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Parvin Z, Jaafari Suha A, Afarinesh MR, Hosseinmardi N, Janahmadi M, Behzadi G. Social hierarchy differentially influences the anxiety-like behaviors and dendritic spine density in prefrontal cortex and limbic areas in male rats. Behav Brain Res 2024; 469:115043. [PMID: 38729219 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Social hierarchy is a fundamental feature of social organization that can influence brain and emotional processing regarding social ranks. Several areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the hippocampus, and the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA), are recognized to be involved in the regulation of emotional processing. However, its delicate structural correlates in brain regions are poorly understood. To address this issue, social hierarchy in home-caged sibling Wistar rats (three male rats/cage) was determined by employing a social confrontation tube test (postnatal weeks 9-12). Then, locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using an open-field test (OFT) and elevated plus-maze (EPM) at 13 weeks of age. The rapid Golgi impregnation method was conducted to quantify the spine density of the first secondary branch of the primary dendrite in 20 µm length. The results indicated that dominant rats had significantly higher anxiety-like behaviors compared to subordinates, as was evident by lower open-arm entries and time spent in the EPM and lower entries and time spent in the center of OFT. The spine density analysis revealed a significantly higher number of spines in subordinates compared to the dominant rats in dmPFC pyramidal neurons and the apical and basal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. However, the spine density of pyramidal-like neurons in the BLA was higher in dominant rats. Our findings suggest that dominant social rank is associated with higher anxiety and differential density of the dendritic spine in the prefrontal cortex and limbic regions of the brain in male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Parvin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Jaafari Suha
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Narges Hosseinmardi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahyar Janahmadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gila Behzadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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2
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Chen WJ, Chen H, Li ZM, Huang WY, Wu JL. Acetylcholine muscarinic M1 receptors in the rodent prefrontal cortex modulate cognitive abilities to establish social hierarchy. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:974-982. [PMID: 38135842 PMCID: PMC11039707 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01785-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
In most social species, the attainment of social dominance is strongly affected by personality traits. Dominant individuals show better cognitive abilities, however, whether an individual's cognition can determine its social status has remained inconclusive. We found that mice show better cognitive abilities tend to possess a higher social rank after cohousing. The dynamic release of acetylcholine (ACh) in the prelimbic cortex (PL) is correlated with mouse dominance behavior. ACh enhanced the excitability of the PL neurons via acetylcholine muscarinic M1 receptors (M1). Inhibition of M1 impaired mice cognitive performance and induced losing in social competition. Mice with M1 deficiency in the PL performed worse on cognitive behavioral tests, and exhibited lower status when re-grouped with others. Elevating ACh level in the PL of subordinate mice induced winning. These results provide direct evidence for the involvement of M1 in social hierarchy and suggest that social rank can be tuned by altering cognition through cholinergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jun Chen
- Medical Research and Experimental Center, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, 514031, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technological Research Center of Clinical Molecular Diagnosis and Antibody Drugs, Meizhou, 514031, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zi-Ming Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Wei-Yuan Huang
- Orthopedic Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, China.
| | - Jian-Lin Wu
- Medical Research and Experimental Center, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, 514031, China.
- Guangdong Engineering Technological Research Center of Clinical Molecular Diagnosis and Antibody Drugs, Meizhou, 514031, China.
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3
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Carpenter RE, Sabirzhanov B, Summers TR, Clark TG, Keifer J, Summers CH. Anxiolytic reversal of classically conditioned / chronic stress-induced gene expression and learning in the Stress Alternatives Model. Behav Brain Res 2023; 440:114258. [PMID: 36521572 PMCID: PMC9872777 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114258] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Social decision-making is critically influenced by neurocircuitries that regulate stress responsiveness. Adaptive choices, therefore, are altered by stress-related neuromodulatory peptide systems, such as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). Experimental designs that take advantage of ecologically salient fear-inducing stimuli allow for revelation of neural mechanisms that regulate the balance between pro- and anti-stress responsiveness. To accomplish this, we developed a social stress and conditioning protocol, the Stress Alternatives Model (SAM), that utilizes a simple dichotomous choice, and produces distinctive behavioral phenotypes (Escape or Stay). The experiments involve repeated social aggression, a potent unconditioned stimulus (US), from a novel larger conspecific (a 3X larger Rainbow trout). Prior to the social interaction, the smaller test fish is presented with an auditory conditioning stimulus (water off = CS). During the social aggression, an escape route is available, but is only large enough for the smaller test animal. Surprisingly, although the new aggressor provides vigorous attacks each day, only 50% of the test fish choose Escape. Stay fish, treated with the CRF1 antagonist antalarmin, a potent anxiolytic drug, on day 4, promotes Escape behavior for the last 4 days of the SAM protocol. The results suggest that the decision to Escape, required a reduction in stress reactivity. The Stay fish that chose Escape following anxiolytic treatment, learned how to use the escape route prior to stress reduction, as the Escape latency in these fish was significantly faster than first time escapers. In Escape fish, the use of the escape route is learned over several days, reducing the Escape latency over time in the SAM. Fear conditioning (water off + aggression) resulted in elevated hippocampal (DL) Bdnf mRNA levels, with coincident reduction in the AMPA receptor subunit Glua1 expression, a result that is reversed following a one-time treatment (during SAM aggression on day 4) with the anxiolytic CRF1 receptor antagonist antalarmin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russ E Carpenter
- University Writing Program, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Boris Sabirzhanov
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, 8901 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA
| | - Tangi R Summers
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Timothy G Clark
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Joyce Keifer
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Cliff H Summers
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA.
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Akinbo OI, McNeal N, Hylin M, Hite N, Dagner A, Grippo AJ. The Influence of Environmental Enrichment on Affective and Neural Consequences of Social Isolation Across Development. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2022; 3:713-733. [PMID: 36519141 PMCID: PMC9743881 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-022-00131-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Social stress is associated with depression and anxiety, physiological disruptions, and altered brain morphology in central stress circuitry across development. Environmental enrichment strategies may improve responses to social stress. Socially monogamous prairie voles exhibit analogous social and emotion-related behaviors to humans, with potential translational insight into interactions of social stress, age, and environmental enrichment. This study explored the effects of social isolation and environmental enrichment on behaviors related to depression and anxiety, physiological indicators of stress, and dendritic structural changes in amygdala and hippocampal subregions in young adult and aging prairie voles. Forty-nine male prairie voles were assigned to one of six groups divided by age (young adult vs. aging), social structure (paired vs. isolated), and housing environment (enriched vs. non-enriched). Following 4 weeks of these conditions, behaviors related to depression and anxiety were investigated in the forced swim test and elevated plus maze, body and adrenal weights were evaluated, and dendritic morphology analyses were conducted in hippocampus and amygdala subregions. Environmental enrichment decreased immobility duration in the forced swim test, increased open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze, and reduced adrenal/body weight ratio in aging and young adult prairie voles. Age and social isolation influenced dendritic morphology in the basolateral amygdala. Age, but not social isolation, influenced dendritic morphology in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Environmental enrichment did not influence dendritic morphology in either brain region. These data may inform interventions to reduce the effects of social stressors and age-related central changes associated with affective behavioral consequences in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oreoluwa I. Akinbo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
| | - Neal McNeal
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
| | - Michael Hylin
- Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA
| | - Natalee Hite
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Ashley Dagner
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
| | - Angela J. Grippo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
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Jimenez Chavez CL, Van Doren E, Matalon J, Ogele N, Kharwa A, Madory L, Kazerani I, Herbert J, Torres-Gonzalez J, Rivera E, Szumlinski KK. Alcohol-Drinking Under Limited-Access Procedures During Mature Adulthood Accelerates the Onset of Cognitive Impairment in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:732375. [PMID: 35685271 PMCID: PMC9171112 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.732375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A history of heavy drinking increases vulnerability to, and the severity of, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias, with alcohol use disorder identified as the strongest modifiable risk factor for early-onset dementia. Heavy drinking has increased markedly in women over the past 10 years, particularly in mature adult women during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is concerning as women are more sensitive to many alcohol-related disease states, including AD and related dementias. Herein, we conducted two studies to determine if a 1-month period of binge drinking during mature adulthood (i.e., 5–9 months of age) impairs spatial and working memory to a greater extent in female vs. male C57BL/6J (B6J) mice. The anxiogenic and cognitive-impairing effects of binge drinking were also compared between mature adult and old B6J mice (18 months of age) in a third study. Throughout, females consumed more alcohol than males, indicating that a sex difference in binge drinking persists into old age. Despite the sex difference in intake, we detected no consistent sex difference in our measures of alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety during a behavioral test battery. Although mature adult females exhibited more cognitive deficits than males, the precise outcome exhibiting a female-selective effect varied across studies. Old mice drank lower amounts of alcohol than mature adult mice, yet their blood ethanol concentrations (BECs) were within error of the 80 mg/dl criterion for binge drinking, indicative of an age-related slowing of alcohol metabolism. As expected, 18-month-old controls exhibited more signs of cognitive impairment than their 6-month-old counterparts, and binge drinking history impaired the Morris water maze performance of mice of both ages. In contrast, binge drinking history impaired the radial arm maze performance of 6-month-old mice only, and the extent of the impairment was comparable to the behavior exhibited by the older mice. We conclude from our studies that: (1) both biological sex and the age of drinking onset are subject factors that impact voluntary alcohol consumption by mice into old age; (2) binge drinking during later life elicits a negative affective state that is relatively sex-independent; (3) binge drinking during both mature adulthood and old age impairs spatial learning and memory; (4) binge drinking during mature adulthood accelerates deficits in working memory; and (5) mature adult females tend to exhibit more alcohol-induced cognitive impairments than males. If relevant to humans, these findings suggest that binge-like drinking by older adult men and women induces a negative affective state and cognitive decline, but that mature adult women, in particular, may be more sensitive to both the immediate and persistent cognitive-impairing effects of heavy drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Leonardo Jimenez Chavez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Eliyana Van Doren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Jacob Matalon
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Nneoma Ogele
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Aadithya Kharwa
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Lauren Madory
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Ida Kazerani
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Jessica Herbert
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Jose Torres-Gonzalez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Emely Rivera
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Karen K. Szumlinski
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Karen K. Szumlinski
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Spatial working memory is disparately interrelated with social status through different developmental stages in rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 416:113547. [PMID: 34437940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Social life necessitates cognitive competence to meet the dynamic demands of social development. The formation of dominance hierarchy is a general phenomenon in social groups. As an essential element of executive and cognitive function, working memory could influence and be influenced by social status in a dominance hierarchy. However, the direction and degree of the association between them through different developmental stages remain unclear. To address this issue and clarify the "cause or consequence" problem, we investigated the spatial working memory performance in a Y-maze and Morris water maze in home-caged sibling Wistar rats (N = 26 cages, three rats/cage) through three stages of their life: before (week 7), during (week 10), and after (week 20) assumed timings of the social dominance hierarchy formation (SDHF). We used the social dominance tube test during the assumed time of hierarchy formation (weeks 9-11) to measure the relative dominance status in each cage. Here, we found that higher working memory index before SDHF could be predictive of later acquisition of higher social status. Working memory performance declined for all animals during SDHF, in which agonistic conflicts are increased. However, living within an established hierarchical social network for several weeks deteriorated the working memory performance of dominant and middle-ranked animals, while the performance of subordinates improved and got significantly better than higher-ranked animals. In conclusion, while working memory and social status were correlated positively before dominance hierarchy formation, there was a trade-off between them after the formation of it. In contrast to the common view, these results highlight the adverse effect of higher social status on cognitive behavior.
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Social context shapes cognitive abilities: associative memories are modulated by fight outcome and social isolation in the crab Neohelice granulata. Anim Cogn 2021; 24:1007-1026. [PMID: 33788037 PMCID: PMC8009927 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01492-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive abilities of an animal can be influenced by distinct social experiences. However, the extent of this modulation has not been addressed in different learning scenarios: are all tasks similarly affected by social experiences? In the present study, we analyzed the effect of social dominance in aversive and appetitive memory processes in the crab Neohelice granulata. In addition, we studied the influence of social isolation on memory ability. Social dominance experiments consisted of an agonistic phase immediately followed by a memory phase. During the agonistic phase, matched pairs of male crabs were staged in 10-min encounters and the dominant or subordinate condition of each member of the dyad was determined. During the memory phase, crabs were trained to acquire aversive or appetitive memory and tested 24 h later. Results showed that the agonistic encounter can modulate long-term memory according to the dominance condition in such a way that memory retention of subordinates results higher than their respective dominant. Remarkably, this result was found for both aversive and appetitive memory tasks. In addition, we found that isolated animals showed no memory retention when compared with animals that remained grouped. Altogether this work emphasizes the importance of social context as a modulator of cognitive abilities.
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Robbers Y, Tersteeg MMH, Meijer JH, Coomans CP. Group housing and social dominance hierarchy affect circadian activity patterns in mice. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201985. [PMID: 33972875 PMCID: PMC8074631 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effect of social environment on circadian patterns in activity by group housing either six male or six female mice together in a cage, under regular light-dark cycles. Based on the interactions among the animals, the social dominance rank of individual mice was quantitatively established by calculating Elo ratings. Our results indicated that, during our experiment, the social dominance hierarchy was rapidly established, stable yet complex, often showing more than one dominant mouse and several subordinate mice. Moreover, we found that especially dominant male mice, but not female mice, displayed a significantly higher fraction of their activity during daytime. This resulted in reduced rhythm amplitude in dominant males. After division into separate cages, male mice showed an enhancement of their 24 h rhythm, due to lower daytime activity. Recordings of several physiological parameters showed no evidence for reduced health as a potential consequence of reduced rhythm amplitude. For female mice, transfer to individual housing did not affect their daily activity pattern. We conclude that 24 h rhythms under light-dark cycles are influenced by the social environment in males but not in females, and lead to a decrement in behavioural rhythm amplitude that is larger in dominant mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Robbers
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mayke M. H. Tersteeg
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Johanna H. Meijer
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia P. Coomans
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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The aging mouse brain: cognition, connectivity and calcium. Cell Calcium 2021; 94:102358. [PMID: 33517250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a complex process that differentially impacts multiple cognitive, sensory, neuronal and molecular processes. Technological innovations now allow for parallel investigation of neuronal circuit function, structure and molecular composition in the brain of awake behaving adult mice. Thus, mice have become a critical tool to better understand how aging impacts the brain. However, a more granular systems-based approach, which considers the impact of age on key features relating to neural processing, is required. Here, we review evidence probing the impact of age on the mouse brain. We focus on a range of processes relating to neuronal function, including cognitive abilities, sensory systems, synaptic plasticity and calcium regulation. Across many systems, we find evidence for prominent age-related dysregulation even before 12 months of age, suggesting that emerging age-related alterations can manifest by late adulthood. However, we also find reports suggesting that some processes are remarkably resilient to aging. The evidence suggests that aging does not drive a parallel, linear dysregulation of all systems, but instead impacts some processes earlier, and more severely, than others. We propose that capturing the more fine-scale emerging features of age-related vulnerability and resilience may provide better opportunities for the rejuvenation of the aged brain.
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Mid-life microbiota crises: middle age is associated with pervasive neuroimmune alterations that are reversed by targeting the gut microbiome. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2567-2583. [PMID: 31092898 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0425-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Male middle age is a transitional period where many physiological and psychological changes occur leading to cognitive and behavioural alterations, and a deterioration of brain function. However, the mechanisms underpinning such changes are unclear. The gut microbiome has been implicated as a key mediator in the communication between the gut and the brain, and in the regulation of brain homeostasis, including brain immune cell function. Thus, we tested whether targeting the gut microbiome by prebiotic supplementation may alter microglia activation and brain function in ageing. Male young adult (8 weeks) and middle-aged (10 months) C57BL/6 mice received diet enriched with a prebiotic (10% oligofructose-enriched inulin) or control chow for 14 weeks. Prebiotic supplementation differentially altered the gut microbiota profile in young and middle-aged mice with changes correlating with faecal metabolites. Functionally, this translated into a reversal of stress-induced immune priming in middle-aged mice. In addition, a reduction in ageing-induced infiltration of Ly-6Chi monocytes into the brain coupled with a reversal in ageing-related increases in a subset of activated microglia (Ly-6C+) was observed. Taken together, these data highlight a potential pathway by which targeting the gut microbiome with prebiotics can modulate the peripheral immune response and alter neuroinflammation in middle age. Our data highlight a novel strategy for the amelioration of age-related neuroinflammatory pathologies and brain function.
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Zhu X, Shen J, Feng S, Huang C, Liu Z, Sun YE, Liu H. Metformin improves cognition of aged mice by promoting cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:17845-17862. [PMID: 32938817 PMCID: PMC7585073 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metformin is a widely used drug for type 2 diabetes that is considered to have potential anti-aging effects. However, the beneficial effects of metformin in middle-aged normoglycemic mice are less explored. Here, we report that metformin treated by tail vein injection improved cognitive function of aged mice better than oral administration, which seem to show a dose-dependent manner. Correspondingly, long-term oral administration of metformin was associated with significant disability rates. Further, metformin restored cerebral blood flow and brain vascular density and promoted neurogenic potential of the subependymal zone/subventricular zone both in vivo and in vitro. RNA-Seq and q-PCR results indicated that metformin could enhance relative mRNA glycolysis expression in blood and hippocampal tissue, respectively. Mechanistically, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a key enzyme in glycolysis pathway, may contribute to angiogenic and neurogenic potentials of NSCs. Interestingly, the relative GAPDH mRNA expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cell was gradually decreased with aging. Meanwhile its expression level positively correlated with cognitive levels. Our results indicated that metformin represents a candidate pharmacological approach for recruitment of NSCs in aged mouse brain by enhancing glycolysis and promoting neurovascular generation, a strategy that might be of therapeutic value for anti-aging in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Zhu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Junyan Shen
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Shengyu Feng
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Ce Huang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Zhongmin Liu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Yi Eve Sun
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Hailiang Liu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
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12
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Huang Q, Yu F, Liao D, Xia J. Microbiota-Immune System Interactions in Human Neurological Disorders. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2020; 19:509-526. [PMID: 32713337 DOI: 10.2174/1871527319666200726222138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies implicate microbiota-brain communication as an essential factor for physiology and pathophysiology in brain function and neurodevelopment. One of the pivotal mechanisms about gut to brain communication is through the regulation and interaction of gut microbiota on the host immune system. In this review, we will discuss the role of microbiota-immune systeminteractions in human neurological disorders. The characteristic features in the development of neurological diseases include gut dysbiosis, the disturbed intestinal/Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability, the activated inflammatory response, and the changed microbial metabolites. Neurological disorders contribute to gut dysbiosis and some relevant metabolites in a top-down way. In turn, the activated immune system induced by the change of gut microbiota may deteriorate the development of neurological diseases through the disturbed gut/BBB barrier in a down-top way. Understanding the characterization and identification of microbiome-immune- brain signaling pathways will help us to yield novel therapeutic strategies by targeting the gut microbiome in neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Di Liao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Jian Xia
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China,Hunan Clinical Research Center for Cerebrovascular Disease, Changsha, China
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13
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Koslowski S, Latapy C, Auvray P, Blondel M, Meijer L. Long-Term Fipronil Treatment Induces Hyperactivity in Female Mice. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E1579. [PMID: 32121376 PMCID: PMC7084594 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fipronil is an insecticide widely used for veterinary and agricultural purposes. While its insecticidal properties mostly rely on its high affinity antagonistic activity on insect γ aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, fipronil and its main metabolite fipronil sulfone nevertheless display non-negligible affinity for mammalian GABAA receptor. As several environmental toxicants have been shown to raise the risk of developing various neurodegenerative disorders, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether long-term low dose administration of fipronil could lead to cognitive deficiencies. Our results indicate that long-term fipronil treatment leads to behavioral perturbations in mice, indicating an accumulative effect of sustained exposure to low dose of fipronil. Although no memory impairment was observed during the course of our study, we noticed a significant hyperlocomotion behavior after 43 weeks of weekly fipronil administration, which is consistent with its direct effect on the GABAergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Koslowski
- Perha Pharmaceuticals & ManRos Therapeutics, Centre de Perharidy, 29680 Roscoff, Bretagne, France;
- C.RIS Pharma, Parc Technopolitain, Atalante Saint Malo, 35400 Saint Malo, France; (C.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Camille Latapy
- C.RIS Pharma, Parc Technopolitain, Atalante Saint Malo, 35400 Saint Malo, France; (C.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Pierrïck Auvray
- C.RIS Pharma, Parc Technopolitain, Atalante Saint Malo, 35400 Saint Malo, France; (C.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Marc Blondel
- Université Brest, Inserm, EFS, UMR1078, GGB, F-29200 Brest, France;
- Service de Génétique clinique et de Biologie de la reproduction, CHRU (Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire), F-29200 Brest, France
| | - Laurent Meijer
- Perha Pharmaceuticals & ManRos Therapeutics, Centre de Perharidy, 29680 Roscoff, Bretagne, France;
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The role of personality, cognition, and affective state in same-sex contests in the red junglefowl. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2762-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Intra-species contests are common in the animal kingdom and can have fitness consequences. Most research on what predicts contest outcome focuses on morphology, although differences in personality and cognition may also be involved. Supporting this, more proactive individuals often have dominant status, although the causality of this relationship is rarely investigated. Contest initiators often win; thus, individuals that are more proactive in their personality (e.g., more aggressive, risk-taking) or cognition (e.g., more optimistic, impulsive) may initiate contests more often. To investigate this, we assayed the behavior and cognition of sexually mature male and female red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), a species in which both sexes contest over social status, before staging intra-sexual contests. We confirm that contest initiators were more likely to win. In males, individuals that behaved more boldly in a novel arena test were more likely to initiate and win contests. Female initiators tended to be less active in novel object test, more aggressive in a restrained opponent test, and respond less optimistically in a cognitive judgement bias test, whereas the main predictor of whether a female would win a contest was whether she initiated it. These results suggest that behaviors attributed to proactive and reactive personalities, and—at least for female red junglefowl—optimism, can affect contest initiation and outcome. Therefore, within species, and depending on sex, different aspects of behavior and cognition may independently affect contest initiation and outcome. The generality of these findings, and their fitness consequences, requires further investigation.
Significance statement
In red junglefowl, we explored how behavior previously shown to describe personality, cognition, and affective state affected initiation and outcome of intra-sexual contests, by staging contests between sexually mature individuals previously assayed in behavioral and cognitive tests. In both sexes, contest initiators usually won. Bolder males were more likely to initiate and win contests. Female contests initiators were less active, more aggressive, and less optimistic. Our results suggest that personality and cognition could affect the initiation and outcome of contests and that how this occurs may differ between sexes.
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Stanojlovic M, Pallais Yllescas JP, Mavanji V, Kotz C. Chemogenetic activation of orexin/hypocretin neurons ameliorates aging-induced changes in behavior and energy expenditure. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2019; 316:R571-R583. [PMID: 30726119 PMCID: PMC6589608 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00383.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aging affects numerous physiological processes, as well as behavior. A large number of these processes are regulated, at least partially, by hypothalamic orexin neurons, and orexin tone may decrease with normal aging. In this study, we hypothesized that designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) stimulation of orexin neuronal activity will ameliorate the effect of aging on behavioral and metabolic alterations in young and middle-aged mice. DREADD targeting was achieved by stereotaxic injection of AAV vectors (AAV2-hSyn-DIO-hM3D(Gq)-mCherry) into the lateral hypothalamus of 5- and 12-mo old orexin-cre female mice and was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of orexin A and mCherry expression. After recovery, animals were subjected to a behavioral test battery consisting of the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field (OFT), and novel object recognition tests (NORT) to assess effects of aging on anxiety-like behavior, general locomotion, and working memory. A comprehensive laboratory animal monitoring system (CLAMS) was used to measure spontaneous physical activity (SPA) and energy expenditure (EE). The results indicate that activation of orexin neurons mitigates aging-induced reductions in anxiety-like behavior in middle-aged mice (P < 0.005) and increases locomotion in both young and middle-aged mice (P < 0.05). Activation of orexin neurons increases SPA (P < 0.01) and EE (P < 0.005) in middle-aged mice, restoring the levels to that observed in young animals. Results from this study identify orexin neurons as potential therapeutic targets for age-related impairments in cognitive and anxiety-related behavior, and energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milos Stanojlovic
- Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | | | - Vijaya Mavanji
- Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Catherine Kotz
- Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Langley EJG, van Horik JO, Whiteside MA, Beardsworth CE, Madden JR. The relationship between social rank and spatial learning in pheasants, Phasianus colchicus: cause or consequence? PeerJ 2018; 6:e5738. [PMID: 30479883 PMCID: PMC6238775 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in performances on cognitive tasks have been found to differ according to social rank across multiple species. However, it is not clear whether an individual’s cognitive performance is flexible and the result of their current social rank, modulated by social interactions (social state dependent hypothesis), or if it is determined prior to the formation of the social hierarchy and indeed influences an individual’s rank (prior attributes hypothesis). We separated these two hypotheses by measuring learning performance of male pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, on a spatial discrimination task as chicks and again as adults. We inferred adult male social rank from observing agonistic interactions while housed in captive multi-male multi-female groups. Learning performance of adult males was assayed after social rank had been standardised; by housing single males with two or four females. We predicted that if cognitive abilities determine social rank formation we would observe: consistency between chick and adult performances on the cognitive task and chick performance would predict adult social rank. We found that learning performances were consistent from chicks to adults for task accuracy, but not for speed of learning and chick learning performances were not related to adult social rank. Therefore, we could not support the prior attributes hypothesis of cognitive abilities aiding social rank formation. Instead, we found that individual differences in learning performances of adults were predicted by the number of females a male was housed with; males housed with four females had higher levels of learning performance than males housed with two females; and their most recent recording of captive social rank, even though learning performance was assayed while males were in a standardized, non-competitive environment. This does not support the hypothesis that direct social pressures are causing the inter-individual variation in learning performances that we observe. Instead, our results suggest that there may be carry-over effects of aggressive social interactions on learning performance. Consequently, whether early life spatial learning performances influence social rank is unclear but these performances are modulated by the current social environment and a male’s most recent social rank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellis J G Langley
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jayden O van Horik
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Whiteside
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Joah R Madden
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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Langley EJG, van Horik JO, Whiteside MA, Madden JR. Group social rank is associated with performance on a spatial learning task. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171475. [PMID: 29515866 PMCID: PMC5830755 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dominant individuals differ from subordinates in their performances on cognitive tasks across a suite of taxa. Previous studies often only consider dyadic relationships, rather than the more ecologically relevant social hierarchies or networks, hence failing to account for how dyadic relationships may be adjusted within larger social groups. We used a novel statistical method: randomized Elo-ratings, to infer the social hierarchy of 18 male pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, while in a captive, mixed-sex group with a linear hierarchy. We assayed individual learning performance of these males on a binary spatial discrimination task to investigate whether inter-individual variation in performance is associated with group social rank. Task performance improved with increasing trial number and was positively related to social rank, with higher ranking males showing greater levels of success. Motivation to participate in the task was not related to social rank or task performance, thus indicating that these rank-related differences are not a consequence of differences in motivation to complete the task. Our results provide important information about how variation in cognitive performance relates to an individual's social rank within a group. Whether the social environment causes differences in learning performance or instead, inherent differences in learning ability predetermine rank remains to be tested.
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Karl F, Grießhammer A, Üçeyler N, Sommer C. Differential Impact of miR-21 on Pain and Associated Affective and Cognitive Behavior after Spared Nerve Injury in B7-H1 ko Mouse. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:219. [PMID: 28744199 PMCID: PMC5504104 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized as regulators of immune and neuronal gene expression and are potential master switches in neuropathic pain pathophysiology. miR-21 is a promising candidate that may link the immune and the pain system. To investigate the pathophysiological role of miR-21 in neuropathic pain, we assessed mice deficient of B7 homolog 1 (B7-H1), a major inhibitor of inflammatory responses. In previous studies, an upregulation of miR-21 had been shown in mouse lymphocytes. Young (8 weeks), middle-aged (6 months), and old (12 months) B7-H1 ko mice and wildtype littermates (WT) received a spared nerve injury (SNI). We assessed thermal withdrawal latencies and mechanical withdrawal thresholds. Further, we performed tests for anxiety-like and cognitive behavior. Quantitative real time PCR was used to determine miR-21 relative expression in peripheral nerves, and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) at distinct time points after SNI. We found mechanical hyposensitivity with increasing age of naïve B7-H1 ko mice. Young and middle-aged B7-H1 ko mice were more sensitive to mechanical stimuli compared to WT mice (young: p < 0.01, middle-aged: p < 0.05). Both genotypes developed mechanical and heat hypersensitivity (p < 0.05) after SNI, without intergroup differences. No relevant differences were found after SNI in three tests for anxiety like behavior in B7-H1 ko and WT mice. Also, SNI had no effect on cognition. B7-H1 ko and WT mice showed a higher miR-21 expression (p < 0.05) and invasion of macrophages and T cells in the injured nerve 7 days after SNI without intergroup differences. Our study reveals that increased miR-21 expression in peripheral nerves after SNI is associated with reduced mechanical and heat withdrawal thresholds. These results point to a role of miR-21 in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain, while affective behavior and cognition seem to be spared. Contrary to expectations, B7-H1 ko mice did not show higher miR-21 expression than WT mice, thus, a B7-H1 knockout may be of limited relevance for the study of miR-21 related pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Karl
- Department of Neurology, University of WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
| | - Anne Grießhammer
- Department of Neurology, University of WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
| | - Nurcan Üçeyler
- Department of Neurology, University of WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Sommer
- Department of Neurology, University of WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
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Müller L, Weinert D. Individual recognition of social rank and social memory performance depends on a functional circadian system. Behav Processes 2016; 132:85-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Kapadia M, Xu J, Sakic B. The water maze paradigm in experimental studies of chronic cognitive disorders: Theory, protocols, analysis, and inference. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 68:195-217. [PMID: 27229758 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
An instrumental step in assessing the validity of animal models of chronic cognitive disorders is to document disease-related deficits in learning/memory capacity. The water maze (WM) is a popular paradigm because of its low cost, relatively simple protocol and short procedure time. Despite being broadly accepted as a spatial learning task, inference of generalized, bona fide "cognitive" dysfunction can be challenging because task accomplishment is also reliant on non-cognitive processes. We review theoretical background, testing procedures, confounding factors, as well as approaches to data analysis and interpretation. We also describe an extended protocol that has proven useful in detecting early performance deficits in murine models of neuropsychiatric lupus and Alzheimer's disease. Lastly, we highlight the need for standardization of inferential criteria on "cognitive" dysfunction in experimental rodents and exclusion of preparations of a limited scientific merit. A deeper appreciation for the multifactorial nature of performance in WM may also help to reveal other deficits that herald the onset of neurodegenerative brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minesh Kapadia
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Psychology Building Rm. 303, 1280 Main St., West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Josie Xu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Psychology Building Rm. 303, 1280 Main St., West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Boris Sakic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Psychology Building Rm. 303, 1280 Main St., West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
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Yang M, Lewis F, Foley G, Crawley JN. In tribute to Bob Blanchard: Divergent behavioral phenotypes of 16p11.2 deletion mice reared in same-genotype versus mixed-genotype cages. Physiol Behav 2016; 146:16-27. [PMID: 26066718 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Mouse models offer indispensable heuristic tools for studying genetic and environmental causes of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism. Development of useful animal models of complex human behaviors depends not only on extensive knowledge of the human disease, but also on a deep understanding of animal behavior and ethology. Robert and Caroline Blanchard pioneered a number of elegant social paradigms in rodents. Their early work led to systematic delineations of rodent naturalist defensive behaviors,which were proven to be highly useful models of human psychiatric disorders, including fear and anxiety. Their work using the Visible Burrow System to study social stress in rats represented an unprecedented approach to study biological mechanisms of depression. In recent years, their extensive knowledge of mouse behavior and ethology enabled them to quickly become leading figures in the field of behavioral genetics of autism. To commemorate Robert Blanchard's influences on animal models of human psychiatric disorders, here we describe a study conceptualized and led by Mu Yang who was trained as a graduate student in the Blanchard laboratory in the early 2000s. This investigation focuses on social housing in a genetic mouse model of 16p11.2 deletion syndrome. Heterozygous deletions and duplications of a segment containing about 29 genes on human chromosome 16 appear in approximately 0.5–1% of all cases of autism. 16p11.2 deletion syndrome is also associated with intellectual disabilities and speech impairments. Our previous studies showed that a mouse model of 16p11.2 deletion syndrome exhibited deficits in vocalizations and novel object recognition, as compared to wildtype littermate control cagemates. In the spirit of Bob Blanchard's careful attention to the role of social dominance in rodent behaviors, we became interested in the question of whether behavioral outcomes of a mutation differ when mutants are housed in mixed genotype cages, versus housing only mutants together in one group cage, and only wildtype littermates together in another group cage after weaning. 16p11.2 deletion presented a particularly good model organism to investigate this question, because the heterozygotes are smaller than their wildtype littermates, and may therefore become subordinate to their larger cagemates.Wildtype and heterozygotes were housed with cagemates of the same genotype (same-genotype cage) or with cagemates of the opposite genotype (mixed-genotype cage). Current results replicated social vocalization and object recognition deficits that we previously found in heterozygotes living in mixed-genotype cages. In contrast, heterozygotes that lived in same-genotype cages emitted normal numbers of vocalizations during male–female interactions, and displayed normal novel object recognition, indicating that the deletion per se was not sufficient to cause cognitive or social deficits. Social approach, same-sex social interaction, anxiety-related behavior, depression-related behavior, and open field exploration were not different between genotypes, and were not affected by housing in mixed versus in same-genotype cages. These findings suggest that elements of the home cage social environment could interact with genotype to impact aspects of disease phenotypes. Current findings are discussed as potentially reflecting behavioral deficits resulted from social stress, as inspired by a seminal paper by Bob and Caroline Blanchard [1].
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Gene therapy by proteasome activator, PA28γ, improves motor coordination and proteasome function in Huntington's disease YAC128 mice. Neuroscience 2016; 324:20-8. [PMID: 26944602 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.02.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is neurologically characterized by involuntary movements, associated with degeneration of the medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) and ubiquitin-positive neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NIIs). It has been reported that the proteolytic activities of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) are generally inhibited in HD patient's brain. We previously discovered that a proteasome activator (PA), PA28γ enhances proteasome activities and cell survival in in vitro HD model. In this study, we aimed to find whether PA28γ gene transfer improves the proteasome activities and pathological symptoms in in vivo HD model. We stereotaxically injected lenti-PA28γ virus into the striatum of mutant (MT) YAC128 HD mice and littermate (LM) controls at 14-18months of age, and validated their behavioral and biochemical changes at 12weeks after the injection. YAC128 mice showed a significant increase in their peptidyl-glutamyl preferring hydrolytic (PGPH) proteasome activity and the mRNA or protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and pro-BDNF after lenti-PA28γ injection. The number of ubiquitin-positive inclusion bodies was reduced in the striatum of YAC128 mice after lenti-PA28γ injection. YAC128 mice showed significant improvement of latency to fall on the rota-rod test after lenti-PA28γ injection. These data demonstrate that the gene therapy with PA, PA28γ can improve UPS function as well as behavioral abnormalities in HD model mice.
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Age-related changes in behavior in C57BL/6J mice from young adulthood to middle age. Mol Brain 2016; 9:11. [PMID: 26822304 PMCID: PMC4730600 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-016-0191-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 287] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aging is considered to be associated with progressive changes in the brain and its associated sensory, motor, and cognitive functions. A large number of studies comparing young and aged animals have reported differences in various behaviors between age-cohorts, indicating behavioral dysfunctions related to aging. However, relatively little is known about behavioral changes from young adulthood to middle age, and the effect of age on behavior during the early stages of life remains to be understood. In order to investigate age-related changes in the behaviors of mice from young adulthood to middle age, we performed a large-scale analysis of the behavioral data obtained from our behavioral test battery involving 1739 C57BL/6J wild-type mice at 2–12 months of age. Results Significant behavioral differences between age groups (2–3-, 4–5-, 6–7-, and 8–12-month-old groups) were found in all the behavioral tests, including the light/dark transition, open field, elevated plus maze, rotarod, social interaction, prepulse inhibition, Porsolt forced swim, tail suspension, Barnes maze, and fear conditioning tests, except for the hot plate test. Compared with the 2–3-month-old group, the 4–5- and 6–7-month-old groups exhibited decreased locomotor activity to novel environments, motor function, acoustic startle response, social behavior, and depression-related behavior, increased prepulse inhibition, and deficits in spatial and cued fear memory. For most behaviors, the 8–12-month-old group showed similar but more pronounced changes in most of these behaviors compared with the younger age groups. Older groups exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior in the light/dark transition test whereas those groups showed seemingly decreased anxiety-like behavior measured by the elevated plus maze test. Conclusions The large-scale analysis of behavioral data from our battery of behavioral tests indicated age-related changes in a wide range of behaviors from young adulthood to middle age in C57BL/6J mice, though these results might have been influenced by possible confounding factors such as the time of day at testing and prior test experience. Our results also indicate that relatively narrow age differences can produce significant behavioral differences during adulthood in mice. These findings provide an insight into our understanding of the neurobiological processes underlying brain function and behavior that are subject to age-related changes in early to middle life. The findings also indicate that age is one of the critical factors to be carefully considered when designing behavioral tests and interpreting behavioral differences that might be induced by experimental manipulations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13041-016-0191-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Petzold A, Psotta L, Brigadski T, Endres T, Lessmann V. Chronic BDNF deficiency leads to an age-dependent impairment in spatial learning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2015; 120:52-60. [PMID: 25724412 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2015.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a crucial mediator of neural plasticity and, consequently, of memory formation. In hippocampus-dependent learning tasks BDNF also seems to play an essential role. However, there are conflicting results concerning the spatial learning ability of aging BDNF(+/-) mice in the Morris water maze paradigm. To evaluate the effect of chronic BDNF deficiency in the hippocampus on spatial learning throughout life, we conducted a comprehensive study to test differently aged BDNF(+/-) mice and their wild type littermates in the Morris water maze and to subsequently quantify their hippocampal BDNF protein levels as well as expression levels of TrkB receptors. We observed an age-dependent learning deficit in BDNF(+/-) animals, starting at seven months of age, despite stable hippocampal BDNF protein expression and continual decline of TrkB receptor expression throughout aging. Furthermore, we detected a positive correlation between hippocampal BDNF protein levels and learning performance during the probe trial in animals that showed a good learning performance during the long-term memory test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Petzold
- Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Laura Psotta
- Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tanja Brigadski
- Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Endres
- Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Volkmar Lessmann
- Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
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25
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Prenderville JA, Kennedy PJ, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Adding fuel to the fire: the impact of stress on the ageing brain. Trends Neurosci 2015; 38:13-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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26
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Comim CM, Silva NC, Mina F, Dominguini D, Scaini G, Morais MO, Rosa DV, Magno LAV, Streck EL, Romano-Silva MA, Quevedo J, Dal-Pizzol F. Evaluation of NCS-1, DARPP-32, and neurotrophins in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in rats submitted to sepsis. Synapse 2014; 68:474-9. [DOI: 10.1002/syn.21760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa M. Comim
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Experimental Neurosciences, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of South Santa Catarina; Palhoça Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Napoleão C. Silva
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Francielle Mina
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Diogo Dominguini
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Giselli Scaini
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Experimental Physiopathology, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Meline O.S. Morais
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Experimental Physiopathology, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Daniela V. Rosa
- Laboratory of Neurosciences; Department of Mental Health; Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais; 30130-100 Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Luiz Alexandre V. Magno
- Laboratory of Neurosciences; Department of Mental Health; Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais; 30130-100 Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Emilio L. Streck
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Experimental Physiopathology, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Marco A. Romano-Silva
- Laboratory of Neurosciences; Department of Mental Health; Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais; 30130-100 Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - João Quevedo
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
- Center for Experimental Models in Psychiatry; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston; Houston Texas
| | - Felipe Dal-Pizzol
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences; Laboratory of Experimental Physiopathology, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina; Criciúma Santa Catarina Brazil
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Kim W, Seo H. Baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, enhances ubiquitin-proteasome system functioning and neuronal survival in Huntington’s disease model mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 443:706-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 12/05/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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28
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The p66Shc gene paves the way for healthspan: Evolutionary and mechanistic perspectives. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:790-802. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2012] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Kokhan VS, Van'kin GI, Bachurin SO, Shamakina IY. Differential involvement of the gamma-synuclein in cognitive abilities on the model of knockout mice. BMC Neurosci 2013; 14:53. [PMID: 23672583 PMCID: PMC3659041 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gamma-synuclein is a member of the synuclein family of cytoplasmic, predominantly neuron-specific proteins. Despite numerous evidences for the importance of gamma-synuclein in the control of monoamine homeostasis, cytoskeleton reorganization and chaperone activity, its role in the regulation of cognitive behavior still remain unknown. Our previous study revealed that gamma-synuclein knockout mice are characterized by high habituation scores. Since a number of processes including spatial memory of the environment may affect habituation, in the present study we have carried out behavioral evaluation of spatial and working memory in gamma-synuclein knockout mice. Results Inactivation of gamma-synuclein gene led to the improvement of working memory in mice as revealed by passive and active avoidance tests. At the same time behavioral tests, designed to assess spatial learning and memory (Morris water maze and Object location tests), showed no differences between gamma-synuclein knockouts and wild type mice. Conclusions These findings indicate that young mice with targeted inactivation of gamma-synuclein gene have improved working memory, but not spatial learning and memory. Our results suggest that gamma-synuclein is directly involved in the regulation of cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor S Kokhan
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds RAS, Chernogolovka, Russia.
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30
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Comim CM, Mendonça BP, Dominguini D, Cipriano AL, Steckert AV, Scaini G, Vainzof M, Streck EL, Dal-Pizzol F, Quevedo J. Central nervous system involvement in the animal model of myodystrophy. Mol Neurobiol 2013; 48:71-7. [PMID: 23508358 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8415-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Congenital muscular dystrophies present mutated gene in the LARGE mice model and it is characterized by an abnormal glycosylation of α-dystroglycan (α-DG), strongly implicated as having a causative role in the development of central nervous system abnormalities such as cognitive impairment seen in patients. However, the pathophysiology of the brain involvement remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the oxidative damage and energetic metabolism in the brain tissue as well as cognitive involvement in the LARGE((myd)) mice model of muscular dystrophy. With this aim, we used adult homozygous, heterozygous, and wild-type mice that were divided into two groups: behavior and biochemical analyses. In summary, it was observed that homozygous mice presented impairment to the habituation and avoidance memory tasks; low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum; increased lipid peroxidation in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum; an increase of protein peroxidation in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum, and cortex; a decrease of complex I activity in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum; a decrease of complex II activity in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum; a decrease of complex IV activity in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum; an increase in the cortex; and an increase of creatine kinase activity in the striatum and cerebellum. This study shows the first evidence that abnormal glycosylation of α-DG may be affecting BDNF levels, oxidative particles, and energetic metabolism thus contributing to the memory storage and restoring process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa M Comim
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurosciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, 88137-270, Palhoca, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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31
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Fares RP, Belmeguenai A, Sanchez PE, Kouchi HY, Bodennec J, Morales A, Georges B, Bonnet C, Bouvard S, Sloviter RS, Bezin L. Standardized environmental enrichment supports enhanced brain plasticity in healthy rats and prevents cognitive impairment in epileptic rats. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53888. [PMID: 23342033 PMCID: PMC3544705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment of laboratory animals influences brain plasticity, stimulates neurogenesis, increases neurotrophic factor expression, and protects against the effects of brain insult. However, these positive effects are not constantly observed, probably because standardized procedures of environmental enrichment are lacking. Therefore, we engineered an enriched cage (the Marlau™ cage), which offers: (1) minimally stressful social interactions; (2) increased voluntary exercise; (3) multiple entertaining activities; (4) cognitive stimulation (maze exploration), and (5) novelty (maze configuration changed three times a week). The maze, which separates food pellet and water bottle compartments, guarantees cognitive stimulation for all animals. Compared to rats raised in groups in conventional cages, rats housed in Marlau™ cages exhibited increased cortical thickness, hippocampal neurogenesis and hippocampal levels of transcripts encoding various genes involved in tissue plasticity and remodeling. In addition, rats housed in Marlau™ cages exhibited better performances in learning and memory, decreased anxiety-associated behaviors, and better recovery of basal plasma corticosterone level after acute restraint stress. Marlau™ cages also insure inter-experiment reproducibility in spatial learning and brain gene expression assays. Finally, housing rats in Marlau™ cages after severe status epilepticus at weaning prevents the cognitive impairment observed in rats subjected to the same insult and then housed in conventional cages. By providing a standardized enriched environment for rodents during housing, the Marlau™ cage should facilitate the uniformity of environmental enrichment across laboratories.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptation, Psychological/physiology
- Animals
- Anxiety/complications
- Body Weight
- Brain/cytology
- Brain/pathology
- Brain/physiology
- Brain/physiopathology
- CA1 Region, Hippocampal/cytology
- CA1 Region, Hippocampal/pathology
- CA1 Region, Hippocampal/physiology
- CA1 Region, Hippocampal/physiopathology
- Cognition
- Eating
- Exploratory Behavior/physiology
- Health
- Housing, Animal/standards
- Lipid Metabolism
- Male
- Neurogenesis/genetics
- Neuronal Plasticity
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats
- Reference Standards
- Reproducibility of Results
- Restraint, Physical/psychology
- Status Epilepticus/pathology
- Status Epilepticus/physiopathology
- Status Epilepticus/psychology
- Stress, Psychological/complications
- Stress, Psychological/pathology
- Stress, Psychological/physiopathology
- Synapses/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Raafat P. Fares
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
- IRBA, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Amor Belmeguenai
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Pascal E. Sanchez
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Hayet Y. Kouchi
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Jacques Bodennec
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Anne Morales
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Béatrice Georges
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Chantal Bonnet
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Sandrine Bouvard
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
| | - Robert S. Sloviter
- Department of Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Laurent Bezin
- Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Inserm, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1028, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Tiger Team, Lyon, France
- IDÉE, Institut Des ÉpilepsiEs, Lyon, France
- * E-mail:
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Endres T, Lessmann V. Age-dependent deficits in fear learning in heterozygous BDNF knock-out mice. Learn Mem 2012; 19:561-70. [DOI: 10.1101/lm.028068.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Foster TC, Defazio RA, Bizon JL. Characterizing cognitive aging of spatial and contextual memory in animal models. Front Aging Neurosci 2012; 4:12. [PMID: 22988436 PMCID: PMC3439636 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2012.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Episodic memory, especially memory for contextual or spatial information, is particularly vulnerable to age-related decline in humans and animal models of aging. The continuing improvement of virtual environment technology for testing humans signifies that widely used procedures employed in the animal literature for examining spatial memory could be developed for examining age-related cognitive decline in humans. The current review examines cross species considerations for implementing these tasks and translating findings across different levels of analysis. The specificity of brain systems as well as gaps in linking human and animal laboratory models is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
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34
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Effects of experimental cerebral malaria in memory, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and acetylcholinesterase acitivity in the hippocampus of survivor mice. Neurosci Lett 2012; 523:104-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2012.06.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Revised: 05/07/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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35
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Colas-Zelin D, Light KR, Kolata S, Wass C, Denman-Brice A, Rios C, Szalk K, Matzel LD. The imposition of, but not the propensity for, social subordination impairs exploratory behaviors and general cognitive abilities. Behav Brain Res 2012; 232:294-305. [PMID: 22531312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Imposed social subordination, such as that which accompanies physical defeat or alienation, has been associated with impaired cognitive function in both human and non-human animals. Here we examined whether domain-specific and/or domain-general learning abilities (c.f. general intelligence) are differentially influenced by the imposition of social subordination. Furthermore, we assessed whether the impact of subordination on cognitive abilities was the result of imposed subordination per se, or if it reflected deficits intrinsically expressed in subjects that are predisposed to subordination. Subordinate and dominant behaviors were assessed in two groups of CD-1 male mice. In one group (Imposed Stratification), social stratification was imposed (through persistent physical defeat in a colonized setting) prior to the determination of cognitive abilities, while in the second group (Innate Stratification), an assessment of social stratification was made after cognitive abilities had been quantified. Domain-specific learning abilities were measured as performance on individual learning tasks (odor discrimination, fear conditioning, spatial maze learning, passive avoidance, and egocentric navigation) while domain-general learning abilities were determined by subjects' aggregate performance across the battery of learning tasks. We observed that the imposition of subordination prior to cognitive testing decreased exploratory tendencies, moderately impaired performance on individual learning tasks, and severely impaired general cognitive performance. However, similar impairments were not observed in subjects with a predisposition toward a subordinate phenotype (but which had not experienced physical defeat at the time of cognitive testing). Mere colonization, regardless of outcome (i.e., stratification), was associated with an increase in stress-induced serum corticosterone (CORT) levels, and thus CORT elevations were not themselves adequate to explain the effects of imposed stratification on cognitive abilities. These findings indicate that absent the imposition of subordination, individuals with subordinate tendencies do not express learning impairments. This observation could have important ramifications for individuals in environments where social stratification is prevalent (e.g., schools or workplace settings).
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Colas-Zelin
- Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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36
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Dong Z, Fu A. Prevention of age-related memory deficit in transgenic mice by human choline acetyltransferase. Eur J Pharmacol 2012; 683:174-8. [PMID: 22449376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2011] [Revised: 03/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT, acetylCoA:choline O-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.6) is the biosynthetic enzyme of neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Here we showed for the first time that transgenic mice with human ChAT kept excellent learning and memory ability during aging process. Transgenic mice were prepared through microinjection of human ChAT into mouse fertilized eggs, and PCR reaction was used to screen out the transgenic mice. The results of measurements of ChAT activity and acetylcholine level in mouse brain indicated that human ChAT gene was expressed throughout the life of the transgenic mice. The results of step-through test and water maze test suggested that learning and memory ability was improved in transgenic mice compared to that of their age-matched littermates. The results support our idea that supplement of ChAT might serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for cognitive deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Dong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu 610083, China
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37
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Foster TC. Dissecting the age-related decline on spatial learning and memory tasks in rodent models: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in senescent synaptic plasticity. Prog Neurobiol 2012; 96:283-303. [PMID: 22307057 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Revised: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 01/19/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
In humans, heterogeneity in the decline of hippocampal-dependent episodic memory is observed during aging. Rodents have been employed as models of age-related cognitive decline and the spatial water maze has been used to show variability in the emergence and extent of impaired hippocampal-dependent memory. Impairment in the consolidation of intermediate-term memory for rapidly acquired and flexible spatial information emerges early, in middle-age. As aging proceeds, deficits may broaden to include impaired incremental learning of a spatial reference memory. The extent and time course of impairment has been be linked to senescence of calcium (Ca²⁺) regulation and Ca²⁺-dependent synaptic plasticity mechanisms in region CA1. Specifically, aging is associated with altered function of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), and ryanodine receptors (RyRs) linked to intracellular Ca²⁺ stores (ICS). In young animals, NMDAR activation induces long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission (NMDAR-LTP), which is thought to mediate the rapid consolidation of intermediate-term memory. Oxidative stress, starting in middle-age, reduces NMDAR function. In addition, VDCCs and ICS can actively inhibit NMDAR-dependent LTP and oxidative stress enhances the role of VDCC and RyR-ICS in regulating synaptic plasticity. Blockade of L-type VDCCs promotes NMDAR-LTP and memory in older animals. Interestingly, pharmacological or genetic manipulations to reduce hippocampal NMDAR function readily impair memory consolidation or rapid learning, generally leaving incremental learning intact. Finally, evidence is mounting to indicate a role for VDCC-dependent synaptic plasticity in associative learning and the consolidation of remote memories. Thus, VDCC-dependent synaptic plasticity and extrahippocampal systems may contribute to incremental learning deficits observed with advanced aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 100244, Gainesville, FL 32610-0244, USA. ,
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Stefanova NA, Fursova AZ, Sarsenbaev KN, Kolosova NG. Effects of Cistanche deserticola on behavior and signs of cataract and retinopathy in senescence-accelerated OXYS rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2011; 138:624-32. [PMID: 22020276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 10/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Cistanche deserticola (СD) has been traditionally used in the Chinese medicine as a tonic, vasodilator and neuroprotective agent. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the effect of CD on the age-related behavior decline and cataract and retinopathy development in senescent accelerated OXYS rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS OXYS and Wistar (control) rats were supplemented with 15 mg CD on kg of body weight during 2 months from the age of 12 months. Behavioral responses of animals were assessed in the elevated plus-maze (EPM), open field (OF) and in a Morris water maze (MWM). Before and after CD treatment OXYS rats were examined by an ophthalmologist. RESULTS 14-month-old OXYS rats had demonstrated considerably reduced activities in OF, increased anxiety in EPM, and manifestly impaired learning abilities in the MWM as compared to Wistar rats. Supplementation of CD had no effect on motor and exploratory activity of Wistar and OXYS rats in the OF, but it reduced their anxiety in the EPM compared to age-matched controls. CD significantly improved visual ability of the rats, reducing the severity of the developed signs of retinopathy and cataract while having no impact on OXYS rats' spatial memory in the MWM. CD-treated Wistar rats exhibited slower learning ability in the MWM task comparison to the control group. The effect of CD on the learning ability in OXYS and Wistar rats may be associated with differences in their redox homeostasis. CONCLUSION All in all, the findings suggest that CD improves the age-related behavioral decline, which makes it an attractive candidate for treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders. Primarily it demonstrated its ability to slow development and to reduce to some extent severity of pathological manifestations of cataract and retinopathy in OXYS rats, which makes it an attractive candidate for treatment of age-related eye diseases too.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia A Stefanova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Acad. Lavrentjev 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
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Vandesquille M, Krazem A, Louis C, Lestage P, Béracochéa D. S 18986 reverses spatial working memory impairments in aged mice: comparison with memantine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 215:709-20. [PMID: 21274701 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2168-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Normal or pathological ageing is characterized by working-memory dysfunction paired with a marked reduction in several neurotransmitters activity. The development of therapeutic strategy centered on the glutamatergic system known to bear a critical role in cognitive functions, is therefore of major importance in the treatment of mild forms of AD or age-related memory dysfunctions. OBJECTIVES In Experiment 1, we investigated the effects of ageing on spatial working memory measured by sequential alternation (SA). Thus, the decay of alternation rates over a series of trials separated by varying intertrial temporal intervals (ITI, from 5 sec to 180 sec) was studied in mice of different age groups. In Experiment 2, we investigated the memory-enhancing potential of S 18986--a modulator of AMPA receptors--on age-related SA impairments, in comparison with memantine--an antagonist of NMDA receptors--. RESULTS In Experiment 1, aged mice responded at chance with shorter ITI's and exhibited greater levels of interference in the SA task as compared to young adult mice. In Experiment 2, (1) S 18986 at 0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg reversed the memory deficit in aged mice but did not modify performance in young adult mice; (2) memantine at 10 mg/kg also increased SA rates in aged mice but did not improve performance in young adult mice. CONCLUSION The SA task is a useful tool to reveal age-induced time-dependent working memory impairments. As compared to memantine, S 18986--a compound targeting AMPA receptors--contributes a valuable therapy in the treatment of age-related cognitive dysfunctions or mild forms of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Vandesquille
- Institut de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cognitives d'Aquitaine, Universités de Bordeaux, IMR CNRS 5287, Avenue des Facultés, 33405, Talence, France
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Kennard JA, Woodruff-Pak DS. Age sensitivity of behavioral tests and brain substrates of normal aging in mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2011; 3:9. [PMID: 21647305 PMCID: PMC3103996 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2011.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Accepted: 05/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of age sensitivity, the capacity of a behavioral test to reliably detect age-related changes, has utility in the design of experiments to elucidate processes of normal aging. We review the application of these tests in studies of normal aging and compare and contrast the age sensitivity of the Barnes maze, eyeblink classical conditioning, fear conditioning, Morris water maze, and rotorod. These tests have all been implemented to assess normal age-related changes in learning and memory in rodents, which generalize in many cases to age-related changes in learning and memory in all mammals, including humans. Behavioral assessments are a valuable means to measure functional outcomes of neuroscientific studies of aging. Highlighted in this review are the attributes and limitations of these measures in mice in the context of age sensitivity and processes of brain aging. Attributes of these tests include reliability and validity as assessments of learning and memory, well-defined neural substrates, and sensitivity to neural and pharmacological manipulations and disruptions. These tests engage the hippocampus and/or the cerebellum, two structures centrally involved in learning and memory that undergo functional and anatomical changes in normal aging. A test that is less well represented in studies of normal aging, the context pre-exposure facilitation effect (CPFE) in fear conditioning, is described as a method to increase sensitivity of contextual fear conditioning to changes in the hippocampus. Recommendations for increasing the age sensitivity of all measures of normal aging in mice are included, as well as a discussion of the potential of the under-studied CPFE to advance understanding of subtle hippocampus-mediated phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A. Kennard
- Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Neuroscience Program and Department of Psychology, Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Diana S. Woodruff-Pak
- Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Neuroscience Program and Department of Psychology, Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, USA
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Bernard K, Danober L, Thomas JY, Lebrun C, Muñoz C, Cordi A, Desos P, Lestage P, Morain P. DRUG FOCUS: S 18986: A positive allosteric modulator of AMPA-type glutamate receptors pharmacological profile of a novel cognitive enhancer. CNS Neurosci Ther 2011; 16:e193-212. [PMID: 21050420 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2009.00088.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) type glutamate receptors are critical for synaptic plasticity and induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), considered as one of the synaptic mechanisms underlying learning and memory. Positive allosteric modulators of AMPA receptors could provide a therapeutic approach to the treatment of cognitive disorders resulting from aging and/or neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease (AD). Several AMPA potentiators have been described in the last decade, but for the moment their clinical efficacy has not been demonstrated due to the complexity of the target, AMPA receptors, and the difficulty in studying cognition in animals and humans. A better understanding of the mechanism of action of this type of drug remains an important issue, if knowledge of these compounds is to be increased and if this novel therapeutic approach is to be an interesting research area. Among the AMPA potentiators, S 18986 is emerging as a new selective positive allosteric modulator of AMPA-type glutamate receptors. S 18986, as with other positive AMPA receptor modulators, increased induction and maintenance of LTP in the hippocampus as well as the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) both in vitro and in vivo. Its cognitive-enhancing properties have been demonstrated in various behavioral models (procedural, spatial, "episodic," working, and relational/declarative memory) in young-adult and aged rodents. It is interesting to note that memory-enhancing effects appeared more robust in middle-aged animals compared with aged ones and in "episodic" and spatial memory tasks. From these results, S 18986 is expected to treat memory deficits associated with early cerebral aging and neurological diseases in elderly people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy Bernard
- Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Courbevoie, France.
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Sharma S, Rakoczy S, Brown-Borg H. Assessment of spatial memory in mice. Life Sci 2010; 87:521-36. [PMID: 20837032 PMCID: PMC6457258 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2010.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2010] [Revised: 08/09/2010] [Accepted: 09/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Improvements in health care have greatly increased life span in the United States. The focus is now shifting from physical well-being to improvement in mental well-being or maintenance of cognitive function in old age. It is known that elderly people suffer from cognitive impairment, even without neurodegeneration, as a part of 'normal aging'. This 'age-associated memory impairment' (AAMI), can have a devastating impact on the social and economic life of an individual as well as the society. Scientists have been experimenting to find methods to prevent the memory loss associated with aging. The major factor involved in these experiments is the use of animal models to assess hippocampal-based spatial memory. This review describes the different types of memory including hippocampal-based memory that is vulnerable to aging. A detailed overview of various behavioral paradigms used to assess spatial memory including the T-maze, radial maze, Morris water maze, Barnes maze and others is presented. The review also describes the molecular basis of memory in hippocampus called as 'long-term potentiation'. The advantages and limitations of the behavioral models in assessing memory and the link to the long-term potentiation are discussed. This review should assist investigators in choosing suitable methods to assess spatial memory in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunita Sharma
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Grand Forks, ND 58203, United States
| | - Sharlene Rakoczy
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Grand Forks, ND 58203, United States
| | - Holly Brown-Borg
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Grand Forks, ND 58203, United States
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Berry A, Aloe L, Rossi S, Bonsignore LT, Capone F, Alleva E, Cirulli F. Conjunctivally administered NGF antibody reduces pain sensitivity and anxiety-like behavioral responses in aged female mice. Behav Brain Res 2010; 210:284-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2010] [Revised: 02/11/2010] [Accepted: 02/19/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Barichello T, Belarmino E, Comim CM, Cipriano AL, Generoso JS, Savi GD, Stertz L, Kapczinski F, Quevedo J. Correlation between behavioral deficits and decreased brain-derived neurotrofic factor in neonatal meningitis. J Neuroimmunol 2010; 223:73-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2010] [Revised: 04/08/2010] [Accepted: 04/09/2010] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Abstract
The age of an experimental animal can be a critical variable, yet age matters are often overlooked within neuroscience. Many studies make use of young animals, without considering possible differences between immature and mature subjects. This is especially problematic when attempting to model traits or diseases that do not emerge until adulthood. In this commentary we discuss the reasons for this apparent bias in age of experimental animals, and illustrate the problem with a systematic review of published articles on long-term potentiation. Additionally, we review the developmental stages of a rat and discuss the difficulty of using the weight of an animal as a predictor of its age. Finally, we provide original data from our laboratory and review published data to emphasize that development is an ongoing process that does not end with puberty. Developmental changes can be quantitative in nature, involving gradual changes, rapid switches, or inverted U-shaped curves. Changes can also be qualitative. Thus, phenomena that appear to be unitary may be governed by different mechanisms at different ages. We conclude that selection of the age of the animals may be critically important in the design and interpretation of neurobiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Edgar McCutcheon
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, The Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
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Baier PC, May U, Scheller J, Rose-John S, Schiffelholz T. Impaired hippocampus-dependent and -independent learning in IL-6 deficient mice. Behav Brain Res 2009; 200:192-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Gong P, Zheng A, Chen D, Ge W, Lv C, Zhang K, Gao X, Zhang F. Effect of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on digital working memory and spatial localization in a healthy Chinese Han population. J Mol Neurosci 2009; 38:250-6. [PMID: 19424874 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-009-9205-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2009] [Accepted: 04/13/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive abilities are complex human traits influenced by genetic factors. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a unique polypeptide growth factor, has an influence on the differentiation and survival of neurons in the nervous system. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs6265) in the human gene, resulting in a valine to methionine substitution in the pro-BDNF protein, was thought to associate with psychiatric disorders and might play roles in the individual difference of cognitive abilities. However, the specific roles of the gene in cognition remain unclear. To investigate the relationships between the substitution and cognitive abilities, a healthy population-based study and the PCR-SSCP method were performed. The results showed the substitution was associated with digital working memory (p = 0.02) and spatial localization (p = 0.03), but not with inhibition, shifting, updating, visuo-spatial working memory, long-term memory, and others (p > 0.05) among the compared genotype groups analyzed by general linear model. On the other hand, the participants with BDNF (GG) had higher average performance in digital working memory and spatial localization than the ones with BDNF (AA). The findings of the present work implied that the variation in BDNF might play positive roles in human digital working memory and spatial localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingyuan Gong
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), Institute of Population & Health, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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Mechan AO, Wyss A, Rieger H, Mohajeri MH. A comparison of learning and memory characteristics of young and middle-aged wild-type mice in the IntelliCage. J Neurosci Methods 2009; 180:43-51. [PMID: 19427528 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2008] [Revised: 02/13/2009] [Accepted: 02/24/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We have tested the cognitive abilities of young (2.5 months) and middle-aged (14 months) wild-type C57Bl/6J mice in the IntelliCage, which enables automated monitoring of spontaneous and learning behaviour in a homecage-like environment. No differences were observed either in circadian activity or in performance in the novelty-induced exploration test, but middle-aged mice exhibited decreased exploratory activity overall. In the place learning test module, when mice were free to explore all corners without any negative reinforcement, young mice tended not to learn the task and performed less effectively than the middle-aged group. However, when an air-puff was administered as negative reinforcement following visits to an incorrect corner, young mice learned the task significantly better than middle-aged mice throughout the test period. Our data show that, in freely moving mice, the motivational cues for learning and retrieval of memory are age-dependent and dramatically influence learning and memory performance. Furthermore, the data reported here represent a step towards optimised cognitive test protocols when comparing young and middle-aged mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annis O Mechan
- DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., R&D Human Nutrition and Health, P.O. Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Selective 5-HT6 receptor blockade improves spatial recognition memory and reverses age-related deficits in spatial recognition memory in the mouse. Neuropsychopharmacology 2009; 34:488-500. [PMID: 18596685 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2008.94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Studies have recently suggested that blockade of 5-HT6 receptors (5-HT6R) improves memory processes. As episodic memory alteration is one of the first deficits observed during normal aging and in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders (Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia), the present study sought to characterize the effects of 5-HT6R blockade on spatial recognition memory, which can be considered as 'episodic-like' memory, in rodents. We quantified the effects of the selective 5-HT6R antagonist SB-271046 (10 mg/kg, i.p.), using the two-trial place recognition task in the Y-maze, on acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of spatial recognition memory in young adult mice (6-week-old; intertrial intervals (ITIs) 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min) and on the consolidation of spatial recognition memory in aged mice (3-, 12-, 18-, and 21-month-old; ITI 60 and 240 min). SB-271046-treated young adult mice explored the new arm more after a 240-min (pre-acquisition) and 360-min (post-acquisition) ITI, whereas vehicle-treated animals failed to discriminate the new arm when the ITI exceeded 120 min (pre-acquisition) or 240 min (post-acquisition). Aged mice, which expressed spatial memory deficits, explored the new arm more after a 60-min ITI (21-month-old) and a 240-min ITI (18- and 21-month-old) when treated with SB-271046. Consequently, 5-HT6R blockade improves spatial recognition memory in adult mice and reverses age-related consolidation deficits of episodic-like memory. This study provides further support for the use of 5-HT6R antagonists in the treatment of episodic memory disorders related to aging as well as neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
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Lewis MC, Orr PT, Frick KM. Differential effects of acute progesterone administration on spatial and object memory in middle-aged and aged female C57BL/6 mice. Horm Behav 2008; 54:455-62. [PMID: 18585714 PMCID: PMC2586174 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2008] [Revised: 05/13/2008] [Accepted: 05/15/2008] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined the effects of acute progesterone administration on hippocampal-dependent memory consolidation in ovariectomized middle-aged (16 months old) and aged (22 months old) female mice. Spatial memory was tested in a 2-day Morris water-maze task and object memory was tested using an object recognition task with 24- and 48-h delays. Immediately after water-maze training, mice received i.p. injections of vehicle, or 5.0, 10.0, or 20.0 mg/kg of water-soluble progesterone. Twenty-four hours later, retention of the platform location was tested. No overnight forgetting of the platform location was observed in middle-aged vehicle-treated mice. Acute progesterone administration had no effect on spatial memory in middle-aged mice. However, aged vehicle-treated mice demonstrated impaired memory for the platform location on Day 2 relative to Day 1. Twenty mg/kg, but not 5 or 10 mg/kg, progesterone reversed these deficits, suggesting that 20 mg/kg progesterone can improve spatial memory in aged females. In the object recognition task, mice explored two identical objects and then immediately received vehicle or progesterone injections. In middle-aged mice, 10 and 20 mg/kg progesterone enhanced object memory consolidation, relative to chance, after 24-h, but all doses were ineffective after 48-h. In aged mice, 10 mg/kg progesterone enhanced object memory consolidation, relative to chance, after 24 h, whereas both 5 and 10 mg/kg progesterone enhanced memory after 48 h. Together, these results indicate that acute progesterone differentially enhances hippocampal-dependent memory in middle-aged and aged females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick T. Orr
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Karyn M. Frick
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
- Corresponding Author: Karyn M Frick Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Yale University, 2 Hillhouse Ave. Rm. 106, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-432-4673, E-mail:
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