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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 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] [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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2
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Cheng Y, Magnard R, Langdon AJ, Lee D, Janak PH. Chronic Ethanol Exposure Produces Persistent Impairment in Cognitive Flexibility and Decision Signals in the Striatum. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.10.584332. [PMID: 38585868 PMCID: PMC10996555 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.10.584332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Lack of cognitive flexibility is a hallmark of substance use disorders and has been associated with drug-induced synaptic plasticity in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). Yet the possible impact of altered plasticity on real-time striatal neural dynamics during decision-making is unclear. Here, we identified persistent impairments induced by chronic ethanol (EtOH) exposure on cognitive flexibility and striatal decision signals. After a substantial withdrawal period from prior EtOH vapor exposure, male, but not female, rats exhibited reduced adaptability and exploratory behavior during a dynamic decision-making task. Reinforcement learning models showed that prior EtOH exposure enhanced learning from rewards over omissions. Notably, neural signals in the DMS related to the decision outcome were enhanced, while those related to choice and choice-outcome conjunction were reduced, in EtOH-treated rats compared to the controls. These findings highlight the profound impact of chronic EtOH exposure on adaptive decision-making, pinpointing specific changes in striatal representations of actions and outcomes as underlying mechanisms for cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Cheng
- Department Psychological and Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Robin Magnard
- Department Psychological and Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Angela J. Langdon
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Daeyeol Lee
- Department Psychological and Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Patricia H. Janak
- Department Psychological and Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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3
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Blackwell KT, Doya K. Enhancing reinforcement learning models by including direct and indirect pathways improves performance on striatal dependent tasks. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011385. [PMID: 37594982 PMCID: PMC10479916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
A major advance in understanding learning behavior stems from experiments showing that reward learning requires dopamine inputs to striatal neurons and arises from synaptic plasticity of cortico-striatal synapses. Numerous reinforcement learning models mimic this dopamine-dependent synaptic plasticity by using the reward prediction error, which resembles dopamine neuron firing, to learn the best action in response to a set of cues. Though these models can explain many facets of behavior, reproducing some types of goal-directed behavior, such as renewal and reversal, require additional model components. Here we present a reinforcement learning model, TD2Q, which better corresponds to the basal ganglia with two Q matrices, one representing direct pathway neurons (G) and another representing indirect pathway neurons (N). Unlike previous two-Q architectures, a novel and critical aspect of TD2Q is to update the G and N matrices utilizing the temporal difference reward prediction error. A best action is selected for N and G using a softmax with a reward-dependent adaptive exploration parameter, and then differences are resolved using a second selection step applied to the two action probabilities. The model is tested on a range of multi-step tasks including extinction, renewal, discrimination; switching reward probability learning; and sequence learning. Simulations show that TD2Q produces behaviors similar to rodents in choice and sequence learning tasks, and that use of the temporal difference reward prediction error is required to learn multi-step tasks. Blocking the update rule on the N matrix blocks discrimination learning, as observed experimentally. Performance in the sequence learning task is dramatically improved with two matrices. These results suggest that including additional aspects of basal ganglia physiology can improve the performance of reinforcement learning models, better reproduce animal behaviors, and provide insight as to the role of direct- and indirect-pathway striatal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim T Blackwell
- Department of Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kenji Doya
- Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
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4
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Kim MJ, Kaang BK. Distinct cell populations of ventral tegmental area process motivated behavior. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 26:307-312. [PMID: 36039731 PMCID: PMC9437368 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2022.26.5.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Min Jung Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Bong-Kiun Kaang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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5
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Leisman G, Melillo R. Front and center: Maturational dysregulation of frontal lobe functional neuroanatomic connections in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:936025. [PMID: 36081853 PMCID: PMC9446472 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.936025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontal lobe function may not universally explain all forms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but the frontal lobe hypothesis described supports an internally consistent model for integrating the numerous behaviors associated with ADHD. The paper examines the developmental trajectories of frontal and prefrontal lobe development, framing ADHD as maturational dysregulation concluding that the cognitive, motor, and behavioral abilities of the presumptive majority of ADHD children may not primarily be disordered or dysfunctional but reflect maturational dysregulation that is inconsistent with the psychomotor and cognitive expectations for the child’s chronological and mental age. ADHD children demonstrate decreased activation of the right and middle prefrontal cortex. Prefrontal and frontal lobe regions have an exuberant network of shared pathways with the diencephalic region, also having a regulatory function in arousal as well as with the ascending reticular formation which has a capacity for response suppression to task-irrelevant stimuli. Prefrontal lesions oftentimes are associated with the regulatory breakdown of goal-directed activity and impulsivity. In conclusion, a presumptive majority of childhood ADHD may result from maturational dysregulation of the frontal lobes with effects on the direct, indirect and/or, hyperdirect pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerry Leisman
- Movement and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Neurology, University of Medical Sciences of Havana, Havana, Cuba
- *Correspondence: Gerry Leisman,
| | - Robert Melillo
- Movement and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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6
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Delevich K, Hoshal B, Zhou LZ, Zhang Y, Vedula S, Lin WC, Chase J, Collins AGE, Wilbrecht L. Activation, but not inhibition, of the indirect pathway disrupts choice rejection in a freely moving, multiple-choice foraging task. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111129. [PMID: 35905722 PMCID: PMC10481643 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111129] [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: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The dorsomedial striatum (DMS) plays a key role in action selection, but less is known about how direct and indirect pathway spiny projection neurons (dSPNs and iSPNs, respectively) contribute to choice rejection in freely moving animals. Here, we use pathway-specific chemogenetic manipulation during a serial choice foraging task to test the role of dSPNs and iSPNs in learned choice rejection. We find that chemogenetic activation, but not inhibition, of iSPNs disrupts rejection of nonrewarded choices, contrary to predictions of a simple "select/suppress" heuristic. Our findings suggest that iSPNs' role in stopping and freezing does not extend in a simple fashion to choice rejection in an ethological, freely moving context. These data may provide insights critical for the successful design of interventions for addiction or other conditions in which it is desirable to strengthen choice rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Delevich
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Benjamin Hoshal
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Lexi Z Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yuting Zhang
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Satya Vedula
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Wan Chen Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Juliana Chase
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Anne G E Collins
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Linda Wilbrecht
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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7
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Keppner A, Correia M, Santambrogio S, Koay TW, Maric D, Osterhof C, Winter DV, Clerc A, Stumpe M, Chalmel F, Dewilde S, Odermatt A, Kressler D, Hankeln T, Wenger RH, Hoogewijs D. Androglobin, a chimeric mammalian globin, is required for male fertility. eLife 2022; 11:72374. [PMID: 35700329 PMCID: PMC9249397 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a highly specialized differentiation process driven by a dynamic gene expression program and ending with the production of mature spermatozoa. Whereas hundreds of genes are known to be essential for male germline proliferation and differentiation, the contribution of several genes remains uncharacterized. The predominant expression of the latest globin family member, androglobin (Adgb), in mammalian testis tissue prompted us to assess its physiological function in spermatogenesis. Adgb knockout mice display male infertility, reduced testis weight, impaired maturation of elongating spermatids, abnormal sperm shape, and ultrastructural defects in microtubule and mitochondrial organization. Epididymal sperm from Adgb knockout animals display multiple flagellar malformations including coiled, bifid or shortened flagella, and erratic acrosomal development. Following immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we could identify septin 10 (Sept10) as interactor of Adgb. The Sept10-Adgb interaction was confirmed both in vivo using testis lysates and in vitro by reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Furthermore, the absence of Adgb leads to mislocalization of Sept10 in sperm, indicating defective manchette and sperm annulus formation. Finally, in vitro data suggest that Adgb contributes to Sept10 proteolysis in a calmodulin-dependent manner. Collectively, our results provide evidence that Adgb is essential for murine spermatogenesis and further suggest that Adgb is required for sperm head shaping via the manchette and proper flagellum formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Keppner
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Correia
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Teng Wei Koay
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Darko Maric
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Carina Osterhof
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Denise V Winter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Angèle Clerc
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Michael Stumpe
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvia Dewilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alex Odermatt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dieter Kressler
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Hankeln
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Roland H Wenger
- Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Hoogewijs
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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8
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Kellman J, Radwan K. Towards an expanded neuroscientific understanding of social play. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:884-891. [PMID: 34767879 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Play has been recognized as a complex and diverse set of behaviors that has been difficult to define. Play can range from rough and tumble play among rats to a human child playing a computer game. Play has been understood to exist in multiple forms such as social, object, and locomotor (Burghardt, 2005). In this article we review the literatures on the neural basis of social play, on heart rate variability, on behavioral switching and set-shifting, on prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex, and on learning at the level of the basal ganglia. Each of these neuronal pathways, aside from heart rate variability, is rooted in the parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus, an important neural substrate for social play. We argue that social play optimally balances a number of opposing neural pathways by engaging systems involved in safety versus danger (heart rate variability), automatized reactions versus learned reactions to new stimuli (behavioral switching and set-shifting), and gating relevant versus less relevant stimuli (prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex). The idea that play, in addition to its role in interpersonal adaptation to social life, may have a central role in optimizing flexibility and creativity in individual response to novelty has been explored by previous authors (Huizinga, 1955; Spinka et al., 2001; Pellegrini et al., 2007; Pellis and Pellis, 2017). In this paper we explore the possible underlying neural basis for this function of play, having to do with balancing various neural networks, and in doing so propose an expanded understanding of the nature and function of social play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Kellman
- The University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 3077, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States
| | - Karam Radwan
- The University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 3077, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States.
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9
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Chai J, Ruan X, Huang J. A Possible Explanation for the Generation of Habit in Navigation: a Striatal Behavioral Learning Model. Cognit Comput 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12559-021-09950-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Asaoka N, Ibi M, Hatakama H, Nagaoka K, Iwata K, Matsumoto M, Katsuyama M, Kaneko S, Yabe-Nishimura C. NOX1/NADPH Oxidase Promotes Synaptic Facilitation Induced by Repeated D 2 Receptor Stimulation: Involvement in Behavioral Repetition. J Neurosci 2021; 41:2780-2794. [PMID: 33563722 PMCID: PMC8018731 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2121-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive behavior is a widely observed neuropsychiatric symptom. Abnormal dopaminergic signaling in the striatum is one of the factors associated with behavioral repetition; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of repetitive behavior remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the NOX1 isoform of the superoxide-producing enzyme NADPH oxidase regulated repetitive behavior in mice by facilitating excitatory synaptic inputs in the central striatum (CS). In male C57Bl/6J mice, repeated stimulation of D2 receptors induced abnormal behavioral repetition and perseverative behavior. Nox1 deficiency or acute pharmacological inhibition of NOX1 significantly shortened repeated D2 receptor stimulation-induced repetitive behavior without affecting motor responses to a single D2 receptor stimulation. Among brain regions, Nox1 showed enriched expression in the striatum, and repeated dopamine D2 receptor stimulation further increased Nox1 expression levels in the CS, but not in the dorsal striatum. Electrophysiological analyses revealed that repeated D2 receptor stimulation facilitated excitatory inputs in the CS indirect pathway medium spiny neurons (iMSNs), and this effect was suppressed by the genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of NOX1. Nox1 deficiency potentiated protein tyrosine phosphatase activity and attenuated the accumulation of activated Src kinase, which is required for the synaptic potentiation in CS iMSNs. Inhibition of NOX1 or β-arrestin in the CS was sufficient to ameliorate repetitive behavior. Striatal-specific Nox1 knockdown also ameliorated repetitive and perseverative behavior. Collectively, these results indicate that NOX1 acts as an enhancer of synaptic facilitation in CS iMSNs and plays a key role in the molecular link between abnormal dopamine signaling and behavioral repetition and perseveration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Behavioral repetition is a form of compulsivity, which is one of the core symptoms of psychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Perseveration is also a hallmark of such disorders. Both clinical and animal studies suggest important roles of abnormal dopaminergic signaling and striatal hyperactivity in compulsivity; however, the precise molecular link between them remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated the contribution of NOX1 to behavioral repetition induced by repeated stimulation of D2 receptors. Repeated stimulation of D2 receptors upregulated Nox1 mRNA in a striatal subregion-specific manner. The upregulated NOX1 promoted striatal synaptic facilitation in iMSNs by enhancing phosphorylation signaling. These results provide a novel mechanism for D2 receptor-mediated excitatory synaptic facilitation and indicate the therapeutic potential of NOX1 inhibition in compulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozomi Asaoka
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Masakazu Ibi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Hikari Hatakama
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Koki Nagaoka
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kazumi Iwata
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Misaki Matsumoto
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Masato Katsuyama
- Radioisotope Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Shuji Kaneko
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Chihiro Yabe-Nishimura
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
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11
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Yang Z, Wu G, Liu M, Sun X, Xu Q, Zhang C, Lei H. Dysfunction of Orbitofrontal GABAergic Interneurons Leads to Impaired Reversal Learning in a Mouse Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Curr Biol 2021; 31:381-393.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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12
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Alabi OO, Davatolhagh MF, Robinson M, Fortunato MP, Vargas Cifuentes L, Kable JW, Fuccillo MV. Disruption of Nrxn1α within excitatory forebrain circuits drives value-based dysfunction. eLife 2020; 9:e54838. [PMID: 33274715 PMCID: PMC7759380 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Goal-directed behaviors are essential for normal function and significantly impaired in neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite extensive associations between genetic mutations and these disorders, the molecular contributions to goal-directed dysfunction remain unclear. We examined mice with constitutive and brain region-specific mutations in Neurexin1α, a neuropsychiatric disease-associated synaptic molecule, in value-based choice paradigms. We found Neurexin1α knockouts exhibited reduced selection of beneficial outcomes and impaired avoidance of costlier options. Reinforcement modeling suggested that this was driven by deficits in updating and representation of value. Disruption of Neurexin1α within telencephalic excitatory projection neurons, but not thalamic neurons, recapitulated choice abnormalities of global Neurexin1α knockouts. Furthermore, this selective forebrain excitatory knockout of Neurexin1α perturbed value-modulated neural signals within striatum, a central node in feedback-based reinforcement learning. By relating deficits in value-based decision-making to region-specific Nrxn1α disruption and changes in value-modulated neural activity, we reveal potential neural substrates for the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disease-associated cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi O Alabi
- Department of NeurosciencePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - M Felicia Davatolhagh
- Department of NeurosciencePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | | | | | - Luigim Vargas Cifuentes
- Department of NeurosciencePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Joseph W Kable
- Department of Psychology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
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13
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Peak J, Chieng B, Hart G, Balleine BW. Striatal direct and indirect pathway neurons differentially control the encoding and updating of goal-directed learning. eLife 2020; 9:e58544. [PMID: 33215609 PMCID: PMC7707820 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The posterior dorsomedial striatum (pDMS) is necessary for goal-directed action; however, the role of the direct (dSPN) and indirect (iSPN) spiny projection neurons in the pDMS in such actions remains unclear. In this series of experiments, we examined the role of pDMS SPNs in goal-directed action in rats and found that whereas dSPNs were critical for goal-directed learning and for energizing the learned response, iSPNs were involved in updating that learning to support response flexibility. Instrumental training elevated expression of the plasticity marker Zif268 in dSPNs only, and chemogenetic suppression of dSPN activity during training prevented goal-directed learning. Unilateral optogenetic inhibition of dSPNs induced an ipsilateral response bias in goal-directed action performance. In contrast, although initial goal-directed learning was unaffected by iSPN manipulations, optogenetic inhibition of iSPNs, but not dSPNs, impaired the updating of this learning and attenuated response flexibility after changes in the action-outcome contingency.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Peak
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, School of Psychology, UNSW SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Billy Chieng
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, School of Psychology, UNSW SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Genevra Hart
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, School of Psychology, UNSW SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Bernard W Balleine
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, School of Psychology, UNSW SydneySydneyAustralia
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14
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Spatial organization of functional clusters representing reward and movement information in the striatal direct and indirect pathways. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:27004-27015. [PMID: 33055217 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2010361117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To obtain insights into striatal neural processes underlying reward-based learning and movement control, we examined spatial organizations of striatal neurons related to movement and reward-based learning. For this, we recorded the activity of direct- and indirect-pathway neurons (D1 and A2a receptor-expressing neurons, respectively) in mice engaged in probabilistic classical conditioning and open-field free exploration. We found broadly organized functional clusters of striatal neurons in the direct as well as indirect pathways for both movement- and reward-related variables. Functional clusters for different variables were partially overlapping in both pathways, but the overlap between outcome- and value-related functional clusters was greater in the indirect than direct pathway. Also, value-related spatial clusters were progressively refined during classical conditioning. Our study shows the broad and learning-dependent spatial organization of functional clusters of dorsal striatal neurons in the direct and indirect pathways. These findings further argue against the classic model of the basal ganglia and support the importance of spatiotemporal patterns of striatal neuronal ensemble activity in the control of behavior.
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Exercise-Induced Adaptations to the Mouse Striatal Adenosine System. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:5859098. [PMID: 32399024 PMCID: PMC7204111 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5859098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine acts as a key regulator of striatum activity, in part, through the antagonistic modulation of dopamine activity. Exercise can increase adenosine activity in the brain, which may impair dopaminergic functions in the striatum. Therefore, long-term repeated bouts of exercise may subsequently generate plasticity in striatal adenosine systems in a manner that promotes dopaminergic activity. This study investigated the effects of long-term voluntary wheel running on adenosine 1 (A1R), adenosine 2A (A2AR), dopamine 1 (D1R), and dopamine 2 (D2R) receptor protein expression in adult mouse dorsal and ventral striatum structures using immunohistochemistry. In addition, equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) protein expression was examined after wheel running, as ENT1 regulates the bidirectional flux of adenosine between intra- and extracellular space. The results suggest that eight weeks of running wheel access spared age-related increases of A1R and A2AR protein concentrations across the dorsal and ventral striatal structures. Wheel running mildly reduced ENT1 protein levels in ventral striatum subregions. Moreover, wheel running mildly increased D2R protein density within striatal subregions in the dorsal medial striatum, nucleus accumbens core, and the nucleus accumbens shell. However, D1R protein expression in the striatum was unchanged by wheel running. These data suggest that exercise promotes adaptations to striatal adenosine systems. Exercise-reduced A1R and A2AR and exercise-increased D2R protein levels may contribute to improved dopaminergic signaling in the striatum. These findings may have implications for cognitive and behavioral processes, as well as motor and psychiatric diseases that involve the striatum.
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Kwak S, Jung MW. Distinct roles of striatal direct and indirect pathways in value-based decision making. eLife 2019; 8:46050. [PMID: 31310237 PMCID: PMC6658164 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The striatum is critically involved in value-based decision making. However, it is unclear how striatal direct and indirect pathways work together to make optimal choices in a dynamic and uncertain environment. Here, we examined the effects of selectively inactivating D1 receptor (D1R)- or D2 receptor (D2R)-expressing dorsal striatal neurons (corresponding to direct- and indirect-pathway neurons, respectively) on mouse choice behavior in a reversal task with progressively increasing reversal frequency and a dynamic two-armed bandit task. Inactivation of either D1R- or D2R-expressing striatal neurons impaired performance in both tasks, but the pattern of altered choice behavior differed between the two animal groups. A reinforcement learning model-based analysis indicated that inactivation of D1R- and D2R-expressing striatal neurons selectively impairs value-dependent action selection and value learning, respectively. Our results suggest differential contributions of striatal direct and indirect pathways to two distinct steps in value-based decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinae Kwak
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Whan Jung
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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