1
|
Liu X, Lai J, Han C, Zhong H, Huang K, Liu Y, Zhu X, Wei P, Tan L, Xu F, Wang L. Neural circuit underlying individual differences in visual escape habituation. Neuron 2025:S0896-6273(25)00301-0. [PMID: 40347942 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.04.018] [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: 09/06/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2025] [Accepted: 04/18/2025] [Indexed: 05/14/2025]
Abstract
Emotions like fear help organisms respond to threats. Repeated predator exposure leads to adaptive responses with unclear neural mechanisms behind individual variability. We identify two escape behaviors in mice-persistent escape (T1) and rapid habituation (T2)-linked to unique arousal states under repetitive looming stimuli. Combining multichannel recording, circuit mapping, optogenetics, and behavioral analyses, we find parallel pathways from the superior colliculus (SC) to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) via the ventral tegmental area (VTA) for T1 and via the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) for T2. T1 involves heightened arousal, while T2 features rapid habituation. The MD integrates SC and insular cortex inputs to modulate arousal and defensive behaviors. This work reveals neural circuits underpinning adaptive threat responses and individual variability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China; Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Gudangdong 518055, China; Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Juan Lai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chuanliang Han
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hao Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Kang Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuanming Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xutao Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Pengfei Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China; Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Liming Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China; Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Gudangdong 518055, China
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China
| | - Liping Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China; Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Gudangdong 518055, China; Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chang YH, Lin CS, Barquero C, Wang CA. Emotional conflict affects microsaccade dynamics in the emotional face-word Stroop task. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2025; 1547:204-219. [PMID: 40272984 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15342] [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: 04/26/2025]
Abstract
Achieving optimal performance requires effectively resolving emotional conflict arising from the interference of task-irrelevant, emotionally salient stimuli. While microsaccade behavior has been linked to various cognitive and emotional processes, whether emotional conflict affects microsaccade responses remains to be determined. Additionally, pupil dilation is known to be modulated by emotional conflict signals, and both microsaccades and pupil dilation are arguably mediated by the superior colliculus (SC). However, the relationship between microsaccades and pupil dilation remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of emotional conflict on microsaccade rates and metrics by presenting an emotional face-word stimulus in the face-word Stroop task. Larger microsaccade amplitudes (or higher peak velocities) were observed in the incongruent condition compared to the congruent condition, while microsaccade rates were similar between the two conditions. Additionally, microsaccade amplitudes were larger in incongruent trials following congruent trials than in those following incongruent trials. Furthermore, interindividual correlations between differences in microsaccade responses and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores were observed. Finally, trials with lower microsaccade rates were associated with larger pupil dilation. These results demonstrate the modulation of microsaccade metrics by emotional conflict, implicating the SC in integrating signals from the locus coeruleus network to coordinate these responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsuan Chang
- Eye-Tracking Laboratory, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Shiang Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Cesar Barquero
- Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru
| | - Chin-An Wang
- Eye-Tracking Laboratory, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Broersen R, Thompson G, Thomas F, Stuart GJ. Binocular processing facilitates escape behavior through multiple pathways to the superior colliculus. Curr Biol 2025; 35:1242-1257.e9. [PMID: 39983730 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.066] [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: 08/15/2024] [Revised: 11/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2025] [Indexed: 02/23/2025]
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is the main brain region regulating defensive behaviors to visual threats. Yet, how the SC integrates binocular visual information and to what extent binocular vision drives defensive behaviors remains unknown. Here, we show that SC neurons respond to binocular visual input with diverse synaptic and spiking responses, summating visual inputs largely sublinearly. Using pathway-specific optogenetic silencing, we find that contralateral and ipsilateral visual information is carried to binocular SC neurons through retinal, interhemispheric, and corticotectal pathways. These pathways carry binocular visual input to the SC in a layer-specific manner, with superficial layers receiving visual information through retinal input, whereas intermediate and deep layers rely on interhemispheric and corticotectal pathways. We further show that binocular vision facilitates visually evoked escape behavior. Together, our data shed light on the cellular and circuit mechanisms underlying binocular visual processing in the SC and its role in defensive behaviors to visual threats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robin Broersen
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, 131 Garran Rd, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Genevieve Thompson
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, 131 Garran Rd, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Felix Thomas
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, 131 Garran Rd, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Greg J Stuart
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, 131 Garran Rd, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; Department of Physiology, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kim JH, Choi DE, Shin HS. The lateralized LC-NAergic system distinguishes vicarious versus direct fear in mice. Nat Commun 2025; 16:2364. [PMID: 40064917 PMCID: PMC11894102 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57701-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2025] [Indexed: 03/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Fear can be induced either directly through self-experience of aversive events or vicariously by observing conspecifics experiencing such events. The locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NA) system is crucial in fear responses and cognitive processes. We investigated whether the LC-NA system differentially processes these two types of fear, direct and vicarious in male mice. The results highlighted that the right hemisphere LC→anterior cingulate cortex pathway is uniquely crucial for vicarious fear, while the two inputs to the LC-from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and the central amygdala (CeA)-differentially contribute to fear processing. The BNST plays a more targeted role in vicarious fear, and the CeA has a broader influence on fear in general. This underscores the complexity and specialization within the LC-NA system for fear-processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Hyun Kim
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55 Expo-ro, Yusung-gu, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Da-Eun Choi
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55 Expo-ro, Yusung-gu, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Sup Shin
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55 Expo-ro, Yusung-gu, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea.
- IBS School, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Frau C, Corrigan FM. Verbal Abuse, Depersonalization, and the Innate Alarm and Defensive Systems: A Single Case Illustration of Treatment with Deep Brain Reorienting. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2025; 18:11-21. [PMID: 40098781 PMCID: PMC11910473 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-024-00672-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2025]
Abstract
This study aimed to a) discuss the neurobiological mechanisms of depersonalization as arising from activation at the brainstem level and b) assess the effectiveness of deep brain reorienting psychotherapy (DBR) with a patient presenting with depersonalization-derealization disorder (DDD). In the first part of the paper, we discuss verbal abuse as a severe form of relational trauma and how it can be connected to depersonalization. It is argued that suddenly aversive experiences engage the brainstem locus coeruleus in widespread noradrenergic activation of the thalamus and cortex such that the balance of functioning within the cortex becomes disturbed and a subjective experience of chronic depersonalization results. In the second part, the single-case study aims to provide initial evidence of how the patient experienced and responded to DBR therapy. Pre- and post-treatment measures consisted of instruments to measure depersonalization, social anxiety symptoms and quality of life. After 43 DBR sessions, the participant's depersonalization and comorbid symptoms decreased significantly. Patients with DDD may benefit from DBR. Future research is required to address generalizability to a larger population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Costanzo Frau
- Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Psychotherapy Service and Research On Trauma & Dissociation, Via Dante 52, 09121 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Frank M. Corrigan
- Trauma Psychotherapy Scotland, 13 Fitzroy Place, Finnieston, Glasgow, G3 7RW UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jiang S, Ge D, Song B, Deng X, Liu Z, He J, Sun J, Zhu Z, Meng Z, Zhu Y. Subanesthetic propofol alleviates chronic stress-induced anxiety by enhancing VTADA neurons' activity. Neuropharmacology 2025; 265:110264. [PMID: 39675464 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110264] [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: 09/17/2024] [Revised: 12/03/2024] [Accepted: 12/08/2024] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety, a common mental disorder, imposes significant clinical and economic burdens. Previous studies indicate that propofol has anxiolytic effects at anesthetic doses. However, the risks associated with general anesthesia limit its application in anxiety treatment. The feasibility of using subanesthetic doses of propofol to alleviate chronic stress-induced anxiety and the underlying neural mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we found that subanesthetic dose (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) of propofol alleviated anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in mice, and the anxiolytic effects were maintained for at least 6 h. In vivo calcium imaging study showed that propofol significantly enhanced Ca2+ signals in ventral tegmental area dopaminergic (VTADA) neurons. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings confirmed that subanesthetic propofol increased the excitability of VTADA neurons while inhibiting VTA GABAergic (VTAGABA) neurons. Propofol suppressed spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in VTADA neurons, accompanied by a decline in the ability of GABAergic neurons to transmit inhibitory signals. These findings suggests that a subanesthetic dose of propofol enhances the excitability of VTADA neurons through disinhibition, demonstrating its potential for the treatment of CUMS-associated anxiety-like behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaolei Jiang
- School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China; Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Dengyun Ge
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Bo Song
- School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China
| | - Xiaofei Deng
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhongdong Liu
- Grain College, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jian He
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan City, 528000, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Futian District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, No. 2002 Jintian Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Zhi Zhu
- School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Meng
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, 518055, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, 518055, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ye J, Xu Y, Huang K, Wang X, Wang L, Wang F. Hierarchical behavioral analysis framework as a platform for standardized quantitative identification of behaviors. Cell Rep 2025; 44:115239. [PMID: 40010299 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115239] [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: 08/21/2024] [Revised: 11/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2025] [Indexed: 02/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Behavior is composed of modules that operate based on inherent logic. Understanding behavior and its neural mechanisms is facilitated by clear structural behavioral analysis. Here, we developed a hierarchical behavioral analysis framework (HBAF) that efficiently reveals the organizational logic of these modules by analyzing high-dimensional behavioral data. By creating a spontaneous behavior atlas for male and female mice, we discovered that spontaneous behavior patterns are hardwired, with sniffing serving as the hub node for movement transitions. The sniffing-to-grooming ratio accurately distinguished the spontaneous behavioral states in a high-throughput manner. These states are influenced by emotional status, circadian rhythms, and lighting conditions, leading to unique behavioral characteristics, spatiotemporal features, and dynamic patterns. By implementing the straightforward and achievable spontaneous behavior paradigm, HBAF enables swift and accurate assessment of animal behavioral states and bridges the gap between a theoretical understanding of the behavioral structure and practical analysis using comprehensive multidimensional behavioral information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Kang Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China.
| | - Feng Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Yang Y, Tao Y. Regenerating Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine (LC-NE) Function: A Novel Approach for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Cell Prolif 2025:e13807. [PMID: 39876531 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13807] [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: 09/10/2024] [Revised: 11/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 01/30/2025] Open
Abstract
Pathological changes in the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) neurons, the major source of norepinephrine (NE, also known as noradrenaline) in the brain, are evident during the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases (ND). Research on both human and animal models have highlighted the therapeutic potential of targeting the LC-NE system to mitigate the progression of ND and alleviate associated psychiatric symptoms. However, the early and widespread degeneration of the LC-NE system presents a significant challenge for direct intervention in ND. Recent advances in regenerative cell therapy offer promising new strategies for ND treatment. The regeneration of LC-NE from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) could significantly broaden the scope of LC-NE-based therapies for ND. In this review, we delve into the fundamental background and physiological functions of LC-NE. Additionally, we systematically examine the evidence and role of the LC-NE system in the neuropathology of ND and psychiatric diseases over recent years. Notably, we focus on the significance of PSCs-derived LC-NE and its potential impact on ND therapy. A deeper understanding and further investigation into the regeneration of LC-NE function could pave the way for practical and effective treatments for ND.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yana Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yunlong Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lee YT, Tai YH, Chang YH, Barquero C, Chao SP, Wang CA. Disrupted microsaccade responses in late-life depression. Sci Rep 2025; 15:2827. [PMID: 39843485 PMCID: PMC11754810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86399-9] [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: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2025] [Indexed: 01/24/2025] Open
Abstract
Late-life depression (LLD) is a psychiatric disorder in older adults, characterized by high prevalence and significant mortality rates. Thus, it is imperative to develop objective and cost-effective methods for detecting LLD. Individuals with depression often exhibit disrupted levels of arousal, and microsaccades, as a type of fixational eye movement that can be measured non-invasively, are known to be modulated by arousal. This makes microsaccades a promising candidate as biomarkers for LLD. In this study, we used a high-resolution, video-based eye-tracker to examine microsaccade behavior in a visual fixation task between LLD patients and age-matched healthy controls (CTRL). Our goal was to determine whether microsaccade responses are disrupted in LLD compared to CTRL. LLD patients exhibited significantly higher microsaccade peak velocities and larger amplitudes compared to CTRL. Although microsaccade rates were lower in LLD than in CTRL, these differences were not statistically significant. Additionally, while both groups displayed microsaccadic inhibition and rebound in response to changes in background luminance, this modulation was significantly blunted in LLD patients, suggesting dysfunction in the neural circuits responsible for microsaccade generation. Together, these findings, for the first time, demonstrate significant alterations in microsaccade behavior in LLD patients compared to CTRL, highlighting the potential of these disrupted responses as behavioral biomarkers for identifying individuals at risk for LLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Tung Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hsuan Tai
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Chang
- Eye-Tracking Laboratory, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Science and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Cesar Barquero
- Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, Lima, Peru
| | - Shu-Ping Chao
- Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Dementia Center, Department of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chin-An Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
- Eye-Tracking Laboratory, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhou Y, Wang G, Liang X, Xu Z. Hindbrain networks: Exploring the hidden anxiety circuits in rodents. Behav Brain Res 2025; 476:115281. [PMID: 39374875 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115281] [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: 07/27/2024] [Revised: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are multifaceted conditions that engage numerous brain regions and circuits. While the hindbrain is pivotal in fundamental biological functions, its role in modulating emotions has been underappreciated. This review will uncover critical targets and circuits within the hindbrain that are essential for both anxiety and anxiolytic effects, expanding on research obtained through behavioral tests. The bidirectional neural pathways between the hindbrain and other brain regions, with a spotlight on vagal afferent signaling, provide a crucial framework for unraveling the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety. Exploring neural circuits within the hindbrain can help to unravel the neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety and elucidate differences in the expression of these circuits between genders, thereby providing valuable insights for the development of future anxiolytic drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifu Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Xiaosong Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Zhidi Xu
- Department of Anesthesia and Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Geng C, Li R, Li S, Liu P, Peng Y, Liu C, Wang Z, Zhang H, Li A. Noradrenergic inputs from the locus coeruleus to anterior piriform cortex and the olfactory bulb modulate olfactory outputs. Nat Commun 2025; 16:260. [PMID: 39747920 PMCID: PMC11697270 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55609-9] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Norepinephrine (NE) released from locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic (NAergic) neurons plays a pivotal role in the regulation of olfactory behaviors. However, the precise circuits and receptor mechanisms underlying this function are not well understood. Here, in DBH-Cre mice model, we show that LC NAergic neurons project directly to both anterior piriform cortex (aPC) and the olfactory bulb (OB). By using pharmacological and optogenetic manipulations in vitro and in vivo, we found that NE reduces the excitability of aPC pyramidal neurons directly via α2 receptors and that it bidirectionally regulates the activity of OB mitral cells via modulation of inhibitory inputs. Activation of the NAergic projection reduced both spontaneous and odor-evoked activity in the aPC/OB in awake mice, enhanced the odor-decoding ability of the aPC, and decreased the odor-decoding ability of the OB. Furthermore, activation of LC-aPC/OB NAergic projections accelerated odor discrimination and specific inactivation of the LC-aPC/OB NAergic pathway impaired olfactory detection and discrimination. These findings identify the mechanism underlying NAergic modulation of the aPC/OB and elucidate its role in odor processing and olfactory behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chi Geng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruochen Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shan Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Penglai Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuxin Peng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Changyu Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Anan Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bak C, Boutin A, Gauzin S, Lejards C, Rampon C, Florian C. Age-associated alteration of innate defensive response to a looming stimulus and brain functional connectivity pattern in mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:25323. [PMID: 39455881 PMCID: PMC11511918 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76884-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: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 10/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Innate defensive behaviors are essential for species survival. While these behaviors start to develop early in an individual's life, there is still much to be understood about how they evolve with advancing age. Considering that aging is often accompanied by various cognitive and physical declines, we tested the hypothesis that innate fear behaviors and underlying cerebral mechanisms are modified by aging. In our study we investigated this hypothesis by examining how aged mice respond to a looming visual threat compared to their younger counterparts. Our findings indicate that aged mice exhibit a different fear response than young mice when facing this imminent threat. Specifically, unlike young mice, aged mice tend to predominantly display freezing behavior without seeking shelter. Interestingly, this altered behavioral response in aged mice is linked to a distinct pattern of functional brain connectivity compared to young mice. Notably, our data highlights a lack of a consistent brain activation following the fear response in aged mice, suggesting that innate defensive behaviors undergo changes with aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Célia Bak
- CNRS, UPS, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Aroha Boutin
- CNRS, UPS, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Sébastien Gauzin
- CNRS, UPS, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Camille Lejards
- CNRS, UPS, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Claire Rampon
- CNRS, UPS, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Cédrick Florian
- CNRS, UPS, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lee T, Weinberg-Wolf H, Zapadka TE, Rudenko A, Demb JB, Kim IJ. Specific retinal neurons regulate context-dependent defensive responses to visual threat. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae423. [PMID: 39359403 PMCID: PMC11443969 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
While encountering a visual threat, an animal assesses multiple factors to choose an appropriate defensive strategy. For example, when a rodent detects a looming aerial predator, its behavioral response can be influenced by a specific environmental context, such as the availability of a shelter. Indeed, rodents typically escape from a looming stimulus when a shelter is present; otherwise, they typically freeze. Here we report that context-dependent behavioral responses can be initiated at the earliest stage of the visual system by distinct types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the retina's output neurons. Using genetically defined cell ablation in mature mice, we discovered that some RGC types were necessary for either escaping (alpha RGCs) or freezing (intrinsically photosensitive RGCs) in response to a looming stimulus but not for both behaviors; whereas other RGC types were not required for either behavior (direction-selective RGCs preferring vertical motion). Altogether, our results suggest that specific RGC types regulate distinct behavioral responses elicited by the same threatening stimulus depending on contextual signals in the environment. These findings emphasize the unique contribution of early visual pathways to evolutionally conserved behavioral reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Hannah Weinberg-Wolf
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Thomas E Zapadka
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Andrii Rudenko
- Department of Biology, Graduate Programs in Biology and Biochemistry, City College and City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Jonathan B Demb
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - In-Jung Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Mir HD, Yang Q, Maximin E, Montardy Q, Ji S, Cheng Q, Shan X, Wang L, Naudon L, Rabot S, Li L. Indole induces anxiety-like behaviour in mice mediated by brainstem locus coeruleus activation. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106606. [PMID: 39019292 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106606] [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: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota produces metabolites that enrich the host metabolome and play a part in host physiology, including brain functions. Yet the biological mediators of this gut-brain signal transduction remain largely unknown. In this study, the possible role of the gut microbiota metabolite indole, originating from tryptophan, was investigated. Oral administration of indole to simulate microbial overproduction of this compound in the gut consistently led to impaired locomotion and anxiety-like behaviour in both C3H/HeN and C57BL/6J mice. By employing c-Fos protein expression mapping in mice, we observed a noticeable increase in brain activation within the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMX) and the locus coeruleus (LC) regions in a dose-dependent manner. Further immune co-labelling experiments elucidated that the primary cells activated within the LC were tyrosine hydroxylase positive. To delve deeper into the mechanistic aspects, we conducted chemogenetic activation experiments on LC norepinephrine neurons with two doses of clozapine N-oxide (CNO). Low dose of CNO at 0.5 mg/kg induced no change in locomotion but anxiety-like behaviour, while high dose of CNO at 2 mg/kg resulted in locomotion impairment and anxiety-like behaviour. These findings support the neuroactive roles of indole in mediating gut-brain communication. It also highlights the LC as a novel hub in the gut-brain axis, encouraging further investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hayatte-Dounia Mir
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Qingning Yang
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Elise Maximin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Quentin Montardy
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuqin Ji
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qi Cheng
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaochun Shan
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Laurent Naudon
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sylvie Rabot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Lei Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yu J, Ji S, Tao H, Shan X, Yan Y, Sun X, Tu X, Li L, Deng C. Cell-specific expression of Cre recombinase in rat noradrenergic neurons via CRISPR-Cas9 system. Neuroscience 2024; 556:31-41. [PMID: 39067682 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.032] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Noradrenergic neurons play a crucial role in the functioning of the nervous system. They formed compact small clusters in the central nervous system. To target noradrenergic neurons in combination with viral tracing and achieve cell-type specific functional manipulation using chemogenetic or optogenetic tools, new transgenic animal lines are needed, especially rat models for their advantages in large body size with facilitating easy operation, physiological parameter monitoring, and accommodating complex behavioral and cognitive studies. In this study, we successfully generated a transgenic rat strain capable of expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) gene promoter using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Our validation process included co-immunostaining with Cre and DBH antibodies, confirming the specific expression of Cre recombinase. Furthermore, stereotaxic injection of a fluorescence-labeled AAV-DIO virus illustrated the precise Cre-loxP-mediated recombination activity in noradrenergic neurons within the locus coeruleus (LC). Through crossbreeding with the LSL-fluorescence reporter rat line, DBH-Cre rats proved instrumental in delineating the position and structure of noradrenergic neuron clusters A1, A2, A6 (LC), and A7 in rats. Additionally, our specific activation of the LC noradrenergic neurons showed effective behavioral readout using chemogenetics of this rat line. Our results underscore the effectiveness and specificity of Cre recombinase in noradrenergic neurons, serving as a robust tool for cell-type specific targeting of small-sized noradrenergic nuclei. This approach enhances our understanding of their anatomical, physiological, and pathological roles, contributing to a more profound comprehension of noradrenergic neuron function in the nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Yu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Shuqin Ji
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Huixin Tao
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiaochun Shan
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yu Yan
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Xiangzhou Sun
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Xiang'an Tu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Lei Li
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Chunhua Deng
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Orlando IF, Hezemans FH, Ye R, Murley AG, Holland N, Regenthal R, Barker RA, Williams-Gray CH, Passamonti L, Robbins TW, Rowe JB, O’Callaghan C. Noradrenergic modulation of saccades in Parkinson's disease. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae297. [PMID: 39464213 PMCID: PMC11503952 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Noradrenaline is a powerful modulator of cognitive processes, including action decisions underlying saccadic control. Changes in saccadic eye movements are common across neurodegenerative diseases of ageing, including Parkinson's disease. With growing interest in noradrenergic treatment potential for non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease, the temporal precision of oculomotor function is advantageous to assess the effects of this modulation. Here, we studied the effect of 40 mg atomoxetine, a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, in 19 people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease using a single dose, randomized double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled design. Twenty-five healthy adult participants completed the assessments to provide normative data. Participants performed prosaccade and antisaccade tasks. The latency, velocity and accuracy of saccades, and resting pupil diameter, were measured. Increased pupil diameter on the drug confirmed its expected effect on the locus coeruleus ascending arousal system. Atomoxetine altered key aspects of saccade performance: prosaccade latencies were faster and the saccadic main sequence was normalized. These changes were accompanied by increased antisaccade error rates on the drug. Together, these findings suggest a shift in the speed-accuracy trade-off for visuomotor decisions in response to noradrenergic treatment. Our results provide new evidence to substantiate a role for noradrenergic modulation of saccades, and based on known circuitry, we advance the hypothesis that this reflects modulation at the level of the locus coeruleus-superior colliculus pathway. Given the potential for noradrenergic treatment of non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease and related conditions, the oculomotor system can support the assessment of cognitive effects without limb-motor confounds on task performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella F Orlando
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2050, Australia
| | - Frank H Hezemans
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Rong Ye
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Alexander G Murley
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Negin Holland
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Ralf Regenthal
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig 69978, Germany
| | - Roger A Barker
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
- Wellcome Trust—Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Caroline H Williams-Gray
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Luca Passamonti
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Department of Psychology, University of CambridgeCB2 3EA, CambridgeUK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Claire O’Callaghan
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2050, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Norris MR, Kuo CC, Dunn SS, Kim JR, Becker LJ, Borges G, Thang LV, Parker KE, McCall JG. Mu opioid receptors gate the locus coeruleus pain generator. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.20.562785. [PMID: 37961541 PMCID: PMC10634678 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.562785] [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
The locus coeruleus (LC) plays a paradoxical role in chronic pain. Although largely known as a potent source of endogenous analgesia, increasing evidence suggests injury can transform the LC into a chronic pain generator. We sought to clarify the role of this system in pain. Here, we show optogenetic inhibition of LC activity is acutely antinociceptive. Following long-term spared nerve injury, the same LC inhibition is analgesic - further supporting its pain generator function. To identify inhibitory substrates that may naturally serve this function, we turned to endogenous LC mu opioid receptors (LC-MOR). These receptors provide powerful LC inhibition and exogenous activation of LC-MOR is antinociceptive. We therefore hypothesized that endogenous LC-MOR-mediated inhibition is critical to how the LC modulates pain. Using cell type-selective conditional knockout and rescue of LC-MOR receptor signaling, we show these receptors bidirectionally regulate thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia - providing a functional gate on the LC pain generator.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Makenzie R. Norris
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chao-Cheng Kuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Samantha S. Dunn
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jenny R. Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Léa J. Becker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gustavo Borges
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Loc V. Thang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kyle E. Parker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jordan G. McCall
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Peng B, Huang JJ, Li Z, Zhang LI, Tao HW. Cross-modal enhancement of defensive behavior via parabigemino-collicular projections. Curr Biol 2024; 34:3616-3631.e5. [PMID: 39019036 PMCID: PMC11373540 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.052] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Effective detection and avoidance from environmental threats are crucial for animals' survival. Integration of sensory cues associated with threats across different modalities can significantly enhance animals' detection and behavioral responses. However, the neural circuit-level mechanisms underlying the modulation of defensive behavior or fear response under simultaneous multimodal sensory inputs remain poorly understood. Here, we report in mice that bimodal looming stimuli combining coherent visual and auditory signals elicit more robust defensive/fear reactions than unimodal stimuli. These include intensified escape and prolonged hiding, suggesting a heightened defensive/fear state. These various responses depend on the activity of the superior colliculus (SC), while its downstream nucleus, the parabigeminal nucleus (PBG), predominantly influences the duration of hiding behavior. PBG temporally integrates visual and auditory signals and enhances the salience of threat signals by amplifying SC sensory responses through its feedback projection to the visual layer of the SC. Our results suggest an evolutionarily conserved pathway in defense circuits for multisensory integration and cross-modality enhancement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Peng
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Junxiang J Huang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Zhong Li
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Li I Zhang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Huizhong Whit Tao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Johnston R, Smith MA. Brain-wide arousal signals are segregated from movement planning in the superior colliculus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.591284. [PMID: 38746466 PMCID: PMC11092505 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.591284] [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
The superior colliculus (SC) is traditionally considered a brain region that functions as an interface between processing visual inputs and generating eye movement outputs. Although its role as a primary reflex center is thought to be conserved across vertebrate species, evidence suggests that the SC has evolved to support higher-order cognitive functions including spatial attention. When it comes to oculomotor areas such as the SC, it is critical that high precision fixation and eye movements are maintained even in the presence of signals related to ongoing changes in cognition and brain state, both of which have the potential to interfere with eye position encoding and movement generation. In this study, we recorded spiking responses of neuronal populations in the SC while monkeys performed a memory-guided saccade task and found that the activity of some of the neurons fluctuated over tens of minutes. By leveraging the statistical power afforded by high-dimensional neuronal recordings, we were able to identify a low-dimensional pattern of activity that was correlated with the subjects' arousal levels. Importantly, we found that the spiking responses of deep-layer SC neurons were less correlated with this brain-wide arousal signal, and that neural activity associated with changes in pupil size and saccade tuning did not overlap in population activity space with movement initiation signals. Taken together, these findings provide a framework for understanding how signals related to cognition and arousal can be embedded in the population activity of oculomotor structures without compromising the fidelity of the motor output.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Johnston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Matthew A. Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Zhang Q, Xue Y, Wei K, Wang H, Ma Y, Wei Y, Fan Y, Gao L, Yao H, Wu F, Ding X, Zhang Q, Ding J, Fan Y, Lu M, Hu G. Locus Coeruleus-Dorsolateral Septum Projections Modulate Depression-Like Behaviors via BDNF But Not Norepinephrine. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2303503. [PMID: 38155473 PMCID: PMC10933643 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303503] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Locus coeruleus (LC) dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of depression; however, the neural circuits and specific molecular mechanisms responsible for this dysfunction remain unclear. Here, it is shown that activation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons in the LC alleviates depression-like behaviors in susceptible mice. The dorsolateral septum (dLS) is the most physiologically relevant output from the LC under stress. Stimulation of the LCTH -dLSSST innervation with optogenetic and chemogenetic tools bidirectionally can regulate depression-like behaviors in both male and female mice. Mechanistically, it is found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but not norepinephrine, is required for the circuit to produce antidepressant-like effects. Genetic overexpression of BDNF in the circuit or supplementation with BDNF protein in the dLS is sufficient to produce antidepressant-like effects. Furthermore, viral knockdown of BDNF in this circuit abolishes the antidepressant-like effect of ketamine, but not fluoxetine. Collectively, these findings underscore the notable antidepressant-like role of the LCTH -dLSSST pathway in depression via BDNF-TrkB signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - You Xue
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Ke Wei
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Yuan Ma
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Yao Wei
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Yi Fan
- Department of NeurologyAffiliated Nanjing Brain HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjing210024China
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Hang Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of NeurodegenerationDepartment of PharmacologyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjing211166China
| | - Fangfang Wu
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Xin Ding
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Qingyu Zhang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
| | - Jianhua Ding
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of NeurodegenerationDepartment of PharmacologyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjing211166China
| | - Yi Fan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of NeurodegenerationDepartment of PharmacologyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjing211166China
| | - Ming Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of NeurodegenerationDepartment of PharmacologyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjing211166China
| | - Gang Hu
- Department of PharmacologySchool of MedicineNanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing210023China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of NeurodegenerationDepartment of PharmacologyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjing211166China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Melleu FF, Canteras NS. Pathways from the Superior Colliculus to the Basal Ganglia. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1431-1453. [PMID: 37702174 PMCID: PMC11097988 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230911102118] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The present work aims to review the structural organization of the mammalian superior colliculus (SC), the putative pathways connecting the SC and the basal ganglia, and their role in organizing complex behavioral output. First, we review how the complex intrinsic connections between the SC's laminae projections allow for the construction of spatially aligned, visual-multisensory maps of the surrounding environment. Moreover, we present a summary of the sensory-motor inputs of the SC, including a description of the integration of multi-sensory inputs relevant to behavioral control. We further examine the major descending outputs toward the brainstem and spinal cord. As the central piece of this review, we provide a thorough analysis covering the putative interactions between the SC and the basal ganglia. To this end, we explore the diverse thalamic routes by which information from the SC may reach the striatum, including the pathways through the lateral posterior, parafascicular, and rostral intralaminar thalamic nuclei. We also examine the interactions between the SC and subthalamic nucleus, representing an additional pathway for the tectal modulation of the basal ganglia. Moreover, we discuss how information from the SC might also be relayed to the basal ganglia through midbrain tectonigral and tectotegmental projections directed at the substantia nigra compacta and ventrotegmental area, respectively, influencing the dopaminergic outflow to the dorsal and ventral striatum. We highlight the vast interplay between the SC and the basal ganglia and raise several missing points that warrant being addressed in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Newton Sabino Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Braine A, Georges F. Emotion in action: When emotions meet motor circuits. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105475. [PMID: 37996047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105475] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The brain is a remarkably complex organ responsible for a wide range of functions, including the modulation of emotional states and movement. Neuronal circuits are believed to play a crucial role in integrating sensory, cognitive, and emotional information to ultimately guide motor behavior. Over the years, numerous studies employing diverse techniques such as electrophysiology, imaging, and optogenetics have revealed a complex network of neural circuits involved in the regulation of emotional or motor processes. Emotions can exert a substantial influence on motor performance, encompassing both everyday activities and pathological conditions. The aim of this review is to explore how emotional states can shape movements by connecting the neural circuits for emotional processing to motor neural circuits. We first provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of different emotional states on motor control in humans and rodents. In line with behavioral studies, we set out to identify emotion-related structures capable of modulating motor output, behaviorally and anatomically. Neuronal circuits involved in emotional processing are extensively connected to the motor system. These circuits can drive emotional behavior, essential for survival, but can also continuously shape ongoing movement. In summary, the investigation of the intricate relationship between emotion and movement offers valuable insights into human behavior, including opportunities to enhance performance, and holds promise for improving mental and physical health. This review integrates findings from multiple scientific approaches, including anatomical tracing, circuit-based dissection, and behavioral studies, conducted in both animal and human subjects. By incorporating these different methodologies, we aim to present a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the emotional modulation of movement in both physiological and pathological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anaelle Braine
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Jing X, Hong F, Xie Y, Xie Y, Shi F, Wang R, Wang L, Chen Z, Liu XA. Dose-dependent action of cordycepin on the microbiome-gut-brain-adipose axis in mice exposed to stress. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115796. [PMID: 38294969 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115796] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The high risk for anxiety and depression among individuals with stress has become a growing concern globally. Stress-related mental disorders are often accompanied by symptoms of metabolic dysfunction. Cordycepin is a Chinese herbal medicine commonly used for its metabolism-enhancing effects. We aimed to investigate the dose-dependent effects of cordycepin on psycho-metabolic disorders induced by stress. Our behavioral tests revealed that 12.5 mg/kg cordycepin by oral gavage significantly attenuated the anxiety- and depression-like behaviors induced by stress in mice. At 25 mg/kg, cordycepin restored the reduced weight and cell size of adipose tissues caused by stress. Besides ameliorating the metabolic dysbiosis of gut microbiota due to stress, cordycepin significantly reduced the elevated contents of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the serum and prefrontal cortex at 12.5 mg/kg and reversed the decrease in adipose induced by stress at 25 mg/kg. Correlation analyses further revealed that 12.5 mg/kg cordycepin reversed stress-induced changes in the intestinal microbiome of NK4A214_group and decreased serum Myristic acid and PC(15:0/18:1(11Z)) and cytokines, such as IFN-γ and IL-1β. 25 mg/kg cordycepin reversed stress-induced changes in the abundances of Prevoteaceae_UCG-001 and Desulfovibrio, increased serum L-alanine level, and decreased serum Inosine-5'-monophosphate level. Cordycepin thereby ameliorated the anxiety- and depression-like behaviors as well as disturbances in the adipose metabolism of mice exposed to stress. Overall, these findings offer evidence indicating that the prominent effects of cordycepin in the brain and adipose tissues are dose dependent, thus highlight the importance of evaluating the precise therapeutic effects of different cordycepin doses on psycho-metabolic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Jing
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feng Hong
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yinfang Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yutong Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feng Shi
- Shenzhen Chenlu Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ruoxi Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zuxin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xin-An Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kim JH, Yin C, Merriam EP, Roth ZN. Pupil Size Is Sensitive to Low-Level Stimulus Features, Independent of Arousal-Related Modulation. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0005-23.2023. [PMID: 37699706 PMCID: PMC10585606 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0005-23.2023] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Similar to a camera aperture, pupil size adjusts to the surrounding luminance. Unlike a camera, pupil size is additionally modulated both by stimulus properties and by cognitive processes, including attention and arousal, though the interdependence of these factors is unclear. We hypothesized that different stimulus properties interact to jointly modulate pupil size while remaining independent from the impact of arousal. We measured pupil responses from human observers to equiluminant stimuli during a demanding rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) task at fixation and tested how response amplitude depends on contrast, spatial frequency, and reward level. We found that under constant luminance, unattended stimuli evoke responses that are separable from changes caused by general arousal or attention. We further uncovered a double-dissociation between task-related responses and stimulus-evoked responses, suggesting that different sources of pupil size modulation are independent of one another. Our results shed light on neural pathways underlying pupillary response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- June Hee Kim
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Christine Yin
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Elisha P Merriam
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Zvi N Roth
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mariscal P, Bravo L, Llorca-Torralba M, Razquin J, Miguelez C, Suárez-Pereira I, Berrocoso E. Sexual differences in locus coeruleus neurons and related behavior in C57BL/6J mice. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:64. [PMID: 37770907 PMCID: PMC10540344 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00550-7] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to social and cultural factors, sex differences in the central nervous system have a critical influence on behavior, although the neurobiology underlying these differences remains unclear. Interestingly, the Locus Coeruleus (LC), a noradrenergic nucleus that exhibits sexual dimorphism, integrates signals that are related to diverse activities, including emotions, cognition and pain. Therefore, we set-out to evaluate sex differences in behaviors related to LC nucleus, and subsequently, to assess the sex differences in LC morphology and function. METHODS Female and male C57BL/6J mice were studied to explore the role of the LC in anxiety, depressive-like behavior, well-being, pain, and learning and memory. We also explored the number of noradrenergic LC cells, their somatodendritic volume, as well as the electrophysiological properties of LC neurons in each sex. RESULTS While both male and female mice displayed similar depressive-like behavior, female mice exhibited more anxiety-related behaviors. Interestingly, females outperformed males in memory tasks that involved distinguishing objects with small differences and they also showed greater thermal pain sensitivity. Immunohistological analysis revealed that females had fewer noradrenergic cells yet they showed a larger dendritic volume than males. Patch clamp electrophysiology studies demonstrated that LC neurons in female mice had a lower capacitance and that they were more excitable than male LC neurons, albeit with similar action potential properties. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study provides new insights into the sex differences related to LC nucleus and associated behaviors, which may explain the heightened emotional arousal response observed in females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Mariscal
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003, Cádiz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Lidia Bravo
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003, Cádiz, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Meritxell Llorca-Torralba
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009, Cádiz, Spain
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Cell Biology & Histology, University of Cádiz, 11003, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Jone Razquin
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48940, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Cristina Miguelez
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48940, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Irene Suárez-Pereira
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003, Cádiz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Esther Berrocoso
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, 11003, Cádiz, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009, Cádiz, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Rojas-Thomas F, Artigas C, Wainstein G, Morales JP, Arriagada M, Soto D, Dagnino-Subiabre A, Silva J, Lopez V. Impact of acute psychosocial stress on attentional control in humans. A study of evoked potentials and pupillary response. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 25:100551. [PMID: 37362419 PMCID: PMC10285563 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100551] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychosocial stress has increased considerably in our modern lifestyle, affecting global mental health. Deficits in attentional control are cardinal features of stress disorders and pathological anxiety. Studies suggest that changes in the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system could underlie the effects of stress on top-down attentional control. However, the impact of psychosocial stress on attentional processes and its underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the effect of psychosocial stress on attentional processing and brain signatures. Evoked potentials and pupillary activity related to the oddball auditory paradigm were recorded before and after applying the Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST). Electrocardiogram (ECG), salivary cortisol, and subjective anxiety/stress levels were measured at different experimental periods. The control group experienced the same physical and cognitive effort but without the psychosocial stress component. The results showed that stressed subjects exhibited decreased P3a and P3b amplitude, pupil phasic response, and correct responses. On the other hand, they displayed an increase in Mismatch Negativity (MMN). N1 amplitude after MIST only decreased in the control group. We found that differences in P3b amplitude between the first and second oddball were significantly correlated with pupillary dilation and salivary cortisol levels. Our results suggest that under social-evaluative threat, basal activity of the coeruleus-norepinephrine system increases, enhancing alertness and decreasing voluntary attentional resources for the cognitive task. These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological basis of attentional changes in pathologies associated with chronic psychosocial stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F. Rojas-Thomas
- Laboratorio de Psicología Experimental y Neurociencias, Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Neurociencia, Centro Interdisciplinario en Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - C. Artigas
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - G. Wainstein
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Escuela de Medicina y Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan-Pablo Morales
- Programa de Doctorado en Neurociencia, Centro Interdisciplinario en Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago de Chile, Chile
- Facultad de Educación Psicología y Familia, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile
| | - M. Arriagada
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Bernardo O'Higgins University, Santiago, Chile
| | - D. Soto
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - A. Dagnino-Subiabre
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología del Estrés, Instituto de Fisiología, CENFI, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - J. Silva
- Instituto de Bienestar Socioemocional (IBEM), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - V. Lopez
- Laboratorio de Psicología Experimental y Neurociencias, Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wu Q, Zhang Y. Neural Circuit Mechanisms Involved in Animals' Detection of and Response to Visual Threats. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:994-1008. [PMID: 36694085 PMCID: PMC10264346 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01021-0] [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: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Evading or escaping from predators is one of the most crucial issues for survival across the animal kingdom. The timely detection of predators and the initiation of appropriate fight-or-flight responses are innate capabilities of the nervous system. Here we review recent progress in our understanding of innate visually-triggered defensive behaviors and the underlying neural circuit mechanisms, and a comparison among vinegar flies, zebrafish, and mice is included. This overview covers the anatomical and functional aspects of the neural circuits involved in this process, including visual threat processing and identification, the selection of appropriate behavioral responses, and the initiation of these innate defensive behaviors. The emphasis of this review is on the early stages of this pathway, namely, threat identification from complex visual inputs and how behavioral choices are influenced by differences in visual threats. We also briefly cover how the innate defensive response is processed centrally. Based on these summaries, we discuss coding strategies for visual threats and propose a common prototypical pathway for rapid innate defensive responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Wu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kaye AP, Rao MG, Kwan AC, Ressler KJ, Krystal JH. A computational model for learning from repeated traumatic experiences under uncertainty. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 23:894-904. [PMID: 37165181 PMCID: PMC11149767 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-023-01085-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic events can lead to lifelong, inflexible adaptations in threat perception and behavior, which characterize posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This process involves associations between sensory cues and internal states of threat and then generalization of the threat responses to previously neutral cues. However, most formulations neglect adaptations to threat that are not specific to those associations. To incorporate nonassociative responses to threat, we propose a computational theory of PTSD based on adaptation to the frequency of traumatic events by using a reinforcement learning momentum model. Recent threat prediction errors generate momentum that influences subsequent threat perception in novel contexts. This model fits primary data acquired from a mouse model of PTSD, in which unpredictable footshocks in one context accelerate threat learning in a novel context. The theory is consistent with epidemiological data that show that PTSD incidence increases with the number of traumatic events, as well as the disproportionate impact of early life trauma. Because the theory proposes that PTSD relates to the average of recent threat prediction errors rather than the strength of a specific association, it makes novel predictions for the treatment of PTSD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alfred P Kaye
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA.
- VA National Center for PTSD Clinical Neuroscience Division, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Manasa G Rao
- Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex C Kwan
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA
- Cornell University Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- McLean Hospital, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorder, Belmont, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA
- VA National Center for PTSD Clinical Neuroscience Division, West Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Perepelkina OV, Poletaeva II. Cognitive Test Solution in Mice with Different Brain Weights after Atomoxetine. Neurol Int 2023; 15:649-660. [PMID: 37218980 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint15020041] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, the data are presented concerning different reactions to seven daily injections of atomoxetine in two mouse strains differing in relative brain weight. Atomoxetine affected the performance in a puzzle-box cognitive test in a complicated way-the large brain mice were less successful at task solutions (presumably because they were not afraid of the brightly lit test box), while the small brain strain of atomoxetine treated mice solved the task more successfully. The behavior of all atomoxetine treated animals was more active in an aversive situation (an unescapable slippery funnel, (analogous to the Porsolt test) and the time of immobility decreased significantly in all atomoxetine treated mice. The general patterns of behavioral reactions to atomoxetine in the cognitive test and other interstrain differences demonstrated in these experiments made it possible to suggest that differences in ascending noradrenergic projections between the two strains used exist. Further analysis of the noradrenergic system in these strains is needed (and further analysis of the effects of drugs which affect noradrenergic receptors).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Perepelkina
- Biology Department, Lomonossov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1, Building 12, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Inga I Poletaeva
- Biology Department, Lomonossov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1, Building 12, Moscow 119234, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Zhong J, Liu Q, Yang X, Su J, Li X, Luo M, Wang L. Mice learn from the predator-attack experience to accelerate flight behavior via optimizing the strategy of environment exploration. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 665:26-34. [PMID: 37148743 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.04.060] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Efficiently avoiding predators is critical for animal survival. However, little is known about how the experience of predator attack affects behaviors in predator defense. Here, we caught mice by tail to simulate a predator attack. We found that the experienced mice accelerated the flight in response to the visual threaten cue. Single predator attack didn't induce anxiety but increased the activity of innate fear or learning related nucleus. The predator attack induced acceleration of flight was partly rescued when we used drug to block protein synthesis which is critical in the learning process. The experienced mice significantly reduced the focused exploration on the floor during the environment exploration, which might facilitate the discovery of predator. These results suggest that mice could learn from the experience of predator attack to optimize their behavioral pattern to detect the predator cue immediately and response intensely, and therefore increase the probability of survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xing Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Junying Su
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiaofen Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Moxuan Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Liping Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Benarroch E. What Are the Functions of the Superior Colliculus and Its Involvement in Neurologic Disorders? Neurology 2023; 100:784-790. [PMID: 37068960 PMCID: PMC10115501 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
|
32
|
Welcome MO, Dogo D, Nikos E Mastorakis. Cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways linking bitter taste receptor signalling to cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, arrhythmia and contractile dysfunction in heart diseases. Inflammopharmacology 2023; 31:89-117. [PMID: 36471190 PMCID: PMC9734786 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01086-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Heart diseases and related complications constitute a leading cause of death and socioeconomic threat worldwide. Despite intense efforts and research on the pathogenetic mechanisms of these diseases, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are yet to be completely understood. Several lines of evidence indicate a critical role of inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in the development and progression of heart diseases. Nevertheless, the molecular machinery that drives cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress is not completely known. Recent data suggest an important role of cardiac bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) in the pathogenetic mechanism of heart diseases. Independent groups of researchers have demonstrated a central role of TAS2Rs in mediating inflammatory, oxidative stress responses, autophagy, impulse generation/propagation and contractile activities in the heart, suggesting that dysfunctional TAS2R signalling may predispose to cardiac inflammatory and oxidative stress disorders, characterised by contractile dysfunction and arrhythmia. Moreover, cardiac TAS2Rs act as gateway surveillance units that monitor and detect toxigenic or pathogenic molecules, including microbial components, and initiate responses that ultimately culminate in protection of the host against the aggression. Unfortunately, however, the molecular mechanisms that link TAS2R sensing of the cardiac milieu to inflammatory and oxidative stress responses are not clearly known. Therefore, we sought to review the possible role of TAS2R signalling in the pathophysiology of cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, arrhythmia and contractile dysfunction in heart diseases. Potential therapeutic significance of targeting TAS2R or its downstream signalling molecules in cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, arrhythmia and contractile dysfunction is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Menizibeya O Welcome
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nile University of Nigeria, Plot 681 Cadastral Zone, C-00 Research and Institution Area, Jabi Airport Road Bypass, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.
| | - Dilli Dogo
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Nikos E Mastorakis
- Technical University of Sofia, Klement Ohridksi 8, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Kearney BE, Corrigan FM, Frewen PA, Nevill S, Harricharan S, Andrews K, Jetly R, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA. A randomized controlled trial of Deep Brain Reorienting: a neuroscientifically guided treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2240691. [PMID: 37581275 PMCID: PMC10431732 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2240691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advanced neuroscientific insights surrounding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its associated symptomatology should beget psychotherapeutic treatments that integrate these insights into practice. Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is a neuroscientifically-guided psychotherapeutic intervention that targets the brainstem-level neurophysiological sequence that transpired during a traumatic event. Given that contemporary treatments have non-response rates of up to 50% and high drop-out rates of >18%, DBR is investigated as a putative candidate for effective treatment of some individuals with PTSD. OBJECTIVE To conduct an interim evaluation of the effectiveness of an eight-session clinical trial of videoconference-based DBR versus waitlist (WL) control for individuals with PTSD. METHOD Fifty-four individuals with PTSD were randomly assigned to DBR (N = 29) or WL (N = 25). At baseline, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up, participants' PTSD symptom severity was assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). This is an interim analysis of a clinical trial registered with the U. S. National Institute of Health (NCT04317820). RESULTS Significant between-group differences in CAPS-total and all subscale scores (re-experiencing, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions/mood, alterations in arousal/reactivity) were found at post-treatment (CAPS-total: Cohen's d = 1.17) and 3-month-follow-up (3MFU) (CAPS-total: Cohen's d = 1.18). Significant decreases in CAPS-total and all subscale scores were observed within the DBR group pre - to post-treatment (36.6% CAPS-total reduction) and pre-treatment to 3MFU (48.6% CAPS-total reduction), whereas no significant decreases occurred in the WL group. After DBR, 48.3% at post-treatment and 52.0% at 3MFU no longer met PTSD criteria. Attrition was minimal with one participant not completing treatment; eight participants were lost to 3MFU. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide emerging evidence for the effectiveness of DBR as a well-tolerated treatment that is based on theoretical advances highlighting alterations to subcortical mechanisms in PTSD and associated symptomatology. Additional research utilizing larger sample sizes, neuroimaging data, and comparisons or adjacencies with other psychotherapeutic approaches is warranted.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04317820..
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank M. Corrigan
- Trauma Psychotherapy Scotland, Newton Terrace, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Paul A. Frewen
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, Western University, London, Canada
| | | | - Sherain Harricharan
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Krysta Andrews
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Rakesh Jetly
- Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Margaret C. McKinnon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Ruth A. Lanius
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, Western University, London, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
An M, Kim HK, Park H, Kim K, Heo G, Park HE, Chung C, Kim SY. Lateral Septum Somatostatin Neurons are Activated by Diverse Stressors. Exp Neurobiol 2022; 31:376-389. [PMID: 36631846 PMCID: PMC9841747 DOI: 10.5607/en22024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The lateral septum (LS) is a forebrain structure that has been implicated in a wide range of behavioral and physiological responses to stress. However, the specific populations of neurons in the LS that mediate stress responses remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that neurons in the dorsal lateral septum (LSd) that express the somatostatin gene (hereafter, LSdSst neurons) are activated by diverse stressors. Retrograde tracing from LSdSst neurons revealed that these neurons are directly innervated by neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC), the primary source of norepinephrine well-known to mediate diverse stress-related functions in the brain. Consistently, we found that norepinephrine increased excitatory synaptic transmission onto LSdSst neurons, suggesting the functional connectivity between LSdSst neurons and LC noradrenergic neurons. However, optogenetic stimulation of LSdSst neurons did not affect stress-related behaviors or autonomic functions, likely owing to the functional heterogeneity within this population. Together, our findings show that LSdSst neurons are activated by diverse stressors and suggest that norepinephrine released from the LC may modulate the activity of LSdSst neurons under stressful circumstances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myungmo An
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea,Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyun-Kyung Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea,Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hoyong Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Kyunghoe Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea,Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Gyuryang Heo
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Han-Eol Park
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - ChiHye Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea,
ChiHye Chung, TEL: 82-2-450-0432, e-mail:
| | - Sung-Yon Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea,Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea,To whom correspondence should be addressed. Sung-Yon Kim, TEL: 82-2-880-4994, e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bohne P, Rybarski M, Mourabit DBE, Krause F, Mark MD. Cerebellar contribution to threat probability in a SCA6 mouse model. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:3807-3828. [PMID: 35708512 PMCID: PMC9652111 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear and anxiety have proven to be essential during the evolutionary process. However, the mechanisms involved in recognizing and categorizing threat probability (i.e. low to high) to elicit the appropriate defensive behavior are yet to be determined. In this study, we investigated the cerebellar contribution in evoking appropriate defensive escape behavior using a purely cerebellar, neurodegenerative mouse model for spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 which is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in exon 47 of the P/Q type calcium channel α1A subunit. These mice overexpress the carboxy terminus (CT) of the P/Q type calcium channel containing an expanded 27 CAG repeat specifically in cerebellar Purkinje cells (CT-longQ27PC). We found that our CT-longQ27PC mice exhibit anxiolytic behavior in the open field, elevated plus maze and light/dark place preference tests, which could be recovered with more threatening conditions such as brighter lighting, meowing sounds and an ultrasound repellent. Their innate fear to find safety in the Barnes maze and visual cliff tests was also diminished with subsequent trials, which could be partially recovered with an ultrasound repellent in the Barnes maze. However, under higher threat conditions such as in the light/dark place preference with ultrasound repellent and in the looming tests, CT-longQ27PC mice responded with higher defensive escape behaviors as controls. Moreover, CT-longQ27PC mice displayed increased levels of CT-labeled aggregates compared with controls. Together these data suggest that cerebellar degeneration by overexpression of CT-longQ27PC is sufficient to impair defensive escape responses in those mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Bohne
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum D-44780, Germany
| | - Max Rybarski
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum D-44780, Germany
| | | | - Felix Krause
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum D-44780, Germany
| | - Melanie D Mark
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum D-44780, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Jia X, Chen S, Li X, Tao S, Lai J, Liu H, Huang K, Tian Y, Wei P, Yang F, Lu Z, Chen Z, Liu XA, Xu F, Wang L. Divergent neurocircuitry dissociates two components of the stress response: glucose mobilization and anxiety-like behavior. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111586. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
|
37
|
Hashimoto M, Brito SI, Venner A, Pasqualini AL, Yang TL, Allen D, Fuller PM, Anthony TE. Lateral septum modulates cortical state to tune responsivity to threat stimuli. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111521. [PMID: 36288710 PMCID: PMC9645245 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sudden unexpected environmental changes capture attention and, when perceived as potentially dangerous, evoke defensive behavioral states. Perturbations of the lateral septum (LS) can produce extreme hyperdefensiveness even to innocuous stimuli, but how this structure influences stimulus-evoked defensive responses and threat perception remains unclear. Here, we show that Crhr2-expressing neurons in mouse LS exhibit phasic activation upon detection of threatening but not rewarding stimuli. Threat-stimulus-driven activity predicts the probability but not vigor or type of defensive behavior evoked. Although necessary for and sufficient to potentiate stimulus-triggered defensive responses, LSCrhr2 neurons do not promote specific behaviors. Rather, their stimulation elicits negative valence and physiological arousal. Moreover, LSCrhr2 activity tracks brain state fluctuations and drives cortical activation and rapid awakening in the absence of threat. Together, our findings suggest that LS directs bottom-up modulation of cortical function to evoke preparatory defensive internal states and selectively enhance responsivity to threat-related stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Hashimoto
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Salvador Ignacio Brito
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anne Venner
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Amanda Loren Pasqualini
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tracy Lulu Yang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Allen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patrick Michael Fuller
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Todd Erryl Anthony
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Li Z, Lin Z, Ji S, Lai KP, Wan HT, Wong CKC, Li L. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid exposure altered hypothalamic metabolism and disturbed male fecundity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:156881. [PMID: 35753445 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have examined the effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) on disruption of the blood-testis barrier and spermatogenesis. Sertoli and Leydig cells were perturbed, resulting in a decrease in testosterone levels and sperm counts. However, the effects of PFOS on male fecundity are not limited to the testes. In this study, we demonstrated that oral PFOS exposure (1 μg/g BW and 5 μg/g BW) decreased the function of the Luteinizing hormone (LH)/Luteinizing hormone receptor (LHr) and decreased epididymal sperm motility. Consistently, testicular transcriptome analysis revealed that PFOS altered the expression of a cluster of genes associated with sperm motility and steroidogenesis. In mice exposed to PFOS, c-Fos immunostaining showed activation of the lateral septal nucleus (LS), paraventricular thalamus (PVT), locus coeruleus (LC), which are known to be related to anxiety-like behaviors. Metabolomic analyses of the hypothalamus revealed that exposure to PFOS perturbed the translation of proteins, as well as the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Altogether, the activation of brain nuclei, shift of hypothalamic metabolome, and reduction of LH/LHr circuit resulted from PFOS exposure suggested the toxicant's systematic effects on male reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zijie Li
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Ziyi Lin
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shuqin Ji
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Keng-Po Lai
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 530022, China
| | - Hin-Ting Wan
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Chris Kong Chu Wong
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
| | - Lei Li
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Duesman SJ, Shetty S, Patel S, Ogale N, Mohamed F, Sparman N, Rajbhandari P, Rajbhandari AK. Sexually dimorphic role of the locus coeruleus PAC1 receptors in regulating acute stress-associated energy metabolism. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:995573. [PMID: 36275856 PMCID: PMC9580361 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.995573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe stress leads to alterations in energy metabolism with sexually dimorphic onset or severity. The locus coeruleus (LC) in the brainstem that mediates fight-or-flight-or-freeze response to stress is sexually dimorphic in morphology, plays a key role in interactions between diet and severe stressors, and has neuronal input to the brown adipose tissue (BAT)-a thermogenic organ important for energy balance. Yet, little is known on how LC coordinates stress-related metabolic adaptations. LC expresses receptors for the neuropeptide PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide) and PACAP signaling through PAC1 (PACAP receptor) are critical regulators of various types of stressors and energy metabolism. We hypothesized that LC-PAC1 axis is a sex-specific central "gatekeeper" of severe acute stress-driven behavior and energy metabolism. Selective ablation of PAC1 receptors from the LC did not alter stress response in mice of either sex, but enhanced food intake in females and was associated with increased energy expenditure and BAT thermogenesis in male mice. These results show a sexually dimorphic role of the LC-PAC1 in regulating acute stress-related energy metabolism. Thus, by disrupting LC-PAC1 signaling, our studies show a unique and previously unexplored role of LC in adaptive energy metabolism in a sex-dependent manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J. Duesman
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sanutha Shetty
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sanil Patel
- Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Neha Ogale
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Farzanna Mohamed
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Njeri Sparman
- Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Prashant Rajbhandari
- Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Abha Karki Rajbhandari
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Abha Karki Rajbhandari,
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Chen JT, Kuo YC, Hsu TY, Wang CA. Fatigue and Arousal Modulations Revealed by Saccade and Pupil Dynamics. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159234. [PMID: 35954585 PMCID: PMC9367726 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Saccadic eye movements are directed to the objects of interests and enable high-resolution visual images in the exploration of the visual world. There is a trial-to-trial variation in saccade dynamics even in a simple task, possibly attributed to arousal fluctuations. Previous studies have showed that an increase of fatigue level over time, also known as time-on-task, can be revealed by saccade peak velocity. In addition, pupil size, controlled by the autonomic nervous system, has long been used as an arousal index. However, limited research has been done with regards to the relation between pupil size and saccade behavior in the context of trial-to-trial variation. To investigate fatigue and arousal effects on saccadic and pupillary responses, we used bright and emotional stimuli to evoke pupillary responses in tasks requiring reactive and voluntary saccade generation. Decreased voluntary saccade peak velocities, reduced tonic pupil size and phasic pupillary responses were observed as time-on-task increased. Moreover, tonic pupil size affected saccade latency and dynamics, with steeper saccade main sequence slope as tonic pupil size increased. In summary, saccade dynamics and tonic pupil size were sensitive to fatigue and arousal level, together providing valuable information for the understanding of human behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Tai Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chun Kuo
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Science and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan;
- Cognitive Intelligence and Precision Healthcare Research Center, National Central University, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness (GIMBC), Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Brain and Consciousness Research Center (BCRC), TMU-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
| | - Chin-An Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Science and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan;
- Cognitive Intelligence and Precision Healthcare Research Center, National Central University, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness (GIMBC), Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Brain and Consciousness Research Center (BCRC), TMU-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Freezing revisited: coordinated autonomic and central optimization of threat coping. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:568-580. [PMID: 35760906 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00608-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Animals have sophisticated mechanisms for coping with danger. Freezing is a unique state that, upon threat detection, allows evidence to be gathered, response possibilities to be previsioned and preparations to be made for worst-case fight or flight. We propose that - rather than reflecting a passive fear state - the particular somatic and cognitive characteristics of freezing help to conceal overt responses, while optimizing sensory processing and action preparation. Critical for these functions are the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and acetylcholine, which modulate neural information processing and also control the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system. However, the interactions between autonomic systems and the brain during freezing, and the way in which they jointly coordinate responses, remain incompletely explored. We review the joint actions of these systems and offer a novel computational framework to describe their temporally harmonized integration. This reconceptualization of freezing has implications for its role in decision-making under threat and for psychopathology.
Collapse
|
42
|
Liu D, Li S, Ren L, Li X, Wang Z. The superior colliculus/lateral posterior thalamic nuclei in mice rapidly transmit fear visual information through the theta frequency band. Neuroscience 2022; 496:230-240. [PMID: 35724770 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.021] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Animals perceive threat information mainly from vision, and the subcortical visual pathway plays a critical role in the rapid processing of fear visual information. The superior colliculus (SC) and lateral posterior (LP) nuclei of the thalamus are key components of the subcortical visual pathway; however, how animals encode and transmit fear visual information is unclear. To evaluate the response characteristics of neurons in SC and LP thalamic nuclei under fear visual stimuli, extracellular action potentials (spikes) and local field potential signals were recorded under looming and dimming visual stimuli. The results showed that both SC and LP thalamic nuclei were strongly responsive to looming visual stimuli but not sensitive to dimming visual stimuli. Under the looming visual stimulus, the theta (θ) frequency bands of both nuclei showed obvious oscillations, which markedly enhanced the synchronization between neurons. The functional network characteristics also indicated that the network connection density and information transmission efficiency were higher under fear visual stimuli. These findings suggest that both SC and LP thalamic nuclei can effectively identify threatening fear visual information and rapidly transmit it between nuclei through the θ frequency band. This discovery can provide a basis for subsequent coding and decoding studies in the subcortical visual pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denghui Liu
- School of Electric Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology
| | - Shouhao Li
- School of Electric Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology
| | - Liqing Ren
- School of Electric Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology
| | - Xiaoyuan Li
- School of Electric Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology.
| | - Zhenlong Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology; School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Jure R. The “Primitive Brain Dysfunction” Theory of Autism: The Superior Colliculus Role. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:797391. [PMID: 35712344 PMCID: PMC9194533 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.797391] [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: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of the pathogenesis of autism will help clarify our conception of the complexity of normal brain development. The crucial deficit may lie in the postnatal changes that vision produces in the brainstem nuclei during early life. The superior colliculus is the primary brainstem visual center. Although difficult to examine in humans with present techniques, it is known to support behaviors essential for every vertebrate to survive, such as the ability to pay attention to relevant stimuli and to produce automatic motor responses based on sensory input. From birth to death, it acts as a brain sentinel that influences basic aspects of our behavior. It is the main brainstem hub that lies between the environment and the rest of the higher neural system, making continuous, implicit decisions about where to direct our attention. The conserved cortex-like organization of the superior colliculus in all vertebrates allows the early appearance of primitive emotionally-related behaviors essential for survival. It contains first-line specialized neurons enabling the detection and tracking of faces and movements from birth. During development, it also sends the appropriate impulses to help shape brain areas necessary for social-communicative abilities. These abilities require the analysis of numerous variables, such as the simultaneous evaluation of incoming information sustained by separate brain networks (visual, auditory and sensory-motor, social, emotional, etc.), and predictive capabilities which compare present events to previous experiences and possible responses. These critical aspects of decision-making allow us to evaluate the impact that our response or behavior may provoke in others. The purpose of this review is to show that several enigmas about the complexity of autism might be explained by disruptions of collicular and brainstem functions. The results of two separate lines of investigation: 1. the cognitive, etiologic, and pathogenic aspects of autism on one hand, and two. the functional anatomy of the colliculus on the other, are considered in order to bridge the gap between basic brain science and clinical studies and to promote future research in this unexplored area.
Collapse
|
44
|
Lei Z, Lam Y, Li C, Fu Z, Ramkrishnan AS, Liu S, Li Y. β2-Adrenoceptors in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Excitatory Neurons Regulate Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105578. [PMID: 35628393 PMCID: PMC9145949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and β-adrenoceptors (βARs) have been implicated in modulating anxiety-like behavior. However, the specific contributions of the β2-AR subtype in mPFC in anxiety are still unclear. To address this issue, we used optogenetic and microRNA-based (miRNA) silencing to dissect the role of β2-AR in mPFC in anxiety-like behavior. On the one hand, we use a chimeric rhodopsin/β2-AR (Opto-β2-AR) with in vivo optogenetic techniques to selectively activate β2-adrenergic signaling in excitatory neurons of the mPFC. We found that opto-activation of β2-AR is sufficient to induce anxiety-like behavior and reduce social interaction. On the other hand, we utilize the miRNA silencing technique to specifically knock down the β2-AR in mPFC excitatory neurons. We found that the β2-AR knock down induces anxiolytic-like behavior and promotes social interaction compared to the control group. These data suggest that β2-AR signaling in the mPFC has a critical role in anxiety-like states. These findings suggest that inhibiting of β2-AR signaling in the mPFC may be an effective treatment of anxiety disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuogui Lei
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Z.L.); (Z.F.); (A.S.R.); (S.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Y.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Yukyan Lam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Y.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Cheukhin Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Y.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Zhongqi Fu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Z.L.); (Z.F.); (A.S.R.); (S.L.)
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Aruna S. Ramkrishnan
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Z.L.); (Z.F.); (A.S.R.); (S.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Y.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Shu Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Z.L.); (Z.F.); (A.S.R.); (S.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Y.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Z.L.); (Z.F.); (A.S.R.); (S.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (Y.L.); (C.L.)
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Wang CA, White B, Munoz DP. Pupil-linked Arousal Signals in the Midbrain Superior Colliculus. J Cogn Neurosci 2022; 34:1340-1354. [PMID: 35579984 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The orienting response evoked by the appearance of a salient stimulus is modulated by arousal; however, neural underpinnings for the interplay between orienting and arousal are not well understood. The superior colliculus (SC), causally involved in multiple components of the orienting response including gaze and attention shifts, receives not only multisensory and cognitive inputs but also arousal-regulated inputs from various cortical and subcortical structures. To investigate the impact of moment-by-moment fluctuations in arousal on orienting saccade responses, we used microstimulation of the monkey SC to trigger saccade responses, and we used pupil size and velocity to index the level of arousal at stimulation onset because these measures correlate with changes in brain states and locus coeruleus activity. Saccades induced by SC microstimulation correlated with prestimulation pupil velocity, with higher pupil velocities on trials without evoked saccades than with evoked saccades. In contrast, prestimulation absolute pupil size did not correlate with saccade behavior. However, pupil velocity correlated with evoked saccade latency and metrics. Together, our results demonstrated that small fluctuations in arousal, indexed by pupil velocity, can modulate the saccade response evoked by SC microstimulation in awake behaving monkeys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian White
- Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Dopamine modulates visual threat processing in the superior colliculus via D2 receptors. iScience 2022; 25:104388. [PMID: 35633939 PMCID: PMC9136671 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate defensive responses, unlearned behaviors improving individuals’ chances of survival, have been found to involve the dopamine (DA) system. In the superior colliculus (SC), known for its role in defensive behaviors to visual threats, neurons expressing dopaminergic receptors of type 1 (Drd1+) and of type 2 (Drd2+) have been identified. We hypothesized that SC neurons expressing dopaminergic receptors may play a role in promoting innate defensive responses. Optogenetic activation of SC Drd2+ neurons, but not Drd1+ neurons, triggered defensive behaviors. Chemogenetic inhibition of SC Drd2+ neurons decreased looming-induced defensive behaviors, as well as pretreatment with the pharmacological Drd2+ agonist quinpirole, suggesting an essential role of Drd2 receptors in the regulation of innate defensive behavior. Input and output viral tracing revealed SC Drd2+ neurons mainly receive moderate inputs from the locus coeruleus (LC). Our results suggest a sophisticated regulatory role of DA and its receptor system in innate defensive behavior. Optogenetic activation of SC Drd2 + neurons, but not Drd1 + , induces defensive behaviors Repeated activation of SC Drd2 + provokes aversive memory and depression-like behavior Chemogenetic and pharmacological inhibition of SC Drd2 + impaired defensive behaviors Monosynaptic tracing revealed SC Drd2 + neurons mainly receive TH + projections from LC
Collapse
|
47
|
Bloch S, Holleran KM, Kash TL, Vazey EM, Rinker JA, Lebonville CL, O'Hara K, Lopez MF, Jones SR, Grant KA, Becker HC, Mulholland PJ. Assessing negative affect in mice during abstinence from alcohol drinking: Limitations and future challenges. Alcohol 2022; 100:41-56. [PMID: 35181404 PMCID: PMC8983487 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is frequently comorbid with mood disorders, and these co-occurring neuropsychiatric disorders contribute to the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence and relapse. In preclinical models, mice chronically exposed to alcohol display anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors during acute withdrawal and protracted abstinence. However, in total, results from studies using voluntary alcohol-drinking paradigms show variable behavioral outcomes in assays measuring negative affective behaviors. Thus, the main objective of this review is to summarize the literature on the variability of negative affective behaviors in mice after chronic alcohol exposure. We compare the behavioral phenotypes that emerge during abstinence across different exposure models, including models of alcohol and stress interactions. The complicated outcomes from these studies highlight the difficulties of assessing negative affective behaviors in mouse models designed for the study of AUD. We discuss new behavioral assays, comprehensive platforms, and unbiased machine-learning algorithms as promising approaches to better understand the interaction between alcohol and negative affect in mice. New data-driven approaches in the understanding of mouse behavior hold promise for improving the identification of mechanisms, cell subtypes, and neurocircuits that mediate negative affect. In turn, improving our understanding of the neurobehavioral basis of alcohol-associated negative affect will provide a platform to test hypotheses in mouse models that aim to improve the development of more effective strategies for treating individuals with AUD and co-occurring mood disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solal Bloch
- Department of Neuroscience, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Katherine M Holleran
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Thomas L Kash
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Elena M Vazey
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Jennifer A Rinker
- Department of Neuroscience, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Christina L Lebonville
- Department of Neuroscience, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Krysten O'Hara
- Department of Neuroscience, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Marcelo F Lopez
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Sara R Jones
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Kathleen A Grant
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
| | - Howard C Becker
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Patrick J Mulholland
- Department of Neuroscience, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Wheatcroft T, Saleem AB, Solomon SG. Functional Organisation of the Mouse Superior Colliculus. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:792959. [PMID: 35601532 PMCID: PMC9118347 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.792959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a highly conserved area of the mammalian midbrain that is widely implicated in the organisation and control of behaviour. SC receives input from a large number of brain areas, and provides outputs to a large number of areas. The convergence and divergence of anatomical connections with different areas and systems provides challenges for understanding how SC contributes to behaviour. Recent work in mouse has provided large anatomical datasets, and a wealth of new data from experiments that identify and manipulate different cells within SC, and their inputs and outputs, during simple behaviours. These data offer an opportunity to better understand the roles that SC plays in these behaviours. However, some of the observations appear, at first sight, to be contradictory. Here we review this recent work and hypothesise a simple framework which can capture the observations, that requires only a small change to previous models. Specifically, the functional organisation of SC can be explained by supposing that three largely distinct circuits support three largely distinct classes of simple behaviours-arrest, turning towards, and the triggering of escape or capture. These behaviours are hypothesised to be supported by the optic, intermediate and deep layers, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samuel G. Solomon
- Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Liu X, Huang H, Snutch TP, Cao P, Wang L, Wang F. The Superior Colliculus: Cell Types, Connectivity, and Behavior. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1519-1540. [PMID: 35484472 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00858-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC), one of the most well-characterized midbrain sensorimotor structures where visual, auditory, and somatosensory information are integrated to initiate motor commands, is highly conserved across vertebrate evolution. Moreover, cell-type-specific SC neurons integrate afferent signals within local networks to generate defined output related to innate and cognitive behaviors. This review focuses on the recent progress in understanding of phenotypic diversity amongst SC neurons and their intrinsic circuits and long-projection targets. We further describe relevant neural circuits and specific cell types in relation to behavioral outputs and cognitive functions. The systematic delineation of SC organization, cell types, and neural connections is further put into context across species as these depend upon laminar architecture. Moreover, we focus on SC neural circuitry involving saccadic eye movement, and cognitive and innate behaviors. Overall, the review provides insight into SC functioning and represents a basis for further understanding of the pathology associated with SC dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hongren Huang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Terrance P Snutch
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Feng Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Narushima M, Agetsuma M, Nabekura J. Development and experience-dependent modulation of the defensive behaviors of mice to visual threats. J Physiol Sci 2022; 72:5. [PMID: 35255805 PMCID: PMC10717832 DOI: 10.1186/s12576-022-00831-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Rodents demonstrate defensive behaviors such as fleeing or freezing upon recognizing a looming shadow above them. Although individuals' experiences in their habitat can modulate the defensive behavior phenotype, the effects of systematically manipulating the individual's visual experience on vision-guided defensive behaviors have not been studied. We aimed to describe the developmental process of defensive behaviors in response to visual threats and the effects of visual deprivation. We found that the probability of escape response occurrence increased 3 weeks postnatally, and then stabilized. When visual experience was perturbed by dark rearing from postnatal day (P) 21 for a week, the developmental increase in escape probability was clearly suppressed, while the freezing probability increased. Intriguingly, exposure to the looming stimuli at P28 reversed the suppression of escape response development at P35. These results clearly indicate that the development of defensive behaviors in response to looming stimuli is affected by an individual's sensory experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madoka Narushima
- Division of Homeostatic Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.
| | - Masakazu Agetsuma
- Division of Homeostatic Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Junichi Nabekura
- Division of Homeostatic Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| |
Collapse
|