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Kongstorp M, Karnani MM, McCutcheon JE. Does the lateral hypothalamus govern the transition between appetitive and consummatory feeding? Neuropharmacology 2025; 275:110438. [PMID: 40194590 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110438] [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: 12/05/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2025] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/09/2025]
Abstract
Feeding is a cyclic behaviour that includes appetitive, consummatory and termination phases. Identifying the neural circuits controlling these phases and triggering specific transitions between phases would be a key advance in understanding feeding behaviour. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) has long been recognized for its central role in feeding. We review evidence suggesting that the LH acts as a regulator of the appetitive-consummatory transition using a switchboard-like circuit architecture. Within the LH, several neuronal subpopulations can be defined based on molecular markers, and - although these subpopulations are functionally diverse - they contribute to appetitive and consummatory behaviours to varying extents. We summarise the current evidence on whether these subpopulations have functional identities and speculate on the role of the LH as a controller of behavioural transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Kongstorp
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Huginbakken 32, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mahesh M Karnani
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - James E McCutcheon
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Huginbakken 32, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.
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2
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Goel M, Mittal A, Jain VR, Bharadwaj A, Modi S, Ahuja G, Jain A, Kumar K. Integrative Functions of the Hypothalamus: Linking Cognition, Emotion and Physiology for Well-being and Adaptability. Ann Neurosci 2025; 32:128-142. [PMID: 39544638 PMCID: PMC11559822 DOI: 10.1177/09727531241255492] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 11/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The hypothalamus, a small yet crucial neuroanatomical structure, integrates external (e.g., environmental) and internal (e.g., physiological/hormonal) stimuli. This integration governs various physiological processes and influences cognitive, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. It serves as a functional bridge between the nervous and endocrine systems, maintaining homeostasis and coordinating bodily functions. Summary Recent advancements in the neurobiology of the hypothalamus have elucidated its functional map, establishing a causal relationship between its responses-such as respiration, sleep, and stress-and various physiological processes. The hypothalamus facilitates and coordinates these complex processes by processing diverse stimuli, enabling the body to maintain internal balance and respond effectively to external demands. This review delves into the hypothalamus's intricate connections with cognition, emotion, and physiology, exploring how these interactions promote overall well-being and adaptability. Key Message Targeted external stimuli can modulate hypothalamic neuronal activities, impacting the physiological, cognitive, and emotional landscape. The review highlights non-invasive techniques, such as controlled breathing exercises, optimized sleep architecture, and stress management, as potential methods to enhance hypothalamic function. Ultimately, this comprehensive review underscores the multifaceted role of the hypothalamus in integrating signals, maintaining homeostasis, and influencing cognition, emotion, and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Goel
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIITD, New Delhi, India
| | - Aayushi Mittal
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIITD, New Delhi, India
| | - Vijaya Raje Jain
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIITD, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Shivani Modi
- Ceekr Concepts Private Limited, New Delhi, India
| | - Gaurav Ahuja
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIITD, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankur Jain
- Ceekr Concepts Private Limited, New Delhi, India
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Lin M, Liu M, Huang C, Shen S, Chen Z, Lai K. Multiple Neural Networks Originating from the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus Modulate Cough-like Behavior and Coordinate Cough with Pain. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2025; 72:272-284. [PMID: 39417744 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2024-0084oc] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 10/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that experimental pain can diminish cough sensitivity and that the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) coordinates pain with breathing, but whether the LPBN regulates cough-like behaviors and pain-induced changes in cough sensitivity remains elusive. We investigated the roles of LPBN γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) and glutamatergic neurons in the regulation of cough sensitivity and its relationship with pain in mice via chemogenetic approaches. Adenovirus-associated virus tracing combined with chemogenetics was used to map the projections of LPBN GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons to the periaqueductal gray. LPBN neurons were activated by cough challenge, and nonspecific inhibition of LPBN neurons suppressed cough-like behavior. Chemogenetic suppression of LPBN GABAergic neurons reduced cough sensitivity in mice, whereas suppression of LPBN glutamatergic neurons counteracted the pain-driven decrease in cough sensitivity, and so did silencing LPBN glutamatergic neurons projecting to the periaqueductal gray. Our data suggest that GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in the LPBN critically are involved in cough sensitivity and coordinate pain with cough through inhibitory or activating mechanisms at the midbrain level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingtong Lin
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; and
| | - Mingzhe Liu
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; and
| | - Chuqin Huang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; and
| | - Shuirong Shen
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; and
| | - Zhe Chen
- Laboratory of Cough, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kefang Lai
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; and
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4
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Xiong Z, Deng J, Xie P, Tang C, Wang J, Deng Q, Yang Y, Zhang J, Guo M, Wang X, Guan Y, Luan G, Zhou J, Li T. Deep Brain Stimulation Inhibits Epileptic Seizures via Increase of Adenosine Release and Inhibition of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 Expression. Mol Neurobiol 2025; 62:1800-1812. [PMID: 39042219 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04374-3] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus is an efficacious treatment option for patients with refractory epilepsy. Our previous study demonstrates that adenosine is a potential target of DBS for the treatment of epilepsy. Equilibrative nucleoside transporters-1 (ENT1) and ectonucleotidases (CD39, CD73) function as regulators of extracellular adenosine in the brain. It is unclear whether ENT1, CD39, and CD73 are involved in the mechanism of DBS for epilepsy. A total of 48 SD male rats were divided into four groups: control (naïve rats), Pilo (pilocarpine induced rats with epilepsy), DBS (rats with epilepsy treated with DBS for 8 weeks), and sham. In the present study, video electroencephalogram monitoring, Morris water maze assays, in vivo measurements of adenosine using fiber photometry, histochemistry, and western blot were performed on the hippocampus. DBS markedly attenuated spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs) and enhanced spatial learning in rats with epilepsy, assessed through video-EEG and water maze assays. Fibred photometry measurements of an adenosine sensor revealed dynamic increase in extracellular adenosine during DBS. The expressions of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 in Pilo group and sham group increased compared with the control group, while the expressions of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 in DBS group decreased compared to that of Pilo group and sham group. The findings indicate that DBS reduces the number of SRSs and improves spatial memory in rats with epilepsy with concomitant decrease of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 expressions. Adenosine-modulating enzymes might be the potential targets of DBS for the treatment of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Xiong
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurology, Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jiahui Deng
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Pandeng Xie
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Chongyang Tang
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurology, Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Qinqin Deng
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurology, Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yujiao Yang
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurology, Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurology, Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Mengyi Guo
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurology, Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Xiongfei Wang
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yuguang Guan
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Guoming Luan
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Tianfu Li
- Department of Brian Institute, Center of Epilepsy, Key Laboratory of Epilepsy Research, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China.
- Department of Neurology, Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China.
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Hinds NM, Wojtas ID, Pulley DM, McDonald SJ, Spencer CD, Sudarikov M, Hubbard NE, Kulick-Soper CM, de Guzman S, Hayden S, Debski JJ, Patel B, Fox DP, Manvich DF. Fos expression in the periaqueductal gray, but not the ventromedial hypothalamus, is correlated with psychosocial stress-induced cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.01.22.634146. [PMID: 39896664 PMCID: PMC11785129 DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.22.634146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2025]
Abstract
Psychosocial stressors are known to promote cocaine craving and relapse in humans but are infrequently employed in preclinical relapse models. Consequently, the underlying neural circuitry by which these stressors drive cocaine seeking has not been thoroughly explored. Using Fos expression analyses, we sought to examine whether the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) or periaqueductal gray (PAG), two critical components of the brain's hypothalamic defense system, are activated during psychosocial stress-induced cocaine seeking. Adult male and female rats self-administered cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/inf IV, fixed-ratio 1 schedule, 2 h/session) over 20 sessions. On sessions 11, 14, 17, and 20, a tactile cue was present in the operant chamber that signaled impending social defeat stress (n=16, 8/sex), footshock stress (n=12, 6/sex), or a no-stress control condition (n=12, 6/sex) immediately after the session's conclusion. Responding was subsequently extinguished, and rats were tested for reinstatement of cocaine seeking during re-exposure to the tactile cue that signaled their impending stress/no-stress post-session event. All experimental groups displayed significant reinstatement of cocaine seeking, but Fos analyses indicated that neural activity within the rostrolateral PAG (rPAGl) was selectively correlated with cocaine-seeking magnitude in the socially-defeated rats. rPAGl activation was also associated with active-defense coping behaviors during social defeat encounters and with Fos expression in prelimbic prefrontal cortex and orexin-negative cells of the lateral hypothalamus/perifornical area in males, but not females. These findings suggest a potentially novel role for the rPAGl in psychosocial stress-induced cocaine seeking, perhaps in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Hinds
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Ireneusz D. Wojtas
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Desta M. Pulley
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Stephany J. McDonald
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Colton D. Spencer
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Milena Sudarikov
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Nicole E. Hubbard
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Colin M. Kulick-Soper
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Samantha de Guzman
- College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, 1114 West Berks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
| | - Sara Hayden
- College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, 1114 West Berks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
| | - Jessica J. Debski
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Bianca Patel
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Douglas P. Fox
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
| | - Daniel F. Manvich
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ 08084
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Su X, Lei B, He J, Liu Y, Wang A, Tang Y, Liu W, Zhong Y. Identification of GABAergic subpopulations in the lateral hypothalamus for home-driven behaviors in mice. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114842. [PMID: 39412991 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114842] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Home information profoundly influences behavioral states in both humans and animals. However, how "home" is represented in the brain and its role in driving diverse related behaviors remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that home bedding contains sufficient home information to modulate affective behaviors, including aversion responses, defensive aggression, and mating behaviors. These varied responses to home information are mediated by gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LHGABA). Inhibiting LHGABA abolishes, while activating mimics, the effects of home bedding on these behaviors across different contexts. Specifically, projections from LHGABA to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) mediate the relaxation of aversive emotion, while projections to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) initiate defensive concerns. Thus, our data suggest that home information in different contexts converges to activate distinct subgroups of the LHGABA, which, in turn, elicit appropriate affective behaviors in relieving aversion, fighting intruders, or enhancing mating through involving distinct downstream projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya Su
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Bo Lei
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing 100084, P.R. China.
| | - Junyue He
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; Peking University, Tsinghua University, National Institute Biological Science Joint Graduate Program, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yunlong Liu
- Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P.R. China
| | - Yikai Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Weixuan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Yi Zhong
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, P.R. China; MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China.
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Shi HJ, Xue YR, Shao H, Wei C, Liu T, He J, Yang YH, Wang HM, Li N, Ren SQ, Chang L, Wang Z, Zhu LJ. Hippocampal excitation-inhibition balance underlies the 5-HT2C receptor in modulating depressive behaviours. Brain 2024; 147:3764-3779. [PMID: 38701344 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae143] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The implication of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2C receptor (5-HT2CR) activity in depression is a topic of debate, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Here, we elucidate how hippocampal excitation-inhibition (E/I) balance underlies the regulatory effects of 5-HT2CR in depression. Molecular biological analyses showed that chronic mild stress (CMS) reduced the expression of 5-HT2CR in hippocampus. We revealed that inhibition of 5-HT2CR induced depressive-like behaviours, reduced GABA release and shifted the E/I balance towards excitation in CA3 pyramidal neurons using behavioural analyses, microdialysis coupled with mass spectrometry and electrophysiological recordings. Moreover, 5-HT2CR modulated the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of nNOS (CAPON) interaction by influencing intracellular Ca2+ release, as determined by fibre photometry and coimmunoprecipitation. Notably, disruption of nNOS-CAPON with the specific small molecule compound ZLc-002 or AAV-CMV-CAPON-125C-GFP abolished 5-HT2CR inhibition-induced depressive-like behaviours, as well as the impairment in soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly-mediated GABA vesicle release and consequent E/I imbalance. Importantly, optogenetic inhibition of CA3 GABAergic neurons prevented the effects of AAV-CMV-CAPON-125C-GFP on depressive behaviours in the presence of a 5-HT2CR antagonist. Conclusively, our findings disclose the regulatory role of 5-HT2CR in depressive-like behaviours and highlight hippocampal nNOS-CAPON coupling-triggered E/I imbalance as a pivotal cellular event underpinning the behavioural consequences of 5-HT2CR inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu-Jiang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201108, China
| | - Yi-Ren Xue
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Hua Shao
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Cheng Wei
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Jie He
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Yu-Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Hong-Mei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Si-Qiang Ren
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei Chang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201108, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201108, China
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8
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Wang D, Bao C, Wu H, Li J, Zhang X, Wang S, Zhou F, Li H, Dong H. A hypothalamus-lateral periaqueductal gray GABAergic neural projection facilitates arousal following sevoflurane anesthesia in mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e70047. [PMID: 39317457 PMCID: PMC11421888 DOI: 10.1111/cns.70047] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lateral hypothalamus (LHA) is an evolutionarily conserved structure that regulates basic functions of an organism, particularly wakefulness. To clarify the function of LHAGABA neurons and their projections on regulating general anesthesia is crucial for understanding the excitatory and inhibitory effects of anesthetics on the brain. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether LHAGABA neurons play either an inhibitory or a facilitatory role in sevoflurane-induced anesthetic arousal regulation. METHODS We used fiber photometry and immunofluorescence staining to monitor changes in neuronal activity during sevoflurane anesthesia. Opto-/chemogenetic modulations were employed to study the effect of neurocircuit modulations during the anesthesia. Anterograde tracing was used to identify a GABAergic projection from the LHA to a periaqueductal gray (PAG) subregion. RESULTS c-Fos staining showed that LHAGABA activity was inhibited by induction of sevoflurane anesthesia. Anterograde tracing revealed that LHAGABA neurons project to multiple arousal-associated brain areas, with the lateral periaqueductal gray (LPAG) being one of the dense projection areas. Optogenetic experiments showed that activation of LHAGABA neurons and their downstream target LPAG reduced the burst suppression ratio (BSR) during continuous sevoflurane anesthesia. Chemogenetic experiments showed that activation of LHAGABA and its projection to LPAG neurons prolonged the anesthetic induction time and promoted wakefulness. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we show that an inhibitory projection from LHAGABA to LPAGGABA neurons promotes arousal from sevoflurane-induced loss of consciousness, suggesting a complex control of wakefulness through intimate interactions between long-range connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Chang Bao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Huimin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Jiannan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Sa Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Fang Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Huiming Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
| | - Hailong Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University)Ministry of Education of ChinaXi'anChina
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9
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Narai E, Koba S. Effect of optogenetic excitation of non-orexinergic neurons in the hypothalamic perifornical area on motor behaviors and cardiovascular parameters in rats. Neurosci Lett 2024; 837:137915. [PMID: 39059460 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137915] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Central command, a motor volition originating in the rostral part of the brain, plays a pivotal role in the precise regulation of autonomic nervous and cardiovascular systems. Central neuronal substrates responsible for transmitting central command signals remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of optogenetic excitation of non-orexinergic (NOrx) neurons in the hypothalamic perifornical area (PeFA), where orexinergic neurons are densely distributed, on motor behaviors and cardiovascular parameters in rats. An adeno-associated viral serotype 2 vector carrying the human synapsin promoter encoding channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) fused to EYFP was injected into the PeFA of Sprague-Dawley rats, resulting in selective expression of ChR2-EYFP in NOrx PeFA neurons. In conscious rats, optogenetic excitation of NOrx PeFA neurons rapidly elicited walking or biting behavior, simultaneously causing pressor and tachycardiac responses regardless of the observed behavioral patterns. Under anesthesia, this excitation rapidly increased renal sympathetic nerve activity, immediately followed by sympathoinhibition. These findings suggest that NOrx PeFA neurons transmit central command signals, concurrently regulating somatomotor and autonomic nervous systems for locomotor exercise or biting behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Narai
- Division of Integrative Physiology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 6838503, Japan; Division of Veterinary Physiology, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Agriculture, 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Koba
- Division of Integrative Physiology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 6838503, Japan; Division of Veterinary Physiology, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Agriculture, 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
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10
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Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhao ZD, Xie G, Zhang C, Chen R, Zhang Y. A subset of dopamine receptor-expressing neurons in the nucleus accumbens controls feeding and energy homeostasis. Nat Metab 2024; 6:1616-1631. [PMID: 39147933 PMCID: PMC11349581 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01100-0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Orchestrating complex behaviors, such as approaching and consuming food, is critical for survival. In addition to hypothalamus neuronal circuits, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) also controls appetite and satiety. However, specific neuronal subtypes of the NAc that are involved and how the humoral and neuronal signals coordinate to regulate feeding remain incompletely understood. Here we decipher the spatial diversity of neuron subtypes of the NAc shell (NAcSh) and define a dopamine receptor D1-expressing and Serpinb2-expressing subtype controlling food consumption in male mice. Chemogenetics and optogenetics-mediated regulation of Serpinb2+ neurons bidirectionally regulate food seeking and consumption specifically. Circuitry stimulation reveals that the NAcShSerpinb2→LHLepR projection controls refeeding and can overcome leptin-mediated feeding suppression. Furthermore, NAcSh Serpinb2+ neuron ablation reduces food intake and upregulates energy expenditure, resulting in reduced bodyweight gain. Our study reveals a neural circuit consisting of a molecularly distinct neuronal subtype that bidirectionally regulates energy homeostasis, providing a potential therapeutic target for eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiong Liu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zheng-Dong Zhao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guoguang Xie
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chao Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Renchao Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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11
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Zhang SR, Wu DY, Luo R, Wu JL, Chen H, Li ZM, Zhuang JP, Hu NY, Li XW, Yang JM, Gao TM, Chen YH. A Prelimbic Cortex-Thalamus Circuit Bidirectionally Regulates Innate and Stress-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2103232024. [PMID: 38886059 PMCID: PMC11255430 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2103-23.2024] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Anxiety-related disorders respond to cognitive behavioral therapies, which involved the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Previous studies have suggested that subregions of the mPFC have different and even opposite roles in regulating innate anxiety. However, the specific causal targets of their descending projections in modulating innate anxiety and stress-induced anxiety have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we found that among the various downstream pathways of the prelimbic cortex (PL), a subregion of the mPFC, PL-mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD) projection, and PL-ventral tegmental area (VTA) projection exhibited antagonistic effects on anxiety-like behavior, while the PL-MD projection but not PL-VTA projection was necessary for the animal to guide anxiety-related behavior. In addition, MD-projecting PL neurons bidirectionally regulated remote but not recent fear memory retrieval. Notably, restraint stress induced high-anxiety state accompanied by strengthening the excitatory inputs onto MD-projecting PL neurons, and inhibiting PL-MD pathway rescued the stress-induced anxiety. Our findings reveal that the activity of PL-MD pathway may be an essential factor to maintain certain level of anxiety, and stress increased the excitability of this pathway, leading to inappropriate emotional expression, and suggests that targeting specific PL circuits may aid the development of therapies for the treatment of stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Rong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ding-Yu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Rong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jian-Lin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zi-Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jia-Pai Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Neng-Yuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jian-Ming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Tian-Ming Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yi-Hua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Qingzhi Diseases, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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12
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Kim J, Tashjian SM, Mobbs D. The human hypothalamus coordinates switching between different survival actions. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002624. [PMID: 38941452 PMCID: PMC11213486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Comparative research suggests that the hypothalamus is critical in switching between survival behaviors, yet it is unclear if this is the case in humans. Here, we investigate the role of the human hypothalamus in survival switching by introducing a paradigm where volunteers switch between hunting and escape in response to encounters with a virtual predator or prey. Given the small size and low tissue contrast of the hypothalamus, we used deep learning-based segmentation to identify the individual-specific hypothalamus and its subnuclei as well as an imaging sequence optimized for hypothalamic signal acquisition. Across 2 experiments, we employed computational models with identical structures to explain internal movement generation processes associated with hunting and escaping. Despite the shared structure, the models exhibited significantly different parameter values where escaping or hunting were accurately decodable just by computing the parameters of internal movement generation processes. In experiment 2, multi-voxel pattern analyses (MVPA) showed that the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and periaqueductal gray encode switching of survival behaviors while not encoding simple motor switching outside of the survival context. Furthermore, multi-voxel connectivity analyses revealed a network including the hypothalamus as encoding survival switching and how the hypothalamus is connected to other regions in this network. Finally, model-based fMRI analyses showed that a strong hypothalamic multi-voxel pattern of switching is predictive of optimal behavioral coordination after switching, especially when this signal was synchronized with the multi-voxel pattern of switching in the amygdala. Our study is the first to identify the role of the human hypothalamus in switching between survival behaviors and action organization after switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaejoong Kim
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and Computation, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah M. Tashjian
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and Computation, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Dean Mobbs
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and Computation, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- Neural Systems Program at the California, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
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13
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Fang S, Luo Z, Wei Z, Qin Y, Zheng J, Zhang H, Jin J, Li J, Miao C, Yang S, Li Y, Liang Z, Yu XD, Zhang XM, Xiong W, Zhu H, Gan WB, Huang L, Li B. Sexually dimorphic control of affective state processing and empathic behaviors. Neuron 2024; 112:1498-1517.e8. [PMID: 38430912 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.001] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Recognizing the affective states of social counterparts and responding appropriately fosters successful social interactions. However, little is known about how the affective states are expressed and perceived and how they influence social decisions. Here, we show that male and female mice emit distinct olfactory cues after experiencing distress. These cues activate distinct neural circuits in the piriform cortex (PiC) and evoke sexually dimorphic empathic behaviors in observers. Specifically, the PiC → PrL pathway is activated in female observers, inducing a social preference for the distressed counterpart. Conversely, the PiC → MeA pathway is activated in male observers, evoking excessive self-grooming behaviors. These pathways originate from non-overlapping PiC neuron populations with distinct gene expression signatures regulated by transcription factors and sex hormones. Our study unveils how internal states of social counterparts are processed through sexually dimorphic mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels and offers insights into the neural mechanisms underpinning sex differences in higher brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunchang Fang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhengyi Luo
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zicheng Wei
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yuxin Qin
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jieyan Zheng
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hongyang Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jianhua Jin
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiali Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chenjian Miao
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shana Yang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yonglin Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zirui Liang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Yu
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao Min Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Hongying Zhu
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | | | - Lianyan Huang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
| | - Boxing Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
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14
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Hartmann C, Mahajan A, Borges V, Razenberg L, Thönnes Y, Karnani MM. The Switchmaze: an open-design device for measuring motivation and drive switching in mice. PEER COMMUNITY JOURNAL 2024; 4:pcjournal.416. [PMID: 38827787 PMCID: PMC7616052 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Animals need to switch between motivated behaviours, like drinking, feeding or social interaction, to meet environmental availability, internal needs and more complex ethological needs such as hiding future actions from competitors. Inflexible, repetitive behaviours are a hallmark of many neuropsychiatric disorders. However, how the brain orchestrates switching between the neural mechanisms controlling motivated behaviours, or drives, is unknown. This is partly due to a lack of appropriate measurement systems. We designed an automated extended home-cage, the Switchmaze, using open-source hardware and software. In this study, we use it to establish a behavioural assay of motivational switching in mice. Individual animals access the Switchmaze from the home-cage and choose between entering one of two chambers containing different goal objects or returning to the home-cage. Motivational switching is measured as a ratio of switching between chambers and continuous exploitation of one chamber. Behavioural transition analysis is used to further dissect altered motivational switching. As proof-of-concept, we show environmental manipulation, and targeted brain manipulation experiments which altered motivational switching without effect on traditional behavioural parameters. Chemogenetic inhibition of the prefrontal-hypothalamic axis increased the rate of motivation switching, highlighting the involvement of this pathway in drive switching. This work demonstrates the utility of open-design in understanding animal behaviour and its neural correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Hartmann
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ambika Mahajan
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vinicius Borges
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lotte Razenberg
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yves Thönnes
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mahesh M Karnani
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
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15
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Ding W, Weltzien H, Peters C, Klein R. Nausea-induced suppression of feeding is mediated by central amygdala Dlk1-expressing neurons. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113990. [PMID: 38551964 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The motivation to eat is suppressed by satiety and aversive stimuli such as nausea. The neural circuit mechanisms of appetite suppression by nausea are not well understood. Pkcδ neurons in the lateral subdivision of the central amygdala (CeA) suppress feeding in response to satiety signals and nausea. Here, we characterized neurons enriched in the medial subdivision (CeM) of the CeA marked by expression of Dlk1. CeADlk1 neurons are activated by nausea, but not satiety, and specifically suppress feeding induced by nausea. Artificial activation of CeADlk1 neurons suppresses drinking and social interactions, suggesting a broader function in attenuating motivational behavior. CeADlk1 neurons form projections to many brain regions and exert their anorexigenic activity by inhibition of neurons of the parabrachial nucleus. CeADlk1 neurons are inhibited by appetitive CeA neurons, but also receive long-range monosynaptic inputs from multiple brain regions. Our results illustrate a CeA circuit that regulates nausea-induced feeding suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Ding
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Helena Weltzien
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christian Peters
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Klein
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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16
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Zhang H, Zhu Z, Ma WX, Kong LX, Yuan PC, Bu LF, Han J, Huang ZL, Wang YQ. The contribution of periaqueductal gray in the regulation of physiological and pathological behaviors. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1380171. [PMID: 38650618 PMCID: PMC11034386 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1380171] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Periaqueductal gray (PAG), an integration center for neuronal signals, is located in the midbrain and regulates multiple physiological and pathological behaviors, including pain, defensive and aggressive behaviors, anxiety and depression, cardiovascular response, respiration, and sleep-wake behaviors. Due to the different neuroanatomical connections and functional characteristics of the four functional columns of PAG, different subregions of PAG synergistically regulate various instinctual behaviors. In the current review, we summarized the role and possible neurobiological mechanism of different subregions of PAG in the regulation of pain, defensive and aggressive behaviors, anxiety, and depression from the perspective of the up-down neuronal circuits of PAG. Furthermore, we proposed the potential clinical applications of PAG. Knowledge of these aspects will give us a better understanding of the key role of PAG in physiological and pathological behaviors and provide directions for future clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Zhe Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Xiang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling-Xi Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping-Chuan Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Li-Fang Bu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Han
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Qun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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17
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Reis FMCV, Maesta-Pereira S, Ollivier M, Schuette PJ, Sethi E, Miranda BA, Iniguez E, Chakerian M, Vaughn E, Sehgal M, Nguyen DCT, Yuan FTH, Torossian A, Ikebara JM, Kihara AH, Silva AJ, Kao JC, Khakh BS, Adhikari A. Control of feeding by a bottom-up midbrain-subthalamic pathway. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2111. [PMID: 38454000 PMCID: PMC10920831 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46430-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigative exploration and foraging leading to food consumption have vital importance, but are not well-understood. Since GABAergic inputs to the lateral and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (l/vlPAG) control such behaviors, we dissected the role of vgat-expressing GABAergic l/vlPAG cells in exploration, foraging and hunting. Here, we show that in mice vgat l/vlPAG cells encode approach to food and consumption of both live prey and non-prey foods. The activity of these cells is necessary and sufficient for inducing food-seeking leading to subsequent consumption. Activation of vgat l/vlPAG cells produces exploratory foraging and compulsive eating without altering defensive behaviors. Moreover, l/vlPAG vgat cells are bidirectionally interconnected to several feeding, exploration and investigation nodes, including the zona incerta. Remarkably, the vgat l/vlPAG projection to the zona incerta bidirectionally controls approach towards food leading to consumption. These data indicate the PAG is not only a final downstream target of top-down exploration and foraging-related inputs, but that it also influences these behaviors through a bottom-up pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando M C V Reis
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Sandra Maesta-Pereira
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Matthias Ollivier
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Peter J Schuette
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ekayana Sethi
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Blake A Miranda
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Emily Iniguez
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Meghmik Chakerian
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Eric Vaughn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Megha Sehgal
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Darren C T Nguyen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Faith T H Yuan
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Anita Torossian
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Juliane M Ikebara
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, 09606-070, Brazil
| | - Alexandre H Kihara
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, 09606-070, Brazil
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Jonathan C Kao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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18
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Liu Y, Zhao ZD, Xie G, Chen R, Zhang Y. A molecularly defined NAcSh D1 subtype controls feeding and energy homeostasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.27.530275. [PMID: 36909586 PMCID: PMC10002697 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.27.530275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Orchestrating complex behavioral states, such as approach and consumption of food, is critical for survival. In addition to hypothalamus neuronal circuits, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) also plays an important role in controlling appetite and satiety in responses to changing external stimuli. However, the specific neuronal subtypes of NAc involved as well as how the humoral and neuronal signals coordinate to regulate feeding remain incompletely understood. Here, we deciphered the spatial diversity of neuron subtypes of the NAc shell (NAcSh) and defined a dopamine receptor D1(Drd1)- and Serpinb2-expressing subtype located in NAcSh encoding food consumption. Chemogenetics- and optogenetics-mediated regulation of Serpinb2 + neurons bidirectionally regulates food seeking and consumption specifically. Circuitry stimulation revealed the NAcSh Serpinb2 →LH LepR projection controls refeeding and can overcome leptin-mediated feeding suppression. Furthermore, NAcSh Serpinb2 + neuron ablation reduces food intake and upregulates energy expenditure resulting in body weight loss. Together, our study reveals a neural circuit consisted of molecularly distinct neuronal subtype that bidirectionally regulates energy homeostasis, which can serve as a potential therapeutic target for eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiong Liu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Zheng-dong Zhao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Guoguang Xie
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Renchao Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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19
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Barbano MF, Zhang S, Chen E, Espinoza O, Mohammad U, Alvarez-Bagnarol Y, Liu B, Hahn S, Morales M. Lateral hypothalamic glutamatergic inputs to VTA glutamatergic neurons mediate prioritization of innate defensive behavior over feeding. Nat Commun 2024; 15:403. [PMID: 38195566 PMCID: PMC10776608 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44633-w] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is involved in feeding behavior and defense responses by interacting with different brain structures, including the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA). Emerging evidence indicates that LH-glutamatergic neurons infrequently synapse on VTA-dopamine neurons but preferentially establish multiple synapses on VTA-glutamatergic neurons. Here, we demonstrated that LH-glutamatergic inputs to VTA promoted active avoidance, long-term aversion, and escape attempts. By testing feeding in the presence of a predator, we observed that ongoing feeding was decreased, and that this predator-induced decrease in feeding was abolished by photoinhibition of the LH-glutamatergic inputs to VTA. By VTA specific neuronal ablation, we established that predator-induced decreases in feeding were mediated by VTA-glutamatergic neurons but not by dopamine or GABA neurons. Thus, we provided evidence for an unanticipated neuronal circuitry between LH-glutamatergic inputs to VTA-glutamatergic neurons that plays a role in prioritizing escape, and in the switch from feeding to escape in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Flavia Barbano
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Shiliang Zhang
- Confocal and Electron Microscopy Core, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Emma Chen
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Orlando Espinoza
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Uzma Mohammad
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Yocasta Alvarez-Bagnarol
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Bing Liu
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Suyun Hahn
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Marisela Morales
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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20
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Zhu Z, Sternson SM. Neuroscience: Neurons that use a stress hormone increase eating. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1296-R1298. [PMID: 38113842 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
A neuropeptide called corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is known for stress signaling in the brain. A study now shows that a small population of CRH-expressing neurons situated in the lateral hypothalamus area are involved in sensing olfactory food cues and promoting food consumption in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenggang Zhu
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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21
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Li SY, Cao JJ, Tan K, Fan L, Wang YQ, Shen ZX, Li SS, Wu C, Zhou H, Xu HT. CRH neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area regulate feeding behavior of mice. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4827-4843.e7. [PMID: 37848038 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Food cues serve as pivotal triggers for eliciting physiological responses that subsequently influence food consumption. The magnitude of response induced by these cues stands as a critical determinant in the context of obesity risk. Nonetheless, the underlying neural mechanism that underpins how cues associated with edible food potentiate feeding behaviors remains uncertain. In this study, we revealed that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area played a crucial role in promoting consummatory behaviors in mice, shedding light on this intricate process. By employing an array of diverse assays, we initially established the activation of these neurons during feeding. Manipulations using optogenetic and chemogenetic assays revealed that their activation amplified appetite and promoted feeding behaviors, whereas inhibition decreased them. Additionally, our investigation identified downstream targets, including the ventral tegmental area, and underscored the pivotal involvement of the CRH neuropeptide itself in orchestrating this regulatory network. This research casts a clarifying light on the neural mechanism underlying the augmentation of appetite and the facilitation of feeding behaviors in response to food cues. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Yun Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing-Juan Cao
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Kang Tan
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liu Fan
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ya-Qian Wang
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zi-Xuan Shen
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuai-Shuai Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hua-Tai Xu
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
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22
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Wang X, Wu X, Wu H, Xiao H, Hao S, Wang B, Li C, Bleymehl K, Kauschke SG, Mack V, Ferger B, Klein H, Zheng R, Duan S, Wang H. Neural adaption in midbrain GABAergic cells contributes to high-fat diet-induced obesity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh2884. [PMID: 37910621 PMCID: PMC10619925 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh2884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Overeating disorders largely contribute to worldwide incidences of obesity. Available treatments are limited. Here, we discovered that long-term chemogenetic activation of ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) GABAergic cells rescue obesity of high-fat diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. This was associated with the recovery of enhanced mIPSCs, decreased food intake, increased energy expenditure, and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) browning. In vivo calcium imaging confirmed vlPAG GABAergic suppression for DIO mice, with corresponding reduction in intrinsic excitability. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing identified transcriptional expression changes in GABAergic cell subtypes in DIO mice, highlighting Cacna2d1 as of potential importance. Overexpressing CACNA2D1 in vlPAG GABAergic cells of DIO mice rescued enhanced mIPSCs and calcium response, reversed obesity, and therefore presented here as a potential target for obesity treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain Machine Integration, Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaotong Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain Machine Integration, Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems and Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Hanyang Xiao
- Department of Neurosurgery of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain Machine Integration, Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Sijia Hao
- Department of Neurosurgery of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain Machine Integration, Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Bingwei Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Human Genetics and Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Katherin Bleymehl
- Department of CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, 88397, Germany
| | - Stefan G. Kauschke
- Department of CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, 88397, Germany
| | - Volker Mack
- Department of CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, 88397, Germany
| | - Boris Ferger
- Department of CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, 88397, Germany
| | - Holger Klein
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, 88397, Germany
| | - Ruimao Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Shumin Duan
- Department of Neurosurgery of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain Machine Integration, Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain Machine Integration, Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
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23
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You IJ, Bae Y, Beck AR, Shin S. Lateral hypothalamic proenkephalin neurons drive threat-induced overeating associated with a negative emotional state. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6875. [PMID: 37898655 PMCID: PMC10613253 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42623-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychological stressors, like the nearby presence of a predator, can be strong enough to induce physiological/hormonal alterations, leading to appetite changes. However, little is known about how threats can alter feeding-related hypothalamic circuit functions. Here, we found that proenkephalin (Penk)-expressing lateral hypothalamic (LHPenk) neurons of mice exposed to predator scent stimulus (PSS) show sensitized responses to high-fat diet (HFD) eating, whereas silencing of the same neurons normalizes PSS-induced HFD overconsumption associated with a negative emotional state. Downregulation of endogenous enkephalin peptides in the LH is crucial for inhibiting the neuronal and behavioral changes developed after PSS exposure. Furthermore, elevated corticosterone after PSS contributes to enhance the reactivity of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-containing LHPenk neurons to HFD, whereas pharmacological inhibition of GR in the LH suppresses PSS-induced maladaptive behavioral responses. We have thus identified the LHPenk neurons as a critical component in the threat-induced neuronal adaptation that leads to emotional overconsumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Jee You
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Yeeun Bae
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Alec R Beck
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Sora Shin
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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24
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Bai F, Huang L, Deng J, Long Z, Hao X, Chen P, Wu G, Wen H, Deng Q, Bao X, Huang J, Yang M, Li D, Ren Y, Zhang M, Xiong Y, Li H. Prelimbic area to lateral hypothalamus circuit drives social aggression. iScience 2023; 26:107718. [PMID: 37810230 PMCID: PMC10551839 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107718] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Controlling aggression is a vital skill in social species such as rodents and humans and has been associated with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In this study, we showed that during aggressive behavior, the activity of GABAergic neurons in the prelimbic area (PL) of the mPFC was significantly suppressed. Specific activation of GABAergic PL neurons significantly curbed male-to-male aggression and inhibited conditioned place preference (CPP) for aggression-paired contexts, whereas specific inhibition of GABAergic PL neurons brought about the opposite effect. Moreover, GABAergic projections from PL neurons to the lateral hypothalamus (LH) orexinergic neurons mediated aggressive behavior. Finally, directly modulated LH-orexinergic neurons influence aggressive behavior. These results suggest that GABAergic PL-orexinergic LH projection is an important control circuit for intermale aggressive behavior, both of which could be targets for curbing aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuhai Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Jiao Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Zonghong Long
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Xianglin Hao
- Department of Pathology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Penghui Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Guangyan Wu
- Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Huizhong Wen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qiangting Deng
- Editorial Office of Journal of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xiaohang Bao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Defeng Li
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Yukun Ren
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
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25
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de Araujo Salgado I, Li C, Burnett CJ, Rodriguez Gonzalez S, Becker JJ, Horvath A, Earnest T, Kravitz AV, Krashes MJ. Toggling between food-seeking and self-preservation behaviors via hypothalamic response networks. Neuron 2023; 111:2899-2917.e6. [PMID: 37442130 PMCID: PMC10528369 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Motivated behaviors are often studied in isolation to assess labeled lines of neural connections underlying innate actions. However, in nature, multiple systems compete for expression of goal-directed behaviors via complex neural networks. Here, we examined flexible survival decisions in animals tasked with food seeking under predation threat. We found that predator exposure rapidly induced physiological, neuronal, and behavioral adaptations in mice highlighted by reduced food seeking and consumption contingent on current threat level. Diminishing conflict via internal state or external environment perturbations shifted feeding strategies. Predator introduction and/or selective manipulation of danger-responsive cholecystokinin (Cck) cells of the dorsal premammilary nucleus (PMd) suppressed hunger-sensitive Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons, providing a mechanism for threat-evoked hypophagia. Increased caloric need enhanced food seeking under duress through AgRP pathways to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and/or lateral hypothalamus (LH). Our results suggest oscillating interactions between systems underlying self-preservation and food seeking to promote optimal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel de Araujo Salgado
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chia Li
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - C Joseph Burnett
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shakira Rodriguez Gonzalez
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jordan J Becker
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Allison Horvath
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Thomas Earnest
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael J Krashes
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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26
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Rossi MA. Control of energy homeostasis by the lateral hypothalamic area. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:738-749. [PMID: 37353461 PMCID: PMC10524917 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
The lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) is a subcortical brain region that exerts control over motivated behavior, feeding, and energy balance across species. Recent single-cell sequencing studies have defined at least 30 distinct LHA neuron types. Some of these influence specific aspects of energy homeostasis; however, the functions of many LHA cell types remain unclear. This review addresses the rapidly emerging evidence from cell-type-specific investigations that the LHA leverages distinct neuron populations to regulate energy balance through complex connections with other brain regions. It will highlight recent findings demonstrating that LHA control of energy balance extends beyond mere food intake and propose outstanding questions to be addressed by future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Rossi
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
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27
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Zhang Y, Huang X, Xin WJ, He S, Deng J, Ruan X. Somatostatin Neurons from Periaqueductal Gray to Medulla Facilitate Neuropathic Pain in Male Mice. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:1020-1029. [PMID: 36641028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Projections from the periaqueductal gray (PAG) to the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) are known to engage in descending pain modulation, but how the neural substrates of the PAG-RVM projections contribute to neuropathic pain remains largely unknown. In this study, we showed somatostatin-expressing glutamatergic neurons in the lateral/ventrolateral PAG that facilitate mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. We found that these neurons form direct excitatory connections with neurons in the RVM region. Inhibition of this PAG-RVM projection alleviates mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity associated with neuropathy, whereas its activation enhances hypersensitivity in the mice. Thus, our findings revealed that somatostatin neurons within the PAG-RVM axial are crucial for descending pain facilitation and can potentially be exploited as a useful therapeutic target for neuropathic pain. PERSPECTIVE: We report the profound contribution of somatostatin neurons within the PAG-RVM projections to descending pain facilitation underlying neuropathic pain. These results may help to develop central therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehong Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuelin Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Jun Xin
- Zhongshan Medical School and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shilang He
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Deng
- Zhongshan Medical School and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiangcai Ruan
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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28
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Lu B, Fan P, Li M, Wang Y, Liang W, Yang G, Mo F, Xu Z, Shan J, Song Y, Liu J, Wu Y, Cai X. Detection of neuronal defensive discharge information transmission and characteristics in periaqueductal gray double-subregions using PtNP/PEDOT:PSS modified microelectrode arrays. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:70. [PMID: 37275263 PMCID: PMC10232427 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00546-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Threatened animals respond with appropriate defensive behaviors to survive. It has been accepted that midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) plays an essential role in the circuitry system and organizes defensive behavioral responses. However, the role and correlation of different PAG subregions in the expression of different defensive behaviors remain largely unexplored. Here, we designed and manufactured a microelectrode array (MEA) to simultaneously detect the activities of dPAG and vPAG neurons in freely behaving rats. To improve the detection performance of the MEAs, PtNP/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposites were modified onto the MEAs. Subsequently, the predator odor was used to induce the rat's innate fear, and the changes and information transmission in neuronal activities were detected in the dPAG and vPAG. Our results showed that the dPAG and vPAG participated in innate fear, but the activation degree was distinct in different defense behaviors. During flight, neuronal responses were stronger and earlier in the dPAG than the vPAG, while vPAG neurons responded more strongly during freezing. By applying high-performance MEA, it was revealed that neural information spread from the activated dPAG to the weakly activated vPAG. Our research also revealed that dPAG and vPAG neurons exhibited different defensive discharge characteristics, and dPAG neurons participated in the regulation of defense responses with burst-firing patterns. The slow activation and continuous firing of vPAG neurons cooresponded with the regulation of long-term freezing responses. The results demonstrated the important role of PAG neuronal activities in controlling different aspects of defensive behaviors and provided novel insights for investigating defense from the electrophysiological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Botao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Penghui Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yiding Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Wei Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
| | - Gucheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Fan Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Zhaojie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Jin Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yilin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Juntao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yirong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Xinxia Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
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29
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Sineshchekov OA, Govorunova EG, Li H, Wang Y, Spudich JL. Sequential absorption of two photons creates a bistable form of RubyACR responsible for its strong desensitization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301521120. [PMID: 37186849 PMCID: PMC10214203 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301521120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Channelrhodopsins with red-shifted absorption, rare in nature, are highly desired for optogenetics because light of longer wavelengths more deeply penetrates biological tissue. RubyACRs (Anion ChannelRhodopsins), a group of four closely related anion-conducting channelrhodopsins from thraustochytrid protists, are the most red-shifted channelrhodopsins known with absorption maxima up to 610 nm. Their photocurrents are large, as is typical of blue- and green-absorbing ACRs, but they rapidly decrease during continuous illumination (desensitization) and extremely slowly recover in the dark. Here, we show that long-lasting desensitization of RubyACRs results from photochemistry not observed in any previously studied channelrhodopsins. Absorption of a second photon by a photocycle intermediate with maximal absorption at 640 nm (P640) renders RubyACR bistable (i.e., very slowly interconvertible between two spectrally distinct forms). The photocycle of this bistable form involves long-lived nonconducting states (Llong and Mlong), formation of which is the reason for long-lasting desensitization of RubyACR photocurrents. Both Llong and Mlong are photoactive and convert to the initial unphotolyzed state upon blue or ultraviolet (UV) illumination, respectively. We show that desensitization of RubyACRs can be reduced or even eliminated by using ns laser flashes, trains of short light pulses instead of continuous illumination to avoid formation of Llong and Mlong, or by application of pulses of blue light between pulses of red light to photoconvert Llong to the initial unphotolyzed state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg A. Sineshchekov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Membrane Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
| | - Elena G. Govorunova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Membrane Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
| | - Hai Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Membrane Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
| | - Yumei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Membrane Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
| | - John L. Spudich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Membrane Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
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30
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Fan BQ, Xia JM, Chen DD, Feng LL, Ding JH, Li SS, Li WX, Han Y. Medial septum glutamatergic neurons modulate nociception in chronic neuropathic pain via projections to lateral hypothalamus. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1171665. [PMID: 37266154 PMCID: PMC10229799 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1171665] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The medial septum (MS) contributes in pain processing and regulation, especially concerning persistent nociception. However, the role of MS glutamatergic neurons in pain and the underlying neural circuit mechanisms in pain remain poorly understood. In this study, chronic constrictive injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI) surgery was performed to induce thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in mice. The chemogenetic activation of MS glutamatergic neurons decreased pain thresholds in naïve mice. In contrast, inhibition or ablation of these neurons has improved nociception thresholds in naïve mice and relieved thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in CCI mice. Anterograde viral tracing revealed that MS glutamatergic neurons had projections to the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and supramammillary nucleus (SuM). We further demonstrated that MS glutamatergic neurons regulate pain thresholds by projecting to LH but not SuM, because the inhibition of MS-LH glutamatergic projections suppressed pain thresholds in CCI and naïve mice, yet, optogenetic activation or inhibition of MS-SuM glutamatergic projections had no effect on pain thresholds in naïve mice. In conclusion, our results reveal that MS glutamatergic neurons play a significant role in regulating pain perception and decipher that MS glutamatergic neurons modulate nociception via projections to LH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yuan Han
- *Correspondence: Yuan Han, ; Wen-Xian Li,
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31
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Chen X. Valence processing in pons. Neuron 2023; 111:1353-1354. [PMID: 37141860 PMCID: PMC11659982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In this issue of Neuron, Xiao et al.1 reported that inhibitory and excitatory neurons in the pontine central gray encode and transmit opposite valences of sensory stimuli through parallel circuits to a distributed brain network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoke Chen
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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32
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Reis FMCV, Mobbs D, Canteras NS, Adhikari A. Orchestration of innate and conditioned defensive actions by the periaqueductal gray. Neuropharmacology 2023; 228:109458. [PMID: 36773777 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) has been recognized for decades as having a central role in the control of a wide variety of defensive responses. Initial discoveries relied primarily on lesions, electrical stimulation and pharmacology. Recent developments in neural activity imaging and in methods to control activity with anatomical and genetic specificity have revealed additional streams of data informing our understanding of PAG function. Here, we discuss both classic and modern studies reporting on how PAG-centered circuits influence innate as well as learned defensive actions in rodents and humans. Though early discoveries emphasized the PAG's role in rapid induction of innate defensive actions, emerging new data indicate a prominent role for the PAG in more complex processes, including representing behavioral states and influencing fear learning and memory. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando M C V Reis
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Dean Mobbs
- Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States; Computation and Neural Systems Program, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Newton S Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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33
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Zhao ZD, Zhang L, Xiang X, Kim D, Li H, Cao P, Shen WL. Neurocircuitry of Predatory Hunting. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:817-831. [PMID: 36705845 PMCID: PMC10170020 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-01018-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Predatory hunting is an important type of innate behavior evolutionarily conserved across the animal kingdom. It is typically composed of a set of sequential actions, including prey search, pursuit, attack, and consumption. This behavior is subject to control by the nervous system. Early studies used toads as a model to probe the neuroethology of hunting, which led to the proposal of a sensory-triggered release mechanism for hunting actions. More recent studies have used genetically-trackable zebrafish and rodents and have made breakthrough discoveries in the neuroethology and neurocircuits underlying this behavior. Here, we review the sophisticated neurocircuitry involved in hunting and summarize the detailed mechanism for the circuitry to encode various aspects of hunting neuroethology, including sensory processing, sensorimotor transformation, motivation, and sequential encoding of hunting actions. We also discuss the overlapping brain circuits for hunting and feeding and point out the limitations of current studies. We propose that hunting is an ideal behavioral paradigm in which to study the neuroethology of motivated behaviors, which may shed new light on epidemic disorders, including binge-eating, obesity, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Dong Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xinkuan Xiang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Daesoo Kim
- Department of Cognitive Brain Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea.
| | - Haohong Li
- MOE Frontier Research Center of Brain & Brain-machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Affiliated Mental Health Centre and Hangzhou Seventh People`s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Wei L Shen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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34
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Noritake A, Nakamura K. Rewarding-unrewarding prediction signals under a bivalent context in the primate lateral hypothalamus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5926. [PMID: 37045876 PMCID: PMC10097697 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals can expect rewards under equivocal situations. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is thought to process motivational information by producing valence signals of reward and punishment. Despite rich studies using rodents and non-human primates, these signals have been assessed separately in appetitive and aversive contexts; therefore, it remains unclear what information the LH encodes in equivocal situations. To address this issue, macaque monkeys were conditioned under a bivalent context in which reward and punishment were probabilistically delivered, in addition to appetitive and aversive contexts. The monkeys increased approaching behavior similarly in the bivalent and appetitive contexts as the reward probability increased. They increased avoiding behavior under the bivalent and aversive contexts as the punishment probability increased, but the mean frequency was lower under the bivalent context than under the aversive context. The population activity correlated with these mean behaviors. Moreover, the LH produced fine prediction signals of reward expectation, uncertainty, and predictability consistently in the bivalent and appetitive contexts by recruiting context-independent and context-dependent subpopulations of neurons, while it less produced punishment signals in the aversive and bivalent contexts. Further, neural ensembles encoded context information and "rewarding-unrewarding" and "reward-punishment" valence. These signals may motivate individuals robustly in equivocal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Noritake
- Division of Behavioral Development, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan.
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Hayama, 240-0193, Japan.
| | - Kae Nakamura
- Department of Physiology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1, Shinmachi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan
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35
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Ivanova D, O'Byrne KT. Optogenetics studies of kisspeptin neurons. Peptides 2023; 162:170961. [PMID: 36731655 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2023.170961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Optical systems and genetic engineering technologies have made it possible to control neurons and unravel neuronal circuit behavior with high temporal and spatial resolution. The application of optogenetic strategies to understand the physiology of kisspeptin neuronal circuits has evolved in recent years among the neuroendocrine community. Kisspeptin neurons are fundamentally involved in controlling mammalian reproduction but also are implicated in numerous other physiological processes, including but not limited to feeding, energy expenditure, core body temperature and behavior. We conducted a review aiming to shed light on the novel findings obtained from in vitro and in vivo optogenetic studies interrogating kisspeptin neuronal circuits to date. Understanding the function of kisspeptin networks in the brain can greatly inform a wide range of clinical studies investigating infertility treatments, gender identity, metabolic disorders, hot flushes and psychosexual disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, UK.
| | - Kevin T O'Byrne
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, UK
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36
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Liu Q, Yang X, Luo M, Su J, Zhong J, Li X, Chan RHM, Wang L. An iterative neural processing sequence orchestrates feeding. Neuron 2023; 111:1651-1665.e5. [PMID: 36924773 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.025] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Feeding requires sophisticated orchestration of neural processes to satiate appetite in natural, capricious settings. However, the complementary roles of discrete neural populations in orchestrating distinct behaviors and motivations throughout the feeding process are largely unknown. Here, we delineate the behavioral repertoire of mice by developing a machine-learning-assisted behavior tracking system and show that feeding is fragmented and divergent motivations for food consumption or environment exploration compete throughout the feeding process. An iterative activation sequence of agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-expressing neurons in arcuate (ARC) nucleus, GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), and in dorsal raphe (DR) orchestrate the preparation, initiation, and maintenance of feeding segments, respectively, via the resolution of motivational conflicts. The iterative neural processing sequence underlying the competition of divergent motivations further suggests a general rule for optimizing goal-directed behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Moxuan Luo
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Junying Su
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jinling Zhong
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaofen Li
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Rosa H M Chan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Ni L, Chen H, Xu X, Sun D, Cai H, Wang L, Tang Q, Hao Y, Cao S, Hu X. Neurocircuitry underlying the antidepressant effect of retrograde facial botulinum toxin in mice. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:30. [PMID: 36782335 PMCID: PMC9926702 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-00964-1] [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: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) is extensively applied in spasticity and dystonia as it cleaves synaptosome-associated protein 25 (SNAP25) in the presynaptic terminals, thereby inhibiting neurotransmission. An increasing number of randomized clinical trials have suggested that glabellar BoNT/A injection improves depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the underlying neuronal circuitry of BoNT/A-regulated depression remains largely uncharacterized. RESULTS Here, we modeled MDD using mice subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS). By pre-injecting BoNT/A into the unilateral whisker intrinsic musculature (WIM), and performing behavioral testing, we showed that pre-injection of BoNT/A attenuated despair- and anhedonia-like phenotypes in CRS mice. By applying immunostaining of BoNT/A-cleaved SNAP25 (cl.SNAP25197), subcellular spatial localization of SNAP25 with markers of cholinergic neurons (ChAT) and post-synaptic membrane (PSD95), and injection of monosynaptic retrograde tracer CTB-488-mixed BoNT/A to label the primary nucleus of the WIM, we demonstrated that BoNT/A axonal retrograde transported to the soma of whisker-innervating facial motoneurons (wFMNs) and subsequent transcytosis to synaptic terminals of second-order neurons induced central effects. Furthermore, using transsynaptic retrograde and monosynaptic antegrade viral neural circuit tracing with c-Fos brain mapping and co-staining of neural markers, we observed that the CRS-induced expression of c-Fos and CaMKII double-positive neurons in the ventrolateral periaqueductal grey (vlPAG), which sent afferents to wFMNs, was down-regulated 3 weeks after BoNT/A facial pre-administration. Strikingly, the repeated and targeted silencing of the wFMNs-projecting CaMKII-positive neurons in vlPAG with a chemogenetic approach via stereotactic injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus into specific brain regions of CRS mice mimicked the antidepressant-like action of BoNT/A pre-treatment. Conversely, repeated chemogenetic activation of this potential subpopulation counteracted the BoNT/A-improved significant antidepressant behavior. CONCLUSION We reported for the first time that BoNT/A inhibited the wFMNs-projecting vlPAG excitatory neurons through axonal retrograde transport and cell-to-cell transcytosis from the injected location of the WIM to regulate depressive-like phenotypes of CRS mice. For the limited and the reversibility of side effects, BoNT/A has substantial advantages and potential application in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhui Ni
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Hanze Chen
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Xinxin Xu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China ,grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Ultrasonography, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Di Sun
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Huaying Cai
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Li Wang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Qiwen Tang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Yonggang Hao
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053 China ,grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Department of Neurology, Dushu Lake Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, 215125 China
| | - Shuxia Cao
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
| | - Xingyue Hu
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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38
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Exploration driven by a medial preoptic circuit facilitates fear extinction in mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:106. [PMID: 36707677 PMCID: PMC9883483 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04442-9] [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: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive exposure to fear-associated targets is a typical treatment for patients with panic or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The success of exposure therapy depends on the active exploration of a fear-eliciting target despite an innate drive to avoid it. Here, we found that a circuit running from CaMKIIα-positive neurons of the medial preoptic area to the ventral periaqueductal gray (MPA-vPAG) facilitates the exploration of a fear-conditioned zone and subsequent fear extinction in mice. Activation or inhibition of this circuit did not induce preference/avoidance of a specific zone. Repeated entries into the fear-conditioned zone, induced by the motivation to chase a head-mounted object due to MPA-vPAG circuit photostimulation, facilitated fear extinction. Our results show how the brain forms extinction memory against avoidance of a fearful target and suggest a circuit-based mechanism of exposure therapy.
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Nair A, Karigo T, Yang B, Ganguli S, Schnitzer MJ, Linderman SW, Anderson DJ, Kennedy A. An approximate line attractor in the hypothalamus encodes an aggressive state. Cell 2023; 186:178-193.e15. [PMID: 36608653 PMCID: PMC9990527 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamus regulates innate social behaviors, including mating and aggression. These behaviors can be evoked by optogenetic stimulation of specific neuronal subpopulations within MPOA and VMHvl, respectively. Here, we perform dynamical systems modeling of population neuronal activity in these nuclei during social behaviors. In VMHvl, unsupervised analysis identified a dominant dimension of neural activity with a large time constant (>50 s), generating an approximate line attractor in neural state space. Progression of the neural trajectory along this attractor was correlated with an escalation of agonistic behavior, suggesting that it may encode a scalable state of aggressiveness. Consistent with this, individual differences in the magnitude of the integration dimension time constant were strongly correlated with differences in aggressiveness. In contrast, approximate line attractors were not observed in MPOA during mating; instead, neurons with fast dynamics were tuned to specific actions. Thus, different hypothalamic nuclei employ distinct neural population codes to represent similar social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Nair
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Tomomi Karigo
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Bin Yang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Surya Ganguli
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mark J Schnitzer
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Scott W Linderman
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Ann Kennedy
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago IL 60611, USA.
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40
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Xing Y, Zan C, Liu L. Recent advances in understanding neuronal diversity and neural circuit complexity across different brain regions using single-cell sequencing. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1007755. [PMID: 37063385 PMCID: PMC10097998 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1007755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural circuits are characterized as interconnecting neuron networks connected by synapses. Some kinds of gene expression and/or functional changes of neurons and synaptic connections may result in aberrant neural circuits, which has been recognized as one crucial pathological mechanism for the onset of many neurological diseases. Gradual advances in single-cell sequencing approaches with strong technological advantages, as exemplified by high throughput and increased resolution for live cells, have enabled it to assist us in understanding neuronal diversity across diverse brain regions and further transformed our knowledge of cellular building blocks of neural circuits through revealing numerous molecular signatures. Currently published transcriptomic studies have elucidated various neuronal subpopulations as well as their distribution across prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and dorsal root ganglion, etc. Better characterization of brain region-specific circuits may shed light on new pathological mechanisms involved and assist in selecting potential targets for the prevention and treatment of specific neurological disorders based on their established roles. Given diverse neuronal populations across different brain regions, we aim to give a brief sketch of current progress in understanding neuronal diversity and neural circuit complexity according to their locations. With the special focus on the application of single-cell sequencing, we thereby summarize relevant region-specific findings. Considering the importance of spatial context and connectivity in neural circuits, we also discuss a few published results obtained by spatial transcriptomics. Taken together, these single-cell sequencing data may lay a mechanistic basis for functional identification of brain circuit components, which links their molecular signatures to anatomical regions, connectivity, morphology, and physiology. Furthermore, the comprehensive characterization of neuron subtypes, their distributions, and connectivity patterns via single-cell sequencing is critical for understanding neural circuit properties and how they generate region-dependent interactions in different context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xing
- Department of Neurology, Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Chunfang Zan
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilian-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Lu Liu
- Munich Medical Research School (MMRS), LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilian-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Lu Liu, ,
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Zhou W, Ke S, Li W, Yuan J, Li X, Jin R, Jia X, Jiang T, Dai Z, He G, Fang Z, Shi L, Zhang Q, Gong H, Luo Q, Sun W, Li A, Li P. Mapping the Function of Whole-Brain Projection at the Single Neuron Level. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202553. [PMID: 36228099 PMCID: PMC9685445 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Axonal projection conveys neural information. The divergent and diverse projections of individual neurons imply the complexity of information flow. It is necessary to investigate the relationship between the projection and functional information at the single neuron level for understanding the rules of neural circuit assembly, but a gap remains due to a lack of methods to map the function to whole-brain projection. Here an approach is developed to bridge two-photon calcium imaging in vivo with high-resolution whole-brain imaging based on sparse labeling with the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6. Reliable whole-brain projections are captured by the high-definition fluorescent micro-optical sectioning tomography (HD-fMOST). A cross-modality cell matching is performed and the functional annotation of whole-brain projection at the single-neuron level (FAWPS) is obtained. Applying it to the layer 2/3 (L2/3) neurons in mouse visual cortex, the relationship is investigated between functional preferences and axonal projection features. The functional preference of projection motifs and the correlation between axonal length in MOs and neuronal orientation selectivity, suggest that projection motif-defined neurons form a functionally specific information flow, and the projection strength in specific targets relates to the information clarity. This pipeline provides a new way to understand the principle of neuronal information transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhou
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Shanshan Ke
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Wenwei Li
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Xiangning Li
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Rui Jin
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Xueyan Jia
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Zimin Dai
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Guannan He
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Zhiwei Fang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Liang Shi
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Hui Gong
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Qingming Luo
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Biomedical EngineeringHainan UniversityHaikou570228China
| | - Wenzhi Sun
- Chinese Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing102206China
- School of Basic Medical SciencesCapital Medical UniversityBeijing100069China
| | - Anan Li
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical PhotonicsWuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and ImagingChinese Academy of Medical SciencesHUST‐Suzhou Institute for BrainsmaticsJITRISuzhou215100China
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de Figueiredo RM, Falconi-Sobrinho LL, Leite-Panissi CRA, Huston JP, Mattern C, de Carvalho MC, Coimbra NC. D 2-like receptor activation by intranasal dopamine attenuates fear responses induced by electrical stimulation of the dorsal periaqueductal grey matter, but fails to reduce aversion to pit vipers and T-maze performance. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:1257-1272. [PMID: 36239034 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221128018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Panic-like reactions elicited by electrical stimulation of the dorsal periaqueductal grey matter (ES-dPAG) seem to be regulated by dopamine (DA). We showed that DA applied intranasally (IN) increased escape-behaviour thresholds induced by ES-dPAG of rats, indicating a panicolytic-like effect. AIMS We investigated whether IN-DA increases escape-response thresholds induced by ES-dPAG by acting on D2-like receptors, and whether IN-DA affects escape responses elicited by the presence of a potential predator and by open space and height of the elevated T-maze (ETM) as well as motor performance in the open field (OF) test. METHODS Wistar rats exposed to ES-dPAG were treated with Sulpiride (SUL, 40 mg/kg, D2-like receptor antagonist) previously IN-DA (2 mg/kg). Independent groups of rats treated with IN-DA were submitted to prey versus snake paradigm (PSP), ETM and OF. RESULTS Anti-aversive effects of the IN-DA were reduced by SUL pretreatment in the ES-dPAG test. IN-DA did not affect the escape number in the PSP nor the escape latencies in the ETM as well as motor performance in the OF. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION The IN-DA effects in reducing unconditioned fear responses elicited by ES-dPAG seem to be mediated by D2-like receptors. The lack of effects on panic-related responses in the ETM and PSP may be related to the possibility of avoiding the danger inherent to these models, a defence strategy not available during ES-dPAG. These findings cannot be attributed to motor performance. The decision-making responses to avoid dangerous situations can be orchestrated by supra-mesencephalic structures connected by non-dopaminergic inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Machado de Figueiredo
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Institute for Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Institute for Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Christie Ramos Andrade Leite-Panissi
- Department of Psychology, Ribeirão Preto School of Philosophy, Science and Literature of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Institute for Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Joseph P Huston
- Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Claudia Mattern
- MetP Pharma AG, Emmetten, Switzerland, and Oceanographic Centre, Nova Southeastern University, Fl, USA
| | - Milene Cristina de Carvalho
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Institute for Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,NAP-USP-Neurobiology of Emotions Research Centre (NuPNE), Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Institute for Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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43
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Jiang H. Hypothalamic GABAergic neurocircuitry in the regulation of energy homeostasis and sleep/wake control. MEDICAL REVIEW (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 2:531-540. [PMID: 37724165 PMCID: PMC10388747 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neuron, as one of important cell types in synaptic transmission, has been widely involved in central nervous system (CNS) regulation of organismal physiologies including cognition, emotion, arousal and reward. However, upon their distribution in various brain regions, effects of GABAergic neurons in the brain are very diverse. In current report, we will present an overview of the role of GABAergic mediated inhibitory neurocircuitry in the hypothalamus, underlying mechanism of feeding and sleep homeostasis as well as the characteristics of latest transcriptome profile in order to call attention to the GABAergic system as potentially a promising pharmaceutical intervention or a deep brain stimulation target in eating and sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing, China
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44
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Yang Y, Jiang T, Jia X, Yuan J, Li X, Gong H. Whole-Brain Connectome of GABAergic Neurons in the Mouse Zona Incerta. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1315-1329. [PMID: 35984621 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00930-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The zona incerta (ZI) is involved in various functions and may serve as an integrative node of the circuits for global behavioral modulation. However, the long-range connectivity of different sectors in the mouse ZI has not been comprehensively mapped. Here, we obtained whole-brain images of the input and output connections via fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography and viral tracing. The principal regions in the input-output circuits of ZI GABAergic neurons were topologically organized. The 3D distribution of cortical inputs showed rostro-caudal correspondence with different ZI sectors, while the projection fibers from ZI sectors were longitudinally organized in the superior colliculus. Clustering results show that the medial and lateral ZI are two different major functional compartments, and they can be further divided into more subdomains based on projection and input connectivity. This study provides a comprehensive anatomical foundation for understanding how the ZI is involved in integrating different information, conveying motivational states, and modulating global behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xueyan Jia
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xiangning Li
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China. .,Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Hui Gong
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China. .,Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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45
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Tan N, Shi J, Xu L, Zheng Y, Wang X, Lai N, Fang Z, Chen J, Wang Y, Chen Z. Lateral Hypothalamus Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II α Neurons Encode Novelty-Seeking Signals to Promote Predatory Eating. Research (Wash D C) 2022; 2022:9802382. [PMID: 36061821 PMCID: PMC9394055 DOI: 10.34133/2022/9802382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Predatory hunting is an innate appetite-driven and evolutionarily conserved behavior essential for animal survival, integrating sequential behaviors including searching, pursuit, attack, retrieval, and ultimately consumption. Nevertheless, neural circuits underlying hunting behavior with different features remain largely unexplored. Here, we deciphered a novel function of lateral hypothalamus (LH) calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKIIα+) neurons in hunting behavior and uncovered upstream/downstream circuit basis. LH CaMKIIα+ neurons bidirectionally modulate novelty-seeking behavior, predatory attack, and eating in hunting behavior. LH CaMKIIα+ neurons integrate hunting-related novelty-seeking information from the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and project to the ventral periaqueductal gray (vPAG) to promote predatory eating. Our results demonstrate that LH CaMKIIα+ neurons are the key hub that integrate MPOA-conveyed novelty-seeking signals and encode predatory eating in hunting behavior, which enriched the neuronal substrate of hunting behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Tan
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaying Shi
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lingyu Xu
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanrong Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nanxi Lai
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhuowen Fang
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jialu Chen
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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46
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Dai R, Yu T, Weng D, Li H, Cui Y, Wu Z, Guo Q, Zou H, Wu W, Gao X, Qi Z, Ren Y, Wang S, Li Y, Luo M. A neuropsin-based optogenetic tool for precise control of G q signaling. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:1271-1284. [PMID: 35579776 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2122-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gq-coupled receptors regulate numerous physiological processes by activating enzymes and inducing intracellular Ca2+ signals. There is a strong need for an optogenetic tool that enables powerful experimental control over Gq signaling. Here, we present chicken opsin 5 (cOpn5) as the long sought-after, single-component optogenetic tool that mediates ultra-sensitive optical control of intracellular Gq signaling with high temporal and spatial resolution. Expressing cOpn5 in HEK 293T cells and primary mouse astrocytes enables blue light-triggered, Gq-dependent Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and protein kinase C activation. Strong Ca2+ transients were evoked by brief light pulses of merely 10 ms duration and at 3 orders lower light intensity of that for common optogenetic tools. Photostimulation of cOpn5-expressing cells at the subcellular and single-cell levels generated fast intracellular Ca2+ transition, thus demonstrating the high spatial precision of cOpn5 optogenetics. The cOpn5-mediated optogenetics could also be applied to activate neurons and control animal behavior in a circuit-dependent manner. cOpn5 optogenetics may find broad applications in studying the mechanisms and functional relevance of Gq signaling in both non-excitable cells and excitable cells in all major organ systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruicheng Dai
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-NIBS Joint Graduate Program, NIBS, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Tao Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-NIBS Joint Graduate Program, NIBS, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Danwei Weng
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Heng Li
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research (TIMBR), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yuting Cui
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zhaofa Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, 100871, China
- PKU-McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qingchun Guo
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Haiyue Zou
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Wenting Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-NIBS Joint Graduate Program, NIBS, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xinwei Gao
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zhongyang Qi
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yuqi Ren
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Shu Wang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, 100871, China
- PKU-McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China.
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China.
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research (TIMBR), Beijing, 102206, China.
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47
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Zhang K, Pan J, Yu Y. Regulation of Neural Circuitry under General Anesthesia: New Methods and Findings. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070898. [PMID: 35883456 PMCID: PMC9312763 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
General anesthesia has been widely utilized since the 1840s, but its underlying neural circuits remain to be completely understood. Since both general anesthesia and sleep are reversible losses of consciousness, studies on the neural-circuit mechanisms affected by general anesthesia have mainly focused on the neural nuclei or the pathways known to regulate sleep. Three advanced technologies commonly used in neuroscience, in vivo calcium imaging, chemogenetics, and optogenetics, are used to record and modulate the activity of specific neurons or neural circuits in the brain areas of interest. Recently, they have successfully been used to study the neural nuclei and pathways of general anesthesia. This article reviews these three techniques and their applications in the brain nuclei or pathways affected by general anesthesia, to serve as a reference for further and more accurate exploration of other neural circuits under general anesthesia and to contribute to other research fields in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China; (K.Z.); (J.P.)
- Tianjin Institute of Anesthesiology, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Jiacheng Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China; (K.Z.); (J.P.)
- Tianjin Institute of Anesthesiology, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Yonghao Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China; (K.Z.); (J.P.)
- Tianjin Institute of Anesthesiology, Tianjin 300052, China
- Correspondence:
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48
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La-Vu MQ, Sethi E, Maesta-Pereira S, Schuette PJ, Tobias BC, Reis FMCV, Wang W, Torossian A, Bishop A, Leonard SJ, Lin L, Cahill CM, Adhikari A. Sparse genetically defined neurons refine the canonical role of periaqueductal gray columnar organization. eLife 2022; 11:77115. [PMID: 35674316 PMCID: PMC9224993 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During threat exposure, survival depends on defensive reactions. Prior works linked large glutamatergic populations in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) to defensive freezing and flight, and established that the overarching functional organization axis of the PAG is along anatomically-defined columns. Accordingly, broad activation of the dorsolateral column induces flight, while activation of the lateral or ventrolateral (l and vl) columns induces freezing. However, the PAG contains diverse cell types that vary in neurochemistry. How these cell types contribute to defense remains unknown, indicating that targeting sparse, genetically-defined populations may reveal how the PAG generates diverse behaviors. Though prior works showed that broad excitation of the lPAG or vlPAG causes freezing, we found in mice that activation of lateral and ventrolateral PAG (l/vlPAG) cholecystokinin-expressing (CCK) cells selectively caused flight to safer regions within an environment. Furthermore, inhibition of l/vlPAG-CCK cells reduced predator avoidance without altering other defensive behaviors like freezing. Lastly, l/vlPAG-CCK activity decreased when approaching threat and increased during movement to safer locations. These results suggest CCK cells drive threat avoidance states, which are epochs during which mice increase distance from threat and perform evasive escape. Conversely, l/vlPAG pan-neuronal activation promoted freezing, and these cells were activated near threat. Thus, CCK l/vlPAG cells have opposing function and neural activation motifs compared to the broader local ensemble defined solely by columnar boundaries. In addition to the anatomical columnar architecture of the PAG, the molecular identity of PAG cells may confer an additional axis of functional organization, revealing unexplored functional heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mimi Q La-Vu
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Ekayana Sethi
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Sandra Maesta-Pereira
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Peter J Schuette
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Brooke C Tobias
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Fernando M C V Reis
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Weisheng Wang
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Anita Torossian
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Amy Bishop
- Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Saskia J Leonard
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Lilly Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Catherine M Cahill
- Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, United States.,Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
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49
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de Almeida AP, Baldo MVC, Motta SC. Dynamics in brain activation and behaviour in acute and repeated social defensive behaviour. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220799. [PMID: 35703050 PMCID: PMC9198769 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In nature, confrontations between conspecifics are recurrent and related, in general, due to the lack of resources such as food and territory. Adequate defence against a conspecific aggressor is essential for the individual's survival and the group integrity. However, repeated social defeat is a significant stressor promoting several behavioural changes, including social defence per se. What would be the neural basis of these behavioural changes? To build new hypotheses about this, we here investigate the effects of repeated social stress on the neural circuitry underlying motivated social defence behaviour in male mice. We observed that animals re-exposed to the aggressor three times spent more time in passive defence during the last exposure than in the first one. These animals also show less activation of the amygdalar and hypothalamic nuclei related to the processing of conspecific cues. In turn, we found no changes in the activation of the hypothalamic dorsal pre-mammillary nucleus (PMD) that is essential for passive defence. Therefore, our data suggest that the balance between the activity of circuits related to conspecific processing and the PMD determines the pattern of social defence behaviour. Changes in this balance may be the basis of the adaptations in social defence after repeated social defeat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisson P. de Almeida
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Marcus V. C. Baldo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Simone C. Motta
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
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50
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Liu T, Xu Y, Yi CX, Tong Q, Cai D. The hypothalamus for whole-body physiology: from metabolism to aging. Protein Cell 2022; 13:394-421. [PMID: 33826123 PMCID: PMC9095790 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-021-00834-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity and aging are two important epidemic factors for metabolic syndrome and many other health issues, which contribute to devastating diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancers. The brain plays a central role in controlling metabolic physiology in that it integrates information from other metabolic organs, sends regulatory projections and orchestrates the whole-body function. Emerging studies suggest that brain dysfunction in sensing various internal cues or processing external cues may have profound effects on metabolic and other physiological functions. This review highlights brain dysfunction linked to genetic mutations, sex, brain inflammation, microbiota, stress as causes for whole-body pathophysiology, arguing brain dysfunction as a root cause for the epidemic of aging and obesity-related disorders. We also speculate key issues that need to be addressed on how to reveal relevant brain dysfunction that underlines the development of these disorders and diseases in order to develop new treatment strategies against these health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiemin Liu
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Human Phenome Institute, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 China
| | - Yong Xu
- grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XChildren’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Chun-Xia Yi
- grid.7177.60000000084992262Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Qingchun Tong
- grid.453726.10000 0004 5906 7293Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Graduate Program in Neuroscience of MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Dongsheng Cai
- grid.251993.50000000121791997Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461 USA
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