1
|
DePoy LM, Petersen KA, Zong W, Ketchesin KD, Matthaei RC, Yin R, Perez MS, Vadnie CA, Becker-Krail D, Scott MR, Tseng GC, McClung CA. Cell-type and sex-specific rhythmic gene expression in the nucleus accumbens. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02569-7. [PMID: 38678086 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02569-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are critical for human health and are highly conserved across species. Disruptions in these rhythms contribute to many diseases, including psychiatric disorders. Previous results suggest that circadian genes modulate behavior through specific cell types in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), particularly dopamine D1-expressing medium spiny neurons (MSNs). However, diurnal rhythms in transcript expression have not been investigated in NAc MSNs. In this study we identified and characterized rhythmic transcripts in D1- and D2-expressing neurons and compared rhythmicity results to homogenate as well as astrocyte samples taken from the NAc of male and female mice. We find that all cell types have transcripts with diurnal rhythms and that top rhythmic transcripts are largely core clock genes, which peak at approximately the same time of day in each cell type and sex. While clock-controlled rhythmic transcripts are enriched for protein regulation pathways across cell type, cell signaling and signal transduction related processes are most commonly enriched in MSNs. In contrast to core clock genes, these clock-controlled rhythmic transcripts tend to reach their peak in expression about 2-h later in females than males, suggesting diurnal rhythms in reward may be delayed in females. We also find sex differences in pathway enrichment for rhythmic transcripts peaking at different times of day. Protein folding and immune responses are enriched in transcripts that peak in the dark phase, while metabolic processes are primarily enriched in transcripts that peak in the light phase. Importantly, we also find that several classic markers used to categorize MSNs are rhythmic in the NAc. This is critical since the use of rhythmic markers could lead to over- or under-enrichment of targeted cell types depending on the time at which they are sampled. This study greatly expands our knowledge of how individual cell types contribute to rhythms in the NAc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kaitlyn A Petersen
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Wei Zong
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kyle D Ketchesin
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ross C Matthaei
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - RuoFei Yin
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Megan S Perez
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Chelsea A Vadnie
- David O. Robbins Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Ohio Wesleyan University, 43015, Delaware, OH, USA
| | - Darius Becker-Krail
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Madeline R Scott
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - George C Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Colleen A McClung
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Becker-Krail DD, Ketchesin KD, Burns JN, Zong W, Hildebrand MA, DePoy LM, Vadnie CA, Tseng GC, Logan RW, Huang YH, McClung CA. Astrocyte Molecular Clock Function in the Nucleus Accumbens Is Important for Reward-Related Behavior. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:68-80. [PMID: 35461698 PMCID: PMC9232937 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substance use disorders are associated with disruptions in circadian rhythms. Both human and animal work have shown the integral role for circadian clocks in the modulation of reward behaviors. Astrocytes have emerged as key regulators of circadian rhythmicity. However, no studies to date have identified the role of circadian astrocyte function in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a hub for reward regulation, or determined the importance of these rhythms for reward-related behavior. METHODS Using astrocyte-specific RNA sequencing across time of day, we first characterized diurnal variation of the NAc astrocyte transcriptome. We then investigated the functional significance of this circadian regulation through viral-mediated disruption of molecular clock function in NAc astrocytes, followed by assessment of reward-related behaviors, metabolic-related molecular assays, and whole-cell electrophysiology in the NAc. RESULTS Strikingly, approximately 43% of the astrocyte transcriptome has a diurnal rhythm, and key metabolic pathways were enriched among the top rhythmic genes. Moreover, mice with a viral-mediated loss of molecular clock function in NAc astrocytes show a significant increase in locomotor response to novelty, exploratory drive, operant food self-administration, and motivation. At the molecular level, these animals also show disrupted metabolic gene expression, along with significant downregulation of both lactate and glutathione levels in the NAc. Loss of NAc astrocyte clock function also significantly altered glutamatergic signaling onto neighboring medium spiny neurons, alongside upregulated glutamate-related gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these findings demonstrate a novel role for astrocyte circadian molecular clock function in the regulation of the NAc and reward-related behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darius D Becker-Krail
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kyle D Ketchesin
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jennifer N Burns
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Wei Zong
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Mariah A Hildebrand
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lauren M DePoy
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Chelsea A Vadnie
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - George C Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ryan W Logan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yanhua H Huang
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Colleen A McClung
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vadnie CA, Petersen KA, Eberhardt LA, Hildebrand MA, Cerwensky AJ, Zhang H, Burns JN, Becker-Krail DD, DePoy LM, Logan RW, McClung CA. The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Regulates Anxiety-Like Behavior in Mice. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:765850. [PMID: 35126036 PMCID: PMC8811036 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.765850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals suffering from mood and anxiety disorders often show significant disturbances in sleep and circadian rhythms. Animal studies indicate that circadian rhythm disruption can cause increased depressive- and anxiety-like behavior, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. One potential mechanism to explain how circadian rhythms are contributing to mood and anxiety disorders is through dysregulation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, known as the “central pacemaker.” To investigate the role of the SCN in regulating depressive- and anxiety-like behavior in mice, we chronically manipulated the neural activity of the SCN using two optogenetic stimulation paradigms. As expected, chronic stimulation of the SCN late in the active phase (circadian time 21, CT21) resulted in a shortened period and dampened amplitude of homecage activity rhythms. We also repeatedly stimulated the SCN at unpredictable times during the active phase of mice when SCN firing rates are normally low. This resulted in dampened, fragmented, and unstable homecage activity rhythms. In both chronic SCN optogenetic stimulation paradigms, dampened homecage activity rhythms (decreased amplitude) were directly correlated with increased measures of anxiety-like behavior. In contrast, we only observed a correlation between behavioral despair and homecage activity amplitude in mice stimulated at CT21. Surprisingly, the change in period of homecage activity rhythms was not directly associated with anxiety- or depressive-like behavior. Finally, to determine if anxiety-like behavior is affected during a single SCN stimulation session, we acutely stimulated the SCN in the active phase (zeitgeber time 14-16, ZT14-16) during behavioral testing. Unexpectedly this also resulted in increased anxiety-like behavior. Taken together, these results indicate that SCN-mediated dampening of rhythms is directly correlated with increased anxiety-like behavior. This work is an important step in understanding how specific SCN neural activity disruptions affect depressive- and anxiety-related behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea A. Vadnie
- Department of Psychology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, United States
| | - Kaitlyn A. Petersen
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Lauren A. Eberhardt
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Mariah A. Hildebrand
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Allison J. Cerwensky
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Hui Zhang
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jennifer N. Burns
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Darius D. Becker-Krail
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Lauren M. DePoy
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Ryan W. Logan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Colleen A. McClung
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Colleen A. McClung,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Logan RW, Ozburn AR, Arey RN, Ketchesin KD, Winquist A, Crain A, Tobe BTD, Becker-Krail D, Jarpe MB, Xue X, Zong W, Huo Z, Parekh PK, Zhu X, Fitzgerald E, Zhang H, Oliver-Smith J, DePoy LM, Hildebrand MA, Snyder EY, Tseng GC, McClung CA. Valproate reverses mania-like behaviors in mice via preferential targeting of HDAC2. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:4066-4084. [PMID: 33235333 PMCID: PMC8141541 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00958-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Valproate (VPA) has been used in the treatment of bipolar disorder since the 1990s. However, the therapeutic targets of VPA have remained elusive. Here we employ a preclinical model to identify the therapeutic targets of VPA. We find compounds that inhibit histone deacetylase proteins (HDACs) are effective in normalizing manic-like behavior, and that class I HDACs (e.g., HDAC1 and HDAC2) are most important in this response. Using an RNAi approach, we find that HDAC2, but not HDAC1, inhibition in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is sufficient to normalize behavior. Furthermore, HDAC2 overexpression in the VTA prevents the actions of VPA. We used RNA sequencing in both mice and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from bipolar patients to further identify important molecular targets. Together, these studies identify HDAC2 and downstream targets for the development of novel therapeutics for bipolar mania.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W. Logan
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Angela R. Ozburn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.,VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Rachel N. Arey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kyle D. Ketchesin
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Alicia Winquist
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrew Crain
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Brian T. D. Tobe
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Administration Medical Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Darius Becker-Krail
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Matthew B. Jarpe
- Regenacy Pharmaceuticals, 303 Wyman St, Suite 300, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA
| | - Xiangning Xue
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Wei Zong
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Zhiguang Huo
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Puja K. Parekh
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, and Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Xiyu Zhu
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Ethan Fitzgerald
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Hui Zhang
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China 100730
| | - Jeffrey Oliver-Smith
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Lauren M. DePoy
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Mariah A. Hildebrand
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Evan Y. Snyder
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - George C. Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Colleen A. McClung
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.,Corresponding Author: Colleen A. McClung, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, 450 Technology Drive, Suite 223, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, , 412-624-5547
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vadnie CA, DePoy LM, McClung CA. Measuring the Effects of Circadian Rhythm-Related Manipulations on Depression-Like Behavior in Rodents: Forced Swim and Tail Suspension Tests. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2130:69-78. [PMID: 33284436 PMCID: PMC10128615 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0381-9_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The forced swim and tail suspension tests are commonly used to determine the effects of circadian-related pharmacological, genetic, and environmental manipulations on depression-like behavior in rodents. Both tests involve scoring immobility of rodents in an inescapable condition. Here we describe how to set up and carry out these tests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea A Vadnie
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Colleen A McClung
- Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science, Translational Neuroscience Program, Center for Neuroscience University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
DePoy LM, Shapiro LP, Kietzman HW, Roman KM, Gourley SL. β1-Integrins in the Developing Orbitofrontal Cortex Are Necessary for Expectancy Updating in Mice. J Neurosci 2019; 39:6644-6655. [PMID: 31253753 PMCID: PMC6703883 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3072-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Navigating a changing environment requires associating stimuli and actions with their likely outcomes and modifying these associations when they change. These processes involve the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Although some molecular mediators have been identified, developmental factors are virtually unknown. We hypothesized that the cell adhesion factor β1-integrin is essential to OFC function, anticipating developmental windows during which β1-integrins might be more influential than others. We discovered that OFC-selective β1-integrin silencing before adolescence, but not later, impaired the ability of mice to extinguish conditioned fear and select actions based on their likely outcomes. Early-life knock-down also reduced the densities of dendritic spines, the primary sites of excitatory plasticity in the brain, and weakened sensitivity to cortical inputs. Notwithstanding these defects in male mice, females were resilient to OFC (but not hippocampal) β1-integrin loss. Existing literature suggests that resilience may be explained by estradiol-mediated transactivation of β1-integrins and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (trkB). Accordingly, we discovered that a trkB agonist administered during adolescence corrected reward-related decision making in β1-integrin-deficient males. In sum, developmental β1-integrins are indispensable for OFC function later in life.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a subregion of the frontal cortex that allows organisms to link behaviors and stimuli with anticipated outcomes, and to make predictions about the consequences of one's behavior. Aspects of OFC development are particularly prolonged, extending well into adolescence, likely optimizing organisms' abilities to prospectively calculate the consequences of their actions and select behaviors appropriately; these decision making strategies improve as young individuals mature into adulthood. Molecular factors are not, however, well understood. Our experiments reveal that a cell adhesion protein termed "β1-integrin" is necessary for OFC neuronal maturation and function. Importantly, β1-integrins operate during a critical period equivalent to early adolescence in humans to optimize the ability of organisms to update expectancies later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Psychiatry
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, and
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Psychiatry
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Henry W Kietzman
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Psychiatry
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, and
| | - Kaitlyn M Roman
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Psychiatry
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, and
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Department of Pediatrics,
- Department of Psychiatry
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, and
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Swanson AM, DePoy LM, Gourley SL. Inhibiting Rho kinase promotes goal-directed decision making and blocks habitual responding for cocaine. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1861. [PMID: 29187752 PMCID: PMC5707361 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01915-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The prelimbic prefrontal cortex is necessary for associating actions with their consequences, enabling goal-directed decision making. We find that the strength of action–outcome conditioning correlates with dendritic spine density in prelimbic cortex, suggesting that new action–outcome learning involves dendritic spine plasticity. To test this, we inhibited the cytoskeletal regulatory factor Rho kinase. We find that the inhibitor fasudil enhances action–outcome memory, resulting in goal-directed behavior in mice that would otherwise express stimulus-response habits. Fasudil transiently reduces prelimbic cortical dendritic spine densities during a period of presumed memory consolidation, but only when paired with new learning. Fasudil also blocks habitual responding for cocaine, an effect that persists over time, across multiple contexts, and depends on actin polymerization. We suggest that Rho kinase inhibition promotes goal-oriented action selection by augmenting the plasticity of prelimbic cortical dendritic spines during the formation of new action–outcome memories. Action-outcome learning requires the prelimbic prefrontal cortex. Here the authors report that fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, reduces dendritic spine densities on prelimbic neurons in an activity-dependent manner, stimulating goal-directed actions, and reducing habitual responding for cocaine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Swanson
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Lauren M DePoy
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. .,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
DePoy LM, Zimmermann KS, Marvar PJ, Gourley SL. Induction and Blockade of Adolescent Cocaine-Induced Habits. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:595-605. [PMID: 27871669 PMCID: PMC5359769 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [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: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cocaine use during adolescence increases vulnerability to drug dependence and decreases the likelihood that individuals will seek treatment as adults. Understanding how early-life cocaine exposure influences decision-making processes in adulthood is thus critically important. METHODS Adolescent or adult mice were exposed to subchronic cocaine, then behavioral sensitivity to changes in the predictive relationship between actions and their consequences was tested. Dendritic spines on the principal pyramidal neurons of the orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex (oPFC) were also imaged and enumerated. To determine whether cytoskeletal regulatory systems in the oPFC influenced decision-making strategies, we then inhibited the activity of Abl family and Rho kinases as well as NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. We also attempted to block the reinstatement of cocaine seeking in cocaine self-administering mice. RESULTS Adult mice with a history of subchronic cocaine exposure in adolescence engaged habit-based response strategies at the expense of goal-directed decision-making strategies and had fewer dendritic spines in the oPFC. Inhibition of the cytoskeletal regulatory Abl family kinases in the oPFC recapitulated these neurobehavioral deficiencies, whereas Rho kinase inhibition corrected response strategies. Additionally, the NR2B-selective N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists ifenprodil and CP-101,606 blocked cocaine-induced habits; this was dependent on Abl family signaling in the oPFC. Ifenprodil also mitigated cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking in mice self-administering cocaine. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that adolescent cocaine exposure confers a bias toward habit-based behavior in adulthood via long-term cellular structural modifications in the oPFC. Treatments aimed at mitigating the durable consequences of early-life cocaine use may benefit from targeting cytoskeletal regulatory systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. DePoy
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University
| | - Kelsey S. Zimmermann
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University
| | - Paul J. Marvar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, GW Institute for Neuroscience, The George Washington University
| | - Shannon L. Gourley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University,Contact: Shannon L. Gourley, PhD, Department of Pediatrics
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd. NE, Atlanta GA 30329, 404-727-2482,
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
DePoy LM, Allen AG, Gourley SL. Adolescent cocaine self-administration induces habit behavior in adulthood: sex differences and structural consequences. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e875. [PMID: 27576164 PMCID: PMC5022090 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescent cocaine use increases the likelihood of drug abuse and addiction in adulthood, and etiological factors may include a cocaine-induced bias towards so-called 'reward-seeking' habits. To determine whether adolescent cocaine exposure indeed impacts decision-making strategies in adulthood, we trained adolescent mice to orally self-administer cocaine. In adulthood, males with a history of escalating self-administration developed a bias towards habit-based behaviors. In contrast, escalating females did not develop habit biases; rather, low response rates were associated with later behavioral inflexibility, independent of cocaine dose. We focused the rest of our report on understanding how individual differences in young-adolescent females predicted long-term behavioral outcomes. Low, 'stable' cocaine-reinforced response rates during adolescence were associated with cocaine-conditioned object preference and enlarged dendritic spine head size in the medial (prelimbic) prefrontal cortex in adulthood. Meanwhile, cocaine resilience was associated with enlarged spine heads in deep-layer orbitofrontal cortex. Re-exposure to the cocaine-associated context in adulthood energized responding in 'stable responders', which could then be reduced by the GABAB agonist baclofen and the putative tyrosine receptor kinase B (trkB) agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone. Together, our findings highlight resilience to cocaine-induced habits in females relative to males when intake escalates. However, failures in instrumental conditioning in adolescent females may precipitate reward-seeking behaviors in adulthood, particularly in the context of cocaine exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L M DePoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - A G Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - S L Gourley
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Butkovich LM, DePoy LM, Allen AG, Shapiro LP, Swanson AM, Gourley SL. Adolescent-onset GABAA α1 silencing regulates reward-related decision making. Eur J Neurosci 2015; 42:2114-2121. [PMID: 26096050 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The GABAA receptor mediates fast, inhibitory signaling, and cortical expression of the α1 subunit increases during postnatal development. Certain pathological stimuli such as stressors or prenatal cocaine exposure can interfere with this process, but causal relationships between GABAA α1 deficiency and complex behavioral outcomes remain unconfirmed. We chronically reduced GABAA α1 expression selectively in the medial prefrontal cortex (prelimbic subregion) of mice using viral-mediated gene silencing of Gabra1. Adolescent-onset Gabra1 knockdown delayed the acquisition of a cocaine-reinforced instrumental response but spared cocaine seeking in extinction and in a cue-induced reinstatement procedure. To determine whether response acquisition deficits could be associated with impairments in action-outcome associative learning and memory, we next assessed behavioral sensitivity to instrumental contingency degradation. In this case, the predictive relationship between familiar actions and their outcomes is violated. Adolescent-onset knockdown, although not adult-onset knockdown, delayed the expression of goal-directed response strategies in this task, resulting instead in inflexible habit-like modes of response. Thus, the maturation of medial prefrontal cortex GABAA α1 systems during adolescence appears necessary for goal-directed reward-related decision making in adulthood. These findings are discussed in the light of evidence that prolonged Gabra1 deficiency may impair synaptic plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren M DePoy
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University.,Department of Pediatrics, Emory University.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University
| | - Amanda G Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University.,Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University
| | - Andrew M Swanson
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University.,Department of Pediatrics, Emory University.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University.,Department of Pediatrics, Emory University.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
DePoy LM, Gourley SL. Synaptic Cytoskeletal Plasticity in the Prefrontal Cortex Following Psychostimulant Exposure. Traffic 2015; 16:919-40. [PMID: 25951902 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is characterized by maladaptive decision-making, a loss of control over drug consumption and habit-like drug seeking despite adverse consequences. These cognitive changes may reflect the effects of drugs of abuse on prefrontal cortical neurobiology. Here, we review evidence that amphetamine and cocaine fundamentally remodel the structure of excitatory neurons in the prefrontal cortex. We summarize evidence in particular that these psychostimulants have opposing effects in the medial and orbital prefrontal cortices ('mPFC' and 'oPFC', respectively). For example, amphetamine and cocaine increase dendrite length and spine density in the mPFC, while dendrites are impoverished and dendritic spines are eliminated in the oPFC. We will discuss evidence that certain cytoskeletal regulatory proteins expressed in the oPFC and implicated in postnatal (adolescent) neural development also regulate behavioral sensitivity to cocaine. These findings potentially open a window of opportunity for the identification of novel pharmacotherapeutic targets in the treatment of drug abuse disorders in adults, as well as in drug-vulnerable adolescent populations. Finally, we will discuss the behavioral implications of drug-related dendritic spine elimination in the oPFC, with regard to reversal learning tasks and tasks that assess the development of reward-seeking habits, both used to model aspects of addiction in rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
DePoy LM, Perszyk RE, Zimmermann KS, Koleske AJ, Gourley SL. Adolescent cocaine exposure simplifies orbitofrontal cortical dendritic arbors. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:228. [PMID: 25452728 PMCID: PMC4233985 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine and amphetamine remodel dendritic spines within discrete cortico-limbic brain structures including the orbitofrontal cortex (oPFC). Whether dendrite structure is similarly affected, and whether pre-existing cellular characteristics influence behavioral vulnerabilities to drugs of abuse, remain unclear. Animal models provide an ideal venue to address these issues because neurobehavioral phenotypes can be defined both before, and following, drug exposure. We exposed mice to cocaine from postnatal days 31–35, corresponding to early adolescence, using a dosing protocol that causes impairments in an instrumental reversal task in adulthood. We then imaged and reconstructed excitatory neurons in deep-layer oPFC. Prior cocaine exposure shortened and simplified arbors, particularly in the basal region. Next, we imaged and reconstructed orbital neurons in a developmental-genetic model of cocaine vulnerability—the p190rhogap+/– mouse. p190RhoGAP is an actin cytoskeleton regulatory protein that stabilizes dendrites and dendritic spines, and p190rhogap+/– mice develop rapid and robust locomotor activation in response to cocaine. Despite this, oPFC dendritic arbors were intact in drug-naïve p190rhogap+/– mice. Together, these findings provide evidence that adolescent cocaine exposure has long-term effects on dendrite structure in the oPFC, and they suggest that cocaine-induced modifications in dendrite structure may contribute to the behavioral effects of cocaine more so than pre-existing structural abnormalities in this cell population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Riley E Perszyk
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kelsey S Zimmermann
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anthony J Koleske
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University , New Haven, CT, USA ; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University , New Haven, CT, USA ; Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Manvich DF, DePoy LM, Weinshenker D. Dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitors enhance the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2013; 347:564-73. [PMID: 24068832 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.113.207746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH), the enzyme that converts dopamine (DA) to norepinephrine (NE) in noradrenergic cells, have shown promise for the treatment of cocaine abuse disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of these compounds have not been fully elucidated. We used the drug discrimination paradigm to determine the impact of DBH inhibitors on the interoceptive stimulus properties of cocaine. Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate cocaine (5.6 mg/kg) from saline using a multicomponent, food-reinforced discrimination procedure. On test days, subjects were pretreated with the nonselective DBH inhibitor disulfiram (0-100.0 mg/kg i.p.) or the selective DBH inhibitor nepicastat (0-56.0 mg/kg i.p.) 2 hours prior to a test session either alone or in combination with cumulatively administered cocaine (0-5.6 mg/kg i.p.). Neither disulfiram nor nepicastat substituted for the cocaine stimulus when tested up to doses that nonspecifically reduced responding. However, in combination studies, pretreatment with either disulfiram or nepicastat produced leftward shifts in the cocaine dose-response function and also conferred cocaine-like stimulus effects to the selective NE transporter inhibitor, reboxetine (0.3-5.6 mg/kg i.p.). These results indicate that pharmacological inhibition of DBH does not produce cocaine-like interoceptive stimulus effects alone, but functionally enhances the interoceptive stimulus effects of cocaine, possibly due to facilitated increases in DA released from noradrenergic terminals. These findings suggest that DBH inhibitors have low abuse liability and provide support to clinical reports that some subjective effects produced by cocaine, particularly aversive effects, are enhanced after DBH inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F Manvich
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia (D.F.M., D.W.); and Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (L.M.D.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
DePoy LM, Noble B, Allen AG, Gourley SL. Developmentally divergent effects of Rho-kinase inhibition on cocaine- and BDNF-induced behavioral plasticity. Behav Brain Res 2013; 243:171-5. [PMID: 23327740 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Revised: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Prefrontal cortical dendritic spine remodeling during adolescence may open a window of vulnerability to pathological stimuli that impact long-term behavioral outcomes, but causal mechanisms remain unclear. We administered the Rho-kinase inhibitor HA-1077 during three adolescent periods in mice to destabilize dendritic spines. In adulthood, cocaine-induced locomotor activity was exaggerated. By contrast, when administered in adulthood, HA-1077 had no psychomotor consequences and normalized food-reinforced instrumental responding after orbitofrontal-selective knockdown of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a potential factor in addiction. Thus, early-life Rho-kinase inhibition confers cocaine vulnerability, but may actually protect against pathological reward-seeking - particularly in cases of diminished neurotrophic support - in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|