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Alderman PJ, Saxon D, Torrijos-Saiz LI, Sharief M, Page CE, Baroudi JK, Biagiotti SW, Butyrkin VA, Melamed A, Kuo CT, Vicini S, García-Verdugo JM, Herranz-Pérez V, Corbin JG, Sorrells SF. Delayed maturation and migration of excitatory neurons in the juvenile mouse paralaminar amygdala. Neuron 2024; 112:574-592.e10. [PMID: 38086370 PMCID: PMC10922384 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The human amygdala paralaminar nucleus (PL) contains many immature excitatory neurons that undergo prolonged maturation from birth to adulthood. We describe a previously unidentified homologous PL region in mice that contains immature excitatory neurons and has previously been considered part of the amygdala intercalated cell clusters or ventral endopiriform cortex. Mouse PL neurons are born embryonically, not from postnatal neurogenesis, despite a subset retaining immature molecular and morphological features in adults. During juvenile-adolescent ages (P21-P35), the majority of PL neurons undergo molecular, structural, and physiological maturation, and a subset of excitatory PL neurons migrate into the adjacent endopiriform cortex. Alongside these changes, PL neurons develop responses to aversive and appetitive olfactory stimuli. The presence of this homologous region in both humans and mice points to the significance of this conserved mechanism of neuronal maturation and migration during adolescence, a key time period for amygdala circuit maturation and related behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia J Alderman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - David Saxon
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20011, USA; Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Lucía I Torrijos-Saiz
- Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Comparative Neurobiology, University of Valencia, CIBERNED-ISCIII, Valencia 46980, Spain
| | - Malaz Sharief
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Chloe E Page
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Jude K Baroudi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Sean W Biagiotti
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Vladimir A Butyrkin
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20011, USA; Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Anna Melamed
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Chay T Kuo
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Stefano Vicini
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Jose M García-Verdugo
- Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Comparative Neurobiology, University of Valencia, CIBERNED-ISCIII, Valencia 46980, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, Burjassot 46100, Spain
| | - Vicente Herranz-Pérez
- Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Comparative Neurobiology, University of Valencia, CIBERNED-ISCIII, Valencia 46980, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, Burjassot 46100, Spain
| | - Joshua G Corbin
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20011, USA
| | - Shawn F Sorrells
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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Farrell K, Auerbach A, Liu C, Martin K, Pareno M, Ray WK, Helm RF, Biase F, Jarome TJ. Sex-differences in proteasome-dependent K48-polyubiquitin signaling in the amygdala are developmentally regulated in rats. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:80. [PMID: 37950270 PMCID: PMC10638793 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00566-z] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences have been observed in several brain regions for the molecular mechanisms involved in baseline (resting) and memory-related processes. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is a major protein degradation pathway in cells. Sex differences have been observed in lysine-48 (K48)-polyubiquitination, the canonical degradation mark of the UPS, both at baseline and during fear memory formation within the amygdala. Here, we investigated when, how, and why these baseline sex differences arise and whether both sexes require the K48-polyubiquitin mark for memory formation in the amygdala. METHODS We used a combination of molecular, biochemical and proteomic approaches to examine global and protein-specific K48-polyubiquitination and DNA methylation levels at a major ubiquitin coding gene (Uba52) at baseline in the amygdala of male and female rats before and after puberty to determine if sex differences were developmentally regulated. We then used behavioral and genetic approaches to test the necessity of K48-polyubiquitination in the amygdala for fear memory formation. RESULTS We observed developmentally regulated baseline differences in Uba52 methylation and total K48-polyubiquitination, with sexual maturity altering levels specifically in female rats. K48-polyubiquitination at specific proteins changed across development in both male and female rats, but sex differences were present regardless of age. Lastly, we found that genetic inhibition of K48-polyubiquitination in the amygdala of female, but not male, rats impaired fear memory formation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that K48-polyubiquitination differentially targets proteins in the amygdala in a sex-specific manner regardless of age. However, sexual maturity is important in the developmental regulation of K48-polyubiquitination levels in female rats. Consistent with these data, K48-polyubiquitin signaling in the amygdala is selectively required to form fear memories in female rats. Together, these data indicate that sex-differences in baseline K48-polyubiquitination within the amygdala are developmentally regulated, which could have important implications for better understanding sex-differences in molecular mechanisms involved in processes relevant to anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Farrell
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., 2150 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Aubrey Auerbach
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Catherine Liu
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., 2150 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Kiley Martin
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., 2150 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Myasia Pareno
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., 2150 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - W Keith Ray
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Richard F Helm
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Fernando Biase
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., 2150 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Timothy J Jarome
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., 2150 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., 2150 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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Xing J, Xu X, Li X, Luo Q. Psychological Resilience Interventions for Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:543. [PMID: 37503990 PMCID: PMC10376838 DOI: 10.3390/bs13070543] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe mental health effects on adolescents. Psychological resilience is the ability to recover quickly from adversity and can help adolescents cope with the stress and dangers brought by the pandemic better. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the developmental pattern of psychological resilience in adolescents and to find the sensitive period for psychological resilience intervention to promote resilience in adolescents during the pandemic. The study measured the psychological resilience of a total of 559 adolescents using the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC) in four grades: grade 7 and grade 8 in a junior high school, and grade 10 and grade 11 in a high school. It was found that the resilience level of the adolescents decreased in grade 10 and then increased significantly in grade 11 (F = 4.22, p = 0.006). A 4-week resilience intervention was conducted in the four grades using both psychological course training and physical training. The results revealed that the psychological course training was effective in promoting resilience in the 7th (F = 4.79, p = 0.03) and 8th (F = 4.75, p = 0.03) grades, but not in the 10th and 11th grades. The result suggests that the 7th and 8th grades may be a critical period for psychological resilience interventions for adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Xing
- School of Primary Education, Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College, Shanghai 201815, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- School of Health, Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College, Shanghai 201815, China
| | - Xing Li
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Qing Luo
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
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Hennessy A, Seguin D, Correa S, Wang J, Martinez-Trujillo JC, Nicolson R, Duerden EG. Anxiety in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and the association with amygdala subnuclei structure. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 27:1053-1067. [PMID: 36278283 PMCID: PMC10108338 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221127512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is clinically characterized by social and communication difficulties as well as repetitive behaviors. Many children with ASD also suffer from anxiety, which has been associated with alterations in amygdala structure. In this work, the association between amygdala subnuclei volumes and anxiety was assessed in a cohort of 234 participants (mean age = 11.0 years, SD = 3.9, 95 children with ASD, 139 children were non-autistic). Children underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Amygdala subnuclei volumes were extracted automatically. Anxiety was assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Children with ASD had higher anxiety scores relative to non-autistic children on all anxiety measures (all, p < 0.05). Anxiety levels were significantly predicted in children with ASD by right basal (right: B = 0.235, p = 0.002) and paralaminar (PL) (B = −0.99, p = 0.009) volumes. Basal nuclei receive multisensory information from cortical and subcortical areas and have extensive projections within the limbic system while the PL nuclei are involved in emotional processing. Alterations in basal and PL nuclei in children with ASD and the association with anxiety may reflect morphological changes related to in the neurocircuitry of anxiety in ASD. Lay abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is clinically characterized by social communication difficulties as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. In addition, children with ASD are more likely to experience anxiety compared with their peers who do not have ASD. Recent studies suggest that atypical amygdala structure, a brain region involved in emotions, may be related to anxiety in children with ASD. However, the amygdala is a complex structure composed of heterogeneous subnuclei, and few studies to date have focused on how amygdala subnuclei relate to in anxiety in this population. The current sample consisted of 95 children with ASD and 139 non-autistic children, who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assessments for anxiety. The amygdala volumes were automatically segmented. Results indicated that children with ASD had elevated anxiety scores relative to peers without ASD. Larger basal volumes predicted greater anxiety in children with ASD, and this association was not seen in non-autistic children. Findings converge with previous literature suggesting ASD children suffer from higher levels of anxiety than non-autistic children, which may have important implications in treatment and interventions. Our results suggest that volumetric estimation of amygdala’s subregions in MRI may reveal specific anxiety-related associations in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Emma G Duerden
- Western University, Canada
- The University of Western Ontario, Canada
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Immature excitatory neurons in the amygdala come of age during puberty. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 56:101133. [PMID: 35841648 PMCID: PMC9289873 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human amygdala is critical for emotional learning, valence coding, and complex social interactions, all of which mature throughout childhood, puberty, and adolescence. Across these ages, the amygdala paralaminar nucleus (PL) undergoes significant structural changes including increased numbers of mature neurons. The PL contains a large population of immature excitatory neurons at birth, some of which may continue to be born from local progenitors. These progenitors disappear rapidly in infancy, but the immature neurons persist throughout childhood and adolescent ages, indicating that they develop on a protracted timeline. Many of these late-maturing neurons settle locally within the PL, though a small subset appear to migrate into neighboring amygdala subnuclei. Despite its prominent growth during postnatal life and possible contributions to multiple amygdala circuits, the function of the PL remains unknown. PL maturation occurs predominately during late childhood and into puberty when sex hormone levels change. Sex hormones can promote developmental processes such as neuron migration, dendritic outgrowth, and synaptic plasticity, which appear to be ongoing in late-maturing PL neurons. Collectively, we describe how the growth of late-maturing neurons occurs in the right time and place to be relevant for amygdala functions and neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Campbell CE, Mezher AF, Tyszka JM, Nagel BJ, Eckel SP, Herting MM. Associations between testosterone, estradiol, and androgen receptor genotype with amygdala subregions in adolescents. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 137:105604. [PMID: 34971856 PMCID: PMC8925279 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Much is known about the development of the whole amygdala, but less is known about its structurally and functionally diverse subregions. One notable distinguishing feature is their wide range of androgen and estrogen receptor densities. Given the rise in pubertal hormones during adolescence, sex steroid levels as well as receptor sensitivity could influence age-related subregion volumes. Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the associations between the total amygdala and its subregion volumes in relation to sex hormones - estradiol and free testosterone (FT) - as a function of age and genetic differences in androgen receptor (AR) sensitivity in a sample of 297 adolescents (46% female). In males, we found small effects of FT-by-age interactions in the total amygdala, portions of the basolateral complex, and the cortical and medial nuclei (CMN), with the CMN effects being moderated by AR sensitivity. For females, small effects were seen with increased genetic AR sensitivity relating to smaller basolateral complexes. However, none of these small effects passed multiple comparisons. Future larger studies are necessary to replicate these small, yet possibly meaningful effects of FT-by-age associations and modulation by AR sensitivity on amygdala development to ultimately determine if they contribute to known sex differences in emotional neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E. Campbell
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90089-2520
| | - Adam F. Mezher
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90089-2520
| | - J. Michael Tyszka
- Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA 91125
| | - Bonnie J. Nagel
- Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA 97239-3098
| | - Sandrah P. Eckel
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033
| | - Megan M. Herting
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033
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Microstructural properties within the amygdala and affiliated white matter tracts across adolescence. Neuroimage 2021; 243:118489. [PMID: 34450260 PMCID: PMC8574981 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is a heterogenous set of nuclei with widespread cortical connections that continues to develop postnatally with vital implications for emotional regulation. Using high-resolution anatomical and multi-shell diffusion MRI in conjunction with novel amygdala segmentation, cutting-edge tractography, and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density (NODDI) methods, the goal of the current study was to characterize age associations with microstructural properties of amygdala subnuclei and amygdala-related white matter connections across adolescence (N = 61, 26 males; ages of 8-22 years). We found age-related increases in the Neurite Density Index (NDI) in the lateral nucleus (LA), dorsal and intermediate divisions of the basolateral nucleus (BLDI), and ventral division of the basolateral nucleus and paralaminar nucleus (BLVPL). Additionally, there were age-related increases in the NDI of the anterior commissure, ventral amygdalofugal pathway, cingulum, and uncinate fasciculus, with the strongest age associations in the frontal and temporal regions of these white matter tracts. This is the first study to utilize NODDI to show neurite density of basolateral amygdala subnuclei to relate to age across adolescence. Moreover, age-related differences were also notable in white matter microstructural properties along the anterior commissure and ventral amydalofugal tracts, suggesting increased bilateral amygdalae to diencephalon structural connectivity. As these basolateral regions and the ventral amygdalofugal pathways have been involved in associative emotional conditioning, future research is needed to determine if age-related and/or individual differences in the development of these microstructural properties link to socio-emotional functioning and/or risk for psychopathology.
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