1
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Runyon K, Bui T, Mazanek S, Hartle A, Marschalko K, Howe WM. Distinct cholinergic circuits underlie discrete effects of reward on attention. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1429316. [PMID: 39268248 PMCID: PMC11390659 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1429316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Attention and reward are functions that are critical for the control of behavior, and massive multi-region neural systems have evolved to support the discrete computations associated with each. Previous research has also identified that attention and reward interact, though our understanding of the neural mechanisms that mediate this interplay is incomplete. Here, we review the basic neuroanatomy of attention, reward, and cholinergic systems. We then examine specific contexts in which attention and reward computations interact. Building on this work, we propose two discrete neural circuits whereby acetylcholine, released from cell groups located in different parts of the brain, mediates the impact of stimulus-reward associations as well as motivation on attentional control. We conclude by examining these circuits as a potential shared loci of dysfunction across diseases states associated with deficits in attention and reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Runyon
- School of Neuroscience at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Tung Bui
- School of Neuroscience at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Sarah Mazanek
- School of Neuroscience at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Alec Hartle
- School of Neuroscience at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Katie Marschalko
- School of Neuroscience at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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2
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Aukema RJ, Petrie GN, Matarasso AK, Baglot SL, Molina LA, Füzesi T, Kadhim S, Nastase AS, Rodriguez Reyes I, Bains JS, Morena M, Bruchas MR, Hill MN. Identification of a stress-responsive subregion of the basolateral amygdala in male rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01927-x. [PMID: 39117904 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01927-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is reliably activated by psychological stress and hyperactive in conditions of pathological stress or trauma; however, subsets of BLA neurons are also readily activated by rewarding stimuli and can suppress fear and avoidance behaviours. The BLA is highly heterogeneous anatomically, exhibiting continuous molecular and connectivity gradients throughout the entire structure. A critical gap remains in understanding the anatomical specificity of amygdala subregions, circuits, and cell types explicitly activated by acute stress and how they are dynamically activated throughout stimulus exposure. Using a combination of topographical mapping for the activity-responsive protein FOS and fiber photometry to measure calcium transients in real-time, we sought to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of BLA activation in response to a range of novel stressors (shock, swim, restraint, predator odour) and non-aversive, but novel stimuli (crackers, citral odour). We report four main findings: (1) the BLA exhibits clear spatial activation gradients in response to novel stimuli throughout the medial-lateral and dorsal-ventral axes, with aversive stimuli strongly biasing activation towards medial aspects of the BLA; (2) novel stimuli elicit distinct temporal activation patterns, with stressful stimuli exhibiting particularly enhanced or prolonged temporal activation patterns; (3) changes in BLA activity are associated with changes in behavioural state; and (4) norepinephrine enhances stress-induced activation of BLA neurons via the ß-noradrenergic receptor. Moving forward, it will be imperative to combine our understanding of activation gradients with molecular and circuit-specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Aukema
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Gavin N Petrie
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Avi K Matarasso
- Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- UW Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Samantha L Baglot
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Leonardo A Molina
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tamás Füzesi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sandra Kadhim
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Andrei S Nastase
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Itzel Rodriguez Reyes
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- UW Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, 00143, Italy
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- UW Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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3
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Regalado JM, Corredera Asensio A, Haunold T, Toader AC, Li YR, Neal LA, Rajasethupathy P. Neural activity ramps in frontal cortex signal extended motivation during learning. eLife 2024; 13:RP93983. [PMID: 39037775 PMCID: PMC11262795 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Learning requires the ability to link actions to outcomes. How motivation facilitates learning is not well understood. We designed a behavioral task in which mice self-initiate trials to learn cue-reward contingencies and found that the anterior cingulate region of the prefrontal cortex (ACC) contains motivation-related signals to maximize rewards. In particular, we found that ACC neural activity was consistently tied to trial initiations where mice seek to leave unrewarded cues to reach reward-associated cues. Notably, this neural signal persisted over consecutive unrewarded cues until reward-associated cues were reached, and was required for learning. To determine how ACC inherits this motivational signal we performed projection-specific photometry recordings from several inputs to ACC during learning. In doing so, we identified a ramp in bulk neural activity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-to-ACC projections as mice received unrewarded cues, which continued ramping across consecutive unrewarded cues, and finally peaked upon reaching a reward-associated cue, thus maintaining an extended motivational state. Cellular resolution imaging of OFC confirmed these neural correlates of motivation, and further delineated separate ensembles of neurons that sequentially tiled the ramp. Together, these results identify a mechanism by which OFC maps out task structure to convey an extended motivational state to ACC to facilitate goal-directed learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josue M Regalado
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Theresa Haunold
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Andrew C Toader
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Yan Ran Li
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Lauren A Neal
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
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4
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Zhang Y, Ma H, Bai Y, Hou X, Yang Y, Wang G, Li Y. Chronic Neuropathic Pain and Comorbid Depression Syndrome: From Neural Circuit Mechanisms to Treatment. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2432-2444. [PMID: 38916052 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic neuropathic pain and comorbid depression syndrome (CDS) is a major worldwide health problem that affects the quality of life of patients and imposes a tremendous socioeconomic burden. More than half of patients with chronic neuropathic pain also suffer from moderate or severe depression. Due to the complex pathogenesis of CDS, there are no effective therapeutic drugs available. The lack of research on the neural circuit mechanisms of CDS limits the development of treatments. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the various circuits involved in CDS. Notably, activating some neural circuits can alleviate pain and/or depression, while activating other circuits can exacerbate these conditions. Moreover, we discuss current and emerging pharmacotherapies for CDS, such as ketamine. Understanding the circuit mechanisms of CDS may provide clues for the development of novel drug treatments for improved CDS management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yafan Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiaojuan Hou
- Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
| | - Yixin Yang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Guyan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yunfeng Li
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100850, China
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing, 100850, China
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5
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Franciosa F, Acuña MA, Nevian NE, Nevian T. A cellular mechanism contributing to pain-induced analgesia. Pain 2024:00006396-990000000-00640. [PMID: 38968393 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a crucial role in the perception of pain. It is consistently activated by noxious stimuli and its hyperactivity in chronic pain indicates plasticity in the local neuronal network. However, the way persistent pain effects and modifies different neuronal cell types in the ACC and how this contributes to sensory sensitization is not completely understood. This study confirms the existence of 2 primary subtypes of pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of the rostral, agranular ACC, which we could classify as intratelencephalic (IT) and cortico-subcortical (SC) projecting neurons, similar to other cortical brain areas. Through retrograde labeling, whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and morphological analysis, we thoroughly characterized their different electrophysiological and morphological properties. When examining the effects of peripheral inflammatory pain on these neuronal subtypes, we observed time-dependent plastic changes in excitability. During the acute phase, both subtypes exhibited reduced excitability, which normalized to pre-inflammatory levels after day 7. Daily conditioning with nociceptive stimuli during this period induced an increase in excitability specifically in SC neurons, which was correlated with a decrease in mechanical sensitization. Subsequent inhibition of the activity of SC neurons projecting to the periaqueductal gray with in vivo chemogenetics, resulted in reinstatement of the hypersensitivity. Accordingly, it was sufficient to enhance the excitability of these neurons chemogenetically in the inflammatory pain condition to induce hypoalgesia. These findings suggest a cell type-specific effect on the descending control of nociception and a cellular mechanism for pain-induced analgesia. Furthermore, increased excitability in this neuronal population is hypoalgesic rather than hyperalgesic.
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6
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Diesburg DA, Wessel JR, Jones SR. Biophysical Modeling of Frontocentral ERP Generation Links Circuit-Level Mechanisms of Action-Stopping to a Behavioral Race Model. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2016232024. [PMID: 38561227 PMCID: PMC11097283 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2016-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Human frontocentral event-related potentials (FC-ERPs) are ubiquitous neural correlates of cognition and control, but their generating multiscale mechanisms remain mostly unknown. We used the Human Neocortical Neurosolver's biophysical model of a canonical neocortical circuit under exogenous thalamic and cortical drive to simulate the cell and circuit mechanisms underpinning the P2, N2, and P3 features of the FC-ERP observed after Stop-Signals in the Stop-Signal task (SST; N = 234 humans, 137 female). We demonstrate that a sequence of simulated external thalamocortical and corticocortical drives can produce the FC-ERP, similar to what has been shown for primary sensory cortices. We used this model of the FC-ERP to examine likely circuit-mechanisms underlying FC-ERP features that distinguish between successful and failed action-stopping. We also tested their adherence to the predictions of the horse-race model of the SST, with specific hypotheses motivated by theoretical links between the P3 and Stop process. These simulations revealed that a difference in P3 onset between successful and failed Stops is most likely due to a later arrival of thalamocortical drive in failed Stops, rather than, for example, a difference in the effective strength of the input. In contrast, the same model predicted that early thalamocortical drives underpinning the P2 and N2 differed in both strength and timing across stopping accuracy conditions. Overall, this model generates novel testable predictions of the thalamocortical dynamics underlying FC-ERP generation during action-stopping. Moreover, it provides a detailed cellular and circuit-level interpretation that supports links between these macroscale signatures and predictions of the behavioral race model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darcy A Diesburg
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
| | - Jan R Wessel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Stephanie R Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island 02908
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7
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Regalado JM, Asensio AC, Haunold T, Toader AC, Li YR, Neal LA, Rajasethupathy P. Neural activity ramps in frontal cortex signal extended motivation during learning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.15.562395. [PMID: 37905153 PMCID: PMC10614791 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.15.562395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Learning requires the ability to link actions to outcomes. How motivation facilitates learning is not well understood. We designed a behavioral task in which mice self-initiate trials to learn cue-reward contingencies and found that the anterior cingulate region of the prefrontal cortex (ACC) contains motivation-related signals to maximize rewards. In particular, we found that ACC neural activity was consistently tied to trial initiations where mice seek to leave unrewarded cues to reach reward-associated cues. Notably, this neural signal persisted over consecutive unrewarded cues until reward associated cues were reached, and was required for learning. To determine how ACC inherits this motivational signal we performed projection specific photometry recordings from several inputs to ACC during learning. In doing so, we identified a ramp in bulk neural activity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-to-ACC projections as mice received unrewarded cues, which continued ramping across consecutive unrewarded cues, and finally peaked upon reaching a reward associated cue, thus maintaining an extended motivational state. Cellular resolution imaging of OFC confirmed these neural correlates of motivation, and further delineated separate ensembles of neurons that sequentially tiled the ramp. Together, these results identify a mechanism by which OFC maps out task structure to convey an extended motivational state to ACC to facilitate goal-directed learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josue M. Regalado
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | | | - Theresa Haunold
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Andrew C. Toader
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Yan Ran Li
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Lauren A. Neal
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Priya Rajasethupathy
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065 USA
- Lead contact
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8
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Li YD, Luo YJ, Su WK, Ge J, Crowther A, Chen ZK, Wang L, Lazarus M, Liu ZL, Qu WM, Huang ZL. Anterior cingulate cortex projections to the dorsal medial striatum underlie insomnia associated with chronic pain. Neuron 2024; 112:1328-1341.e4. [PMID: 38354737 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain often leads to the development of sleep disturbances. However, the precise neural circuit mechanisms responsible for sleep disorders in chronic pain have remained largely unknown. Here, we present compelling evidence that hyperactivity of pyramidal neurons (PNs) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) drives insomnia in a mouse model of nerve-injury-induced chronic pain. After nerve injury, ACC PNs displayed spontaneous hyperactivity selectively in periods of insomnia. We then show that ACC PNs were both necessary for developing chronic-pain-induced insomnia and sufficient to mimic sleep loss in naive mice. Importantly, combining optogenetics and electrophysiological recordings, we found that the ACC projection to the dorsal medial striatum (DMS) underlies chronic-pain-induced insomnia through enhanced activity and plasticity of ACC-DMS dopamine D1R neuron synapses. Our findings shed light on the pivotal role of ACC PNs in developing chronic-pain-induced sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Dong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders (LEAD), Shanghai 201699, China.
| | - Yan-Jia Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Wei-Kun Su
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders (LEAD), Shanghai 201699, China
| | - Jing Ge
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Andrew Crowther
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ze-Ka Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Michael Lazarus
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS) and Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Zi-Long Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Wei-Min Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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9
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Chang X, Zhang H, Chen S. Neural circuits regulating visceral pain. Commun Biol 2024; 7:457. [PMID: 38615103 PMCID: PMC11016080 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06148-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Visceral hypersensitivity, a common clinical manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome, may contribute to the development of chronic visceral pain, which is a major challenge for both patients and health providers. Neural circuits in the brain encode, store, and transfer pain information across brain regions. In this review, we focus on the anterior cingulate cortex and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to highlight the progress in identifying the neural circuits involved in visceral pain. We also discuss several neural circuit mechanisms and emphasize the importance of cross-species, multiangle approaches and the identification of specific neurons in determining the neural circuits that control visceral pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Chang
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Shaozong Chen
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
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10
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Nghiem TAE, Lee B, Chao THH, Branigan NK, Mistry PK, Shih YYI, Menon V. Space wandering in the rodent default mode network. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315167121. [PMID: 38557177 PMCID: PMC11009630 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315167121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The default mode network (DMN) is a large-scale brain network known to be suppressed during a wide range of cognitive tasks. However, our comprehension of its role in naturalistic and unconstrained behaviors has remained elusive because most research on the DMN has been conducted within the restrictive confines of MRI scanners. Here, we use multisite GCaMP (a genetically encoded calcium indicator) fiber photometry with simultaneous videography to probe DMN function in awake, freely exploring rats. We examined neural dynamics in three core DMN nodes-the retrosplenial cortex, cingulate cortex, and prelimbic cortex-as well as the anterior insula node of the salience network, and their association with the rats' spatial exploration behaviors. We found that DMN nodes displayed a hierarchical functional organization during spatial exploration, characterized by stronger coupling with each other than with the anterior insula. Crucially, these DMN nodes encoded the kinematics of spatial exploration, including linear and angular velocity. Additionally, we identified latent brain states that encoded distinct patterns of time-varying exploration behaviors and found that higher linear velocity was associated with enhanced DMN activity, heightened synchronization among DMN nodes, and increased anticorrelation between the DMN and anterior insula. Our findings highlight the involvement of the DMN in collectively and dynamically encoding spatial exploration in a real-world setting. Our findings challenge the notion that the DMN is primarily a "task-negative" network disengaged from the external world. By illuminating the DMN's role in naturalistic behaviors, our study underscores the importance of investigating brain network function in ecologically valid contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Byeongwook Lee
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Tzu-Hao Harry Chao
- Center for Animal MRI, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Nicholas K. Branigan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Percy K. Mistry
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Yen-Yu Ian Shih
- Center for Animal MRI, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27514
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA94304
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA94304
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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11
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Yashima J, Sakamoto T. Oxytocin receptors in the prefrontal cortex play important roles in short-term social recognition in mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 456:114706. [PMID: 37806564 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
We examined the roles of oxytocin (OT) receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in short- and long-term social recognition and anxiety-related behaviors in mice. Mice injected with high or low doses of an OT receptor antagonist (OTA) or vehicle performed the social recognition test, the open-field test, and the light-dark transition test. In the social recognition test, with three daily trials over three consecutive days, control mice showed short-term recognition of a conspecific on all three days. In contrast, a high-dose injection of OTA impaired short-term social recognition on the second and third days, and it was impaired by a low-dose injection of OTA on the third day. These results suggested that OTA injection into the PFC dose-dependently inhibited short-term social recognition within each day. All three groups did not show any long-term social recognition across three days. OTA injection did not affect anxiety related behavior in the open-field and light-dark transition tests. Our findings demonstrated that OT receptors in the PFC played important roles in short-term social recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joi Yashima
- Department of Psychology, Graduate school of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan
| | - Toshiro Sakamoto
- Department of Psychology, Graduate school of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan.
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12
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Hong J, Li JN, Wu FL, Bao SY, Sun HX, Zhu KH, Cai ZP, Li F, Li YQ. Projections from anteromedial thalamus nucleus to the midcingulate cortex mediate pain and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Neurochem Int 2023; 171:105640. [PMID: 37951541 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated the involvement of the midcingulate cortex (MCC) and its downstream pathway in pain regulation. However, the mechanism via which pain information is conveyed to the MCC remains unclear. The present study utilized immunohistochemistry, chemogenetics, optogenetics, and behavior detection methods to explore the involvement of MCC, anteromedial thalamus nucleus (AM), and AM-MCC pathway in pain and emotional regulation. Chemogenetics or optogenetics methods were employed to activate/inhibit MCCCaMKIIα, AMCaMKIIα, AMCaMKIIα-MCC pathway. This manipulation evokes/relieves mechanical and partial heat hyperalgesia, as well as anxiety-like behaviors. In the complete Freund,s adjuvant (CFA) inflammatory pain model, chemogenetic inhibition of the AMCaMKIIα-MCCCaMKIIα pathway contributed to pain relief. Notably, this study presented the first evidence implicating the AM in the regulation of nociception and negative emotions. Additionally, it was observed that the MCC primarily receives projections from the AM, highlighting the crucial role of this pathway in the transmission of pain and emotional information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hong
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, 014040, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jia-Ni Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Feng-Ling Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Shang-Yi Bao
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Han-Xue Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Department of Human Anatomy, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Ke-Hua Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Zhi-Ping Cai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, 014040, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Yun-Qing Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, 014040, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Dali University, Dali, 671000, China.
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13
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Anbuhl KL, Diez Castro M, Lee NA, Lee VS, Sanes DH. Cingulate cortex facilitates auditory perception under challenging listening conditions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566668. [PMID: 38014324 PMCID: PMC10680599 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
We often exert greater cognitive resources (i.e., listening effort) to understand speech under challenging acoustic conditions. This mechanism can be overwhelmed in those with hearing loss, resulting in cognitive fatigue in adults, and potentially impeding language acquisition in children. However, the neural mechanisms that support listening effort are uncertain. Evidence from human studies suggest that the cingulate cortex is engaged under difficult listening conditions, and may exert top-down modulation of the auditory cortex (AC). Here, we asked whether the gerbil cingulate cortex (Cg) sends anatomical projections to the AC that facilitate perceptual performance. To model challenging listening conditions, we used a sound discrimination task in which stimulus parameters were presented in either 'Easy' or 'Hard' blocks (i.e., long or short stimulus duration, respectively). Gerbils achieved statistically identical psychometric performance in Easy and Hard blocks. Anatomical tracing experiments revealed a strong, descending projection from layer 2/3 of the Cg1 subregion of the cingulate cortex to superficial and deep layers of primary and dorsal AC. To determine whether Cg improves task performance under challenging conditions, we bilaterally infused muscimol to inactivate Cg1, and found that psychometric thresholds were degraded for only Hard blocks. To test whether the Cg-to-AC projection facilitates task performance, we chemogenetically inactivated these inputs and found that performance was only degraded during Hard blocks. Taken together, the results reveal a descending cortical pathway that facilitates perceptual performance during challenging listening conditions. Significance Statement Sensory perception often occurs under challenging conditions, such a noisy background or dim environment, yet stimulus sensitivity can remain unaffected. One hypothesis is that cognitive resources are recruited to the task, thereby facilitating perceptual performance. Here, we identify a top-down cortical circuit, from cingulate to auditory cortex in the gerbils, that supports auditory perceptual performance under challenging listening conditions. This pathway is a plausible circuit that supports effortful listening, and may be degraded by hearing loss.
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14
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Valentinova K, Acuña MA, Ntamati NR, Nevian NE, Nevian T. An amygdala-to-cingulate cortex circuit for conflicting choices in chronic pain. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113125. [PMID: 37733589 PMCID: PMC10636611 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a complex experience with multifaceted behavioral manifestations, often leading to pain avoidance at the expense of reward approach. How pain facilitates avoidance in situations with mixed outcomes is unknown. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a key role in pain processing and in value-based decision-making. Distinct ACC inputs inform about the sensory and emotional quality of pain. However, whether specific ACC circuits underlie pathological conflict assessment in pain remains underexplored. Here, we demonstrate that mice with chronic pain favor cold avoidance rather than reward approach in a conflicting task. This occurs along with selective strengthening of basolateral amygdala inputs onto ACC layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons. The amygdala-cingulate projection is necessary and sufficient for the conflicting cold avoidance. Further, low-frequency stimulation of this pathway restores AMPA receptor function and reduces avoidance in pain mice. Our findings provide insights into the circuits and mechanisms underlying cognitive aspects of pain and offer potential targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Valentinova
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Mario A Acuña
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Niels R Ntamati
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Natalie E Nevian
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Nevian
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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15
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Diesburg DA, Wessel JR, Jones SR. Biophysical modeling of frontocentral ERP generation links circuit-level mechanisms of action-stopping to a behavioral race model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.25.564020. [PMID: 37961333 PMCID: PMC10634895 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.25.564020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Human frontocentral event-related potentials (FC-ERPs) are ubiquitous neural correlates of cognition and control, but their generating multiscale mechanisms remain mostly unknown. We used the Human Neocortical Neurosolver(HNN)'s biophysical model of a canonical neocortical circuit under exogenous thalamic and cortical drive to simulate the cell and circuit mechanisms underpinning the P2, N2, and P3 features of the FC-ERP observed after Stop-Signals in the Stop-Signal task (SST). We demonstrate that a sequence of simulated external thalamocortical and cortico-cortical drives can produce the FC-ERP, similar to what has been shown for primary sensory cortices. We used this model of the FC-ERP to examine likely circuit-mechanisms underlying FC-ERP features that distinguish between successful and failed action-stopping. We also tested their adherence to the predictions of the horse-race model of the SST, with specific hypotheses motivated by theoretical links between the P3 and Stop process. These simulations revealed that a difference in P3 onset between successful and failed Stops is most likely due to a later arrival of thalamocortical drive in failed Stops, rather than, for example, a difference in effective strength of the input. In contrast, the same model predicted that early thalamocortical drives underpinning the P2 and N2 differed in both strength and timing across stopping accuracy conditions. Overall, this model generates novel testable predictions of the thalamocortical dynamics underlying FC-ERP generation during action-stopping. Moreover, it provides a detailed cellular and circuit-level interpretation that supports links between these macroscale signatures and predictions of the behavioral race model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jan R. Wessel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Stephanie R. Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Providence VA Medical Center, RI, USA
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16
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Journée SH, Mathis VP, Fillinger C, Veinante P, Yalcin I. Janus effect of the anterior cingulate cortex: Pain and emotion. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105362. [PMID: 37595650 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, clinical and preclinical studies point to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as a site of interest for several neurological and psychiatric conditions. The ACC plays a critical role in emotion, autonomic regulation, pain processing, attention, memory and decision making. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the involvement of the ACC in the emotional component of pain and its comorbidity with emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression. Thanks to the development of animal models combined with state-of-the-art technologies, we now have a better mechanistic understanding of the functions of the ACC. Hence, the primary aim of this review is to compile the most recent preclinical studies on the role of ACC in the emotional component and consequences of chronic pain. Herein, we thus thoroughly describe the pain-induced electrophysiological, molecular and anatomical alterations in the ACC and in its related circuits. Finally, we discuss the next steps that are needed to strengthen our understanding of the involvement of the ACC in emotional and pain processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Journée
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Victor P Mathis
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Clémentine Fillinger
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Veinante
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ipek Yalcin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France; Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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17
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Corona A, Choe J, Muñoz-Castañeda R, Osten P, Shea SD. A circuit from the locus coeruleus to the anterior cingulate cortex modulates offspring interactions in mice. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112771. [PMID: 37421626 PMCID: PMC10529180 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Social sensitivity to other individuals in distress is crucial for survival. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a structure involved in making behavioral choices and is influenced by observed pain or distress. Nevertheless, our understanding of the neural circuitry underlying this sensitivity is incomplete. Here, we reveal unexpected sex-dependent activation of ACC when parental mice respond to distressed pups by returning them to the nest ("pup retrieval"). We observe sex differences in the interactions between excitatory and inhibitory ACC neurons during parental care, and inactivation of ACC excitatory neurons increased pup neglect. Locus coeruleus (LC) releases noradrenaline in ACC during pup retrieval, and inactivation of the LC-ACC pathway disrupts parental care. We conclude that ACC maintains sex-dependent sensitivity to pup distress under LC modulation. We propose that ACC's involvement in parenting presents an opportunity to identify neural circuits that support sensitivity to the emotional distress of others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Corona
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Jane Choe
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | | | - Pavel Osten
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Stephen D Shea
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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18
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Hervert EA, Birdsong W. The Endogenous Opioid Met-Enkephalin Modulates Thalamo-Cortical Excitation Inhibition Balance in a Medial Thalamus-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Circuit. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.13.547220. [PMID: 37503144 PMCID: PMC10369945 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.13.547220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Activation of opioid receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) mediates aspects of analgesia induced by both exogenous and endogenous opioids. We have previously shown that opioid signaling disrupts both afferent excitatory and indirect inhibitory synaptic transmission from the medial thalamus (MThal) to the ACC, but the effects of endogenous opioids within this circuit remain poorly understood. The goal of the current study was to understand how the endogenous opioid, [Met]5-enkephalin (ME), modulates thalamic-driven excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission onto layer V pyramidal neurons in the ACC. We used pharmacology, brain slice electrophysiology and optogenetic stimulation to study opioid-mediated modulation of optically evoked glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission. The results revealed that ME inhibited both AMPA-mediated excitatory and GABA-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission in the ACC. However, inhibitory transmission was more potently inhibited than excitatory transmission by ME. This preferential reduction in GABAA-mediated synaptic transmission was primarily due to the activation of delta opioid receptors by ME and resulted in a net disinhibition of MThal-ACC excitatory pathway. These results suggest that moderate concentrations of ME can lead to net excitation of ACC circuitry and that analgesia may be associated with disinhibition rather than inhibition of ACC subcircuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William Birdsong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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19
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Haghir H, Kuckertz A, Zhao L, Hami J, Palomero-Gallagher N. A new map of the rat isocortex and proisocortex: cytoarchitecture and M 2 receptor distribution patterns. Brain Struct Funct 2023:10.1007/s00429-023-02654-7. [PMID: 37318645 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02654-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neurotransmitters and their receptors are key molecules in information transfer between neurons, thus enabling inter-areal communication. Therefore, multimodal atlases integrating the brain's cyto- and receptor architecture constitute crucial tools to understand the relationship between its structural and functional segregation. Cholinergic muscarinic M2 receptors have been shown to be an evolutionarily conserved molecular marker of primary sensory areas in the mammalian brain. To complement existing rodent atlases, we applied a silver cell body staining and quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiographic visualization of M2 receptors to alternating sections throughout the entire brain of five adult male Wistar rats (three sectioned coronally, one horizontally, one sagittally). Histological sections and autoradiographs were scanned at a spatial resolution of 1 µm and 20 µm per pixel, respectively, and files were stored as 8 bit images. We used these high-resolution datasets to create an atlas of the entire rat brain, including the olfactory bulb, cerebellum and brainstem. We describe the cyto- and M2 receptor architectonic features of 48 distinct iso- and proisocortical areas across the rat forebrain and provide their mean M2 receptor density. The ensuing parcellation scheme, which is discussed in the framework of existing comprehensive atlasses, includes the novel subdivision of mediomedial secondary visual area Oc2MM into anterior (Oc2MMa) and posterior (Oc2MMp) parts, and of lateral visual area Oc2L into rostrolateral (Oc2Lr), intermediate dorsolateral (Oc2Lid), intermediate ventrolateral (Oc2Liv) and caudolateral (Oc2Lc) secondary visual areas. The M2 receptor densities and the comprehensive map of iso-and proisocortical areas constitute useful tools for future computational and neuroscientific studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Haghir
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Medical Genetic Research Center (MGRC), School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Anika Kuckertz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Ling Zhao
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Javad Hami
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam, 14471, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Nicola Palomero-Gallagher
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
- C. & O. Vogt Institute of Brain Research, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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20
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Chaibi I, Ait-Mansour I, Tari M, Bennis M, Ba-M'hamed S. Effects of topiramate on morphological and structural alterations of the anterior cingulate cortex in aggressive socially isolated mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06381-z. [PMID: 37217572 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06381-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Topiramate, an approved antiepileptic drug, was found effective in treating aggressive symptoms in humans and rodents. However, the effects and mechanisms of Topiramate on aggressive behavior are still unclear. Our previous study indicated that intraperitoneal administration of Topiramate successfully decreased aggression and reinforced sociability in socially aggressive mice, and increased cFos-expressing neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In addition to its pharmacological properties, previous studies have approved the neuroprotective effects of Topiramate. These suggest a potential effect of Topiramate on ACC's structure and function. OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS In the present study, we first investigated the structural characteristics of ACC in the social isolation-induced aggression paradigm. The results showed that hyper-aggressive behavior in socially aggressive mice was associated with several structural alterations in ACC: increased neuron death combined with decreased neuron density, increased damaged neuronal morphology and increased neuroinflammation markers. Based on these observations, we next investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of Topiramate against structural alterations of ACC observed in socially aggressive mice. Results indicated that intraperitoneal administration of Topiramate (30 mg/kg) decreased aggression and enhanced sociability without affecting locomotor activity. Interestingly, the anti-aggressive effect of Topiramate was associated with decreased neuronal death, ameliorated damaged neuronal morphology, and decreased reactive microglia markers in ACC. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide insights into the structural alterations of ACC in aggressive socially aggressive mice. Moreover, the present study suggested that the anti-aggressive effect of Topiramate could be related to its neuroprotective effects against the structural alterations of ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Chaibi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology & Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd. Prince My Abdallah, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Ihsane Ait-Mansour
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology & Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd. Prince My Abdallah, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Tari
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology & Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd. Prince My Abdallah, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Bennis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology & Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd. Prince My Abdallah, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco.
| | - Saadia Ba-M'hamed
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology & Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd. Prince My Abdallah, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco
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21
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Becker LJ, Fillinger C, Waegaert R, Journée SH, Hener P, Ayazgok B, Humo M, Karatas M, Thouaye M, Gaikwad M, Degiorgis L, Santin MDN, Mondino M, Barrot M, Ibrahim EC, Turecki G, Belzeaux R, Veinante P, Harsan LA, Hugel S, Lutz PE, Yalcin I. The basolateral amygdala-anterior cingulate pathway contributes to depression-like behaviors and comorbidity with chronic pain behaviors in male mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2198. [PMID: 37069164 PMCID: PMC10110607 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37878-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
While depression and chronic pain are frequently comorbid, underlying neuronal circuits and their psychopathological relevance remain poorly defined. Here we show in mice that hyperactivity of the neuronal pathway linking the basolateral amygdala to the anterior cingulate cortex is essential for chronic pain-induced depression. Moreover, activation of this pathway in naive male mice, in the absence of on-going pain, is sufficient to trigger depressive-like behaviors, as well as transcriptomic alterations that recapitulate core molecular features of depression in the human brain. These alterations notably impact gene modules related to myelination and the oligodendrocyte lineage. Among these, we show that Sema4a, which was significantly upregulated in both male mice and humans in the context of altered mood, is necessary for the emergence of emotional dysfunction. Overall, these results place the amygdalo-cingulate pathway at the core of pain and depression comorbidity, and unravel the role of Sema4a and impaired myelination in mood control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa J Becker
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Clinical Pharmacology Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Clémentine Fillinger
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Robin Waegaert
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sarah H Journée
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Hener
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Beyza Ayazgok
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Muris Humo
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Meltem Karatas
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative multimodal imaging in healthcare (IMIS), CNRS, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Maxime Thouaye
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mithil Gaikwad
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Laetitia Degiorgis
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative multimodal imaging in healthcare (IMIS), CNRS, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marie des Neiges Santin
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative multimodal imaging in healthcare (IMIS), CNRS, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mary Mondino
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative multimodal imaging in healthcare (IMIS), CNRS, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Michel Barrot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - El Chérif Ibrahim
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Raoul Belzeaux
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, Marseille, France
- Department of Psychiatry, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Veinante
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Laura A Harsan
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative multimodal imaging in healthcare (IMIS), CNRS, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sylvain Hugel
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre-Eric Lutz
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ipek Yalcin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France.
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
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22
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Weinrich JA, Liu CD, Jewell ME, Andolina CR, Bernstein MX, Benitez J, Rodriguez-Rosado S, Braz JM, Maze M, Nemenov MI, Basbaum AI. Paradoxical increases in anterior cingulate cortex activity during nitrous oxide-induced analgesia reveal a signature of pain affect. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.03.534475. [PMID: 37066151 PMCID: PMC10104003 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.534475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
The general consensus is that increases in neuronal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) contribute to pain's negative affect. Here, using in vivo imaging of neuronal calcium dynamics in mice, we report that nitrous oxide, a general anesthetic that reduces pain affect, paradoxically, increases ACC spontaneous activity. As expected, a noxious stimulus also increased ACC activity. However, as nitrous oxide increases baseline activity, the relative change in activity from pre-stimulus baseline was significantly less than the change in the absence of the general anesthetic. We suggest that this relative change in activity represents a neural signature of the affective pain experience. Furthermore, this signature of pain persists under general anesthesia induced by isoflurane, at concentrations in which the mouse is unresponsive. We suggest that this signature underlies the phenomenon of connected consciousness, in which use of the isolated forelimb technique revealed that pain percepts can persist in anesthetized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarret Ap Weinrich
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Cindy D Liu
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Madison E Jewell
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Christopher R Andolina
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Mollie X Bernstein
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jorge Benitez
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sian Rodriguez-Rosado
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Joao M Braz
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Mervyn Maze
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Mikhail I Nemenov
- Lasmed, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - Allan I Basbaum
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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23
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Zamfir M, Sharif B, Locke S, Ehrlich AT, Ochandarena NE, Scherrer G, Ribeiro-da-Silva A, Kieffer BL, Séguéla P. Distinct and sex-specific expression of mu opioid receptors in anterior cingulate and somatosensory S1 cortical areas. Pain 2023; 164:703-716. [PMID: 35973045 PMCID: PMC10026835 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) processes the affective component of pain, whereas the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is involved in its sensory-discriminative component. Injection of morphine in the ACC has been reported to be analgesic, and endogenous opioids in this area are required for pain relief. Mu opioid receptors (MORs) are expressed in both ACC and S1; however, the identity of MOR-expressing cortical neurons remains unknown. Using the Oprm1-mCherry mouse line, we performed selective patch clamp recordings of MOR+ neurons, as well as immunohistochemistry with validated neuronal markers, to determine the identity and laminar distribution of MOR+ neurons in ACC and S1. We found that the electrophysiological signatures of MOR+ neurons differ significantly between these 2 areas, with interneuron-like firing patterns more frequent in ACC. While MOR+ somatostatin interneurons are more prominent in ACC, MOR+ excitatory neurons and MOR+ parvalbumin interneurons are more prominent in S1. Our results suggest a differential contribution of MOR-mediated modulation to ACC and S1 outputs. We also found that females had a greater density of MOR+ neurons compared with males in both areas. In summary, we conclude that MOR-dependent opioidergic signaling in the cortex displays sexual dimorphisms and likely evolved to meet the distinct function of pain-processing circuits in limbic and sensory cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Zamfir
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Behrang Sharif
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Samantha Locke
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aliza T. Ehrlich
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicole E. Ochandarena
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Grégory Scherrer
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- UNC Neuroscience Center The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alfredo Ribeiro-da-Silva
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brigitte L. Kieffer
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Philippe Séguéla
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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24
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Rawlings-Mortimer F, Lazari A, Tisca C, Tachrount M, Martins-Bach AB, Miller KL, Lerch JP, Johansen-Berg H. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone enhances long-term spatial memory and alters brain volume in wildtype mice. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1134594. [PMID: 37008453 PMCID: PMC10057119 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1134594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is a low molecular weight compound that can cross the blood brain barrier and has been implicated in numerous functions and behaviours. It is thought to have neuroprotective capability and has been shown to alleviate symptoms in a wide range of diseases.Methods: 7,8-DHF was administered systemically to wildtype mice during Morris water maze training. Long-term spatial memory was assessed 28 days later. Ex-vivo T2-weighted (T2w) imaging was undertaken on a subset of these mice to assess brain-wide changes in volume.Results: We found that systemic 7,8-DHF administration during the training period enhanced spatial memory 28 days later. Volumetric changes were observed in numerous brain regions associated with a broad range of functions including cognition, sensory, and motor processing.Discussion: Our findings give the first whole brain overview of long-term anatomical changes following 7,8-DHF administration providing valuable information for assessing and understanding the widespread effects this drug has been shown to have in behaviour and disease.
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25
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Chen QY, Wan J, Wang M, Hong S, Zhuo M. Sound-induced analgesia cannot always be observed in adult mice. Mol Pain 2023; 19:17448069231197158. [PMID: 37606554 PMCID: PMC10467218 DOI: 10.1177/17448069231197158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Music seems promising as an adjuvant pain treatment in humans, while its mechanism remains to be illustrated. In rodent models of chronic pain, few studies reported the analgesic effect of music. Recently, Zhou et al. stated that the analgesic effects of sound depended on a low (5 dB) signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) relative to ambient noise in mice. However, despite employing multiple behavioral analysis approaches, we were unable to extend these findings to a mice model of chronic pain listening to the 5 dB SNR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yu Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Interdisciplinary Center for Brain Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
- International Institute for Brain Research, Qingdao International Academician Park, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinjin Wan
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Key Laboratory of Alzheimer’s Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Institute of Aging, The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Mianxian Wang
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Hong
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, China
| | - Min Zhuo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Interdisciplinary Center for Brain Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
- International Institute for Brain Research, Qingdao International Academician Park, Qingdao, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, China
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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26
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Yashima J, Uekita T, Sakamoto T. The prelimbic cortex but not the anterior cingulate cortex plays an important role in social recognition and social investigation in mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284666. [PMID: 37083625 PMCID: PMC10121050 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated in social cognitive functions and emotional behaviors in rodents. Each subregion (prelimbic cortex, PL; infralimbic cortex; and anterior cingulate cortex, ACC) of the PFC appears to play a different role in social and emotional behaviors. However, previous investigations have produced inconsistent data, and few previous studies directly compared the roles of the PFC subregions using the same experimental paradigm. Accordingly, in the present study, we examined the role of the PL and the ACC in short-term social recognition, social investigation, and anxiety-related behaviors in C57BL/6J mice. We subjected mice with a lesioned PL or ACC, as well as those in a sham control group, to tests of social recognition and social novelty where juvenile and adult male mice were used as social stimuli. In the social recognition test, the PL-lesioned mice exhibited habituation but not dishabituation regardless of whether they encountered juvenile or adult mice. In a subsequent social novelty test, they spent less time engaged in social investigation compared with the control mice when adult mice were used as social stimuli. These results suggest that PL lesions impaired both social recognition and social investigation. In contrast, ACC-lesioned mice did not exhibit impaired short-term social recognition or social investigation regardless of the social stimulus. Furthermore, PL lesions and ACC lesions did not affect anxiety-related behavior in the open field test or light-dark transition test. Our findings demonstrate that the PL but not the ACC plays an important role in social recognition and social investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joi Yashima
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoko Uekita
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiro Sakamoto
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto, Japan
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27
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Xu QY, Zhang HL, Du H, Li YC, Ji FH, Li R, Xu GY. Identification of a Glutamatergic Claustrum-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Circuit for Visceral Pain Processing. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8154-8168. [PMID: 36100399 PMCID: PMC9637003 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0779-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic visceral pain is a major challenge for both patients and health providers. Although the central sensitization of the brain is thought to play an important role in the development of visceral pain, the detailed neural circuits remain largely unknown. Using a well-established chronic visceral hypersensitivity model induced by neonatal maternal deprivation (NMD) in male mice, we identified a distinct pathway whereby the claustrum (CL) glutamatergic neuron projecting to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is critical for visceral pain but not for CFA-evoked inflammatory pain. By a combination of in vivo circuit-dissecting extracellular electrophysiological approaches and visceral pain related electromyographic (EMG) recordings, we demonstrated that optogenetic inhibition of CL glutamatergic activity suppressed the ACC neural activity and visceral hypersensitivity of NMD mice whereas selective activation of CL glutamatergic activity enhanced the ACC neural activity and evoked visceral pain of control mice. Further, optogenetic studies demonstrate a causal link between such neuronal activity and visceral pain behaviors. Chemogenetic activation or inhibition of ACC neural activities reversed the effects of optogenetic manipulation of CL neural activities on visceral pain responses. Importantly, molecular detection showed that NMD significantly enhances the expression of NMDA receptors and activated CaMKIIα in the ACC postsynaptic density (PSD) region. Together, our data establish a functional role for CL→ACC glutamatergic neurons in gating visceral pain, thus providing a potential treatment strategy for visceral pain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Studies have shown that sensitization of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays an important role in chronic pain. However, it is as yet unknown whether there is a specific brain region and a distinct neural circuit that helps the ACC to distinguish visceral and somatic pain. The present study demonstrates that claustrum (CL) glutamatergic neurons maybe responding to colorectal distention (CRD) rather than somatic stimulation and that a CL glutamatergic projection to ACC glutamatergic neuron regulates visceral pain in mice. Furthermore, excessive NMDA receptors and overactive CaMKIIα in the ACC postsynaptic density (PSD) region were observed in mice with chronic visceral pain. Together, these findings reveal a novel neural circuity underlying the central sensitization of chronic visceral pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Ya Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Long Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Du
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-Chang Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu-Hai Ji
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, People's Republic of China
| | - Guang-Yin Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
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28
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McKendrick G, McDevitt DS, Shafeek P, Cottrill A, Graziane NM. Anterior cingulate cortex and its projections to the ventral tegmental area regulate opioid withdrawal, the formation of opioid context associations and context-induced drug seeking. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:972658. [PMID: 35992922 PMCID: PMC9388764 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.972658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical evidence suggests that there are correlations between activity within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) following re-exposure to drug-associated contexts and drug craving. However, there are limited data contributing to our understanding of ACC function at the cellular level during re-exposure to drug-context associations as well as whether the ACC is directly related to context-induced drug seeking. Here, we addressed this issue by employing our novel behavioral procedure capable of measuring the formation of drug-context associations as well as context-induced drug-seeking behavior in male mice (8-12 weeks of age) that orally self-administered oxycodone. We found that mice escalated oxycodone intake during the long-access training sessions and that conditioning with oxycodone was sufficient to evoke conditioned place preference (CPP) and drug-seeking behaviors. Additionally, we found that thick-tufted, but not thin-tufted pyramidal neurons (PyNs) in the ACC as well as ventral tegmental area (VTA)-projecting ACC neurons had increased intrinsic membrane excitability in mice that self-administered oxycodone compared to controls. Moreover, we found that global inhibition of the ACC or inhibition of VTA-projecting ACC neurons was sufficient to significantly reduce oxycodone-induced CPP, drug seeking, and spontaneous opioid withdrawal. These results demonstrate a direct role of ACC activity in mediating context-induced opioid seeking among other behaviors, including withdrawal, that are associated with the DSM-V criteria of opioid use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greer McKendrick
- Neuroscience Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Dillon S. McDevitt
- Neuroscience Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Peter Shafeek
- Medicine Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Adam Cottrill
- Neuroscience Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas M. Graziane
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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29
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Francis-Oliveira J, Leitzel O, Niwa M. Are the Anterior and Mid-Cingulate Cortices Distinct in Rodents? Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:914359. [PMID: 35721461 PMCID: PMC9200948 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.914359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in cognitive control, emotional regulation, and motivation. In this Perspective article, we discuss the nomenclature of the subdivisions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), since the anatomical definitions of the PFC subregions have been confusing. Although the mid-cingulate cortex (MCC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) have distinct features in humans and non-human primates, it is unclear whether these regions serve different functions in rodents. Accurate mapping of the cingulate cortex in rodents is important to allow comparisons between species. A proposed change in the nomenclature of the rodent cingulate cortex to anterior cingulate cortex (aCg) and mid-cingulate cortex (mCg) is presented based on our data. We show evidence for distinct cortico-cortical projections from the aCg and mCg to the PrL. The aCg→PrL neurons were abundant in layer VI, while the mCg→PrL neurons were mainly distributed in layer V. In addition, a sex difference was detected in the aCg, with males having a higher proportion of layer V neurons projecting to the PrL than females. Based on this laminar distribution and considering that layer V and VI send efferent projections to different brain areas such as the brain stem, amygdala, and thalamus, we propose that aCg and mCg need to be considered separate entities for future rodent studies. This new definition will put into perspective the role of rodent cingulate cortex in diverse aspects of cognition and facilitate interspecies comparisons in cingulate cortex research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Francis-Oliveira
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Owen Leitzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Minae Niwa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Minae Niwa,
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30
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Johnson C, Kretsge LN, Yen WW, Sriram B, O'Connor A, Liu RS, Jimenez JC, Phadke RA, Wingfield KK, Yeung C, Jinadasa TJ, Nguyen TPH, Cho ES, Fuchs E, Spevack ED, Velasco BE, Hausmann FS, Fournier LA, Brack A, Melzer S, Cruz-Martín A. Highly unstable heterogeneous representations in VIP interneurons of the anterior cingulate cortex. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2602-2618. [PMID: 35246635 PMCID: PMC11128891 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01485-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A hallmark of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is its functional heterogeneity. Functional and imaging studies revealed its importance in the encoding of anxiety-related and social stimuli, but it is unknown how microcircuits within the ACC encode these distinct stimuli. One type of inhibitory interneuron, which is positive for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), is known to modulate the activity of pyramidal cells in local microcircuits, but it is unknown whether VIP cells in the ACC (VIPACC) are engaged by particular contexts or stimuli. Additionally, recent studies demonstrated that neuronal representations in other cortical areas can change over time at the level of the individual neuron. However, it is not known whether stimulus representations in the ACC remain stable over time. Using in vivo Ca2+ imaging and miniscopes in freely behaving mice to monitor neuronal activity with cellular resolution, we identified individual VIPACC that preferentially activated to distinct stimuli across diverse tasks. Importantly, although the population-level activity of the VIPACC remained stable across trials, the stimulus-selectivity of individual interneurons changed rapidly. These findings demonstrate marked functional heterogeneity and instability within interneuron populations in the ACC. This work contributes to our understanding of how the cortex encodes information across diverse contexts and provides insight into the complexity of neural processes involved in anxiety and social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor Johnson
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa N Kretsge
- The Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Neurophotonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William W Yen
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Alexandra O'Connor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruichen Sky Liu
- MS in Statistical Practice Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica C Jimenez
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rhushikesh A Phadke
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly K Wingfield
- Neurophotonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charlotte Yeung
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tushare J Jinadasa
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thanh P H Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eun Seon Cho
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erelle Fuchs
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eli D Spevack
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Berta Escude Velasco
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Frances S Hausmann
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke A Fournier
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alison Brack
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Melzer
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alberto Cruz-Martín
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Neurophotonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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31
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Spool JA, Bergan JF, Remage-Healey L. A neural circuit perspective on brain aromatase. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 65:100973. [PMID: 34942232 PMCID: PMC9667830 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This review explores the role of aromatase in the brain as illuminated by a set of conserved network-level connections identified in several vertebrate taxa. Aromatase-expressing neurons are neurochemically heterogeneous but the brain regions in which they are found are highly-conserved across the vertebrate lineage. During development, aromatase neurons have a prominent role in sexual differentiation of the brain and resultant sex differences in behavior and human brain diseases. Drawing on literature primarily from birds and rodents, we delineate brain regions that express aromatase and that are strongly interconnected, and suggest that, in many species, aromatase expression essentially defines the Social Behavior Network. Moreover, in several cases the inputs to and outputs from this core Social Behavior Network also express aromatase. Recent advances in molecular and genetic tools for neuroscience now enable in-depth and taxonomically diverse studies of the function of aromatase at the neural circuit level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Spool
- Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Joseph F Bergan
- Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Luke Remage-Healey
- Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
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32
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Xue M, Shi W, Zhou S, Li Y, Wu F, Chen QY, Liu RH, Zhou Z, Zhang YX, Chen Y, Xu F, Bi G, Li X, Lu J, Zhuo M. Mapping thalamic-anterior cingulate monosynaptic inputs in adult mice. Mol Pain 2022; 18:17448069221087034. [PMID: 35240879 PMCID: PMC9009153 DOI: 10.1177/17448069221087034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is located in the frontal part of the
cingulate cortex, and plays important roles in pain perception and emotion. The
thalamocortical pathway is the major sensory input to the ACC. Previous studies
have show that several different thalamic nuclei receive projection fibers from
spinothalamic tract, that in turn send efferents to the ACC by using neural
tracers and optical imaging methods. Most of these studies were performed in
monkeys, cats, and rats, few studies were reported systematically in adult mice.
Adult mice, especially genetically modified mice, have provided molecular and
synaptic mechanisms for cortical plasticity and modulation in the ACC. In the
present study, we utilized rabies virus-based retrograde tracing system to map
thalamic-anterior cingulate monosynaptic inputs in adult mice. We also combined
with a new high-throughput VISoR imaging technique to generate a
three-dimensional whole-brain reconstruction, especially the thalamus. We found
that cortical neurons in the ACC received direct projections from different
sub-nuclei in the thalamus, including the anterior, ventral, medial, lateral,
midline, and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. These findings provide key anatomic
evidences for the connection between the thalamus and ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Xue
- 12480Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | | | - Sibo Zhou
- 528996Xi'an Jiaotong University Frontier Institute of Science and Technology
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Min Zhuo
- Qingdao International Academician Park
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33
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Ma Q. A functional subdivision within the somatosensory system and its implications for pain research. Neuron 2022; 110:749-769. [PMID: 35016037 PMCID: PMC8897275 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Somatosensory afferents are traditionally classified by soma size, myelination, and their response specificity to external and internal stimuli. Here, we propose the functional subdivision of the nociceptive somatosensory system into two branches. The exteroceptive branch detects external threats and drives reflexive-defensive reactions to prevent or limit injury. The interoceptive branch senses the disruption of body integrity, produces tonic pain with strong aversive emotional components, and drives self-caring responses toward to the injured region to reduce suffering. The central thesis behind this functional subdivision comes from a reflection on the dilemma faced by the pain research field, namely, the use of reflexive-defensive behaviors as surrogate assays for interoceptive tonic pain. The interpretation of these assays is now being challenged by the discovery of distinct but interwoven circuits that drive exteroceptive versus interoceptive types of behaviors, with the conflation of these two components contributing partially to the poor translation of therapies from preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiufu Ma
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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34
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Preuss TM, Wise SP. Evolution of prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:3-19. [PMID: 34363014 PMCID: PMC8617185 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01076-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Subdivisions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) evolved at different times. Agranular parts of the PFC emerged in early mammals, and rodents, primates, and other modern mammals share them by inheritance. These are limbic areas and include the agranular orbital cortex and agranular medial frontal cortex (areas 24, 32, and 25). Rodent research provides valuable insights into the structure, functions, and development of these shared areas, but it contributes less to parts of the PFC that are specific to primates, namely, the granular, isocortical PFC that dominates the frontal lobe in humans. The first granular PFC areas evolved either in early primates or in the last common ancestor of primates and tree shrews. Additional granular PFC areas emerged in the primate stem lineage, as represented by modern strepsirrhines. Other granular PFC areas evolved in simians, the group that includes apes, humans, and monkeys. In general, PFC accreted new areas along a roughly posterior to anterior trajectory during primate evolution. A major expansion of the granular PFC occurred in humans in concert with other association areas, with modifications of corticocortical connectivity and gene expression, although current evidence does not support the addition of a large number of new, human-specific PFC areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd M Preuss
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Steven P Wise
- Olschefskie Institute for the Neurobiology of Knowledge, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
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35
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Ren D, Li JN, Qiu XT, Wan FP, Wu ZY, Fan BY, Zhang MM, Chen T, Li H, Bai Y, Li YQ. Anterior Cingulate Cortex Mediates Hyperalgesia and Anxiety Induced by Chronic Pancreatitis in Rats. Neurosci Bull 2021; 38:342-358. [PMID: 34907496 PMCID: PMC9068840 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00800-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Central sensitization is essential in maintaining chronic pain induced by chronic pancreatitis (CP), but cortical modulation of painful CP remains elusive. Here, we examined the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the pathogenesis of abdominal hyperalgesia in a rat model of CP induced by intraductal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). TNBS treatment resulted in long-term abdominal hyperalgesia and anxiety in rats. Morphological data indicated that painful CP induced a significant increase in FOS-expressing neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and ACC, and some FOS-expressing neurons in the NTS projected to the ACC. In addition, a larger portion of ascending fibers from the NTS innervated pyramidal neurons, the neural subpopulation primarily expressing FOS under the condition of painful CP, rather than GABAergic neurons within the ACC. CP rats showed increased expression of vesicular glutamate transporter 1, and increased membrane trafficking and phosphorylation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunit NR2B and the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit GluR1 within the ACC. Microinjection of NMDAR and AMPAR antagonists into the ACC to block excitatory synaptic transmission significantly attenuated abdominal hyperalgesia in CP rats, which was similar to the analgesic effect of endomorphins injected into the ACC. Specifically inhibiting the excitability of ACC pyramidal cells via chemogenetics reduced both hyperalgesia and comorbid anxiety, whereas activating these neurons via optogenetics failed to aggravate hyperalgesia and anxiety in CP rats. Taken together, these findings provide neurocircuit, biochemical, and behavioral evidence for involvement of the ACC in hyperalgesia and anxiety in CP rats, as well as novel insights into the cortical modulation of painful CP, and highlights the ACC as a potential target for neuromodulatory interventions in the treatment of painful CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ren
- Department of Anatomy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 510000, China.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jia-Ni Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xin-Tong Qiu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Fa-Ping Wan
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Department of Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Bo-Yuan Fan
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Ming-Ming Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. .,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Yun-Qing Li
- Department of Anatomy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 510000, China. .,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. .,Key Laboratory of Brain Science Research and Transformation in Tropical Environment of Hainan Province, Haikou, 570216, China. .,Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, 671000, China.
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36
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Mapping thalamocortical functional connectivity with large-scale brain networks in patients with first-episode psychosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19815. [PMID: 34615924 PMCID: PMC8494789 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99170-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal thalamocortical networks involving specific thalamic nuclei have been implicated in schizophrenia pathophysiology. While comparable topography of anatomical and functional connectivity abnormalities has been reported in patients across illness stages, previous functional studies have been confined to anatomical pathways of thalamocortical networks. To address this issue, we incorporated large-scale brain network dynamics into examining thalamocortical functional connectivity. Forty patients with first-episode psychosis and forty healthy controls underwent T1-weighted and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Independent component analysis of voxelwise thalamic functional connectivity maps parcellated the cortex into thalamus-related networks, and thalamic subdivisions associated with these networks were delineated. Functional connectivity of (1) networks with the thalamus and (2) thalamic subdivision seeds were examined. In patients, functional connectivity of the salience network with the thalamus was decreased and localized to the ventrolateral (VL) and ventroposterior (VP) thalamus, while that of a network comprising the cerebellum, temporal and parietal regions was increased and localized to the mediodorsal (MD) thalamus. In patients, thalamic subdivision encompassing the VL and VP thalamus demonstrated hypoconnectivity and that encompassing the MD and pulvinar regions demonstrated hyperconnectivity. Our results extend the implications of disrupted thalamocortical networks involving specific thalamic nuclei to dysfunctional large-scale brain network dynamics in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
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37
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Anterior cingulate cortex is necessary for spontaneous opioid withdrawal and withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1990-1999. [PMID: 34341495 PMCID: PMC8429582 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01118-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is implicated in many pathologies, including depression, anxiety, substance-use disorders, and pain. There is also evidence from brain imaging that the ACC is hyperactive during periods of opioid withdrawal. However, there are limited data contributing to our understanding of ACC function at the cellular level during opioid withdrawal. Here, we address this issue by performing ex vivo electrophysiological analysis of thick-tufted, putative dopamine D2 receptor expressing, layer V pyramidal neurons in the ACC (ACC L5 PyNs) in a mouse model of spontaneous opioid withdrawal. We found that escalating doses of morphine (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1-5, respectively) injected twice daily into male C57BL/6 mice evoked withdrawal behaviors and an associated withdrawal-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Brain slices prepared 24 h following the last morphine injection showed increases in ACC L5 thick-tufted PyN-intrinsic membrane excitability, increases in membrane resistance, reductions in the rheobase, and reductions in HCN channel-mediated currents (IH). We did not observe changes in intrinsic or synaptic properties on thin-tufted, dopamine D1-receptor-expressing ACC L5 PyNs recorded from male Drd1a-tdTomato transgenic mice. In addition, we found that chemogenetic inhibition of the ACC blocked opioid-induced withdrawal and withdrawal-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. These results demonstrate that spontaneous opioid withdrawal alters neuronal properties within the ACC and that ACC activity is necessary to control behaviors associated with opioid withdrawal and withdrawal-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. The ability of the ACC to regulate both withdrawal behaviors and withdrawal-induced mechanical hypersensitivity suggests overlapping mechanisms between two seemingly distinguishable behaviors. This commonality potentially suggests that the ACC is a locus for multiple withdrawal symptoms.
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38
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Rahman SS, Mulvihill K, Wood CM, Quah SKL, Horst NK, Clarke HF, Cockcroft GJ, Santangelo AM, Roberts AC. Differential Contribution of Anterior and Posterior Midcingulate Subregions to Distal and Proximal Threat Reactivity in Marmosets. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:4765-4780. [PMID: 34076234 PMCID: PMC8408452 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The midcingulate cortex (MCC) is associated with cognition and emotion regulation. Structural and correlational functional evidence suggests that rather than being homogenous, the MCC may have dissociable functions that can be mapped onto distinct subregions. In this study, we use the marmoset monkey to causally investigate the contributions of two proposed subregions of the MCC: the anterior and posterior midcingulate cortices (aMCC and pMCC) to behavioral and cardiovascular correlates of threat processing relevant to anxiety disorders. Transient inactivation of the aMCC decreased anxiety-like responses to a postencounter distal threat, namely an unfamiliar human intruder, while inactivation of the pMCC showed a mild but opposing effect. Furthermore, although inactivation of neither MCC subregions had any effect on basal cardiovascular activity, aMCC inactivation blunted the expression of both cardiovascular and behavioral conditioned responses to a predictable proximal threat (a rubber snake) during the extinction in a Pavlovian conditioning task, with pMCC inactivation having again an opposing effect, but primarily on the behavioral response. These findings suggest that the MCC is indeed functionally heterogeneous with regards to its role in threat processing, with aMCC providing a marked facilitative contribution to the expression of the emotional response to both proximal and distal threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sufia S Rahman
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Kevin Mulvihill
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Christian M Wood
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Shaun K L Quah
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Nicole K Horst
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Hannah F Clarke
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Gemma J Cockcroft
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Andrea M Santangelo
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Angela C Roberts
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
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39
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Tan LL, Kuner R. Neocortical circuits in pain and pain relief. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:458-471. [PMID: 34127843 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00468-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The sensory, associative and limbic neocortical structures play a critical role in shaping incoming noxious inputs to generate variable pain perceptions. Technological advances in tracing circuitry and interrogation of pathways and complex behaviours are now yielding critical knowledge of neocortical circuits, cellular contributions and causal relationships between pain perception and its abnormalities in chronic pain. Emerging insights into neocortical pain processing suggest the existence of neocortical causality and specificity for pain at the level of subdomains, circuits and cellular entities and the activity patterns they encode. These mechanisms provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention for improved pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linette Liqi Tan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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40
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Structural Degradation in Midcingulate Cortex Is Associated with Pathological Aggression in Mice. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070868. [PMID: 34209993 PMCID: PMC8301779 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological aggression is a debilitating feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders, and cingulate cortex is one of the brain areas centrally implicated in its control. Here we explore the specific role of midcingulate cortex (MCC) in the development of pathological aggression. To this end, we investigated the structural and functional degeneration of MCC in the BALB/cJ strain, a mouse model for pathological aggression. Compared to control animals from the BALB/cByJ strain, BALB/cJ mice expressed consistently heightened levels of aggression, as assessed by the resident-intruder test. At the same time, immunohistochemistry demonstrated stark structural degradation in the MCC of aggressive BALB/cJ mice: Decreased neuron density and widespread neuron death were accompanied by increased microglia and astroglia concentrations and reactive astrogliosis. cFos staining indicated that this degradation had functional consequences: MCC activity did not differ between BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ mice at baseline, but unlike BALB/cByJ mice, BALB/cJ mice failed to activate MCC during resident-intruder encounters. This suggests that structural and functional impairments of MCC, triggered by neuronal degeneration, may be one of the drivers of pathological aggression in mice, highlighting MCC as a potential key area for pathologies of aggression in humans.
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41
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Cataldi S, Stanley AT, Miniaci MC, Sulzer D. Interpreting the role of the striatum during multiple phases of motor learning. FEBS J 2021; 289:2263-2281. [PMID: 33977645 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The synaptic pathways in the striatum are central to basal ganglia functions including motor control, learning and organization, action selection, acquisition of motor skills, cognitive function, and emotion. Here, we review the role of the striatum and its connections in motor learning and performance. The development of new techniques to record neuronal activity and animal models of motor disorders using neurotoxin, pharmacological, and genetic manipulations are revealing pathways that underlie motor performance and motor learning, as well as how they are altered by pathophysiological mechanisms. We discuss approaches that can be used to analyze complex motor skills, particularly in rodents, and identify specific questions central to understanding how striatal circuits mediate motor learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cataldi
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY, USA
| | - Adrien T Stanley
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY, USA
| | | | - David Sulzer
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY, USA
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42
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Cassel JC, Ferraris M, Quilichini P, Cholvin T, Boch L, Stephan A, Pereira de Vasconcelos A. The reuniens and rhomboid nuclei of the thalamus: A crossroads for cognition-relevant information processing? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 126:338-360. [PMID: 33766671 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Over the past twenty years, the reuniens and rhomboid (ReRh) nuclei, which constitute the ventral midline thalamus, have received constantly growing attention. Since our first review article about the functional contributions of ReRh nuclei (Cassel et al., 2013), numerous (>80) important papers have extended anatomical knowledge, including at a developmental level, introduced new and very original electrophysiological insights on ReRh functions, and brought novel results on cognitive and non-cognitive implications of the ReRh. The current review will cover these recent articles, more on Re than on Rh, and their contribution will be approached according to their affiliation with work before 2013. These neuroanatomical, electrophysiological or behavioral findings appear coherent and point to the ReRh nuclei as two major components of a multistructural system supporting numerous cognitive (and non-cognitive) functions. They gate the flow of information, perhaps especially from the medial prefrontal cortex to the hippocampus and back, and coordinate activity and processing across these two (and possibly other) brain regions of major cognitive relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Cassel
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Maëva Ferraris
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France
| | - Pascale Quilichini
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France
| | - Thibault Cholvin
- Institute for Physiology I, University Clinics Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laurine Boch
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Aline Stephan
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Pereira de Vasconcelos
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
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43
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Akam T, Rodrigues-Vaz I, Marcelo I, Zhang X, Pereira M, Oliveira RF, Dayan P, Costa RM. The Anterior Cingulate Cortex Predicts Future States to Mediate Model-Based Action Selection. Neuron 2021; 109:149-163.e7. [PMID: 33152266 PMCID: PMC7837117 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral control is not unitary. It comprises parallel systems, model based and model free, that respectively generate flexible and habitual behaviors. Model-based decisions use predictions of the specific consequences of actions, but how these are implemented in the brain is poorly understood. We used calcium imaging and optogenetics in a sequential decision task for mice to show that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) predicts the state that actions will lead to, not simply whether they are good or bad, and monitors whether outcomes match these predictions. ACC represents the complete state space of the task, with reward signals that depend strongly on the state where reward is obtained but minimally on the preceding choice. Accordingly, ACC is necessary only for updating model-based strategies, not for basic reward-driven action reinforcement. These results reveal that ACC is a critical node in model-based control, with a specific role in predicting future states given chosen actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Akam
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
| | - Ines Rodrigues-Vaz
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ivo Marcelo
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael Pereira
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Peter Dayan
- Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, London, UK; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rui M Costa
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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44
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Mapping Large-Scale Networks Associated with Action, Behavioral Inhibition and Impulsivity. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0406-20.2021. [PMID: 33509949 PMCID: PMC7920541 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0406-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A key aspect of behavioral inhibition is the ability to wait before acting. Failures in this form of inhibition result in impulsivity and are commonly observed in various neuropsychiatric disorders. Prior evidence has implicated medial frontal cortex, motor cortex, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and ventral striatum in various aspects of inhibition. Here, using distributed recordings of brain activity [with local-field potentials (LFPs)] in rodents, we identified oscillatory patterns of activity linked with action and inhibition. Low-frequency (δ) activity within motor and premotor circuits was observed in two distinct networks, the first involved in cued, sensory-based responses and the second more generally in both cued and delayed actions. By contrast, θ activity within prefrontal and premotor regions (medial frontal cortex, OFC, ventral striatum, and premotor cortex) was linked with inhibition. Connectivity at θ frequencies was observed within this network of brain regions. Interestingly, greater connectivity between primary motor cortex (M1) and other motor regions was linked with greater impulsivity, whereas greater connectivity between M1 and inhibitory brain regions (OFC, ventral striatum) was linked with improved inhibition and diminished impulsivity. We observed similar patterns of activity on a parallel task in humans: low-frequency activity in sensorimotor cortex linked with action, θ activity in OFC/ventral prefrontal cortex (PFC) linked with inhibition. Thus, we show that δ and θ oscillations form distinct large-scale networks associated with action and inhibition, respectively.
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Yang JH, Kwan AC. Secondary motor cortex: Broadcasting and biasing animal's decisions through long-range circuits. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 158:443-470. [PMID: 33785155 PMCID: PMC8190828 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Medial secondary motor cortex (MOs or M2) constitutes the dorsal aspect of the rodent medial frontal cortex. We previously proposed that the function of MOs is to link antecedent conditions, including sensory stimuli and prior choices, to impending actions. In this review, we focus on the long-range pathways between MOs and other cortical and subcortical regions. We highlight three circuits: (1) connections with visual and auditory cortices that are essential for predictive coding of perceptual inputs; (2) connections with motor cortex and brainstem that are responsible for top-down, context-dependent modulation of movements; (3) connections with retrosplenial cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and basal ganglia that facilitate reward-based learning. Together, these long-range circuits allow MOs to broadcast choice signals for feedback and to bias decision-making processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Hau Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Alex C Kwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.
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Huda R, Sipe GO, Breton-Provencher V, Cruz KG, Pho GN, Adam E, Gunter LM, Sullins A, Wickersham IR, Sur M. Distinct prefrontal top-down circuits differentially modulate sensorimotor behavior. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6007. [PMID: 33243980 PMCID: PMC7691329 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19772-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor behaviors require processing of behaviorally relevant sensory cues and the ability to select appropriate responses from a vast behavioral repertoire. Modulation by the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is thought to be key for both processes, but the precise role of specific circuits remains unclear. We examined the sensorimotor function of anatomically distinct outputs from a subdivision of the mouse PFC, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Using a visually guided two-choice behavioral paradigm with multiple cue-response mappings, we dissociated the sensory and motor response components of sensorimotor control. Projection-specific two-photon calcium imaging and optogenetic manipulations show that ACC outputs to the superior colliculus, a key midbrain structure for response selection, principally coordinate specific motor responses. Importantly, ACC outputs exert control by reducing the innate response bias of the superior colliculus. In contrast, ACC outputs to the visual cortex facilitate sensory processing of visual cues. Our results ascribe motor and sensory roles to ACC projections to the superior colliculus and the visual cortex and demonstrate for the first time a circuit motif for PFC function wherein anatomically non-overlapping output pathways coordinate complementary but distinct aspects of visual sensorimotor behavior. The neural circuit mechanisms for sensorimotor control by the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are unclear. Here, the authors show that PFC outputs to the visual cortex and superior colliculus respectively facilitate sensory processing and action selection, allowing the PFC to independently control complementary but distinct behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafiq Huda
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Grayson O Sipe
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Vincent Breton-Provencher
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - K Guadalupe Cruz
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Gerald N Pho
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Elie Adam
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Liadan M Gunter
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Austin Sullins
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ian R Wickersham
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mriganka Sur
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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Marti Mengual U, Wybo WAM, Spierenburg LJE, Santello M, Senn W, Nevian T. Efficient Low-Pass Dendro-Somatic Coupling in the Apical Dendrite of Layer 5 Pyramidal Neurons in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8799-8815. [PMID: 33046549 PMCID: PMC7659461 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3028-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal propagation in the dendrites of many neurons, including cortical pyramidal neurons in sensory cortex, is characterized by strong attenuation toward the soma. In contrast, using dual whole-cell recordings from the apical dendrite and soma of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of adult male mice we found good coupling, particularly of slow subthreshold potentials like NMDA spikes or trains of EPSPs from dendrite to soma. Only the fastest EPSPs in the ACC were reduced to a similar degree as in primary somatosensory cortex, revealing differential low-pass filtering capabilities. Furthermore, L5 pyramidal neurons in the ACC did not exhibit dendritic Ca2+ spikes as prominently found in the apical dendrite of S1 (somatosensory cortex) pyramidal neurons. Fitting the experimental data to a NEURON model revealed that the specific distribution of Ileak, Iir, Im , and Ih was sufficient to explain the electrotonic dendritic structure causing a leaky distal dendritic compartment with correspondingly low input resistance and a compact perisomatic region, resulting in a decoupling of distal tuft branches from each other while at the same time efficiently connecting them to the soma. Our results give a biophysically plausible explanation of how a class of prefrontal cortical pyramidal neurons achieve efficient integration of subthreshold distal synaptic inputs compared with the same cell type in sensory cortices.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Understanding cortical computation requires the understanding of its fundamental computational subunits. Layer 5 pyramidal neurons are the main output neurons of the cortex, integrating synaptic inputs across different cortical layers. Their elaborate dendritic tree receives, propagates, and transforms synaptic inputs into action potential output. We found good coupling of slow subthreshold potentials like NMDA spikes or trains of EPSPs from the distal apical dendrite to the soma in pyramidal neurons in the ACC, which was significantly better compared with S1. This suggests that frontal pyramidal neurons use a different integration scheme compared with the same cell type in somatosensory cortex, which has important implications for our understanding of information processing across different parts of the neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Willem A M Wybo
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Mirko Santello
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Walter Senn
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Nevian
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Kätzel D, Wolff AR, Bygrave AM, Bannerman DM. Hippocampal Hyperactivity as a Druggable Circuit-Level Origin of Aberrant Salience in Schizophrenia. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:486811. [PMID: 33178010 PMCID: PMC7596262 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.486811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of current neuroleptics was largely aiming to decrease excessive dopaminergic signaling in the striatum. However, the notion that abnormal dopamine creates psychotic symptoms by causing an aberrant assignment of salience that drives maladaptive learning chronically during disease development suggests a therapeutic value of early interventions that correct salience-related neural processing. The mesolimbic dopaminergic output is modulated by several interconnected brain-wide circuits centrally involving the hippocampus and key relays like the ventral and associative striatum, ventral pallidum, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, nucleus reuniens, lateral and medial septum, prefrontal and cingulate cortex, among others. Unraveling the causal relationships between these circuits using modern neuroscience techniques holds promise for identifying novel cellular-and ultimately molecular-treatment targets for reducing transition to psychosis and symptoms of schizophrenia. Imaging studies in humans have implicated a hyperactivity of the hippocampus as a robust and early endophenotype in schizophrenia. Experiments in rodents, in turn, suggested that the activity of its output region-the ventral subiculum-may modulate dopamine release from ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons in the ventral striatum. Even though these observations suggested a novel circuit-level target for anti-psychotic action, no therapy has yet been developed along this rationale. Recently evaluated treatment strategies-at least in part-target excess glutamatergic activity, e.g. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), levetiracetam, and mGluR2/3 modulators. We here review the evidence for the central implication of the hippocampus-VTA axis in schizophrenia-related pathology, discuss its symptom-related implications with a particular focus on aberrant assignment of salience, and evaluate some of its short-comings and prospects for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Kätzel
- Institute for Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Amy R. Wolff
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Alexei M. Bygrave
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - David M. Bannerman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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van Heukelum S, Mars RB, Guthrie M, Buitelaar JK, Beckmann CF, Tiesinga PHE, Vogt BA, Glennon JC, Havenith MN. Where is Cingulate Cortex? A Cross-Species View. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:285-299. [PMID: 32353333 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
To compare findings across species, neuroscience relies on cross-species homologies, particularly in terms of brain areas. For cingulate cortex, a structure implicated in behavioural adaptation and control, a homologous definition across mammals is available - but currently not employed by most rodent researchers. The standard partitioning of rodent cingulate cortex is inconsistent with that in any other model species, including humans. Reviewing the existing literature, we show that the homologous definition better aligns results of rodent studies with those of other species, and reveals a clearer structural and functional organisation within rodent cingulate cortex itself. Based on these insights, we call for widespread adoption of the homologous nomenclature, and reinterpretation of previous studies originally based on the nonhomologous partitioning of rodent cingulate cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina van Heukelum
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Rogier B Mars
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Martin Guthrie
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul H E Tiesinga
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Brent A Vogt
- Cingulum Neurosciences Institute, 4435 Stephanie Drive, Manlius, NY 13104, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Martha N Havenith
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Zero-Noise Lab, Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, 60528 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
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Activation of the Intrinsic Pain Inhibitory Circuit from the Midcingulate Cg2 to Zona Incerta Alleviates Neuropathic Pain. J Neurosci 2019; 39:9130-9144. [PMID: 31604834 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1683-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is one of the most common and notorious neurological diseases. The changes in cerebral structures after nerve injury and the corresponding contributions to neuropathic pain are not well understood. Here we found that the majority of glutamatergic neurons in the area 2 of midcingulate cortex (MCC Cg2Glu) were inhibited by painful stimulation in male mice. Optogenetic manipulation revealed that these neurons were tonically involved in the inhibitory modulation of multimodal nociception. We further identified the projections to GABAergic neurons in the zona incerta (ZIGABA) mediated the pain inhibitory role. However, MCC Cg2Glu became hypoactive after nerve injury. Although a brief activation of the MCC Cg2Glu to ZIGABA circuit was able to relieve the aversiveness associated with spontaneous ongoing pain, consecutive activation of the circuit was required to alleviate neuropathic allodynia. In contrast, glutamatergic neurons in the area 1 of MCC played opposite roles in pain modulation. They became hyperactive after nerve injury and only consecutive inhibition of their activity relieved allodynia. These results demonstrate that MCC Cg2Glu constitute a component of intrinsic pain inhibitory circuitry and their hypoactivity underlies neuropathic pain. We propose that selective and persistent activation of the MCC Cg2Glu to ZIGABA circuit may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for this disease.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glutamatergic neurons in the area 2 of midcingulate cortex (MCC Cg2Glu) are tonically involved in the intrinsic pain inhibition via projecting to GABAergic neurons in the zona incerta. They are hypoactive after nerve injury. Selective activation of the circuit compensates the reduction of its analgesic strength and relieves neuropathic pain. Therefore, MCC Cg2Glu and the related analgesic circuit may serve as therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain. In contrast, MCC Cg1Glu have an opposite role in pain modulation and become hyperactive after nerve injury. The present study provides novel evidence for the concept that neuropathic pain is associated with the dysfunction of endogenous pain modulatory system and new perspective on the treatment of neuropathic pain.
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