1
|
Botterill JJ, Khlaifia A, Appings R, Wilkin J, Violi F, Premachandran H, Cruz-Sanchez A, Canella AE, Patel A, Zaidi SD, Arruda-Carvalho M. Dorsal peduncular cortex activity modulates affective behavior and fear extinction in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:993-1006. [PMID: 38233571 PMCID: PMC11039686 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01795-5] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is critical to cognitive and emotional function and underlies many neuropsychiatric disorders, including mood, fear and anxiety disorders. In rodents, disruption of mPFC activity affects anxiety- and depression-like behavior, with specialized contributions from its subdivisions. The rodent mPFC is divided into the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), spanning the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsal prelimbic cortex (PL), and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which includes the ventral PL, infralimbic cortex (IL), and in some studies the dorsal peduncular cortex (DP) and dorsal tenia tecta (DTT). The DP/DTT have recently been implicated in the regulation of stress-induced sympathetic responses via projections to the hypothalamus. While many studies implicate the PL and IL in anxiety-, depression-like and fear behavior, the contribution of the DP/DTT to affective and emotional behavior remains unknown. Here, we used chemogenetics and optogenetics to bidirectionally modulate DP/DTT activity and examine its effects on affective behaviors, fear and stress responses in C57BL/6J mice. Acute chemogenetic activation of DP/DTT significantly increased anxiety-like behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests, as well as passive coping in the tail suspension test. DP/DTT activation also led to an increase in serum corticosterone levels and facilitated auditory fear extinction learning and retrieval. Activation of DP/DTT projections to the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) acutely decreased freezing at baseline and during extinction learning, but did not alter affective behavior. These findings point to the DP/DTT as a new regulator of affective behavior and fear extinction in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin J Botterill
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Abdessattar Khlaifia
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - Ryan Appings
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - Jennifer Wilkin
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - Francesca Violi
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - Hanista Premachandran
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - Arely Cruz-Sanchez
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S3G5, Canada
| | - Anna Elisabete Canella
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - Ashutosh Patel
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - S Danyal Zaidi
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - Maithe Arruda-Carvalho
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C1A4, Canada.
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S3G5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cho D, O'Berry K, Possa-Paranhos IC, Butts J, Palanikumar N, Sweeney P. Paraventricular Thalamic MC3R Circuits Link Energy Homeostasis with Anxiety-Related Behavior. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6280-6296. [PMID: 37591737 PMCID: PMC10490510 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0704-23.2023] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic melanocortin system is critically involved in sensing stored energy and communicating this information throughout the brain, including to brain regions controlling motivation and emotion. This system consists of first-order agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and downstream neurons containing the melanocortin-3 (MC3R) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). Although extensive work has characterized the function of downstream MC4R neurons, the identity and function of MC3R-containing neurons are poorly understood. Here, we used neuroanatomical and circuit manipulation approaches in mice to identify a novel pathway linking hypothalamic melanocortin neurons to melanocortin-3 receptor neurons located in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) in male and female mice. MC3R neurons in PVT are innervated by hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons and are activated by anorexigenic and aversive stimuli. Consistently, chemogenetic activation of PVT MC3R neurons increases anxiety-related behavior and reduces feeding in hungry mice, whereas inhibition of PVT MC3R neurons reduces anxiety-related behavior. These studies position PVT MC3R neurons as important cellular substrates linking energy status with neural circuitry regulating anxiety-related behavior and represent a promising potential target for diseases at the intersection of metabolism and anxiety-related behavior such as anorexia nervosa.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Animals must constantly adapt their behavior to changing internal and external challenges, and impairments in appropriately responding to these challenges are a hallmark of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we demonstrate that paraventricular thalamic neurons containing the melanocortin-3 receptor respond to energy-state-related information and external challenges to regulate anxiety-related behavior in mice. Thus, these neurons represent a potential target for understanding the neurobiology of disorders at the intersection of metabolism and psychiatry such as anorexia nervosa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dajin Cho
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Kyle O'Berry
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Ingrid Camila Possa-Paranhos
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Jared Butts
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Naraen Palanikumar
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Patrick Sweeney
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shoji H, Ikeda K, Miyakawa T. Behavioral phenotype, intestinal microbiome, and brain neuronal activity of male serotonin transporter knockout mice. Mol Brain 2023; 16:32. [PMID: 36991468 PMCID: PMC10061809 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) plays a critical role in the regulation of serotonin neurotransmission. Mice genetically deficient in 5-HTT expression have been used to study the physiological functions of 5-HTT in the brain and have been proposed as a potential animal model for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between the gut-brain axis and mood disorders. However, the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on gut microbiota, brain function, and behavior remain to be fully characterized. Here we investigated the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on different types of behavior, the gut microbiome, and brain c-Fos expression as a marker of neuronal activation in response to the forced swim test for assessing depression-related behavior in male 5-HTT knockout mice. Behavioral analysis using a battery of 16 different tests showed that 5-HTT-/- mice exhibited markedly reduced locomotor activity, decreased pain sensitivity, reduced motor function, increased anxiety-like and depression-related behavior, altered social behavior in novel and familiar environments, normal working memory, enhanced spatial reference memory, and impaired fear memory compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. 5-HTT+/- mice showed slightly reduced locomotor activity and impaired social behavior compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed that 5-HTT-/- mice had altered gut microbiota abundances, such as a decrease in Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium sensu stricto, and Turicibacter, compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. This study also showed that after exposure to the forced swim test, the number of c-Fos-positive cells was higher in the paraventricular thalamus and lateral hypothalamus and was lower in the prefrontal cortical regions, nucleus accumbens shell, dorsolateral septal nucleus, hippocampal regions, and ventromedial hypothalamus in 5-HTT-/- mice than in 5-HTT+/+ mice. These phenotypes of 5-HTT-/- mice partially recapitulate clinical observations in humans with major depressive disorder. The present findings indicate that 5-HTT-deficient mice serve as a good and valid animal model to study anxiety and depression with altered gut microbial composition and abnormal neuronal activity in the brain, highlighting the importance of 5-HTT in brain function and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of anxiety and depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Shoji
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Deng Q, Zhang S, Yang P, Dong W, Wang J, Chen J, Wang F, Long L. A thalamic circuit facilitates stress susceptibility via melanocortin 4 receptor-mediated activation of nucleus accumbens shell. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 29:646-658. [PMID: 36510669 PMCID: PMC9873525 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14046] [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: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Central melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) has been reported to induce anhedonia via eliciting dysfunction of excitatory synapses. It is evident that metabolic signals are closely related to chronic stress-induced depression. Here, we investigated that a neural circuit is involved in melanocortin signaling contributing to susceptibility to stress. METHODS Chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) was used to develop depressive-like behavior. Electrophysiologic and chemogenetic approaches were performed to evaluate the role of paraventricular thalamus (PVT) glutamatergic to nucleus accumbens shell (NAcsh) circuit in stress susceptibility. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations were applied to investigate the molecular mechanisms of melanocortin signaling in the circuit. RESULTS CSDS increases the excitatory neurotransmission in NAcsh through MC4R signaling. The enhanced excitatory synaptic input in NAcsh is projected from PVT glutamatergic neurons. Moreover, chemogenetic manipulation of PVTGlu -NAcsh projection mediates the susceptibility to stress, which is dependent on MC4R signaling. Overall, these results reveal that the strengthened excitatory neurotransmission in NAcsh originates from PVT glutamatergic neurons, facilitating the susceptibility to stress through melanocortin signaling. CONCLUSIONS Our results make a strong case for harnessing a thalamic circuit to reorganize excitatory synaptic transmission in relieving stress susceptibility and provide insights gained on metabolic underpinnings of protection against stress-induced depressive-like behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Deng
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina
| | - Shao‐Qi Zhang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina
| | - Ping‐Fen Yang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina
| | - Wan‐Ting Dong
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina
| | - Jia‐Lin Wang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina
| | - Jian‐Guo Chen
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina,The Research Center for DepressionTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina,Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST)Ministry of Education of ChinaWuhan CityHubeiChina,Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric DiseasesThe Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina,The Research Center for DepressionTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina,Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST)Ministry of Education of ChinaWuhan CityHubeiChina,Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric DiseasesThe Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Li‐Hong Long
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan CityHubeiChina,The Research Center for DepressionTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Parsons W, Greiner E, Buczek L, Migliaccio J, Corbett E, Madden AMK, Petrovich GD. Sex differences in activation of extra-hypothalamic forebrain areas during hedonic eating. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2857-2878. [PMID: 36258044 PMCID: PMC9724631 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02580-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Palatable foods can stimulate appetite without hunger, and unconstrained overeating underlies obesity and binge eating disorder. Women are more prone to obesity and binge eating than men but the neural causes of individual differences are unknown. In an animal model of hedonic eating, a prior study found that females were more susceptible than males to eat palatable food when sated and that the neuropeptide orexin/hypocretin (ORX) was crucial in both sexes. The current study examined potential extra-hypothalamic forebrain targets of ORX signaling during hedonic eating. We measured Fos induction in the cortical, thalamic, striatal, and amygdalar areas that receive substantial ORX inputs and contain their receptors in hungry and sated male and female rats during palatable (high-sucrose) food consumption. During the test, hungry rats of both sexes ate substantial amounts, and while sated males ate much less than hungry rats, sated females ate as much as hungry rats. The Fos induction analysis identified sex differences in recruitment of specific areas of the medial prefrontal cortex, paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), nucleus accumbens (ACB), and central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA), and similar patterns across sexes in the insular cortex. There was a striking activation of the infralimbic cortex in sated males, who consumed the least amount food and unique correlations between the insular cortex, PVT, and CEA, as well as the prelimbic cortex, ACB, and CEA in sated females but not sated males. The study identified key functional circuits that may drive hedonic eating in a sex-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Parsons
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Eliza Greiner
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Laura Buczek
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Jennifer Migliaccio
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Erin Corbett
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Amanda M K Madden
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Gorica D Petrovich
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gargiulo AT, Badve PS, Curtis GR, Pirino BE, Barson JR. Inactivation of the thalamic paraventricular nucleus promotes place preference and sucrose seeking in male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2659-2671. [PMID: 35524009 PMCID: PMC9296579 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06160-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The experience of reward entails both positive affect and motivation. While the brain regions responsible for these distinct aspects of reward are dissociable from each other, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) may play a role in both. OBJECTIVES To investigate the role of the PVT in both affect and motivation, and to identify neuropeptides that might mediate these effects. METHODS Male rats were tested for conditioned place preference following temporary inactivation of the anterior or posterior PVT with local injections of the GABAB and GABAA agonists, baclofen + muscimol. They were tested for sucrose seeking under a fixed ratio 3 (FR3) schedule of reinforcement and after extinction, following injection into the posterior PVT of baclofen + muscimol or saline vehicle. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR was used to examine local neuropeptide gene expression following injection into the posterior PVT of baclofen + muscimol or saline vehicle. RESULTS Conditioned place preference was induced by temporary inactivation of the posterior but not anterior PVT. While sucrose seeking under an FR3 schedule of reinforcement was unaffected by inactivation of the posterior PVT, reinstatement of sucrose seeking was promoted by posterior PVT inactivation. Local gene expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), but not enkephalin or neurotensin, was reduced following inactivation of the posterior PVT. CONCLUSIONS Temporary inactivation of the posterior PVT affects both affect and motivation as well as local gene expression of PACAP. These results suggest that the posterior PVT is one brain region that may participate in both major aspects of reward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Gargiulo
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Preeti S. Badve
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Genevieve R. Curtis
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Breanne E. Pirino
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Jessica R. Barson
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bu X, Liu C, Fu B. Research progress of the paraventricular thalamus in the regulation of sleep-wake and emotional behaviors. IBRAIN 2022; 8:219-226. [PMID: 37786895 PMCID: PMC10529009 DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
The paraventricular thalamus (PVT) is a major component of the midline structure of the thalamus. It is one of the nonspecific nuclei of the thalamus, which plays a great role in the regulation of cortical arousal. PVT, an important node in the central nervous system, sends widespread outputs to many brain regions and also accepts plentiful inputs from many brain regions to modulate diverse functions, including sleep-wake state, attention, memory, and pain. Recently, with the increasing prevalence of sleep disorders and mood disorders, people pay great attention to PVT, which was implicated in arousal and emotional behaviors. Therefore, the main purpose of this review is to illustrate the characteristic of PVT to provide a reference for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Li Bu
- Department of Intensive Care MedicineAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiGuizhouChina
| | - Cheng‐Xi Liu
- Guizhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ ProtectionZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiGuizhouChina
| | - Bao Fu
- Department of Intensive Care MedicineAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiGuizhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Iglesias AG, Flagel SB. The Paraventricular Thalamus as a Critical Node of Motivated Behavior via the Hypothalamic-Thalamic-Striatal Circuit. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:706713. [PMID: 34220458 PMCID: PMC8250420 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.706713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we highlight evidence that supports a role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) in motivated behavior. We include a neuroanatomical and neurochemical overview, outlining what is known of the cellular makeup of the region and its most prominent afferent and efferent connections. We discuss how these connections and distinctions across the anterior-posterior axis correspond to the perceived function of the PVT. We then focus on the hypothalamic-thalamic-striatal circuit and the neuroanatomical and functional placement of the PVT within this circuit. In this regard, the PVT is ideally positioned to integrate information regarding internal states and the external environment and translate it into motivated actions. Based on data that has emerged in recent years, including that from our laboratory, we posit that orexinergic (OX) innervation from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the PVT encodes the incentive motivational value of reward cues and thereby alters the signaling of the glutamatergic neurons projecting from the PVT to the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh). The PVT-NAcSh pathway then modulates dopamine activity and resultant cue-motivated behaviors. As we and others apply novel tools and approaches to studying the PVT we will continue to refine the anatomical, cellular, and functional definitions currently ascribed to this nucleus and further elucidate its role in motivated behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G. Iglesias
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Shelly B. Flagel
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kirouac GJ. The Paraventricular Nucleus of the Thalamus as an Integrating and Relay Node in the Brain Anxiety Network. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:627633. [PMID: 33732118 PMCID: PMC7959748 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.627633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain anxiety network is composed of a number of interconnected cortical regions that detect threats and execute appropriate defensive responses via projections to the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh), dorsolateral region of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTDL) and lateral region of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL). The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is anatomically positioned to integrate threat- and arousal-related signals from cortex and hypothalamus and then relay these signals to neural circuits in the NAcSh, BSTDL, and CeL that mediate defensive responses. This review describes the anatomical connections of the PVT that support the view that the PVT may be a critical node in the brain anxiety network. Experimental findings are reviewed showing that the arousal peptides orexins (hypocretins) act at the PVT to promote avoidance of potential threats especially following exposure of rats to a single episode of footshocks. Recent anatomical and experimental findings are discussed which show that neurons in the PVT provide divergent projections to subcortical regions that mediate defensive behaviors and that the projection to the NAcSh is critical for the enhanced social avoidance displayed in rats exposed to footshocks. A theoretical model is proposed for how the PVT integrates cortical and hypothalamic signals to modulate the behavioral responses associated with anxiety and other challenging situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert J. Kirouac
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Linley SB, Athanason AC, Rojas AK, Vertes RP. Role of the reuniens and rhomboid thalamic nuclei in anxiety‐like avoidance behavior in the rat. Hippocampus 2021; 31:756-769. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B. Linley
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
- Department of Psychology Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
| | | | - Amanda K.P. Rojas
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
| | - Robert P. Vertes
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
- Department of Psychology Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bengoetxea X, Goedecke L, Blaesse P, Pape HC, Jüngling K. The µ-opioid system in midline thalamic nuclei modulates defence strategies towards a conditioned fear stimulus in male mice. J Psychopharmacol 2020; 34:1280-1288. [PMID: 32684084 PMCID: PMC7604929 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120940919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclei located in the dorsal midline thalamus, such as the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), are crucial to modulate fear and aversive behaviour. In addition, the PVT shows a dense expression of µ-opioid receptors (MORs) and could mediate the anxiolytic effects of opioids. METHODS We analysed the contribution of MORs in the dorsal midline thalamus (i.e. the PVT) to the performance of mice in a classical fear conditioning paradigm. We locally injected a specific agonist (DAMGO), an antagonist (CTAP) of MOR or saline as a control into the dorsal midline thalamus of male mice, prior to fear extinction training. We assessed freezing as a typical measure of fear and extended our analysis by evaluation of aversive, non-aversive and neutral behavioural features using compositional data analysis. RESULTS Pharmacological blockade of MORs through CTAP in the dorsal midline thalamus induced a fear memory extinction deficit, as evidenced by maintained freezing during extinction sessions. Stimulation of MORs by DAMGO resulted in an overall increase in locomotor activity, associated with decreased freezing during recall of extinction. Compositional data analysis confirmed the freezing-related pharmacological effects and revealed specific differences in basic behavioural states. CTAP-treated mice remained in an aversive state, whereas DAMGO-treated mice displayed predominantly neutral behaviour. CONCLUSIONS Fear extinction requires the integrity of the µ-opioid system in the dorsal midline thalamus. Pharmacological stimulation of MOR and associated facilitation of fear extinction recall suggest a potential therapeutic avenue for stress-related or anxiety disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xabier Bengoetxea
- Xabier Bengoetxea, Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 27a, Münster, 48149, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
A projection from the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus to the shell of the nucleus accumbens contributes to footshock stress-induced social avoidance. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100266. [PMID: 33344719 PMCID: PMC7739169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is an area of the dorsal midline thalamus that contributes to footshock induced anxiety. The PVT sends a dense projection to the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh) and the present study explored if this projection is involved in the behavioral changes produced by a single exposure of rats to inescapable footshocks. The inhibitory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) hM4Di was transduced in PVT neurons that project to the NAcSh. Rats were exposed to an episode of moderately intense footshock (1.5 mA × 2 s × 5) and assigned to either high-responder (HR) or low-responder groups (LR) according to their level of fear generalization 24 h later. The effect of chemogenetic inhibition of the PVT-NAcSh projection on anxiety- and fear-like behaviors was assessed at approximately 2 weeks post-footshock. HR showed a higher level of social avoidance compared to non-shocked animals and LR. The elevated level of social avoidance was attenuated in the HR treated with the hM4Di agonist clozapine (0.01 mg/kg, i.p.) or clozapine N-oxide (CNO) administrations in the NAcSh while avoidance of open spaces and contextual fear expression were not affected. Analysis of protein product of the early to immediate gene cfos indicated that these effects were mediated by dynorphin neurons in the NAcSh. This study provides evidence for a role of a projection from the PVT to the NAcSh in stress-induced social avoidance independent of anxiety to non-social stimuli and contextual fear mechanisms.
Collapse
|
13
|
Barson JR, Mack NR, Gao WJ. The Paraventricular Nucleus of the Thalamus Is an Important Node in the Emotional Processing Network. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:598469. [PMID: 33192373 PMCID: PMC7658442 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.598469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) has for decades been acknowledged to be an important node in the limbic system, but studies of emotional processing generally fail to incorporate it into their investigational framework. Here, we propose that the PVT should be considered as an integral part of the emotional processing network. Through its distinct subregions, cell populations, and connections with other limbic nuclei, the PVT participates in both major features of emotion: arousal and valence. The PVT, particularly the anterior PVT, can through its neuronal activity promote arousal, both as part of the sleep-wake cycle and in response to novel stimuli. It is also involved in reward, being both responsive to rewarding stimuli and itself affecting behavior reflecting reward, likely via specific populations of cells distributed throughout its subregions. Similarly, neuronal activity in the PVT contributes to depression-like behavior, through yet undefined subregions. The posterior PVT in particular demonstrates a role in anxiety-like behavior, generally promoting but also inhibiting this behavior. This subregion is also especially responsive to stressors, and it functions to suppress the stress response following chronic stress exposure. In addition to participating in unconditioned or primary emotional responses, the PVT also makes major contributions to conditioned emotional behavior. Neuronal activity in response to a reward-predictive cue can be detected throughout the PVT, and endogenous activity in the posterior PVT strongly predicts approach or seeking behavior. Similarly, neuronal activity during conditioned fear retrieval is detected in the posterior PVT and its activation facilitates the expression of conditioned fear. Much of this involvement of the PVT in arousal and valence has been shown to occur through the same general afferents and efferents, including connections with the hypothalamus, prelimbic and infralimbic cortices, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala, although a detailed functional map of the PVT circuits that control emotional responses remains to be delineated. Thus, while caveats exist and more work is required, the PVT, through its extensive connections with other prominent nuclei in the limbic system, appears to be an integral part of the emotional processing network.
Collapse
|
14
|
Kappa-opioid receptor-dependent changes in dopamine and anxiety-like or approach-avoidance behavior occur differentially across the nucleus accumbens shell rostro-caudal axis. Neuropharmacology 2020; 181:108341. [PMID: 33011200 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neural circuit engagement within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell is implicated in the regulation of both negative and positive affect. Classically, the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system in the NAc was believed to promote aversion, while dopamine was viewed as interacting with reward behavior, and KOR activation was known to inhibit dopamine release. Recently, however, both the KOR and dopamine systems have, separately, been shown to have differential effects across the rostro-caudal axis of the NAc shell on hedonic responses. Whether or not this is due to interactions between KORs and dopamine, and if it extends to anxiety-like or approach-avoidance behaviors, remains to be determined. In this study, we examined in rats the relationship between the KOR and dopamine systems in both the rostral and caudal NAc shell using ex vivo fast scan cyclic voltammetry and the impact of KOR activation on affective behavior using exploration-based tasks. We report here that activation of KORs in the caudal NAc shell significantly inhibits dopamine release, stimulates rearing behavior in a novel environment, increases anxiety-like or avoidance behavior, and reduces locomotor activity. In contrast, activation of KORs in the rostral NAc shell inhibits dopamine release to a lesser extent and instead reduces anxiety-like behavior or increases approach behavior. Taken together, these results indicate that there is heterogeneity across the rostro-caudal axis of the NAc shell in the effects of KOR stimulation on affective behaviors, and they suggest that this might be due to differences in KOR control over dopamine release.
Collapse
|
15
|
Pandey S, Barson JR. Heightened Exploratory Behavior Following Chronic Excessive Ethanol Drinking: Mediation by Neurotensin Receptor Type 2 in the Anterior Paraventricular Thalamus. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:1747-1759. [PMID: 32623746 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic, excessive alcohol drinkers, even without dependence, can exhibit changes in behavior and neurochemical systems. Identifying these changes and their relationship with one another could provide novel avenues for the prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorder. We recently demonstrated, in rats, that neurotensin (NTS) in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) regulates excessive ethanol (EtOH) drinking. Here, we investigate the effects of chronic EtOH drinking on the PVT-NTS system and its contribution to EtOH-induced behavioral changes. METHODS We gave adult male Long-Evans rats 20% EtOH under the intermittent access 2-bottle-choice paradigm or maintained them on chow and water for up to 11 weeks. Prior to EtOH exposure and following several weeks of access, during acute abstinence, we tested these groups for multiple behaviors. In the 12th week, during acute abstinence, we examined gene expression and peptide levels of NTS and its receptors in the anterior and posterior subregions of the PVT. Finally, in chronic EtOH drinkers, during acute abstinence, we microinjected the NTS receptor type 2 (NTS2R) agonist, JMV-431, in the anterior PVT (aPVT) and examined subsequent EtOH intake and behavior. RESULTS Following chronic intermittent EtOH access, rats were classified by cluster analysis as high or low EtOH drinkers. High EtOH drinkers spent more time in the light chamber of a light-dark box and open arms of an elevated plus maze and entered fewer familiar holes in a hole-board apparatus. These differences were absent prior to EtOH exposure but were detectable as early as 4 weeks into drinking. Time in the light chamber following chronic drinking also predicted level of subsequent drinking. High EtOH drinkers also showed elevated protein levels of NTS2R in the aPVT, and pharmacological stimulation of aPVT NTS2R in low drinkers mimicked the increased time spent in the light chamber that was observed in high drinkers. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that chronic, excessive, but not lower level, EtOH drinking induces heightened or flexible exploratory behavior, which predicts future EtOH drinking and is partly mediated by elevated NTS2R signaling in the aPVT. These EtOH-induced alterations represent adaptations that could perpetuate excessive drinking and lead to the development of EtOH dependence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Surya Pandey
- From the, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica R Barson
- From the, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Chisholm A, Iannuzzi J, Rizzo D, Gonzalez N, Fortin É, Bumbu A, Batallán Burrowes AA, Chapman CA, Shalev U. The role of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12708. [PMID: 30623532 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Drug addiction is a chronic disorder that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and involves cycling between periods of compulsive drug use, abstinence, and relapse. In both human addicts and animal models of addiction, chronic food restriction has been shown to increase rates of relapse. Previously, our laboratory has demonstrated a robust increase in drug seeking following a period of withdrawal in chronically food-restricted rats compared with sated rats. To date, the neural mechanisms that mediate the effect of chronic food restriction on drug seeking have not been elucidated. However, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) appears to be a promising target to investigate. The objective of the current study was to examine the role of the PVT in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Male Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer heroin for 10 days. Rats were then removed from the training chambers and experienced a 14-day withdrawal period with either unrestricted (sated) or mildly restricted (FDR) access to food. On day 14, rats underwent a 1-hour heroin-seeking test under extinction conditions, during which neural activity in the PVT was either inhibited or increased using pharmacological or chemogenetic approaches. Unexpectedly, inhibition of the PVT did not alter heroin seeking in food-restricted or sated rats, while enhancing neural activity in the PVT-attenuated heroin seeking in food-restricted rats. These results indicate that PVT activity can modulate heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Chisholm
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - Jessica Iannuzzi
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - Damaris Rizzo
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - Natasha Gonzalez
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - Émilie Fortin
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - Alexandra Bumbu
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - Ariel A. Batallán Burrowes
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - C. Andrew Chapman
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| | - Uri Shalev
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology/Groupe de Recherche en Neurobiologie ComportementaleConcordia University Montreal Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Pain-related diseases are the top leading causes of life disability. Identifying brain regions involved in persistent neuronal changes will provide new insights for developing efficient chronic pain treatment. Here, we showed that anterior nucleus of paraventricular thalamus (PVA) plays an essential role in the development of mechanical hyperalgesia in neuropathic and inflammatory pain models in mice. Increase in c-Fos, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and hyperexcitability of PVA neurons were detected in hyperalgesic mice. Direct activation of PVA neurons using optogenetics and pharmacological approaches were sufficient to induce persistent mechanical hyperalgesia in naive animals. Conversely, inhibition of PVA neuronal activity using DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) or inactivation of PVA extracellular signal-regulated kinase at the critical time window blunted mechanical hyperalgesia in chronic pain models. At the circuitry level, PVA received innervation from central nucleus of amygdala, a known pain-associated locus. As a result, activation of right central nucleus of amygdala with blue light was enough to induce persistent mechanical hyperalgesia. These findings support the idea that targeting PVA can be a potential therapeutic strategy for pain relief.
Collapse
|
18
|
Gao C, Leng Y, Ma J, Rooke V, Rodriguez-Gonzalez S, Ramakrishnan C, Deisseroth K, Penzo MA. Two genetically, anatomically and functionally distinct cell types segregate across anteroposterior axis of paraventricular thalamus. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:217-228. [PMID: 31932767 PMCID: PMC7007348 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0572-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Unlike the sensory thalamus, studies on the functional organization of the midline and intralaminar nuclei are scarce, and this has hindered the establishment of conceptual models of the function of this brain region. We investigated the functional organization of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), a midline thalamic structure that is increasingly being recognized as a critical node in the control of diverse processes such as arousal, stress, emotional memory and motivation, in mice. We identify two major classes of PVT neurons-termed type I and type II-that differ in terms of gene expression, anatomy and function. In addition, we demonstrate that type II neurons belong to a previously neglected class of PVT neurons that convey arousal-related information to corticothalamic neurons of the infralimbic cortex. Our results uncover the existence of an arousal-modulated thalamo-corticothalamic loop that links the PVT and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Gao
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Yan Leng
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jun Ma
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mario A Penzo
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Careaga MBL, Girardi CEN, Suchecki D. Variability in response to severe stress: highly reactive rats exhibit changes in fear and anxiety-like behavior related to distinct neuronal co-activation patterns. Behav Brain Res 2019; 373:112078. [PMID: 31336139 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
There is an important individual variability in development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and this feature needs to be better addressed in preclinical studies. Previously we showed that only rats that explored the context before a foot shock (delayed shock group) exhibited long-lasting behavioral changes. In this study the delayed shock group was segregated using the freezing response upon re-exposure to the shock-paired context and we investigated whether higher reactivity would be related to behavioral alterations and to activation of brain regions using Fos immunoreactivity. The latter allowed the analysis of co-activity patterns among brain regions within each group, by creating connectivity maps. High responder rats (HR) displayed heightened freezing response upon context re-exposure, anxiety-like behavior, impaired exploratory behavior and fear sensitization. Fos analysis showed that HR displayed a negative correlation between the medial prefrontal cortex and the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) after the first context re-exposure. After the second context re-exposure, HR displayed reduced Fos expression in vHPC CA1 area, whereas low responders (LR) showed increased Fos in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. Pearson correlation analyses revealed positive associations between freezing and Fos in the dorsal the periaqueductal gray and vHPC after exposure to unfamiliar acoustic stimulus in a novel environment. Thus, assessment of individual variability allowed the identification of a subset of reactive animals that displayed behavioral modifications relevant to PTSD. Fos correlation and network analyses revealed co-activity patterns in HR rats that may point out to associations of brain areas relevant to the behavioral outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Eduardo Neves Girardi
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina - UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Deborah Suchecki
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina - UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Gupta A, Gargiulo AT, Curtis GR, Badve PS, Pandey S, Barson JR. Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide-27 (PACAP-27) in the Thalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Is Stimulated by Ethanol Drinking. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1650-1660. [PMID: 29969146 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a limbic brain structure that affects ethanol (EtOH) drinking, but the neurochemicals transcribed in this nucleus that may participate in this behavior have yet to be fully characterized. The neuropeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), is known to be transcribed in other limbic areas and to be involved in many of the same behaviors as the PVT itself, possibly including EtOH drinking. It exists in 2 isoforms, PACAP-38 and PACAP-27, with the former expressed at higher levels in most brain regions. The purpose of this study was to characterize PACAP in the PVT and to assess its response to EtOH drinking. METHODS First, EtOH-naïve, Sprague Dawley rats were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry, to characterize PACAP mRNA and peptide throughout the rostrocaudal axis of the PVT. Next, EtOH-naïve, vGLUT2-GFP transgenic mice were examined using immunohistochemistry, to identify the neurochemical phenotype of the PACAPergic cells in the PVT. Finally, Long Evans rats were trained to drink 20% EtOH under the intermittent-access paradigm and then examined with PCR and immunohistochemistry, to determine the effects of EtOH on endogenous PACAP in the PVT. RESULTS Gene expression of PACAP was detected across the entire PVT, denser in the posterior than the anterior portion of this nucleus. The protein isoform, PACAP-27, was present in a high percentage of cell bodies in the PVT, again particularly in the posterior portion, while PACAP-38 was instead dense in fibers. All PACAP-27+ cells colabeled with glutamate, which itself was identified in the majority of PVT cells. EtOH drinking led to an increase in PACAP gene expression and in levels of PACAP-27 in individual cells of the PVT. CONCLUSIONS This study characterizes the PVT neuropeptide, PACAP, and its understudied protein isoform, PACAP-27, and demonstrates that it is involved in pharmacologically relevant EtOH drinking. This indicates that PACAP-27 should be further investigated for its possible role in EtOH drinking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anuranita Gupta
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrew T Gargiulo
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Genevieve R Curtis
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Preeti S Badve
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Surya Pandey
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jessica R Barson
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Transient inactivation of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus enhances cue-induced reinstatement in goal-trackers, but not sign-trackers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:999-1014. [PMID: 29285634 PMCID: PMC5871598 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4816-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) has been shown to mediate cue-motivated behaviors, such as sign- and goal-tracking, as well as reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. However, the role of the PVT in mediating individual variation in cue-induced drug-seeking behavior remains unknown. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine if inactivation of the PVT differentially mediates cue-induced drug-seeking behavior in sign-trackers and goal-trackers. METHODS Rats were characterized as sign-trackers (STs) or goal-trackers (GTs) based on their Pavlovian conditioned approach behavior. Rats were then exposed to 15 days of cocaine self-administration, followed by a 2-week forced abstinence period and then extinction training. Rats then underwent tests for cue-induced reinstatement and general locomotor activity, prior to which they received an infusion of either saline (control) or baclofen/muscimol (B/M) to inactivate the PVT. RESULTS Relative to control animals of the same phenotype, GTs show a robust increase in cue-induced drug-seeking behavior following PVT inactivation, whereas the behavior of STs was not affected. PVT inactivation did not affect locomotor activity in either phenotype. CONCLUSION In GTs, the PVT appears to inhibit the expression of drug-seeking, presumably by attenuating the incentive value of the drug cue. Thus, inactivation of the PVT releases this inhibition in GTs, resulting in an increase in cue-induced drug-seeking behavior. PVT inactivation did not affect cue-induced drug-seeking behavior in STs, suggesting that the role of the PVT in encoding the incentive motivational value of drug cues differs between STs and GTs.
Collapse
|
22
|
Boosting of Thalamic D2 Dopaminergic Transmission: A Potential Strategy for Drug-Seeking Attenuation. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-COM-0378-17. [PMID: 29279859 PMCID: PMC5738865 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0378-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This commentary focuses on novel findings by Clark et al. (2017) published in eNeuro, which show that dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) are involved in cocaine sensitization. We extend the discussion on how their findings contribute to our understanding of the role of the PVT in drug seeking by providing new insight on the role of the PVT in the regulation of food-seeking and fear responses. We also consider the significance of the neuroanatomical findings reported by Clark et al., that the PVT is reciprocally connected with areas of the brain involved in addiction and discuss the implications associated with the source and type of dopaminergic fibers innervating this area of the thalamus.
Collapse
|
23
|
Pavković Ž, Smiljanić K, Kanazir S, Milanović D, Pešić V, Ruždijić S. Brain molecular changes and behavioral alterations induced by propofol anesthesia exposure in peripubertal rats. Paediatr Anaesth 2017; 27:962-972. [PMID: 28772011 DOI: 10.1111/pan.13182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Propofol is commonly used in modern anesthesiology. Some findings suggest that it is highly addictive. AIM In this study it was examined whether propofol anesthesia exposure was able to induce behavioral alterations and brain molecular changes already described in addictive drug usage in peripubertal rats, during the onset of mid/periadolescence as a developmental period with increasing vulnerability to drug addiction. METHODS The expression of D1 dopamine receptor, a dopamine, and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein with a Mr 32 000; Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα; and Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog-B was examined in peripubertal rats 4, 24, and 48 hour after propofol anesthesia exposure by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Brain regions of interest were the medial prefrontal cortex, the striatum, and the thalamus. Anxiety and behavioral cross-sensitization to d-amphetamine were examined as well. RESULTS Significant increase in the expression of dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein with a Mr 32 000 phosphorylated at threonine 34, a postsynaptic marker of dopaminergic neurotransmission, and Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog-B, a marker of neuronal activity, was detected in the thalamus of experimental animals 4-24 hour after the treatment, with the accent on the paraventricular thalamic nucleus. Significant increase in the expression of Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα phosphorylated at threonine 286, a sensor of synaptic activity, was observed in the prefrontal cortex and the striatum 24 hour after propofol anesthesia exposure. It was accompanied by a significant decrease in Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog-B expression in the striatum. Decreased behavioral inhibition in aversive environment and increased motor response to d-amphetamine in a context-independent manner were observed as well. CONCLUSION In peripubertal rats, propofol anesthesia exposure induces transient molecular and behavioral response that share similarities with those reported previously for addictive drugs. In the absence of additional pharmacological manipulation, all detected effects receded within 48 hour after the treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Željko Pavković
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Kosara Smiljanić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Selma Kanazir
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Desanka Milanović
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Pešić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sabera Ruždijić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Dong X, Li S, Kirouac GJ. Collateralization of projections from the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus to the nucleus accumbens, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and central nucleus of the amygdala. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 222:3927-3943. [PMID: 28528379 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1445-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a midline thalamic nucleus with dense projections to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), dorsolateral region of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTDL) and the lateral/capsular region of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL/CeC). Recent experimental evidence indicates that the PVT is involved in both appetitive and aversive behaviors. However, it is unknown if subgroups of neurons in the PVT innervate different subcortical targets or if the same neurons issue collaterals to multiple areas. To address this issue, we injected two different fluorescent retrograde tracers, cholera toxin subunit B conjugated to Alexa Fluor-488 or Alexa Fluor-594, into different pairs of the subcortical targets including different parts of the NAc (shell, core, dorsomedial shell, and ventromedial shell), BSTDL, and amygdala (basolateral amygdala and CeL/CeC). The results indicate a moderate to high level of collateralization of projections from neurons in the PVT to NAc, BSTDL, and CeL/CeC suggesting a potential importance of the PVT in simultaneously coordinating the activity of key regions of the brain involved in mediating emotional and motivational behaviors. We also observed a difference in the subcortical targets innervated by the anterior PVT (aPVT) and posterior PVT (pPVT) showing that more neurons in the aPVT innervate the dorsomedial part of the NAc shell, while more neurons in the pPVT innervate the ventromedial NAc shell, BSTDL, and CeL/CeC. This observation is suggestive of a potential functional difference between the aPVT and pPVT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Dong
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Sa Li
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Gilbert J Kirouac
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|