1
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Zouridis IS, Schmors L, Fischer KM, Berens P, Preston-Ferrer P, Burgalossi A. Juxtacellular recordings from identified neurons in the mouse locus coeruleus. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:3659-3676. [PMID: 38872397 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16368] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) is the primary source of noradrenergic transmission in the mammalian central nervous system. This small pontine nucleus consists of a densely packed nuclear core-which contains the highest density of noradrenergic neurons-embedded within a heterogeneous surround of non-noradrenergic cells. This local heterogeneity, together with the small size of the LC, has made it particularly difficult to infer noradrenergic cell identity based on extracellular sampling of in vivo spiking activity. Moreover, the relatively high cell density, background activity and synchronicity of LC neurons have made spike identification and unit isolation notoriously challenging. In this study, we aimed at bridging these gaps by performing juxtacellular recordings from single identified neurons within the mouse LC complex. We found that noradrenergic neurons (identified by tyrosine hydroxylase, TH, expression; TH-positive) and intermingled putatively non-noradrenergic (TH-negative) cells displayed similar morphologies and responded to foot shock stimuli with excitatory responses; however, on average, TH-positive neurons exhibited more prominent foot shock responses and post-activation firing suppression. The two cell classes also displayed different spontaneous firing rates, spike waveforms and temporal spiking properties. A logistic regression classifier trained on spontaneous electrophysiological features could separate the two cell classes with 76% accuracy. Altogether, our results reveal in vivo electrophysiological correlates of TH-positive neurons, which can be useful for refining current approaches for the classification of LC unit activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis S Zouridis
- Institute of Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
- Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, International Max-Planck Research School (IMPRS), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lisa Schmors
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Maite Fischer
- Institute of Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
- Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, International Max-Planck Research School (IMPRS), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Berens
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Tübingen AI Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Patricia Preston-Ferrer
- Institute of Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Burgalossi
- Institute of Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
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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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Hao F, Jia F, Hao P, Duan H, Wang Z, Fan Y, Zhao W, Gao Y, Fan OR, Xu F, Yang Z, Sun YE, Li X. Proper wiring of newborn neurons to control bladder function after complete spinal cord injury. Biomaterials 2023; 292:121919. [PMID: 36455486 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Activation of endogenous neurogenesis by bioactive materials enables restoration of sensory/motor function after complete spinal cord injury (SCI) via formation of new relay neural circuits. The underlying wiring logic of newborn neurons in adult central nervous system (CNS) is unknown. Here, we report neurotrophin3-loaded chitosan biomaterial substantially recovered bladder function after SCI. Multiple neuro-circuitry tracing technologies using pseudorabies virus (PRV), rabies virus (RV), and anterograde adeno-associated virus (AAV), demonstrated that newborn neurons were integrated into the micturition neural circuits and reconnected higher brain centers and lower spinal cord centers to control voiding, and participated in the restoration of the lower urinary tract function, even in the absence of long-distance axonal regeneration. Opto- and chemo-genetic studies further supported the notion that the supraspinal control of the lower urinary tract function was partially recovered. Our data demonstrated that regenerated relay neurons could be properly integrated into disrupted long-range neural circuits to restore function of adult CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Fan Jia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Translational Research Center for the Nervous System (TRCNS), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Peng Hao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Hongmei Duan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Zijue Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yubo Fan
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China; School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wen Zhao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yudan Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Orion R Fan
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, 90007, USA
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Translational Research Center for the Nervous System (TRCNS), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Zhaoyang Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Yi E Sun
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200065, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China; Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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4
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Huang D, Zhang R, Gasparini S, McDonough MC, Paradee WJ, Geerling JC. Neuropeptide S (NPS) neurons: Parabrachial identity and novel distributions. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:3157-3178. [PMID: 36036349 PMCID: PMC9588594 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuropeptide S (NPS) increases wakefulness. A small number of neurons in the brainstem express Nps. These neurons are located in or near the parabrachial nucleus (PB), but we know very little about their ontogeny, connectivity, and function. To identify Nps-expressing neurons within the molecular framework of the PB region, we used in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and Cre-reporter labeling in mice. The primary concentration of Nps-expressing neurons borders the lateral lemniscus at far-rostral levels of the lateral PB. Caudal to this main cluster, Nps-expressing neurons scatter through the PB and form a secondary concentration medial to the locus coeruleus (LC). Most Nps-expressing neurons in the PB region are Atoh1-derived, Foxp2-expressing, and mutually exclusive with neurons expressing Calca or Lmx1b. Among Foxp2-expressing PB neurons, those expressing Nps are distinct from intermingled subsets expressing Cck or Pdyn. Examining Nps Cre-reporter expression throughout the brain identified novel populations of neurons in the nucleus incertus, anterior hypothalamus, and lateral habenula. This information will help focus experimental questions about the connectivity and function of NPS neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dake Huang
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
| | - Richie Zhang
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
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5
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Rao Y, Gao Z, Li X, Li X, Li J, Liang S, Li D, Zhai J, Yan J, Yao J, Chen X. Ventrolateral Periaqueductal Gray Neurons Are Active During Urination. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:865186. [PMID: 35813503 PMCID: PMC9259957 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.865186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (VLPAG) is thought to be the main PAG column for bladder control. PAG neurons (especially VLPAG neurons) and neurons in the pontine micturition center (PMC) innervating the bladder detrusor have anatomical and functional synaptic connections. The prevailing viewpoint on neural control of the bladder is that PAG neurons receive information on the decision to void made by upstream brain regions, and consequently activate the PMC through their direct projections to initiate urination reflex. However, the exact location of the PMC-projecting VLPAG neurons, their activity in response to urination, and their whole-brain inputs remain unclear. Here, we identified the distribution of VLPAG neurons that may participate in control of the bladder or project to the PMC through retrograde neural tracing. Population Ca2+ signals of PMC-projecting VLPAG neurons highly correlated with bladder contractions and urination as shown by in vivo recording in freely moving animals. Using a RV-based retrograde trans-synaptic tracing strategy, morphological results showed that urination-related PMC-projecting VLPAG neurons received dense inputs from multiple urination-related higher brain areas, such as the medial preoptic area, medial prefrontal cortex, and lateral hypothalamus. Thus, our findings reveal a novel insight into the VLPAG for control of bladder function and provide a potential therapeutic midbrain node for neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Rao
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziyan Gao
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xianping Li
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xing Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jun Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Shanshan Liang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Daihan Li
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | | | - Junan Yan
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Urology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Junan Yan Jiwei Yao Xiaowei Chen
| | - Jiwei Yao
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Junan Yan Jiwei Yao Xiaowei Chen
| | - Xiaowei Chen
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Junan Yan Jiwei Yao Xiaowei Chen
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6
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Neural circuit control of innate behaviors. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:466-499. [PMID: 34985643 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-2043-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
All animals possess a plethora of innate behaviors that do not require extensive learning and are fundamental for their survival and propagation. With the advent of newly-developed techniques such as viral tracing and optogenetic and chemogenetic tools, recent studies are gradually unraveling neural circuits underlying different innate behaviors. Here, we summarize current development in our understanding of the neural circuits controlling predation, feeding, male-typical mating, and urination, highlighting the role of genetically defined neurons and their connections in sensory triggering, sensory to motor/motivation transformation, motor/motivation encoding during these different behaviors. Along the way, we discuss possible mechanisms underlying binge-eating disorder and the pro-social effects of the neuropeptide oxytocin, elucidating the clinical relevance of studying neural circuits underlying essential innate functions. Finally, we discuss some exciting brain structures recurrently appearing in the regulation of different behaviors, which suggests both divergence and convergence in the neural encoding of specific innate behaviors. Going forward, we emphasize the importance of multi-angle and cross-species dissections in delineating neural circuits that control innate behaviors.
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7
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Çakıcı ÖU, Dinçer S. The effect of amino acids on the bladder cycle: a concise review. Amino Acids 2021; 54:13-31. [PMID: 34853916 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03113-5] [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: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The human bladder maintains a cycle of filling, storing, and micturating throughout an individual's lifespan. The cycle relies on the ability of the bladder to expand without increasing the intravesical pressure, which is only possible with the controlled relaxation of well-complaint muscles and the congruously organized construction of the bladder wall. A competent bladder outlet, which functions in a synchronous fashion with the bladder, is also necessary for this cycle to be completed successfully without deterioration. In this paper, we aimed to review the contemporary physiological findings on bladder physiology and examine the effects of amino acids on clinical conditions affecting the bladder, with special emphasis on the available therapeutic evidence and possible future roles of the amino acids in the treatment of the bladder-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özer Ural Çakıcı
- Attending Urologist, Private Practice, Ankara, Turkey.
- PhD Candidate in Physiology, Department of Physiology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Sibel Dinçer
- Professor in Physiology, Department of Physiology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
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8
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Kawatani M, deGroat W, Itoi K, Uchida K, Sakimura K, Yamanaka A, Yamashita T, Kawatani M. Downstream projection of Barrington's nucleus to the spinal cord in mice. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:1959-1977. [PMID: 34731061 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00026.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Barrington's nucleus (Bar) which controls micturition behavior through downstream projections to the spinal cord contains two types of projection neurons BarCRH and BarESR1 that have different functions and target different spinal circuitry. Both types of neurons project to the L6-S1 spinal intermediolateral (IML) nucleus while BarESR1 neurons also project to the dorsal commissural nucleus (DCN). To obtain more information about the spinal circuits targeted by Bar, we used patch-clamp recording in spinal slices from adult mice in combination with optogenetic stimulation of Bar terminals. Recording of opto-evoked excitatory post synaptic currents (oEPSCs) in DiI-labeled lumbosacral preganglionic neurons (LS-PGN) revealed that both Bar neuronal populations make strong glutamatergic monosynaptic connections with LS-PGN, while BarESR1 neurons also elicited smaller amplitude glutamatergic polysynaptic oEPSCs or polysynaptic inhibitory post synaptic currents (oIPSCs) in some LS-PGN. Optical stimulation of BarCRH and BarESR1 terminals also elicited monosynaptic oEPSCs and polysynaptic oIPSCs in sacral DCN neurons, some of which must include interneurons projecting either to the IML or ventral horn. Application of capsaicin increased opto-evoked firing during repetitive stimulation of Bar terminals through the modulation of spontaneous post synaptic currents in LS-PGN. In conclusion, our experiments have provided insights into the synaptic mechanisms underlying the integration of inputs from Bar to autonomic circuitry in the lumbosacral spinal cord that may control micturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Kawatani
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita, Japan.,Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan
| | - William deGroat
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Keiichi Itoi
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Katsuya Uchida
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takayuki Yamashita
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahito Kawatani
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita, Japan
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9
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Van Batavia JP, Butler S, Lewis E, Fesi J, Canning DA, Vicini S, Valentino RJ, Zderic SA. Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone from the Pontine Micturition Center Plays an Inhibitory Role in Micturition. J Neurosci 2021; 41:7314-7325. [PMID: 34193553 PMCID: PMC8387110 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0684-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lower urinary tract or voiding disorders are prevalent across all ages and affect >40% of adults over 40 years old, leading to decreased quality of life and high health care costs. The pontine micturition center (PMC; i.e., Barrington's nucleus) contains a large population of neurons that localize the stress-related neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and project to neurons in the spinal cord to regulate micturition. How the PMC and CRH-expressing neurons in the PMC control volitional micturition is of critical importance for human voiding disorders. To investigate the specific role of CRH in the PMC, neurons in the PMC-expressing CRH were optogenetically activated during in vivo cystometry in unanesthetized mice of either sex. Optogenetic activation of CRH-PMC neurons led to increased intermicturition interval and voided volume, similar to the altered voiding phenotype produced by social stress. Female mice showed a significantly more pronounced phenotype change compared with male mice. These effects were eliminated by CRH-receptor 1 antagonist pretreatment. Optogenetic inhibition of CRH-PMC neurons led to an altered voiding phenotype characterized by more frequent voids and smaller voided volumes. Last, in a cyclophosphamide cystitis model of bladder overactivity, optogenetic activation of CRH-PMC neurons returned the voiding pattern to normal. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that CRH from PMC spinal-projecting neurons has an inhibitory function on micturition and is a potential therapeutic target for human disease states, such as voiding postponement, urinary retention, and underactive or overactive bladder.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The pontine micturition center (PMC), which is a major regulator of volitional micturition, is neurochemically heterogeneous, and excitatory neurotransmission derived from PMC neurons is thought to mediate the micturition reflex. In the present study, using optogenetic manipulation of CRH-containing neurons in double-transgenic mice, we demonstrate that CRH, which is prominent in PMC-spinal projections, has an inhibitory function on volitional micturition. Moreover, engaging this inhibitory function of CRH can ameliorate bladder hyperexcitability induced by cyclophosphamide in a model of cystitis. The data underscore CRH as a novel target for the treatment of voiding dysfunctions, which are highly prevalent disease processes in children and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Van Batavia
- Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Stephan Butler
- Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Eleanor Lewis
- Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Joanna Fesi
- Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Douglas A Canning
- Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Stefano Vicini
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown, University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007
| | - Rita J Valentino
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Stephen A Zderic
- Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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10
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Ganley RP, Werder K, Wildner H, Zeilhofer HU. Spinally projecting noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus display resistance to AAV2retro-mediated transduction. Mol Pain 2021; 17:17448069211037887. [PMID: 34344259 PMCID: PMC8351027 DOI: 10.1177/17448069211037887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The locus coeruleus (LC) is the principal source of noradrenaline (NA) in the central nervous system. Projection neurons in the ventral portion of the LC project to the spinal cord and are considered the main source of spinal NA. To understand the precise physiology of this pathway, it is important to have tools that allow specific genetic access to these descending projections. AAV2retro serotype vectors are a potential tool to transduce these neurons via their axon terminals in the spinal cord, and thereby limit the expression of genetic material to the spinal projections from the LC. Here, we assess the suitability of AAV2retro to target these neurons and investigate strategies to increase their labelling efficiency. RESULTS We show that the neurons in the LC that project to the spinal dorsal horn are largely resistant to transduction with AAV2retro serotype vectors. Compared to Cholera toxin B (CTb) tracing, AAV2retro.eGFP labelled far fewer neurons within the LC and surrounding regions, particularly within neurons that express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme for NA synthesis. We also show that the sensitivity for transduction of this projection can be increased using AAV2retro.eGFP.cre in ROSA26tdTom reporter mice (23% increase), with a higher proportion of the newly revealed neurons expressing TH compared to those directly labelled with AAV2retro containing an eGFP expression sequence. CONCLUSION These tracing studies identify limitations in AAV2retro-mediated retrograde transduction of a subset of projection neurons, specifically those that express NA and project to the spinal cord. This is likely to have implications for the study of NA-containing projections as well as other types of projection neuron in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Ganley
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kira Werder
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hendrik Wildner
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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11
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Social isolation uncovers a circuit underlying context-dependent territory-covering micturition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2018078118. [PMID: 33443190 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018078118] [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] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The release of urine, or micturition, serves a fundamental physiological function and, in many species, is critical for social communication. In mice, the pattern of urine release is modulated by external and internal factors and transmitted to the spinal cord via the pontine micturition center (PMC). Here, we exploited a behavioral paradigm in which mice, depending on strain, social experience, and sensory context, either vigorously cover an arena with small urine spots or deposit urine in a few isolated large spots. We refer to these micturition modes as, respectively, high and low territory-covering micturition (TCM) and find that the presence of a urine stimulus robustly induces high TCM in socially isolated mice. Comparison of the brain networks activated by social isolation and by urine stimuli to those upstream of the PMC identified the lateral hypothalamic area as a potential modulator of micturition modes. Indeed, chemogenetic manipulations of the lateral hypothalamus can switch micturition behavior between high and low TCM, overriding the influence of social experience and sensory context. Our results suggest that both inhibitory and excitatory signals arising from a network upstream of the PMC are integrated to determine context- and social-experience-dependent micturition patterns.
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Tish MM, Geerling JC. The Brain and the Bladder: Forebrain Control of Urinary (In)Continence. Front Physiol 2020; 11:658. [PMID: 32719609 PMCID: PMC7349519 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural circuits extending from the cerebral cortex to the bladder maintain urinary continence and allow voiding when it is socially appropriate. Injuries to certain brain regions produce a specific disruption known as urge incontinence. This neurologic symptom is distinguished by bladder spasticity, with sudden urges to void and frequent inability to maintain continence. The precise localization of neural circuit disruptions responsible for urge incontinence remains poorly defined, partly because the brain regions, cell types, and circuit connections that normally maintain continence are unknown. Here, we review what is known about the micturition reflex circuit and about forebrain control of continence from experimental animal studies and human lesion data. Based on this information, we hypothesize that urge incontinence results from damage to a descending pathway that normally maintains urinary continence. This pathway begins with excitatory neurons in the prefrontal cortex and relays subcortically, through inhibitory neurons that may help suppress reflex micturition during sleep and until it is safe and socially appropriate to void. Identifying the specific cell types and circuit connections that constitute the continence-promoting pathway, from the forebrain to the brainstem, will help us better understand why some brain lesions and neurodegenerative diseases disrupt continence. This information is needed to pave the way toward better treatments for neurologic patients suffering from urge incontinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M Tish
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Joel C Geerling
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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