Rac1, neuronal morphology, and synaptic transmission function in the hippocampus of stressed rats. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to construct stressed rats. The rats were given a different regimen of ketamine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 (50 µg, ICV) treatment. The depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by sucrose preference test and open-field test. The protein expression of Rac1, GluA1, synapsin1, and PSD95 in the hippocampus was detected by Western blot. Pull-down analysis was used to examine the activity of Rac1. Golgi staining and electrophysiological study were used to observe the neuronal morphology and long-term potentiation (LTP). Our results showed that ketamine can up-regulate the expression and activity of Rac1; increase the spine density and the expression of synaptic-related proteins such as GluA1, Synapsin1, and PSD95 in the hippocampus of stressed rats; reduce the CUMS-induced LTP impairments; and consequently improve depression-like behavior. However, Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 could have effectively reversed ketamine-mediated changes in the hippocampus of rats and counteracted its antidepressant effects. The specific mechanism of S-Ketamine's antidepressant effect may be related to the up-regulation of the expression and activity of Rac1 in the hippocampus of stressed rats, thus enhancing synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianlin Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Bishan Hospital, Bishan, Chongqing, 402760, China
| | - Yufeng You
- Department of Radiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Hongbai Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Su Yuan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Banglin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Rongyu Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China
| | - Dawei Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 402160, China
| | - Fuxia Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100000, China.
| | - Zaiping Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, 445000, Hubei Province, China.
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Wang X, Jiang L, Ma W, Zheng X, He E, Zhang B, Vashisth MK, Gong Z. Maternal separation affects Anxiety like behavior begin in adolescence continue through adulthood and related to Dnmt3a expression. J Neurophysiol 2022; 128:611-618. [PMID: 35946792 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00247.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life stress, including maternal separation, is among one of the main causes of anxiety in adolescents. DNA methyltransferase 3A (Dnmt3a) is a key molecule that regulates DNA methylation and is found to be associated with anxiety-like behavior. It is not clear whether maternal separation affects anxiety levels in mice at different developmental stages, or whether Dnmt3a plays a role in this process. Here, by using open field test to exploring the effect of maternal separation on anxiety-like behavior in mice of different age, it was found that maternal separation could successfully induce anxiety-like behavior in adolescent mice, and which continued through adulthood. By using western blot, we found the levels of Dnmt3a in the hippocampus and cortex have shown different trends in maternal separation mice on P17. Further, by using immunostaining, we have found that the expression levels of Dnmt3a in the cortex and hippocampus were significantly different, and decreased to varying degrees with the age of mice, which being the reason for different trends. Our results provide an experimental basis for further development of anxiety/depression treatment programs more suitable for adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobing Wang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Le Jiang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Wenhao Ma
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xiaoye Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Ershu He
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Bensi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Manoj Kumar Vashisth
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Zhiting Gong
- Department of Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
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Waters RC, Gould E. Early Life Adversity and Neuropsychiatric Disease: Differential Outcomes and Translational Relevance of Rodent Models. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:860847. [PMID: 35813268 PMCID: PMC9259886 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.860847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well-established that early life adversity (ELA) predisposes individuals to develop several neuropsychiatric conditions, including anxiety disorders, and major depressive disorder. However, ELA is a very broad term, encompassing multiple types of negative childhood experiences, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse, physical and emotional neglect, as well as trauma associated with chronic illness, family separation, natural disasters, accidents, and witnessing a violent crime. Emerging literature suggests that in humans, different types of adverse experiences are more or less likely to produce susceptibilities to certain conditions that involve affective dysfunction. To investigate the driving mechanisms underlying the connection between experience and subsequent disease, neuroscientists have developed several rodent models of ELA, including pain exposure, maternal deprivation, and limited resources. These studies have also shown that different types of ELA paradigms produce different but somewhat overlapping behavioral phenotypes. In this review, we first investigate the types of ELA that may be driving different neuropsychiatric outcomes and brain changes in humans. We next evaluate whether rodent models of ELA can provide translationally relevant information regarding links between specific types of experience and changes in neural circuits underlying dysfunction.
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11
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Sex Differences in Anxiety and Depression: What Can (and Cannot) Preclinical Studies Tell Us? SEXES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sexes3010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the gender perspective in scientific research and sex differences in biological studies on emotional disorders have become increasingly important. However, sex bias in basic research on anxiety and depression is still far from being covered. This review addresses the study of sex differences in the field of anxiety and depression using animal models that consider this issue so far. What can preclinical studies tell us and what are their main limitations? First, we describe the behavioral tests most frequently used in preclinical research to assess depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Then, we analyze the main findings, strengths, and weaknesses of rodent models of anxiety and depression, dividing them into three main categories: sex chromosome complement-biased sex differences; gonadal hormone-biased sex differences; environmental-biased sex differences. Regardless of the animal model used, none can reproduce all the characteristics of such complex and multifactorial pathologies as anxiety and depressive disorders; however, each animal model contributes to elucidating the bases that underlie these disorders. The importance is highlighted of considering sex differences in the responses that emerge from each model.
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Hanson JL, Williams AV, Bangasser DA, Peña CJ. Impact of Early Life Stress on Reward Circuit Function and Regulation. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:744690. [PMID: 34744836 PMCID: PMC8563782 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.744690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life stress - including experience of child maltreatment, neglect, separation from or loss of a parent, and other forms of adversity - increases lifetime risk of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. A major component of this risk may be early life stress-induced alterations in motivation and reward processing, mediated by changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Here, we review evidence of the impact of early life stress on reward circuit structure and function from human and animal models, with a focus on the NAc. We then connect these results to emerging theoretical models about the indirect and direct impacts of early life stress on reward circuit development. Through this review and synthesis, we aim to highlight open research questions and suggest avenues of future study in service of basic science, as well as applied insights. Understanding how early life stress alters reward circuit development, function, and motivated behaviors is a critical first step toward developing the ability to predict, prevent, and treat stress-related psychopathology spanning mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L. Hanson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alexia V. Williams
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Debra A. Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Catherine J. Peña
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
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