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Chen T, Meng H, Fang N, Shi P, Chen M, Liu Q, Lv L, Li W. Age-related changes in behavior profile in male offspring of rats treated with poly I:C-induced maternal immune activation in early gestation. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38741390 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism and schizophrenia are environmental risk factors associated with prenatal viral infection during pregnancy. It is still unclear whether behavior phenotypes change at different developmental stages in offspring following the activation of the maternal immune system. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received a single caudal vein injection of 10 mg/kg polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on gestational day 9 and the offspring were comprehensively tested for behaviors in adolescence and adulthood. RESULTS Maternal serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were elevated in poly I:C-treated dams. The offspring of maternal poly I:C-induced rats showed increased anxiety, impaired social approach, and progressive impaired cognitive and sensorimotor gating function. CONCLUSION Maternal immune activation led to developmental specificity behavioral impairment in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Huadan Meng
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ni Fang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Peiling Shi
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Mengxue Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorder, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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McElroy DL, Sabir H, Glass AE, Greba Q, Howland JG. The anterior retrosplenial cortex is required for short-term object in place recognition memory retrieval: Role of ionotropic glutamate receptors in male and female Long-Evans rats. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2260-2275. [PMID: 38411499 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16284] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The anterior retrosplenial cortex (aRSC) integrates multimodal sensory information into cohesive associative recognition memories. Little is known about how information is integrated during different learning phases (i.e., encoding and retrieval). Additionally, sex differences are observed in performance of some visuospatial memory tasks; however, inconsistent findings warrant more research. We conducted three experiments using the 1-h delay object-in-place (1-h OiP) test to assess recognition memory retrieval in male and female Long-Evans rats. (i) We found both sexes performed equally in three repeated 1-h OiP test sessions. (ii) We showed infusions of a mixture of muscimol/baclofen (GABAA/B receptor agonists) into the aRSC ~15-min prior to the test phase disrupted 1-h OiP in both sexes. (iii) We assessed the role of aRSC ionotropic glutamate receptors in 1-h OiP retrieval using another squad of cannulated rats and confirmed that infusions of either the competitive AMPA/Kainate receptor antagonist CNQX (3 mM) or competitive NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 (30 mM) (volumes = 0.50 uL/side) significantly impaired 1-h OiP retrieval in both sexes compared to controls. Taken together, findings challenge reported sex differences and clearly establish a role for aRSC ionotropic glutamate receptors in short-term visuospatial recognition memory retrieval. Thus, modulating neural activity in the aRSC may alleviate some memory processing impairments in related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan L McElroy
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Hassaan Sabir
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Aiden E Glass
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Gogos A, Sbisa A, van den Buuse M. Disruption of NMDA receptor-mediated regulation of PPI in the maternal immune activation model of schizophrenia is restored by 17β-estradiol and raloxifene. Schizophr Res 2024; 267:432-440. [PMID: 38642484 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.04.008] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of development of schizophrenia in the offspring. Sex steroid hormone analogues have been proposed as potential antipsychotic treatments but the mechanisms of action involved remain unclear. Estrogen has been shown to alter N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor binding in the brain. We therefore studied the effect of chronic treatment with 17β-estradiol, its isomer, 17α-estradiol, and the selective estrogen receptor modulator, raloxifene, on MIA-induced psychosis-like behaviour and the effect of the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801. Pregnant rats were treated with saline or the viral mimetic, poly(I:C), on gestational day 15. Adult female offspring were tested for changes in baseline prepulse inhibition (PPI) and the effects of acute treatment with MK-801 on PPI and locomotor activity. Poly(I:C) offspring had significantly lower baseline PPI compared to control offspring, and this effect was prevented by 17β-estradiol and raloxifene, but not 17α-estradiol. MK-801 reduced PPI in control offspring but had no effect in poly(I:C) offspring treated with vehicle. Chronic treatment with 17β-estradiol and raloxifene restored the effect of MK-801 on PPI. There were no effects of MIA or estrogenic treatment on MK-801 induced locomotor hyperactivity. These results show that MIA affects baseline PPI as well as NMDA receptor-mediated regulation of PPI in female rats, and strengthen the view that estrogenic treatment may have antipsychotic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gogos
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Alyssa Sbisa
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
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Griffin A, Bowles T, Solis L, Railey T, Beauti S, Robinson R, Spencer SK, Shaffery JP, Wallace K. Maternal immune suppression during pregnancy does not prevent abnormal behavior in offspring. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:27. [PMID: 38532505 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00600-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Offspring of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral disorders compared to offspring from non-affected pregnancies. Using rodent models of Preeclampsia (PreE; new onset of hypertension after 20 weeks gestation) and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets), we studied the behavioral outcome of their offspring in adolescence. METHODS A subset of dams received Orencia, a T-cell activation inhibitor, as T cells have been associated with the induction of hypertension and inflammation during pregnancy. We hypothesized that offspring from hypertensive dams would experience adverse behavioral outcomes in social, cognitive, locomotor, and anxiety tests, and offspring from dams treated with Orencia would demonstrate less adverse behaviors. RESULTS Male offspring of PreE + Orencia dams (p < 0.05) and female offspring from HELLP + Orencia dams (p < 0.05) spent more time playing compared to normal pregnant offspring. All offspring from hypertensive and Orencia-treated dams performed worse on the Barnes Maze test compared to normal pregnant. We also measured adult (postnatal day > 60) myelin basic protein (MBP) and NeuN expression in both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, there was no difference in expression of either MBP or NeuN in all groups regardless of sex. CONCLUSION The results from this study suggest that offspring of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have behavioral changes, specifically cognitive differences. This study has shown that there is a sex dependent difference in offspring neurobehavioral development, influenced in part by the type of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, and alterations in the maternal immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Griffin
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Teylor Bowles
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Lucia Solis
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Teryn Railey
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Samer Beauti
- Master's in Biomedical Science program, School of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Reanna Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Shauna-Kay Spencer
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - James P Shaffery
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Kedra Wallace
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
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Mostallino R, Santoni M, Sagheddu C, Serra V, Orrù V, Pistis M, Castelli MP. The PPARα agonist fenofibrate reduces the cytokine imbalance in a maternal immune activation model of schizophrenia. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 961:176172. [PMID: 37939988 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Maternal infections during pregnancy may increase the risk of psychiatric disorders in offspring. We recently demonstrated that activation of peroxisome proliferator-activate receptor-α (PPARα), with the clinically available agonist fenofibrate (FEN), attenuates the neurodevelopmental disturbances induced by maternal immune activation (MIA) in rat offspring. We hypothesized that fenofibrate might reduce MIA-induced cytokine imbalance using a MIA model based on the viral mimetic polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid [poly (I:C)]. By using the Bio-Plex Multiplex-Immunoassay-System, we measured cytokine/chemokine/growth factor levels in maternal serum and in the fetal brain of rats treated with fenofibrate, at 6 and 24 h after poly (I:C). We found that MIA induced time-dependent changes in the levels of several cytokines/chemokines/colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). Specifically, the maternal serum of the poly (I:C)/control (CTRL) group showed increased levels of (i) proinflammatory chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 1-alpha (MIP-1α), (ii) tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), the macrophage (M-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Conversely, in the fetal brain of the poly (I:C)/CTRL group, interleukin 12p70 and MIP-1α levels were lower than in vehicle (veh)/CTRL group. Notably, MIP-1α, TNF-α, keratinocyte derived chemokine (GRO/KC), GM-CSF, and M-CSF levels were lower in the poly (I:C)/FEN than in poly (I:C)/CTRL rats, suggesting the protective role of the PPARα agonist. PPARα might represent a therapeutic target to attenuate MIA-induced inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Mostallino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Michele Santoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Valentina Serra
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Lanusei, Italy
| | - Valeria Orrù
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Lanusei, Italy
| | - Marco Pistis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, Italy; Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - M Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.
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Black T, Baccetto SL, Barnard IL, Finch E, McElroy DL, Austin-Scott FVL, Greba Q, Michel D, Zagzoog A, Howland JG, Laprairie RB. Characterization of cannabinoid plasma concentration, maternal health, and cytokine levels in a rat model of prenatal Cannabis smoke exposure. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21070. [PMID: 38030657 PMCID: PMC10687022 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47861-8] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa has gained popularity as a "natural substance", leading many to falsely assume that it is not harmful. This assumption has been documented amongst pregnant mothers, many of whom consider Cannabis use during pregnancy as benign. The purpose of this study was to validate a Cannabis smoke exposure model in pregnant rats by determining the plasma levels of cannabinoids and associated metabolites in the dams after exposure to either Cannabis smoke or injected cannabinoids. Maternal and fetal cytokine and chemokine profiles were also assessed after exposure. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated daily from gestational day 6-20 with either room air, i.p. vehicle, inhaled high-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (18% THC, 0.1% cannabidiol [CBD]) smoke, inhaled high-CBD (0.7% THC, 13% CBD) smoke, 3 mg/kg i.p. THC, or 10 mg/kg i.p. CBD. Our data reveal that THC and CBD, but not their metabolites, accumulate in maternal plasma after repeated exposures. Injection of THC or CBD was associated with fewer offspring and increased uterine reabsorption events. For cytokines and chemokines, injection of THC or CBD up-regulated several pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to control or high-THC smoke or high-CBD smoke in placental and fetal brain tissue, whereas smoke exposure was generally associated with reduced cytokine and chemokine concentrations in placental and fetal brain tissue compared to controls. These results support existing, but limited, knowledge on how different routes of administration contribute to inconsistent manifestations of cannabinoid-mediated effects on pregnancy. Smoked Cannabis is still the most common means of human consumption, and more preclinical investigation is needed to determine the effects of smoke inhalation on developmental and behavioural trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tallan Black
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Sarah L Baccetto
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Ilne L Barnard
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Emma Finch
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Dan L McElroy
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Faith V L Austin-Scott
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Deborah Michel
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Ayat Zagzoog
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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Sandini TM, Onofrychuk TJ, Roebuck AJ, Hammond SA, Udenze D, Hayat S, Herdzik MA, McElroy DL, Orvold SN, Greba Q, Laprairie RB, Howland JG. Repeated Exposure to High-THC Cannabis Smoke during Gestation Alters Sex Ratio, Behavior, and Amygdala Gene Expression of Sprague Dawley Rat Offspring. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0100-23.2023. [PMID: 37957008 PMCID: PMC10687874 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0100-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Because of the legalization of Cannabis in many jurisdictions and the trend of increasing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in Cannabis products, an urgent need exists to understand the impact of Cannabis use during pregnancy on fetal neurodevelopment and behavior. To this end, we exposed female Sprague Dawley rats to Cannabis smoke daily from gestational day 6 to 20 or room air. Maternal reproductive parameters, offspring behavior, and gene expression in the offspring amygdala were assessed. Body temperature was decreased in dams following smoke exposure and more fecal boli were observed in the chambers before and after smoke exposure in dams exposed to smoke. Maternal weight gain, food intake, gestational length, litter number, and litter weight were not altered by exposure to Cannabis smoke. A significant increase in the male-to-female ratio was noted in the Cannabis-exposed litters. In adulthood, male and female Cannabis smoke-exposed offspring explored the inner zone of an open field significantly less than control offspring. Gestational Cannabis smoke exposure did not affect behavior on the elevated plus maze test or social interaction test in the offspring. Cannabis offspring were better at visual pairwise discrimination and reversal learning tasks conducted in touchscreen-equipped operant conditioning chambers. Analysis of gene expression in the adult amygdala using RNA sequencing revealed subtle changes in genes related to development, cellular function, and nervous system disease in a subset of the male offspring. These results demonstrate that repeated exposure to high-THC Cannabis smoke during gestation alters maternal physiological parameters, sex ratio, and anxiety-like behaviors in the adulthood offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaisa M Sandini
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Timothy J Onofrychuk
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Andrew J Roebuck
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
- School of Liberal Arts, Yukon University, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Y1A 5K4, Canada
| | - S Austin Hammond
- Global Institute for Food Security, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4L8, Canada
| | - Daniel Udenze
- Next Generation Sequencing Facility, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Shahina Hayat
- Deparment of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Melissa A Herdzik
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Dan L McElroy
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Spencer N Orvold
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
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Woods RM, Lorusso JM, Harris I, Kowash HM, Murgatroyd C, Neill JC, Glazier JD, Harte M, Hager R. Maternal Immune Activation Induces Adolescent Cognitive Deficits Preceded by Developmental Perturbations in Cortical Reelin Signalling. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030489. [PMID: 36979424 PMCID: PMC10046789 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030489] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) in utero significantly elevates the risk of developing schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. To understand the biological mechanisms underlying the link between MIA and increased risk, preclinical animal models have focussed on specific signalling pathways in the brain that mediate symptoms associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as cognitive dysfunction. Reelin signalling in multiple brain regions is involved in neuronal migration, synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation, and has been implicated in cognitive deficits. However, how regulation of Reelin expression is affected by MIA across cortical development and associated cognitive functions remains largely unclear. Using a MIA rat model, here we demonstrate cognitive deficits in adolescent object-location memory in MIA offspring and reductions in Reln expression prenatally and in the adult prefrontal cortex. Further, developmental disturbances in gene/protein expression and DNA methylation of downstream signalling components occurred subsequent to MIA-induced Reelin dysregulation and prior to cognitive deficits. We propose that MIA-induced dysregulation of Reelin signalling contributes to the emergence of prefrontal cortex-mediated cognitive deficits through altered NMDA receptor function, resulting in inefficient long-term potentiation. Our data suggest a developmental window during which attenuation of Reelin signalling may provide a possible therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Woods
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
- Correspondence: (R.M.W.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Jarred M. Lorusso
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
- Correspondence: (R.M.W.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Isabella Harris
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
| | - Hager M. Kowash
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
| | | | - Joanna C. Neill
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
| | - Jocelyn D. Glazier
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
| | - Michael Harte
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, UK
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CXCR2 antagonist SB332235 mitigates deficits in social behavior and dysregulation of Th1/Th22 and T regulatory cell-related transcription factor signaling in male BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 217:173408. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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10
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Speers LJ, Schmidt R, Bilkey DK. Aberrant Phase Precession of Lateral Septal Cells in a Maternal Immune Activation Model of Schizophrenia Risk May Disrupt the Integration of Location with Reward. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4187-4201. [PMID: 35396329 PMCID: PMC9121831 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0039-22.2022] [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: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial memory and reward processing are known to be disrupted in schizophrenia. Since the lateral septum (LS) may play an important role in the integration of location and reward, we examined the effect of maternal immune activation (MIA), a known schizophrenia risk factor, on spatial representation in the rat LS. In support of a previous study, we found that spatial location is represented as a phase code in the rostral LS of adult male rats, so that LS cell spiking shifts systematically against the phase of the hippocampal, theta-frequency, local field potential as an animal moves along a track toward a reward (phase precession). Whereas shallow precession slopes were observed in control group cells, they were steeper in the MIA animals, such that firing frequently precessed across several theta cycles as the animal moved along the length of the apparatus, with subsequent ambiguity in the phase representation of location. Furthermore, an analysis of the phase trajectories of the control group cells revealed that the population tended to converge toward a common firing phase as the animal approached the reward location. This suggested that phase coding in these cells might signal both reward location and the distance to reward. By comparison, the degree of phase convergence in the MIA-group cells was weak, and the region of peak convergence was distal to the reward location. These findings suggest that a schizophrenia risk factor disrupts the phase-based encoding of location-reward relationships in the LS, potentially smearing reward representations across space.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is unclear how spatial or contextual information generated by hippocampal cells is converted to a code that can be used to signal reward location in regions, such as the VTA. Here we provide evidence that the firing phase of cells in the lateral septum, a region that links the two areas, may code reward location in the firing phase of cells. This phase coding is disrupted in a maternal immune activation model of schizophrenia risk such that representations of reward may be smeared across space in maternal immune activation animals. This could potentially underlie erroneous reward processing and misattribution of salience in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucinda J Speers
- Psychology Department, Otago University, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert Schmidt
- Psychology Department, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - David K Bilkey
- Psychology Department, Otago University, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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11
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Maleninska K, Janikova M, Radostova D, Vojtechova I, Petrasek T, Kirdajova D, Anderova M, Svoboda J, Stuchlik A. Selective deficits in attentional set-shifting in mice induced by maternal immune activation with poly(I:C). Behav Brain Res 2022; 419:113678. [PMID: 34838932 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113678] [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: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation has been identified as a significant risk factor for schizophrenia. Using rodent models, past work has demonstrated various behavioral and brain impairments in offspring after immune-activating events. We applied 5 mg/kg of poly(I:C) on gestation day 9 to pregnant mouse dams, whose offspring were then stressed during puberty. We show impairments in attentional set-shifting in a T-maze, and a decreased number of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the hippocampus as a result of peripubertal stress specifically in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristyna Maleninska
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Janikova
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dominika Radostova
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Iveta Vojtechova
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Petrasek
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Denisa Kirdajova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslava Anderova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Svoboda
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Stuchlik
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic.
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12
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Maternal immune activation with high molecular weight poly(I:C) in Wistar rats leads to elevated immune cell chemoattractants. J Neuroimmunol 2022; 364:577813. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Speers LJ, Bilkey DK. Disorganization of Oscillatory Activity in Animal Models of Schizophrenia. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:741767. [PMID: 34675780 PMCID: PMC8523827 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.741767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating disorder with diverse symptomatology, including disorganized cognition and behavior. Despite considerable research effort, we have only a limited understanding of the underlying brain dysfunction. In this article, we review the potential role of oscillatory circuits in the disorder with a particular focus on the hippocampus, a region that encodes sequential information across time and space, as well as the frontal cortex. Several mechanistic explanations of schizophrenia propose that a loss of oscillatory synchrony between and within these brain regions may underlie some of the symptoms of the disorder. We describe how these oscillations are affected in several animal models of schizophrenia, including models of genetic risk, maternal immune activation (MIA) models, and models of NMDA receptor hypofunction. We then critically discuss the evidence for disorganized oscillatory activity in these models, with a focus on gamma, sharp wave ripple, and theta activity, including the role of cross-frequency coupling as a synchronizing mechanism. Finally, we focus on phase precession, which is an oscillatory phenomenon whereby individual hippocampal place cells systematically advance their firing phase against the background theta oscillation. Phase precession is important because it allows sequential experience to be compressed into a single 120 ms theta cycle (known as a 'theta sequence'). This time window is appropriate for the induction of synaptic plasticity. We describe how disruption of phase precession could disorganize sequential processing, and thereby disrupt the ordered storage of information. A similar dysfunction in schizophrenia may contribute to cognitive symptoms, including deficits in episodic memory, working memory, and future planning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David K. Bilkey
- Department of Psychology, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Lins B. Maternal immune activation as a risk factor for psychiatric illness in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 16:100297. [PMID: 34308388 PMCID: PMC8279925 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation, due to infectious pathogens or other non-infectious stimuli, during pregnancy is associated with elevated risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism in the offspring. Although historically identified through retrospective epidemiologic studies, the relationship between maternal immune activation and offspring neurodevelopmental disease risk is now well established because of clinical studies which utilized prospective birth cohorts, serologically confirmed infection records, and subsequent long-term offspring follow-up. These efforts have been corroborated by preclinical research which demonstrates anatomical, biochemical, and behavioural alterations that resemble the clinical features of psychiatric illnesses. Intervention studies further demonstrate causal roles of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, in these long-lasting changes in behaviour and brain. This review summarizes a selection of maternal immune activation literature that explores the relationship between these inflammatory mediators and the neuropsychiatric-like effects later observed in the offspring. This literature is presented alongside emerging information regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy, with discussion of how these data may inform future research regarding the effects of the present coronavirus pandemic on emerging birth cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney Lins
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.
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15
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Haddad FL, Lu L, Baines KJ, Schmid S. Sensory filtering disruption caused by poly I:C - Timing of exposure and other experimental considerations. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 9:100156. [PMID: 34589898 PMCID: PMC8474281 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) in response to infection during pregnancy has been linked through various epidemiological and preclinical studies to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia in exposed offspring. Sensory filtering disruptions occur in both of these disorders and are typically measured using the acoustic startle response in both humans and rodents. Our study focuses on characterizing the baseline reactivity, habituation and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response following exposure to MIA. We induced MIA using polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) at gestational day (GD) 9.5 or 14.5, and we tested sensory filtering phenotypes in adolescent and adult offspring. Our results show that startle reactivity was robustly increased in adult GD9.5 but not GD14.5 poly I:C offspring. In contrast to some previous studies, we found no consistent changes in short-term habituation, long-term habituation or prepulse inhibition of startle. Our study highlights the importance of MIA exposure timing and discusses sensory filtering phenotypes as they relate to ASD, schizophrenia and the poly I:C MIA model. Moreover, we analyze and discuss the potential impact of between- and within-litter variability on behavioural findings in poly I:C studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraj L Haddad
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Lu Lu
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada.,Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kelly J Baines
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Canada
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Jaehne EJ, Chong EMS, Sbisa A, Gillespie B, Hill R, Gogos A, van den Buuse M. TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone reverses an induced prepulse inhibition deficit selectively in maternal immune activation offspring: implications for schizophrenia. Behav Pharmacol 2021; 32:404-412. [PMID: 33883449 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling has been implicated in schizophrenia endophenotypes, including deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI). Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a widely used neurodevelopmental animal model for schizophrenia but it is unclear if BDNF and its receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), are involved in PPI regulation in this model. Pregnant Long Evans rats were treated with the viral mimetic, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C; 4 mg/kg i.v.), and nine male offspring from these dams were compared in adulthood to 11 male Long Evans controls. Offspring underwent PPI testing following injection with the TrkB agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) (10 mg/kg i.p.), with or without the dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine (APO; 1 mg/kg s.c.), or the dopamine releasing drug, methamphetamine (METH; 2 mg/kg s.c.). Acute administration of APO and METH caused the expected significant reduction of PPI. Acute administration of 7,8-DHF did not alter PPI on its own; however, it significantly reversed the effect of APO on PPI in poly I:C rats, but not in controls. A similar trend was observed in combination with METH. Western blot analysis of frontal cortex revealed significantly increased levels of BDNF protein, but not TrkB or phosphorylated TrkB/TrkB levels, in poly I:C rats. These findings suggest that, selectively in MIA offspring, 7,8-DHF has the ability to reverse PPI deficits caused by dopaminergic stimulation. This effect could be associated with increased BDNF expression in the frontal cortex. These data suggest that targeting BDNF signalling may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of certain symptoms of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Jaehne
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University
| | - Elaine Mei San Chong
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University
| | - Alyssa Sbisa
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne
| | - Brendan Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University
| | - Rachel Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University
| | - Andrea Gogos
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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Antipsychotic potential of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor positive allosteric modulator GAT211: preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:1087-1098. [PMID: 33442771 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05755-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Antipsychotics help alleviate the positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia; however, their debilitating side effects have spurred the search for better treatment options. Novel compounds can be screened for antipsychotic potential in neuronal cell cultures and following acute N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockade with non-competitive antagonists such as MK-801 in rodent behavioral models. Given the known interactions between NMDA receptors and type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R), compounds that modulate CB1Rs may have therapeutic potential for schizophrenia. OBJECTIVES This study assessed whether the CB1R positive allosteric modulator GAT211, when compared to ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has potential to reduce psychiatric behavioral phenotypes following acute MK-801 treatment in rats, and block hyperdopaminergic signalling associated with those behaviors. METHODS The effects of GAT211 and THC on cellular signaling were compared in Neuro2a cells, and behavioral effects of GAT211 and THC on altered locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response caused by acute MK-801 treatment were assessed in male, Long Evans rats. RESULTS GAT211 limited dopamine D2 receptor-mediated extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in Neuro2a cells, whereas THC did not. As expected, acute MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg) produced a significant increase in locomotor activity and impaired PPI. GAT211 treatment alone (0.3-3.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced locomotor activity and the acoustic startle response. GAT211 (3.0 mg/kg) also prevented hyperlocomotion caused by MK-801 but did not significantly affect PPI impairments. CONCLUSION Taken together, these findings support continued preclinical research regarding the usefulness of CB1R positive allosteric modulators as antipsychotics.
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18
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Canales CP, Estes ML, Cichewicz K, Angara K, Aboubechara JP, Cameron S, Prendergast K, Su-Feher L, Zdilar I, Kreun EJ, Connolly EC, Seo JM, Goon JB, Farrelly K, Stradleigh TW, van der List D, Haapanen L, Van de Water J, Vogt D, McAllister AK, Nord AS. Sequential perturbations to mouse corticogenesis following in utero maternal immune activation. eLife 2021; 10:e60100. [PMID: 33666173 PMCID: PMC7979158 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In utero exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) is an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Animal models provide an opportunity to identify mechanisms driving neuropathology associated with MIA. We performed time-course transcriptional profiling of mouse cortical development following induced MIA via poly(I:C) injection at E12.5. MIA-driven transcriptional changes were validated via protein analysis, and parallel perturbations to cortical neuroanatomy were identified via imaging. MIA-induced acute upregulation of genes associated with hypoxia, immune signaling, and angiogenesis, by 6 hr following exposure. This acute response was followed by changes in proliferation, neuronal and glial specification, and cortical lamination that emerged at E14.5 and peaked at E17.5. Decreased numbers of proliferative cells in germinal zones and alterations in neuronal and glial populations were identified in the MIA-exposed cortex. Overall, paired transcriptomic and neuroanatomical characterization revealed a sequence of perturbations to corticogenesis driven by mid-gestational MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Myka L Estes
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | | | - Kartik Angara
- Department of Pediatrics & Human Development, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | | | | | | | | | - Iva Zdilar
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Jack B Goon
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Lori Haapanen
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, UC DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Daniel Vogt
- Department of Pediatrics & Human Development, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | | | - Alex S Nord
- Center for Neuroscience, UC DavisDavisUnited States
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19
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Jash S, Sharma S. In utero immune programming of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Hum Immunol 2021; 82:379-384. [PMID: 33612392 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Maladaptation of immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface affects balanced maternal-fetal cross-talk and placental health and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The concept of in utero programming of childhood and adulthood diseases has revolutionized the research on the role of pregnancy in maternal, neonatal, and adult health. However, it is not yet well understood whether dysregulation of uterine immunity contributes to any health consequences during childhood or later in life. Recent observations in mice and humans have strongly supported the notion that uterine immunity during pregnancy determines the health trajectory of the offspring and significantly impacts cognitive function and mental health. Importantly, IL-17a producing Th17 T cells have been projected as the main contributors to heterogeneous pathological and behavioral phenotypes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, since normal pregnancy is associated with little or no Th17 cells at the maternal-fetal interface, it is not clear how and when the Th17 T cells are generated and which interventions can ameliorate the ASD-like features in newborns. We propose that infection-associated uterine immune activation within a critical window of development may propel trans-differentiation of Th17 T cells that eventually affect fetal brain development and induce ASD-like behavioral phenotype in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanta Jash
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island-Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Surendra Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island-Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
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20
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Autism spectrum disorder and severe social impairment associated with elevated plasma interleukin-8. Pediatr Res 2021; 89:591-597. [PMID: 32330928 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-0910-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an unclear etiology and pathophysiology. Previous studies have indicated that the dysregulation of cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD and that the levels of cytokines may serve as potential biomarkers of this disorder. METHODS The current study employed a family triad-based case-control design to study the levels of plasma cytokines in families with ASD (n = 45 triads) and controls (n = 38 triads) with a Human Cytokine Twenty-Five-Plex Kit. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) was used to measure social impairment of ASD children. RESULTS After controlling for the levels of parental cytokines, we identified that interferon-α (IFN-α), interleukin-7 (IL-7), IL-8, IFN-γ-inducible protein-10, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β were associated with ASD, and IL-8 was the only cytokine also associated with the levels of both parental cytokines in the offspring-parents regression analysis and three subdomains of SRS (social awareness, cognition, and motivations) in the children with ASD. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the log-transformed IL-8 level discriminated children with autism from controls with an area under the curve of 0.858 (95% confidence interval: 0.777-0.939). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that IL-8 is a potential biomarker for ASD and may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. IMPACT The study suggests that IL-8 is a promising biomarker for ASD and may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. Only a very few studies have reported the parental cytokine levels. The significant strength of this article is that we applied the family triad-based approach to explore cytokine levels in families with autism and controls. There are no objective biomarkers, making the accurate diagnosis, prognostic prediction and effective treatment difficult, and our study provides promising results.
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Goh JY, O'Sullivan SE, Shortall SE, Zordan N, Piccinini AM, Potter HG, Fone KCF, King MV. Gestational poly(I:C) attenuates, not exacerbates, the behavioral, cytokine and mTOR changes caused by isolation rearing in a rat 'dual-hit' model for neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 89:100-117. [PMID: 32485291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many psychiatric illnesses have a multifactorial etiology involving genetic and environmental risk factors that trigger persistent neurodevelopmental impairments. Several risk factors have been individually replicated in rodents, to understand disease mechanisms and evaluate novel treatments, particularly for poorly-managed negative and cognitive symptoms. However, the complex interplay between various factors remains unclear. Rodent dual-hit neurodevelopmental models offer vital opportunities to examine this and explore new strategies for early therapeutic intervention. This study combined gestational administration of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C); PIC, to mimic viral infection during pregnancy) with post-weaning isolation of resulting offspring (to mirror adolescent social adversity). After in vitro and in vivo studies required for laboratory-specific PIC characterization and optimization, we administered 10 mg/kg i.p. PIC potassium salt to time-mated Lister hooded dams on gestational day 15. This induced transient hypothermia, sickness behavior and weight loss in the dams, and led to locomotor hyperactivity, elevated striatal cytokine levels, and increased frontal cortical JNK phosphorylation in the offspring at adulthood. Remarkably, instead of exacerbating the well-characterized isolation syndrome, gestational PIC exposure actually protected against a spectrum of isolation-induced behavioral and brain regional changes. Thus isolation reared rats exhibited locomotor hyperactivity, impaired associative memory and reversal learning, elevated hippocampal and frontal cortical cytokine levels, and increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation in the frontal cortex - which were not evident in isolates previously exposed to gestational PIC. Brains from adolescent littermates suggest little contribution of cytokines, mTOR or JNK to early development of the isolation syndrome, or resilience conferred by PIC. But notably hippocampal oxytocin, which can protect against stress, was higher in adolescent PIC-exposed isolates so might contribute to a more favorable outcome. These findings have implications for identifying individuals at risk for disorders like schizophrenia who may benefit from early therapeutic intervention, and justify preclinical assessment of whether adolescent oxytocin manipulations can modulate disease onset or progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Yin Goh
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Saoirse E O'Sullivan
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby DE22 3DT, UK
| | - Sinead E Shortall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Nicole Zordan
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Anna M Piccinini
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Harry G Potter
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Kevin C F Fone
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Madeleine V King
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
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22
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Sbisa A, Kusljic S, Zethoven D, van den Buuse M, Gogos A. The effect of 17β-estradiol on maternal immune activation-induced changes in prepulse inhibition and dopamine receptor and transporter binding in female rats. Schizophr Res 2020; 223:249-257. [PMID: 32878698 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of development of schizophrenia in later life. 17β-estradiol treatment may improve schizophrenia symptoms, but little is known about its efficacy on MIA-induced psychosis-like behavioural deficits in animals. Therefore, in this study we used the poly(I:C) neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia to examine whether MIA-induced psychosis-like behavioural and neurochemical changes can be attenuated by chronic treatment (2-6 weeks) with 17β-estradiol. Pregnant rats were treated with saline or the viral mimetic, poly(I:C), on gestational day 15 and adult female offspring were tested for changes in prepulse inhibition (PPI) and density of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and dopamine transporters in the forebrain compared to control offspring. Poly(I:C)-treated offspring exhibited significantly disrupted PPI, an effect which was reversed by chronic treatment with 17β-estradiol. In control offspring, but not poly(I:C) offspring, PPI was significantly reduced by acute treatment with either the dopamine D1/D2 receptor agonist, apomorphine, or dopamine releaser, methamphetamine. 17β-estradiol restored the effect of apomorphine, but not methamphetamine, on PPI in poly(I:C) offspring. There was a strong trend for a dopamine D2 receptor binding density increase in the nucleus accumbens core region in poly(I:C) offspring, and this was reversed by chronic 17β-estradiol treatment. No changes were found in the nucleus accumbens shell, caudate putamen or frontal cortex or in the density of dopamine D1 receptors or transporters. These findings suggest that 17β-estradiol may improve some symptoms of schizophrenia, an effect that may be mediated by selective changes in dopamine D2 receptor density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Sbisa
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Snezana Kusljic
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Damon Zethoven
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; The College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrea Gogos
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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23
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Haddad FL, Patel SV, Schmid S. Maternal Immune Activation by Poly I:C as a preclinical Model for Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A focus on Autism and Schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:546-567. [PMID: 32320814 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) in response to a viral infection during early and mid-gestation has been linked through various epidemiological studies to a higher risk for the child to develop autism or schizophrenia-related symptoms.. This has led to the establishment of the pathogen-free poly I:C-induced MIA animal model for neurodevelopmental disorders, which shows relatively high construct and face validity. Depending on the experimental variables, particularly the timing of poly I:C administration, different behavioural and molecular phenotypes have been described that relate to specific symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and/or schizophrenia. We here review and summarize epidemiological evidence for the effects of maternal infection and immune activation, as well as major findings in different poly I:C MIA models with a focus on poly I:C exposure timing, behavioural and molecular changes in the offspring, and characteristics of the model that relate it to autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraj L Haddad
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Salonee V Patel
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
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24
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Gogos A, Sbisa A, Witkamp D, van den Buuse M. Sex differences in the effect of maternal immune activation on cognitive and psychosis-like behaviour in Long Evans rats. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:2614-2626. [PMID: 31901174 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of development of schizophrenia in later life. There are sex differences in schizophrenia, particularly in terms of age of onset, course of illness and severity of symptoms. However, there is limited and inconsistent literature on sex differences in the effects of maternal immune activation on behaviour with relevance to schizophrenia. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate sex differences in the effects of maternal immune activation by treating Long Evans rats with poly(I:C) on gestational day 15. We compared adult male and female offspring on spatial working memory in the touchscreen trial-unique nonmatching-to-location task, pairwise discrimination and reversal learning, as well as on prepulse inhibition and psychotropic drug-induced locomotor hyperactivity. Male, but not female poly(I:C) offspring displayed a deficit in spatial working memory, particularly at the longer delay. Neither pairwise discrimination nor reversal learning showed an effect of poly(I:C), but female controls outperformed male controls in the reversal learning task. Significant reduction of prepulse inhibition and enhancement of acute methamphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity was found similarly in male and female poly(I:C) offspring. These results show that maternal immune activation induces a range of behavioural effects in the offspring, with sex specificity in the effects of maternal immune activation on some aspects of cognition, but not psychosis-like behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gogos
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Alyssa Sbisa
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Diede Witkamp
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,The College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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25
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Kowash HM, Potter HG, Edye ME, Prinssen EP, Bandinelli S, Neill JC, Hager R, Glazier JD. Poly(I:C) source, molecular weight and endotoxin contamination affect dam and prenatal outcomes, implications for models of maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 82:160-166. [PMID: 31415868 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) is increasingly used to induce maternal immune activation (mIA) to model neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Robust and reproducible phenotypes across studies are essential for the generation of models that will enhance our understanding of NDDs and enable the development of improved therapeutic strategies. However, differences in mIA-induced phenotypes using poly(I:C) have been widely observed, and this has prompted the reporting of useful and much needed methodological guidelines. Here, we perform a detailed investigation of molecular weight and endotoxin variations in poly(I:C) procured from two of the most commonly used suppliers, Sigma and InvivoGen. We demonstrate that endotoxin contamination and molecular weight differences in poly(I:C) composition lead to considerable variability in maternal IL-6 response in rats treated on gestational day (GD)15 and impact on fetal outcomes. Specifically, both endotoxin contamination and molecular weight predicted reductions in litter size on GD21. Further, molecular weight predicted a reduction in placental weight at GD21. While fetal body weight at GD21 was not affected by poly(I:C) treatment, male fetal brain weight was significantly reduced by poly(I:C), dependent on supplier. Our data are in agreement with recent reports of the importance of poly(I:C) molecular weight, and extend this work to demonstrate a key role of endotoxin on relevant phenotypic outcomes. We recommend that the source and batch numbers of poly(I:C) used should always be stated and that molecular weight variability and endotoxin contamination should be minimised for more robust mIA modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Kowash
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - H G Potter
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - M E Edye
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - E P Prinssen
- Roche Innovation Centre, Basel, 124 Grenzacherstrasse, Basel, CH 4070, Switzerland
| | - S Bandinelli
- Roche Innovation Centre, Basel, 124 Grenzacherstrasse, Basel, CH 4070, Switzerland
| | - J C Neill
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. http://www.b-neuro.com
| | - R Hager
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - J D Glazier
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK; Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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26
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Discrimination difficulty, cognitive burden, and reversal impairments in a maternal immune activation model of schizophrenia risk. Behav Processes 2019; 167:103936. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.103936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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27
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Saghazadeh A, Ataeinia B, Keynejad K, Abdolalizadeh A, Hirbod-Mobarakeh A, Rezaei N. A meta-analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines in autism spectrum disorders: Effects of age, gender, and latitude. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 115:90-102. [PMID: 31125917 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) occur in 1.5% of the general population worldwide. Studies suggest that ASD might have more costs than diabetes and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder by 2025. Dysregulation of the cytokine system is well-documented in ASD. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies providing data on circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in people with ASD compared with control subjects without ASD. METHODS We identified potentially eligible studies by systematically searching electronic databases from inception to February 2018. RESULTS Thirty-eight studies with total of 2487 participants (1393 patients with ASD and 1094 control subjects) were included in the meta-analysis; 13 for interferon (IFN)-γ, 17 for interleukin (IL)-1β, 22 for IL-6, 19 for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, 4 for IL-1α, 6 for IL-2, 4 for IL-7, 8 for IL-8, 14 for IL-12, 3 for IL-15, 12 for IL-17, 3 for IL-18, 3 for IL-2 receptor, 3 for TNF-β, and 3 for IL-23. We found medium increases in levels of plasma IFN-γ (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.53) and serum IL-1β (SMD = 0.56) and small increases in levels of blood IL-1β (SMD = 0.35), serum IL-6 (SMD = 0.30) and serum TNF-α (SMD = 0.31) for patients with ASD. Meta-regression analyses identified latitude as a negative moderator of the effect size (ES) of difference in mean levels of IFN-γ (R2 = 0.26) and TNF-α (R2 = 0.74). Also, difference in the mean age between patients and controls had a negative interaction with the ES of difference in mean levels of IL-1β. In contrast, there was a positive effect of the moderator of difference in the proportion of male subjects between patients and controls on the ES of difference in mean levels of IL-1β. We found no significant alterations in peripheral levels of other pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1α, IL-2, IL-2R, IL-3, IL-7, IL-8, IL-12, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, TBF-β, and TNFRI/II in patients with ASD. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis provides evidence for higher concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in autistic patents compared with control subjects. Also, meta-regression analyses point to the interaction of latitude, age, and gender with peripheral alterations of associated pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amene Saghazadeh
- aResearch Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; MetaCognition Interest Group (MCIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahar Ataeinia
- aResearch Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran; Border of Immune Tolerance Education and Research Network (BITERN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Kimia Keynejad
- Border of Immune Tolerance Education and Research Network (BITERN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhussein Abdolalizadeh
- Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran; MS Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Armin Hirbod-Mobarakeh
- aResearch Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Border of Immune Tolerance Education and Research Network (BITERN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Molecular Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- aResearch Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Molecular Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Boston, MA, USA.
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28
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Maternal Immune Activation during Pregnancy Alters the Behavior Profile of Female Offspring of Sprague Dawley Rats. eNeuro 2019; 6:eN-NWR-0437-18. [PMID: 31016229 PMCID: PMC6477592 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0437-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are documented in psychiatric and neurological disorders, yet most preclinical animal research has been conducted in males only. There is a need to better understand of the nature of sex differences in brain disease in order to meet the needs of psychiatric patients. We present the behavior profile of adult female offspring produced using a maternal immune activation (MIA) model where pregnant rats receive an immune stimulant and the offspring typically show various abnormalities consistent with psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and autism. The results in female offspring were compared to a previously published cohort of their male siblings (Lins et al., 2018). We examined prepulse inhibition (PPI), sociability, MK-801-induced locomotor activity, crossmodal object recognition (CMOR), and oddity discrimination; behaviors relevant to the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. No between-treatment differences in PPI or locomotor activity were noted. Tactile memory was observed in the control and treated female offspring, visual recognition memory was deficient in the polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) offspring only, and both groups lacked crossmodal recognition. PolyI:C offspring were impaired in oddity preference and had reduced preference for a stranger conspecific in a sociability assay. Systemic maternal CXCL1, IL-6, and TNF-a levels 3 h after polyI:C treatment were determined, but no relationship was found between these cytokines and the behavior seen in the adult female offspring. Overall, female offspring of polyI:C-treated dams display an array of behavior abnormalities relevant to psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia similar to those previously reported in male rats.
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29
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Kentner AC, Bilbo SD, Brown AS, Hsiao EY, McAllister AK, Meyer U, Pearce BD, Pletnikov MV, Yolken RH, Bauman MD. Maternal immune activation: reporting guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the model. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:245-258. [PMID: 30188509 PMCID: PMC6300528 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The 2017 American College of Neuropychopharmacology (ACNP) conference hosted a Study Group on 4 December 2017, Establishing best practice guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the maternal immune activation (MIA) animal model of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The goals of this session were to (a) evaluate the current literature and establish a consensus on best practices to be implemented in MIA studies, (b) identify remaining research gaps warranting additional data collection and lend to the development of evidence-based best practice design, and (c) inform the MIA research community of these findings. During this session, there was a detailed discussion on the importance of validating immunogen doses and standardizing the general design (e.g., species, immunogenic compound used, housing) of our MIA models both within and across laboratories. The consensus of the study group was that data does not currently exist to support specific evidence-based model selection or methodological recommendations due to lack of consistency in reporting, and that this issue extends to other inflammatory models of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This launched a call to establish a reporting checklist focusing on validation, implementation, and transparency modeled on the ARRIVE Guidelines and CONSORT (scientific reporting guidelines for animal and clinical research, respectively). Here we provide a summary of the discussions in addition to a suggested checklist of reporting guidelines needed to improve the rigor and reproducibility of this valuable translational model, which can be adapted and applied to other animal models as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Kentner
- 0000 0001 0021 3995grid.416498.6School of Arts & Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA USA
| | - Staci D. Bilbo
- 000000041936754Xgrid.38142.3cDepartment of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,0000 0004 0386 9924grid.32224.35Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alan S. Brown
- 0000000419368729grid.21729.3fDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,0000 0000 8499 1112grid.413734.6New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
| | - Elaine Y. Hsiao
- 0000 0000 9632 6718grid.19006.3eDepartment of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - A. Kimberley McAllister
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bCenter for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Urs Meyer
- 0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland ,0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Brad D. Pearce
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, and Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Mikhail V. Pletnikov
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Robert H. Yolken
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pediatrics, Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bThe UC Davis MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, USA
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30
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Bergdolt L, Dunaevsky A. Brain changes in a maternal immune activation model of neurodevelopmental brain disorders. Prog Neurobiol 2018; 175:1-19. [PMID: 30590095 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The developing brain is sensitive to a variety of insults. Epidemiological studies have identified prenatal exposure to infection as a risk factor for a range of neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Animal models corroborate this association and have been used to probe the contribution of gene-environment interactions to the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we review the behavior and brain phenotypes that have been characterized in MIA offspring, including the studies that have looked at the interaction between maternal immune activation and genetic risk factors for autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. These phenotypes include behaviors relevant to autism, schizophrenia, and other neurological disorders, alterations in brain anatomy, and structural and functional neuronal impairments. The link between maternal infection and these phenotypic changes is not fully understood, but there is increasing evidence that maternal immune activation induces prolonged immune alterations in the offspring's brain which could underlie epigenetic alterations which in turn may mediate the behavior and brain changes. These concepts will be discussed followed by a summary of the pharmacological interventions that have been tested in the maternal immune activation model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Bergdolt
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Neurological Sciences, 985960 Nebraska Medical Center, 68105, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Anna Dunaevsky
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Neurological Sciences, 985960 Nebraska Medical Center, 68105, Omaha, NE, United States.
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31
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Rocha RF, Del Sarto JL, Marques RE, Costa VV, Teixeira MM. Host target-based approaches against arboviral diseases. Biol Chem 2018; 399:203-217. [PMID: 29145171 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2017-0236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the 20th century, socioeconomic and environmental changes facilitated the reintroduction of mosquitoes in developing cities, resulting in the reinsertion of mosquito-borne viral diseases and the dispersal of their causative agents on a worldwide scale. Recurrent outbreaks of arboviral diseases are being reported, even in regions without a previous history of arboviral disease transmission. Of note, arboviral infections represented approximately 30% of all emerging vector-borne diseases in the last decade. Therapeutic strategies against infectious viral diseases include the use of different classes of molecules that act directly on the pathogen and/or act by optimizing the host immune response. Drugs targeting the virus usually provide amelioration of symptoms by suppressing and controlling the infection. However, it is limited by the short-window of effectiveness, ineffectiveness against latent viruses, development of drug-resistant mutants and toxic side effects. Disease may also be a consequence of an excessive, uncontrolled or misplaced inflammatory response, treatments that interfere in host immune response are interesting options and can be used isolated or in combination with virus-targeted therapies. The use of host-targeted therapies requires specific knowledge regarding host immune patterns that may trigger dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV) or Zika virus (ZIKV) disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Froes Rocha
- Departament of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Research Center for Drug Development, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Lemos Del Sarto
- Departament of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Research Center for Drug Development, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rafael Elias Marques
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em energia e materiais - CNPEM, Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, LNBio, Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vivian Vasconcelos Costa
- Research Center for Drug Development, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mauro Martins Teixeira
- Departament of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Research Center for Drug Development, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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32
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Paylor JW, Wendlandt E, Freeman TS, Greba Q, Marks WN, Howland JG, Winship IR. Impaired Cognitive Function after Perineuronal Net Degradation in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. eNeuro 2018; 5:ENEURO.0253-18.2018. [PMID: 30627657 PMCID: PMC6325561 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0253-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are highly organized components of the extracellular matrix that surround a subset of mature neurons in the CNS. These structures play a critical role in regulating neuronal plasticity, particularly during neurodevelopment. Consistent with this role, their presence is associated with functional and structural stability of the neurons they ensheath. A loss of PNNs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been suggested to contribute to cognitive impairment in disorders such as schizophrenia. However, the direct consequences of PNN loss in medial PFC (mPFC) on cognition has not been demonstrated. Here, we examined behavior after disruption of PNNs in mPFC of Long-Evans rats following injection of the enzyme chondroitinase ABC (ChABC). Our data show that ChABC-treated animals were impaired on tests of object oddity perception. Performance in the cross-modal object recognition (CMOR) task was not significantly different for ChABC-treated rats, although ChABC-treated rats were not able to perform above chance levels whereas control rats were. ChABC-treated animals were not significantly different from controls on tests of prepulse inhibition (PPI), set-shifting (SS), reversal learning, or tactile and visual object recognition memory. Posthumous immunohistochemistry confirmed significantly reduced PNNs in mPFC due to ChABC treatment. Moreover, PNN density in the mPFC predicted performance on the oddity task, where higher PNN density was associated with better performance. These findings suggest that PNN loss within the mPFC impairs some aspects of object oddity perception and recognition and that PNNs contribute to cognitive function in young adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W. Paylor
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2R3 Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Eszter Wendlandt
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2R3 Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Tara S. Freeman
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2R3 Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E Canada
| | - Wendie N. Marks
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E Canada
| | - John G. Howland
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E Canada
| | - Ian R. Winship
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2R3 Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E1 Canada
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33
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Prospective Analysis of the Effects of Maternal Immune Activation on Rat Cytokines during Pregnancy and Behavior of the Male Offspring Relevant to Schizophrenia. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-NWR-0249-18. [PMID: 30225350 PMCID: PMC6140112 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0249-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza during pregnancy is associated with the development of psychopathology in the offspring. We sought to determine whether maternal cytokines produced following administration of viral mimetic polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) to pregnant rats were predictive of behavioral abnormalities in the adult offspring. Timed-pregnant Sprague Dawley rats received a single intravenous injection of 4-mg/kg polyI:C or saline on gestational day (GD)15. Blood was collected 3 h later for serum analysis of cytokine levels with ELISA. Male offspring were tested in a battery of behavioral tests during adulthood and behavior was correlated with maternal cytokine levels. Maternal serum levels of CXCL1 and interleukin (IL)-6, but not tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or CXCL2, were elevated in polyI:C-treated dams. PolyI:C-treated dams experienced post-treatment weight loss and polyI:C pups were smaller than controls at postnatal day (PND)1. Various behavior alterations were seen in the polyI:C-treated offspring. Male polyI:C offspring had enhanced MK-801-induced locomotion, and reduced sociability. PolyI:C offspring failed to display crossmodal and visual memory, and oddity preference was also impaired. Set-shifting, assessed with a lever-based operant conditioning task, was facilitated while touchscreen-based reversal learning was impaired. Correlations were found between maternal serum concentrations of CXCL1, acute maternal temperature and body weight changes, neonatal pup mass, and odd object discrimination and social behavior. Overall, while the offspring of polyI:C-treated rats displayed behavior abnormalities, maternal serum cytokines were not related to the long-term behavior changes in the offspring. Maternal sickness effects and neonatal pup size may be better indicators of later effects of maternal inflammation in the offspring.
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Profiling inflammatory signatures of schizophrenia: A cross-sectional and meta-analysis study. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 71:28-36. [PMID: 29730395 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to profile a broad panel of inflammatory markers in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Additionally, we performed a meta-analysis of chemokine alterations that have not been subjected to quantitative synthesis so far. We recruited 78 patients with schizophrenia and 78 healthy controls, and measured inflammatory markers using the Luminex technology. After adjustment for multiple testing, we found elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, interferon-γ, eotaxin-1, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), platelet-derived growth factor with two B subunits (PDGF-BB), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and RANTES in multiple-episode schizophrenia (MES) patients. These differences, except for the difference in eotaxin-1 levels, appeared to be significant after co-varying for the dosage of antipsychotics. There were no significant differences in the levels of immune markers between first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and controls. Our meta-analysis revealed elevated levels of MCP-1 in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and MES individuals. Other chemokine alterations (elevated levels of IL-8, eotaxin-1 and MIP-1β) were present only in MES patients. Our results indicate that dysregulation of immune response in schizophrenia develops with illness progression or appears as a long-term medication effect. Chemokine alterations are another example of aberrant immune response in schizophrenia patients. Elevated levels of MCP-1 might represent trait markers since these alterations were found in FEP and MES patients. Other chemokine alterations might be the markers of disease progression or might represent medication effects.
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Careaga M, Taylor SL, Chang C, Chiang A, Ku KM, Berman RF, Van de Water JA, Bauman MD. Variability in PolyIC induced immune response: Implications for preclinical maternal immune activation models. J Neuroimmunol 2018; 323:87-93. [PMID: 30196839 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy may increase the risk of offspring neurodevelopmental disorders. The preclinical Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PolyIC) model has become one of the most widely used approaches in maternal immune activation (MIA) research. However, variability in molecular weight may impact the immune activating potential of PolyIC. Nulliparous rats injected with high molecular weight PolyIC exhibit pronounced cytokine response and sickness behavior that was not observed in rats injected low molecular weight PolyIC. Although an essential next step is to extend these studies to pregnant animals, the preliminary results suggest that PolyIC molecular weight is an important experimental design consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milo Careaga
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA; The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Sandra L Taylor
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Carolyn Chang
- The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Alex Chiang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA; The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Katherine M Ku
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA; The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Robert F Berman
- The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Judy A Van de Water
- The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, USA; Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA; The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, USA; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, USA.
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Marks WN, Parker ME, Zabder NK, Greba Q, Snutch TP, Howland JG. T-type calcium channels in the orbitofrontal cortex mediate sensory integration as measured using a spontaneous oddity task in rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 25:317-324. [PMID: 29907639 PMCID: PMC6004062 DOI: 10.1101/lm.047332.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The roles of low-voltage-activated (T-type) calcium channels in brain diseases have been studied extensively. Less is known regarding the involvement of T-type channels in cognition and behavior. Sensory integration (SI) is a cognitive process whereby the brain uses unimodal or multimodal sensory features to create a comprehensive representation of the environment. The multisensory object oddity (MSO) task assesses SI using combinations of sensory features of objects, either in the same or different sensory modalities. The regulation of SI involves the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), an area which shows high levels of T-type calcium channel expression. We tested the effects of blocking T-type calcium channels on the MSO task with the selective T-type antagonist, Z944 (5 mg/kg; i.p. systemic; 100 or 500 µM OFC infusion), in male Long Evans rats. With systemic treatment, Z944 impaired the visual and visual-olfactory versions of the task. Infusion of 100 and 500 µM Z944 produced deficits in the olfactory version of the task. In addition, only vehicle-infused, but not Z944-infused, rats showed significant performance above chance for all task variants. Thus, the present results suggest that T-type calcium channels in OFC are involved in SI of features in an oddity task. Given that unimodal SI was disrupted by OFC infusions of Z944, the deficits in the multimodal task must be interpreted with caution. As SI is disrupted in psychiatric disorders, further investigations elucidating the brain regions implicated in SI regulation by T-type calcium channels may help inform therapeutic development for those suffering from SI impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendie N Marks
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Madeline E Parker
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Nadine K Zabder
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Terrance P Snutch
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
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Solek CM, Farooqi N, Verly M, Lim TK, Ruthazer ES. Maternal immune activation in neurodevelopmental disorders. Dev Dyn 2017; 247:588-619. [PMID: 29226543 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Converging lines of evidence from basic science and clinical studies suggest a relationship between maternal immune activation (MIA) and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. The mechanisms through which MIA increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders have become a subject of intensive research. This review aims to describe how dysregulation of microglial function and immune mechanisms may link MIA and neurodevelopmental pathologies. We also summarize the current evidence in animal models of MIA. Developmental Dynamics 247:588-619, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia M Solek
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nasr Farooqi
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Myriam Verly
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tony K Lim
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Edward S Ruthazer
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Effects of Acyclovir and IVIG on Behavioral Outcomes after HSV1 CNS Infection. Behav Neurol 2017; 2017:5238402. [PMID: 29358844 PMCID: PMC5735307 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5238402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV) encephalitis (HSE) has serious neurological complications, involving behavioral and cognitive impairments that cause significant morbidity and a reduced quality of life. We showed that HSE results from dysregulated central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that CNS inflammation is casually involved in behavioral abnormalities after HSE and that treatment with ACV and pooled human immunoglobulin (IVIG), an immunomodulatory drug, would improve outcomes compared to mice treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or ACV alone. Anxiety levels were high in HSV-infected PBS and ACV-treated mice compared to mice treated with ACV + IVIG, consistent with reports implicating inflammation in anxiety induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or stress. Female, but not male, PBS-treated mice were cognitively impaired, and unexpectedly, ACV was protective, while the inclusion of IVIG surprisingly antagonized ACV's beneficial effects. Distinct serum proteomic profiles were observed for male and female mice, and the antagonistic effects of ACV and IVIG on behavior were paralleled by similar changes in the serum proteome of ACV- and ACV + IVIG-treated mice. We conclude that inflammation and other factors mediate HSV-induced behavioral impairments and that the effects of ACV and IVIG on behavior involve novel mechanisms.
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Henbid MT, Marks WN, Collins MJ, Cain SM, Snutch TP, Howland JG. Sociability impairments in Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg: Reversal by the T-type calcium channel antagonist Z944. Exp Neurol 2017; 296:16-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Levit A, Regis AM, Garabon JR, Oh SH, Desai SJ, Rajakumar N, Hachinski V, Agca Y, Agca C, Whitehead SN, Allman BL. Behavioural inflexibility in a comorbid rat model of striatal ischemic injury and mutant hAPP overexpression. Behav Brain Res 2017; 333:267-275. [PMID: 28693862 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) and stroke coexist and interact; yet how they interact is not sufficiently understood. Both AD and basal ganglia stroke can impair behavioural flexibility, which can be reliably modeled in rats using an established operant based set-shifting test. Transgenic Fischer 344-APP21 rats (TgF344) overexpress pathogenic human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) but do not spontaneously develop overt pathology, hence TgF344 rats can be used to model the effect of vascular injury in the prodromal stages of Alzheimer disease. We demonstrate that the injection of endothelin-1 (ET1) into the dorsal striatum of TgF344 rats (Tg-ET1) produced an exacerbation of behavioural inflexibility with a behavioural phenotype that was distinct from saline-injected wildtype & TgF344 rats as well as ET1-injected wildtype rats (Wt-ET1). In addition to profiling the types of errors made, interpolative modeling using logistic exposure-response regression provided an informative analysis of the timing and efficiency of behavioural flexibility. During set-shifting, Tg-ET1 committed fewer perseverative errors than Wt-ET1. However, Tg-ET1 committed significantly more regressive errors and had a less efficient strategy change than all other groups. Thus, behavioural flexibility was more vulnerable to striatal ischemic injury in TgF344 rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Levit
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada
| | - Aaron M Regis
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada
| | - Jessica R Garabon
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada
| | - Seung-Hun Oh
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada
| | - Sagar J Desai
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada
| | - Nagalingam Rajakumar
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada
| | - Vladimir Hachinski
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University Hospital, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Yuksel Agca
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Cansu Agca
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Shawn N Whitehead
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University Hospital, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Brian L Allman
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London ON, Canada.
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Crum WR, Sawiak SJ, Chege W, Cooper JD, Williams SC, Vernon AC. Evolution of structural abnormalities in the rat brain following in utero exposure to maternal immune activation: A longitudinal in vivo MRI study. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 63:50-59. [PMID: 27940258 PMCID: PMC5441572 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic and environmental risk factors for psychiatric disorders are suggested to disrupt the trajectory of brain maturation during adolescence, leading to the development of psychopathology in adulthood. Rodent models are powerful tools to dissect the specific effects of such risk factors on brain maturational profiles, particularly when combined with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI; clinically comparable technology). We therefore investigated the effect of maternal immune activation (MIA), an epidemiological risk factor for adult-onset psychiatric disorders, on rat brain maturation using atlas and tensor-based morphometry analysis of longitudinal in vivo MR images. Exposure to MIA resulted in decreases in the volume of several cortical regions, the hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, nucleus accumbens and unexpectedly, the lateral ventricles, relative to controls. In contrast, the volumes of the thalamus, ventral mesencephalon, brain stem and major white matter tracts were larger, relative to controls. These volumetric changes were maximal between post-natal day 50 and 100 with no differences between the groups thereafter. These data are consistent with and extend prior studies of brain structure in MIA-exposed rodents. Apart from the ventricular findings, these data have robust face validity to clinical imaging findings reported in studies of individuals at high clinical risk for a psychiatric disorder. Further work is now required to address the relationship of these MRI changes to behavioral dysfunction and to establish thier cellular correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R. Crum
- Department of Neuroimaging Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Stephen J. Sawiak
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Winfred Chege
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Jonathan D. Cooper
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Steven C.R. Williams
- Department of Neuroimaging Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Anthony C. Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RT, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK,Corresponding author at: Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RT, UK.Department of Basic and Clinical NeuroscienceInstitute of PsychiatryPsychology and NeuroscienceKing’s College LondonMaurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute5 Cutcombe RoadLondonSE5 9RTUK
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Murray BG, Davies DA, Molder JJ, Howland JG. Maternal immune activation during pregnancy in rats impairs working memory capacity of the offspring. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 141:150-156. [PMID: 28434949 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation during pregnancy is an environmental risk factor for psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia in the offspring. Patients with schizophrenia display an array of cognitive symptoms, including impaired working memory capacity. Rodent models have been developed to understand the relationship between maternal immune activation and the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. The present experiment was designed to test whether maternal immune activation with the viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) during pregnancy affects working memory capacity of the offspring. Pregnant Long Evans rats were treated with either saline or polyI:C (4mg/kg; i.v.) on gestational day 15. Male offspring of the litters (2-3months of age) were subsequently trained on a nonmatching-to-sample task with odors. After a criterion was met, the rats were tested on the odor span task, which requires rats to remember an increasing span of different odors to receive food reward. Rats were tested using delays of approximately 40s during the acquisition of the task. Importantly, polyI:C- and saline-treated offspring did not differ in performance of the nonmatching-to-sample task suggesting that both groups could perform a relatively simple working memory task. In contrast, polyI:C-treated offspring had reduced span capacity in the middle and late phases of odor span task acquisition. After task acquisition, the rats were tested using the 40s delay and a 10min delay. Both groups showed a delay-dependent decrease in span, although the polyI:C-treated offspring had significantly lower spans regardless of delay. Our results support the validity of the maternal immune activation model for studying the cognitive symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan G Murray
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Don A Davies
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Joel J Molder
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
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Lins BR, Marks WN, Phillips AG, Howland JG. Dissociable effects of the d- and l- enantiomers of govadine on the disruption of prepulse inhibition by MK-801 and apomorphine in male Long-Evans rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:1079-1091. [PMID: 28180960 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4540-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The search for novel antipsychotic drugs to treat schizophrenia is driven by the poor treatment efficacy, serious side effects, and poor patient compliance of current medications. Recently, a class of compounds known as tetrahydroprotoberberines, which includes the compound d,l-govadine, have shown promise in preclinical rodent tests relevant to schizophrenia. To date, the effect of govadine on prepulse inhibition (PPI), a test for sensorimotor gating commonly used to assess the effects of putative treatments for schizophrenia, has not been determined. OBJECTIVES The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of each enantiomer of govadine (d- and l-govadine) on PPI alone and its disruption by the distinct pharmacological compounds apomorphine and MK-801. METHODS Male Long-Evans rats were treated systemically with d- or l-govadine and apomorphine or MK-801 prior to PPI. The PPI paradigm employed here included parametric manipulations of the prepulse intensity and the interval between the prepulse and pulse. RESULTS Acute MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg) significantly increased the startle response to startle pulses alone, while both MK-801 and apomorphine (0.2 mg/kg) significantly increased reactivity to prepulse-alone trials. Both MK-801 and apomorphine disrupted PPI. In addition, d-govadine alone significantly disrupted PPI in the apomorphine experiment. Pretreatment with l-, but not d-, govadine (1.0 mg/kg) blocked the effect of apomorphine and MK-801 on PPI. Treatment of rats with l-govadine alone (0.3, 1.0, 3.0 mg/kg) also dose-dependently increased PPI. CONCLUSIONS Given the high affinity of l-govadine for dopamine D2 receptors, these results suggest that further testing of l-govadine as an antipsychotic is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney R Lins
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, GD30.7, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Wendie N Marks
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, GD30.7, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Anthony G Phillips
- Department of Psychiatry, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, GD30.7, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada.
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Careaga M, Murai T, Bauman MD. Maternal Immune Activation and Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Rodents to Nonhuman and Human Primates. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:391-401. [PMID: 28137374 PMCID: PMC5513502 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A subset of women who are exposed to infection during pregnancy have an increased risk of giving birth to a child who will later be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric disorder. Although epidemiology studies have primarily focused on the association between maternal infection and an increased risk of offspring schizophrenia, mounting evidence indicates that maternal infection may also increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. A number of factors, including genetic susceptibility, the intensity and timing of the infection, and exposure to additional aversive postnatal events, may influence the extent to which maternal infection alters fetal brain development and which disease phenotype (autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, other neurodevelopmental disorders) is expressed. Preclinical animal models provide a test bed to systematically evaluate the effects of maternal infection on fetal brain development, determine the relevance to human central nervous system disorders, and to evaluate novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Maternal immune activation models in mice, rats, and nonhuman primates suggest that the maternal immune response is the critical link between exposure to infection during pregnancy and subsequent changes in brain and behavioral development of offspring. However, differences in the type, severity, and timing of prenatal immune challenge paired with inconsistencies in behavioral phenotyping approaches have hindered the translation of preclinical results to human studies. Here we highlight the promises and limitations of the maternal immune activation model as a preclinical tool to study prenatal risk factors for autism spectrum disorder, and suggest specific changes to improve reproducibility and maximize translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milo Careaga
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Takeshi Murai
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California; Biomarker Group, Drug Development Research Laboratories, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California.
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Paylor JW, Lins BR, Greba Q, Moen N, de Moraes RS, Howland JG, Winship IR. Developmental disruption of perineuronal nets in the medial prefrontal cortex after maternal immune activation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37580. [PMID: 27876866 PMCID: PMC5120325 DOI: 10.1038/srep37580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy increases the risk of offspring developing schizophrenia later in life. Similarly, animal models of maternal immune activation (MIA) induce behavioural and anatomical disturbances consistent with a schizophrenia-like phenotype in offspring. Notably, cognitive impairments in tasks dependent on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are observed in humans with schizophrenia and in offspring after MIA during pregnancy. Recent studies of post-mortem tissue from individuals with schizophrenia revealed deficits in extracellular matrix structures called perineuronal nets (PNNs), particularly in PFC. Given these findings, we examined PNNs over the course of development in a well-characterized rat model of MIA using polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyI:C). We found selective reductions of PNNs in the PFC of polyI:C offspring which did not manifest until early adulthood. These deficits were not associated with changes in parvalbumin cell density, but a decrease in the percentage of parvalbumin cells surrounded by a PNN. Developmental expression of PNNs was also significantly altered in the amygdala of polyI:C offspring. Our results indicate MIA causes region specific developmental abnormalities in PNNs in the PFC of offspring. These findings confirm the polyI:C model replicates neuropathological alterations associated with schizophrenia and may identify novel mechanisms for cognitive and emotional dysfunction in the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Paylor
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada.,Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2B7, AB, Canada
| | - Brittney R Lins
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E5, SK, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E5, SK, Canada
| | - Nicholas Moen
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada
| | | | - John G Howland
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E5, SK, Canada
| | - Ian R Winship
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada.,Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2B7, AB, Canada
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de Oliveira CC, Gouveia FV, de Castro MC, Kuroki MA, Dos Santos LCT, Fonoff ET, Teixeira MJ, Otoch JP, Martinez RCR. A Window on the Study of Aversive Instrumental Learning: Strains, Performance, Neuroendocrine, and Immunologic Systems. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:162. [PMID: 27605910 PMCID: PMC4995215 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The avoidance response is present in pathological anxiety and interferes with normal daily functions. The aim of this article is to shed light on performance markers of active avoidance (AA) using two different rat strains, Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar. Specifically, good and poor performers were evaluated regarding anxiety traits exhibited in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and corticosterone levels and motor activity in the open field test. In addition, the plasma levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1Beta (IL-1beta), Nerve Growth Factor Beta (NGF-beta), Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-alpha) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1 (CINC-1) were compared in the good and poor performers to better understand the role of the immunologic system in aversive learning. Behavioral criteria were employed to identify subpopulations of SD and Wistar rats based on their behavioral scores during a two-way AA test. The animals were tested for anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and motor activity in the open-field test. Plasma corticosterone levels were measured at the end of the avoidance test. Cytokine levels of IL-6, IL-1beta, NGF-beta, TNF-alpha, and CINC-1 were measured in the plasma of the Wistar rats. Sixty-six percent of the Wistar rats and 35% of the SD rats exhibited a poor performance. This feature was associated with a decrease in anxiety-like behavior in the EPM. The poor and good performers exhibited lower levels of corticosterone compared with the control animals, which suggests that training alters corticosterone levels, thereby leading to hypocortisolism, independent of the performance. The CINC-1 levels were increased in the poor performers, which reinforces the role of immunologic system activation in learning deficits. Our study provides a better understanding of the complex interactions that underlie neuroimmune consequences and their implications for performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline C de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation and Experimental Pain, Hospital Sirio-Libanes Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flávia V Gouveia
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation and Experimental Pain, Hospital Sirio-Libanes Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina C de Castro
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation and Experimental Pain, Hospital Sirio-Libanes Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mayra A Kuroki
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation and Experimental Pain, Hospital Sirio-Libanes Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lennon C T Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation and Experimental Pain, Hospital Sirio-Libanes Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erich T Fonoff
- Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manoel J Teixeira
- Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - José P Otoch
- Department of Surgery Techniques, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel C R Martinez
- Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Marks WN, Greba Q, Cain SM, Snutch TP, Howland JG. The T-type calcium channel antagonist Z944 disrupts prepulse inhibition in both epileptic and non-epileptic rats. Neuroscience 2016; 332:121-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Marks WN, Cain SM, Snutch TP, Howland JG. The T-type calcium channel antagonist Z944 rescues impairments in crossmodal and visual recognition memory in Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 94:106-15. [PMID: 27282256 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is often comorbid with behavioral and cognitive symptoms, including impaired visual memory. Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) is an animal model closely resembling CAE; however, cognition in GAERS is poorly understood. Crossmodal object recognition (CMOR) is a recently developed memory task that examines not only purely visual and tactile memory, but also requires rodents to integrate sensory information about objects gained from tactile exploration to enable visual recognition. Both the visual and crossmodal variations of the CMOR task rely on the perirhinal cortex, an area with dense expression of T-type calcium channels. GAERS express a gain-in-function missense mutation in the Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel gene. Therefore, we tested whether the T-type calcium channel blocker Z944 dose dependently (1, 3, 10mg/kg; i.p.) altered CMOR memory in GAERS compared to the non-epileptic control (NEC) strain. GAERS demonstrated recognition memory deficits in the visual and crossmodal variations of the CMOR task that were reversed by the highest dose of Z944. Electroencephalogram recordings determined that deficits in CMOR memory in GAERS were not the result of seizures during task performance. In contrast, NEC showed a decrease in CMOR memory following Z944 treatment. These findings suggest that T-type calcium channels mediate CMOR in both the GAERS and NEC strains. Future research into the therapeutic potential of T-type calcium channel regulation may be particularly fruitful for the treatment of CAE and other disorders characterized by visual memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendie N Marks
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Stuart M Cain
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Terrance P Snutch
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
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49
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Effects of stress on behavioral flexibility in rodents. Neuroscience 2016; 345:176-192. [PMID: 27066767 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is the ability to switch between different rules or concepts and behavioral flexibility is the overt physical manifestation of these shifts. Behavioral flexibility is essential for adaptive responses and commonly measured by reversal learning and set-shifting performance in rodents. Both tasks have demonstrated vulnerability to stress with effects dependent upon stressor type and number of repetitions. This review compares the effects of stress on reversal learning and set-shifting to provide insight into the differential effect of stress on cognition. Acute and short-term repetition of stress appears to facilitate reversal learning whereas the longer term repetition of stress impairs reversal learning. Stress facilitated intradimensional set-shifting within a single, short-term stress protocol but otherwise generally impaired set-shifting performance in acute and repeated stress paradigms. Chronic unpredictable stress impairs reversal learning and set-shifting whereas repeated cold intermittent stress selectively impairs reversal learning and has no effect on set-shifting. In considering the mechanisms underlying the effects of stress on behavioral flexibility, pharmacological manipulations performed in conjunction with stress are also reviewed. Blocking corticosterone receptors does not affect the facilitation of reversal learning following acute stress but the prevention of corticosterone synthesis rescues repeated stress-induced set-shifting impairment. Enhancing post-synaptic norepinephrine function, serotonin availability, and dopamine receptor activation rescues and/or prevents behavioral flexibility performance following stress. While this review highlights a lack of a standardization of stress paradigms, some consistent effects are apparent. Future studies are necessary to specify the mechanisms underlying the stress-induced impairments of behavioral flexibility, which will aid in alleviating these symptoms in patients with some psychiatric disorders.
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Marks WN, Cavanagh ME, Greba Q, Cain SM, Snutch TP, Howland JG. The Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg model of absence epilepsy exhibits alterations in fear conditioning and latent inhibition consistent with psychiatric comorbidities in humans. Eur J Neurosci 2015; 43:25-40. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wendie N. Marks
- Department of Physiology; University of Saskatchewan; GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road Saskatoon SK Canada S7N 5E5
| | - Mary E. Cavanagh
- Department of Physiology; University of Saskatchewan; GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road Saskatoon SK Canada S7N 5E5
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Physiology; University of Saskatchewan; GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road Saskatoon SK Canada S7N 5E5
| | - Stuart M. Cain
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Terrance P. Snutch
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC Canada
| | - John G. Howland
- Department of Physiology; University of Saskatchewan; GB33, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road Saskatoon SK Canada S7N 5E5
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