1
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Viana JF, Machado JL, Abreu DS, Veiga A, Barsanti S, Tavares G, Martins M, Sardinha VM, Guerra-Gomes S, Domingos C, Pauletti A, Wahis J, Liu C, Calì C, Henneberger C, Holt MG, Oliveira JF. Astrocyte structural heterogeneity in the mouse hippocampus. Glia 2023; 71:1667-1682. [PMID: 36949723 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are integral components of brain circuits, where they sense, process, and respond to surrounding activity, maintaining homeostasis and regulating synaptic transmission, the sum of which results in behavior modulation. These interactions are possible due to their complex morphology, composed of a tree-like structure of processes to cover defined territories ramifying in a mesh-like system of fine leaflets unresolved by conventional optic microscopy. While recent reports devoted more attention to leaflets and their dynamic interactions with synapses, our knowledge about the tree-like "backbone" structure in physiological conditions is incomplete. Recent transcriptomic studies described astrocyte molecular diversity, suggesting structural heterogeneity in regions such as the hippocampus, which is crucial for cognitive and emotional behaviors. In this study, we carried out the structural analysis of astrocytes across the hippocampal subfields of Cornu Ammonis area 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus in the dorsoventral axis. We found that astrocytes display heterogeneity across the hippocampal subfields, which is conserved along the dorsoventral axis. We further found that astrocytes appear to contribute in an exocytosis-dependent manner to a signaling loop that maintains the backbone structure. These findings reveal astrocyte heterogeneity in the hippocampus, which appears to follow layer-specific cues and depend on the neuro-glial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Filipe Viana
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - João Luís Machado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Daniela Sofia Abreu
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Veiga
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sara Barsanti
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Tavares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Manuella Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia Guerra-Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cátia Domingos
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alberto Pauletti
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jérôme Wahis
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chen Liu
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Corrado Calì
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- NICO - Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Christian Henneberger
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthew G Holt
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Synapse Biology Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
- IPCA-EST-2Ai, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Applied Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Campus of IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal
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2
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Loureiro-Campos E, Mateus-Pinheiro A, Patrício P, Soares-Cunha C, Silva J, Sardinha VM, Mendes-Pinheiro B, Silveira-Rosa T, Domingues AV, Rodrigues AJ, Oliveira J, Sousa N, Alves ND, Pinto L. Constitutive deficiency of the neurogenic hippocampal modulator AP2γ promotes anxiety-like behavior and cumulative memory deficits in mice from juvenile to adult periods. eLife 2021; 10:70685. [PMID: 34859784 PMCID: PMC8709574 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70685] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor activating protein two gamma (AP2γ) is an important regulator of neurogenesis both during embryonic development as well as in the postnatal brain, but its role for neurophysiology and behavior at distinct postnatal periods is still unclear. In this work, we explored the neurogenic, behavioral, and functional impact of a constitutive and heterozygous AP2γ deletion in mice from early postnatal development until adulthood. AP2γ deficiency promotes downregulation of hippocampal glutamatergic neurogenesis, altering the ontogeny of emotional and memory behaviors associated with hippocampus formation. The impairments induced by AP2γ constitutive deletion since early development leads to an anxious-like phenotype and memory impairments as early as the juvenile phase. These behavioral impairments either persist from the juvenile phase to adulthood or emerge in adult mice with deficits in behavioral flexibility and object location recognition. Collectively, we observed a progressive and cumulative impact of constitutive AP2γ deficiency on the hippocampal glutamatergic neurogenic process, as well as alterations on limbic-cortical connectivity, together with functional behavioral impairments. The results herein presented demonstrate the modulatory role exerted by the AP2γ transcription factor and the relevance of hippocampal neurogenesis in the development of emotional states and memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Loureiro-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - António Mateus-Pinheiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Patrício
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Mendes-Pinheiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Tiago Silveira-Rosa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Verónica Domingues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - João Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal.,IPCA-EST-2Ai, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Applied Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Campus of IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Dinis Alves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's -PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
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3
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Mateus-Pinheiro A, Patrício P, Alves ND, Martins-Macedo J, Caetano I, Silveira-Rosa T, Araújo B, Mateus-Pinheiro M, Silva-Correia J, Sardinha VM, Loureiro-Campos E, Rodrigues AJ, Oliveira JF, Bessa JM, Sousa N, Pinto L. Hippocampal cytogenesis abrogation impairs inter-regional communication between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and promotes the time-dependent manifestation of emotional and cognitive deficits. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7154-7166. [PMID: 34521994 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01287-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Impaired ability to generate new cells in the adult brain has been linked to deficits in multiple emotional and cognitive behavioral domains. However, the mechanisms by which abrogation of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) impacts on brain function remains controversial. We used a transgenic rat line, the GFAP-Tk, to selectively eliminate NSCs and assess repercussions on different behavioral domains. To assess the functional importance of newborn cells in specific developmental stages, two parallel experimental timeframes were adopted: a short- and a long-term timeline, 1 and 4 weeks after the abrogation protocol, respectively. We conducted in vivo electrophysiology to assess the effects of cytogenesis abrogation on the functional properties of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and on their intercommunication. Adult brain cytogenesis abrogation promoted a time-specific installation of behavioral deficits. While the lack of newborn immature hippocampal neuronal and glial cells elicited a behavioral phenotype restricted to hyperanxiety and cognitive rigidity, specific abrogation of mature new neuronal and glial cells promoted the long-term manifestation of a more complex behavioral profile encompassing alterations in anxiety and hedonic behaviors, along with deficits in multiple cognitive modalities. More so, abrogation of 4 to 7-week-old cells resulted in impaired electrophysiological synchrony of neural theta oscillations between the dorsal hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex, which are likely to contribute to the described long-term cognitive alterations. Hence, this work provides insight on how newborn neurons and astrocytes display different functional roles throughout different maturation stages, and establishes common ground to reconcile contrasting results that have marked this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- António Mateus-Pinheiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.,Department of Internal Medicine, Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Patrício
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Dinis Alves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Joana Martins-Macedo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Inês Caetano
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Tiago Silveira-Rosa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruna Araújo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Miguel Mateus-Pinheiro
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Silva-Correia
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Loureiro-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.,DIGARC, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal
| | - João M Bessa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
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4
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Guerra-Gomes S, Cunha-Garcia D, Marques Nascimento DS, Duarte-Silva S, Loureiro-Campos E, Morais Sardinha V, Viana JF, Sousa N, Maciel P, Pinto L, Oliveira JF. IP 3 R2 null mice display a normal acquisition of somatic and neurological development milestones. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 54:5673-5686. [PMID: 32166822 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are key players in the regulation of brain development and function. They sense and respond to the surrounding activity by elevating their intracellular calcium (Ca2+ ) levels. These astrocytic Ca2+ elevations emerge from different sources and display complex spatio-temporal properties. Ca2+ elevations are spatially distributed in global (soma and main processes) and/or focal regions (microdomains). The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 knockout (IP3 R2 KO) mouse model lacks global Ca2+ elevations in astrocytes, and it has been used by different laboratories. However, the constitutive deletion of IP3 R2 during development may trigger compensating phenotypes, which could bias the results of experiments using developing or adult mice. To address this issue, we performed a detailed neurodevelopmental evaluation of male and female IP3 R2 KO mice, during the first 21 days of life, as well as an evaluation of motor function, strength and neurological reflexes in adult mice. Our results show that male and female IP3 R2 KO mice display a normal acquisition of developmental milestones, as compared with wild-type (WT) mice. We also show that IP3 R2 KO mice display normal motor coordination, strength and neurological reflexes in adulthood. To exclude a potential compensatory overexpression of other IP3 Rs, we quantified the relative mRNA levels of all 3 subtypes, in brain tissue. We found that, along with the complete deletion of Itpr2, there is no compensatory expression of Itpr1 or Itrp3. Overall, our results show that the IP3 R2 KO mouse is a reliable model to study the functional impact of global IP3 R2-dependent astrocytic Ca2+ elevations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Guerra-Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniela Cunha-Garcia
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Diana Sofia Marques Nascimento
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Loureiro-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Viana
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Applied Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, IPCA-EST-2Ai, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal
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5
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Guerra-Gomes S, Viana JF, Nascimento DSM, Correia JS, Sardinha VM, Caetano I, Sousa N, Pinto L, Oliveira JF. The Role of Astrocytic Calcium Signaling in the Aged Prefrontal Cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:379. [PMID: 30455631 PMCID: PMC6230990 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a lifelong process characterized by cognitive decline putatively due to structural and functional changes of neural circuits of the brain. Neuron-glial signaling is a fundamental component of structure and function of circuits of the brain, and yet its possible role in aging remains elusive. Significantly, neuron-glial networks of the prefrontal cortex undergo age-related alterations that can affect cognitive function, and disruption of glial calcium signaling has been linked with cognitive performance. Motivated by these observations, we explored the possible role of glia in cognition during aging, considering a mouse model where astrocytes lacked IP3R2-dependent Ca2+ signaling. Contrarily to aged wild-type animals that showed significant impairment in a two-trial place recognition task, aged IP3R2 KO mice did not. Consideration of neuronal and astrocytic cell densities in the prefrontal cortex, revealed that aged IP3R2 KO mice present decreased densities of NeuN+ neurons and increased densities of S100β+ astrocytes. Moreover, aged IP3R2 KO mice display refined dendritic trees in this region. These findings suggest a novel role for astrocytes in the aged brain. Further evaluation of the neuron-glial interactions in the aged brain will disclose novel strategies to handle healthy cognitive aging in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Guerra-Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Viana
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Diana Sofia Marques Nascimento
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Sofia Correia
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Inês Caetano
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal.,IPCA-EST-2Ai, Applied Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Campus of IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal
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6
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Kafetzopoulos V, Kokras N, Sotiropoulos I, Oliveira JF, Leite-Almeida H, Vasalou A, Sardinha VM, Papadopoulou-Daifoti Z, Almeida OFX, Antoniou K, Sousa N, Dalla C. The nucleus reuniens: a key node in the neurocircuitry of stress and depression. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:579-586. [PMID: 28397837 PMCID: PMC5822458 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 09/08/2014] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are connected in a reciprocal manner: whereas the hippocampus projects directly to the PFC, a polysynaptic pathway that passes through the nucleus reuniens (RE) of the thalamus relays inputs from the PFC to the hippocampus. The present study demonstrates that lesioning and/or inactivation of the RE reduces coherence in the PFC-hippocampal pathway, provokes an antidepressant-like behavioral response in the forced swim test and prevents, but does not ameliorate, anhedonia in the chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression. Additionally, RE lesioning before CMS abrogates the well-known neuromorphological and endocrine correlates of CMS. In summary, this work highlights the importance of the reciprocal connectivity between the hippocampus and PFC in the establishment of stress-induced brain pathology and suggests a role for the RE in promoting resilience to depressive illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Kafetzopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - N Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece,First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - I Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal,ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - J F Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal,ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - H Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal,ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - A Vasalou
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - V M Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal,ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Z Papadopoulou-Daifoti
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - O F X Almeida
- NeuroAdaptations Group, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - K Antoniou
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - N Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal,ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - C Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece,Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Athens 11527, Greece. E-mail:
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7
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Sardinha VM, Guerra-Gomes S, Caetano I, Tavares G, Martins M, Reis JS, Correia JS, Teixeira-Castro A, Pinto L, Sousa N, Oliveira JF. Astrocytic signaling supports hippocampal-prefrontal theta synchronization and cognitive function. Glia 2017; 65:1944-1960. [PMID: 28885722 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [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: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes interact with neurons at the cellular level through modulation of synaptic formation, maturation, and function, but the impact of such interaction into behavior remains unclear. Here, we studied the dominant negative SNARE (dnSNARE) mouse model to dissect the role of astrocyte-derived signaling in corticolimbic circuits, with implications for cognitive processing. We found that the blockade of gliotransmitter release in astrocytes triggers a critical desynchronization of neural theta oscillations between dorsal hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Moreover, we found a strong cognitive impairment in tasks depending on this network. Importantly, the supplementation with d-serine completely restores hippocampal-prefrontal theta synchronization and rescues the spatial memory and long-term memory of dnSNARE mice. We provide here novel evidence of long distance network modulation by astrocytes, with direct implications to cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sónia Guerra-Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Inês Caetano
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Tavares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Manuella Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Santos Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Sofia Correia
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,DIGARC, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos 4750-810, Portugal
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8
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Caetano L, Pinheiro H, Patrício P, Mateus-Pinheiro A, Alves ND, Coimbra B, Baptista FI, Henriques SN, Cunha C, Santos AR, Ferreira SG, Sardinha VM, Oliveira JF, Ambrósio AF, Sousa N, Cunha RA, Rodrigues AJ, Pinto L, Gomes CA. Adenosine A 2A receptor regulation of microglia morphological remodeling-gender bias in physiology and in a model of chronic anxiety. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1035-1043. [PMID: 27725661 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Developmental risk factors, such as the exposure to stress or high levels of glucocorticoids (GCs), may contribute to the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. The immunomodulatory role of GCs and the immunological fingerprint found in animals prenatally exposed to GCs point towards an interplay between the immune and the nervous systems in the etiology of these disorders. Microglia are immune cells of the brain, responsive to GCs and morphologically altered in stress-related disorders. These cells are regulated by adenosine A2A receptors, which are also involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety. We now compare animal behavior and microglia morphology in males and females prenatally exposed to the GC dexamethasone. We report that prenatal exposure to dexamethasone is associated with a gender-specific remodeling of microglial cell processes in the prefrontal cortex: males show a hyper-ramification and increased length whereas females exhibit a decrease in the number and in the length of microglia processes. Microglial cells re-organization responded in a gender-specific manner to the chronic treatment with a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, which was able to ameliorate microglial processes alterations and anxiety behavior in males, but not in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Caetano
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - H Pinheiro
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - P Patrício
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A Mateus-Pinheiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - N D Alves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - B Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - F I Baptista
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S N Henriques
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - C Cunha
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A R Santos
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - S G Ferreira
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - V M Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - J F Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A F Ambrósio
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - N Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - R A Cunha
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - A J Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - L Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C A Gomes
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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9
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Tavares G, Martins M, Correia JS, Sardinha VM, Guerra-Gomes S, das Neves SP, Marques F, Sousa N, Oliveira JF. Employing an open-source tool to assess astrocyte tridimensional structure. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 222:1989-1999. [PMID: 27696155 PMCID: PMC5406431 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1316-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes display important features that allow them to maintain a close dialog with neurons, ultimately impacting brain function. The complex morphological structure of astrocytes is crucial to the role of astrocytes in brain networks. Therefore, assessing morphologic features of astrocytes will help provide insights into their physiological relevance in healthy and pathological conditions. Currently available tools that allow the tridimensional reconstruction of astrocytes present a number of disadvantages, including the need for advanced computational skills and powerful hardware, and are either time-consuming or costly. In this study, we optimized and validated the FIJI-ImageJ, Simple Neurite Tracer (SNT) plugin, an open-source software that aids in the reconstruction of GFAP-stained structure of astrocytes. We describe (1) the loading of confocal microscopy Z-stacks, (2) the selection criteria, (3) the reconstruction process, and (4) the post-reconstruction analysis of morphological features (process length, number, thickness, and arbor complexity). SNT allows the quantification of astrocyte morphometric parameters in a simple, efficient, and semi-automated manner. While SNT is simple to learn, and does not require advanced computational skills, it provides reproducible results, in different brain regions or pathophysiological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Tavares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Manuella Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Sofia Correia
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sónia Guerra-Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sofia Pereira das Neves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal. .,DIGARC, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, 4750-810, Barcelos, Portugal.
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10
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Lopes S, Lopes A, Pinto V, Guimarães MR, Sardinha VM, Duarte‐Silva S, Pinheiro S, Pizarro J, Oliveira JF, Sousa N, Leite‐Almeida H, Sotiropoulos I. Absence of Tau triggers age-dependent sciatic nerve morphofunctional deficits and motor impairment. Aging Cell 2016; 15:208-16. [PMID: 26748966 PMCID: PMC4783352 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [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] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dementia is the cardinal feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the clinical symptoms of this disorder also include a marked loss of motor function. Tau abnormal hyperphosphorylation and malfunction are well‐established key events in AD neuropathology but the impact of the loss of normal Tau function in neuronal degeneration and subsequent behavioral deficits is still debated. While Tau reduction has been increasingly suggested as therapeutic strategy against neurodegeneration, particularly in AD, there is controversial evidence about whether loss of Tau progressively impacts on motor function arguing about damage of CNS motor components. Using a variety of motor‐related tests, we herein provide evidence of an age‐dependent motor impairment in Tau−/− animals that is accompanied by ultrastructural and functional impairments of the efferent fibers that convey motor‐related information. Specifically, we show that the sciatic nerve of old (17–22‐months) Tau−/− mice displays increased degenerating myelinated fibers and diminished conduction properties, as compared to age‐matched wild‐type (Tau+/+) littermates and younger (4–6 months) Tau−/− and Tau+/+ mice. In addition, the sciatic nerves of Tau−/− mice exhibit a progressive hypomyelination (assessed by g‐ratio) specifically affecting large‐diameter, motor‐related axons in old animals. These findings suggest that loss of Tau protein may progressively impact on peripheral motor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Lopes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - André Lopes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Vítor Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Marco R. Guimarães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Vanessa Morais Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte‐Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Sara Pinheiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - João Pizarro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite‐Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
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11
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Lima A, Sardinha VM, Oliveira AF, Reis M, Mota C, Silva MA, Marques F, Cerqueira JJ, Pinto L, Sousa N, Oliveira JF. Astrocyte pathology in the prefrontal cortex impairs the cognitive function of rats. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:834-41. [PMID: 24419043 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2013.182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [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: 08/02/2013] [Revised: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Interest in astroglial cells is rising due to recent findings supporting dynamic neuron-astrocyte interactions. There is increasing evidence of astrocytic dysfunction in several brain disorders such as depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder; importantly these pathologies are characterized by the involvement of the prefrontal cortex and by significant cognitive impairments. Here, to model astrocyte pathology, we injected animals with the astrocyte specific toxin L-α-aminoadipate (L-AA) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC); a behavioral and structural characterization two and six days after the injection was performed. Behavioral data shows that the astrocyte pathology in the mPFC affects the attentional set-shifting, the working memory and the reversal learning functions. Histological analysis of brain sections of the L-AA-injected animals revealed a pronounced loss of astrocytes in the targeted region. Interestingly, analysis of neurons in the lesion sites showed a progressive neuronal loss that was accompanied with dendritic atrophy in the surviving neurons. These results suggest that the L-AA-induced astrocytic loss in the mPFC triggers subsequent neuronal damage leading to cognitive impairment in tasks depending on the integrity of this brain region. These findings are of relevance to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying disorders that involve astrocytic loss/dysfunction in the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lima
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - V M Sardinha
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A F Oliveira
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - M Reis
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C Mota
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - M A Silva
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - F Marques
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - J J Cerqueira
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - L Pinto
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - N Sousa
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - J F Oliveira
- 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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12
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Oliveira JF, Dias NS, Correia M, Gama-Pereira F, Sardinha VM, Lima A, Oliveira AF, Jacinto LR, Ferreira DS, Silva AM, Reis JS, Cerqueira JJ, Sousa N. Chronic stress disrupts neural coherence between cortico-limbic structures. Front Neural Circuits 2013; 7:10. [PMID: 23390414 PMCID: PMC3565161 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2013.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 11/07/2012] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress impairs cognitive function, namely on tasks that rely on the integrity of cortico-limbic networks. To unravel the functional impact of progressive stress in cortico-limbic networks we measured neural activity and spectral coherences between the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in rats subjected to short term stress (STS) and chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). CUS exposure consistently disrupted the spectral coherence between both areas for a wide range of frequencies, whereas STS exposure failed to trigger such effect. The chronic stress-induced coherence decrease correlated inversely with the vHIP power spectrum, but not with the mPFC power spectrum, which supports the view that hippocampal dysfunction is the primary event after stress exposure. Importantly, we additionally show that the variations in vHIP-to-mPFC coherence and power spectrum in the vHIP correlated with stress-induced behavioral deficits in a spatial reference memory task. Altogether, these findings result in an innovative readout to measure, and follow, the functional events that underlie the stress-induced reference memory impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Filipe Oliveira
- School of Health Sciences, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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