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Llorens M, Barba M, Torralbas-Ortega J, Nadal R, Armario A, Gagliano H, Urraca L, Pujol S, Montalvo I, Gracia R, Polo D, González-Riesco L, Matalí JL, Palao D, Pàmias M, Labad J. Relationship between hair cortisol concentrations and cognitive functioning in adolescents with ADHD. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2281752. [PMID: 38154075 PMCID: PMC10990442 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2281752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Our study aimed to explore whether the hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a measure of long-term cortisol output, is associated with poorer cognitive functioning in adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We further aimed to test the potential moderating effects of sex and childhood maltreatment.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, fifty-three adolescents with ADHD were studied. The ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were administered. Seven cognitive tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were administered, and two cognitive factors (attention and memory and executive functioning) were identified by confirmatory factor analysis. A 3-cm hair sample from the posterior vertex region of the head was obtained. HCCs were determined by a high-sensitivity enzyme immunoassay kit. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between HCCs and either cognitive performance or ADHD severity while adjusting for sex, childhood maltreatment and the ADHD-RS total score.Results: Sex moderated the relationship between HCCs and attention/memory confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) scores, with better performance in boys with higher HCCs. HCCs were not associated with executive functioning or ADHD symptoms. Childhood maltreatment was associated with inattention symptoms in adolescents with ADHD.Conclusions: Our study suggests that HCCs are positively associated with attention and memory performance in adolescents with ADHD, with a moderating effect of sex (the relationship is strongest in boys).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Llorens
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maria Barba
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Jordi Torralbas-Ortega
- Nursing Care Research Group, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB SANTPAU). Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Sabadell, Spain
- Psicobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Sabadell, Spain
- Psicobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Lara Urraca
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Susana Pujol
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Itziar Montalvo
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Sabadell, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
| | - Rebeca Gracia
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Diana Polo
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura González-Riesco
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Lluís Matalí
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Palao
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Sabadell, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
| | - Montserrat Pàmias
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Sabadell, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
| | - Javier Labad
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Sabadell, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Spain
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Sanchís-Ollé M, Belda X, Gagliano H, Visa J, Nadal R, Armario A. Animal models of PTSD: Comparison of the neuroendocrine and behavioral sequelae of immobilization and a modified single prolonged stress procedure that includes immobilization. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 160:195-203. [PMID: 36842332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
A single exposure to some stressors results in long-lasting consequences reminiscent of those found in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but results are very often controversial. Although there is no consensus regarding the best animal models of PTSD, the single prolonged stress (SPS) model, consisting of sequential exposure within the same day to various stressors (typically restraint, forced swim, and ether), has gained acceptance. However, results, particularly those related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, are inconsistent and there is no evidence that SPS is clearly distinct from models using a single severe stressor. In the present study, we compared in male rats the behavioral and neuroendocrine (HPA) consequences of exposure to immobilization on boards (IMO) with a SPS-like model (SPSi) in which IMO and isoflurane were substituted for restraint and ether, respectively. Both procedures caused a similar impact on food intake and body weight as well as on sensitization of the HPA response to a novel environment (hole-board) on the following day. Reduction of activity/exploration in the hole-board was also similar with both stressors, although the impact of sudden noise was higher in SPSi than IMO. Neither IMO nor SPSi significantly affected contextual fear conditioning acquisition, although a similar trend for impaired fear extinction was observed compared to controls. Exposure to additional stressors in the SPSi did not interfere with homotypic adaptation of the HPA axis to IMO. Thus, only modest neuroendocrine and behavioral differences were observed between IMO and SPSi and more studies comparing putative PTSD models are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Sanchís-Ollé
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Visa
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Unitat Mixta Translacional, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Unitat Mixta Translacional, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
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Armario A, Belda X, Gagliano H, Fuentes S, Molina P, Serrano S, Nadal R. Differential Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Response to Stress among Rat Strains: Methodological Considerations and Relevance for Neuropsychiatric Research. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1906-1923. [PMID: 36453492 PMCID: PMC10514526 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221129102852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, particularly glucocorticoids (GCs), play a critical role in the behavioral and physiological consequences of exposure to stress. For this reason, numerous studies have described differences in HPA function between different rodent strains/lines obtained by genetic selection of certain characteristics not directly related to the HPA axis. These studies have demonstrated a complex and poorly understood relationship between HPA function and certain relevant behavioral characteristics. The present review first remarks important methodological considerations regarding the evaluation and interpretation of resting and stress levels of HPA hormones. Then, it presents works in which differences in HPA function between Lewis and Fischer rats were explored as a model for how to approach other strain comparisons. After that, differences in the HPA axis between classical strain pairs (e.g. High and Low anxiety rats, Roman high- and low-avoidance, Wistar Kyoto versus Spontaneously Hypertensive or other strains, Flinder Sensitive and Flinder Resistant lines) are described. Finally, after discussing the relationship between HPA differences and relevant behavioral traits (anxiety-like and depression-like behavior and coping style), an example for main methodological and interpretative concerns and how to test strain differences is offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Traslational Neuroscience Unit, UAB-Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain
- Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Fuentes
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Patricia Molina
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Serrano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Traslational Neuroscience Unit, UAB-Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain
- CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
- Psychobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Llorens M, Barba M, Torralbas J, Nadal R, Armario A, Gagliano H, Betriu M, Urraca L, Pujol S, Montalvo I, Gracia R, Giménez-Palop O, Palao D, Pàmias M, Labad J. Stress-related biomarkers and cognitive functioning in adolescents with ADHD: Effect of childhood maltreatment. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 149:217-225. [PMID: 35287052 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.02.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Our study aimed to explore whether stress-related hormones (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis hormones and prolactin) are associated with poorer cognitive functioning in adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to test the potential moderating effect of childhood maltreatment. Seventy-six adolescents with ADHD were studied. The ADHD rating scale (ADHD-RS) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were administered. Seven cognitive tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were administered, and two cognitive factors (attention and memory as well as executive functioning) were identified by confirmatory factor analysis. Stress-related hormone levels were assessed at the clinic (plasma prolactin and cortisol levels and salivary cortisol levels) before cognitive testing and at home for two consecutive days (cortisol awakening response [CAR] and diurnal cortisol slope). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between hormone levels and ADHD severity or cognitive functioning while adjusting for sex and childhood maltreatment. Regarding hormonal measurements obtained at the clinic, female sex moderated the relationship between salivary cortisol levels and executive functioning, whereas childhood maltreatment moderated the relationship between salivary cortisol levels and inattention symptoms of patients with ADHD. Prolactin levels were not associated with cognitive functioning or the severity of ADHD. Regarding HPA axis measurements performed at home, lower cortisol levels at awakening were associated with poorer executive functioning. Neither CAR nor the cortisol diurnal slope were associated with cognitive functioning or ADHD severity. Our study suggests that HPA axis hormone levels are associated with the severity of cognitive and inattention symptoms of patients with ADHD and that childhood maltreatment and sex exert distinct moderating effects depending on the symptom type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Llorens
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Cerdanyola Del Vallès, Spain
| | - Maria Barba
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Jordi Torralbas
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Spain; Psicobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Spain, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Spain; Psicobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Spain, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Betriu
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Lara Urraca
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Susana Pujol
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Itziar Montalvo
- Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Cerdanyola Del Vallès, Spain; Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERSAM), Spain; Institut D'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
| | - Rebeca Gracia
- Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Cerdanyola Del Vallès, Spain; Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Olga Giménez-Palop
- Institut D'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain; Department of Endocrinology, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, I3PT, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Diego Palao
- Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Cerdanyola Del Vallès, Spain; Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERSAM), Spain; Institut D'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
| | - Montserrat Pàmias
- Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Cerdanyola Del Vallès, Spain; Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Sabadell, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERSAM), Spain; Institut D'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
| | - Javier Labad
- Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Cerdanyola Del Vallès, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Translational Neuroscience Research Unit I3PT-INc-UAB, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERSAM), Spain; Institut D'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain; Department of Mental Health, Consorci Sanitari Del Maresme, Mataró, Spain.
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Nadal R, Gabriel-Salazar M, Sanchís-Ollé M, Gagliano H, Belda X, Armario A. Individual differences in the neuroendocrine response of male rats to emotional stressors are not trait-like and strongly depend on the intensity of the stressors. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 125:105127. [PMID: 33453596 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Biological response to stressors is critical to understand stress-related pathologies and vulnerability to psychiatric diseases. It is assumed that we can identify trait-like characteristics in biological responsiveness by testing subjects in a particular stressful situation, but there is scarce information on this issue. We then studied, in a normal outbred population of adult male rats (n = 32), the response of well-characterized stress markers (ACTH, corticosterone and prolactin) to different types of stressors: two novel environments (open-field, OF1 and OF2), an elevated platform (EP), forced swim (SWIM) and immobilization (IMO). Based on both plasma ACTH and prolactin levels, the OF1 was the lowest intensity situation, followed by the OF2 and the EP, then SWIM and finally IMO. When correlations between the individual responses to the different stressors were studied, the magnitude of the correlations was most dependent on the similarities in intensity rather than on other characteristics of stressors, with good correlations between similar intensity stressors and no correlations at all were found between stressors markedly differing in intensity. In two additional confirmatory experiments (n = 37 and n = 20) with HPA hormones, we observed good correlation between the response to restraint and IMO, which were close in intensity, and no correlation between OF1 and SWIM. The present results suggest that individual neuroendocrine response to a particular stressor does not predict the response to another stressor greatly differing in intensity, thus precluding characterization of low or high responsive individuals to any stressor in a normal population. The present data have important implications for human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - Marina Gabriel-Salazar
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Sanchís-Ollé
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain.
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Fuentes S, Daviu N, Gagliano H, Belda X, Armario A, Nadal R. Early life stress in rats sex-dependently affects remote endocrine rather than behavioral consequences of adult exposure to contextual fear conditioning. Horm Behav 2018; 103:7-18. [PMID: 29802874 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to electric foot-shocks can induce in rodents contextual fear conditioning, generalization of fear to other contexts and sensitization of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to further stressors. All these aspects are relevant for the study of post-traumatic stress disorder. In the present work we evaluated in rats the sex differences and the role of early life stress (ELS) in fear memories, generalization and sensitization. During the first postnatal days subjects were exposed to restriction of nesting material along with exposure to a "substitute" mother. In the adulthood they were exposed to (i) a contextual fear conditioning to evaluate long-term memory and extinction and (ii) to a novel environment to study cognitive fear generalization and HPA axis heterotypic sensitization. ELS did not alter acquisition, expression or extinction of context fear conditioned behavior (freezing) in either sex, but reduced activity in novel environments only in males. Fear conditioning associated hypoactivity in novel environments (cognitive generalization) was greater in males than females but was not specifically affected by ELS. Although overall females showed greater basal and stress-induced levels of ACTH and corticosterone, an interaction between ELS, shock exposure and sex was found regarding HPA hormones. In males, ELS did not affect ACTH response in any situation, whereas in females, ELS reduced both shock-induced sensitization of ACTH and its conditioned response to the shock context. Also, shock-induced sensitization of corticosterone was only observed in males and ELS specifically reduced corticosterone response to stressors in males but not females. In conclusion, ELS seems to have only a minor impact on shock-induced behavioral conditioning, while affecting the unconditioned and conditioned responses of HPA hormones in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Fuentes
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
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Sanchís-Ollé M, Ortega-Sánchez JA, Belda X, Gagliano H, Nadal R, Armario A. Lithium-induced malaise does not interfere with adaptation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to stress. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 75:77-83. [PMID: 28095308 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
We have recently demonstrated that adaptation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to repeated exposure to a stressor does not follow the rules of habituation and can be fully expressed after a single experience with severe stressors. In the present work we tested the hypothesis that adaptation could be impaired if animals experience malaise during initial exposure to the stressor. To this end, animals were allowed to drink saccharin for 30min before being exposed for 3h to immobilization on boards (IMO), a severe stressor; then they were given either saline or lithium ip after the first hour of IMO. Stress-naïve rats followed exactly the same procedure except IMO. Exposure to IMO caused a strong activation of the HPA axis whereas the effect of lithium was modest. Both IMO and lithium administration resulted in conditioned taste aversion to saccharin when evaluated 4days later. When all animals were exposed to IMO 6days later, reduced HPA response and less impact on body weight was observed in the two groups previously exposed to IMO as compared with stress-naïve rats. Therefore, lithium administration during the first IMO exposure did not affect adaptation of the HPA axis and weight gain. These results indicate that malaise per se only weakly activated the HPA axis and argue against the hypothesis that signs of physical malaise during exposure to the stressor could impair HPA adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sanchís-Ollé
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Red de trastornos adictivos and CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan A Ortega-Sánchez
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Red de trastornos adictivos and CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Red de trastornos adictivos and CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Red de trastornos adictivos and CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Red de trastornos adictivos and CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Red de trastornos adictivos and CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Souza Queiroz J, Marín Blasco I, Gagliano H, Daviu N, Gómez Román A, Belda X, Carrasco J, Rocha MC, Palermo Neto J, Armario A. Chlorella vulgaris reduces the impact of stress on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain c-fos expression. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 65:1-8. [PMID: 26685709 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Predominantly emotional stressors activate a wide range of brain areas, as revealed by the expression of immediate early genes, such as c-fos. Chlorella vulgaris (CV) is considered a biological response modifier, as demonstrated by its protective activities against infections, tumors and stress. We evaluated the effect of acute pretreatment with CV on the peripheral and central responses to forced swimming stress in adult male rats. Pretreatment with CV produced a significant reduction of stress-related hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activation, demonstrated by decreased corticotrophin releasing factor gene expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and lower ACTH response. Hyperglycemia induced by the stressor was similarly reduced. This attenuated neuroendocrine response to stress occurred in parallel with a diminished c-fos expression in most evaluated areas, including the PVN. The data presented in this study reinforce the usefulness of CV to diminish the impact of stressors, by reducing the HPA response. Although our results suggest a central effect of CV, further studies are necessary to understand the precise mechanisms underpinning this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Souza Queiroz
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Neuroimmunomodulation research group, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ignacio Marín Blasco
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Nuria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Almudena Gómez Román
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Javier Carrasco
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Michelle C Rocha
- Laboratory of Farmacogenomics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Goiás-UFG-Campus Jatai, Jataí-GO, Brazil
| | - João Palermo Neto
- Neuroimmunomodulation research group, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
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Gómez-Román A, Ortega-Sánchez JA, Rotllant D, Gagliano H, Belda X, Delgado-Morales R, Marín-Blasco I, Nadal R, Armario A. The neuroendocrine response to stress under the effect of drugs: Negative synergy between amphetamine and stressors. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 63:94-101. [PMID: 26433325 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
There have been numerous studies into the interaction between stress and addictive drugs, yet few have specifically addressed how the organism responds to stress when under the influence of psychostimulants. Thus, we studied the effects of different acute stressors (immobilization, interleukin-1β and forced swimming) in young adult male rats simultaneously exposed to amphetamine (AMPH, 4 mg/kg SC), evaluating classic biological markers. AMPH administration itself augmented the plasma hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hormones, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone, without affecting plasma glucose levels. By contrast, this drug dampened the peripheral HPA axis, as well as the response of glucose to the three stressors. We also found that AMPH administration completely blocked the forced swim-induced expression of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (hnCRH) and it partially reduced c-fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Indeed, this negative synergy in the forced swim test could even be observed with a lower dose of AMPH (1mg/kg, SC), a dose that is usually received in self-administration experiments. In conclusion, when rats that receive AMPH are subjected to stress, a negative synergy occurs that dampens the prototypic peripheral physiological response to stress and activation of the PVN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almudena Gómez-Román
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Juan A Ortega-Sánchez
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - David Rotllant
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Raúl Delgado-Morales
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Ignacio Marín-Blasco
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Psychobiology Unit (School of Psychology), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain.
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10
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Lalanza JF, Sanchez-Roige S, Cigarroa I, Gagliano H, Fuentes S, Armario A, Capdevila L, Escorihuela RM. Long-term moderate treadmill exercise promotes stress-coping strategies in male and female rats. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16166. [PMID: 26538081 PMCID: PMC4633642 DOI: 10.1038/srep16166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has revealed the impact of exercise in alleviating anxiety and mood disorders; however, the exercise protocol that exerts such benefit is far from known. The current study was aimed to assess the effects of long-term moderate exercise on behavioural coping strategies (active vs. passive) and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal response in rats. Sprague-Dawley male and female rats were exposed to 32-weeks of treadmill exercise and then tested for two-way active avoidance learning (shuttle-box). Two groups were used as controls: a non-handled sedentary group, receiving no manipulation, and a control group exposed to a stationary treadmill. Female rats displayed shorter escape responses and higher number of avoidance responses, reaching criterion for performance earlier than male rats. In both sexes, exercise shortened escape latencies, increased the total number of avoidances and diminished the number of trials needed to reach criterion for performance. Those effects were greater during acquisition in female rats, but remained over the shuttle-box sessions in treadmill trained male rats. In females, exercise did not change ACTH and corticosterone levels after shuttle-box acquisition. Collectively, treadmill exercise improved active coping strategies in a sex-dependent manner. In a broader context, moderate exercise could serve as a therapeutic intervention for anxiety and mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume F Lalanza
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Fac de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Laboratori de Psicologia de l'Esport, Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Fac Psicologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Sanchez-Roige
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Fac de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Igor Cigarroa
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Fac de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Carrera de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Los Ángeles, región del Bio-Bio, Chile
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Red de trastornos adictivos (RTA) and Institut de Neurociències, Unitat de Fisiologia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Fuentes
- Red de trastornos adictivos (RTA) and Institut de Neurociències, Unitat de Fisiologia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Red de trastornos adictivos (RTA) and Institut de Neurociències, Unitat de Fisiologia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lluís Capdevila
- Laboratori de Psicologia de l'Esport, Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Fac Psicologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa M Escorihuela
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Fac de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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11
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Rabasa C, Gagliano H, Pastor-Ciurana J, Fuentes S, Belda X, Nadal R, Armario A. Adaptation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to daily repeated stress does not follow the rules of habituation: A new perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 56:35-49. [PMID: 26112129 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Repeated exposure to a wide range of stressors differing in nature and intensity results in a reduced response of prototypical stress markers (i.e. plasma levels of ACTH and adrenaline) after an acute challenge with the same (homotypic) stressor. This reduction has been considered to be a habituation-like phenomenon. However, direct experimental evidence for this assumption is scarce. In the present work we demonstrate in adult male rats that adaptation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to repeated stress does not follow some of the critical rules of habituation. Briefly, adaptation was stronger and faster with more severe stressors, maximally observed even with a single exposure to severe stressors, extremely long-lasting, negatively related to the interval between the exposures and positively related to the length of daily exposure. We offer a new theoretical view to explain adaptation to daily repeated stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Rabasa
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Pastor-Ciurana
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Fuentes
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain; Institut de Neurociències and Unitat Psicobiologia (Facultat de Psicologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain; Institut de Neurociències and Unitat Psicobiologia (Facultat de Psicologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain.
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Gagliano H, Nadal R, Armario A. Sex differences in the long-lasting effects of a single exposure to immobilization stress in rats. Horm Behav 2014; 66:793-801. [PMID: 25461973 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In male rats, a single exposure to a severe stressor such as immobilization (IMO) results in marked activation of the HPA axis and reduction of body weight gain. In addition, the HPA response to the same (homotypic) stressor is reduced, whereas the response to a different (heterotypic) stressor is enhanced for days. Although sex differences in the responsiveness of the HPA axis have been described, there are few studies about the influence of sex on long-lasting effects of stress. Thus, we have compared the consequences of a single exposure to IMO in male and female rats. Females showed a similar ACTH response to the first IMO associated with higher corticosterone, but they were more resistant than males to stress-induced loss of body weight. Unstressed females showed higher resting levels of ACTH and corticosterone, but they did not show the increase in the resting levels of HPA hormones observed in males on the day after IMO. During exposure to a different stressor (open-field) two days after IMO, enhanced corticosterone response and hypoactivity was observed in males, but not in females. Finally, a second exposure to IMO 8 days after the first one resulted in a reduction of the HPA response and of the negative impact on body weight as compared to the first exposure, and this protective effect was greater in females. In sum, IMO-exposed females showed a greater reduction of the response to a second IMO and appear to be more resistant than males to some of the negative impacts of IMO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Faculty of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit (Faculty of Psychology), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Faculty of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
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Fuentes S, Daviu N, Gagliano H, Garrido P, Zelena D, Monasterio N, Armario A, Nadal R. Sex-dependent effects of an early life treatment in rats that increases maternal care: vulnerability or resilience? Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:56. [PMID: 24616673 PMCID: PMC3934416 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) in rodents has profound long-term effects that are partially mediated by changes in maternal care. ELS not only induces “detrimental” effects in adulthood, increasing psychopathology, but also promotes resilience to further stressors. In Long-Evans rats, we evaluated a combination of two procedures as a model of ELS: restriction of bedding during the first post-natal days and exposure to a “substitute” mother. The maternal care of biological and “substitute” mothers was measured. The male and female offspring were evaluated during adulthood in several contexts. Anxiety was measured by the elevated plus-maze (EPM), acoustic startle response (ASR) and forced swim test (FST). In other group of animals, novelty-seeking was measured (activity in an inescapable novel environment, preference for novel environments and exploration of novel objects). Plasmatic ACTH and corticosterone in basal conditions and in response to stress were also measured. Cognitive impulsivity was assessed by a delay-discounting paradigm, and impulsive action, attention and compulsive-like behavior by a five choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT). ELS decreased pup body weight and increased the care of the biological mother; however, the “substitute” mother did not exhibit overt maltreatment. A mixture of “detrimental” and “beneficial” effects was shown. In the 5CSRTT, attention was impaired in both genders, and in females, ELS increased compulsive-like behavior. Novel object exploration was only increased by ELS in males, but the preference for novel spaces decreased in both genders. Baseline anxiety (EPM and ASR) and recognition memory were not affected. Unexpectedly, ELS decreased the ACTH response to novelty and swim stress and increased active coping in the FST in both genders. Cognitive impulsivity was decreased only in females, but impulsive action was not affected. The enhancement in maternal care may “buffer” the effects of ELS in a context-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Fuentes
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain ; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain ; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Garrido
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dóra Zelena
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Science Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nela Monasterio
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain ; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain ; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain ; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
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Llorente-Berzal A, Fuentes S, Gagliano H, López-Gallardo M, Armario A, Viveros MP, Nadal R. Sex-dependent effects of maternal deprivation and adolescent cannabinoid treatment on adult rat behaviour. Addict Biol 2011; 16:624-37. [PMID: 21521421 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00318.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Early life experiences such as maternal deprivation (MD) exert long-lasting changes in adult behaviour and reactivity to stressors. Adolescent exposure to cannabinoids is a predisposing factor in developing certain psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the combination of the two factors could exacerbate the negative consequences of each factor when evaluated at adulthood. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of early MD [24 hours at postnatal day (PND) 9] and/or an adolescent chronic treatment with the cannabinoid agonist CP-55,940 (0.4 mg/kg, PND 28-42) on diverse behavioural and physiological responses of adult male and female Wistar rats. We tested them in the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response and analysed their exploratory activity (holeboard) and anxiety (elevated plus maze, EPM). In addition, we evaluated their adrenocortical reactivity in response to stress and plasma leptin levels. Maternal behaviour was measured before and after deprivation. MD induced a transient increase of maternal behaviour on reuniting. In adulthood, maternally deprived males showed anxiolytic-like behaviour (or increased risk-taking behaviour) in the EPM. Adolescent exposure to the cannabinoid agonist induced an impairment of the PPI in females and increased adrenocortical responsiveness to the PPI test in males. Both, MD and adolescent cannabinoid exposure also induced sex-dependent changes in plasma leptin levels and body weights. The present results indicate that early MD and adolescent cannabinoid exposure exerted distinct sex-dependent long-term behavioural and physiological modifications that could predispose to the development of certain neuropsychiatric disorders, though no synergistic effects were found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Llorente-Berzal
- Department of Physiology, School of Biological Sciences, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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Donadio AC, Gagliano H, Remedi MM, Nowotny E, Depiante-Depaoli M. Time-course study of cellular immune response and testosterone metabolism in an autoimmune model for chronic prostatic inflammation. J Urol 1998; 160:1546-50. [PMID: 9751410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Little is known of the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory prostate diseases of noninfectious origin. In our experimental autoimmune rat model for chronic prostatic inflammation (CPI) we evaluated, in a time-course study, the specific cellular immune response to male accessory glands (MAG) and metabolic activity in the prostate gland. Results obtained in CPI rats were compared with data from rats immunized with kidney homogenate as well as from non-treated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specific cellular immune response against MAG antigen(s) was studied by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and lymphocyte proliferation tests. The prostate 5alpha-reductase activity was studied in prostate homogenates by thin layer chromatography (TLC). RESULTS DTH values were positive in MAG treated rats sacrificed at days 7 and 28 after first immunization (FI) (p < or = 0.05) in relation to kidney treated and non-treated rats. When we analyzed the proliferative responses to MAG antigen(s), an antigen specific proliferation, as shown by the mean [3H]thymidine uptake (cpm), was observed in rats sacrificed on days 14 and 28 (p < or = 0.05) after FI. The metabolic studies indicated that the 5alpha-reductase activity decreased slightly in MAG treated groups at day 14 after FI and diminished significantly at the end of CPI development. CONCLUSION These data reveal that the prostatic endocrine cell destruction during CPI could be a consequence of immune/inflammatory cell mediated processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Donadio
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
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