1
|
Tarmati V, Sepe A, Accoto A, Conversi D, Laricchiuta D, Panuccio A, Canterini S, Fiorenza MT, Cabib S, Orsini C. Genotype-dependent functional role of the anterior and posterior paraventricular thalamus in pavlovian conditioned approach. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2025; 242:1275-1289. [PMID: 39663249 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06726-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 11/25/2024] [Indexed: 12/13/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The specific location of deviations from normative models of brain function varies considerably across individuals with the same diagnoses. However, as pathological processes are distributed across interconnected systems, this heterogeneity of individual brain deviations may also reveal similarities and differences between disorders. The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a potential switcher to various behavioral responses where functionally distinct cell types exist across its antero-posterior axis. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to test the hypothesis that genotype-dependent differences in the anterior and posterior PVT subregions (aPVT and pPVT) are involved in the Sign-tracking (ST) behavior expressed by C57BL/6J (C57) and DBA/2J (DBA) inbred mice. METHODS Based on previous findings, male mice of the two strains were tested at ten weeks of age. The density of c-Fos immunoreactivity along the antero-posterior axis of PVT was assessed following the expression of ST behavior. Selective excitotoxic lesions of the aPVT or the pPVT by the NMDA infusion were performed prior to development of ST behavior. Finally, the distribution of neuronal populations expressing the Drd2 and Gal genes (D2R + and Gal +) was measured by in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS The involvement of PVT subregions in ST behavior is strain-specific, as aPVT is crucial for ST acquisition in DBA mice while pPVT is crucial for C57 mice. Despite similar antero-posterior distribution of D2R + and Gal + neurons, density of D2R + neurons differentiate aPVT in C57 and DBA mice. CONCLUSIONS These genotype-dependent results offer valuable insights into the nuanced organization of brain networks and individual variability in behavioral responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Tarmati
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Andrea Sepe
- PhD Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - David Conversi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Laricchiuta
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences & Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Sonia Canterini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Simona Cabib
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Orsini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nakamura T, Nakajima K, Fujimori-Tonou N, Kasahara T, Tsuboi T, Kato T. Possible role of mosaic mutations of neurodevelopmental disorder-related genes in bipolar disorder: lessons from Kmt2c chimeric knockout mice. Neurosci Res 2025:S0168-0102(25)00087-2. [PMID: 40414358 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2025.05.005] [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: 02/17/2025] [Revised: 04/26/2025] [Accepted: 05/16/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025]
Abstract
We recently found a loss of function mosaic mutation of KMT2C, a causative gene for autism spectrum disorder and Kleefstra syndrome, in a patient with bipolar disorder and reported that somatic mutations in neurodevelopmental disorder-related genes are increased in bipolar disorder by deep exome sequencing analysis. However, causal roles of neurodevelopmental disorder-related mutations in bipolar disorder, a qualitatively different mental disorder, are not known. In this study, we focused on a loss of function mutation of Kmt2c, that causes autism-like phenotypes in mice. To simulate a mosaic mutation found in the patient, we generated mosaic Kmt2c knockout mice using conventional chimera mice technology. We showed that the mosaic Kmt2c knockout mice did not show autism-like behavior but presented anxiety disorder-like symptom, which is avoidance to a corner where the mice previously experienced air-puff. The rate of depression-like episodes measured by wheel running recording did not differ from control mosaic mice. These results suggest that mosaic mutations of neurodevelopmental disorder-related genes can cause qualitatively different anxiety disorder-like phenotypes. Because anxiety is one of symptomatic spectrum of bipolar disorder, these findings support the role of mosaic mutations of neurodevelopmental disorder-related genes as a component of the genetic architecture of bipolar disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Nakamura
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan; Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Nakajima
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Noriko Fujimori-Tonou
- Support Unit for Bio-Material Analysis, Research Resources Division, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takaoki Kasahara
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takashi Tsuboi
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Kato
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Machen B, Miller SN, Xin A, Lampert C, Assaf L, Tucker J, Pereira F, Loewinger G, Beas S. The encoding of interoceptive-based predictions by the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus D2+ neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.03.10.642469. [PMID: 40161660 PMCID: PMC11952474 DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.10.642469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2025]
Abstract
Understanding how the brain integrates internal physiological states with external sensory cues to guide behavior is a fundamental question in neuroscience. This process relies on interoceptive predictions-internal models that anticipate changes in the body's physiological state based on sensory inputs and prior experiences. Despite recent advances in identifying the neural substrates of interoceptive predictions, the precise neuronal circuits involved remain elusive. In our study, we demonstrate that Dopamine 2 Receptor (D2+) expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) play key roles in interoception and interoceptive predictions. Specifically, these neurons are engaged in behaviors leading to physiologically relevant outcomes, with their activity highly dependent on the interoceptive state of the mice and the expected outcome. Furthermore, we show that chronic inhibition of PVT D2+ neurons impairs the long-term performance of interoceptive-guided motivated behavior. Collectively, our findings provide insights into the role of PVT D2+ neurons in learning and updating state-dependent predictions, by integrating past experiences with current physiological conditions to optimize goal-directed behavior.
Collapse
|
4
|
Nakajima K, Ishiwata M, Kato T. Utility of a commercial antibody against NTRK1 for western blotting and potential application to immunohistochemistry in adult mouse brain. Sci Rep 2025; 15:5616. [PMID: 39955330 PMCID: PMC11829951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88514-2] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2025] [Indexed: 02/17/2025] Open
Abstract
Ntrk1 (also known as TrkA) is a nerve growth factor receptor with essential roles in the development and function of the cholinergic nervous system. Ntrk1 is expressed in a few specific and defined brain areas. Specific antibodies are necessary to identify the expression and localization of Ntrk1 in the brain, and validating signal authenticity is critical. These issues have not been investigated sufficiently. We evaluated the utility of commercial antibodies for Ntrk1 using western blotting in brain lysates from Ntrk1 knockout mice and tested the utility of the antibody that showed specificity in western blotting for immunohistochemistry applications in the adult mouse brain. We confirmed specificity for one of the seven commercial antibodies in western blots, in which the specific bands were absent in the knockout samples. Using this antibody, we performed immunohistochemical staining of the brain tissues of adult mice to examine Ntrk1 localization. Distinct signals were observed in regions with known Ntrk1 expression, such as the striatum and basal forebrain. The characteristic expression pattern of Ntrk1 in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) was verified at the protein level, with high and low expression levels in the anterior and posterior PVT, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Nakajima
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
- Department of Physiology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Kaga 2-11-1, Itabashi, Tokyo, 173-8605, Japan.
| | - Mizuho Ishiwata
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sun YH, Hu BW, Tan LH, Lin L, Cao SX, Wu TX, Wang H, Yu B, Wang Q, Lian H, Chen J, Li XM. Posterior Basolateral Amygdala is a Critical Amygdaloid Area for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2407525. [PMID: 39476381 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202407525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 10/06/2024] [Indexed: 12/28/2024]
Abstract
The amygdaloid complex consists of multiple nuclei and is a key node in controlling temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in both human and animal model studies. However, the specific nucleus in the amygdaloid complex and the neural circuitry governing seizures remain unknown. Here, it is discovered that activation of glutamatergic neurons in the posterior basolateral amygdala (pBLA) induces severe seizures and even mortality. The pBLA glutamatergic neurons project collateral connections to multiple brain regions, including the insular cortex (IC), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and central amygdala (CeA). Stimulation of pBLA-targeted IC neurons triggers seizures, whereas ablation of IC neurons suppresses seizures induced by activating pBLA glutamatergic neurons. GABAergic neurons in the BNST and CeA establish feedback inhibition on pBLA glutamatergic neurons. Deleting GABAergic neurons in the BNST or CeA leads to sporadic seizures, highlighting their role in balancing pBLA activity. Furthermore, pBLA neurons receive glutamatergic inputs from the ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1). Ablation of pBLA glutamatergic neurons mitigates both acute and chronic seizures in the intrahippocampal kainic acid-induced mouse model of TLE. Together, these findings identify the pBLA as a pivotal nucleus in the amygdaloid complex for regulating epileptic seizures in TLE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hui Sun
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Bo-Wu Hu
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Li-Heng Tan
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Shu-Xia Cao
- Department of Neurobiology of Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Tan-Xia Wu
- Department of Neurobiology of Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, 311100, China
- Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets, Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hong Lian
- Research Center of System Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiadong Chen
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Li
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, 311100, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen T, Liu WB, Zhu SJ, Aji A, Zhang C, Zhang CC, Duan YJ, Zuo JX, Liu ZC, Li HJ, Wang YQ, Mi WL, Mao-Ying QL, Wang YQ, Chu YX. Differential modulation of pain and associated anxiety by GABAergic neuronal circuits in the lateral habenula. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2409443121. [PMID: 39565313 PMCID: PMC11621741 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2409443121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/20/2024] [Indexed: 11/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Persistent pain frequently precipitates the development of anxiety disorders, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we employed a mouse model that simulates trigeminal neuralgia and observed a marked reduction in the activity of GABAergic neurons in the lateral habenula (LHb), a critical region for modulating pain and anxiety. We utilized precise optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques to modulate these neurons, which significantly alleviated behaviors associated with pain and anxiety. Our investigations revealed an inhibitory pathway from the LHb GABAergic neurons to the posterior paraventricular thalamus. Activation of this pathway primarily mitigated pain-related behaviors, with minimal effects on anxiety. Conversely, interactions between GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons within the LHb were essential in alleviating both pain and anxiety following trigeminal nerve damage. Additionally, we identified that β-sitosterol interacts directly with LHb GABAergic neurons via the estrogen receptor α, providing dual therapeutic effects for both pain and anxiety. These findings highlight the critical role of reduced GABAergic neuronal activity in the LHb in the intersection of pain and anxiety, pointing to promising therapeutic possibilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teng Chen
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Wen-Bo Liu
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Sheng-Jie Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai200437, China
| | - Abudula Aji
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Chao-Chen Zhang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Yu-Jie Duan
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai201399, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zuo
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Zhe-Chen Liu
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Hao-Jun Li
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Yu-Quan Wang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Wen-Li Mi
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Qi-Liang Mao-Ying
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Yan-Qing Wang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Yu-Xia Chu
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Schulmann A, Feng N, Auluck PK, Mukherjee A, Komal R, Leng Y, Gao C, Williams Avram SK, Roy S, Usdin TB, Xu Q, Imamovic V, Patel Y, Akula N, Raznahan A, Menon V, Roussos P, Duncan L, Elkahloun A, Singh J, Kelly MC, Halassa MM, Hattar S, Penzo MA, Marenco S, McMahon FJ. A conserved cell-type gradient across the human mediodorsal and paraventricular thalamus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.03.611112. [PMID: 39282422 PMCID: PMC11398375 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.03.611112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
The mediodorsal thalamus (MD) and adjacent midline nuclei are important for cognition and mental illness, but their cellular composition is not well defined. Using single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomics, we identified a conserved excitatory neuron gradient, with distinct spatial mapping of individual clusters. One end of the gradient was expanded in human MD compared to mice, which may be related to the expansion of granular prefrontal cortex in hominids. Moreover, neurons preferentially mapping onto the parvocellular division MD were associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Midbrain-derived inhibitory interneurons were enriched in human MD and implicated in genetic risk for major depressive disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ruchi Komal
- Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms, NIMH
| | - Yan Leng
- Section on the Neural Circuits of Emotion and Motivation, NIMH
| | - Claire Gao
- Section on the Neural Circuits of Emotion and Motivation, NIMH
| | | | | | | | - Qing Xu
- Human Brain Collection Core, NIMH
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Panos Roussos
- Depts. of Psychiatry, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, MSSM
| | - Laramie Duncan
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mario A Penzo
- Section on the Neural Circuits of Emotion and Motivation, NIMH
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang Y, Song Z, Han Q, Luo F, Jiang C, Zhang Z, Wang N, Zou N, Liu G, Long M, Liu H, Xiao Q, Yue F, Xia J, He C, Hu Z, Ren S. Melatonin targets the paraventricular thalamus to promote non-rapid eye movement sleep in C3H/HeJ mice. Curr Biol 2024; 34:3792-3803.e5. [PMID: 39096908 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Melatonin (MLT) is an important circadian signal for sleep regulation, but the neural circuitries underlying the sleep-promoting effects of MLT are poorly understood. The paraventricular thalamus (PVT) is a critical thalamic area for wakefulness control and expresses MLT receptors, raising a possibility that PVT neurons may mediate the sleep-promoting effects of MLT. Here, we found that MLT receptors were densely expressed on PVT neurons and exhibited circadian-dependent variations in C3H/HeJ mice. Application of exogenous MLT decreased the excitability of PVT neurons, resulting in hyperpolarization of membrane potential and reduction of action potential firing. MLT also inhibited the spontaneous activity of PVT neurons at both population and single-neuron levels in freely behaving mice. Furthermore, pharmacological manipulations revealed that local infusion of exogeneous MLT into the PVT promoted non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and increased NREM sleep duration, whereas MLT receptor antagonists decreased NREM sleep. Moreover, we found that selectively knocking down endogenous MLT receptors in the PVT decreased NREM sleep and correspondingly increased wakefulness, with particular changes shortly after the onset of the dark or light phase. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PVT is an important target of MLT for promoting NREM sleep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Wang
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Zhenbo Song
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qi Han
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Fenlan Luo
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Chenggang Jiang
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing 401147, China
| | - Zehui Zhang
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Na Wang
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Nan Zou
- Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing 400064, China
| | - Guoying Liu
- Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing 400064, China
| | - Meiling Long
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hanshu Liu
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Qin Xiao
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Faguo Yue
- Sleep and Psychology Center, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402760, China
| | - Jianxia Xia
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Chao He
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Zhian Hu
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing 400064, China.
| | - Shuancheng Ren
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kooiker CL, Birnie MT, Floriou-Servou A, Ding Q, Thiagarajan N, Hardy M, Baram TZ. Paraventricular Thalamus Neuronal Ensembles Encode Early-life Adversity and Mediate the Consequent Sex-dependent Disruptions of Adult Reward Behaviors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.28.591547. [PMID: 38746198 PMCID: PMC11092514 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.28.591547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Early-life adversity increases risk for mental illnesses including depression and substance use disorders, disorders characterized by dysregulated reward behaviors. However, the mechanisms by which transient ELA enduringly impacts reward circuitries are not well understood. In mice, ELA leads to anhedonia-like behaviors in males and augmented motivation for palatable food and sex-reward cues in females. Here, the use of genetic tagging demonstrated robust, preferential, and sex-specific activation of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) during ELA and a potentiated reactivation of these PVT neurons during a reward task in adult ELA mice. Chemogenetic manipulation of specific ensembles of PVT neurons engaged during ELA identified a role for the posterior PVT in ELA-induced aberrantly augmented reward behaviors in females. In contrast, anterior PVT neurons activated during ELA were required for the anhedonia-like behaviors in males. Thus, the PVT encodes adverse experiences early-in life, prior to the emergence of the hippocampal memory system, and contributes critically to the lasting, sex-modulated impacts of ELA on reward behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L. Kooiker
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Matthew T. Birnie
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Amalia Floriou-Servou
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Qinxin Ding
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Neeraj Thiagarajan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mason Hardy
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kawatake-Kuno A, Li H, Inaba H, Hikosaka M, Ishimori E, Ueki T, Garkun Y, Morishita H, Narumiya S, Oishi N, Ohtsuki G, Murai T, Uchida S. Sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine metabolite involve GABAergic inhibition-mediated molecular dynamics in aPVT glutamatergic neurons. Neuron 2024; 112:1265-1285.e10. [PMID: 38377990 PMCID: PMC11031324 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.023] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Despite the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine and its metabolites, their underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that the sustained antidepressant-like behavioral effects of (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK) in repeatedly stressed animal models involve neurobiological changes in the anterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (aPVT). Mechanistically, (2S,6S)-HNK induces mRNA expression of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors and subsequently enhances GABAA-receptor-mediated tonic currents, leading to the nuclear export of histone demethylase KDM6 and its replacement by histone methyltransferase EZH2. This process increases H3K27me3 levels, which in turn suppresses the transcription of genes associated with G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Thus, our findings shed light on the comprehensive cellular and molecular mechanisms in aPVT underlying the sustained antidepressant behavioral effects of ketamine metabolites. This study may support the development of potentially effective next-generation pharmacotherapies to promote sustained remission of stress-related psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Kawatake-Kuno
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029
| | - Haiyan Li
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Inaba
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Momoka Hikosaka
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Erina Ishimori
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Ueki
- Department of Integrative Anatomy, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan
| | - Yury Garkun
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029
| | - Hirofumi Morishita
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029
| | - Shuh Narumiya
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Naoya Oishi
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Gen Ohtsuki
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Toshiya Murai
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shusaku Uchida
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Integrative Anatomy, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan; Kyoto University Medical Science and Business Liaison Organization, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Beas S, Khan I, Gao C, Loewinger G, Macdonald E, Bashford A, Rodriguez-Gonzalez S, Pereira F, Penzo MA. Dissociable encoding of motivated behavior by parallel thalamo-striatal projections. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1549-1560.e3. [PMID: 38458192 PMCID: PMC11003833 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.037] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The successful pursuit of goals requires the coordinated execution and termination of actions that lead to positive outcomes. This process relies on motivational states that are guided by internal drivers, such as hunger or fear. However, the mechanisms by which the brain tracks motivational states to shape instrumental actions are not fully understood. The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a midline thalamic nucleus that shapes motivated behaviors via its projections to the nucleus accumbens (NAc)1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and monitors internal state via interoceptive inputs from the hypothalamus and brainstem.3,9,10,11,12,13,14 Recent studies indicate that the PVT can be subdivided into two major neuronal subpopulations, namely PVTD2(+) and PVTD2(-), which differ in genetic identity, functionality, and anatomical connectivity to other brain regions, including the NAc.4,15,16 In this study, we used fiber photometry to investigate the in vivo dynamics of these two distinct PVT neuronal types in mice performing a foraging-like behavioral task. We discovered that PVTD2(+) and PVTD2(-) neurons encode the execution and termination of goal-oriented actions, respectively. Furthermore, activity in the PVTD2(+) neuronal population mirrored motivation parameters such as vigor and satiety. Similarly, PVTD2(-) neurons also mirrored some of these parameters, but to a much lesser extent. Importantly, these features were largely preserved when activity in PVT projections to the NAc was selectively assessed. Collectively, our results highlight the existence of two parallel thalamo-striatal projections that participate in the dynamic regulation of goal pursuits and provide insight into the mechanisms by which the brain tracks motivational states to shape instrumental actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Beas
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Isbah Khan
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Claire Gao
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gabriel Loewinger
- Machine Learning Team, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Emma Macdonald
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alison Bashford
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shakira Rodriguez-Gonzalez
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Francisco Pereira
- Machine Learning Team, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mario A Penzo
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Li H, Kawatake-Kuno A, Inaba H, Miyake Y, Itoh Y, Ueki T, Oishi N, Murai T, Suzuki T, Uchida S. Discrete prefrontal neuronal circuits determine repeated stress-induced behavioral phenotypes in male mice. Neuron 2024; 112:786-804.e8. [PMID: 38228137 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress is a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders, including depression. Although depression is a highly heterogeneous syndrome, it remains unclear how chronic stress drives individual differences in behavioral responses. In this study, we developed a subtyping-based approach wherein stressed male mice were divided into four subtypes based on their behavioral patterns of social interaction deficits and anhedonia, the core symptoms of psychiatric disorders. We identified three prefrontal cortical neuronal projections that regulate repeated stress-induced behavioral phenotypes. Among them, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)→anterior paraventricular thalamus (aPVT) pathway determines the specific behavioral subtype that exhibits both social deficits and anhedonia. Additionally, we identified the circuit-level molecular mechanism underlying this subtype: KDM5C-mediated epigenetic repression of Shisa2 transcription in aPVT projectors in the mPFC led to social deficits and anhedonia. Thus, we provide a set of biological aspects at the cellular, molecular, and epigenetic levels that determine distinctive stress-induced behavioral phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Li
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Ayako Kawatake-Kuno
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Inaba
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yuka Miyake
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 4-1-8 Hon-cho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Itoh
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 4-1-8 Hon-cho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Ueki
- Department of Integrative Anatomy, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Naoya Oishi
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Suzuki
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 4-1-8 Hon-cho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Shusaku Uchida
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 4-1-8 Hon-cho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan; Kyoto University Medical Science and Business Liaison Organization, Medical Innovation Center, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan; Department of Integrative Anatomy, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|