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Miller Neilan R, Reith C, Anandan I, Kraeuter K, Allen HN, Kolber BJ. Developing a 3-D computational model of neurons in the central amygdala to understand pharmacological targets for pain. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2023; 4:1183553. [PMID: 37332477 PMCID: PMC10270735 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1183553] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic and nociplastic pain are major causes of pain and involve brain areas such as the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Within the CeA, neurons expressing protein kinase c-delta (PKCδ) or somatostatin (SST) have opposing roles in pain-like modulation. In this manuscript, we describe our progress towards developing a 3-D computational model of PKCδ and SST neurons in the CeA and the use of this model to explore the pharmacological targeting of these two neural populations in modulating nociception. Our 3-D model expands upon our existing 2-D computational framework by including a realistic 3-D spatial representation of the CeA and its subnuclei and a network of directed links that preserves morphological properties of PKCδ and SST neurons. The model consists of 13,000 neurons with cell-type specific properties and behaviors estimated from laboratory data. During each model time step, neuron firing rates are updated based on an external stimulus, inhibitory signals are transmitted between neurons via the network, and a measure of nociceptive output from the CeA is calculated as the difference in firing rates of pro-nociceptive PKCδ neurons and anti-nociceptive SST neurons. Model simulations were conducted to explore differences in output for three different spatial distributions of PKCδ and SST neurons. Our results show that the localization of these neuron populations within CeA subnuclei is a key parameter in identifying spatial and cell-type pharmacological targets for pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Miller Neilan
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Carley Reith
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Iniya Anandan
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Kayla Kraeuter
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Engineering, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Heather N. Allen
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Benedict J. Kolber
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
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Kisby BR, Farris SP, McManus MM, Varodayan FP, Roberto M, Harris RA, Ponomarev I. Alcohol Dependence in Rats Is Associated with Global Changes in Gene Expression in the Central Amygdala. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11091149. [PMID: 34573170 PMCID: PMC8468792 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol dependence is associated with adverse consequences of alcohol (ethanol) use and is evident in most severe cases of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) plays a critical role in the development of alcohol dependence and escalation of alcohol consumption in dependent subjects. Molecular mechanisms underlying the CeA-driven behavioral changes are not well understood. Here, we examined the effects of alcohol on global gene expression in the CeA using a chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor model in rats and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). The CIE procedure resulted in robust changes in CeA gene expression during intoxication, as the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was significantly greater than those expected by chance. Over-representation analysis of cell types, functional groups and molecular pathways revealed biological categories potentially important for the development of alcohol dependence in our model. Genes specific for astrocytes, myelinating oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells were over-represented in the DEG category, suggesting that these cell types were particularly affected by the CIE procedure. The majority of the over-represented functional groups and molecular pathways were directly related to the functions of glial and endothelial cells, including extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, myelination, and the regulation of innate immune response. A coordinated regulation of several ECM metalloproteinases (e.g., Mmp2; Mmp14), their substrates (e.g., multiple collagen genes and myelin basic protein; Mbp), and a metalloproteinase inhibitor, Reck, suggests a specific mechanism for ECM re-organization in response to chronic alcohol, which may modulate neuronal activity and result in behavioral changes, such as an escalation of alcohol drinking. Our results highlight the importance of glial and endothelial cells in the effects of chronic alcohol exposure on the CeA, and demonstrate further insight into the molecular mechanisms of alcohol dependence in rats. These molecular targets may be used in future studies to develop therapeutics to treat AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent R. Kisby
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (B.R.K.); (M.M.M.)
| | - Sean P. Farris
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78715, USA; (S.P.F.); (R.A.H.)
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA
| | - Michelle M. McManus
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (B.R.K.); (M.M.M.)
| | - Florence P. Varodayan
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA;
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - R. Adron Harris
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78715, USA; (S.P.F.); (R.A.H.)
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78741, USA
| | - Igor Ponomarev
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (B.R.K.); (M.M.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Berry SC, Wise RG, Lawrence AD, Lancaster TM. Extended-amygdala intrinsic functional connectivity networks: A population study. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:1594-1616. [PMID: 33314443 PMCID: PMC7978137 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-clinical and human neuroimaging research implicates the extended-amygdala (ExtA) (including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis [BST] and central nucleus of the amygdala [CeA]) in networks mediating negative emotional states associated with stress and substance-use behaviours. The extent to which individual ExtA structures form a functionally integrated unit is controversial. We utilised a large sample (n > 1,000 healthy young adult humans) to compare the intrinsic functional connectivity networks (ICNs) of the BST and CeA using task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the Human Connectome Project. We assessed whether inter-individual differences within these ICNs were related to two principal components representing negative disposition and alcohol use. Building on recent primate evidence, we tested whether within BST-CeA intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) was heritable and further examined co-heritability with our principal components. We demonstrate the BST and CeA to have discrete, but largely overlapping ICNs similar to previous findings. We found no evidence that within BST-CeA iFC was heritable; however, post hoc analyses found significant BST iFC heritability with the broader superficial and centromedial amygdala regions. There were no significant correlations or co-heritability associations with our principal components either across the ICNs or for specific BST-Amygdala iFC. Possible differences in phenotype associations across task-free, task-based, and clinical fMRI are discussed, along with suggestions for more causal investigative paradigms that make use of the now well-established ExtA ICNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C. Berry
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Richard G. Wise
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences"G. D'Annunzio University" of Chieti‐PescaraChietiItaly
| | - Andrew D. Lawrence
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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Chen L, Cui S, Yu H, Li G, Liu N, Wu Q, Zhang HT, O'Donnell JM, Wang G, Xu Y. Reduced phosphodiesterase-2 activity in the amygdala results in anxiolytic-like effects on behavior in mice. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:568-576. [PMID: 30835157 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119832753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphodiesterase-2 (PDE2) is a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and is highly expressed in the amygdala, which suggests its important role in anxiety-like behavior. AIMS The present study examined whether reduced PDE2A expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) produces anxiolytic-like effects in mice. METHODS PDE2A knockdown in amygdaloid (AR5) cells or the CeA was established using a lentiviral vector-based siRNA system. The anxiety-like behaviors were detected by the elevated plus maze (EPM) and hole-board tests in mice. The related proteins involved in cAMP/cGMP-dependent signaling, such as specific marker VASPser239, CREBser133 and BDNF were detected by immunoblot analysis. RESULTS PDE2A inhibition in AR-5 cells resulted in increases in cAMP/cGMP-related pVASPser239 and pCREBser133. Behavioral tests showed that PDE2A knockdown in the CeA induced anxiolytic-like effects as evidenced by the increases in percentages of open-arm entries and time spent in the open arms in the EPM test, and the increases in head dips and time spent in head dipping in the hole-board test. However, these anxiolytic-like effects were antagonized by pre-treatment of soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ or adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ. Furthermore, PDE2A knockdown significantly increased pVASPSer239, pCREBSer133 and decreased BDNF expression in the amygdala. Pre-intra-CeA of ODQ or SQ reversed or partially prevented the effects of PDE2A knockdown on these proteins. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that PDE2A plays a crucial role in the regulation of anxiety by the cGMP/cAMP-dependent pVASP-pCREB-BDNF signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- 1 Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Suying Cui
- 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.,3 Department of Pharmacology, Peking University Health Sciences Center, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyang Yu
- 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Gaowen Li
- 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Na Liu
- 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Qiang Wu
- 4 Departments of Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry and Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Han-Ting Zhang
- 4 Departments of Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry and Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - James M O'Donnell
- 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Gang Wang
- 1 Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ying Xu
- 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
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