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Heaton EC, Seo EH, Butkovich LM, Yount ST, Gourley SL. Control of goal-directed and inflexible actions by dorsal striatal melanocortin systems, in coordination with the central nucleus of the amygdala. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 238:102629. [PMID: 38763506 PMCID: PMC11198735 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The dorsomedial striatum (DMS) is associated with flexible goal seeking, as opposed to routinized habits. Whether local mechanisms brake this function, for instance when habits may be adaptive, is incompletely understood. We find that a sub-population of dopamine D1 receptor-containing striatal neurons express the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) for α-melanocyte stimulating hormone. These neurons within the DMS are necessary and sufficient for controlling the capacity of mice to flexibly adjust actions based on the likelihood that they will be rewarded. In investigating MC4R function, we found that it suppresses immediate-early gene levels in the DMS and concurrently, flexible goal seeking. MC4R+ neurons receive input from the central nucleus of the amygdala, and behavioral experiments indicate that they are functionally integrated into an amygdalo-striatal circuit that suppresses action flexibility in favor of routine. Publicly available spatial transcriptomics datasets were analyzed for gene transcript correlates of Mc4r expression across the striatal subregions, revealing considerable co-variation in dorsal structures. This insight led to the discovery that the function of MC4R in the dorsolateral striatum complements that in the DMS, in this case suppressing habit-like behavior. Altogether, our findings suggest that striatal MC4R controls the capacity for goal-directed and inflexible actions alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Heaton
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, United States; Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Esther H Seo
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Laura M Butkovich
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Sophie T Yount
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, United States
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, United States; Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, United States; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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Carlos-Lima E, Higa GSV, Viana FJC, Tamais AM, Cruvinel E, Borges FDS, Francis-Oliveira J, Ulrich H, De Pasquale R. Serotonergic Modulation of the Excitation/Inhibition Balance in the Visual Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:519. [PMID: 38203689 PMCID: PMC10778629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010519] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Serotonergic neurons constitute one of the main systems of neuromodulators, whose diffuse projections regulate the functions of the cerebral cortex. Serotonin (5-HT) is known to play a crucial role in the differential modulation of cortical activity related to behavioral contexts. Some features of the 5-HT signaling organization suggest its possible participation as a modulator of activity-dependent synaptic changes during the critical period of the primary visual cortex (V1). Cells of the serotonergic system are among the first neurons to differentiate and operate. During postnatal development, ramifications from raphe nuclei become massively distributed in the visual cortical area, remarkably increasing the availability of 5-HT for the regulation of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity. A substantial amount of evidence has demonstrated that synaptic plasticity at pyramidal neurons of the superficial layers of V1 critically depends on a fine regulation of the balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I). 5-HT could therefore play an important role in controlling this balance, providing the appropriate excitability conditions that favor synaptic modifications. In order to explore this possibility, the present work used in vitro intracellular electrophysiological recording techniques to study the effects of 5-HT on the E/I balance of V1 layer 2/3 neurons, during the critical period. Serotonergic action on the E/I balance has been analyzed on spontaneous activity, evoked synaptic responses, and long-term depression (LTD). Our results pointed out that the predominant action of 5-HT implies a reduction in the E/I balance. 5-HT promoted LTD at excitatory synapses while blocking it at inhibitory synaptic sites, thus shifting the Hebbian alterations of synaptic strength towards lower levels of E/I balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estevão Carlos-Lima
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (E.C.-L.); (G.S.V.H.); (E.C.); (J.F.-O.)
| | - Guilherme Shigueto Vilar Higa
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (E.C.-L.); (G.S.V.H.); (E.C.); (J.F.-O.)
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil;
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo 09210-580, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe José Costa Viana
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (E.C.-L.); (G.S.V.H.); (E.C.); (J.F.-O.)
| | - Alicia Moraes Tamais
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (E.C.-L.); (G.S.V.H.); (E.C.); (J.F.-O.)
| | - Emily Cruvinel
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (E.C.-L.); (G.S.V.H.); (E.C.); (J.F.-O.)
| | - Fernando da Silva Borges
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, New York, NY 11203, USA;
| | - José Francis-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (E.C.-L.); (G.S.V.H.); (E.C.); (J.F.-O.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil;
| | - Roberto De Pasquale
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (E.C.-L.); (G.S.V.H.); (E.C.); (J.F.-O.)
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Melo L, Mosayebi-Samani M, Ghanavati E, Nitsche MA, Kuo MF. Dosage-Dependent Impact of Acute Serotonin Enhancement on Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Effects. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:787-797. [PMID: 34106250 PMCID: PMC8538892 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The serotonergic system has an important impact on basic physiological and higher brain functions. Acute and chronic enhancement of serotonin levels via selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor administration impacts neuroplasticity in humans, as shown by its effects on cortical excitability alterations induced by non-invasive brain stimulation, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Nevertheless, the interaction between serotonin activation and neuroplasticity is not fully understood, particularly considering dose-dependent effects. Our goal was to explore dosage-dependent effects of acute serotonin enhancement on stimulation-induced plasticity in healthy individuals. METHODS Twelve healthy adults participated in 7 sessions conducted in a crossover, partially double-blinded, randomized, and sham-controlled study design. Anodal and cathodal tDCS was applied to the motor cortex under selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (20 mg/40 mg citalopram) or placebo medication. Motor cortex excitability was monitored by single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. RESULTS Under placebo medication, anodal tDCS enhanced, and cathodal tDCS reduced, excitability for approximately 60-120 minutes after the intervention. Citalopram enhanced and prolonged the facilitation induced by anodal tDCS regardless of the dosage while turning cathodal tDCS-induced excitability diminution into facilitation. For the latter, prolonged effects were observed when 40 mg was administrated. CONCLUSIONS Acute serotonin enhancement modulates tDCS after-effects and has largely similar modulatory effects on motor cortex neuroplasticity regardless of the specific dosage. A minor dosage-dependent effect was observed only for cathodal tDCS. The present findings support the concept of boosting the neuroplastic effects of anodal tDCS by serotonergic enhancement, a potential clinical approach for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Melo
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany,International Graduate School of Neuroscience (IGSN), Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Mohsen Mosayebi-Samani
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Elham Ghanavati
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany,Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Min-Fang Kuo
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany,Correspondence: Min-Fang Kuo, MD, PhD, Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Ardeystraße 67, 44139 Dortmund, Germany ()
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Vitrac C, Benoit-Marand M. Monoaminergic Modulation of Motor Cortex Function. Front Neural Circuits 2017; 11:72. [PMID: 29062274 PMCID: PMC5640772 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Elaboration of appropriate responses to behavioral situations rests on the ability of selecting appropriate motor outcomes in accordance to specific environmental inputs. To this end, the primary motor cortex (M1) is a key structure for the control of voluntary movements and motor skills learning. Subcortical loops regulate the activity of the motor cortex and thus contribute to the selection of appropriate motor plans. Monoamines are key mediators of arousal, attention and motivation. Their firing pattern enables a direct encoding of different states thus promoting or repressing the selection of actions adapted to the behavioral context. Monoaminergic modulation of motor systems has been extensively studied in subcortical circuits. Despite evidence of converging projections of multiple neurotransmitters systems in the motor cortex pointing to a direct modulation of local circuits, their contribution to the execution and learning of motor skills is still poorly understood. Monoaminergic dysregulation leads to impaired plasticity and motor function in several neurological and psychiatric conditions, thus it is critical to better understand how monoamines modulate neural activity in the motor cortex. This review aims to provide an update of our current understanding on the monoaminergic modulation of the motor cortex with an emphasis on motor skill learning and execution under physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Vitrac
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, INSERM U1084, Poitiers, France.,Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Marianne Benoit-Marand
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, INSERM U1084, Poitiers, France.,Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
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