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Kim YY, Kim SW, Kim E, Kim YJ, Kang BC, Ku SY. Transcriptomic Profiling of Reproductive Age Marmoset Monkey Ovaries. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:81-95. [PMID: 37710086 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01342-5] [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: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The decline in ovarian reserve and the aging of the ovaries is a significant concern for women, particularly in the context of delayed reproduction. However, there are ethical limitations and challenges associated with conducting long-term studies to understand and manipulate the mechanisms that regulate ovarian aging in human. The marmoset monkey offers several advantages as a reproductive model, including a shorter gestation period and similar reproductive physiology to that of human. Additionally, they have a relatively long lifespan compared to other mammals, making them suitable for long-term studies. In this study, we focused on analyzing the structural characteristics of the marmoset ovary and studying the mRNA expression of 244 genes associated with ovarian aging. We obtained ovaries from marmosets at three different reproductive stages: pre-pubertal (1.5 months), reproductive (82 months), and menopausal (106 months) ovaries. The structural analyses revealed the presence of numerous mitochondria and lipid droplets in the marmoset ovaries. Many of the genes expressed in the ovaries were involved in multicellular organism development and transcriptional regulation. Additionally, we identified the expression of protein-binding genes. Within the expressed genes, VEGFA and MMP9 were found to be critical for regulating ovarian reserve. An intriguing finding of the study was the strong correlation between genes associated with female infertility and genes related to fibrosis and wound healing. The authors suggest that this correlation might be a result of the repeated rupture and subsequent healing processes occurring in the ovary due to the menstrual cycle, potentially leading to the indirect onset of fibrosis. The expression profile of ovarian aging-related gene set in the marmoset monkey ovaries highlight the need for further studies to explore the relationship between fibrosis, wound healing, and ovarian aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Young Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Daehak-ro 101, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Woo Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Daehak-ro 101, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Eunjin Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Daehak-ro 101, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Yong Jin Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Byeong-Cheol Kang
- Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung-Yup Ku
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Daehak-ro 101, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
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Roberta C, Vera S, Hans A H, Michael H H. Activation patterns of dopaminergic cell populations reflect different learning scenarios in a cichlid fish, Pseudotropheus zebra. J Chem Neuroanat 2023; 133:102342. [PMID: 37722435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2023.102342] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine is present in all vertebrates and the functional roles of the subsystems are assumed to be similar. Whereas the effect of dopaminergic modulation is well investigated in different target systems, less is known about the factors that are causing the modulation of dopaminergic cells. Using the zebra mbuna, Pseudotropheus zebra, a cichlid fish from Lake Malawi as a model system, we investigated the activation of specific dopaminergic cell populations detected by double-labeling with TH and pS6 antibodies while the animals were solving different learning tasks. Specifically, we compared an intense avoidance learning situation, an instrumental learning task, and a non-learning isolated group and found strong activation of different dopaminergic cell populations. Preoptic-hypothalamic cell populations respond to the stress component in the avoidance task, and the forced movement/locomotion may be responsible for activation in the posterior tubercle. The instrumental learning task had little stress component, but the activation of the raphe superior in this group may be correlated with attention or arousal during the training sessions. At the same time, the weaker activation of the nucleus of the posterior commissure may be related to positive reward acting onto tectal circuits. Finally, we examined the co-activation patterns across all dopaminergic cell populations and recovered robust differences across experimental groups, largely driven by hypothalamic, posterior tubercle, and brain stem regions possibly encoding the valence and salience associated with stressful stimuli. Taken together, our results offer some insights into the different functions of the dopaminergic cell populations in the brain of a non-mammalian vertebrate in correlation with different behavioral conditions, extending our knowledge for a more comprehensive view of the mechanisms of dopaminergic modulation in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvo Roberta
- Institute of Zoology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Poppelsdorfer Schloss, Meckenheimer Allee 169, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Schluessel Vera
- Institute of Zoology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Poppelsdorfer Schloss, Meckenheimer Allee 169, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Hofmann Hans A
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Hofmann Michael H
- Institute of Zoology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Poppelsdorfer Schloss, Meckenheimer Allee 169, 53115 Bonn, Germany
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3
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Zhu L, Zheng D, Li R, Shen CJ, Cai R, Lyu C, Tang B, Sun H, Wang X, Ding Y, Xu B, Jia G, Li X, Gao L, Li XM. Induction of Anxiety-Like Phenotypes by Knockdown of Cannabinoid Type-1 Receptors in the Amygdala of Marmosets. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1669-1682. [PMID: 37368194 PMCID: PMC10603018 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01081-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is an important hub for regulating emotions and is involved in the pathophysiology of many mental diseases, such as depression and anxiety. Meanwhile, the endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating emotions and mainly functions through the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R), which is strongly expressed in the amygdala of non-human primates (NHPs). However, it remains largely unknown how the CB1Rs in the amygdala of NHPs regulate mental diseases. Here, we investigated the role of CB1R by knocking down the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene encoding CB1R in the amygdala of adult marmosets through regional delivery of AAV-SaCas9-gRNA. We found that CB1R knockdown in the amygdala induced anxiety-like behaviors, including disrupted night sleep, agitated psychomotor activity in new environments, and reduced social desire. Moreover, marmosets with CB1R-knockdown had up-regulated plasma cortisol levels. These results indicate that the knockdown of CB1Rs in the amygdala induces anxiety-like behaviors in marmosets, and this may be the mechanism underlying the regulation of anxiety by CB1Rs in the amygdala of NHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Di Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Chen-Jie Shen
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ruolan Cai
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Chenfei Lyu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Binliang Tang
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 311399, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Guoqiang Jia
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Xinjian Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Lixia Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
| | - Xiao-Ming Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Research Units for Emotion and Emotion Disorders, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China/Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Joint Institute for Genetics and Genome Medicine Between Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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4
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Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a subcortical brain structure that is relevant for sensation, cognition, and action. In nonhuman primates, a rich history of studies has provided unprecedented detail about this structure's role in controlling orienting behaviors; as a result, the primate SC has become primarily regarded as a motor control structure. However, as in other species, the primate SC is also a highly visual structure: A fraction of its inputs is retinal and complemented by inputs from visual cortical areas, including the primary visual cortex. Motivated by this, recent investigations are revealing the rich visual pattern analysis capabilities of the primate SC, placing this structure in an ideal position to guide orienting movements. The anatomical proximity of the primate SC to both early visual inputs and final motor control apparatuses, as well as its ascending feedback projections to the cortex, affirms an important role for this structure in active perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziad M Hafed
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany;
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Chih-Yang Chen
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;
| | - Amarender R Bogadhi
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany;
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5
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Qiao N, Ma L, Zhang Y, Wang L. Update on Nonhuman Primate Models of Brain Disease and Related Research Tools. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2516. [PMID: 37760957 PMCID: PMC10525665 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aging of the population is an increasingly serious issue, and many age-related illnesses are on the rise. These illnesses pose a serious threat to the health and safety of elderly individuals and create a serious economic and social burden. Despite substantial research into the pathogenesis of these diseases, their etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. In recent decades, rodent models have been used in attempts to elucidate these disorders, but such models fail to simulate the full range of symptoms. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are the most ideal neuroscientific models for studying the human brain and are more functionally similar to humans because of their high genetic similarities and phenotypic characteristics in comparison with humans. Here, we review the literature examining typical NHP brain disease models, focusing on NHP models of common diseases such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. We also explore the application of electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optogenetic study methods on NHPs and neural circuits associated with cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Qiao
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, 180 Wusi Dong Lu, Baoding 071002, China;
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China;
| | - Lizhen Ma
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China;
| | - Yi Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, 180 Wusi Dong Lu, Baoding 071002, China;
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China;
| | - Lifeng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, 180 Wusi Dong Lu, Baoding 071002, China;
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China;
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6
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Zhao J, Song Q, Wu Y, Yang L. Advances in neural circuits of innate fear defense behavior. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2023; 52:653-661. [PMID: 37899403 PMCID: PMC10630063 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2023-0131] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Fear, a negative emotion triggered by dangerous stimuli, can lead to psychiatric disorders such as phobias, anxiety disorders, and depression. Investigating the neural circuitry underlying congenital fear can offer insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of related psychiatric conditions. Research on innate fear primarily centers on the response mechanisms to various sensory signals, including olfactory, visual and auditory stimuli. Different types of fear signal inputs are regulated by distinct neural circuits. The neural circuits of the main and accessory olfactory systems receive and process olfactory stimuli, mediating defensive responses like freezing. Escape behaviors elicited by visual stimuli are primarily regulated through the superior colliculus and hypothalamic projection circuits. Auditory stimuli-induced responses, including escape, are mainly mediated through auditory cortex projection circuits. In this article, we review the research progress on neural circuits of innate fear defensive behaviors in animals. We further discuss the different sensory systems, especially the projection circuits of olfactory, visual and auditory systems, to provide references for the mechanistic study of related mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhao
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Qi Song
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yongye Wu
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
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7
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Potegal M, Nordman JC. Non-angry aggressive arousal and angriffsberietschaft: A narrative review of the phenomenology and physiology of proactive/offensive aggression motivation and escalation in people and other animals. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105110. [PMID: 36822384 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Human aggression typologies largely correspond with those for other animals. While there may be no non-human equivalent of angry reactive aggression, we propose that human proactive aggression is similar to offense in other animals' dominance contests for territory or social status. Like predation/hunting, but unlike defense, offense and proactive aggression are positively reinforcing, involving dopamine release in accumbens. The drive these motivational states provide must suffice to overcome fear associated with initiating risky fights. We term the neural activity motivating proactive aggression "non-angry aggressive arousal", but use "angriffsberietschaft" for offense motivation in other animals to acknowledge possible differences. Temporal variation in angriffsberietschaft partitions fights into bouts; engendering reduced anti-predator vigilance, redirected aggression and motivational over-ride. Increased aggressive arousal drives threat-to-attack transitions, as in verbal-to-physical escalation and beyond that, into hyper-aggression. Proactive aggression and offense involve related neural activity states. Cingulate, insular and prefrontal cortices energize/modulate aggression through a subcortical core containing subnuclei for each aggression type. These proposals will deepen understanding of aggression across taxa, guiding prevention/intervention for human violence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob C Nordman
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA.
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8
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Shemery AM, Zendlo M, Kowalski J, Gorrell E, Everett S, Wagner JG, Davis AE, Koch LG, Britton SL, Mul JD, Novak CM. Reduced contextually induced muscle thermogenesis in rats with calorie restriction and lower aerobic fitness but not monogenic obesity. Temperature (Austin) 2023; 10:379-393. [PMID: 37554387 PMCID: PMC10405760 DOI: 10.1080/23328940.2023.2171669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously identified predator odor as a potent stimulus activating thermogenesis in skeletal muscle in rats. As this may prove relevant for energy balance and weight loss, the current study investigated whether skeletal muscle thermogenesis was altered with negative energy balance, obesity propensity seen in association with low intrinsic aerobic fitness, and monogenic obesity. First, weight loss subsequent to 3 wk of 50% calorie restriction suppressed the muscle thermogenic response to predator odor. Next, we compared rats bred based on artificial selection for intrinsic aerobic fitness - high- and low-capacity runners (HCR, LCR) - that display robust leanness and obesity propensity, respectively. Aerobically fit HCR showed enhanced predator odor-induced muscle thermogenesis relative to the less-fit LCR. This contrasted with the profound monogenic obesity displayed by rats homozygous for a loss of function mutation in Melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4rK3a,4X/K314X rats), which showed no discernable deficit in thermogenesis. Taken together, these data imply that body size or obesity per se are not associated with deficient muscle thermogenesis. Rather, the physiological phenotype associated with polygenic obesity propensity may encompass pleiotropic mechanisms in the thermogenic pathway. Adaptive thermogenesis associated with weight loss also likely alters muscle thermogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Shemery
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Meredith Zendlo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Jesse Kowalski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Erin Gorrell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Scott Everett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Jacob G Wagner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Ashley E Davis
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Lauren G Koch
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, USA
| | - Steven L Britton
- Department of Anesthesiology, and Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Joram D Mul
- Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Colleen M Novak
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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9
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Iwaoki H, Nakamura K. Neuronal Encoding of Emotional Valence and Intensity in the Monkey Amygdala. J Neurosci 2022; 42:7615-7623. [PMID: 36658460 PMCID: PMC9546443 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0021-22.2022] [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: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have suggested that the primate amygdala plays an essential role in processing the emotional valence and intensity of visual stimuli, which is necessary for determining whether to approach or avoid a stimulus. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the evaluation of emotional value remain unknown. In the present study, we trained male macaque monkeys to perform an operant conditioning task in which fractal visual patterns were associated with three different amounts of air puff delivered to the cheek (negative) or liquid reward (positive). After confirming that the monkeys successfully differentiated the emotional valence and intensity of the visual stimuli, we analyzed neuronal responses to the stimuli in the amygdala. Most amygdala neurons conveyed information concerning the emotional valence and/or intensity of the visual stimuli, and the majority of those conveying information about emotional valence responded optimally to negative stimuli. Further, some amygdala neurons conveyed information related to both emotional valence and intensity, whereas a small portion conveyed information related to emotional intensity alone. These results indicate that the primate amygdala encodes both emotional valence and intensity, highlighting its important role in the avoidance of dangerous stimuli and animal survival.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Evaluating the emotional value of visual stimuli is essential for animal survival, especially in primates. Emotional value is estimated from the emotional valence and intensity of stimuli, and evidence indicates that the amygdala is likely to play a major role in processing these types of information. To our knowledge, the current study is the first to examine the responses of neurons in the monkey amygdala to visual stimuli that differ in emotional valence and intensity simultaneously. Our data suggest that the amygdala plays an important role in the evaluation of emotional stimuli and in the decision to escape negative and harmful stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiko Iwaoki
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Katsuki Nakamura
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
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10
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Rahy R, Asari H, Gross CT. Sensory-thresholded switch of neural firing states in a computational model of the ventromedial hypothalamus. Front Comput Neurosci 2022; 16:964634. [PMID: 36157840 PMCID: PMC9491323 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2022.964634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is both necessary and sufficient for defensive responses to predator and social threats. Defensive behaviors typically involve cautious approach toward potentially threatening stimuli aimed at obtaining information about the risk involved, followed by sudden avoidance and flight behavior to escape harm. In vivo neural recording studies in mice have identified two major populations of VMH neurons that either increase their firing activity as the animal approaches the threat (called Assessment+ cells) or increase their activity as the animal flees the threat (called Flight+ cells). Interestingly, Assessment+ and Flight+ cells abruptly decrease and increase their firing activity, respectively, at the decision point for flight, creating an escape-related “switch” in functional state. This suggests that the activity of the two cell types in VMH is coordinated and could result from local circuit interactions. Here, we used computational modeling to test if a local inhibitory feedback circuit could give rise to key features of the neural activity seen in VMH during the approach-to-flight transition. Starting from a simple dual-population inhibitory feedback circuit receiving repeated trains of monotonically increasing sensory input to mimic approach to threat, we tested the requirement for balanced sensory input, balanced feedback, short-term synaptic plasticity, rebound excitation, and inhibitory feedback exclusivity to reproduce an abrupt, sensory-thresholded reciprocal firing change that resembles Assessment+ and Flight+ cell activity seen in vivo. Our work demonstrates that a relatively simple local circuit architecture is sufficient for the emergence of firing patterns similar to those seen in vivo and suggests that a reiterative process of experimental and computational work may be a fruitful avenue for better understanding the functional organization of mammalian instinctive behaviors at the circuit level.
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11
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May PJ, Gamlin PD, Warren S. A Novel Tectal/Pretectal Population of Premotor Lens Accommodation Neurons. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:35. [PMID: 35084433 PMCID: PMC8802014 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.1.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Under real-world conditions, saccades are often accompanied by changes in vergence angle and lens accommodation that compensate for changes in the distance between the current fixation point and the next target. As the superior colliculus directs saccades, we examined whether it contains premotor neurons that might control lens compensation for target distance. Methods Rabies virus or recombinant rabies virus was injected into the ciliary bodies of Macaca fascicularis monkeys to label circuits controlling lens accommodation via retrograde transsynaptic transport. In addition, conventional anterograde tracers were used to confirm the rabies findings with respect to projections to preganglionic Edinger–Westphal motoneurons. Results At time courses that rabies virus labeled lens-related premotor neurons in the supraoculomotor area and central mesencephalic reticular formation, labeled neurons were not found within the superior colliculus. They were, however, found bilaterally in the medial pretectal nucleus continuing caudally into the tectal longitudinal column, which lies on the midline, between the colliculi. A bilateral projection by this area to the preganglionic Edinger–Westphal nucleus was confirmed by anterograde tracing. Only at longer time courses were cells labeled in the superior colliculus. Conclusions The superior colliculus does not provide premotor input to preganglionic Edinger–Westphal nucleus motoneurons, but may provide input to lens-related premotor populations in the supraoculomotor area and central mesencephalic reticular formation. There is, however, a novel third population of lens-related premotor neurons in the tectal longitudinal column and rostrally adjacent medial pretectal nucleus. The specific function of this premotor population remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J May
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.,Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
| | - Paul D Gamlin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Susan Warren
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
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Scott JT, Bourne JA. Modelling behaviors relevant to brain disorders in the nonhuman primate: Are we there yet? Prog Neurobiol 2021; 208:102183. [PMID: 34728308 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have seen a profound resurgence of activity with nonhuman primates (NHPs) to model human brain disorders. From marmosets to macaques, the study of NHP species offers a unique window into the function of primate-specific neural circuits that are impossible to examine in other models. Examining how these circuits manifest into the complex behaviors of primates, such as advanced cognitive and social functions, has provided enormous insights to date into the mechanisms underlying symptoms of numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric illnesses. With the recent optimization of modern techniques to manipulate and measure neural activity in vivo, such as optogenetics and calcium imaging, NHP research is more well-equipped than ever to probe the neural mechanisms underlying pathological behavior. However, methods for behavioral experimentation and analysis in NHPs have noticeably failed to keep pace with these advances. As behavior ultimately lies at the junction between preclinical findings and its translation to clinical outcomes for brain disorders, approaches to improve the integrity, reproducibility, and translatability of behavioral experiments in NHPs requires critical evaluation. In this review, we provide a unifying account of existing brain disorder models using NHPs, and provide insights into the present and emerging contributions of behavioral studies to the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack T Scott
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - James A Bourne
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
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