Injections of urocortin 1 into the basolateral amygdala induce anxiety-like behavior and c-Fos expression in brainstem serotonergic neurons

The Role of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) and CRF-Related Peptides in the Social Behavior of Rodents

Since the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was isolated from an ovine brain, a growing family of CRF-related peptides has been discovered. Today, the mammalian CRF system consists of four ligands (CRF, urocortin 1 (Ucn1), urocortin 2 (Ucn2), and urocortin 3 (Ucn3)); two receptors (CRF receptor type 1 (CRF1) and CRF receptor type 2 (CRF2)); and a CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP). Besides the regulation of the neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to stress, CRF and CRF-related peptides are also involved in different aspects of social behavior. In the present study, we review the experiments that investigated the role of CRF and the urocortins involved in the social behavior of rats, mice, and voles, with a special focus on sociability and preference for social novelty, as well as the ability for social recognition, discrimination, and memory. In general, these experiments demonstrate that CRF, Ucn1, Ucn2, and Ucn3 play important, but distinct roles in the social behavior of rodents, and that they are mediated by CRF1 and/or CRF2. In addition, we suggest the possible brain regions and pathways that express CRF and CRF-related peptides and that might be involved in social interactions. Furthermore, we also emphasize the differences between the species, strains, and sexes that make translation of these roles from rodents to humans difficult.

The Role of Gasotransmitter-Dependent Signaling Mechanisms in Apoptotic Cell Death in Cardiovascular, Rheumatic, Kidney, and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Mental Disorders

Cardiovascular, rheumatic, kidney, and neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders are a common cause of deterioration in the quality of life up to severe disability and death worldwide. Many pathological conditions, including this group of diseases, are based on increased cell death through apoptosis. It is known that this process is associated with signaling pathways controlled by a group of gaseous signaling molecules called gasotransmitters. They are unique messengers that can control the process of apoptosis at different stages of its implementation. However, their role in the regulation of apoptotic signaling in these pathological conditions is often controversial and not completely clear. This review analyzes the role of nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in apoptotic cell death in cardiovascular, rheumatic, kidney, and neurodegenerative diseases. The signaling processes involved in apoptosis in schizophrenia, bipolar, depressive, and anxiety disorders are also considered. The role of gasotransmitters in apoptosis in these diseases is largely determined by cell specificity and concentration. NO has the greatest dualism; scales are more prone to apoptosis. At the same time, CO, H₂S, and SO₂ are more involved in cytoprotective processes.

Anxiety and Depression: What Do We Know of Neuropeptides?

In modern society, there has been a rising trend of depression and anxiety. This trend heavily impacts the population’s mental health and thus contributes significantly to morbidity and, in the worst case, to suicides. Modern medicine, with many antidepressants and anxiolytics at hand, is still unable to achieve remission in many patients. The pathophysiology of depression and anxiety is still only marginally understood, which encouraged researchers to focus on neuropeptides, as they are a vast group of signaling molecules in the nervous system. Neuropeptides are involved in the regulation of many physiological functions. Some act as neuromodulators and are often co-released with neurotransmitters that allow for reciprocal communication between the brain and the body. Most studied in the past were the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of oxytocin, vasopressin or neuropeptide Y and S, or Substance P. However, in recent years, more and more novel neuropeptides have been added to the list, with implications for the research and development of new targets, diagnostic elements, and even therapies to treat anxiety and depressive disorders. In this review, we take a close look at all currently studied neuropeptides, their related pathways, their roles in stress adaptation, and the etiology of anxiety and depression in humans and animal models. We will focus on the latest research and information regarding these associated neuropeptides and thus picture their potential uses in the future.

Neurobiology of Loneliness, Isolation, and Loss: Integrating Human and Animal Perspectives

In social species such as humans, non-human primates, and even many rodent species, social interaction and the maintenance of social bonds are necessary for mental and physical health and wellbeing. In humans, perceived isolation, or loneliness, is not only characterized by physical isolation from peers or loved ones, but also involves negative perceptions about social interactions and connectedness that reinforce the feelings of isolation and anxiety. As a complex behavioral state, it is no surprise that loneliness and isolation are associated with dysfunction within the ventral striatum and the limbic system - brain regions that regulate motivation and stress responsiveness, respectively. Accompanying these neural changes are physiological symptoms such as increased plasma and urinary cortisol levels and an increase in stress responsivity. Although studies using animal models are not perfectly analogous to the uniquely human state of loneliness, studies on the effects of social isolation in animals have observed similar physiological symptoms such as increased corticosterone, the rodent analog to human cortisol, and also display altered motivation, increased stress responsiveness, and dysregulation of the mesocortical dopamine and limbic systems. This review will discuss behavioral and neuropsychological components of loneliness in humans, social isolation in rodent models, and the neurochemical regulators of these behavioral phenotypes with a neuroanatomical focus on the corticostriatal and limbic systems. We will also discuss social loss as a unique form of social isolation, and the consequences of bond disruption on stress-related behavior and neurophysiology.

Gray areas: Neuropeptide circuits linking the Edinger-Westphal and Dorsal Raphe nuclei in addiction

The circuitry of addiction comprises several neural networks including the midbrain - an expansive region critically involved in the control of motivated behaviors. Midbrain nuclei like the Edinger-Westphal (EW) and dorsal raphe (DR) contain unique populations of neurons that synthesize many understudied neuroactive molecules and are encircled by the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Despite the proximity of these special neuron classes to the ventral midbrain complex and surrounding PAG, functions of the EW and DR remain substantially underinvestigated by comparison. Spanning approximately -3.0 to -5.2 mm posterior from bregma in the mouse, these various cell groups form a continuum of neurons that we refer to collectively as the subaqueductal paramedian zone. Defining how these pathways modulate affective behavioral states presents a difficult, yet conquerable challenge for today's technological advances in neuroscience. In this review, we cover the known contributions of different neuronal subtypes of the subaqueductal paramedian zone. We catalogue these cell types based on their spatial, molecular, connectivity, and functional properties and integrate this information with the existing data on the EW and DR in addiction. We next discuss evidence that links the EW and DR anatomically and functionally, highlighting the potential contributions of an EW-DR circuit to addiction-related behaviors. Overall, we aim to derive an integrated framework that emphasizes the contributions of EW and DR nuclei to addictive states and describes how these cell groups function in individuals suffering from substance use disorders. This article is part of the special Issue on 'Neurocircuitry Modulating Drug and Alcohol Abuse'.

Lead (Pb) exposure induces physiological alterations in the serotoninergic and vasopressin systems causing anxiogenic-like behavior in Meriones shawi: Assessment of BDMC as a neuroprotective compound for Pb-neurotoxicity and kidney damages

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that lead (Pb) is one of hazardous heavy metals with various adverse effects on human health including mental health; Pb can induce psychiatric disorders like anxiety. In the present work, we examined the potential of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) as a neuroprotective agent against lead induced anxiety inMeriones shawi (M. shawi).

METHODS

We asses, the potential of three consecutive day exposure to Pb (25 mg/kg body weight) in inducing anxiogenic effect, serotoninergic and vasopressinergic disruptions inM. shawi. This was done using neurobehavioral tests (open field, elevated plus maze), immunohistochemestry by anti-serotonin (5-HT), and anti-vasopressin (AVP) antibodies. We also measured the possible restorative potential of BDMC (30 mg/kg body weight), delivered by oral gavage. After that, a biochemical and histopathological studies were done.

RESULTS

Our results showed that lead exposure for three consecutive days increases significantly the 5-HT-immunoreactivity in dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) accompanied with a significant enhancement of AVP-immunoreactivity in the cell bodies and fibers in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the hypothalamus. In the collecting tube, AVP binds to the V2 receptor of the epithelial cells and increases the water permeability. Our results showed clearly the epithelial cells degeneration after lead exposure, then we suggest that the increased AVP could be a response to the hydric balance disrupted after degenerative effect of lead exposure on epithelial cells. BDMC produced an anxiolytic effect in meriones. Moreover, it restored 5-HT and AVP immunoreactivity within studying nuclei. The biochemical and histopathological studies showed that Pb induced renal damages. In addition, BDMC restored the renal alterations.

CONCLUSION

According to the obtained results, we suggest new pharmacological effects of BDMC; while it has an anxiolytic effect against Pb-induced anxiety by working on serotoninergic and vasopressinergic systems with an obvious restoration of the renal injuries induced by lead exposure.

Intra-periaqueductal gray matter administration of orexin-A exaggerates pulpitis-induced anxiogenic responses and c-fos expression mainly through the interaction with orexin 1 and cannabinoid 1 receptors in rats

Different types of trigeminal pains are frequently associated with psychophysiological concerns. Orexin-A and orexin 1 receptor (OX1R) are involved in modulation of both trigeminal pain and anxiety responses. Ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter (vlPAG), a controlling site for nociception and emotion, receives orexinergic inputs. Here, the role of vlPAG OX1Rs and their interaction with cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor was evaluated in anxiety-like behavior following capsaicin-induced dental pulp pain. Rats were cannulated in the vlPAG and orexin-A was injected at the doses of 0.17, 0.35 and 0.51 μg/rat prior to the induction of pain. The elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field (OF) tests were used for assessing the anxiety responses. In addition, the induction of c-fos, in the vlPAG, was investigated using immunofluorescence microscopy. Capsaicin-treated rats displayed significantly higher anxiogenic behavior on EPM and OF tests. Pretreatment with orexin-A (0.51 μg/rat) attenuated capsaicin-mediated nociception, while exaggerated anxiogenic responses (p < 0.05). In addition, orexin-A effects were diminished by the administration of OX1R (SB-334867, 12 μg/rat) and cannabinoid 1 (AM251, 4 μg/rat) receptor antagonists. Intradental capsaicin induced a significant increase in c-fos expression in the vlPAG that was exaggerated by orexin-A (0.51 μg/rat). Blockage of OX1R and CB1 receptors attenuated the effect of orexin-A on c-fos expression in capsaicin-treated rats. In conclusion, the data suggest that manipulation of OX1R and CB1 receptors in the vlPAG alters capsaicin-evoked anxiety like behaviors and c-fos induction in rats.

The Impact of Stressor Exposure and Glucocorticoids on Anxiety and Fear

Anxiety disorders and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are common and are associated with significant economic and social burdens. Although trauma and stressor exposure are recognized as a risk factors for development of anxiety disorders and trauma or stressor exposure is recognized as essential for diagnosis of PTSD, the mechanisms through which trauma and stressor exposure lead to these disorders are not well characterized. An improved understanding of the mechanisms through which trauma or stressor exposure leads to development and persistence of anxiety disorders or PTSD may result in novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these disorders. Here, we review the current state-of-the-art theories, with respect to mechanisms through which stressor exposure leads to acute or chronic exaggeration of avoidance or anxiety-like defensive behavioral responses and fear, endophenotypes in both anxiety disorders and trauma- and stressor-related psychiatric disorders. In this chapter, we will explore physiological responses and neural circuits involved in the development of acute and chronic exaggeration of anxiety-like defensive behavioral responses and fear states, focusing on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and glucocorticoid hormones.

Effects of chronic caffeine exposure during adolescence and subsequent acute caffeine challenge during adulthood on rat brain serotonergic systems

Caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world. However, animal studies suggest that chronic consumption of caffeine during adolescence can result in enhanced anxiety-like behavioral responses during adulthood. One mechanism through which chronic caffeine administration may influence subsequent anxiety-like responses is through actions on brainstem serotonergic systems. In order to explore potential effects of chronic caffeine consumption on brainstem serotonergic systems, we evaluated the effects of a 28-day exposure to chronic caffeine (0.3 g/L; postnatal day 28-56) or vehicle administration in the drinking water, followed by 24 h caffeine withdrawal, and subsequent challenge with caffeine (30 mg/kg; s.c.) or vehicle in adolescent male rats. In Experiment 1, acute caffeine challenge induced a widespread activation of serotonergic neurons throughout the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR); this effect was attenuated in rats that had been exposed to chronic caffeine consumption. In Experiment 2, acute caffeine administration profoundly decreased tph2 and slc22a3 mRNA expression throughout the DR, with no effects on htr1a or slc6a4 mRNA expression. Chronic caffeine exposure for four weeks during adolescence was sufficient to decrease tph2 mRNA expression in the DR measured 28 h after caffeine withdrawal. Chronic caffeine administration during adolescence did not impact the ability of acute caffeine to decrease tph2 or slc22a3 mRNA expression. Together, these data suggest that both chronic caffeine administration during adolescence and acute caffeine challenge during adulthood are important determinants of serotonergic function and serotonergic gene expression, effects that may contribute to chronic effects of caffeine on anxiety-like responses.

Similar effect of CRF1 and CRF2 receptor in the basolateral or central nuclei of the amygdala on tonic immobility behavior

Studies have used paradigms based on animal models to understand human emotional behavior because they appear to be correlated with fear- and anxiety-related defensive patterns in non-human mammals. In this context, tonic immobility (TI) behavior is an innate response associated with extreme threat situations, such as predator attack. Some reports have demonstrated the involvement of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in regulation of the endocrine system, defensive behaviors and behavioral responses to stress. Particularly, a previous study showed that the activation of CRF receptors in the basolateral (BLA) or central (CeA) nuclei of the amygdala increased TI responses, whereas treatment with a non-selective CRF antagonist, alpha-helical-CRF_9-41, decreased this innate fear response. However, while CRF₁ receptors have pronounced effects in stress-induced anxiety, CRF₂ receptors appear be involved in the expression of both stress-induced anxiety and spontaneous anxiety behavior. In this study, we investigated the effects of specific CRF receptors, CRF₁ and CRF₂, in the BLA and CeA on the duration of TI in guinea pigs. The results show that blockade of CRF₁ and CRF₂ receptors in the BLA and CeA produces a decrease in fear and/or anxiety, as suggested by a decrease in TI duration in the guinea pigs. Additionally, the specific antagonists for CRF₁ and CRF₂ receptors were able to prevent the increase in TI duration induced by CRF administration at the same sites. These results suggest that the modulation of fear and anxiety by the CRF system in the BLA and CeA occurs through concomitant effects on CRF₁ and CRF₂ receptors.

Region-specific roles of the corticotropin-releasing factor-urocortin system in stress

Dysregulation of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-urocortin (UCN) system has been implicated in stress-related psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety. It has been proposed that CRF-CRF receptor type 1 (CRFR1) signalling promotes the stress response and anxiety-like behaviour, whereas UCNs and CRFR2 activation mediate stress recovery and the restoration of homeostasis. Recent findings, however, provide clear evidence that this view is overly simplistic. Instead, a more complex picture has emerged that suggests that there are brain region- and cell type-specific effects of CRFR signalling that are influenced by the individual's prior experience and that shape molecular, cellular and ultimately behavioural responses to stressful challenges.

Serotonergic Neuroplasticity in Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is a debilitating disorder producing maladaptive changes in the brain, leading drinkers to become more sensitive to stress and anxiety. These changes are key factors contributing to alcohol craving and maintaining a persistent vulnerability to relapse.

Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter widely expressed in the central nervous system where it plays an important role in the regulation of mood. The serotonin system has been extensively implicated in the regulation of stress and anxiety, as well as the reinforcing properties of all of the major classes of drugs of abuse, including alcohol. Dysregulation within the 5-HT system has been postulated to underlie the negative mood states associated with alcohol use disorders.

This review will describe the serotonergic (5-HTergic) neuroplastic changes observed in animal models throughout the alcohol addiction cycle, from prenatal to adulthood exposure. The first section will focus on alcohol-induced 5-HTergic neuroadaptations in offspring prenatally exposed to alcohol and the consequences on the regulation of stress/anxiety. The second section will compare alterations in 5-HT signalling induced by acute or chronic alcohol exposure during adulthood and following alcohol withdrawal, highlighting the impact on the regulation of stress/anxiety signalling pathways. The third section will outline 5-HTergic neuroadaptations observed in various genetically-selected ethanol preferring rat lines. Finally, we will discuss the pharmacological manipulation of the 5-HTergic system on ethanol- and anxiety/stress-related behaviours demonstrated by clinical trials, with an emphasis on current and potential treatments.

Impact of [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP-6 and feeding status on hypothalamic ghrelin-induced stress activation

Ghrelin administration directly into hypothalamic nuclei, including the arcuate nucleus (ArcN) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), alters the expression of stress-related behaviors. In the present study we investigated the effect of feeding status on the ability of ghrelin to induce stress and anxiogenesis. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were implanted with guide cannula targeting either the ArcN or PVN. In the first experiment we confirmed that ArcN and PVN ghrelin treatment produced anxiety-like behavior as measured using the elevated plus maze (EPM) paradigm. Ghrelin was administered during the early dark cycle. Immediately after microinjections rats were placed in the EPM for 5min. Both ArcN and PVN treatment reduced open arm exploration. The effect was attenuated by pretreatment with the ghrelin 1a receptor antagonist [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP-6. In a separate group of animals ghrelin was injected into either nucleus and rats were returned to their home cages for 60min with free access to food. An additional group of rats was returned to home cages with no food access. After 60min with or without food access all rats were tested in the EPM. Results indicated that food consumption just prior to EPM testing reversed the avoidance of the open arms of the EPM. In contrast, rats injected with ghrelin, placed in their home cage for 60min without food, and subsequently tested in the EPM, exhibited an increased avoidance of the open arms, consistent with stress activation. Overall, our findings demonstrate that ghrelin 1a receptor blockade and feeding status appear to impact the ability of ArcN and PVN ghrelin to elicit stress and anxiety-like behaviors.

Perinatal citalopram does not prevent the effect of prenatal stress on anxiety, depressive-like behaviour and serotonergic transmission in adult rat offspring

It is still not clear whether the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors frequently prescribed to depressed pregnant women improve the behavioural outcome in their children. The current study investigated whether administration of citalopram to pregnant rats could prevent anxiety and depressive-like behaviour induced by gestational stress in their offspring, and restore the expression of serotonin 1A autoreceptors in GABAergic interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex and dorsal raphe nuclei in males, and of corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 receptors in GABAergic interneurons in the dorsal raphe nuclei in females. Activation of these receptors modulates serotonergic transmission to target areas and is reduced in a sex-dependent manner by prenatal stress. Citalopram (10 mg/kg/day), administered orally from day 7 of gestation until 21 days postpartum, prevented the increase in anxiety in stressed mothers but did not reduce anxiety and depressive-like behaviour in their offspring and even induced depressive-like behaviour in the offspring of control mothers. Citalopram failed to restore the reduction in the expression of serotonin 1A autoreceptors in the prefrontal cortex of males and in corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 receptors in the dorsal raphe nuclei of females induced by prenatal stress. Prenatal citalopram did not prevent the behavioural changes or reduction in serotonergic transmission to target areas induced by prenatal stress. It had adverse behavioural effects in the offspring of control rats, which, together with the lack of any change in prenatally-stressed rats, may be due to inhibition of the foetal serotonin transporter thereby preventing normal development of the serotonin system.

Midbrain raphe 5-HT1A receptor activation alters the effects of ghrelin on appetite and performance in the elevated plus maze

Prior research suggests that midbrain serotonergic signaling and hypothalamic ghrelinergic signaling both play critical roles in appetitive and emotional behaviors. In the present study, we investigated the effects of median raphe nucleus (MRN) somatodentritic 5-HT1A receptor activation on the feeding-stimulant and anxiogenic action of paraventricular nucleus (PVN) ghrelin. In an initial experiment, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with either ghrelin (200-800 pmol) into the PVN or 8-OH-DPAT (2.5-10 nmol), a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, into the MRN. Performance on the elevated plus maze (EPM) was then assessed. In separate rats, MRN 8-OH-DPAT (2.5-5 nmol) was administered 5 min prior to PVN injection of ghrelin (400 pmol) followed by EPM testing. The orexigenic effects of MRN 8-OH-DPAT (0.1-1.6 nmol) paired with PVN ghrelin (50 pmol) were also examined. When administered alone into the PVN, ghrelin significantly decreased the number of entries and time spent in the open arms of the EPM. This anxiogenic effect was blocked if rats were allowed to eat immediately after ghrelin administration and then tested in the plus maze. MRN injections of 8-OH-DPAT were anxiolytic, and when rats were pretreated with 8-OH-DPAT prior to ghrelin, the anxiogenic action of the peptide was attenuated. In contrast, MRN administration of 8-OH-DPAT potentiated the eating-stimulant effect of PVN ghrelin. Overall, our findings demonstrate that ghrelinergic and serotonergic circuits interact in the neural control of eating and anxiety-like behaviors, with 5-HT1A receptor mechanisms potentiating the orexigenic action of ghrelin while inhibiting ghrelin-induced anxiogenesis as measured via the EPM.

Methamphetamine and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Psychostimulants such as methamphetamine (MA) induce significant alterations in the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These changes in HPA axis function are associated with altered stress-related behaviors and might contribute to addictive processes such as relapse. In this mini-review we discuss acute and chronic effects of MA (adult and developmental exposure) on the HPA axis, including effects on HPA axis associated genes/proteins, brain regions, and behaviors such as anxiety and depression. A better understanding of the mechanisms through which MA affects the HPA axis may lead to more effective treatment strategies for MA addiction.

Harnessing the power of yeast to elucidate the role of sphingolipids in metabolic and signaling processes pertinent to psychiatric disorders

The development of therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders is hampered by the lack of understanding of the mechanisms underlying their pathologies. While aberrant sphingolipid metabolism is associated with psychiatric illness, the role of sphingolipids in these disorders is not understood. The genetically tractable yeast model can be exploited in order to elucidate the cellular consequences of sphingolipid perturbation. Hypotheses generated from studies in yeast and tested in mammalian cells may contribute to our understanding of the role of sphingolipids in psychiatric disorders and to the development of new treatments. Here, we compare sphingolipid metabolism in yeast and mammalian cells, discuss studies implicating sphingolipids in psychiatric disorders and propose approaches that utilize yeast in order to elucidate sphingolipid function and identify drugs that target sphingolipid synthesis.

Activation of urocortin 1 and ghrelin signaling in the basolateral amygdala induces anxiogenesis

Prior anatomical and functional studies have demonstrated the importance of the basolateral region of the amygdala in the regulation of anxiogenic and anxiolytic behaviors. In the present report we investigated the anxiety-inducing effects of the corticotropin-releasing hormone-related peptide urocortin 1 (Ucn1) and the gut-brain peptide ghrelin. Both peptides were injected directly into the basolateral amygdala of male Sprague-Dawley rats and performance in the elevated plus maze was assessed. Ghrelin was administered at doses of 3-300 pmol and Ucn1 at doses of 0.01-1.0 pmol. Separate groups of rats were pretreated with Ucn1 before ghrelin treatment. In all experiments each test was performed as a single trial per animal. Results indicated that both ghrelin and Ucn1 elicited an increase in anxiogenic behavior. Moreover, Ucn1 pretreament potentiated the anxiogenic action of ghrelin. Overall these findings provide support for an integrated role of ghrelin and urocortin signaling within the basolateral amygdala in the expression of anxiogenesis.

A blunted anxiolytic like effect of curcumin against acute lead induced anxiety in rat: involvement of serotonin

Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders sharing extreme or pathological anxiety states as the primary disturbance in mood or emotional tone, with increased fear and exaggerated acute stress responses. Medicinal plants are very variable, but some of them are used as a spice such as curcumin (Curcuma longa). Curcumin shows a wide range of pharmacological potentialities, however, little is known about its anxiolytic properties. The aim of our study was to assess the anti-anxiety potential of curcumin extract against experimental lead induced-anxiety in rats. Experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats intoxicated acutely with an intraperitoneal injection of Pb (25mg/kg B.W.) and/or concomitantly with administration of curcumin (30 mg/kg B.W.) for 3 days. Using immunohistochemistry and anxiety assessment tests (dark light box and elevated plus maze), we evaluated, respectively, the expression of serotonin (5HT) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and the anxiety state in our animals. Our results showed, for the first time, a noticeable anxiolytic effect of curcumin against lead induced anxiety in rats and this may possibly result from modulation of central neuronal monoaminergic neurotransmission, especially serotonin, which has shown a significant reduction of the immunoreactivity within the DRN.

CRHR1 links peripuberty stress with deficits in social and stress-coping behaviors

Stressful life events during childhood and adolescence are important risk factors for the development of psychopathologies later in life. The corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and the CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) have been implicated in the link between early life adversity and adult anxiety and depression, with rodent studies identifying the very early postnatal period as highly susceptible to this programming. Here, we investigated whether stress exposure during the peripubertal period - comprising juvenility and puberty - is effective in inducing long-lasting changes in the expression of CRHR1 and CRHR2 in the hippocampus and amygdala, and whether treating animals with a CRHR1 antagonist following stress exposure could reverse behavioral alterations induced by peripuberty stress. We show that peripuberty stress leads to enhanced expression of the Crhr1, but not Crhr2, gene in the hippocampal CA1 and the central nucleus of the amygdala, in association with social deficits in the social exploration test and increased stress-coping behaviors in the forced swim test. Treatment with the CRHR1 antagonist NBI30775 (10 mg/kg) daily for 1 week (from P43 to P49), immediately following peripuberty stress exposure, prevented the occurrence of those psychopathological behaviors at adulthood. These findings highlight peripuberty as a period of plasticity for the enduring modulation of the CRHR1 system and support a growing body of data implicating the CRHR1 system in the programming effects of early life stress on eventual psychopathology. They also support recent evidence indicating that temporarily tackling CRHR1 during development might represent a therapeutic opportunity to correct behavioral trajectories linking early stress to adult psychopathology.

CRF type 1 receptors of the medial amygdala modulate inhibitory avoidance responses in the elevated T-maze

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a critical role in the mediation of physiological and behavioral responses to stressors. In the present study, we investigated the role played by the CRF system within the medial amygdala (MeA) in the modulation of anxiety and fear-related responses. Male Wistar rats were bilaterally administered into the MeA with CRF (125 and 250 ng/0.2μl, experiment 1) or with the CRFR1 antagonist antalarmin (25 ng/0.2 μl, experiment 2) and 10 min later tested in the elevated T-maze (ETM) for inhibitory avoidance and escape measurements. In clinical terms, these responses have been respectively related to generalized anxiety and panic disorder. To further verify if the anxiogenic effects of CRF were mediated by CRFR1 activation, we also investigated the effects of the combined treatment with CRF (250 ng/0.2 μl) and antalarmin (25 ng/0.2 μl) (experiment 3). All animals were tested in an open field, immediately after the ETM, for locomotor activity assessment. Results showed that CRF, in the two doses administered, facilitated ETM avoidance, an anxiogenic response. Antalarmin significantly decreased avoidance latencies, an anxiolytic effect, and was able to counteract the anxiogenic effects of CRF. None of the compounds administered altered escape responses or locomotor activity measurements. These results suggest that CRF in the MeA exerts anxiogenic effects by activating type 1 receptors, which might be of relevance to the physiopathology of generalized anxiety disorder.

Differential activation of neuronal cell types in the basolateral amygdala by corticotropin releasing factor

Enhanced corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) release in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is strongly associated with the generation of behavioral stress responses through activation of the CRF-R1 receptor subtype. Stress and anxiety-like behavior are modulated in part by the balance of peptide actions such as excitatory CRF and inhibitory neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor activation in the BLA. While the actions of CRF are clear, little is known about the cell type influenced by CRF receptor stimulation. These studies were designed to identify the cell types within the BLA activated by intra-BLA administration of CRF using multi-label immunohistochemistry for cFos and markers for pyramidal (CaMKII-immunopositive) and interneuronal [glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65)] cell populations. Administration of CRF into the BLA produced a dose-dependent increase in the expression of cFos-ir. Intra-BLA injection of CRF induced significant increases in cFos-ir in the CaMKII-ir population. Although increases in cFos-ir in GAD65-ir cells were observed, this did not reach statistical significance perhaps in part due to the decreased numbers of GAD65-ir cells within the BLA after CRF treatment. These findings demonstrate that CRF, when released into the BLA, activates projection neurons and that the activity of GABAergic interneurons is also altered by CRF treatment. Decreases in the number of GAD65-ir neurons could reflect either increased or decreased activity of these cells and future studies will more directly address these possibilities. The expression of cFos is associated with longer term regulation of gene expression which may be involved in the profound long term effects of neuropeptides, such as CRF, on the activity and plasticity of BLA pyramidal neurons.

Central corticotropin releasing factor and social stress

Social interactions are a main source of stress in vertebrates. Social stressors, as well as other stressors, activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis resulting in glucocorticoid release. One of the main components of the HPA axis is corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). The neuropeptide CRF is part of a peptide family including CRF, urocortin 1–3, urotensin 1–3, and sauvagine. The actions of the CRF family are mediated by at least two different receptors with different anatomical distribution and affinities for the peptides. The CRF peptides affect several behavioral and physiological responses to stress including aggression, feeding, and locomotor activity. This review will summarize recent research in vertebrates concerning how social stress interacts with components of the CRF system. Consideration will be taken to the different models used for social stress ranging from social isolation, dyadic interactions, to group dominance hierarchies. Further, the temporal effect of social stressor from acute, intermittent, to chronic will be considered. Finally, strains selected for specific behavior or physiology linked to social stress will also be discussed.

The CRF system and social behavior: a review

The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system plays a key role in a diversity of behaviors accompanying stress, anxiety and depression. There is also substantial research on relationships between social behaviors and the CRF system in a variety of taxa including fish, birds, rodents, and primates. Some of these relationships are due to the broad role of CRF and urocortins in stress and anxiety, but these peptides also modulate social behavior specifically. For example, the social interaction (SI) test is often used to measure anxiety-like behavior. Many components of the CRF system including CRF, urocortin1, and the R1 receptor have been implicated in SI, via general effects on anxiety as well as specific effects depending on the brain region. The CRF system is also highly responsive to chronic social stressors such as social defeat and isolation. Animals exposed to these stressors display a number of anxiety- and stress-related behaviors, accompanied by changes in specific components the CRF system. Although the primary focus of CRF research on social behavior has been on the deleterious effects of social stress, there are also insights on a role for CRF and urocortins in prosocial and affiliative behaviors. The CRF system has been implicated in parental care, maternal defense, sexual behavior, and pair bonding. Species differences in the ligands and CRF receptors have been observed in vole and bird species differing in social behavior. Exogenous administration of CRF facilitates partner preference formation in monogamous male prairie voles, and these effects are dependent on both the CRF R1 and R2 receptors. These findings are particularly interesting as studies have also implicated the CRF and urocortins in social memory. With the rapid progress of social neuroscience and in understanding the complex structure of the CRF system, the next challenge is in parsing the exact contribution of individual components of this system to specific social behaviors.

Post-weaning social isolation attenuates c-Fos expression in GABAergic interneurons in the basolateral amygdala of adult female rats

Previous studies have found that adolescent social isolation of rats can lead to an increased anxiety state during adulthood, while chronic anxiety states are associated with dysregulated local GABAergic inhibition within the basolateral amygdala (BL). Therefore, we investigated the effects of post-weaning social isolation of female rats, in combination with a challenge with the anxiogenic drug, N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG-7142), on a subset of GABAergic interneurons in the BL in adulthood using dual immunohistochemical staining for c-Fos and parvalbumin. Juvenile female rats were reared in isolation or in groups of three for a 3-week period from weaning to mid-adolescence, after which all rats were group-housed for an additional 2 weeks. Group-reared rats and isolation-reared rats injected with FG-7142 had increased c-Fos expression in GABAergic interneurons in the anterior part of the BL compared to group-reared rats and isolation-reared rats, respectively, injected with vehicle. Isolation rearing had a main effect to decrease c-Fos expression in GABAergic interneurons in the anterior part of the BL compared to group-reared rats. These data suggest that post-weaning social isolation of female rats leads to dysregulation of a parvalbumin-containing subset of local GABAergic interneurons in the anterior part of the BL, which have previously been implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic anxiety states. These cellular changes may lead to an increased vulnerability to stress- and anxiety-related responses in adulthood.

Chronic non-invasive corticosterone administration abolishes the diurnal pattern of tph2 expression

Both hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and serotonergic systems are commonly dysregulated in stress-related psychiatric disorders. We describe here a non-invasive rat model for hypercortisolism, as observed in major depression, and its effects on physiology, behavior, and the expression of tph2, the gene encoding tryptophan hydroxylase 2, the rate-limiting enzyme for brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) synthesis. We delivered corticosterone (40 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml or 400 μg/ml) or vehicle to adrenal-intact adult, male rats via the drinking water for 3 weeks. On days 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively, the rats' emotionality was assessed in the open-field (OF), social interaction (SI), elevated plus-maze (EPM), and forced swim tests (FST). On day 21, half of the rats in each group were killed 2h into the dark phase of a 12/12 h reversed light/dark cycle; the other half were killed 2h into the light phase. We then measured indices of HPA axis activity, plasma glucose and interleukin-6 (IL-6) availability, and neuronal tph2 expression at each time point. Chronic corticosterone intake was sufficient to cause increased anxiety- and depressive-like behavior in a dose-dependent manner. It also disrupted the diurnal pattern of plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), corticosterone, and glucose concentrations, caused adrenal atrophy, and prevented regular weight gain. No diurnal or treatment-dependent changes were found for plasma concentrations of IL-6. Remarkably, all doses of corticosterone treatment abolished the diurnal variation of tph2 mRNA expression in the brainstem dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) by elevating the gene's expression during the animals' inactive (light) phase. Our data demonstrate that chronic elevation of corticosterone creates a vulnerability to a depression-like syndrome that is associated with increased tph2 expression, similar to that observed in depressed patients.

Elevated tph2 mRNA expression in a rat model of chronic anxiety

BACKGROUND

Allelic variations in TPH2, the gene encoding tryptophan hydroxylase 2, the rate-limiting enzyme for brain serotonin (5-HT) biosynthesis, may be genetic predictors of panic disorder and panic responses to panicogenic challenges in healthy volunteers. To test the hypothesis that tph2 mRNA is altered in chronic anxiety states, we measured tph2 expression in an established rat model of panic disorder.

METHODS

We implanted 16 adult, male rats with bilateral guide cannulae and then primed them with daily injections of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor agonist, urocortin 1 (UCN1, 6 fmoles/100 nl per side, n = 8) or vehicle (n = 8) into the basolateral amygdaloid complex (BL) for 5 consecutive days. Anxiety-like behavior was assessed, 24 hr prior to and 48 hr following priming, in the social interaction (SI) test. A third group (n = 7) served as undisturbed home cage controls. All rats were killed 3 days after the last intra-BL injection to analyze tph2 and slc6a4 (gene encoding the serotonin transporter, SERT) mRNA expression in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), the main source of serotonergic projections to anxiety-related brain regions, using in situ hybridization histochemistry.

RESULTS

UCN1 priming increased anxiety-related behavior in the SI test compared to vehicle-injected controls and elevated tph2, but not slc6a4, mRNA expression in DR subregions, including the ventrolateral DR/ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (DRVL/VLPAG), a subregion previously implicated in control of panic-related physiologic responses. Tph2 mRNA expression in the DRVL/VLPAG was correlated with increased anxiety-related behavior.

CONCLUSION

Our data support the hypothesis that chronic anxiety states are associated with dysregulated tph2 expression.

Increases of CRF in the amygdala are responsible for reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behavior induced by footshock

Recent evidence suggests the involvement of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in drug abuse. Here, we evaluated whether CRF modulates the reinstatement of methamphetamine (METH)-seeking behavior induced by stress using a drug-self administration paradigm in rats. Rats were trained to lever-press for intravenous METH (0.02 mg/infusion) accompanied by light and tone (drug-associated cues) and then underwent extinction training (saline substituted for METH without cues). Under the extinction condition, the inhibitory effects of a CRF receptor antagonist on the stress-induced reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior were assessed. Anxiety-like behaviors during METH withdrawal in METH self-administered rats were also evaluated. The non-selective CRF receptor antagonist α-helical CRF(9-41) attenuated METH-seeking behavior induced by footshock stress. CRF levels both in the amygdala and in plasma were significantly increased on day 10 of withdrawal after METH self-administration. However, plasma corticosterone concentrations were unchanged during the withdrawal. In addition, METH-seeking behavior was not affected by an inhibitor of corticosterone synthesis, metyrapone. In the elevated plus maze test, METH self-administered rats showed a decrease in the duration of time spent in the open arms on day 10 of withdrawal. The increased CRF levels in the amygdala may, at least in part, contribute to the footshock-induced reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior and the increase in anxiety-like behavior. The present findings indicate that CRF receptor antagonists would be useful as a therapeutic agent for METH-dependence.

Sex differences in prenatally programmed anxiety behaviour in rats: differential corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor mRNA expression in the amygdaloid complex

We recently reported that male, but not female, offspring born to mothers exposed to social stress during late gestation show heightened anxiety-type behaviour in adulthood. The amygdala organises anxious behaviour, which involves actions of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH gene expression and/or its release are increased in the amygdala in prenatally stressed (PNS) rats. CRH type 1 receptor (CRH-R1) mediates actions of CRH and urocortin I to promote anxiety-like behaviour, whereas the CRH type 2 receptor (CRH-R2) may mediate anxiolytic actions, through actions of urocortins 2 and 3. Here, using quantitative in situ hybridisation, we investigated whether altered CRH receptor mRNA expression in the amygdaloid nuclei may explain the sex differences in anxiety behaviour in adult male and female PNS rats. CRH-R1 mRNA expression was significantly greater in the central amygdala and basolateral amygdala (BLA) in male PNS rats compared with controls, with no change in the basomedial amygdala (BMA) or medial amygdala (MeA). In PNS females, CRH-R1 mRNA expression was greater than controls only in the MeA. Conversely, CRH-R2 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the BMA of male PNS rats compared with controls, but greater in female PNS rats, with no change in the BLA or MeA in either sex. The ratio of CRH-R1:CRH-R2 mRNA in the amygdaloid nuclei was generally increased in PNS males, but not in the PNS females. In conclusion, sex differences in anxiety-type behaviour in PNS rats may be explained by differential mRNA expression for CRH-R1 (pro-anxiogenic) and CRH-R2 (pro-anxiolytic) in the amygdaloid complex.

The cannabinoid receptor CB₁ inverse agonist AM251 potentiates the anxiogenic activity of urocortin I in the basolateral amygdala

The basolateral amygdala is reported to play an important role in the neural bases of emotional processing. Previous studies have shown that injections of urocortin I (UcnI) into the basolateral amygdala (BLA) elicit anxiety-like behaviors in animal models. The present study examined the anxiogenic effects of UcnI administered directly into the BLA of male Sprague-Dawley rats. UcnI was administered at doses of 0.1-10.0 pmol and rats were then placed in an elevated plus maze for 10 min. UcnI reliably decreased the percent time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM) as well as open arm entries. This effect was observed across all doses tested, indicating the induction of anxiety-like behavior. In separate groups of rats, the CB(1) inverse agonist AM251 was administered systemically (0.03-3.0 mg/kg IP) or directly into the BLA (0.25-25.0 pmol) and EPM performance assessed. Both routes of AM251 administration produced a reduction in open arm entries and in time spent in the open arms. Moreover, when rats were pretreated with AM251 either systemically or directly into the BLA, the anxiogenic effect of UcnI was potentiated. That is, co-administration of AM251 and UcnI produced a greater suppression of percent time spent in the open arms and open arm entries as compared to UcnI alone. Based on these findings, we propose that urocortin and endocannabinoid signaling are part of an integrated neural axis modulating anxiety states within the basolateral amygdala. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Anxiety and Depression'.

Activation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptors from the basolateral or central amygdala increases the tonic immobility response in guinea pigs: an innate fear behavior

The tonic immobility (TI) behavior is an innate response associated with extreme threat situations such as a predator attack. Several studies have provided evidence suggesting an important role for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the regulation of the endocrine system, defensive behaviors and behavioral responses to stress. TI has been shown to be positively correlated with the basal plasma levels of corticosterone. CRF receptors and neurons that are immunoreactive to CRF are found in many cerebral regions, especially in the amygdaloid complex. Previous reports have demonstrated the involvement of the basolateral amygdaloid (BLA) and central amygdaloid (CeA) nuclei in the TI response. In this study, we evaluated the CRF system of the BLA and the CeA in the modulation of the TI response in guinea pigs. The activation of CRF receptors in the BLA and in the CeA promoted an increase in the TI response. In contrast, the inhibition of these receptors via alpha-helical-CRF(9-41) decreased the duration of the TI response. Moreover, neither the activation nor inhibition of CRF receptors in the BLA or the CeA altered spontaneous motor activity in the open-field test. These data suggest that the activation of the CRF receptors in the BLA or the CeA probably potentiates fear and anxiety, which may be one of the factors that promote an increase in the TI behavior. Therefore, these data support the role of the CRF system in the control of emotional responses, particularly in the modulation of innate fear.

Overlapping neurobiology of learned helplessness and conditioned defeat: implications for PTSD and mood disorders

Exposure to traumatic events can increase the risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pharmacological treatments for these disorders often involve the modulation of serotonergic (5-HT) systems. Several behavioral paradigms in rodents produce changes in behavior that resemble symptoms of MDD and these behavioral changes are sensitive to antidepressant treatments. Here we review two animal models in which MDD-like behavioral changes are elicited by exposure to an acute traumatic event during adulthood, learned helplessness (LH) and conditioned defeat. In LH, exposure of rats to inescapable, but not escapable, tailshock produces a constellation of behavioral changes that include deficits in fight/flight responding and enhanced anxiety-like behavior. In conditioned defeat, exposure of Syrian hamsters to a social defeat by a more aggressive animal leads to a loss of territorial aggression and an increase in submissive and defensive behaviors in subsequent encounters with non-aggressive conspecifics. Investigations into the neural substrates that control LH and conditioned defeat revealed that increased 5-HT activity in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is critical for both models. Other key brain regions that regulate the acquisition and/or expression of behavior in these two paradigms include the basolateral amygdala (BLA), central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). In this review, we compare and contrast the role of each of these neural structures in mediating LH and conditioned defeat, and discuss the relevance of these data in developing a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying trauma-related depression. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.

Leptin signaling modulates the activity of urocortin 1 neurons in the mouse nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus

A recent study systematically characterized the distribution of the long form of the leptin receptor (LepRb) in the mouse brain and showed substantial LepRb mRNA expression in the nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus (npEW) in the rostroventral part of the midbrain. This nucleus hosts the majority of urocortin 1 (Ucn1) neurons in the rodent brain, and because Ucn1 is a potent satiety hormone and electrical lesioning of the npEW strongly decreases food intake, we have hypothesized a role of npEW-Ucn1 neurons in leptin-controlled food intake. Here, we show by immunohistochemistry that npEW-Ucn1 neurons in the mouse contain LepRb and respond to leptin administration with induction of the Janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, systemic leptin administration increases the Ucn1 content of the npEW significantly, whereas in mice that lack LepRb (db/db mice), the npEW contains considerably reduced amount of Ucn1. Finally, we reveal by patch clamping of midbrain Ucn1 neurons that leptin administration reduces the electrical firing activity of the Ucn1 neurons. In conclusion, we provide ample evidence for leptin actions that go beyond leptin's well-known targets in the hypothalamus and propose that leptin can directly influence the activity of the midbrain Ucn1 neurons.

Gender and the hygiene hypothesis

The hygiene hypothesis offers an explanation for the correlation, well-established in the industrialized nations of North and West, between increased hygiene and sanitation, and increased rates of asthma and allergies. Recent studies have added to the scope of the hypothesis, showing a link between decreased exposure to certain bacteria and parasitic worms, and increased rates of depression and intestinal auto-immune disorders, respectively. What remains less often discussed in the research on these links is that women have higher rates than men of asthma and allergies, as well as many auto-immune disorders, and also depression. The current paper introduces a feminist understanding of gender socialization to the epidemiological and immunological picture. That standards of cleanliness are generally higher for girls than boys, especially under the age of five when children are more likely to be under close adult supervision, is a robust phenomenon in industrialized nations, and some research points to a cross-cultural pattern. I conclude that, insofar as the hygiene hypothesis successfully identifies standards of hygiene and sanitation as mediators of immune health, then attention to the relevant patterns of gender socialization is important. The review also makes clear that adding a feminist analysis of gender socialization to the hygiene hypothesis helps explain variation in morbidity rates not addressed by other sources and responds to a number of outstanding puzzles in current research. Alternative explanations for the sex differences in the relevant morbidity rates are also discussed (e.g., the effects of estrogens). Finally, new sources of evidence for the hygiene hypothesis are suggested in the form of cross-cultural and other natural experiments.

Multiple anxiogenic drugs recruit a parvalbumin-containing subpopulation of GABAergic interneurons in the basolateral amygdala

The basolateral amygdala is a nodal structure within a distributed and interconnected network that regulates anxiety states and anxiety-related behavior. Administration of multiple anxiogenic drugs increases cellular responses (i.e., increases c-Fos expression) in a subregion of the basolateral amygdala, but the neurochemical phenotypes of these cells are not known. The basolateral amygdala contains glutamatergic projection neurons and several populations of γ-aminobutyric acid-synthesizing (GABAergic) interneurons, including a population of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing GABAergic interneurons that co-express the excitatory 5-HT(2A) receptor. The role for these PV-expressing GABAergic interneurons in anxiety-states is unclear. In this experiment we examined the effects of multiple anxiogenic drugs including the 5-HT(2C/2A) receptor agonist m-chlorophenyl piperazine (mCPP), the adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine, the α(2)-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine and the partial inverse agonist at the benzodiazepine allosteric site on the GABA(A) receptor, N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG-7142), on c-Fos expression in PV-immunoreactive (PV-ir) interneurons in subdivisions of the basolateral amygdala. All drugs with the exception of mCPP increased c-Fos expression in PV-ir neurons in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, anterior part (BLA). The numbers of c-Fos-immunoreactive (c-Fos-ir)/PV-ir GABAergic interneurons in the BLA were positively correlated with the numbers of c-Fos-ir serotonergic neurons in the mid-rostrocaudal dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) and with a measure of anxiety-related behavior. All four drugs increased c-Fos expression in non-PV-ir cells in most of the subdivisions of the basolateral amygdala that were sampled, compared with vehicle-injected controls. Together, these data suggest that the PV/5-HT(2A) receptor expressing GABAergic interneurons in the basolateral amygdala are part of a DR-basolateral amygdala neuronal circuit modulating anxiety-states and anxiety-related behavior.

The anxiolytic effect of environmental enrichment is mediated via amygdalar CRF receptor type 1

Environmental enrichment (EE) is known to have an anxiolytic effect in several animal models; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these behavioral changes are not understood. In this study, we have shown that the anxiolytic effect of EE is associated with alterations in the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRFR1) expression levels in the limbic system. We found that the decrease in anxiety-like behavior after housing in enriched conditions was associated with very low levels of CRFR1 mRNA expression in the basolateral amygdala of C57BL/6 mice. We further showed using a lentiviral-based system of RNA interference, that knockdown of CRFR1 mRNA expression in the basolateral amygdala induces a significant decrease in anxiety levels, similar to those achieved by EE nurture. Our data strongly suggest that reduced expression of CRFR1 mRNA levels in the basolateral amygdala mediates the effect of EE on anxiety-like behavior.

Activation of central CRF receptor 1 by cortagine results in enhanced passive coping with a naturalistic threat in mice

CRF receptor subtype 1 (CRF1), abundantly expressed in the central nervous system, has been implicated in defensive behavior in rodents. Pharmacological activation of CRF1 by peptidic agonists results in enhancement of anxiety-like behavior. However, receptor specificity of commonly used agonists was confounded by significant affinity to other receptors and widely used laboratory tests of experimental anxiety suffer from artificial aversive stimulation (e.g. electric shock), and limited measures of anxiety-like behavior. We used the recently developed, CRF1-selective agonist cortagine in a mouse model of defensive behaviors under semi-natural conditions, the rat exposure test (RET). Cortagine was injected bilaterally into the cerebral ventricles (i.c.v.) of male C57Bl/6J mice, 20min before exposure to a rat in specifically designed box that evokes a wide variety of defensive behaviors such as active/passive avoidance, freezing, risk assessment, and burying. Pre-injection of the CRF receptor antagonist acidic astressin was used to test for receptor specificity of the observed cortagine effects. A control experiment with no rat present was performed to test for baseline effects of cortagine in the exposure setup. Cortagine dose-dependently enhanced passive avoidance and freezing while burying was decreased. CRF receptor antagonism reliably blocked the effects of cortagine. Our results confirm previous findings of anxiogenic-like effects of cortagine, and demonstrate the usefulness of the RET in investigating differential pattering of drug-induced anxiety-like behavior in mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that CRF1 activation in forebrain areas promotes passive coping with the natural threat presented in the RET.

Inescapable but not escapable stress leads to increased struggling behavior and basolateral amygdala c-fos gene expression in response to subsequent novel stress challenge

Control over an aversive experience can greatly impact the organism's response to subsequent stressors. We compared the effects of escapable (ES) and yoked inescapable (IS) electric tail shocks on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormonal (corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)), neural (c-fos mRNA) and behavioral (struggling) response to subsequent restraint. We found that although the HPA axis response during restraint of both previously stressed groups were higher than stress-naïve rats and not different from each other, lack of control over the tailshock experience led to an increase in restraint-induced struggling behavior of the IS rats compared to both stress-naïve and ES rats. Additionally, c-fos expression in the basolateral amygdala was increased selectively in the IS group, and relative c-fos mRNA expression in the basolateral amygdala positively correlated with struggling behavior. Restraint-induced c-fos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain area critical for mediating some of the differential neurochemical and behavioral effects of ES and IS, was surprisingly similar in both ES and IS groups, lower than that of stress-naïve rats, and did not correlate with struggling behavior. Our findings indicate that basolateral amygdala activity may be connected with the differential effects of ES and IS on subsequent behavioral responses to restraint, without contributing to the concurrent HPA axis hormone response.

Behavioral effects of neuropeptides in rodent models of depression and anxiety

In recent years, studies have advocated neuropeptide systems as modulators for the behavioral states found in mood disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. Neuropeptides have been tested in traditional animal models and screening procedures that have been validated by known antidepressants and anxiolytics. However, it has become clear that although these tests are very useful, neuropeptides have distinct behavioral effects and dose-dependent characteristics, and therefore, use of these tests with neuropeptides must be done with an understanding of their unique characteristics. This review will focus on the behavioral actions of neuropeptides and their synthetic analogs, particularly in studies utilizing various preclinical tests of depression and anxiety. Specifically, the following neuropeptide systems will be reviewed: corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), urocortin (Ucn), teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), arginine vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin, the Tyr-MIF-1 family, cholecystokinin (CCK), galanin, and substance P. These neuropeptide systems each have a unique role in the regulation of stress-like behavior, and therefore provide intriguing therapeutic targets for mood disorder treatment.

Urocortin-1 and -2 double-deficient mice show robust anxiolytic phenotype and modified serotonergic activity in anxiety circuits

The urocortin (Ucn) family of neuropeptides is suggested to be involved in homeostatic coping mechanisms of the central stress response through the activation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2 (CRFR2). The neuropeptides, Ucn1 and Ucn2, serve as endogenous ligands for the CRFR2, which is highly expressed by the dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons and is suggested to be involved in regulating major component of the central stress response. Here, we describe genetically modified mice in which both Ucn1 and Ucn2 are developmentally deleted. The double knockout mice showed a robust anxiolytic phenotype and altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity compared with wild-type mice. The significant reduction in anxiety-like behavior observed in these mice was further enhanced after exposure to acute stress, and was correlated with the levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid measured in brain regions associated with anxiety circuits. Thus, we propose that the Ucn/CRFR2 serotonergic system has an important role in regulating homeostatic equilibrium under challenge conditions.

Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor antagonism within the dorsal raphe nucleus reduces social anxiety-like behavior after early-life social isolation

Social isolation of rats during the early part of development increases social anxiety-like behavior in adulthood. Furthermore, early-life social isolation increases the levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus (dRN) of adult rats. Interactions between serotonin and CRF systems are thought to mediate anxiety behavior. Therefore, we investigated the effects of CRF receptor antagonism within the dRN on social anxiety-like behavior after early-life social isolation. Male rats were reared in isolation or in groups from weaning until midadolescence, and rehoused in groups and allowed to develop into adulthood. Adult rats underwent surgery to implant a drug cannula into the dRN. After recovery from surgery and acclimation to the testing arena, rats were infused with vehicle or the CRF receptor antagonist d-Phe-CRF((12-41)) (50 or 500 ng) into the dRN before a social interaction test. Isolation-reared rats pretreated with vehicle exhibited increased social anxiety-like behavior compared with rats reared in groups. Pretreatment of the dRN with d-Phe-CRF((12-41)) significantly reduced social anxiety-like behaviors exhibited by isolation-reared rats. Overall, this study shows that early-life social stress results in heightened social anxiety-like behavior, which is reversed by CRF antagonism within the dRN. These data suggest that CRF receptor antagonists could provide a potential treatment of stress-related social anxiety.

Effects of acidic-astressin and ovine-CRF microinfusions into the ventral hippocampus on defensive behaviors in rats

This study investigated a possible role for ventral hippocampal corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in modulating both unconditioned and conditioned defensive behaviors by examining the effects of pre-training ventral hippocampal ovine-CRF (oCRF) or acidic-astressin ([Glu(11,16)]Ast) microinfusions in male Long-Evans hooded rats exposed to various threat stimuli including the elevated plus-maze (EPM) (oCRF), cat odor (oCRF and [Glu(11,16)]Ast) and a live cat ([Glu(11,16)]Ast). Unconditioned defensive behaviors were assessed during threat exposure, while conditioned defensive behaviors were assessed in each predator context 24 h after the initial threat encounter. Pre-training infusions of the CRF(1) and CRF(2) receptor agonist oCRF significantly increased defensive behaviors during both the unconditioned and conditioned components of the cat odor test, as well as exposure to the EPM. In contrast to the behavioral effects of oCRF microinfusions, the CRF(1) and CRF(2) receptor antagonist [Glu(11,16)]Ast significantly decreased defensive behaviors during exposure to cat odor, while producing no discernible effects following a second injection in the cat exposure test. During conditioned test trials, pre-training infusions of [Glu(11,16)]Ast also significantly reduced defensive behaviors during re-exposure to both predator contexts. These results suggest a specific role for ventral hippocampal CRF receptors in modulating anxiety-like behaviors in several ethologically relevant animal models of defense.

Aggressive encounters alter the activation of serotonergic neurons and the expression of 5-HT1A mRNA in the hamster dorsal raphe nucleus

Serotonergic (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) have been implicated in stress-induced changes in behavior. Previous research indicates that stressful stimuli activate 5-HT neurons in select subregions of the DRN. Uncontrollable stress is thought to sensitize 5-HT neurons in the DRN and allow for an exaggerated 5-HT response to future stimuli. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that following aggressive encounters, losing male Syrian hamsters would exhibit increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in 5-HT DRN neurons compared to winners or controls. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that losers would have decreased 5-HT1A mRNA levels in the DRN compared to winners or controls. We found that a single 15-min aggressive encounter increased c-Fos expression in 5-HT and non-5-HT neurons in losers compared to winners and controls. The increased c-Fos expression in losers was restricted to ventral regions of the rostral DRN. We also found that four 5-min aggressive encounters reduced total 5-HT1A mRNA levels in the DRN in losers compared to winners and controls, and that differences in mRNA levels were not restricted to specific DRN subregions. These results suggest that social defeat activates neurons in select subregions of the DRN and reduces message for DRN 5-HT1A autoreceptors. Our results support the hypothesis that social stress can activate 5-HT neurons in the DRN, reduce 5-HT1A autoreceptor-mediated inhibition, and lead to hyperactivity of 5-HT neurons.

Distribution of tryptophan hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the brainstem and diencephalon of the pigeon (Columba livia)

The distribution of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)-containing perikarya and processes in the brainstem and diencephalon of the pigeon (Columba livia) were investigated using single-labeling chromogenic and double-labeling fluorescence immunohistochemical methods for TPH and 5-HT. TPH-immunoreactive (TPH-ir) perikarya were seen extending from the caudal medulla to mid-hypothalamic levels, located in brainstem regions previously described as containing 5-HT-ir somata. Brainstem TPH-ir cell clusters (the midline raphe, and the dorsolateral and ventrolateral serotonergic cell groups) and the circumventricular cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons in the taenia choroidea (in the caudal brainstem), recessus infundibuli and paraventricular organ (in the hypothalamus) were shown to co-express 5-HT immunoreactivity. However, heavily labeled TPH-ir cell clusters were observed in the nucleus premamillaris (PMM), in the stratum cellulare internum (SCI), in the nucleus paraventricularis magnocellularis (PVN) and in the medial border of the nucleus dorsomedialis anterior thalami (DMA). Double-labeling experiments indicated that none of these medial hypothalamic TPH-ir cells were immunoreactive to 5-HT. These cells correspond to dopamine- and melatonin-containing neurons previously found in the avian hypothalamus, and appear to be comparable to the mammalian TPH-ir hypothalamic A11-A13 catecholaminergic somata, suggesting that they may be a conserved attribute in the amniote medial hypothalamus.

Adult rats exposed to early-life social isolation exhibit increased anxiety and conditioned fear behavior, and altered hormonal stress responses

Social isolation of rodents during development is thought to be a relevant model of early-life chronic stress. We investigated the effects of early-life social isolation on later adult fear and anxiety behavior, and on corticosterone stress responses, in male rats. On postnatal day 21, male rats were either housed in isolation or in groups of 3 for a 3 week period, after which, all rats were group-reared for an additional 2 weeks. After the 5-week treatment, adult rats were examined for conditioned fear, open field anxiety-like behavior, social interaction behavior and corticosterone responses to restraint stress. Isolates exhibited increased anxiety-like behaviors in a brightly-lit open field during the first 10 min of the test period compared to group-reared rats. Isolation-reared rats also showed increased fear behavior and reduced social contact in a social interaction test, and a transient increase in fear behavior to a conditioned stimulus that predicted foot-shock. Isolation-reared rats showed similar restraint-induced increases in plasma corticosterone as group-reared controls, but plasma corticosterone levels 2 h after restraint were significantly lower than pre-stress levels in isolates. Overall, this study shows that isolation restricted to an early part of development increases anxiety-like and fear behaviors in adulthood, and also results in depressed levels of plasma corticosterone following restraint stress.