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van Ingelgom T, Didone V, Godefroid L, Quertemont É. Effects of social housing conditions on ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in Swiss mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:987-1000. [PMID: 38206359 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06527-7] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE In previous animal model studies, it was shown that drug sensitization is dependent upon physical environmental conditions. However, the effects of social housing conditions on drug sensitization is much less known. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of social conditions, through the size of housing groups, on ethanol stimulant effects and ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Male and female Swiss mice were housed in groups of different sizes (isolated mice, two mice per cage, four mice per cage and eight mice per cage) during a six-week period. A standard paradigm of ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization was then started with one daily injection of 2.5 g/kg ethanol for 8 consecutive days. RESULTS The results show that social housing conditions affect the acute stimulant effects of ethanol. The highest stimulant effects were observed in socially isolated mice and then gradually decreased as the size of the group increased. Although the rate of ethanol sensitization did not differ between groups, the ultimate sensitized levels of ethanol-induced stimulant effects were significantly reduced in mice housed in groups of eight. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with the idea that higher levels of acute and sensitized ethanol stimulant effects are observed in mice housed in stressful housing conditions, such as social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo van Ingelgom
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Vincent Didone
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Leeloo Godefroid
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Étienne Quertemont
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
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Gutiérrez-Vera B, Reyes-García SE, Escobar ML. Brief environmental enrichment elicits metaplasticity on the insular cortex in vivo and reduces the strength of conditioned taste aversion. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 205:107840. [PMID: 37805119 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107840] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) is known to improve memory and cognition and modulate the impact of aversive stimuli in animals, promoting the development of resilience to stressful situations. Likewise, it is known that EE can modulate synaptic plasticity as is the case of long-term potentiation (LTP). These findings have been described initially in ex vivo preparations, suggesting that the effects of EE are the result of an early modification of the synaptic excitability and transmission. In this regard, it is known that metaplasticity refers to the persistent modification, by previous activity, in the ability to induce synaptic plasticity. Our previous studies have shown that prior training in conditioned taste aversion (CTA) prevents the subsequent induction of LTP in the projection from the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (Bla) to the insular cortex (IC) in vivo. In addition, we have shown that CTA extinction allows the induction but not the maintenance of IC-LTP of the Bla-IC pathway. Recently, we also showed that prior exposure to environmental enrichment for three weeks reduces the strength of CTA, restoring the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the IC. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of brief exposure to an enriched environment on the strength of aversive memory, as well as on the in vivo IC-LTP. To do so, adult rats were exposed for seven days to an EE, either before CTA training or LTP induction in the Bla-IC pathway. Our results demonstrate that a seven-day exposure to an enriched environment attenuates the aversive response to a strong CTA and allows the induction but not the maintenance of LTP in the insular cortex. These findings provide evidence that metaplastic regulation in a neocortical region takes part in the mechanisms through which brief exposure to enriched environments attenuates an aversive response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Gutiérrez-Vera
- División de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Salma E Reyes-García
- División de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Martha L Escobar
- División de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico.
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3
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Feng Y, Fan J, Cheng Y, Dai Q, Ma S. Stress regulates Alzheimer's disease progression via selective enrichment of CD8 + T cells. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113313. [PMID: 37858461 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113313] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigates stress's impact on Alzheimer's disease (AD) using male APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Negative stressors (chronic social defeat, restraint) and positive hedonia (environmental enrichment, EE) were applied. Stress worsens AD pathology, while EE slows progression. Brain RNA sequencing reveals interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 as key stress-related AD regulators. Flow cytometry shows that the CD8+/CD4+ T cell ratio shifts in response to stress exposure and EE. Stress exposure increases CD8+/CD4+ ratio, opposite to EE. Depletion and enrichment of CD8+ T cells both accelerate AD, indicating immune intervention's negative impact. Stress management and balanced immunity may aid AD therapy, highlighting novel potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Feng
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiaqi Fan
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Shenzhen 518055, China; Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yifan Cheng
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qionghai Dai
- Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Shenzhen 518055, China; Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shaohua Ma
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Shenzhen 518055, China; Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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4
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Lobina C, Maccioni P, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Exposure to an enriched environment exerts anxiolytic effects in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114557. [PMID: 37390968 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114557] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to an enriched environment (EE) has been reported to generate multiple beneficial effects in rodents, including - among the many - amelioration of anxiety-related behaviors. The present study investigated whether living in an EE produced anxiolytic effects also in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The relevance of this research question relied on two factors: sP rats displayed an inherent, high anxiety-like state under different experimental conditions; exposure to EE reduced operant, oral alcohol self-administration in sP rats. Starting from weaning, male sP rats were kept under 3 different housing conditions: impoverished environment (IE; single housing with no environmental enrichment); standard environment (SE; 3 rats/cage with no environmental enrichment); EE (6 rats/cage with various elements of environmental enrichment). At the age of approximately 80 days, rats were exposed to an elevated plus maze test for assessment of anxiety-related behaviors. Compared to IE and SE rats, EE rats displayed higher basal levels of exploratory activity (i.e., increased number of entries into closed arms). Compared to IE and SE rats, EE rats also displayed a less "anxious" profile, as suggested by the increase in percent number of entries into open arms (OAs), percent time spent in OAs, number of head dips, and number of end-arm explorations in OAs. These data extend the protective (anxiolytic) effects of EE to a proposed animal model of comorbid alcohol use disorder and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Murack M, Smith KB, Traynor OH, Pirwani AF, Gostlin SK, Mohamed T, Tata DA, Messier C, Ismail N. Environmental enrichment alters LPS-induced changes in BDNF and PSD-95 expressions during puberty. Brain Res 2023; 1806:148283. [PMID: 36801452 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Puberty is a critical period of cortical reorganization and increased synaptogenesis. Healthy cortical reorganization and synaptic growth require sufficient environmental stimuli and minimalized stress exposure during pubertal development. Exposure to impoverished environments or immune challenges impact cortical reorganization and reduce the expression of proteins associated with neuronal plasticity (BDNF) and synaptogenesis (PSD-95). Environmentally enriched (EE) housing includes improved social-, physical-, and cognitive stimulation. We hypothesized that enriched housing environment would mitigate pubertal stress-induced decreases in BDNF and PSD-95 expressions. Three-week-old male and female CD-1 mice (n = 10 per group) were housed for three weeks in either EE, social or deprived housing conditions. At 6 weeks of age, mice were treated with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline eight hours prior to tissue collection. Male and female EE mice displayed greater BDNF and PSD-95 expressions in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus compared to socially housed and deprived housed mice. LPS treatment decreased BDNF expression in all the brain regions examined in EE mice, except for the CA3 region of the hippocampus, where EE housing successfully mitigated the pubertal LPS-induced decrease in BDNF expression. Interestingly, LPS-treated mice housed in deprived conditions displayed unexpected increases in BDNF and PSD-95 expressions throughout the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Both enriched and deprived housing conditions moderate how an immune challenge influences BDNF and PSD-95 expressions in a region-specific manner. These findings also emphasize the vulnerability of brain plasticity during puberty to various environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Murack
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Kevin B Smith
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Olivia H Traynor
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Atiqa F Pirwani
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Sarah K Gostlin
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 Av. McGill College Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Taha Mohamed
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Despoina A Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Claude Messier
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Nafissa Ismail
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.
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Guez-Barber D, Eisch AJ, Cristancho AG. Developmental Brain Injury and Social Determinants of Health: Opportunities to Combine Preclinical Models for Mechanistic Insights into Recovery. Dev Neurosci 2023; 45:255-267. [PMID: 37080174 PMCID: PMC10614252 DOI: 10.1159/000530745] [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: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies show that social determinants of health are among the strongest factors associated with developmental outcomes after prenatal and perinatal brain injuries, even when controlling for the severity of the initial injury. Elevated socioeconomic status and a higher level of parental education correlate with improved neurologic function after premature birth. Conversely, children experiencing early life adversity have worse outcomes after developmental brain injuries. Animal models have provided vital insight into mechanisms perturbed by developmental brain injuries, which have indicated directions for novel therapeutics or interventions. Animal models have also been used to learn how social environments affect brain maturation through enriched environments and early adverse conditions. We recognize animal models cannot fully recapitulate human social circumstances. However, we posit that mechanistic studies combining models of developmental brain injuries and early life social environments will provide insight into pathways important for recovery. Some studies combining enriched environments with neonatal hypoxic injury models have shown improvements in developmental outcomes, but further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these improvements. By contrast, there have been more limited studies of the effects of adverse conditions on developmental brain injury extent and recovery. Uncovering the biological underpinnings for early life social experiences has translational relevance, enabling the development of novel strategies to improve outcomes through lifelong treatment. With the emergence of new technologies to analyze subtle molecular and behavioral phenotypes, here we discuss the opportunities for combining animal models of developmental brain injury with social construct models to deconvolute the complex interactions between injury, recovery, and social inequity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Guez-Barber
- Division of Child Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amelia J. Eisch
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ana G. Cristancho
- Division of Child Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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7
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Nieves-Vázquez CI, Detrés-Marquéz AC, Torres-Reverón A, Appleyard CB, Llorens-De Jesús AP, Resto IN, López-Rodríguez V, Ramos-Echevarría PM, Castro EM, Flores I. Feasibility and acceptability of an adapted environmental enrichment intervention for endometriosis: A pilot study. Front Glob Womens Health 2023; 3:1058559. [PMID: 36683601 PMCID: PMC9846621 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.1058559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction We have previously shown that Environmental Enrichment (EE)-consisting of social support, novelty, and open spaces-decreased disease progression and anxiety in a rat model of endometriosis. We developed a novel EE intervention to be tested in a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) in patients with endometriosis, a painful, stressful disease. Objective To translate and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted EE intervention as an adjuvant to standard-of-care for endometriosis patients. Methods Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, enrollment, and adherence rates. Acceptability was evaluated through a post-intervention survey and focus group discussion 3-months after the end of the intervention. Results Of the 103 subjects recruited, 64 were randomized to the intervention group and 39 to the control group. At the start of the intervention, the study groups consisted of 29 (intervention) and 27 (control) subjects. Enrollment rates were 45.3% and 69.2%, and adherence rates were 41.4% and 100% for the intervention and control groups, respectively. Delays resulting from natural events (earthquakes, the COVID-19 pandemic) impacted enrollment and adherence rates. The most common reasons for missing an intervention were period pain (39.1%) and work-study (34.8%). There was high acceptability (>80%) of the intervention's logistics. The majority (82.4%) of subjects would continue participating in support groups regularly, and 95.7% would recommend the intervention to other patients. Conclusions We showed that EE could be translated into an acceptable integrative multi-modal therapy perceived as valuable among participants who completed the intervention. High attrition/low adherence indicates that additional refinements would be needed to improve feasibility. Acceptability data indicate that EE has the potential to be integrated into the clinical management of patients with endometriosis and other inflammatory, painful disorders. Studies are ongoing to assess the efficacy of EE in improving pain symptoms, mental health, and quality of life (QoL).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Annelyn Torres-Reverón
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Science University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, TX, United States
| | - Caroline B. Appleyard
- School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Science University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, TX, United States
| | | | - Ivana N. Resto
- School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | | | | | - Eida M. Castro
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Idhaliz Flores
- School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Science University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, TX, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
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Effects of lifespan-extending interventions on cognitive healthspan. Expert Rev Mol Med 2022; 25:e2. [PMID: 36377361 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2022.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ageing is known to be the primary risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. They are currently incurable and worsen over time, which has broad implications in the context of lifespan and healthspan extension. Adding years to life and even to physical health is suboptimal or even insufficient, if cognitive ageing is not adequately improved. In this review, we will examine how interventions that have the potential to extend lifespan in animals affect the brain, and if they would be able to thwart or delay the development of cognitive dysfunction and/or neurodegeneration. These interventions range from lifestyle (caloric restriction, physical exercise and environmental enrichment) through pharmacological (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors, resveratrol, rapamycin, metformin, spermidine and senolytics) to epigenetic reprogramming. We argue that while many of these interventions have clear potential to improve cognitive health and resilience, large-scale and long-term randomised controlled trials are needed, along with studies utilising washout periods to determine the effects of supplementation cessation, particularly in aged individuals.
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Zhu G, Guo M, Zhao J, Zhang H, Wang G, Chen W. Bifidobacterium breve intervention combined with environmental enrichment alleviates cognitive impairment by regulating the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in Alzheimer’s disease mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1013664. [PMID: 36203603 PMCID: PMC9530393 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1013664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by behavioral and cognitive impairments and its increasing prevalence imposes a healthcare burden on society. To date, most intervention studies have only focused on a single AD-related factor and have yielded modest cognitive improvements. Here, we show that environmental enrichment (EE) training combined with Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 intervention significantly alleviated amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced cognitive impairment and inhibited neuroinflammation in mice. Moreover, we found that EE combined with B. breve CCFM1025 treatment restored AD-associated gut microbiota dysbiosis and reversed microbial metabolites changes. By integrating behavioral and neurological data with metabolomic profiles, we corroborated the microbiota–metabolite–brain interactions, with acetate and tryptophan metabolism as potential drivers. Taken together, our results provide a promising multidomain intervention strategy to prevent cognitive decline and delay the progression of AD through a combination of dietary microbiome-based approaches and lifestyle interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangsu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Min Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jianxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou, China
- National Engineering Center of Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Gang Wang,
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- National Engineering Center of Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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10
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Han Y, Yuan M, Guo YS, Shen XY, Gao ZK, Bi X. The role of enriched environment in neural development and repair. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:890666. [PMID: 35936498 PMCID: PMC9350910 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.890666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to genetic information, environmental factors play an important role in the structure and function of nervous system and the occurrence and development of some nervous system diseases. Enriched environment (EE) can not only promote normal neural development through enhancing neuroplasticity but also play a nerve repair role in restoring functional activities during CNS injury by morphological and cellular and molecular adaptations in the brain. Different stages of development after birth respond to the environment to varying degrees. Therefore, we systematically review the pro-developmental and anti-stress value of EE during pregnancy, pre-weaning, and “adolescence” and analyze the difference in the effects of EE and its sub-components, especially with physical exercise. In our exploration of potential mechanisms that promote neurodevelopment, we have found that not all sub-components exert maximum value throughout the developmental phase, such as animals that do not respond to physical activity before weaning, and that EE is not superior to its sub-components in all respects. EE affects the developing and adult brain, resulting in some neuroplastic changes in the microscopic and macroscopic anatomy, finally contributing to enhanced learning and memory capacity. These positive promoting influences are particularly prominent regarding neural repair after neurobiological disorders. Taking cerebral ischemia as an example, we analyzed the molecular mediators of EE promoting repair from various dimensions. We found that EE does not always lead to positive effects on nerve repair, such as infarct size. In view of the classic issues such as standardization and relativity of EE have been thoroughly discussed, we finally focus on analyzing the essentiality of the time window of EE action and clinical translation in order to devote to the future research direction of EE and rapid and reasonable clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Han
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Yuan
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Sha Guo
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Ya Shen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Department of Graduate School, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen-Kun Gao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Department of Graduate School, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Bi
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xia Bi
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Balietti M, Conti F. Environmental enrichment and the aging brain: is it time for standardization? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 139:104728. [PMID: 35691473 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Aging entails a progressive decline of cognitive abilities. However, since the brain is endowed with considerable plasticity, adequate stimulation can delay or partially compensate for age-related structural and functional impairment. Environmental enrichment (EE) has been reported to determine a wide range of cerebral changes. Although most findings have been obtained in young and adult animals, research has recently turned to aged individuals. Notably, EE can contribute identifying key lifestyle factors whose change can help extend the "mind-span", i.e., the time an individual lives in a healthy cognitive condition. Here we discuss specific methodological issues that can affect the outcomes of EE interventions applied to aged rodents, summarize the main variables that would need standardization (e.g., timing and duration, enrichment items, control animals and setting), and offer some suggestions on how this goal may be achieved. Reaching a consensus on EE experiment design would significantly reduce differences between and within laboratories, enable constructive discussions among researchers, and improve data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Balietti
- Center for Neurobiology of Aging, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Fiorenzo Conti
- Center for Neurobiology of Aging, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy; Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
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12
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Maccioni P, Bratzu J, Lobina C, Acciaro C, Corrias G, Capra A, Carai MAM, Agabio R, Muntoni AL, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Exposure to an enriched environment reduces alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Physiol Behav 2022; 249:113771. [PMID: 35247441 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Living in an enriched environment (EE) produces a notable impact on several rodent behaviors, including those motivated by drugs of abuse. This picture is somewhat less clear when referring to alcohol-motivated behaviors. With the intent of contributing to this research field with data from one of the few rat lines selectively bred for excessive alcohol consumption, the present study investigated the effect of EE on operant oral alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Starting from Postnatal Day (PND) 21, male sP rats were kept under 3 different housing conditions: impoverished environment (IE; single housing in shoebox-like cages with no environmental enrichment); standard environment (SE; small colony cages with 3 rats and no environmental enrichment); EE (large colony cages with 6 rats and multiple elements of environmental enrichment, including 2 floors, ladders, maze, running wheels, and shelter). From PND 60, rats were exposed to different phases of shaping and training of alcohol self-administration. IE, SE, and EE rats were then compared under (i) fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of alcohol reinforcement for 20 daily sessions and (ii) progressive ratio (PR) schedule of alcohol reinforcement in a final single session. Acquisition of the lever-responding task (shaping) was slower in EE than IE and SE rats, as the likely consequence of a "devaluation" of the novel stimuli provided by the operant chamber in comparison to those to which EE rats were continuously exposed in their homecage or an alteration, induced by EE, of the rat "emotionality" state when facing the novel environment represented by the operant chamber. Training of alcohol self-administration was slower in EE than IE rats, with SE rats displaying intermediate values. A similar ranking order (IE>SE>EE) was also observed in number of lever-responses for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol under FR4 and PR schedules of reinforcement. These data suggest that living in a complex environment reduced the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol in sP rats. These results are interpreted in terms of the reinforcing and motivational properties of the main components of EE (i.e., social interactions, physical activities, exploration, novelty) substituting, at least partially, for those of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Acciaro
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gianluigi Corrias
- Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Alessandro Capra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research, I-09127 Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Roberta Agabio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Anna Lisa Muntoni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy.
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13
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Housing conditions modify seasonal changes in basal metabolism and body mass of the Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. J Comp Physiol B 2022; 192:513-526. [PMID: 35348882 PMCID: PMC9197917 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-022-01434-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Proper housing conditions are important aspects of animal welfare. Animals housed in enriched environments show less stereotypic behaviours than animals kept in barren cages. However, different types of cage enrichment may affect the results of experimental studies and hinder comparative analyses of animal physiology and behaviour. We investigated whether access to a running wheel, availability of nesting material, and pair housing affect basal metabolic rate (BMR) of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) under various acclimation conditions. We used 70 adult hamsters (35 males and 35 females) divided into five groups housed under different cage conditions. All individuals experienced the same acclimation procedure: first a winter (L8:D16) then a summer (L16:D8) photoperiod, at air temperatures of first 20 °C then 7 °C under both photoperiods. We found that nesting material and pair housing did not affect hamster BMR, while access to a running wheel increased BMR and body mass regardless of photoperiod and ambient temperature. Thus, we suggest that cage enrichment should be applied with caution, especially in studies on energetics or thermoregulation, particularly in seasonal animals.
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14
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Manno FAM, Kumar R, An Z, Khan MS, Su J, Liu J, Wu EX, He J, Feng Y, Lau C. Structural and Functional Hippocampal Correlations in Environmental Enrichment During the Adolescent to Adulthood Transition in Mice. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 15:807297. [PMID: 35242015 PMCID: PMC8886042 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2021.807297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is known to induce neuronal changes; however, the underlying structural and functional factors involved are not fully known and remain an active area of study. To investigate these factors, we assessed enriched environment (EE) and standard environment (SE) control mice over 30 days using structural and functional MRI methods. Naïve adult male mice (n = 30, ≈20 g, C57BL/B6J, postnatal day 60 initial scan) were divided into SE and EE groups and scanned before and after 30 days. Structural analyses included volumetry based on manual segmentation as well as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Functional analyses included seed-based analysis (SBA), independent component analysis (ICA), the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), and fractional ALFF (fALFF). Structural results indicated that environmental enrichment led to an increase in the volumes of cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus. Structural results indicated changes in radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity in the visual cortex and secondary somatosensory cortex after EE. Furthermore, SBA and ICA indicated an increase in resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) functional connectivity in the hippocampus. Using parallel structural and functional analyses, we have demonstrated coexistent structural and functional changes in the hippocampal subdivision CA1. Future research should map alterations temporally during environmental enrichment to investigate the initiation of these structural and functional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis A M Manno
- Center for Imaging Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rachit Kumar
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ziqi An
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Shehzad Khan
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Junfeng Su
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jiaming Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ed X Wu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yanqiu Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Condon Lau
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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15
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Cosgrove JA, Kelly LK, Kiffmeyer EA, Kloth AD. Sex-dependent influence of postweaning environmental enrichment in Angelman syndrome model mice. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2468. [PMID: 34985196 PMCID: PMC8865162 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation or loss of UBE3A and marked by intellectual disability, ataxia, autism-like symptoms, and other atypical behaviors. One route to treatment may lie in the role that environment plays early in postnatal life. Environmental enrichment (EE) is one manipulation that has shown therapeutic potential in preclinical models of many brain disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we examined whether postweaning EE can rescue behavioral phenotypes in Ube3a maternal deletion mice (AS mice), and whether any improvements are sex-dependent. METHODS Male and female mice (C57BL/6J Ube3atm1Alb mice and wild-type (WT) littermates; ≥10 mice/group) were randomly assigned to standard housing (SH) or EE at weaning. EE had a larger footprint, a running wheel, and a variety of toys that promoted foraging, burrowing, and climbing. Following 6 weeks of EE, animals were submitted to a battery of tests that reliably elicit behavioral deficits in AS mice, including rotarod, open field, marble burying, and forced swim; weights were also monitored. RESULTS In male AS-EE mice, we found complete restoration of motor coordination, marble burying, and forced swim behavior to the level of WT-SH mice. We also observed a complete normalization of exploratory distance traveled in the open field, but we found no rescue of vertical behavior or center time. AS-EE mice also had weights comparable to WT-SH mice. Intriguingly, in the female AS-EE mice, we found a failure of EE to rescue the same behavioral deficits relative to female WT-SH mice. CONCLUSIONS Environmental enrichment is an effective route to correcting the most penetrant phenotypes in male AS mice but not female AS mice. This finding has important implications for the translatability of early behavioral intervention for AS patients, most importantly the potential dependency of treatment response on sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameson A. Cosgrove
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Lauren K. Kelly
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Elizabeth A. Kiffmeyer
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Alexander D. Kloth
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
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16
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Manno FA, An Z, Kumar R, Su AJ, Liu J, Wu EX, He J, Feng Y, Lau C. Environmental enrichment leads to behavioral circadian shifts enhancing brain-wide functional connectivity between sensory cortices and eliciting increased hippocampal spiking. Neuroimage 2022; 252:119016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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17
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Estrázulas M, Freitas RDS, Käfer ET, Dagnino APA, Campos MM. Central and peripheral effects of environmental enrichment in a mouse model of arthritis. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 102:108386. [PMID: 34824037 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This study analyzed whether environmental enrichment (EE) modulates the nociceptive and inflammatory responses in the mouse model of arthritis induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). Ninety male mice (C57BL/6-JUnib, 4-weeks-old; 20-25 g) were distributed into EE and standard (SE) groups. For EE, mice were kept in bigger cages using an alternation of materials to chew (wood and paper), for nesting (cotton), to use as hiding places (plastic tunnels), and for voluntary exercise (wheel running). Arthritis was induced by an injection of CFA (50 μL) into the right hind paw or saline solution in the control group. Separate groups received the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg; every 48 h). Inflammatory and pain measurements were performed from 1 to 35 days after CFA administration. EE per se reduced the acute paw edema formation and arthritis scores. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were undetectable in any experimental groups. EE diminished the immunopositivity for the microglia marker IBA1 in the pre-frontal cortex, with slight changes for hippocampal GFAP-positive activated astrocytes. Finally, EE induced a marked increment of brain-derived nerve factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus, an effect that was fully prevented by dexamethasone. These data bring novel evidence on the peripheral and central effects of EE in a mouse arthritis model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Estrázulas
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Raquel D S Freitas
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduarda T Käfer
- Curso de Graduação em Medicina, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana P A Dagnino
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria M Campos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Odontologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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18
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Hobbiesiefken U, Mieske P, Lewejohann L, Diederich K. Evaluation of different types of enrichment - their usage and effect on home cage behavior in female mice. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261876. [PMID: 34941949 PMCID: PMC8699725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies ascertained positive effects of enriched environments on the well-being of laboratory animals including behavioral, physiological and neurochemical parameters. Conversely, such conclusions imply impaired animal welfare and health in barren husbandry conditions. Moreover, inappropriate housing of laboratory animals may deteriorate the quality of scientific data. Recommendations for housing laboratory animals stipulate that cages should be enriched to mitigate adverse effects of barren housing. In this context, it is not only unclear what exactly is meant by enrichment, but also how the animals themselves interact with the various items on offer. Focal animal observation of female C57BL/6J mice either housed in conventional (CON) or enriched (ENR) conditions served to analyze the impact of enriching housing on welfare related behavior patterns including stereotypical, maintenance, active social, and inactive behaviors. CON conditions resembled current usual housing of laboratory mice, whereas ENR mice received varying enrichment items including foraging, housing and structural elements, and a running disc. Active and inactive use of these elements was quantitatively assessed. CON mice showed significantly more inactive and stereotypical behavior than ENR mice. ENR mice frequently engaged with all enrichment elements, whereby riddles to obtain food reward and the running disc preferably served for active interactions. Offering a second level resulted in high active and inactive interactions. Structural elements fixed at the cagetop were least attractive for the mice. Overall, the presented data underline the positive welfare benefits of enrichment and that mice clearly differentiate between distinct enrichment types, demonstrating that the perspective of the animals themselves should also be taken into account when specifying laboratory housing conditions. This is particularly important, as the ensuring of animal welfare is an essential prerequisite for reliable, reproducible, and scientifically meaningful results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Hobbiesiefken
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Center for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Mieske
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Center for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Center for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Center for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
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19
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Apparatus design and behavioural testing protocol for the evaluation of spatial working memory in mice through the spontaneous alternation T-maze. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21177. [PMID: 34707108 PMCID: PMC8551159 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00402-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial working memory can be assessed in mice through the spontaneous alternation T-maze test. The T-maze is a T-shaped apparatus featuring a stem (start arm) and two lateral goal arms (left and right arms). The procedure is based on the natural tendency of rodents to prefer exploring a novel arm over a familiar one, which induces them to alternate the choice of the goal arm across repeated trials. During the task, in order to successfully alternate choices across trials, an animal has to remember which arm had been visited in the previous trial, which makes spontaneous alternation T-maze an optimal test for spatial working memory. As this test relies on a spontaneous behaviour and does not require rewards, punishments or pre-training, it represents a particularly useful tool for cognitive evaluation, both time-saving and animal-friendly. We describe here in detail the apparatus and the protocol, providing representative results on wild-type healthy mice.
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20
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Kim S, Park D, Kim J, Kim D, Kim H, Mori T, Jung H, Lee D, Hong S, Jeon J, Tabuchi K, Cheong E, Kim J, Um JW, Ko J. Npas4 regulates IQSEC3 expression in hippocampal somatostatin interneurons to mediate anxiety-like behavior. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109417. [PMID: 34289353 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Activity-dependent GABAergic synapse plasticity is important for normal brain functions, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that Npas4 (neuronal PAS-domain protein 4) transcriptionally regulates the expression of IQSEC3, a GABAergic synapse-specific guanine nucleotide-exchange factor for ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF-GEF) that directly interacts with gephyrin. Neuronal activation by an enriched environment induces Npas4-mediated upregulation of IQSEC3 protein specifically in CA1 stratum oriens layer somatostatin (SST)-expressing GABAergic interneurons. SST+ interneuron-specific knockout (KO) of Npas4 compromises synaptic transmission in these GABAergic interneurons, increases neuronal activity in CA1 pyramidal neurons, and reduces anxiety behavior, all of which are normalized by the expression of wild-type IQSEC3, but not a dominant-negative ARF-GEF-inactive mutant, in SST+ interneurons of Npas4-KO mice. Our results suggest that IQSEC3 is a key GABAergic synapse component that is directed by Npas4 and ARF activity, specifically in SST+ interneurons, to orchestrate excitation-to-inhibition balance and control anxiety-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungjoon Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea
| | - Dongseok Park
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea
| | - Jinhu Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea
| | - Dongwook Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea
| | - Hyeonho Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea
| | - Takuma Mori
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Nagano 390-86221, Japan
| | - Hyeji Jung
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea
| | - Dongsu Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Sookyung Hong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Jongcheol Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Katsuhiko Tabuchi
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Nagano 390-86221, Japan; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Institute of Medicine, Academic Assembly, Shinshu University, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Eunji Cheong
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jaehoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Ji Won Um
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea.
| | - Jaewon Ko
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungangdae-Ro, Hyeonpoong-Eup, Dalseong-Gun, Daegu 42988, Korea.
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21
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Barbosa-Méndez S, López-Morado C, Salazar-Juárez A. Mirtazapine-induced decrease in cocaine sensitization is enhanced by environmental enrichment in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 208:173237. [PMID: 34274360 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have reported that mirtazapine attenuated the induction and expression of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. Animals placed in enriched housing environments have shown a decrease in cocaine-induced locomotor activity and sensitization. In addition, it has been suggested that a pharmacological treatment combined with a behavioral intervention increases the efficacy of the former. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine if dosing of mirtazapine in an enriched housing environment enhanced the mirtazapine-induced decrease on the induction and expression of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. Wistar male rats were dosed with cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). During the drug-withdrawal phase, mirtazapine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered under standard and enriched housing environmental conditions. The environmental enrichment consisted of housing the animals in enclosures with plastic toys, tunnels, and running wheels. After each administration, locomotor activity for each animal was recorded for 30 min. The study found that treatment with mirtazapine in an enriched housing environment produced an enhanced and persistent attenuation of the induction and expression of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. Additionally, it reduced the duration of cocaine-induced locomotor activity in the expression phase of locomotor sensitization. Dosing of mirtazapine in an enriched housing environment enhanced the effectiveness of mirtazapine to decrease cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. This suggests the potential use of enriched environments to enhance the effect of mirtazapine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Barbosa-Méndez
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
| | - Casandra López-Morado
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
| | - Alberto Salazar-Juárez
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico.
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22
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Masini D, Plewnia C, Bertho M, Scalbert N, Caggiano V, Fisone G. A Guide to the Generation of a 6-Hydroxydopamine Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease for the Study of Non-Motor Symptoms. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9060598. [PMID: 34070345 PMCID: PMC8227396 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In Parkinson’s disease (PD), a large number of symptoms affecting the peripheral and central nervous system precede, develop in parallel to, the cardinal motor symptoms of the disease. The study of these conditions, which are often refractory to and may even be exacerbated by standard dopamine replacement therapies, relies on the availability of appropriate animal models. Previous work in rodents showed that injection of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in discrete brain regions reproduces several non-motor comorbidities commonly associated with PD, including cognitive deficits, depression, anxiety, as well as disruption of olfactory discrimination and circadian rhythm. However, the use of 6-OHDA is frequently associated with significant post-surgical mortality. Here, we describe the generation of a mouse model of PD based on bilateral injection of 6-OHDA in the dorsal striatum. We show that the survival rates of males and females subjected to this lesion differ significantly, with a much higher mortality among males, and provide a protocol of enhanced pre- and post-operative care, which nearly eliminates animal loss. We also briefly discuss the utility of this model for the study of non-motor comorbidities of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora Masini
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.M.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (N.S.); (V.C.)
- Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carina Plewnia
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.M.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (N.S.); (V.C.)
| | - Maëlle Bertho
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.M.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (N.S.); (V.C.)
- Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Scalbert
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.M.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (N.S.); (V.C.)
| | - Vittorio Caggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.M.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (N.S.); (V.C.)
| | - Gilberto Fisone
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.M.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (N.S.); (V.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Espeso-Gil S, Holik AZ, Bonnin S, Jhanwar S, Chandrasekaran S, Pique-Regi R, Albaigès-Ràfols J, Maher M, Permanyer J, Irimia M, Friedländer MR, Pons-Espinal M, Akbarian S, Dierssen M, Maass PG, Hor CN, Ossowski S. Environmental Enrichment Induces Epigenomic and Genome Organization Changes Relevant for Cognition. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:664912. [PMID: 34025350 PMCID: PMC8131874 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.664912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In early development, the environment triggers mnemonic epigenomic programs resulting in memory and learning experiences to confer cognitive phenotypes into adulthood. To uncover how environmental stimulation impacts the epigenome and genome organization, we used the paradigm of environmental enrichment (EE) in young mice constantly receiving novel stimulation. We profiled epigenome and chromatin architecture in whole cortex and sorted neurons by deep-sequencing techniques. Specifically, we studied chromatin accessibility, gene and protein regulation, and 3D genome conformation, combined with predicted enhancer and chromatin interactions. We identified increased chromatin accessibility, transcription factor binding including CTCF-mediated insulation, differential occupancy of H3K36me3 and H3K79me2, and changes in transcriptional programs required for neuronal development. EE stimuli led to local genome re-organization by inducing increased contacts between chromosomes 7 and 17 (inter-chromosomal). Our findings support the notion that EE-induced learning and memory processes are directly associated with the epigenome and genome organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Espeso-Gil
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aliaksei Z. Holik
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah Bonnin
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Shalu Jhanwar
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandhya Chandrasekaran
- MD/PhD Program in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Júlia Albaigès-Ràfols
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Maher
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jon Permanyer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc R. Friedländer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Meritxell Pons-Espinal
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philipp G. Maass
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Charlotte N. Hor
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stephan Ossowski
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
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Fan Z, Chen J, Li L, Wang H, Gong X, Xu H, Wu L, Yan C. Environmental enrichment modulates HPA axis reprogramming in adult male rats exposed to early adolescent stress. Neurosci Res 2021; 172:63-72. [PMID: 33901553 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to early stressful events increases susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adulthood, in which the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a crucial role. Studies have found that environmental enrichment (EE) mitigates the detrimental outcomes of early adversity. However, the HPA-related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we used the single prolonged stress (SPS) paradigm to explore the long-term effects of early adolescent stress on behavior, HPA axis activity, as well as expression levels of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRF1R) and CRF2R in the hypothalamus and hippocampus. Meanwhile, the protective effects of EE intervention were examined. We found that adult male rats exposed to adolescent stress showed reduced locomotor activity, increased anxiety-like behaviors, enhanced contextual fear memory, elevated basal plasma ACTH levels, and enhanced HPA negative feedback inhibition, as indicated by decreased plasma ACTH levels in the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Furthermore, EE normalized the behavioral abnormalities and enhanced HPA negative feedback in stressed rats, possibly through down-regulating GR expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. These findings suggested that EE could ameliorate adolescent stress-induced PTSD-like behaviors and aberrant reprogramming of the HPA axis, reducing the risk of developing PTSD in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Fan
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ling Li
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hanzhang Wang
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiayu Gong
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hanfang Xu
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lili Wu
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Can Yan
- Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Problem Solving in Animals: Proposal for an Ontogenetic Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030866. [PMID: 33803609 PMCID: PMC8002912 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Animals must be able to solve problems to access food and avoid predators. Problem solving is not a complicated process, often relying only on animals exploring their surroundings, and being able to learn and remember information. However, not all species, populations, or even individuals, can solve problems, or can solve problems in the same way. Differences in problem-solving ability could be due to differences in how animals develop and grow, including differences in their genetics, hormones, age, and/or environmental conditions. Here, we consider how an animal’s problem-solving ability could be impacted by its development, and what future work needs to be done to understand the development of problem solving. We argue that, considering how many different factors are involved, focusing on individual animals, and individual variation, is the best way to study the development of problem solving. Abstract Problem solving, the act of overcoming an obstacle to obtain an incentive, has been studied in a wide variety of taxa, and is often based on simple strategies such as trial-and-error learning, instead of higher-order cognitive processes, such as insight. There are large variations in problem solving abilities between species, populations and individuals, and this variation could arise due to differences in development, and other intrinsic (genetic, neuroendocrine and aging) and extrinsic (environmental) factors. However, experimental studies investigating the ontogeny of problem solving are lacking. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of problem solving from an ontogenetic perspective. The focus is to highlight aspects of problem solving that have been overlooked in the current literature, and highlight why developmental influences of problem-solving ability are particularly important avenues for future investigation. We argue that the ultimate outcome of solving a problem is underpinned by interacting cognitive, physiological and behavioural components, all of which are affected by ontogenetic factors. We emphasise that, due to the large number of confounding ontogenetic influences, an individual-centric approach is important for a full understanding of the development of problem solving.
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Dickson PE, Mittleman G. Environmental enrichment influences novelty reactivity, novelty preference, and anxiety via distinct genetic mechanisms in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3928. [PMID: 33594184 PMCID: PMC7887236 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83574-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors such as stress drive the development of drug addiction in genetically vulnerable individuals; the genes underlying this vulnerability are unknown. One strategy for uncovering these genes is to study the impact of environmental manipulation on high-throughput phenotypes that predict drug use and addiction-like behaviors. In the present study, we assessed the viability of this approach by evaluating the relative effects of environmental enrichment and isolation housing on three high-throughput phenotypes known to predict variation on distinct aspects of intravenous drug self-administration. Prior to behavioral testing, male and female C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice (BXD founders) were housed in enrichment or isolation for ten weeks beginning at weaning. Enrichment significantly reduced novelty reactivity; this effect was significantly more robust in C57BL/6J mice relative to DBA/2J mice. Enrichment significantly reduced novelty preference; this effect was significantly dependent on novel environment characteristics and was significantly more robust in DBA/2J mice relative to C57BL/6J mice. Enrichment significantly increased anxiety; this effect was not strain-dependent. Collectively, these data indicate that (1) environmental enrichment influences novelty reactivity, novelty preference, and anxiety via distinct genetic mechanisms in mice, and (2) the BXD panel can be used to discover the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Price E Dickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Drive, Memphis, TN, 38111, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, 1700 3rd Ave., Huntington, WV, 25703, USA.
| | - Guy Mittleman
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Drive, Memphis, TN, 38111, USA
- Department of Psychological Science, Ball State University, North Quad (NQ), room 104, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA
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Lin Y, Yao M, Wu H, Wu F, Cao S, Ni H, Dong J, Yang D, Sun Y, Kou X, Li J, Xiao H, Chang L, Wu J, Liu Y, Luo C, Zhu D. Environmental enrichment implies GAT-1 as a potential therapeutic target for stroke recovery. Theranostics 2021; 11:3760-3780. [PMID: 33664860 PMCID: PMC7914370 DOI: 10.7150/thno.53316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability worldwide, but no drug provides functional recovery during the repair phase. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that environmental enrichment (EE) promotes stroke recovery by enhancing network excitability. However, the complexities of utilizing EE in a clinical setting limit its translation. Methods: We used multifaceted approaches combining electrophysiology, chemogenetics, optogenetics, and floxed mice in a mouse photothrombotic stroke model to reveal the key target of EE-mediated stroke recovery. Results: EE reduced tonic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibition and facilitated phasic GABA inhibition in the peri-infarct cortex, thereby promoting network excitability and stroke recovery. These beneficial effects depended on GAT-1, a GABA transporter regulating both tonic and phasic GABA signaling, as EE positively regulated GAT-1 expression, trafficking, and function. Furthermore, GAT-1 was necessary for EE-induced network plasticity, including structural neuroplasticity, input synaptic strengthening in the peri-infarct cortex, output synaptic strengthening in the corticospinal tract, and sprouting of uninjured corticospinal axons across the midline into the territory of denervated spinal cord, and functional recovery from stroke. Moreover, restoration of GAT-1 function in the peri-infarct cortex by its overexpression showed similar beneficial effects on stroke recovery as EE exposure. Conclusion: GAT-1 is a key molecular substrate of the effects of EE on network excitability and consequent stroke recovery and can serve as a novel therapeutic target for stroke treatment during the repair phase.
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28
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Mesa-Gresa P, Ramos-Campos M, Redolat R. Behavioral impact of experience based on environmental enrichment: Influence of age and duration of exposure in male NMRI mice. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:1071-1081. [PMID: 33452673 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies have suggested that short periods of exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) in rodents induce physiological and behavioral effects. In the present study, our aim was to evaluate if the impact of experiences based on EE could be modulated by the age of onset and the developmental period of exposure. NMRI male mice (n = 64) were exposed to EE or standard environment (SE) and behavioral changes (anxiety, exploration, memory and social interaction) were evaluated. Groups compared were: (a) SE: exposure to SE on post-natal day (PND) 28 and lasting 6 months; (b) EE-6: exposure to EE on PND 28 and lasting 6 months; (c) EE-4: exposure to EE on PND 91 and lasting 4 months; (d) EE-2: exposure to EE on PND 154 and lasting 2 months. Results indicated that in the hole-board task the decrease in exploratory behavior reached significance when EE was initiated at adolescence whereas anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze tend to diminish after a longer period of EE. No significant effects of EE on aggressive behavior or novel object recognition were obtained. Taking these results into account, further studies are needed in order to determine the possible modulating role of age and duration of exposure to enriched environments on behavior. Results obtained could explain some discrepancies reported in previous studies, providing new evidence that could contribute to the design of future research related to the benefits of complex and enriched environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Mesa-Gresa
- Departamento Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Ramos-Campos
- Departamento Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa Redolat
- Departamento Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
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Wang C, Liu H, Li K, Wu ZZ, Wu C, Yu JY, Gong Q, Fang P, Wang XX, Duan SM, Wang H, Gu Y, Hu J, Pan BX, Schmidt MV, Liu YJ, Wang XD. Tactile modulation of memory and anxiety requires dentate granule cells along the dorsoventral axis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6045. [PMID: 33247136 PMCID: PMC7695841 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19874-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Touch can positively influence cognition and emotion, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that tactile experience enrichment improves memory and alleviates anxiety by remodeling neurons along the dorsoventral axis of the dentate gyrus (DG) in adult mice. Tactile enrichment induces differential activation and structural modification of neurons in the dorsal and ventral DG, and increases the presynaptic input from the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC), which is reciprocally connected with the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), to tactile experience-activated DG neurons. Chemogenetic activation of tactile experience-tagged dorsal and ventral DG neurons enhances memory and reduces anxiety respectively, whereas inactivation of these neurons or S1-innervated LEC neurons abolishes the beneficial effects of tactile enrichment. Moreover, adulthood tactile enrichment attenuates early-life stress-induced memory deficits and anxiety-related behavior. Our findings demonstrate that enriched tactile experience retunes the pathway from S1 to DG and enhances DG neuronal plasticity to modulate cognition and emotion. Touch can positively modulate cognitive performance and emotional response. Here the authors demonstrate that enriched tactile experience improves memory and reduces anxiety in adult mice by remodelling the pathway from the primary somatosensory cortex to the dentate gyrus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Ying Yu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qian Gong
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Fang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xing-Xing Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Technische Universität München/Klinikum Rechts der Isar, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Shu-Min Duan
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Wang
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Gu
- Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ji Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | | | - Yi-Jun Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China. .,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
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30
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Pritchett-Corning KR. Environmental Complexity and Research Outcomes. ILAR J 2020; 60:239-251. [PMID: 32559304 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilaa007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental complexity is an experimental paradigm as well as a potential part of animals' everyday housing experiences. In experimental uses, researchers add complexity to stimulate brain development, delay degenerative brain changes, elicit more naturalistic behaviors, and test learning and memory. Complexity can exacerbate or mitigate behavioral problems, give animals a sense of control, and allow for expression of highly driven, species-typical behaviors that can improve animal welfare. Complex environments should be designed thoughtfully with the animal's natural behaviors in mind, reported faithfully in the literature, and evaluated carefully for unexpected effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Pritchett-Corning
- Office of Animal Resources, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Early exposure to environmental enrichment protects male rats against neuropathic pain development after nerve injury. Exp Neurol 2020; 332:113390. [PMID: 32598929 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Because environmental elements modify chronic pain development and endogenous mechanisms of pain control are still a great therapeutic source, we investigated the effects of an early exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) in a translational model of neuropathic pain. Young male rats born and bred in an enriched environment, which did not count on running wheel, underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve. EE abolished neuropathic pain behavior 14 days after CCI. Opioid receptors' antagonism reversed EE-analgesic effect. β-endorphin and met-enkephalin serum levels were increased only in EE-CCI group. Blockade of glucocorticoid receptors did not alter EE-analgesic effect, although corticosterone circulating levels were increased in EE animals. In the spinal cord, EE controlled CCI-induced serotonin increase. In DRG, EE blunted the expression of ATF-3 after CCI. Surprisingly, EE-CCI group showed a remarkable preservation of sciatic nerve fibers compared to NE-CCI group. This work demonstrated global effects induced by an EE protocol that explain, in part, the protective role of EE upon chronic noxious stimulation, reinforcing the importance of endogenous mechanisms in the prevention of chronic pain development.
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32
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Queen NJ, Hassan QN, Cao L. Improvements to Healthspan Through Environmental Enrichment and Lifestyle Interventions: Where Are We Now? Front Neurosci 2020; 14:605. [PMID: 32655354 PMCID: PMC7325954 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) is an experimental paradigm that is used to explore how a complex, stimulating environment can impact overall health. In laboratory animal experiments, EE housing conditions typically include larger-than-standard cages, abundant bedding, running wheels, mazes, toys, and shelters which are rearranged regularly to further increase stimulation. EE has been shown to improve multiple aspects of health, including but not limited to metabolism, learning and cognition, anxiety and depression, and immunocompetence. Recent advances in lifespan have led some researchers to consider aging as a risk factor for disease. As such, there is a pressing need to understand the processes by which healthspan can be increased. The natural and predictable changes during aging can be reversed or decreased through EE and its underlying mechanisms. Here, we review the use of EE in laboratory animals to understand mechanisms involved in aging, and comment on relative areas of strength and weakness in the current literature. We additionally address current efforts toward applying EE-like lifestyle interventions to human health to extend healthspan. Although increasing lifespan is a clear goal of medical research, improving the quality of this added time also deserves significant attention. Despite hurdles in translating experimental results toward clinical application, we argue there is great potential in using features of EE toward improving human healthy life expectancy or healthspan, especially in the context of increased global longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Queen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Quais N. Hassan
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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Yin B, Jiang H, Liu X, Guo SW. Enriched Environment Decelerates the Development of Endometriosis in Mouse. Reprod Sci 2020; 27:1423-1435. [PMID: 32318984 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-019-00117-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that enriched environment (EE), consisting of enlarged space, and increased physical activity and social interactions, hinders the development of endometriosis through attenuated adrenergic signaling, enhanced autophagy, and reduced leptin levels. Two mouse experiments were performed. In Experiment 1, 40 female Balb/C mice were randomly divided into four equal-sized groups, the SE (standard environment), EE, p-EE (EE instituted after endometriosis induction), and the d-EE (SE housing but received uterine fragments from EE donors) groups. Housing intervention was initiated 3 weeks before the induction of endometriosis and continued for 3 weeks after induction. In Experiment 2, 20 female mice were randomly divided into SE and EE groups, and the plasma leptin levels were measured. We measured lesion weight and hotplate latency and performed Masson trichrome staining as well as immunohistochemistry analysis of β2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2), dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3). We found that EE reduced the lesion weight by 40.8% as compared with SE mice, but the reduction in p-EE and d-EE mice did not reach statistical significance. EE significantly reduced staining levels of ADRB2 and VEGF as well as the extent of lesional fibrosis but increased staining levels of LC3 and DRD2 in lesions as compared with the SE group. EE mice had reduced plasma leptin levels as compared with SE mice. Thus, EE decelerates the development of endometriosis and fibrogenesis and improved generalized hyperalgesia, possibly through increased DRD2 expression but decreased expression of ADRB2 and VEGF as well as enhanced autophagy and reduced leptin level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yin
- Shanghai OB/GYN Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hongyuan Jiang
- Shanghai OB/GYN Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xishi Liu
- Shanghai OB/GYN Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Sun-Wei Guo
- Shanghai OB/GYN Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Jaimes LF, Mansk LMZ, Almeida-Santos AF, Pereira GS. Maturation of newborn neurons predicts social memory persistence in mice. Neuropharmacology 2020; 171:108102. [PMID: 32302616 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Memory transience is essential to gain cognitive flexibility. Recently, hippocampal neurogenesis is emerging as one of the mechanisms involved in the balance between persistence and forgetting. Social recognition memory (SRM) has its duration prolonged by neurogenesis. However, it is still to be determined whether boosting neurogenesis in distinct phases of SRM may favor forgetting over persistence. In the present study, we used enriched environment (EE) and memantine (MEM) to increase neurogenesis. SRM was ubiquitously prolonged by both, while EE after the memory acquisition did not favor forgetting. Interestingly, the proportion of newborn neurons with mature morphology in the dorsal hippocampus was higher in animals where persistence prevailed. Finally, one of the main factors for dendritic growth is the formation of cytoskeleton. We found that Latrunculin A, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, blunted the promnesic effect of EE. Altogether, our results indicate that the mechanisms triggered by EE to improve SRM are not limited to increasing the number of newborn neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura F Jaimes
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lara M Z Mansk
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana F Almeida-Santos
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil
| | - Grace S Pereira
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil.
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Morè L, Lauterborn JC, Papaleo F, Brambilla R. Enhancing cognition through pharmacological and environmental interventions: Examples from preclinical models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 110:28-45. [PMID: 30981451 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In this review we discuss the role of environmental and pharmacological treatments to enhance cognition with special regards to neurodevelopmental related disorders and aging. How the environment influences brain structure and function, and the interactions between rearing conditions and gene expression, are fundamental questions that are still poorly understood. We propose a model that can explain some of the discrepancies in findings for effects of environmental enrichment on outcome measures. Evidence of a direct causal correlation of nootropics and treatments that enhanced cognition also will be presented, and possible molecular mechanisms that include neurotrophin signaling and downstream pathways underlying these processes are discussed. Finally we review recent findings achieved with a wide set of behavioral and cognitive tasks that have translational validity to humans, and should be useful for future work on devising appropriate therapies. As will be discussed, the collective findings suggest that a combinational therapeutic approach of environmental enrichment and nootropics could be particularly successful for improving learning and memory in both developmental disorders and normal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Morè
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2XT, Preston, UK.
| | - Julie C Lauterborn
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA.
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163, Genova, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Brambilla
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI), Division of Neuroscience, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, UK.
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Martínez Cué C, Dierssen M. Plasticity as a therapeutic target for improving cognition and behavior in Down syndrome. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 251:269-302. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Rabadán R, Ramos-Campos M, Redolat R, Mesa-Gresa P. Physical activity and environmental enrichment: Behavioural effects of exposure to different housing conditions in mice. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2020. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2019-035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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38
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Odeon MM, Acosta GB. Repeated maternal separation: Alcohol consumption, anxious behavior and corticosterone were reversed by a non-pharmacological treatment. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 95:109726. [PMID: 31386878 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Adverse events in early life have been related to a maladaptive stress response during adulthood, which could predispose individuals to psychiatric and physiological disorders. The purpose of this work was to study the implications of repeated maternal separation (RMS) plus a physical stressor (cold stress), voluntary ethanol consumption and plasmatic levels of corticosterone (Cor) via conflict behavior tests. To this aim, pups were separated daily from their mothers for one hour and subjected to cold stress (4 °C) between postnatal days (PD) 2 and 20. Control groups were left undisturbed with their mothers. Afterwards, all groups were exposed to voluntary ethanol (6%) or dextrose (1%) intake for 7 days. After a 30-day period of environmental enrichment (EE), the animals were again exposed to the voluntary intake protocol for 7 days. At 66 days, they were subjected to different conflict tests. Thereafter, rats were sacrificed by decapitation and blood trunk was collected to determine plasma corticosterone levels. We demonstrated that early RMS increased both voluntary alcohol intake and Cor levels. Moreover, young adult animals showed excessive activity in conflict tests. Whereas in animals exposed to a non-pharmacological treatment, known as environmental enrichment (EE), the effects previously obtained were reversed and/or prevented. In summary, we can conclude that the combination of maternal separation in early life plus cold stress increase both the voluntary exposure to alcohol and disruptive behaviors. This is a risk factor for the development of chronic diseases such as alcoholism and long-term depression. However, we found that an enriched environment may have a beneficial effect with respect to alcohol intake and aggressive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Mercedes Odeon
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Junín 956, 5° floor, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina.
| | - Gabriela Beatriz Acosta
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Junín 956, 5° floor, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina.
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Serra L, Gelfo F, Petrosini L, Di Domenico C, Bozzali M, Caltagirone C. Rethinking the Reserve with a Translational Approach: Novel Ideas on the Construct and the Interventions. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 65:1065-1078. [PMID: 30149458 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The concept of brain, cognitive, and neural reserves has been introduced to account for the apparent discrepancies between neurological damage and clinical manifestations. However, these ideas are yet theoretical suggestions that are not completely assimilated in the clinical routine. The mechanisms of the reserves have been extensively studied in neurodegenerative pathologies, in particular in Alzheimer's disease. Both human and animal studies addressed this topic by following two parallel pathways. The specific aim of the present review is to attempt to combine the suggestions derived from the two different research fields to deepen the knowledge about reserves. In fact, the achievement of a comprehensive theoretical framework on reserve mechanisms is an essential step to propose well-timed interventions tailored to the clinical characteristics of patients. The present review highlights the importance of addressing three main aspects: the definition of reserve proxy measures, the interaction between reserve level and therapeutic interventions, and the specific time-window of reserve efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Serra
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- Department of Clinical and Behavioural Neurology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Petrosini
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurophysiology and Behaviour, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marco Bozzali
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Clinical Imaging Science Center, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
| | - Carlo Caltagirone
- Department of Clinical and Behavioural Neurology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Systemic Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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Takai D, Abe A, Miura H, Tanaka S, Komura JI. Minimum environmental enrichment is effective in activating antitumor immunity to transplanted tumor cells in mice. Exp Anim 2019; 68:569-576. [PMID: 31292307 PMCID: PMC6842806 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.19-0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of environmental enrichment are progressing in the fields of nervous system,
stress and exercise. Recently, housing in enriched environment have shown to influence to
carcinogenesis and life span. However, the study for antitumor effect of environmental
enrichment are difficult to reproduce due to the complexity of the experimental technique.
Thus, a simpler experiment system is needed for antitumor study using environmental
enrichment. In this research, we propose a minimum environmental enrichment, which is an
experimental system by placing one mouse igloo which is normally used as a mouse shelter
in the rearing environment. The experimental system of minimum environmental enrichment is
not only easy to reproduce but also have enhanced activity to suppress the growth of
transplanted tumor significantly. It was found that the activation of NK cells is involved
also in the immune system related to tumor immunity of minimum environmental enrichment.
Because minimum environmental enrichment is effective in activating antitumor immunity to
transplanted tumor cells in mice, we believe this will be useful for promoting antitumor
studies using environmental enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisaku Takai
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 2-121 Hacchazawa, Takahoko, Rokkasho, Aomori 039-3213, Japan
| | - Akiko Abe
- JAC Co. ltd., 1-2-7 Higashiyama, Meguro, Tokyo 153-0043, Japan
| | - Heita Miura
- JAC Co. ltd., 1-2-7 Higashiyama, Meguro, Tokyo 153-0043, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tanaka
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 2-121 Hacchazawa, Takahoko, Rokkasho, Aomori 039-3213, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichiro Komura
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 2-121 Hacchazawa, Takahoko, Rokkasho, Aomori 039-3213, Japan
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Zhang H, Sathyamurthy A, Liu F, Li L, Zhang L, Dong Z, Cui W, Sun X, Zhao K, Wang H, Ho HYH, Xiong WC, Mei L. Agrin-Lrp4-Ror2 signaling regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice. eLife 2019; 8:e45303. [PMID: 31268420 PMCID: PMC6650252 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus may represent a form of plasticity in brain functions including mood, learning and memory. However, mechanisms underlying neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) proliferation are not well understood. We found that Agrin, a factor critical for neuromuscular junction formation, is elevated in the hippocampus of mice that are stimulated by enriched environment (EE). Genetic deletion of the Agrn gene in excitatory neurons decreases NSPCs proliferation and increases depressive-like behavior. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4), a receptor for Agrin, is expressed in hippocampal NSPCs and its mutation blocked basal as well as EE-induced NSPCs proliferation and maturation of newborn neurons. Finally, we show that Lrp4 interacts with and activates receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (Ror2); and Ror2 mutation impairs NSPCs proliferation. Together, these observations identify a role of Agrin-Lrp4-Ror2 signaling for adult neurogenesis, uncovering previously unexpected functions of Agrin and Lrp4 in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongsheng Zhang
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Anupama Sathyamurthy
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Zhaoqi Dong
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Wanpeng Cui
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Xiangdong Sun
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - Kai Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - Hongsheng Wang
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Hsin-Yi Henry Ho
- Department of NeurobiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Wen-Cheng Xiong
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
- Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical CenterClevelandUnited States
| | - Lin Mei
- Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
- Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical CenterClevelandUnited States
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42
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Deficits in Enrichment-Dependent Neurogenesis and Enhanced Anxiety Behaviors Mediated by Expression of Alzheimer's Disease-Linked Ps1 Variants Are Rescued by Microglial Depletion. J Neurosci 2019; 39:6766-6780. [PMID: 31217332 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0884-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that presently affects an estimated 5.7 million Americans. Understanding the basis for this disease is key for the development of a future successful treatment. In this effort, we previously reported that mouse prion protein-promoter-driven, ubiquitous expression of familial AD (FAD)-linked human PSEN1 variants in transgenic mice impairs environmental enrichment (EE)-induced proliferation and neurogenesis of adult hippocampal neural progenitor cells (AHNPCs) and in a non-cell autonomous manner. These findings were confirmed in PS1M146V/+ mice that harbor an FAD-linked mutation in the endogenous PSEN1 gene. We now demonstrate that CSF1R antagonist-mediated microglial depletion in transgenic male mice expressing mutant presenilin 1 (PS1) or PS1M146V/+ "knock-in" mice leads to a complete rescue of deficits in proliferation, differentiation and survival of AHNPCs. Moreover, microglia depletion suppressed the heightened baseline anxiety behavior observed in transgenic mice expressing mutant PS1 and PS1M146V/+ mice to levels observed in mice expressing wild-type human PS1 or nontransgenic mice, respectively. These findings demonstrate that in mice expressing FAD-linked PS1, microglia play a critical role in the regulation of EE-dependent AHNPC proliferation and neurogenesis and the modulation of affective behaviors.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Inheritance of mutations in genes encoding presenilin 1 (PS1) causes familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Mutant PS1 expression enhances the levels and assembly of toxic Aβ42 peptides and impairs the self-renewal and neuronal differentiation of adult hippocampal neural progenitor cells (AHNPCs) following environmental enrichment (EE) that is associated with heightened baseline anxiety. We now show that microglial depletion fully restores the EE-mediated impairments in AHNPC phenotypes and suppresses the heightened baseline anxiety observed in mice expressing FAD-linked PS1. Thus, we conclude that the memory deficits and anxiety-related behaviors in patients with PS1 mutations is a reflection not just of an increase in the levels of Aβ42 peptides, but to impairments in the self-renewal and neuronal differentiation of AHNPCs that modulate affective behaviors.
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Tang Y, Li MY, Zhang X, Jin X, Liu J, Wei PH. Delayed exposure to environmental enrichment improves functional outcome after stroke. J Pharmacol Sci 2019; 140:137-143. [PMID: 31255517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disabilities worldwide. Although exposure to an enriched environment (EE) initiated in the acute phase after stroke has neuroprotective effects and improves stroke outcome, it remains unclear whether EE has positive effects when started in a delayed time frame. Here we show that exposure to EE in the delayed phase notably ameliorates the ischemia-induced impairments in neurological functions and spatial learning and memory. In addition, delayed EE exposure after stroke significantly promotes the survival and neuronal fate choice of hippocampal newborn cells, increases synaptic density of hippocampal mature neurons, and enhances the migration of subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived cells towards the ischemic striatum. Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), synapse-associated proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may respectively mediate these roles of delayed EE. Our findings provide the suggestion that exposure to EE initiated in the delayed phase after stroke promotes plastic changes via affecting neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and neuronal migration, and thus improves stroke outcome. Because EE initiated earlier than 24 h is clinically feasible, our work could be introduced into clinical studies of stroke directly and may provide stroke survivors with a new strategy for their functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chiral Pharmaceuticals Biosynthesis, College of Pharmacy and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Ming-Yue Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chiral Pharmaceuticals Biosynthesis, College of Pharmacy and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xing Jin
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chiral Pharmaceuticals Biosynthesis, College of Pharmacy and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping-He Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chiral Pharmaceuticals Biosynthesis, College of Pharmacy and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
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Kimura LF, Mattaraia VGDM, Picolo G. Distinct environmental enrichment protocols reduce anxiety but differentially modulate pain sensitivity in rats. Behav Brain Res 2019; 364:442-446. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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45
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Mesa-Gresa P, Duque A, Monleón S, Vinader-Caerols C, Redolat R. Methods for Evaluating the Interaction Between Social Stress and Environmental Enrichment in Animal Models of Nicotine Addiction. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2011:267-280. [PMID: 31273704 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The environmental enrichment (EE) paradigm has been evaluated as a means of counteracting some of the consequences of chronic stress in rodents as well as a model of protective environment against drug abuse development. In the present chapter, our main aim is to describe the models of EE and chronic social stress and how they can be applied jointly in order to evaluate the effects of early psychosocial stress in animals exposed of different environments (enriched environment or standard environment). Furthermore, both paradigms could be applied in animal models of nicotine addiction, so the guidelines for the application of a chronic oral nicotine treatment in mice will be described. The heterogeneity of the procedures carried out in different laboratories makes it interesting to specify their characteristics in order to obtain replicable and valid animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Santiago Monleón
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Rosa Redolat
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Bailoo JD, Murphy E, Boada-Saña M, Varholick JA, Hintze S, Baussière C, Hahn KC, Göpfert C, Palme R, Voelkl B, Würbel H. Effects of Cage Enrichment on Behavior, Welfare and Outcome Variability in Female Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:232. [PMID: 30416435 PMCID: PMC6212514 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The manner in which laboratory rodents are housed is driven by economics (minimal use of space and resources), ergonomics (ease of handling and visibility of animals), hygiene, and standardization (reduction of variation). This has resulted in housing conditions that lack sensory and motor stimulation and restrict the expression of species-typical behavior. In mice, such housing conditions have been associated with indicators of impaired welfare, including abnormal repetitive behavior (stereotypies, compulsive behavior), enhanced anxiety and stress reactivity, and thermal stress. However, due to concerns that more complex environmental conditions might increase variation in experimental results, there has been considerable resistance to the implementation of environmental enrichment beyond the provision of nesting material. Here, using 96 C57BL/6 and SWISS female mice, respectively, we systematically varied environmental enrichment across four levels spanning the range of common enrichment strategies: (1) bedding alone; (2) bedding + nesting material; (3) deeper bedding + nesting material + shelter + increased vertical space; and (4) semi-naturalistic conditions, including weekly changes of enrichment items. We studied how these different forms of environmental enrichment affected measures of animal welfare, including home-cage behavior (time–budget and stereotypic behavior), anxiety (open field behavior, elevated plus-maze behavior), growth (food and water intake, body mass), stress physiology (glucocorticoid metabolites in fecal boluses and adrenal mass), brain function (recurrent perseveration in a two-choice guessing task) and emotional valence (judgment bias). Our results highlight the difficulty in making general recommendations across common strains of mice and for selecting enrichment strategies within specific strains. Overall, the greatest benefit was observed in animals housed with the greatest degree of enrichment. Thus, in the super-enriched housing condition, stereotypic behavior, behavioral measures of anxiety, growth and stress physiology varied in a manner consistent with improved animal welfare compared to the other housing conditions with less enrichment. Similar to other studies, we found no evidence, in the measures assessed here, that environmental enrichment increased variation in experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Bailoo
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eimear Murphy
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Boada-Saña
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Justin A Varholick
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sara Hintze
- Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Baussière
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin C Hahn
- Institute for Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christine Göpfert
- Institute for Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Voelkl
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Marcon M, Mocelin R, Sachett A, Siebel AM, Herrmann AP, Piato A. Enriched environment prevents oxidative stress in zebrafish submitted to unpredictable chronic stress. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5136. [PMID: 30002970 PMCID: PMC6035866 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The enriched environment (EE) is a laboratory housing model that emerged from efforts to minimize the impact of environmental conditions on laboratory animals. Recently, we showed that EE promoted positive effects on behavior and cortisol levels in zebrafish submitted to the unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) protocol. Here, we expanded the characterization of the effects of UCS protocol by assessing parameters of oxidative status in the zebrafish brain and reveal that EE protects against the oxidative stress induced by chronic stress. Methods Zebrafish were exposed to EE (21 or 28 days) or standard housing conditions and subjected to the UCS protocol for seven days. Oxidative stress parameters (lipid peroxidation (TBARS), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, non-protein thiol (NPSH) and total thiol (SH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured in brain homogenate. Results Our results revealed that UCS increased lipid peroxidation and ROS levels, while decreased NPSH levels and SOD activity, suggesting oxidative damage. EE for 28 days prevented all changes induced by the UCS protocol, and EE for 21 days prevented the alterations on NPSH levels, lipid peroxidation and ROS levels. Both EE for 21 or 28 days increased CAT activity. Discussion Our findings reinforce the idea that EE exerts neuromodulatory effects in the zebrafish brain. EE promoted positive effects as it helped maintain the redox homeostasis, which may reduce the susceptibility to stress and its oxidative impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Marcon
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ricieri Mocelin
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Adrieli Sachett
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Anna M Siebel
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Ana P Herrmann
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angelo Piato
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Los Angeles, United States of America
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48
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Evaluating environmental enrichment as a method to alleviate pain after castration and tail docking in pigs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Giles JM, Whitaker JW, Moy SS, Fletcher CA. Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Aggression in BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ Mice Monitored by Using an Automated System. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2018; 57:236-243. [PMID: 29669621 PMCID: PMC5966230 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-17-000122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aggression among mice remains a common undesirable problem in laboratory settings, and animal welfare and scientific outcomes may become compromised depending on the severity of aggression. This study evaluated the effect of cage enrichment comprising a bilevel, mounted 'mezzanine' compared with a cotton square or shelter on intracage male aggression over a 6-wk period. Our first study involved home-cage behavioral challenges to male mice from a high aggression substrain (BALB/cJ) and low-aggression substrain (BALB/cByJ). Aggressive interactions and locomotor activity were scored manually and then compared with measures of activity obtained by using a continuous automated home-cagemonitoring system, the Digital Ventilated Caging (DVC) system. BALB/cJ mice exhibited similar levels of aggression acrosshousing conditions, whereas BALB/cByJ mice had lower aggression when housed with a mezzanine. In the second study,videorecordings and continuous DVC automated measures were collected over 24 h and divided into 12-h light and dark phases. BALB/cByJ mice-but not BALB/cJ-mice had increased aggressive behaviors during the dark phase. However, the DVC detected higher activity levels during the dark phase, compared with the light phase, in both substrains. Elevated activity levels recorded by the DVC correlated with fighting bouts and high levels of locomotion. These results show that a bilevel structural form of enrichment reduces aggression, depending on the BALB/c substrain, and confirms higher aggression levels in the BALB/cJ substrain. In addition, our findings provide evidence that the DVC is effective in identifying mouse cages with patterns of high activity levels, signaling possible aggression incidences, thus potentially allowing for early intervention and consequently improving animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sheryl S Moy
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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50
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Cinque C, Zinni M, Zuena AR, Giuli C, Alemà SG, Catalani A, Casolini P, Cozzolino R. Faecal corticosterone metabolite assessment in socially housed male and female Wistar rats. Endocr Connect 2018; 7:250-257. [PMID: 29301863 PMCID: PMC5798133 DOI: 10.1530/ec-17-0338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of animals' hormonal status is important for conservation studies in wild or semi-free-ranging conditions as well as for behavioural and clinical experiments conducted in laboratory research, mostly performed on rats and mice. Faecal sampling is a useful non-invasive method to obtain steroid hormone assessments. Nevertheless, in laboratory studies, unlike other contexts, faecal sampling is less utilised. One of the issues raised is the necessity to collect samples belonging to different animals, separately. Usually, researchers using faecal sampling solve this problem through the isolation of animals or taking the cage rather than single animal as unit of study. These solutions though, could lead to unreliable measurements, and cannot be applied in many studies. Our aim was to show the biological reliability of individual faecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) assessments in socially housed male and female Wistar rats. We analytically validated the enzyme immunoassay kit used for FCM assessments. Then, we exposed the animals to two different stress stimuli that are known to activate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and the following release of corticosterone to biologically validate the EIA kit: environmental enrichment and predator odour. Individual faecal sampling from social animals was collected through short-time handling. The results demonstrated that both the stimuli increased FCM levels in male and female rats showing the reliability of EIA kit assessment and the applicability of our sampling method. We also found a diurnal rhythm in FCM levels. These results could help to increase the use of faecal hormone metabolite determinations in studies conducted on rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Cinque
- Fondazione EthoikosRadicondoli, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology V. ErspamerSapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Zinni
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology V. ErspamerSapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Zuena
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology V. ErspamerSapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sebastiano G Alemà
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology V. ErspamerSapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Assia Catalani
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology V. ErspamerSapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Casolini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology V. ErspamerSapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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