1
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Asadzadeh Bayqara S, Aghazadeh Yamchelu M, Abdolahzadeyadegari S, Farhadi M, Nadjafi S, Fahanik Babaei J, Hosseini N. The effects of a chalcone derivative on memory, hippocampal corticosterone and BDNF levels in adult rats. Int J Neurosci 2024; 134:214-223. [PMID: 35796038 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2098735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose/Aim of the study: Since chalcones belong to the flavonoid family, the effects of a new synthetic chalcone derivative on memory, chronic stress, and expression of hippocampal BDNF gene were studied.Materials and methods: In this experiment, the male wistar rats were placed under restraint stress (6 h/day) for 21 days and then treated with a newly synthesized chalcone, containing methoxy on the aromatic rings or vehicles (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, IP). After the behavioral Passive avoidance, Open field, and Morris water maze tests, the levels of serum corticosterone (CORT) and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were analyzed.Results: Results of these tests presented significant differences between the Stress (St) and Chalcone (Ch) groups. Chronic stress led to high CORT levels and impaired memory functions. Moreover, a single dose of synthetic chalcone in the St group could postpone memory impairments. Furthermore, a 20 mg/kg IP injection of chalcone markedly attenuated the decrease of hippocampal BDNF.Conclusions: It has been already proposed that flavonoids have beneficial effects on different types of memory. According to these results, further investigations are required to explore other factors besides BDNF that could be acutely modulated by chalcones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mona Farhadi
- Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
| | - Shabnam Nadjafi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Fahanik Babaei
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Hosseini
- Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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2
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Santiago AN, Castello-Saval J, Nguyen P, Chung HM, Luna VM, Hen R, Chang WL. Effects of electroconvulsive shock on the function, circuitry, and transcriptome of dentate gyrus granule neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.01.583011. [PMID: 38496461 PMCID: PMC10942314 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.01.583011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic use of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) is 75% effective for the remission of treatment-resistant depression. Like other more common forms of antidepressant treatment such as fluoxetine, ECS has been shown to increase neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rodent models. Yet the question of how ECS-induced neurogenesis supports improvement of depressive symptoms remains unknown. Here, we show that ECS-induced neurogenesis is necessary to improve depressive-like behavior of mice exposed to chronic corticosterone (Cort). We then use slice electrophysiology to show that optogenetic stimulation of adult-born neurons produces a greater hyperpolarization in mature granule neurons after ECS vs Sham treatment. We identify that this hyperpolarization requires the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2). Consistent with this finding, we observe reduced expression of the immediate early gene cFos in the granule cell layer of ECS vs Sham subjects. We then show that mGluR2 knockdown specifically in ventral granule neurons blunts the antidepressant-like behavioral effects of ECS. Using single nucleus RNA sequencing, we reveal major transcriptomic shifts in granule neurons after treatment with ECS+Cort or fluoxetine+Cort vs Cort alone. We identify a population of immature cells which has greater representation in both ECS+Cort and fluoxetine+Cort treated samples vs Cort alone. We also find global differences in ECS-vs fluoxetine-induced transcriptomic shifts. Together, these findings highlight a critical role for immature granule cells and mGluR2 signaling in the antidepressant action of ECS.
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Honan LE, Fraser-Spears R, Daws LC. Organic cation transporters in psychiatric and substance use disorders. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 253:108574. [PMID: 38072333 PMCID: PMC11052553 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108574] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric and substance use disorders inflict major public health burdens worldwide. Their widespread burden is compounded by a dearth of effective treatments, underscoring a dire need to uncover novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the literature implicating organic cation transporters (OCTs), including three subtypes of OCTs (OCT1, OCT2, and OCT3) and the plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT), in the neurobiology of psychiatric and substance use disorders with an emphasis on mood and anxiety disorders, alcohol use disorder, and psychostimulant use disorder. OCTs transport monoamines with a low affinity but high capacity, situating them to play a central role in regulating monoamine homeostasis. Preclinical evidence discussed here suggests that OCTs may serve as promising targets for treatment of psychiatric and substance use disorders and encourage future research into their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Honan
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology, USA
| | - Rheaclare Fraser-Spears
- University of the Incarnate Word, Feik School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USA
| | - Lynette C Daws
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology, USA; The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Pharmacology, USA.
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4
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Maita I, Bazer A, Chae K, Parida A, Mirza M, Sucher J, Phan M, Liu T, Hu P, Soni R, Roepke TA, Samuels BA. Chemogenetic activation of corticotropin-releasing factor-expressing neurons in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis reduces effortful motivation behaviors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:377-385. [PMID: 37452139 PMCID: PMC10724138 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01646-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (aBNST) is associated with chronic stress and avoidance behavior. However, CRF + BNST neurons project to reward- and motivation-related brain regions, suggesting a potential role in motivated behavior. We used chemogenetics to selectively activate CRF+ aBNST neurons in male and female CRF-ires-Cre mice during an effort-related choice task and a concurrent choice task. In both tasks, mice were given the option either to exert effort for high value rewards or to choose freely available low value rewards. Acute chemogenetic activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons reduced barrier climbing for a high value reward in the effort-related choice task in both males and females. Furthermore, acute chemogenetic activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons also reduced effortful lever pressing in high-performing males in the concurrent choice task. These data suggest a novel role for CRF+ aBNST neurons in effort-based decision and motivation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Maita
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Allyson Bazer
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Kiyeon Chae
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Amlaan Parida
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Mikyle Mirza
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jillian Sucher
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Mimi Phan
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Tonia Liu
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Pu Hu
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Ria Soni
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Troy A Roepke
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Benjamin Adam Samuels
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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Gyles TM, Nestler EJ, Parise EM. Advancing preclinical chronic stress models to promote therapeutic discovery for human stress disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:215-226. [PMID: 37349475 PMCID: PMC10700361 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01625-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop more effective treatments for stress-related illnesses, which include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. We view animal models as playing an essential role in this effort, but to date, such approaches have generally not succeeded in developing therapeutics with new mechanisms of action. This is partly due to the complexity of the brain and its disorders, but also to inherent difficulties in modeling human disorders in rodents and to the incorrect use of animal models: namely, trying to recapitulate a human syndrome in a rodent which is likely not possible as opposed to using animals to understand underlying mechanisms and evaluating potential therapeutic paths. Recent transcriptomic research has established the ability of several different chronic stress procedures in rodents to recapitulate large portions of the molecular pathology seen in postmortem brain tissue of individuals with depression. These findings provide crucial validation for the clear relevance of rodent stress models to better understand the pathophysiology of human stress disorders and help guide therapeutic discovery. In this review, we first discuss the current limitations of preclinical chronic stress models as well as traditional behavioral phenotyping approaches. We then explore opportunities to dramatically enhance the translational use of rodent stress models through the application of new experimental technologies. The goal of this review is to promote the synthesis of these novel approaches in rodents with human cell-based approaches and ultimately with early-phase proof-of-concept studies in humans to develop more effective treatments for human stress disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevonn M Gyles
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Eric M Parise
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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6
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Marangoni C, Tam M, Robinson ESJ, Jackson MG. Pharmacological characterisation of the effort for reward task as a measure of motivation for reward in male mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:2271-2284. [PMID: 37474757 PMCID: PMC10593616 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06420-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Motivational deficits are a common symptom shared across multiple psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Effort-based decision-making tasks are a translatable method for assessing motivational state. Much of the preclinical validation of the task derives from acute pharmacological manipulations in rats. However, mice currently offer a greater genetic toolkit to study risk genes and phenotypic models. Despite this, there is limited characterisation of their behaviour in this type of motivation task. OBJECTIVES Here, we investigate the effort for reward (EfR) task as a measure of motivational state in mice using drugs previously shown to modulate effort-based decision-making in rats and humans. METHOD Using male C57bl/6j mice, we test the effects of drugs which modulate DA transmission. We also test the effects of CP101-606 which does not act directly via DA modulation but has been shown to exert beneficial effects on motivational state. Finally, we test the sensitivity of the task to a chronic corticosterone (CORT) treatment. RESULTS Amphetamine, methylphenidate, and CP101606 in mice increased high-effort responses for high-value reward, while administration of haloperidol decreased high-effort responses. Surprisingly, tetrabenazine had no effect at the doses tested. Chronic, low-dose CORT consumption did not alter task performance. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the EfR task is sensitive to acute dopaminergic modulation and NR2B selective antagonism in mice. However, it may lack sensitivity to non-acute phenotypic models. Further work is required to demonstrate the utility of the task in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Marangoni
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Melissa Tam
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Emma S J Robinson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Megan G Jackson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
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Yao Z, Zhang BX, Chen H, Jiang XW, Qu WM, Huang ZL. Acute or Chronic Exposure to Corticosterone Promotes Wakefulness in Mice. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1472. [PMID: 37891839 PMCID: PMC10605150 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated glucocorticoid levels triggered by stress potentially contribute to sleep disturbances in stress-induced depression. However, sleep changes in response to elevated corticosterone (CORT), the major glucocorticoid in rodents, remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of acute or chronic CORT administration on sleep using electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) recordings in freely moving mice. Acute CORT exposure rapidly promoted wakefulness, marked by increased episodes and enhanced EEG delta power, while simultaneously suppressing rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, with the latter marked by decreased mean duration and reduced delta power. Prolonged 28-day CORT exposure led to excessive wakefulness and REM sleep, characterized by higher episodes, and decreased NREM sleep, characterized by higher episodes and reduced mean duration. EEG theta activity during REM sleep and delta activity during NREM sleep were attenuated following 28-day CORT exposure. These effects persisted, except for REM sleep amounts, even 7 days after the drug withdrawal. Elevated plasma CORT levels and depressive phenotypes were identified and correlated with observed sleep changes during and after administration. Fos expression significantly increased in the lateral habenula, lateral hypothalamus, and ventral tegmental area following acute or chronic CORT treatment. Our findings demonstrate that CORT exposure enhanced wakefulness, suppressed and fragmented NREM sleep, and altered EEG activity across all stages. This study illuminates sleep alterations during short or extended periods of heightened CORT levels in mice, providing a neural link connecting insomnia and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (Z.Y.); (B.-X.Z.); (H.C.); (X.-W.J.); (W.-M.Q.)
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8
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Giovanniello JR, Paredes N, Wiener A, Ramírez-Armenta K, Oragwam C, Uwadia HO, Lim K, Nnamdi G, Wang A, Sehgal M, Reis FM, Sias AC, Silva AJ, Adhikari A, Malvaez M, Wassum KM. A dual-pathway architecture enables chronic stress to promote habit formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560731. [PMID: 37873076 PMCID: PMC10592885 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress can change how we learn and, thus, how we make decisions by promoting the formation of inflexible, potentially maladaptive, habits. Here we investigated the neuronal circuit mechanisms that enable this. Using a multifaceted approach in male and female mice, we reveal a dual pathway, amygdala-striatal, neuronal circuit architecture by which a recent history of chronic stress shapes learning to disrupt flexible goal-directed behavior in favor of inflexible habits. Chronic stress inhibits activity of basolateral amygdala projections to the dorsomedial striatum to impede the action-outcome learning that supports flexible, goal-directed decisions. Stress also increases activity in direct central amygdala projections to the dorsomedial striatum to promote the formation of rigid, inflexible habits. Thus, stress exerts opposing effects on two amygdala-striatal pathways to promote premature habit formation. These data provide neuronal circuit insights into how chronic stress shapes learning and decision making, and help understand how stress can lead to the disrupted decision making and pathological habits that characterize substance use disorders and other psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna Wiener
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | | | | | - Kayla Lim
- Dept. of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Gift Nnamdi
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Alicia Wang
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Megha Sehgal
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | - Ana C Sias
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Kate M Wassum
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Antonoudiou P, Stone B, Colmers PLW, Evans-Strong A, Walton N, Maguire J. Influence of chronic stress on network states governing valence processing: Potential relevance to the risk for psychiatric illnesses. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13274. [PMID: 37186481 PMCID: PMC11025365 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Stress is a major risk factor for psychiatric illnesses and understanding the mechanisms through which stress disrupts behavioral states is imperative to understanding the underlying pathophysiology of mood disorders. Both chronic stress and early life stress alter valence processing, the process of assigning value to sensory inputs and experiences (positive or negative), which determines subsequent behavior and is essential for emotional processing and ultimately survival. Stress disrupts valence processing in both humans and preclinical models, favoring negative valence processing and impairing positive valence processing. Valence assignment involves neural computations performed in emotional processing hubs, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and ventral hippocampus, which can be influenced by neuroendocrine mediators. Oscillations within and between these regions are critical for the neural computations necessary to perform valence processing functions. Major advances in the field have demonstrated a role for oscillatory states in valence processing under physiological conditions and emerging studies are exploring how these network states are altered under pathophysiological conditions and impacted by neuroendocrine factors. The current review highlights what is currently known regarding the impact of stress and the role of neuroendocrine mediators on network states and valence processing. Further, we propose a model in which chronic stress alters information routing through emotional processing hubs, resulting in a facilitation of negative valence processing and a suppression of positive valence processing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bradly Stone
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Najah Walton
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jamie Maguire
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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10
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González-Arias C, Sánchez-Ruiz A, Esparza J, Sánchez-Puelles C, Arancibia L, Ramírez-Franco J, Gobbo D, Kirchhoff F, Perea G. Dysfunctional serotonergic neuron-astrocyte signaling in depressive-like states. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3856-3873. [PMID: 37773446 PMCID: PMC10730416 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02269-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes play crucial roles in brain homeostasis and are regulatory elements of neuronal and synaptic physiology. Astrocytic alterations have been found in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients; however, the consequences of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling in MDD are poorly understood. Here, we found that corticosterone-treated juvenile mice (Cort-mice) showed altered astrocytic Ca2+ dynamics in mPFC both in resting conditions and during social interactions, in line with altered mice behavior. Additionally, Cort-mice displayed reduced serotonin (5-HT)-mediated Ca2+ signaling in mPFC astrocytes, and aberrant 5-HT-driven synaptic plasticity in layer 2/3 mPFC neurons. Downregulation of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling in naïve animals mimicked the synaptic deficits found in Cort-mice. Remarkably, boosting astrocyte Ca2+ signaling with Gq-DREADDS restored to the control levels mood and cognitive abilities in Cort-mice. This study highlights the important role of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling for homeostatic control of brain circuits and behavior, but also reveals its potential therapeutic value for depressive-like states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela González-Arias
- Cajal Institute, CSIC, 28002, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University-Cajal Institute, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Andrea Sánchez-Ruiz
- Cajal Institute, CSIC, 28002, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University-Cajal Institute, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Jorge Ramírez-Franco
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) & CNRS, UMR7289, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Davide Gobbo
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany
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Antonoudiou P, Stone B, Colmers PLW, Evans-Strong A, Walton N, Weiss G, Maguire J. Experience-dependent information routing through the basolateral amygdala. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.02.551710. [PMID: 37577684 PMCID: PMC10418260 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.02.551710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is an emotional processing hub and is well-established to influence both positive and negative valence processing. Selective engagement of a heterogeneous cell population in the BLA is thought to contribute to this flexibility in valence processing. However, how this process is impacted by previous experiences which influence valence processing is unknown. Here we demonstrate that previous positive (EE) or negative (chronic unpredictable stress) experiences differentially influence the activity of specific populations of BLA principal neurons projecting to either the nucleus accumbens core or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Using chemogenetic manipulation of these projection-specific neurons we can mimic or occlude the effects of chronic unpredictable stress or enriched environment on valence processing to bidirectionally control avoidance behaviors and stress-induced helplessness. These data demonstrate that previous experiences influence the responsiveness of projection-specific BLA principal neurons, biasing information routing through the BLA, to govern valence processing.
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12
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Odland AU, Sandahl R, Andreasen JT. Chronic corticosterone improves perseverative behavior in mice during sequential reversal learning. Behav Brain Res 2023; 450:114479. [PMID: 37169127 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114479] [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: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stressful life events can both trigger development of psychiatric disorders and promote positive behavioral changes in response to adversities. The relationship between stress and cognitive flexibility is complex, and conflicting effects of stress manifest in both humans and laboratory animals. OBJECTIVE To mirror the clinical situation where stressful life events impair mental health or promote behavioral change, we examined the post-exposure effects of stress on cognitive flexibility in mice. METHODS We tested female C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice in the touchscreen-based sequential reversal learning test. Corticosterone (CORT) was used as a model of stress and was administered in the drinking water for two weeks before reversal learning. Control animals received drinking water without CORT. Behaviors in supplementary tests were included to exclude non-specific confounding effects of CORT and improve interpretation of the results. RESULTS CORT-treated mice were similar to controls on all touchscreen parameters before reversal. During the low accuracy phase of reversal learning, CORT reduced perseveration index, a measure of perseverative responding, but did not affect acquisition of the new reward contingency. This effect was not related to non-specific deficits in chamber activity. CORT increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated zero maze test and repetitive digging in the marble burying test, reduced locomotor activity, but did not affect spontaneous alternation behavior. CONCLUSION CORT improved cognitive flexibility in the reversal learning test by extinguishing prepotent responses that were no longer rewarded, an effect possibly related to a stress-mediated increase in sensitivity to negative feedback that should be confirmed in a larger study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna U Odland
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rune Sandahl
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper T Andreasen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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13
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Chronically dysregulated corticosterone impairs dopaminergic transmission in the dorsomedial striatum by sex-divergent mechanisms. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023:10.1038/s41386-023-01551-1. [PMID: 36810463 PMCID: PMC10353992 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Individuals with MDD exhibit decreased motivation and deficits in reward processing. In a subset of MDD patients, chronic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis occurs, resulting in increased levels of the 'stress hormone' cortisol during the normal rest period (i.e., evening and night). However, the mechanistic relationship between chronically elevated resting cortisol and behavioral deficits in motivation and reward processing remains unclear. Given that women are diagnosed with MDD at twice the rate of men, it is important to understand whether the mechanisms linking cortisol to the symptoms of MDD differ by sex. In this study, we used subcutaneous implants to chronically elevate free plasma corticosterone (the rodent homolog of cortisol; 'CORT') during the rest period in male and female mice and examined changes in behavior and dopamine system function. We found that chronic CORT treatment impaired motivated reward-seeking in both sexes. In female but not male mice, CORT treatment reduced dopamine content in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). In male but not female mice, CORT treatment impaired the function of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in DMS. From these studies, we conclude that chronic CORT dysregulation impairs motivation by impairing dopaminergic transmission in the DMS, but via different mechanisms in male and female mice. A better understanding of these sex-specific mechanisms could lead to new directions in MDD diagnosis and treatment.
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Wang XL, Miao C, Su Y, Zhang C, Meng X. MAD2B Blunts Chronic Unpredictable Stress and Corticosterone Stimulation-Induced Depression-Like Behaviors in Mice. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 26:137-148. [PMID: 36573299 PMCID: PMC9926055 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a prevalent and recurrent psychiatric disorder. Aberrant neural structure and activity play fundamental roles in the occurrence of depression. Mitotic arrest deficient protein (MAD2B) is highly expressed in neurons and may be implicated in synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system. However, the effect of MAD2B in depression, as well as the related molecular mechanism, is uncertain. METHODS Here, we employed mouse models of depression induced by chronic unpredictable stress exposure or corticosterone (CORT) stimulation. Depression-like behaviors in mice were evaluated by sucrose preference, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Hippocampal MAD2B overexpression was mediated by adeno-associated virus 8 containing enhanced green fluorescent protein. In vitro primary neuronal cells were obtained from the hippocampus of rat embryos and were treated with CORT, and MAD2B overexpression was performed using lentivirus. MAD2B and glutamate metabotropic receptor 4 (GRM4) levels were evaluated by western blots and quantitative PCR. Primary neuronal miR-29b-3p expression was detected by quantitative PCR. RESULTS MAD2B expression was reduced in the hippocampus in mice exhibiting depressive-like behaviors. However, hippocampal MAD2B overexpression protected mice from developing either chronic unpredictable stress- or CORT-induced depression-like behaviors, an effect associated with reduced expression of GRM4, a presynaptic receptor involved in depression. Moreover, MAD2B overexpression in primary neuronal cells also decreased GRM4 expression while enhancing the level of miR-29b-3p; this phenomenon was also observed under CORT stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest an important role of neuronal MAD2B in the pathogenesis of depression via the miR-29b-3p/GRM4 signaling pathway. MAD2B could be a potential therapeutic target for depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yanfang Su
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianfang Meng
- Correspondence: Xianfang Meng, PhD, Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, 430030, Wuhan, China ()
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15
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Carazo-Arias E, Nguyen PT, Kass M, Jee HJ, Nautiyal KM, Magalong V, Coie L, Andreu V, Gergues MM, Khalil H, Akil H, Arcego DM, Meaney M, Anacker C, Samuels BA, Pintar JE, Morozova I, Kalachikov S, Hen R. Contribution of the Opioid System to the Antidepressant Effects of Fluoxetine. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:952-963. [PMID: 35977861 PMCID: PMC10426813 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine have a limited treatment efficacy. The mechanism by which some patients respond to fluoxetine while others do not remains poorly understood, limiting treatment effectiveness. We have found the opioid system to be involved in the responsiveness to fluoxetine treatment in a mouse model for anxiety- and depressive-like behavior. METHODS We analyzed gene expression changes in the dentate gyrus of mice chronically treated with corticosterone and fluoxetine. After identifying a subset of genes of interest, we studied their expression patterns in relation to treatment responsiveness. We further characterized their expression through in situ hybridization and the analysis of a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset. Finally, we behaviorally tested mu and delta opioid receptor knockout mice in the novelty suppressed feeding test and the forced swim test after chronic corticosterone and fluoxetine treatment. RESULTS Chronic fluoxetine treatment upregulates proenkephalin expression in the dentate gyrus, and this upregulation is associated with treatment responsiveness. The expression of several of the most significantly upregulated genes, including proenkephalin, is localized to an anatomically and transcriptionally specialized subgroup of mature granule cells in the dentate gyrus. We have also found that the delta opioid receptor contributes to some, but not all, of the behavioral effects of fluoxetine. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that the opioid system is involved in the antidepressant effects of fluoxetine, and this effect may be mediated through the upregulation of proenkephalin in a subpopulation of mature granule cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Carazo-Arias
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Phi T Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Marley Kass
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Hyun Jung Jee
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Katherine M Nautiyal
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Valerie Magalong
- Program in Developmental Neurogenetics, The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lilian Coie
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Valentine Andreu
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Mark M Gergues
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Huzefa Khalil
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Huda Akil
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Danusa Mar Arcego
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Michael Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada; Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore
| | - Christoph Anacker
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | | | - John E Pintar
- Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Irina Morozova
- Center for Genome Technology and Biomolecular Engineering, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Sergey Kalachikov
- Center for Genome Technology and Biomolecular Engineering, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Rene Hen
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Department of Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York.
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16
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Maita I, Roepke TA, Samuels BA. Chronic stress-induced synaptic changes to corticotropin-releasing factor-signaling in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:903782. [PMID: 35983475 PMCID: PMC9378865 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.903782] [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: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The sexually dimorphic bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is comprised of several distinct regions, some of which act as a hub for stress-induced changes in neural circuitry and behavior. In rodents, the anterodorsal BNST is especially affected by chronic exposure to stress, which results in alterations to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-signaling pathway, including CRF receptors and upstream regulators. Stress increases cellular excitability in BNST CRF+ neurons by potentiating miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) amplitude, altering the resting membrane potential, and diminishing M-currents (a voltage-gated K+ current that stabilizes membrane potential). Rodent anterodorsal and anterolateral BNST neurons are also critical regulators of behavior, including avoidance of aversive contexts and fear learning (especially that of sustained threats). These rodent behaviors are historically associated with anxiety. Furthermore, BNST is implicated in stress-related mood disorders, including anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders in humans, and may be linked to sex differences found in mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Maita
- Samuels Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Troy A. Roepke
- Roepke Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Benjamin A. Samuels
- Samuels Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States,*Correspondence: Benjamin A. Samuels,
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Ramadan B, Cabeza L, Cramoisy S, Houdayer C, Andrieu P, Millot JL, Haffen E, Risold PY, Peterschmitt Y. Beneficial effects of prolonged 2-phenylethyl alcohol inhalation on chronic distress-induced anxio-depressive-like phenotype in female mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 151:113100. [PMID: 35597115 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113100] [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: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic distress-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis deregulations have been associated with the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. Currently available drugs treating such pathological conditions have limited efficacy and diverse side effects, revealing the need of new safer strategies. Aromatic plant-based compounds are largely used in herbal medicine due to their therapeutic properties on mood, physiology, and general well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 2-phenylethyl alcohol (PEA), one of the pharmacologically active constituents of rose essential oil, on chronic corticosterone (CORT)-induced behavioral and neurobiological changes in female mice. Animals followed a prolonged PEA inhalation exposure (30 min per day) for 15 consecutive days prior to behavioral evaluation with open-field, forced swim and novelty-suppressed feeding tests. CORT treatment induced an anxio-depressive-like phenotype, evidenced by a reduced locomotor activity in the open-field, and an increased latency to feed in the novelty-suppressed feeding paradigms. To elucidate the neural correlates of our behavioral results, immunohistochemistry was further performed to provide a global map of neural activity based on cerebral cFos expression. The altered feeding behavior was accompanied by a significant decrease in the number of cFos-positive cells in the olfactory bulb, and altered functional brain connectivity as shown by cross-correlation-based network analysis. CORT-induced behavioral and neurobiological alterations were reversed by prolonged PEA inhalation, suggesting a therapeutic action that allows regulating the activity of neural circuits involved in sensory, emotional and feeding behaviors. These findings might contribute to better understand the therapeutic potential of PEA on anxio-depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahrie Ramadan
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
| | - Lidia Cabeza
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Stéphanie Cramoisy
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Christophe Houdayer
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Patrice Andrieu
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Jean-Louis Millot
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Emmanuel Haffen
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Service de Psychiatrie de l'Adulte, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon CHU, Besançon, France; Centre d'Investigation Clinique, CIC-INSERM-1431, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon CHU, Besançon, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Risold
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Yvan Peterschmitt
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive UR-LINC 481, Université de Franche-Comté, Université de B ourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
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18
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Environmental enrichment: dissociated effects between physical activity and changing environmental complexity on anxiety and neurogenesis in adult male Balb/C mice. Physiol Behav 2022; 254:113878. [PMID: 35700814 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113878] [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: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Several factors, including environmental modifications, stimulate neuroplasticity. One type of neuroplasticity consists in the generation of new neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is modulated by environmental enrichment (ENR, tunnels plus running wheel) and affected by the time of exposure to ENR. Despite the wide use of ENR to stimulate neuroplasticity, the degree to which ENR variations modeled by temporally changing the level of environmental complexity affect hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety is still unclear. Thus, we investigated the effects of five housing conditions on young adult male Balb/C mice exposed for 42 days. The groups were as follows: standard conditions without ENR, constant ENR complexity, gradual increase of ENR complexity followed by a gradual decrease of ENR complexity, gradual increase of ENR complexity followed by constant ENR complexity, and constant ENR complexity followed by a gradual decrease of ENR complexity. On day 44, mice were exposed to the elevated plus-maze to evaluate anxiety. Further, we analyzed neurogenesis and quantified corticosterone levels. In an additional experiment, we explored the effect of voluntary physical activity on anxiety, neurogenesis, and corticosterone during the variations in ENR complexity. Our results showed that any change in ENR complexity over time reduced anxiety. Also, voluntary physical activity alone or in the context of a complex environment increased doublecortin cell maturation in the granular cell layer of the hippocampus. Finally, our study supports that physical activity acts proneurogenic, whereas any change in environmental complexity decreases anxiety-like behavior. However, the decrease in corticosterone levels elicited by physical activity was lower than the decrease produced by the decrement in environmental complexity.
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19
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Xu C, Peng B, Liu S. Using intra-brain drug infusion to investigate neural mechanisms underlying reward-seeking behavior in mice. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101221. [PMID: 35284840 PMCID: PMC8908249 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-region-specific drug infusion is a key way to investigate neural mechanisms underlying behavior and neurological diseases. Here, we present a detailed protocol for cannula implantation, intra-brain drug infusion, and two reward-seeking-related behavioral paradigms in mice: the light/dark box test and touchscreen version of progressive ratio test. In addition, we provide a user-friendly Python-based tool for behavioral data analysis. This protocol can be easily adapted to address various research questions related to behavioral pharmacology. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Peng et al. (2021). Intra-brain drug infusion for studying neural mechanisms underlying behavioral deficit Behavioral paradigms for testing reward-seeking behavior Python-based analysis tool for behavioral data processing
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20
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O'Brien C, Vemireddy R, Mohammed U, Barker DJ. Stress reveals a specific behavioral phenotype for opioid abuse susceptibility. J Exp Anal Behav 2022; 117:518-531. [PMID: 35119105 PMCID: PMC9090955 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.738] [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: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Susceptibility to stress has long been considered important for the development of substance use disorders. Nonetheless, behavioral and physiological responses to stress are highly variable, making it difficult to identify the individuals who are most likely to abuse drugs. In the present study, we employed a comprehensive battery of tests for negative valence behaviors and nociception to identify individuals predisposed to opioid seeking following oral opioid self-administration. Furthermore, we examined how this profile was affected by a history of stress. We observed that mice receiving foot shock stress failed to exhibit a preference for sucrose, showed increased immobility in the forced swim task, and exhibited mechanical hypersensitivity when compared to controls. When considering these behaviors in light of future fentanyl-seeking responses, we observed that heightened mechanical sensitivity corresponded to higher opioid preference in mice with a history of stress, but not controls. Moreover, we were surprised to discover that paradoxically high sucrose preferences predicted fentanyl preference in shock mice, while signs of anhedonia predicted fentanyl preference in controls. Taken together, these results indicate that stress can act as a physiological modulator, shifting profiles of opioid abuse susceptibility depending on an individual's history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris O'Brien
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
| | - Roshni Vemireddy
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
| | - Uzma Mohammed
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
| | - David J Barker
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ.,Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
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21
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Floris G, Scheggi S, Pes R, Bortolato M. The steroidogenic inhibitor finasteride reverses pramipexole-induced alterations in probability discounting. Brain Res Bull 2022; 181:157-166. [PMID: 35122898 PMCID: PMC9012661 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.01.020] [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: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pramipexole is a potent agonist of D3 and D2 dopamine receptors, currently approved for clinical use in Parkinson's disease (PD) and restless leg syndrome. Several studies have shown that pramipexole significantly increases the risk of pathological gambling and impulse-control disorders. While these iatrogenic complications can impose a severe social and financial burden, their treatment poses serious clinical challenges. Our group previously reported that the steroidogenic inhibitor finasteride reduced pathological gambling severity in PD patients who developed this complication following pramipexole treatment. To study the mechanisms underlying these effects, here we tested the impact of finasteride in a rat model of pramipexole-induced alterations of probability discounting. We previously showed that, in rats exposed to low doses of the monoamine-depleting agent reserpine (1mg/kg/day, SC), pramipexole (0.3mg/kg/day, SC) increased the propensity to engage in disadvantageous choices. This effect was paralleled by a marked D3 receptor upregulation in the nucleus accumbens. First, we tested how finasteride (25-50mg/kg, IP) intrinsically affects probability discounting. While the highest dose of finasteride produced a marked lack of interest in lever pressing (manifested as a significant increase in omissions), the 25mg/kg (IP) dose did not intrinsically modify probability discounting. However, this finasteride regimen significantly reduced the adverse effects of reserpine and pramipexole in probability discounting by diminishing rats' propensity to engage in highly disadvantageous probabilistic choices. The same regimen also reversed the upregulation of D3 receptors in the nucleus accumbens induced by reserpine and pramipexole. These findings confirm that finasteride opposes the impulsivity caused by pramipexole and suggest that this effect may be underpinned by a normalizing effect on D3 receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Floris
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (UT), USA.
| | - Simona Scheggi
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (UT), USA; Dept. of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Siena, ITALY
| | - Romina Pes
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence (KS), USA
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (UT), USA; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence (KS), USA.
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22
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Noworyta K, Cieslik A, Rygula R. Neuromolecular Underpinnings of Negative Cognitive Bias in Depression. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113157. [PMID: 34831380 PMCID: PMC8621066 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This selective review aims to summarize the recent advances in understanding the neuromolecular underpinnings of biased cognition in depressive disorder. We begin by considering the cognitive correlates of depressed mood and the key brain systems implicated in its development. We then review the core findings across two domains of biased cognitive function in depression: pessimistic judgment bias and abnormal response to negative feedback. In considering their underlying substrates, we focus on the neurochemical mechanisms identified by genetic, molecular and pharmacological challenge studies. We conclude by discussing experimental approaches to the treatment of depression, which are derived largely from an improved understanding of its cognitive substrates.
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23
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Woodburn SC, Bollinger JL, Wohleb ES. The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:258. [PMID: 34742308 PMCID: PMC8571840 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02309-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia are emerging as critical regulators of neuronal function and behavior in nearly every area of neuroscience. Initial reports focused on classical immune functions of microglia in pathological contexts, however, immunological concepts from these studies have been applied to describe neuro-immune interactions in the absence of disease, injury, or infection. Indeed, terms such as 'microglia activation' or 'neuroinflammation' are used ubiquitously to describe changes in neuro-immune function in disparate contexts; particularly in stress research, where these terms prompt undue comparisons to pathological conditions. This creates a barrier for investigators new to neuro-immunology and ultimately hinders our understanding of stress effects on microglia. As more studies seek to understand the role of microglia in neurobiology and behavior, it is increasingly important to develop standard methods to study and define microglial phenotype and function. In this review, we summarize primary research on the role of microglia in pathological and physiological contexts. Further, we propose a framework to better describe changes in microglia1 phenotype and function in chronic stress. This approach will enable more precise characterization of microglia in different contexts, which should facilitate development of microglia-directed therapeutics in psychiatric and neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C Woodburn
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Justin L Bollinger
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Eric S Wohleb
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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24
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Cabeza L, Ramadan B, Cramoisy S, Houdayer C, Haffen E, Risold PY, Fellmann D, Peterschmitt Y. Chronic Distress in Male Mice Impairs Motivation Compromising Both Effort and Reward Processing With Altered Anterior Insular Cortex and Basolateral Amygdala Neural Activation. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:717701. [PMID: 34588963 PMCID: PMC8475760 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.717701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans and mammals, effort-based decision-making for monetary or food rewards paradigms contributes to the study of adaptive goal-directed behaviours acquired through reinforcement learning. Chronic distress modelled by repeated exposure to glucocorticoids in rodents induces suboptimal decision-making under uncertainty by impinging on instrumental acquisition and prompting negative valence behaviours. In order to further disentangle the motivational tenets of adaptive decision-making, this study addressed the consequences of enduring distress on relevant effort and reward-processing dimensions. Experimentally, appetitive and consummatory components of motivation were evaluated in adult C57BL/6JRj male mice experiencing chronic distress induced by oral corticosterone (CORT), using multiple complementary discrete behavioural tests. Behavioural data (from novelty suppressed feeding, operant effort-based choice, free feeding, and sucrose preference tasks) collectively show that behavioural initiation, effort allocation, and hedonic appreciation and valuation are altered in mice exposed to several weeks of oral CORT treatment. Additionally, data analysis from FosB immunohistochemical processing of postmortem brain samples highlights CORT-dependent dampening of neural activation in the anterior insular cortex (aIC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA), key telencephalic brain regions involved in appetitive and consummatory motivational processing. Combined, these results suggest that chronic distress-induced irregular aIC and BLA neural activations with reduced effort production and attenuated reward value processing during reinforcement-based instrumental learning could result in maladaptive decision-making under uncertainty. The current study further illustrates how effort and reward processing contribute to adjust the motivational threshold triggering goal-directed behaviours in versatile environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Cabeza
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Bahrie Ramadan
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Stephanie Cramoisy
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Christophe Houdayer
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Emmanuel Haffen
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Clinical Psychiatry, Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, Besançon, France.,CIC-INSERM-1431, Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, Besançon, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Risold
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Dominique Fellmann
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Yvan Peterschmitt
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
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25
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Abstract
Chronic stress evokes wide-ranging behavioral alterations, including risk avoidance, increased motoric output, and reduced consummatory behaviors. These are often interpreted as dysfunctions, but they may subserve adaptations for coping with existential threats. We tested this in a cohort of rats previously exposed to mild unpredictable stress for 5 weeks. Previously stressed rats exhibited the typically increased avoidance of open field and altered responses to predator odor, suggesting enhanced sensitivity to threatening contexts and cues. Interestingly, these animals collected rewards at a higher rate than controls, because they locomoted faster, spent less time in off-task (exploratory) behavior, and committed fewer licks at feeders. Further, they were not impaired in flexibly shifting choice as reward probabilities changed among feeders, suggesting that behavioral adaptations are not simply of transference to behavioral control to neural systems insensitive to reward (e.g. habits). These data add to a small but growing body of evidence indicating that stress shifts responses away from exploration and toward exploitation of resources, possibly to reduce threat exposure.HighlightsRats with a history of stress collected reward at a higher rate than controls on an operant task, owing to increase locomotion speed, reduced off-task behavior, and reduced time licking at feeders.Previously stressed rats exhibited increased win-stay responses than controls, suggesting the involvement of neural circuits related to goal-directed responding.Previously stressed rats performed equally to controls on a task requiring a shift of preferences based on reward probability, suggesting that they are not simply relying more on habit-based neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Matisz
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - C A Badenhorst
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - A J Gruber
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
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26
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Phan ML, Liu TT, Vollbrecht MS, Mansour MH, Nikodijevic I, Jadav N, Patibanda N, Dang J, Shekaran G, Reisler RC, Kim WS, Zhou X, DiCicco-Bloom E, Samuels BA. Engrailed 2 deficiency and chronic stress alter avoidance and motivation behaviors. Behav Brain Res 2021; 413:113466. [PMID: 34271036 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, cognition, and communication, as well as the presence of repetitive or stereotyped behaviors and interests. ASD is most often studied as a neurodevelopmental disease, but it is a lifelong disorder. Adults with ASD experience more stressful life events and greater perceived stress, and frequently have comorbid mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It remains unclear whether adult exposure to chronic stress can exacerbate the behavioral and neurodevelopmental phenotypes associated with ASD. To address this issue, we first investigated whether adult male and female Engrailed-2 deficient (En2-KO, En2-/-) mice, which display behavioral disturbances in avoidance tasks and dysregulated monoaminergic neurotransmitter levels, also display impairments in instrumental behaviors associated with motivation, such as the progressive ratio task. We then exposed adult En2-KO mice to chronic environmental stress (CSDS, chronic social defeat stress), to determine if stress exacerbated the behavioral and neuroanatomical effects of En2 deletion. En2-/- mice showed impaired instrumental acquisition and significantly lower breakpoints in a progressive ratio test, demonstrating En2 deficiency decreases motivation to exert effort for reward. Furthermore, adult CSDS exposure increased avoidance behaviors in En2-KO mice. Interestingly, adult CSDS exposure also exacerbated the deleterious effects of En2 deficiency on forebrain-projecting monoaminergic fibers. Our findings thus suggest that adult exposure to stress may exacerbate behavioral and neuroanatomical phenotypes associated with developmental effects of genetic En2 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mimi L Phan
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Tonia T Liu
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Mallory S Vollbrecht
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Mark H Mansour
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Ivana Nikodijevic
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Nikita Jadav
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Neeharika Patibanda
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Jenny Dang
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Gopna Shekaran
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Robert C Reisler
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Won S Kim
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Benjamin A Samuels
- Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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27
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Creutzberg KC, Sanson A, Viola TW, Marchisella F, Begni V, Grassi-Oliveira R, Riva MA. Long-lasting effects of prenatal stress on HPA axis and inflammation: A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis in rodent studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:270-283. [PMID: 33951412 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to prenatal stress (PNS) can lead to long-lasting neurobiological and behavioral consequences for the offspring, which may enhance the susceptibility for mental disorders. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the immune system are two major factors involved in the stress response. Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of rodent studies that investigated the effects of PNS exposure on the HPA axis and inflammatory cytokines in adult offspring. Our analysis shows that animals exposed to PNS display a consistent increase in peripheral corticosterone (CORT) levels and central corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), while decreased levels of its receptor 2 (CRHR2). Meta-regression revealed that sex and duration of PNS protocol are covariates that moderate these results. There was no significant effect of PNS in glucocorticoid receptor (GR), CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1), pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Our findings suggest that PNS exposure elicits long-lasting effects on the HPA axis function, providing an important tool to investigate in preclinical settings key pathological aspects related to early-life stress exposure. Furthermore, researchers should be aware of the mixed outcomes of PNS on inflammatory markers in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Camile Creutzberg
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alice Sanson
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Thiago Wendt Viola
- School of Medicine, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Building 12A, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Francesca Marchisella
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- School of Medicine, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Building 12A, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy; Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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28
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Cabeza L, Ramadan B, Giustiniani J, Houdayer C, Pellequer Y, Gabriel D, Fauconnet S, Haffen E, Risold PY, Fellmann D, Belin D, Peterschmitt Y. Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids induces suboptimal decision-making in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 46:56-67. [PMID: 33531260 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.01.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Anxio-depressive symptoms as well as severe cognitive dysfunction including aberrant decision-making (DM) are documented in neuropsychiatric patients with hypercortisolaemia. Yet, the influence of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis on DM processes remains poorly understood. As a tractable mean to approach this human condition, adult male C57BL/6JRj mice were chronically treated with corticosterone (CORT) prior to behavioural, physiological and neurobiological evaluation. The behavioural data indicate that chronic CORT delays the acquisition of contingencies required to orient responding towards optimal DM performance in a mouse Gambling Task (mGT). Specifically, CORT-treated animals show a longer exploration and a delayed onset of the optimal DM performance. Remarkably, the proportion of individuals performing suboptimally in the mGT is increased in the CORT condition. This variability seems to be better accounted for by variations in sensitivity to negative rather than to positive outcome. Besides, CORT-treated animals perform worse than control animals in a spatial working memory (WM) paradigm and in a motor learning task. Finally, Western blotting neurobiological analyses show that chronic CORT downregulates glucocorticoid receptor expression in the medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC). Besides, corticotropin-releasing factor signalling in the mPFC of CORT individuals negatively correlates with their DM performance. Collectively, this study describes how chronic exposure to glucocorticoids induces suboptimal DM under uncertainty in a mGT, hampers WM and motor learning processes, thus affecting specific emotional, motor, cognitive and neurobiological endophenotypic dimensions relevant for precision medicine in biological psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Cabeza
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
| | - Bahrie Ramadan
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Julie Giustiniani
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Clinical Psychiatry, Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, Besançon, France; Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, CIC-INSERM-1431, Besançon, France
| | - Christophe Houdayer
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Yann Pellequer
- PEPITE EA-4267, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Damien Gabriel
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, CIC-INSERM-1431, Besançon, France
| | - Sylvie Fauconnet
- Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, CIC-INSERM-1431, Besançon, France; Laboratoire de Carcinogenèse associée aux HPV EA-3181, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Urologie, andrologie et transplantation rénale, Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, Besançon, France
| | - Emmanuel Haffen
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Clinical Psychiatry, Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, Besançon, France; Hôpital Universitaire CHRU, CIC-INSERM-1431, Besançon, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Risold
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Dominique Fellmann
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - David Belin
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Yvan Peterschmitt
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques EA-481, Université de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
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29
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Oberrauch S, Metha JA, Brian ML, Barnes SA, Featherby TJ, Lawrence AJ, Hoyer D, Murawski C, Jacobson LH. Reward motivation and cognitive flexibility in tau null-mutation mice. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 100:106-117. [PMID: 33524848 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The reduction of tau or hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Cognitive decline and sleep-wake dysregulation seen in AD and FTD patients are mimicked in transgenic and null-mutation mouse models of tauopathy. Alterations in the reward system are additional symptoms of AD and FTD. However, the role of tau in reward processes is not well understood. The present study aimed to examine reward and reward-motivated cognitive processes in male and female tau knockout (tau-/-) and wild-type mice using progressive ratio and reversal learning tasks. Tau-/- mice were heavier, ate more in the home cage, and reached criterion in operant lever training faster than wild-type mice. Tau-/- mice had a higher breakpoint in progressive ratio but were unimpaired in reversal learning or reward sensitivity. These data indicate that tau loss of function alters reward processing. This may help to explain aberrant reward-related behaviors in tauopathy patients and highlights a potentially important area for consideration in the development of anti-tau therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Oberrauch
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville Campus, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jeremy A Metha
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville Campus, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Finance, Brain, Mind & Markets Laboratory, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maddison L Brian
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville Campus, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samuel A Barnes
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Travis J Featherby
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville Campus, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville Campus, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Daniel Hoyer
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville Campus, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carsten Murawski
- Department of Finance, Brain, Mind & Markets Laboratory, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura H Jacobson
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville Campus, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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30
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Dieterich A, Floeder J, Stech K, Lee J, Srivastava P, Barker DJ, Samuels BA. Activation of Basolateral Amygdala to Nucleus Accumbens Projection Neurons Attenuates Chronic Corticosterone-Induced Behavioral Deficits in Male Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:643272. [PMID: 33716685 PMCID: PMC7943928 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.643272] [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: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is critical for reward behaviors via a projection to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Specifically, BLA-NAc projections are involved in reinforcement learning, reward-seeking, sustained instrumental responding, and risk behaviors. However, it remains unclear whether chronic stress interacts with BLA-NAc projection neurons to result in maladaptive behaviors. Here we take a chemogenetic, projection-specific approach to clarify how NAc-projecting BLA neurons affect avoidance, reward, and feeding behaviors in male mice. Then, we examine whether chemogenetic activation of NAc-projecting BLA neurons attenuates the maladaptive effects of chronic corticosterone (CORT) administration on these behaviors. CORT mimics the behavioral and neural effects of chronic stress exposure. We found a nuanced role of BLA-NAc neurons in mediating reward behaviors. Surprisingly, activation of BLA-NAc projections rescues CORT-induced deficits in the novelty suppressed feeding, a behavior typically associated with avoidance. Activation of BLA-NAc neurons also increases instrumental reward-seeking without affecting free-feeding in chronic CORT mice. Taken together, these data suggest that NAc-projecting BLA neurons are involved in chronic CORT-induced maladaptive reward and motivation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Dieterich
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Joseph Floeder
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Karina Stech
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Jay Lee
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Prachi Srivastava
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - David J. Barker
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Benjamin A. Samuels
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
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31
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Chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress reduces effort-related motivated behaviors in male and female mice. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:125. [PMID: 33589585 PMCID: PMC7884699 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01250-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Reward and motivation deficits are prominent symptoms in many mood disorders, including depression. Similar reward and effort-related choice behavioral tasks can be used to study aspects of motivation in both rodents and humans. Chronic stress can precipitate mood disorders in humans and maladaptive reward and motivation behaviors in male rodents. However, while depression is more prevalent in women, there is relatively little known about whether chronic stress elicits maladaptive behaviors in female rodents in effort-related motivated tasks and whether there are any behavioral sex differences. Chronic nondiscriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS) is a variation of chronic social defeat stress that is effective in both male and female mice. We hypothesized that CNSDS would reduce effort-related motivated and reward behaviors, including reducing sensitivity to a devalued outcome, reducing breakpoint in progressive ratio, and shifting effort-related choice behavior. Separate cohorts of adult male and female C57BL/6 J mice were divided into Control or CNSDS groups, exposed to the 10-day CNSDS paradigm, and then trained and tested in instrumental reward or effort-related behaviors. CNSDS reduced motivation to lever press in progressive ratio and shifted effort-related choice behavior from a high reward to a more easily attainable low reward in both sexes. CNSDS caused more nuanced impairments in outcome devaluation. Taken together, CNSDS induces maladaptive shifts in effort-related choice and reduces motivated lever pressing in both sexes.
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32
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Athanassi A, Dorado Doncel R, Bath KG, Mandairon N. Relationship between depression and olfactory sensory function: a review. Chem Senses 2021; 46:6383453. [PMID: 34618883 PMCID: PMC8542994 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Links between olfactory sensory function and effect have been well established. A robust literature exists in both humans and animals showing that disrupting olfaction sensory function can elicit disordered mood state, including serve as a model of depression. Despite this, considerably less is known regarding the directionality and neural basis of this relationship, e.g. whether disruptions in sensory function precede and contribute to altered mood or if altered mood state precipitates changes in olfactory perception. Further, the neural basis of altered olfactory function in depression remains unclear. In conjunction with clinical studies, animal models represent a valuable tool to understand the relationship between altered mood and olfactory sensory function. Here, we review the relevant literature assessing olfactory performance in depression in humans and in rodent models of depressive-like behavioral states. Rodents allow for detailed characterization of alterations in olfactory perception, manipulation of experiential events that elicit depressive-like phenotypes, and allow for interrogation of potential predictive markers of disease and the cellular basis of olfactory impairments associated with depressive-like phenotypes. We synthesize these findings to identify paths forward to investigate and understand the complex interplay between depression and olfactory sensory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Athanassi
- INSERM, U1028; Centre National de la Recherche Scientific, UMR5292; Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, Neuroplasticity and Neuropathology of Olfactory Perception Team, University Lyon, University Lyon 1, F-69000, France
| | - Romane Dorado Doncel
- INSERM, U1028; Centre National de la Recherche Scientific, UMR5292; Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, Neuroplasticity and Neuropathology of Olfactory Perception Team, University Lyon, University Lyon 1, F-69000, France
| | - Kevin G Bath
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical College, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nathalie Mandairon
- INSERM, U1028; Centre National de la Recherche Scientific, UMR5292; Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, Neuroplasticity and Neuropathology of Olfactory Perception Team, University Lyon, University Lyon 1, F-69000, France
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33
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Dieterich A, Yohn CN, Samuels BA. Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice. J Vis Exp 2020. [PMID: 32865538 PMCID: PMC7646533 DOI: 10.3791/61548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, can be precipitated by chronic stress. The Y-maze barrier task is an effort-related choice test that measures motivation to expend effort and obtain reward. In mice, chronic stress exposure significantly impacts motivation to work for a higher value reward when a lesser value reward is freely available compared to unstressed mice. Here we describe the chronic corticosterone administration paradigm, which produces a shift in effortful responding in the Y-maze barrier task. In the Y-maze task, one arm contains 4 food pellets, while the other arm contains only 2 pellets. After mice learn to select the high reward arm, barriers with progressively increasing height are then introduced into the high reward arm over multiple test sessions. Unfortunately, most chronic stress paradigms (including corticosterone and social defeat) were developed in male mice and are less effective in female mice. Therefore, we also discuss chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS), a stress paradigm we developed that is effective in both male and female mice. Repeating results with multiple distinct chronic stressors in male and female mice combined with increased usage of translationally relevant behavior tasks will help to advance the understanding of how chronic stress can precipitate mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Dieterich
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, The State University of New Jersey; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey;
| | - Christine N Yohn
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, The State University of New Jersey
| | - Benjamin Adam Samuels
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area, The State University of New Jersey; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey;
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