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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Sarti P, Blom JMC, Tascedda F, Lukowiak K. A translational and multidisciplinary approach to studying the Garcia effect, a higher form of learning with deep evolutionary roots. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247325. [PMID: 38639079 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Animals, including humans, learn and remember to avoid a novel food when its ingestion is followed, hours later, by sickness - a phenomenon initially identified during World War II as a potential means of pest control. In the 1960s, John Garcia (for whom the effect is now named) demonstrated that this form of conditioned taste aversion had broader implications, showing that it is a rapid but long-lasting taste-specific food aversion with a fundamental role in the evolution of behaviour. From the mid-1970s onward, the principles of the Garcia effect were translated to humans, showing its role in different clinical conditions (e.g. side-effects linked to chemotherapy). However, in the last two decades, the number of studies on the Garcia effect has undergone a considerable decline. Since its discovery in rodents, this form of learning was thought to be exclusive to mammals; however, we recently provided the first demonstration that a Garcia effect can be formed in an invertebrate model organism, the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Thus, in this Commentary, after reviewing the experiments that led to the first characterization of the Garcia effect in rodents, we describe the recent evidence for the Garcia effect in L. stagnalis, which may pave the way for future studies in other invertebrates and mammals. This article aims to inspire future translational and ecological studies that characterize the conserved mechanisms underlying this form of learning with deep evolutionary roots, which can be used to address a range of different biological questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, Pune - 412115, Maharashtra, India
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Sarti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Maria Catharina Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, 34148 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
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Batabyal A, Rivi V, Benatti C, Blom JMC, Tascedda F, Lukowiak K. Snails go on a fast when acetylsalicylic acid comes along with heat stress: A possible effect of HSPs and serotonergic system on the feeding response. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 276:109805. [PMID: 38013046 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
A novel food followed by sickness, causes a taste-specific conditioned aversion, known as the 'Garcia effect'. We recently found that both a heat shock stressor (30 °C for 1 h - HS) and the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can be used as 'sickness-inducing' stimuli to induce a Garcia effect in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Additionally, if snails are exposed to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) present in aspirin tablets before the LPS injection, the formation of the Garcia effect is prevented. Here, we hypothesized that exposing snails to crushed aspirin before the HS (ASA-HS) would prevent the HS-induced 'sickness state' and - therefore -the Garcia effect. Unexpectantly, the ASA-HS procedure induced a generalized and long-lasting feeding suppression. We thus investigate the molecular effects underlying this phenomenon. While the exposure to the HS alone resulted in a significant upregulation of the mRNA levels of the Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP 70) in snails' central ring ganglia, the ASA-HS procedure induced an even greater upregulation of HSP70, suggesting that the ASA-HS combination causes a severe stress response that inhibits feeding. Additionally, we found that the ASA-HS procedure induced a significant downregulation of the mRNA levels of genes involved with the serotoninergic system which regulates feeding in snails. Finally, the ASA-HS procedure prevented HS-induced upregulation of the mRNA levels of key neuroplasticity genes. Our study indicates that two sickness-inducing stimuli can have different physiological responses even if behavioral outcomes are similar under some learning contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, India; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 4N1, AB, Canada.
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna M C Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 4N1, AB, Canada
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Blom JMC, Tascedda F, Lukowiak K. Investigating the interactions between multiple memory stores in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:91-102. [PMID: 37395798 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-023-01649-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis exhibits various forms of associative learning including (1) operant conditioning of aerial respiration where snails are trained not to open their pneumostome in a hypoxic pond water environment using a weak tactile stimulus to their pneumostome as they attempt to open it; and (2) a 24 h-lasting taste-specific learned avoidance known as the Garcia effect utilizing a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection just after snails eat a novel food substance (carrot). Typically, lab-inbred snails require two 0.5 h training sessions to form long-term memory (LTM) for operant conditioning of aerial respiration. However, some stressors (e.g., heat shock or predator scent) act as memory enhancers and thus a single 0.5 h training session is sufficient to enhance LTM formation lasting at least 24 h. Here, we found that snails forming a food-aversion LTM following Garcia-effect training exhibited enhanced LTM following operant condition of aerial respiration if trained in the presence of the food substance (carrot) they became averse to. Control experiments led us to conclude that carrot becomes a 'sickness' risk signal and acts as a stressor, sufficient to enhance LTM formation for another conditioning procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, Pune, India
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna M C Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Blom JMC, Rivi V, Tascedda F, Pani L. The nexus of social alliances and diverse moral domains: a bedrock for participatory clinical research. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1250247. [PMID: 37849486 PMCID: PMC10577180 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1250247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M. C. Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Pani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Lukowiak K, Benatti C, Rigillo G, Tascedda F, Blom JMC. LPS-Induced Garcia Effect and Its Pharmacological Regulation Mediated by Acetylsalicylic Acid: Behavioral and Transcriptional Evidence. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:1100. [PMID: 37626986 PMCID: PMC10451780 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081100] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Lymnaea stagnalis learns and remembers to avoid certain foods when their ingestion is followed by sickness. This rapid, taste-specific, and long-lasting aversion-known as the Garcia effect-can be formed by exposing snails to a novel taste and 1 h later injecting them with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the exposure of snails to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for 1 h before the LPS injection, prevents both the LPS-induced sickness state and the Garcia effect. Here, we investigated novel aspects of this unique form of conditioned taste aversion and its pharmacological regulation. We first explored the transcriptional effects in the snails' central nervous system induced by the injection with LPS (25 mg), the exposure to ASA (900 nM), as well as their combined presentation in untrained snails. Then, we investigated the behavioral and molecular mechanisms underlying the LPS-induced Garcia effect and its pharmacological regulation by ASA. LPS injection, both alone and during the Garcia effect procedure, upregulated the expression levels of immune- and stress-related targets. This upregulation was prevented by pre-exposure to ASA. While LPS alone did not affect the expression levels of neuroplasticity genes, its combination with the conditioning procedure resulted in their significant upregulation and memory formation for the Garcia effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (C.B.); (G.R.)
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (A.B.); (K.L.)
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, Pune 412115, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (A.B.); (K.L.)
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (C.B.); (G.R.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Rigillo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (C.B.); (G.R.)
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, 34148 Trieste, Italy
| | - Joan M. C. Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (C.B.); (G.R.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
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Rivi V, Rigillo G, Toscano Y, Benatti C, Blom JMC. Narrative Review of the Complex Interaction between Pain and Trauma in Children: A Focus on Biological Memory, Preclinical Data, and Epigenetic Processes. Children (Basel) 2023; 10:1217. [PMID: 37508714 PMCID: PMC10378710 DOI: 10.3390/children10071217] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The incidence and collective impact of early adverse experiences, trauma, and pain continue to increase. This underscores the urgent need for translational efforts between clinical and preclinical research to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective therapeutic approaches. As our understanding of these issues improves from studies in children and adolescents, we can create more precise preclinical models and ultimately translate our findings back to clinical practice. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for addressing the complex and wide-ranging effects of these experiences on individuals and society. This narrative review aims to (1) define pain and trauma experiences in childhood and adolescents, (2) discuss the relationship between pain and trauma, (3) consider the role of biological memory, (4) decipher the relationship between pain and trauma using preclinical data, and (5) examine the role of the environment by introducing the importance of epigenetic processes. The ultimate scope is to better understand the wide-ranging effects of trauma, abuse, and chronic pain on children and adolescents, how they occur, and how to prevent or mitigate their effects and develop effective treatment strategies that address both the underlying causes and the associated physiological and psychological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Rigillo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Ylenia Toscano
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Maria Catharina Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Scarponi D, Sarti P, Rivi V, Colliva C, Marconi E, Pession A, Blom JMC. Emotional, Behavioral, and Physical Health Consequences in Caregivers of Children with Cancer: A Network Analysis Differentiation in Mothers' and Fathers' Reactivity. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3496. [PMID: 37444606 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133496] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric cancer presents mental and physical challenges for patients and their caregivers. However, parental distress has been understudied despite its negative impact on quality of life, disability, and somatic disorders. Parents of oncopediatric patients experience high levels of suffering with their resilience tested throughout their children's illness. Identifying at-risk parents and offering specific treatments is crucial and urgent to prevent or alleviate negative outcomes. METHODS This study used statistical and network analyses to examine symptom patterns assessed by the Kellner Symptom Questionnaire in 16 fathers and 23 mothers at different time points: diagnosis, treatment, and discharge. RESULTS The results indicated significantly higher distress levels in parents of oncopediatric children compared to the control reference population. Gender-specific differences in symptom profiles were observed at each time point, and symptoms showed a gradual but non-significant decrease over time. CONCLUSIONS The network analysis yielded valuable insights that, when applied in clinical practice, can guide the implementation of timely treatments to prevent and manage parental distress, thus addressing long-term, stress-related issues in primary caregivers of children diagnosed and treated for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorella Scarponi
- Unità Operativa Pediatria Pession, IRSSC S. Orsola, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Sarti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Marconi
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Radiation Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pession
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Johanna M C Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Tascedda F, Mc Blom J, Lukowiak K. Prey populations with different predation histories show differences in behavioral and transcriptional effects under acute predation threat. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023:107775. [PMID: 37263390 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107775] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Predator detection induces both behavioral and physiological responses in prey organisms. Our model organism, the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, shows multiple defensive behaviors in response to predator cues. In this study, we investigated and compared the transcriptional effects induced by the exposure to a predator scent (i.e., crayfish effluent - CE) in a strain of lab-inbred snails (i.e., W snails), which have been raised and maintained under standardized laboratory conditions for generations and a strain of freshly collected snails (i.e., Margo snails), which live in a crayfish-free pond. Neither the W- strain nor the Margo Lake snails used in this study have actually experienced crayfish. However, the W strain innately recognizes crayfish as a threat. We found that, following the exposure to CE, both strains showed significantly higher mRNA levels of serotonin-related genes. This is important, as the serotonergic system modulates predator detection and vigilance behaviors in pond snails. However, the expression levels of CREB1 and HSP70 were only upregulated in CE-exposed W snails but not in Margo ones. As CREB1 plays a key role in learning and memory formation, whereas HSP70 is involved in stress response, we investigated whether these differences in CREB1 and HSP70 mRNA levels would reflect differences in predator-induced learning (e.g., configural learning). We found that only W snails formed configural learning memory, whereas Margo snails did not. Thus, while both the strains molecularly respond to the CE by upregulating the serotoninergic system, only W snails behaviorally recognize CE as a threat and, therefore, form configural learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, Pune, India
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Joan Mc Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Kagan D, Rivi V, Benatti C, Tascedda F, Blom JMC, Lukowiak K. No food for thought: An intermediate level of food deprivation enhances memory in Lymnaea. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:310760. [PMID: 37171211 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245566] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Nutritional status plays an important role in cognitive functioning but there is disagreement on the role that food deprivation plays in learning and memory. In this study, we investigated the behavioral and transcriptional effects induced by different lengths of food deprivation: 1 day, which is a short-time period of food deprivation, and 3 days, which is an 'intermediate' level of food deprivation. Snails were subjected to different feeding regimens and then trained for operant conditioning of aerial respiration where they received a single 0.5h training session followed by a long-term memory (LTM) test 24h later. Immediately after the memory test, snails were sacrificed and the expression levels of key genes for neuroplasticity, energy balance, and stress response were measured in the central ring ganglia. We found that 1 day of food deprivation was not sufficient to enhance snails' LTM formation and subsequently did not result in any significant transcriptional effects. However, 3 days of food deprivation resulted in enhanced LTM formation and caused the upregulation of neuroplasticity and stress-related genes and the downregulation of serotonin-related genes. These data provide further insight into how nutritional status and related molecular mechanisms impact cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Kagan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Joan M C Blom
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Rivi V, Benatti C, Blom JMC, Pani L, Brunello N, Drago F, Papaleo F, Caraci F, Geraci F, Torrisi SA, Leggio GM, Tascedda F. The Role of Dopamine D3 Receptors, Dysbindin, and Their Functional Interaction in the Expression of Key Genes for Neuroplasticity and Neuroinflammation in the Mouse Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8699. [PMID: 37240042 PMCID: PMC10218262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia remains a clinically and pharmacologically unsolved challenge. Clinical and preclinical studies have revealed that the concomitant reduction in dysbindin (DYS) and dopamine receptor D3 functionality improves cognitive functions. However, the molecular machinery underlying this epistatic interaction has not yet been fully elucidated. The glutamate NMDA receptors and the neurotrophin BDNF, with their established role in promoting neuroplasticity, may be involved in the complex network regulated by the D3/DYS interaction. Furthermore, as inflammation is involved in the etiopathogenesis of several psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, the D3/DYS interaction may affect the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, by employing mutant mice bearing selective heterozygosis for D3 and/or DYS, we provide new insights into the functional interactions (single and synergic) between these schizophrenia susceptibility genes and the expression levels of key genes for neuroplasticity and neuroinflammation in three key brain areas for schizophrenia: the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. In the hippocampus, the epistatic interaction between D3 and DYS reversed to the wild-type level the downregulated mRNA levels of GRIN1 and GRIN2A were observed in DYS +/- and D3 +/- mice. In all the areas investigated, double mutant mice had higher BDNF levels compared to their single heterozygote counterparts, whereas D3 hypofunction resulted in higher pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results may help to clarify the genetic mechanisms and functional interactions involved in the etiology and development of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Joan M. C. Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Luca Pani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Nicoletta Brunello
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Italian Institute of Technology, 16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Federica Geraci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Sebastiano Alfio Torrisi
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Gian Marco Leggio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Blom JM, Tascedda F, Lukowiak K. Novel taste, sickness, and memory: Lipopolysaccharide to induce a Garcia-like effect in inbred and wild strains of Lymnaea stagnalis. Physiol Behav 2023; 263:114137. [PMID: 36841323 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114137] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Food is not only necessary for our survival but also elicits pleasure. However, when a novel food is followed sometime later by nausea or sickness animals form a long-lasting association to avoid that food. This phenomenon is called the 'Garcia effect'. We hypothesized that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could be used as the sickness-inducing stimulus to produce a Garcia-like effect in inbred and wild populations of Lymnaea stagnalis. We first demonstrated that the injection of 25 μg (6.25 µg/mL) of Escherichia coli-derived LPS serotype O127:B8 did not by itself alter snails' feeding behavior. Then we showed that the presentation of a novel appetitive stimulus (i.e., carrot slurry) and LPS resulted in a taste-specific and long-lasting feeding suppression (i.e., the Garcia-like effect). We also found strain-specific variations in the duration of the long-term memory (LTM). That is, while the LTM for the Garcia-like effect in W-strain snails persisted for 24h, LTM persisted for 48h in freshly collected Margo snails and their F1 offspring. Finally, we demonstrated that the exposure to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) before the LPS injection prevented both the LPS-induced sickness state and the Garcia-like effect from occurring. The results of this study may pave the way for new research that aims at (1) uncovering the conserved molecular mechanisms underlying the Garcia-like effect, (2) understanding how cognitive traits vary within and between species, and (3) creating a holistic picture of the complex dialogue between the immune and central nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, India
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Mc Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Tascedda F, Blom JMC, Lukowiak K. A Novel Behavioral Display in Lymnaea Induced by Quercetin and Hypoxia. Biol Bull 2023; 244:115-127. [PMID: 37725701 DOI: 10.1086/725689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis employs aerial respiration under hypoxia and can be operantly conditioned to reduce this behavior. When applied individually, a heat shock (30 °C for 1 h) and the flavonoid quercetin enhance long-term memory formation for the operant conditioning of aerial respiration. However, when snails are exposed to quercetin before the heat shock, long-term memory is no longer enhanced. This is because quercetin prevents the heat-induced upregulation of heat-shock proteins 70 and 40. When we tested the memory outcome of operant conditioning due to the simultaneous exposure to quercetin and 30 °C, we found that Lymnaea entered a quiescent survival state. The same behavioral response occurred when snails were simultaneously exposed to quercetin and pond water made hypoxic by bubbling nitrogen through it. Thus, in this study, we performed six experiments to propose a physiological explanation for that curious behavioral response. Our results suggest that bubbling nitrogen in pond water, heating pond water to 30 °C, and bubbling nitrogen in 30 °C pond water create a hypoxic environment, to which organisms may respond by upregulating the heat-shock protein system. On the other hand, when snails experience quercetin together with these hypoxic conditions, they can no longer express the physiological stress response evoked by heat or hypoxia. Thus, the quiescent survival state could be an emergency response to survive the hypoxic condition when the heat-shock proteins cannot be activated.
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Abstract
In this Commentary, we shed light on the use of invertebrates as model organisms for understanding the causal and conserved mechanisms of learning and memory. We provide a condensed chronicle of the contribution offered by mollusks to the studies on how and where the nervous system encodes and stores memory and describe the rich cognitive capabilities of some insect species, including attention and concept learning. We also discuss the use of planarians for investigating the dynamics of memory during brain regeneration and highlight the role of stressful stimuli in forming memories. Furthermore, we focus on the increasing evidence that invertebrates display some forms of emotions, which provides new opportunities for unveiling the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying the complex interaction between stress, emotions and cognition. In doing so, we highlight experimental challenges and suggest future directions that we expect the field to take in the coming years, particularly regarding what we, as humans, need to know for preventing and/or delaying memory loss. This article has an associated ECR Spotlight interview with Veronica Rivi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Rigillo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Joan M C Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Rivi V, Benatti C, Actis P, Tascedda F, Blom JMC. Behavioral and Transcriptional Effects of Short or Prolonged Fasting on the Memory Performances of Lymnaea stagnalis. Neuroendocrinology 2023; 113:406-422. [PMID: 36223719 DOI: 10.1159/000527489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Garcia effect, a solid learning paradigm, was used to investigate the molecular and behavioral effects induced by different lengths of fasting on the cognitive functions in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, a valid model system. METHODS Three experimental groups were used: moderately hungry snails, food-deprived for 1 day (D1 snails), severely hungry snails (D5 snails), fasting for 5 days, and satiated snails with ad libitum access to food (AL snails). In the Garcia effect, a single pairing of an appetitive stimulus with a heat stressor results in a learned taste-specific negative hedonic shift. D5 snails were injected with bovine insulin and D1 snails with the insulin receptor antibody (Ab). As a control group, AL snails were injected with saline. Gene expression analyses were performed by real-time PCR in snails' central nervous system (CNS). RESULTS AL snails are "average learners," D1 snails are the best performers, whereas the D5 ones do not show the Garcia effect. Severely fasting snails injected with insulin 3 h before the training procedure show the Garcia effect, whereas injecting 1-day fasting snails with insulin receptor Ab blocks their ability to express memory. The differences in memory performances are associated with changes in the expression levels of selected targets involved in neuronal plasticity, energy homeostasis, and stress response. DISCUSSION Our results suggest that short-term fasting creates an optimal internal state in L. stagnalis' CNS, allowing a spike in insulin release and an upregulation of genes involved in neuroplasticity. Long-term fasting, instead, upregulates genes involved in energy homeostasis and animal survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Pietro Actis
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Johanna Maria Catharina Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Tascedda F, Blom JMC, Lukowiak K. Aspirin reverts lipopolysaccharide-induced learning and memory impairment: first evidence from an invertebrate model system. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2022; 395:1573-1585. [PMID: 36100758 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02286-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
By employing a reductionistic (but not simplistic) approach using an established invertebrate model system, the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, we investigated whether (1) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation would cause a sickness state and impair cognitive function, and-if so-(2) would aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid-ASA) restore the impaired cognition. To test our hypotheses, we first determined if the injection of 25 mg (6.25 μg/mL) of Escherichia coli-derived LPS serotype O127:B8 altered homeostatic behavior, aerial respiration, and then determined if LPS altered memory formation when this behavior was operantly conditioned. Next, we determined if ASA altered the LPS-induced changes in both aerial respiration and cognitive functions. LPS induced a sickness state that increased aerial respiration and altered the ability of snails to form or recall long-term memory. ASA reverted the LPS-induced sickness state and thus allowed long-term memory both to be formed and recalled. We confirmed our hypotheses and provided the first evidence in an invertebrate model system that an injection of LPS results in a sickness state that obstructs learning and memory, and this impairment can be prevented by a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Joan M C Blom
- CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Batabyal A, Chau D, Rivi V, Lukowiak K. Risk in one is not risk in all: snails show differential decision making under high- and low-risk environments. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Tascedda F, Blom JM, Lukowiak K. Too Hot to Eat: Wild and Lab-Bred Lymnaea stagnalis Differ in Feeding Response Following Repeated Heat Exposure. Biol Bull 2022; 243:38-43. [PMID: 36108033 DOI: 10.1086/720948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
AbstractAcute extreme heat events are increasing in frequency and intensity. Understanding their effects on ectothermic organisms' homeostasis is both important and urgent. In this study we found that the exposure to an acute heat shock (30 °C for 1 hour) repeated for a seven-day period severely suppressed the feeding behavior of laboratory-inbred (W-strain) Lymnaea stagnalis, whereas the first-generation offspring of freshly collected wild (F1 D-strain) snails raised and maintained under similar laboratory conditions did not show any alterations. The W-strain snails might have inadvertently been selected against heat tolerance since they were first brought into the laboratory many (∼70) years ago. We also posit that the F1 D-strain snails do not perceive the heat shock as a sufficient stressor to alter their feeding response because their parental populations in wild environments have repeatedly experienced temperature fluctuations, thus becoming more tolerant and resilient to heat. The different responses exhibited by two strains of the same species highlight the importance of selecting the most appropriate strain for addressing questions about the impacts of global warming on organisms' physiology and behavior.
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Wiley B, Benatti C, Tascedda F, Blom JMC, Lukowiak K. Fluoride affects memory by altering the transcriptional activity in the central nervous system of Lymnaea stagnalis. Neurotoxicology 2022; 92:61-66. [PMID: 35907516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fluoride (F-), has been found to affect learning and memory in several species. In this study, we exposed an F--naïve, inbred strain of Lymnaea stagnalis to a concentration of F- similar to that naturally occurring in wild ponds. We found that the exposure to F- before the configural learning procedure obstructs the memory formation and blocks the configural learning-induced upregulation of CREB1, GRIN1, and HSP70 in snails' central ring ganglia. Along with altering the mRNA levels of these key genes for memory formation, a single acute F- exposure also upregulates Cytochrome c Oxidase, a major regulatory enzyme of the electron transport chain, which plays direct or indirect roles in reactive oxygen species production. As the central nervous system is sensitive to oxidative stress and consistent with previous studies from mammals, our results suggest a potential role of oxidative stress in memory impairment. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the neuronal mechanism of memory impairment in an invertebrate species that is exposed to natural F- levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Bevin Wiley
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Joan M C Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Benatti C, Blom JM, Lukowiak K. Nature versus nurture in heat stress induced learning between inbred and outbred populations of Lymnaea stagnalis. J Therm Biol 2022; 103:103170. [PMID: 35027189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Changing environmental conditions often lead to microevolution of traits that are adaptive under the current selection pressure. Currently, one of the major selection pressures is the rise in temperatures globally that has a severe impact on the behavioral ecology of animals. However, the role of thermal stress on neuronal plasticity and memory formation is not well understood. Thermal tolerance and sensitivity to heat stress show variation across populations of the same species experiencing different thermal regimes. We used two populations of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis: one lab-bred W-snails and the other wild Delta snails to test heat shock induced learning and memory formation for the Garcia effect learning paradigm. In Garcia effect, a single pairing of a heat stressor (30 °C for 1h) with a novel taste results in a taste-specific negative hedonic shift lasting 24h as long-term memory (LTM) in lab bred W-snails. In this study we used a repeated heat stress procedure to test for increased or decreased sensitivity to the heat before testing for the Garcia effect. We found that lab-bred W-snails show increased sensitivity to heat stress after repeated heat exposure for 7days, leading to enhanced LTM for Garcia effect with only 15min of heat exposure instead of standard 1h. Surprisingly, the freshly collected wild snails do not show Garcia effect. Additionally, F1 generation of wild snails raised and maintained under laboratory conditions still retain their heat stress tolerance similar to their parents and do not show a Garcia effect under standard learning paradigm or even after repeated heat stressor. Thus, we found a differential effect of heat stress on memory formation in wild and lab bred snails. Most interestingly we also show that local environmental (temperature) conditions for one generation is not enough to alter thermal sensitivity in a wild population of L. stagnalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Mc Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Kagan D, Batabyal A, Rivi V, Lukowiak K. A change in taste: The role of MicroRNAs in altering hedonic value. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274208. [PMID: 34989810 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243840] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms associated with neophobia, and anhedonia remain largely unknown. Neuropsychological disorders such as depression and schizophrenia are associated with excessive fear and anhedonia and have been linked to microRNA 137. We hypothesized that microRNAs (miRNAs) in the snail Lymnaea stagnalis are important for regulating feeding behaviour through either preventing neophobia or establishing hedonic value. To test these hypotheses, we used an injection of Poly-L-Lysine (PLL) to inhibit miRNA biogenesis and observed its effects on feeding behaviour. We repeated these experiments with pre-exposure to novel stimuli capable of eliciting neophobia to disentangle the processes predicted to regulate feeding behaviour. Next, we exposed snails to food stimuli of high hedonic value after PLL injection to reset their hedonic value for that food. Finally, we consolidated our results with previous research by examining the effect of PLL injection on a one trial appetitive classical conditioning procedure (1TT) to induce long term memory (LTM). We found that miRNAs are likely not required for preventing neophobia. Moreover, we discovered that snails experienced anhedonia in response to inhibition of miRNA biogenesis, resulting in diminished feeding behaviour for food stimuli with a previously high hedonic value. Snails showed diminished feeding behaviour for multiple food stimuli of high hedonic value post 1TT with PLL injection. This finding suggested that PLL causes anhedonia rather than an impairment of LTM formation following the 1TT procedure. This is the first evidence suggesting that inhibiting the biogenesis of miRNAs contributes to anhedonia in Lymnaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Kagan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.,Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
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Batabyal A, Rivi V, Benatti C, Blom JMC, Lukowiak K. Long-term memory of configural learning is enhanced via CREB upregulation by the flavonoid quercetin in Lymnaea stagnalis. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:268357. [PMID: 34031691 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242761] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Animals respond to acute stressors by modifying their behaviour and physiology. The pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis exhibits configural learning (CL), a form of higher order associative learning. In CL snails develop a landscape of fear when they experience a predatory cue along with a taste of food. This experience results in a suppression of the food response; but the memory only persists for 3 h. Lymnaea has also been found to upregulate heat shock proteins (HSPs) as a result of acute heat stress, which leads to the enhancement of memory formation. A plant flavonoid quercetin blocks the upregulation of HSPs when experienced prior to heat stress. Here, we used this blocking mechanism to test the hypothesis that HSP upregulation plays a critical role in CL. Snails experienced quercetin prior to CL training and surprisingly instead of blocking memory formation it enhanced the memory such that it now persisted for at least 24 h. Quercetin exposure either prior to or after CL enhanced long-term memory (LTM) up to 48 h. We quantified mRNA levels of the transcription factor CREB1 in the Lymnaea central nervous system and found LymCREB1 to be upregulated following quercetin exposure. The enhanced LTM phenotype in L. stagnalis was most pronounced when quercetin was experienced during the consolidation phase. Additionally, quercetin exposure during the memory reconsolidation phase also led to memory enhancement. Thus, we found no support of our original hypothesis but found that quercetin exposure upregulated LymCREB1 leading to LTM formation for CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Batabyal
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1.,Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna M C Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1
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Fernell M, Rivi V, Batabyal A, Lukowiak K. The temperature sensitivity of memory formation and persistence is altered by cold acclimation in a pond snail. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:269088. [PMID: 34105727 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
There are reports on the inability of inbred, laboratory-reared Lymnaea stagnalis to perform feeding and aerial respiration in the cold. It has also been suggested that laboratory-bred snails have an inability to perform aerial respiration in winter months in the laboratory. Here, we used an inbred, laboratory-reared strain of Lymnaea (the S-strain) to demonstrate that the snails are capable of performing those behaviours in a cold (4°C) environment after a 2 day acclimation period. In addition, the inbred snails were able to perform aerial respiration during winter months at room temperature (20°C) in the laboratory. The persistence of long-term memory (LTM) was extended for at least 4 weeks by placing S-strain snails into a 4°C environment following training. Typically, the cold block (CB) procedure (1 h at 4°C) immediately after a training session blocks LTM formation in the S-strain but not in a freshly collected strain. Four weeks at 4°C transformed the S-strain phenotype into one resisting the CB procedure. Thus, with a 4 week cold spell snails gain a resistance to the CB procedure, and that would explain why freshly collected snails are resistant to the procedure. However, we found that F1 progeny of a freshly collected strain reared in the laboratory were resistant to the CB procedure. This suggests that an unknown selection resulted in the S-strain being susceptible to the CB procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Fernell
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Juego K, Kakadiya M, Benatti C, Blom JMC, Lukowiak K. To eat or not to eat: a Garcia effect in pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2021; 207:479-495. [PMID: 34052874 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01491-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Taste aversion learning is universal. In animals, a single presentation of a novel food substance followed hours later by visceral illness causes animals to avoid that taste. This is known as bait-shyness or the Garcia effect. Humans demonstrate this by avoiding a certain food following the development of nausea after ingesting that food ('Sauce Bearnaise effect'). Here, we show that the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis is capable of the Garcia effect. A single 'pairing' of a novel taste, a carrot slurry followed hours later by a heat shock stressor (HS) is sufficient to suppress feeding response elicited by carrot for at least 24 h. Other food tastes are not suppressed. If snails had previously been exposed to carrot as their food source, the Garcia-like effect does not occur when carrot is 'paired' with the HS. The HS up-regulates two heat shock proteins (HSPs), HSP70 and HSP40. Blocking the up-regulation of the HSPs by a flavonoid, quercetin, before the heat shock, prevented the Garcia effect in the snails. Finally, we found that snails exhibit Garcia effect following a period of food deprivation but the long-term memory (LTM) phenotype can be observed only if the animals are tested in a food satiated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Karla Juego
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Mili Kakadiya
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna M C Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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Rivi V, Benatti C, Lukowiak K, Colliva C, Alboni S, Tascedda F, Blom JMC. What can we teach Lymnaea and what can Lymnaea teach us? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1590-1602. [PMID: 33821539 PMCID: PMC9545797 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
This review describes the advantages of adopting a molluscan complementary model, the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis, to study the neural basis of learning and memory in appetitive and avoidance classical conditioning; as well as operant conditioning of its aerial respiratory and escape behaviour. We firstly explored ‘what we can teach Lymnaea’ by discussing a variety of sensitive, solid, easily reproducible and simple behavioural tests that have been used to uncover the memory abilities of this model system. Answering this question will allow us to open new frontiers in neuroscience and behavioural research to enhance our understanding of how the nervous system mediates learning and memory. In fact, from a translational perspective, Lymnaea and its nervous system can help to understand the neural transformation pathways from behavioural output to sensory coding in more complex systems like the mammalian brain. Moving on to the second question: ‘what can Lymnaea teach us?’, it is now known that Lymnaea shares important associative learning characteristics with vertebrates, including stimulus generalization, generalization of extinction and discriminative learning, opening the possibility to use snails as animal models for neuroscience translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy.,Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Chiara Colliva
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy.,Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy
| | - Silvia Alboni
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy.,Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy.,Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy.,CIB, Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie, Trieste, Italy
| | - Johanna M C Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy.,Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, Modena, 287-41125, Italy
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Melegari G, Rivi V, Zelent G, Nasillo V, De Santis E, Melegari A, Bevilacqua C, Zoli M, Meletti S, Barbieri A. Mild to Severe Neurological Manifestations of COVID-19: Cases Reports. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph18073673. [PMID: 33915937 PMCID: PMC8036948 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The main focus of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is pulmonary complications through virus-related neurological manifestations, ranging from mild to severe, such as encephalitis, cerebral thrombosis, neurocognitive (dementia-like) syndrome, and delirium. The hospital screening procedures for quickly recognizing neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are often complicated by other coexisting symptoms and can be obscured by the deep sedation procedures required for critically ill patients. Here, we present two different case-reports of COVID-19 patients, describing neurological complications, diagnostic imaging such as olfactory bulb damage (a mild and unclear underestimated complication) and a severe and sudden thrombotic stroke complicated with hemorrhage with a low-level cytokine storm and respiratory symptom resolution. We discuss the possible mechanisms of virus entrance, together with the causes of COVID-19-related encephalitis, olfactory bulb damage, ischemic stroke, and intracranial hemorrhage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Melegari
- Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0593961536
| | - Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Neuroscience Post Graduate School, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (M.Z.)
| | - Gabriele Zelent
- Neuroradiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Nasillo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.N.); (E.D.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Elena De Santis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.N.); (E.D.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Alessandra Melegari
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.N.); (E.D.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Claudia Bevilacqua
- School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (C.B.); (A.B.)
| | - Michele Zoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Neuroscience Post Graduate School, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (M.Z.)
| | - Stefano Meletti
- Neurology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Modena, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Alberto Barbieri
- School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (C.B.); (A.B.)
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26
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Melegari
- Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Johanna M C Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience andNeurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, Modena, Italy
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27
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Greta Petrilli
- Unità di Psichiatria-Ambulatorio Varenna per la Salute Mentale Perinatale, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
- Area Perinatale SIPRe-Milano, Società Italiana di Psicoanalisi della Relazione, Milan, Italy
| | - Johanna M. C. Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- *Correspondence: Johanna M. C. Blom
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28
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Rivi V, Benatti C, Colliva C, Radighieri G, Brunello N, Tascedda F, Blom JMC. Lymnaea stagnalis as model for translational neuroscience research: From pond to bench. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:602-616. [PMID: 31786320 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to illustrate how a reductionistic, but sophisticated, approach based on the use of a simple model system such as the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L. stagnalis), might be useful to address fundamental questions in learning and memory. L. stagnalis, as a model, provides an interesting platform to investigate the dialog between the synapse and the nucleus and vice versa during memory and learning. More importantly, the "molecular actors" of the memory dialogue are well-conserved both across phylogenetic groups and learning paradigms, involving single- or multi-trials, aversion or reward, operant or classical conditioning. At the same time, this model could help to study how, where and when the memory dialog is impaired in stressful conditions and during aging and neurodegeneration in humans and thus offers new insights and targets in order to develop innovative therapies and technology for the treatment of a range of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Rivi
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - C Benatti
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - C Colliva
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - G Radighieri
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - N Brunello
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - F Tascedda
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - J M C Blom
- Dept. of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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Mandrioli M, Rivi V, Nardelli A, Manicardi GC. Genomic and Cytogenetic Localization of the Carotenoid Genes in the Aphid Genome. Cytogenet Genome Res 2016; 149:207-217. [PMID: 27585067 DOI: 10.1159/000448669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Data published in the scientific literature suggests a possible link between chromosomal rearrangements involving autosomes 1 and 3 and the presence of red morphs in the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). In order to begin a study of this relationship, we analysed the genomic and chromosomal location of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis in M. persicae and the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), since carotenoids are the basis of the colour in many aphid species. Genomic analysis identified a DNA sequence containing carotenoid genes in synteny between the 2 species. According to the results obtained using in situ PCR, carotenoid genes were located in a subterminal portion of autosome 1 in both species. The same localization has also been observed in the onion aphid Neotoxoptera formosana Takahashi that, as M. persicae and A. pisum, belongs to the tribe Macrosiphini, thereby suggesting a synteny of this chromosomal region in aphids. In situ PCR experiments performed on 2 M. persicae asexual lineages bearing heterozygous translocations involving autosomes 1 and 3 revealed that carotenoid genes were located within chromosomal portions involved in recurrent rearrangements. We also verified by bioinformatics analyses the presence of fragile sites that could explain these recurrent rearrangements in M. persicae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Mandrioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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