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Bærentzen SL, Thomsen MB, Alstrup AK, Wegener G, Brooks DJ, Winterdahl M, Landau AM. Excessive sucrose consumption reduces synaptic density and increases cannabinoid receptors in Göttingen minipigs. Neuropharmacology 2024:110018. [PMID: 38810925 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110018] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Diets high in sucrose and fat are becoming more prevalent the world over, accompanied by a raised prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Clinical studies link unhealthy diets with the development of mental health disorders, particularly depression. Here, we investigate the effects of 12 days of sucrose consumption administered as two liters of 25% sucrose solution daily for 12 days in Göttingen minipigs on the function of brain receptors involved in reward and motivation, regulating feeding, and pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms. Through quantitative autoradiography of cryostat sections containing limbic brain regions, we investigated the effects of sucrose restricted to a 1-hour period each morning, on the specific binding of [3H]raclopride on dopamine D2/3 receptors, [3H]UCB-J at synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A), [3H]MPEPγ at metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) and [3H]SR141716A at the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). Compared to control diet animals, the sucrose group showed significantly lower [3H]UCB-J and [3H]MPEPγ binding in the prefrontal cortex. The sugar-consuming minipigs showed higher hippocampal CB1 binding, but unaltered dopamine D2/3 binding compared to the control group. We found that the sucrose diet reduced the synaptic density marker while increasing CB1 binding in limbic brain structures, which may subserve maladaptive changes in appetite regulation and feeding. Further studies of the effects of diets and lifestyle habits on brain neuroreceptor and synaptic density markers are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Larsen Bærentzen
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Majken Borup Thomsen
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Aage Ko Alstrup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David J Brooks
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Winterdahl
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne M Landau
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Attanasio M, Giuliani A, Romano L, Laidò C, Di Poggiovalle G, Le Donne I, Di Fonzo V, Tiberti S, Valenti M, Mazza M. Psychopathological factors and personality dimensions on dysfunctional eating behaviors in a sample of individuals with obesity. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1140890. [PMID: 37794917 PMCID: PMC10546769 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Obesity and eating disorders are considered to be part of a broad spectrum of disorders associated with weight issues and maladaptive eating styles. Several studies show that psychopathological and personality characteristics contribute to the development and maintenance of obesity and dysfunctional eating behaviors, showing a bidirectional relationship. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of psychopathological factors and personality dimensions on dysfunctional eating behaviors in a sample of individuals with obesity. Methods The study was conducted with 96 individuals with obesity (31 males and 65 females) who underwent psychological assessment. The instruments administered included the Cognitive Behavioral Assessment 2.0 - Primary Scales, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, and the Eating Disorder Inventory. Relationships between dysfunctional eating behaviors and personality and psychopathological factors were explored through mediation analysis. Results and discussion Our results showed that difficulties related to impulse control and behavior, along with negative and dysphoric emotions, may be associated with difficulties in eating behavior. Mediation analysis showed that the combination of depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology may exacerbate or contribute to the occurrence of eating disorders. These psychopathological aspects should be taken into account during the assessment of patients who decide to undergo bariatric surgery and should be targets of specific psychological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Attanasio
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Antonio Giuliani
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Surgery, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Lucia Romano
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Surgery, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Cristina Laidò
- Istituto Romano di psicoterapia e psicodinamica integrata, Rome, Italy
| | - Gilda Di Poggiovalle
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Ilenia Le Donne
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Valentina Di Fonzo
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Sergio Tiberti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Valenti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Monica Mazza
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
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3
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Zhornitsky S, Oliva HNP, Jayne LA, Allsop ASA, Kaye AP, Potenza MN, Angarita GA. Changes in synaptic markers after administration of ketamine or psychedelics: a systematic scoping review. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1197890. [PMID: 37435405 PMCID: PMC10331617 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1197890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ketamine and psychedelics have abuse liability. They can also induce "transformative experiences" where individuals experience enhanced states of awareness. This enhanced awareness can lead to changes in preexisting behavioral patterns which could be beneficial in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that ketamine and psychedelics may alter markers associated with synaptic density, and that these changes may underlie effects such as sensitization, conditioned place preference, drug self-administration, and verbal memory performance. In this scoping review, we examined studies that measured synaptic markers in animals and humans after exposure to ketamine and/or psychedelics. Methods A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, through PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science, based on a published protocol (Open Science Framework, DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/43FQ9). Both in vivo and in vitro studies were included. Studies on the following synaptic markers were included: dendritic structural changes, PSD-95, synapsin-1, synaptophysin-1, synaptotagmin-1, and SV2A. Results Eighty-four studies were included in the final analyses. Seventy-one studies examined synaptic markers following ketamine treatment, nine examined psychedelics, and four examined both. Psychedelics included psilocybin/psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, and ibogaine/noribogaine. Mixed findings regarding synaptic changes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been reported when ketamine was administered in a single dose under basal conditions. Similar mixed findings were seen under basal conditions in studies that used repeated administration of ketamine. However, studies that examined animals during stressful conditions found that a single dose of ketamine counteracted stress-related reductions in synaptic markers in the hippocampus and PFC. Repeated administration of ketamine also counteracted stress effects in the hippocampus. Psychedelics generally increased synaptic markers, but results were more consistently positive for certain agents. Conclusion Ketamine and psychedelics can increase synaptic markers under certain conditions. Heterogeneous findings may relate to methodological differences, agents administered (or different formulations of the same agent), sex, and type of markers. Future studies could address seemingly mixed results by using meta-analytical approaches or study designs that more fully consider individual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Henrique N. P. Oliva
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Laura A. Jayne
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Aza S. A. Allsop
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Alfred P. Kaye
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
- Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA National Center for PTSD, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Hartford, CT, United States
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Gustavo A. Angarita
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
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Barbosa DAN, Kuijper FM, Duda J, Wang AR, Cartmell SCD, Saluja S, Cunningham T, Shivacharan RS, Bhati MT, Safer DL, Lock JD, Malenka RC, de Oliveira-Souza R, Williams NR, Grossman M, Gee JC, McNab JA, Bohon C, Halpern CH. Aberrant impulse control circuitry in obesity. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3374-3384. [PMID: 35697760 PMCID: PMC9192250 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01640-5] [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: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to nucleus accumbens (NAc) circuit has been implicated in impulsive reward-seeking. This disinhibition has been implicated in obesity and often manifests as binge eating, which is associated with worse treatment outcomes and comorbidities. It remains unclear whether the vmPFC-NAc circuit is perturbed in impulsive eaters with obesity. Initially, we analyzed publicly available, high-resolution, normative imaging data to localize where vmPFC structural connections converged within the NAc. These structural connections were found to converge ventromedially in the presumed NAc shell subregion. We then analyzed multimodal clinical and imaging data to test the a priori hypothesis that the vmPFC-NAc shell circuit is linked to obesity in a sample of female participants that regularly engaged in impulsive eating (i.e., binge eating). Functionally, vmPFC-NAc shell resting-state connectivity was inversely related to body mass index (BMI) and decreased in the obese state. Structurally, vmPFC-NAc shell structural connectivity and vmPFC thickness were inversely correlated with BMI; obese binge-prone participants exhibited decreased vmPFC-NAc structural connectivity and vmPFC thickness. Finally, to examine a causal link to binge eating, we directly probed this circuit in one binge-prone obese female using NAc deep brain stimulation in a first-in-human trial. Direct stimulation of the NAc shell subregion guided by local behaviorally relevant electrophysiology was associated with a decrease in number of weekly episodes of uncontrolled eating and decreased BMI. This study unraveled vmPFC-NAc shell circuit aberrations in obesity that can be modulated to restore control over eating behavior in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A N Barbosa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Fiene Marie Kuijper
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Duda
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Allan R Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Samuel C D Cartmell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sabir Saluja
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tricia Cunningham
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rajat S Shivacharan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mahendra T Bhati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Debra L Safer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - James D Lock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robert C Malenka
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza
- Department of Specialized Medicine, Gaffrée e Guinle University Hospital, The Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nolan R Williams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James C Gee
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer A McNab
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cara Bohon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Casey H Halpern
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, PA, Philadelphia, USA.
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5
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Zhang Q, Jin K, Chen B, Liu R, Cheng S, Zhang Y, Lu J. Overnutrition Induced Cognitive Impairment: Insulin Resistance, Gut-Brain Axis, and Neuroinflammation. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:884579. [PMID: 35873818 PMCID: PMC9298971 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.884579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Overnutrition-related obesity has become a worldwide epidemic, and its prevalence is expected to steadily rise in the future. It is widely recognized that obesity exerts negative impacts on metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases. However, relatively fewer reports exist on the impairment of brain structure and function, in the form of memory and executive dysfunction, as well as neurogenerative diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that besides obesity, overnutrition diets independently induce cognitive impairments via multiple mechanisms. In this study, we reviewed the clinical and preclinical literature about the detrimental effects of obesity or high-nutrition diets on cognitive performance and cerebral structure. We mainly focused on the role of brain insulin resistance (IR), microbiota-gut-brain axis, and neuroinflammation. We concluded that before the onset of obesity, short-term exposure to high-nutrition diets already blunted central responses to insulin, altered gut microbiome composition, and activated inflammatory mediators. Overnutrition is linked with the changes in protein expression in brain insulin signaling, leading to pathological features in the brain. Microbiome alteration, bacterial endotoxin release, and gut barrier hyperpermeability also occur to trigger mental and neuronal diseases. In addition, obesity or high-nutrition diets cause chronic and low-grade systematic inflammation, which eventually spreads from the peripheral tissue to the central nervous system (CNS). Altogether, a large number of unknown but potential routes interact and contribute to obesity or diet-induced cognitive impairment. The challenge for future research is to identify effective interventions involving dietary shifts and personalized therapy targeting the underlying mechanisms to prevent and improve cognition deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Zhang
- First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kangyu Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ripeng Liu
- First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.,Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shangping Cheng
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuyan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
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6
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Rossi R, Arjmand S, Bærentzen SL, Gjedde A, Landau AM. Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A: Features and Functions. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:864514. [PMID: 35573314 PMCID: PMC9096842 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.864514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the field of neuroimaging dramatically moved forward by means of the expeditious development of specific radioligands of novel targets. Among these targets, the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) is a transmembrane protein of synaptic vesicles, present in all synaptic terminals, irrespective of neurotransmitter content. It is involved in key functions of neurons, focused on the regulation of neurotransmitter release. The ubiquitous expression in gray matter regions of the brain is the basis of its candidacy as a marker of synaptic density. Following the development of molecules derived from the structure of the anti-epileptic drug levetiracetam, which selectively binds to SV2A, several radiolabeled markers have been synthetized to allow the study of SV2A distribution with positron emission tomography (PET). These radioligands permit the evaluation of in vivo changes of SV2A distribution held to be a potential measure of synaptic density in physiological and pathological conditions. The use of SV2A as a biomarker of synaptic density raises important questions. Despite numerous studies over the last decades, the biological function and the expressional properties of SV2A remain poorly understood. Some functions of SV2A were claimed, but have not been fully elucidated. While the expression of SV2A is ubiquitous, stronger associations between SV2A and Υ amino butyric acid (GABA)-ergic rather than glutamatergic synapses were observed in some brain structures. A further issue is the unclear interaction between SV2A and its tracers, which reflects a need to clarify what really is detected with neuroimaging tools. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the SV2A protein and we discuss uncertain aspects of SV2A biology and physiology. As SV2A expression is ubiquitous, but likely more strongly related to a certain type of neurotransmission in particular circumstances, a more extensive knowledge of the protein would greatly facilitate the analysis and interpretation of neuroimaging results by allowing the evaluation not only of an increase or decrease of the protein level, but also of the type of neurotransmission involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Rossi
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Shokouh Arjmand
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Simone Larsen Bærentzen
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Albert Gjedde
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anne M Landau
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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7
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Vega-Torres JD, Ontiveros-Angel P, Terrones E, Stuffle EC, Solak S, Tyner E, Oropeza M, dela Peña I, Obenaus A, Ford BD, Figueroa JD. Short-term exposure to an obesogenic diet during adolescence elicits anxiety-related behavior and neuroinflammation: modulatory effects of exogenous neuregulin-1. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:83. [PMID: 35220393 PMCID: PMC8882169 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01788-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood obesity leads to hippocampal atrophy and altered cognition. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these impairments are poorly understood. The neurotrophic factor neuregulin-1 (NRG1) and its cognate ErbB4 receptor play critical roles in hippocampal maturation and function. This study aimed to determine whether exogenous NRG1 administration reduces hippocampal abnormalities and neuroinflammation in rats exposed to an obesogenic Western-like diet (WD). Lewis rats were randomly divided into four groups (12 rats/group): (1) control diet+vehicle (CDV); (2) CD + NRG1 (CDN) (daily intraperitoneal injections: 5 μg/kg/day; between postnatal day, PND 21-PND 41); (3) WD + VEH (WDV); (4) WD + NRG1 (WDN). Neurobehavioral assessments were performed at PND 43-49. Brains were harvested for MRI and molecular analyses at PND 49. We found that NRG1 administration reduced hippocampal volume (7%) and attenuated hippocampal-dependent cued fear conditioning in CD rats (56%). NRG1 administration reduced PSD-95 protein expression (30%) and selectively reduced hippocampal cytokine levels (IL-33, GM-CSF, CCL-2, IFN-γ) while significantly impacting microglia morphology (increased span ratio and reduced circularity). WD rats exhibited reduced right hippocampal volume (7%), altered microglia morphology (reduced density and increased lacunarity), and increased levels of cytokines implicated in neuroinflammation (IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-6). Notably, NRG1 synergized with the WD to increase hippocampal ErbB4 phosphorylation and the tumor necrosis alpha converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17) protein levels. Although the results did not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that exogenous NRG1 administration is beneficial to alleviate obesity-related outcomes in adolescent rats, we identified a potential novel interaction between obesogenic diet exposure and TACE/ADAM17-NRG1-ErbB4 signaling during hippocampal maturation. Our results indicate that supraoptimal ErbB4 activities may contribute to the abnormal hippocampal structure and cognitive vulnerabilities observed in obese individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio David Vega-Torres
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XCenter for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine and Department of Basic Sciences, Physiology Division, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Perla Ontiveros-Angel
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XCenter for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine and Department of Basic Sciences, Physiology Division, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Esmeralda Terrones
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XCenter for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine and Department of Basic Sciences, Physiology Division, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Erwin C. Stuffle
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XCenter for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine and Department of Basic Sciences, Physiology Division, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Sara Solak
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Emma Tyner
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Marie Oropeza
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Ike dela Peña
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Andre Obenaus
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Byron D. Ford
- grid.266097.c0000 0001 2222 1582Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California-Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA USA
| | - Johnny D. Figueroa
- grid.43582.380000 0000 9852 649XCenter for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine and Department of Basic Sciences, Physiology Division, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA USA
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