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Deng Y, Liang X, Li Y, Jiang L, Wang J, Tang J, Li J, Xie Y, Xiao K, Zhu P, Guo Y, Luo Y, Tang Y. PGC-1α in the hippocampus mediates depressive-like and stress-coping behaviours and regulates excitatory synapses in the dentate gyrus in mice. Neuropharmacology 2024; 250:109908. [PMID: 38492883 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109908] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Decreased hippocampal synaptic plasticity is an important pathological change in stress-related mood disorders, including major depressive disorder. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. PGC-1α, a transcriptional coactivator, is a key factor in synaptic plasticity. We investigated the relationships between changes in hippocampal PGC-1α expression and depressive-like and stress-coping behaviours, and whether they are related to hippocampal synapses. Adeno-associated virus was used to alter hippocampal PGC-1α expression in male C57BL/6 mice. The sucrose preference test and forced swimming test were used to assess their depressive-like and stress-coping behaviours, respectively. Immunohistochemistry and stereology were used to calculate the total number of excitatory synapses in each hippocampal subregion (the cornu ammonis (CA) 1, CA3, and dentate gyrus). Immunofluorescence was used to visualize the changes in dendritic structure. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of hippocampal PGC-1α and mitochondrial-associated proteins, such as UCP2, NRF1 and mtTFAs. Our results showed that mice with downregulated PGC-1α expression in the hippocampus exhibited depressive-like and passive stress-coping behaviours, while mice with upregulated PGC-1α in the hippocampus exhibited increased stress-coping behaviours. Moreover, the downregulation of hippocampal PGC-1α expression resulted in a decrease in the number of excitatory synapses in the DG and in the protein expression of UCP2 in the hippocampus. Alternatively, upregulation of hippocampal PGC-1α yielded the opposite results. This suggests that hippocampal PGC-1α is involved in regulating depressive-like and stress-coping behaviours and modulating the number of excitatory synapses in the DG. This provides new insight for the development of antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Deng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Xin Liang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Lab Teaching and Management Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Jing Tang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Yuhan Xie
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Kai Xiao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Peilin Zhu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Yijing Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Yanmin Luo
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China.
| | - Yong Tang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China.
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Caznok Silveira AC, Antunes ASLM, Athié MCP, da Silva BF, Ribeiro dos Santos JV, Canateli C, Fontoura MA, Pinto A, Pimentel-Silva LR, Avansini SH, de Carvalho M. Between neurons and networks: investigating mesoscale brain connectivity in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1340345. [PMID: 38445254 PMCID: PMC10912403 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1340345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of brain connectivity has been a cornerstone in understanding the complexities of neurological and psychiatric disorders. It has provided invaluable insights into the functional architecture of the brain and how it is perturbed in disorders. However, a persistent challenge has been achieving the proper spatial resolution, and developing computational algorithms to address biological questions at the multi-cellular level, a scale often referred to as the mesoscale. Historically, neuroimaging studies of brain connectivity have predominantly focused on the macroscale, providing insights into inter-regional brain connections but often falling short of resolving the intricacies of neural circuitry at the cellular or mesoscale level. This limitation has hindered our ability to fully comprehend the underlying mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders and to develop targeted interventions. In light of this issue, our review manuscript seeks to bridge this critical gap by delving into the domain of mesoscale neuroimaging. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of conditions affected by aberrant neural connections, image acquisition techniques, feature extraction, and data analysis methods that are specifically tailored to the mesoscale. We further delineate the potential of brain connectivity research to elucidate complex biological questions, with a particular focus on schizophrenia and epilepsy. This review encompasses topics such as dendritic spine quantification, single neuron morphology, and brain region connectivity. We aim to showcase the applicability and significance of mesoscale neuroimaging techniques in the field of neuroscience, highlighting their potential for gaining insights into the complexities of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Clara Caznok Silveira
- National Laboratory of Biosciences, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Carolina Pedro Athié
- National Laboratory of Biosciences, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Filomena da Silva
- National Laboratory of Biosciences, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Camila Canateli
- National Laboratory of Biosciences, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marina Alves Fontoura
- National Laboratory of Biosciences, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Allan Pinto
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Simoni Helena Avansini
- National Laboratory of Biosciences, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Murilo de Carvalho
- National Laboratory of Biosciences, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
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Marchetta P, Dapper K, Hess M, Calis D, Singer W, Wertz J, Fink S, Hage SR, Alam M, Schwabe K, Lukowski R, Bourien J, Puel JL, Jacob MH, Munk MHJ, Land R, Rüttiger L, Knipper M. Dysfunction of specific auditory fibers impacts cortical oscillations, driving an autism phenotype despite near-normal hearing. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23411. [PMID: 38243766 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301995r] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is discussed in the context of altered neural oscillations and imbalanced cortical excitation-inhibition of cortical origin. We studied here whether developmental changes in peripheral auditory processing, while preserving basic hearing function, lead to altered cortical oscillations. Local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from auditory, visual, and prefrontal cortices and the hippocampus of BdnfPax2 KO mice. These mice develop an autism-like behavioral phenotype through deletion of BDNF in Pax2+ interneuron precursors, affecting lower brainstem functions, but not frontal brain regions directly. Evoked LFP responses to behaviorally relevant auditory stimuli were weaker in the auditory cortex of BdnfPax2 KOs, connected to maturation deficits of high-spontaneous rate auditory nerve fibers. This was correlated with enhanced spontaneous and induced LFP power, excitation-inhibition imbalance, and dendritic spine immaturity, mirroring autistic phenotypes. Thus, impairments in peripheral high-spontaneous rate fibers alter spike synchrony and subsequently cortical processing relevant for normal communication and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philine Marchetta
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Konrad Dapper
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Morgan Hess
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dila Calis
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wibke Singer
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Wertz
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Fink
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Steffen R Hage
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mesbah Alam
- Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Robert Lukowski
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jerome Bourien
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médical, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Luc Puel
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médical, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Michele H Jacob
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthias H J Munk
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Land
- Department of Experimental Otology, Institute of Audioneurotechnology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Kruzich E, Phadke RA, Brack A, Stroumbakis D, Infante O, Cruz-Martín A. A pipeline for STED super-resolution imaging and Imaris analysis of nanoscale synapse organization in mouse cortical brain slices. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102707. [PMID: 37948187 PMCID: PMC10658395 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102707] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in super-resolution imaging enable us to delve into its intricate structural and functional complexities with unprecedented detail. Here, we present a pipeline to visualize and analyze the nanoscale organization of cortical layer 1 apical dendritic spines in the mouse prefrontal cortex. We describe steps for brain slice preparation, immunostaining, stimulated emission depletion super-resolution microscopy, and data analysis using the Imaris software package. This protocol allows the study of physiologically relevant brain circuits implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra Kruzich
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Rhushikesh A Phadke
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alison Brack
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Dimitri Stroumbakis
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Oriannys Infante
- Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA; Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alberto Cruz-Martín
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Dubey H, Roychoudhury R, Alex A, Best C, Liu S, White A, Carlson A, Azcarate-Peril MA, Mansfield LS, Knickmeyer R. Effect of Human Infant Gut Microbiota on Mouse Behavior, Dendritic Complexity, and Myelination. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563309. [PMID: 37961091 PMCID: PMC10634763 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian gut microbiome influences numerous developmental processes. In human infants it has been linked with cognition, social skills, hormonal responses to stress, and brain connectivity. Yet, these associations are not necessarily causal. The present study tested whether two microbial stool communities, common in human infants, affected behavior, myelination, dendritic morphology, and spine density when used to colonize mouse models. Humanized animals were more like specific-pathogen free mice than germ-free mice for most phenotypes, although in males, both humanized groups were less social. Both humanized groups had thinner myelin sheaths in the hippocampus, than did germ-free animals. Humanized animals were similar to each other except for dendritic morphology and spine density where one group had greater dendritic length in the prefrontal cortex, greater dendritic volume in the nucleus accumbens, and greater spine density in both regions, compared to the other. Results add to a body of literature suggesting the gut microbiome impacts brain development. Teaser Fecal transplants from human infants with highly abundant Bifidobacterium , an important inhabitant of the intestinal tract of breastfed newborns, may promote brain connectivity in mice.
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