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Inui K, Takeuchi N, Borgil B, Shingaki M, Sugiyama S, Taniguchi T, Nishihara M, Watanabe T, Suzuki D, Motomura E, Kida T. Age and sex effects on paired-pulse suppression and prepulse inhibition of auditory evoked potentials. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1378619. [PMID: 38655109 PMCID: PMC11035799 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1378619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Responses to a sensory stimulus are inhibited by a preceding stimulus; if the two stimuli are identical, paired-pulse suppression (PPS) occurs; if the preceding stimulus is too weak to reliably elicit the target response, prepulse inhibition (PPI) occurs. PPS and PPI represent excitability changes in neural circuits induced by the first stimulus, but involve different mechanisms and are impaired in different diseases, e.g., impaired PPS in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease and impaired PPI in schizophrenia and movement disorders. Therefore, these measures provide information on several inhibitory mechanisms that may have roles in clinical conditions. In the present study, PPS and PPI of the auditory change-related cortical response were examined to establish normative data on healthy subjects (35 females and 32 males, aged 19-70 years). We also investigated the effects of age and sex on PPS and PPI to clarify whether these variables need to be considered as biases. The test response was elicited by an abrupt increase in sound pressure in a continuous sound and was recorded by electroencephalography. In the PPS experiment, the two change stimuli to elicit the cortical response were a 15-dB increase from the background of 65 dB separated by 600 ms. In the PPI experiment, the prepulse and test stimuli were 2- and 10-dB increases, respectively, with an interval of 50 ms. The results obtained showed that sex exerted similar effects on the two measures, with females having stronger test responses and weaker inhibition. On the other hand, age exerted different effects: aging correlated with stronger test responses and weaker inhibition in the PPS experiment, but had no effects in the PPI experiment. The present results suggest age and sex biases in addition to normative data on PPS and PPI of auditory change-related potentials. PPS and PPI, as well as other similar paradigms, such as P50 gating, may have different and common mechanisms. Collectively, they may provide insights into the pathophysiologies of diseases with impaired inhibitory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Inui
- Department of Functioning and Disability, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Kasugai, Japan
- Section of Brain Function Information, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | | | - Bayasgalan Borgil
- Department of Functioning and Disability, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Kasugai, Japan
| | - Megumi Shingaki
- Department of Functioning and Disability, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Kasugai, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Sugiyama
- Department of Psychiatry, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tomoya Taniguchi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Makoto Nishihara
- Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Takayasu Watanabe
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Mie University Hospital, Tsu, Japan
| | - Dai Suzuki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Eishi Motomura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Kida
- Department of Functioning and Disability, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Kasugai, Japan
- Section of Brain Function Information, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
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Fattore L, Pisanu A, Concas L, Casula C, Siddi C, Pisu MG, Serra M, Concas A, Porcu P. Behavioral characterization of co-exposure to cannabinoids and hormonal contraceptives in female rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 129:110890. [PMID: 37926338 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110890] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Hormonal contraceptives are among the most widely used drugs by young healthy women to block ovulation and avoid pregnancy. They reduce the ovarian secretion of estradiol and progesterone, hormones that also modulate neuronal plasticity, cognitive functions, emotions and mood. Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide and its use is increasing among young women, many of which regularly take the "pill". Despite evidence of a bidirectional interaction between the endocannabinoid system and gonadal hormones, only very few studies have examined the consequences of cannabis consumption in young females under hormonal contraceptives treatment. To fill this gap, this study evaluated the behavioral effects of co-exposure to chronic 1) hormonal contraceptives, i.e., ethinyl estradiol (EE) plus levonorgestrel (LNG), one of the synthetic estrogen-progestin combinations of hormonal contraceptives, and 2) cannabinoid receptor agonist, i.e., WIN 55,212-2 (WIN), on motor activity, emotional state and cognitive functions in young adult female rats (8-11/experimental group). Hormonal and cannabinoid treatment started at post-natal day (PND) 52 and 56, respectively, while behavioral testing occurred between PND 84-95. The results show that chronic EE-LNG treatment, at doses (0.020 and 0.060 mg/rat, respectively) known to drastically reduce plasma progesterone levels, and the contextual exposure to WIN, at a dose (12.5 μg/kg/infusion) known to be rewarding in the rat, alters the hormonal milieu but does not cause further changes in locomotor activity compared to EE-LNG or WIN alone, and does not modify anxiety-like state (as measured by the elevated plus maze and the marble burying tests) and cognitive abilities (as measured by the novel object recognition and the prepulse inhibition tests) in young adult female rats. Although exposure to EE-LNG and WIN tends to increase the duration of immobility and to reduce the time spent swimming in the forced swimming test, there was not a significant additive effect suggestive of a depressive-like state. These findings allow deepening the current knowledge on the interaction between cannabinoid agonists and hormonal contraceptives and suggest that low, rewarding doses of cannabinoids do not significantly alter the motor and cognitive skills and do not induce anxiety or depressive-like states in females that use hormonal contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana Fattore
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luca Concas
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | - Claudia Casula
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | - Carlotta Siddi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Mariangela Serra
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Concas
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Porcu
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy.
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van den Buuse M, Jaehne EJ. Testing Prepulse Inhibition of Acoustic Startle in Rodents. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2746:121-133. [PMID: 38070085 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3585-8_10] [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] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a measure of sensorimotor gating which is widely used in rodents to study information processing and attention dysfunction. PPI is commonly measured in rats and mice using automated equipment. Here, we present details of a PPI testing protocol extensively used in previous studies. The protocol includes a set pulse-alone startle level and prepulse-pulse combinations with varying interval and intensity. Variations of this protocol can be used depending on the experimental aim or equipment and software version.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Emily J Jaehne
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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de Oliveira YG, Poltronieri BC, Woodruff E, da Costa BF, Panizzutti RA. Age-related changes in prepulse inhibition of the startle response. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1145783. [PMID: 37124271 PMCID: PMC10133574 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1145783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Acoustic prepulse inhibition of the startle response (PPI) is a phenomenon characterized by the reduction in the startle reflex caused by the presence of weak and brief stimulus before an intense and sudden stimulus (pulse). These phenomena can be observed in several species, but in humans it is commonly measured by the eyeblink using electromyography. PPI works as an operational measure of sensorimotor gating, which is the ability to suppress motor responses for sensory stimulus. Healthy aging is marked by several changes in neural processing, like inhibitory functioning decline. In this line, PPI measure can be a potential biomarker for changes related to the aging process. Methods In this research we aim to investigate if PPI is reduced with aging and if this reduction would be associated with cognitive functioning of older adults. To this aim, we compared PPI levels of older adults (over 60 years old) with PPI levels of young adults (from 18 to 28 years old). Results With that, we found, significantly lower PPI level (F[1,25] = 7.44 p = 0.01) and lower startle amplitude startle amplitude: (U = 26.000 p = 0.001) in older adults than in young adults. However, we did not find differences in levels of habituation (T = -1.1 p = 0.28) and correlation between PPI and cognition within the sample of healthy older adults. Discussion Our results demonstrate that aging is a factor that affects PPI and that it does not seem to predict cognition, however, future studies should explore the potential of using PPI for monitoring cognitive changes associated with techniques such as cognitive training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Guedes de Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Costa Poltronieri
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Erica Woodruff
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Brunno Freitas da Costa
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Arena Panizzutti
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Hao X, Huang X, Yin X, Wang HY, Lu R, Liang Z, Song C. Elucidation of the mechanism underlying impaired sensorimotor gating in patients with primary blepharospasm using prepulse inhibition. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1105483. [PMID: 36816573 PMCID: PMC9929365 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1105483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective We aimed to analyze prepulse inhibition (PPI) impairment of the blink reflex in patients with primary blepharospasm (BSP). Methods We recruited 30 BSP patients and 20 gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Weak electrical stimulation was applied to the right index finger at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 120, 200, and 300 ms before the supraorbital nerve stimulation to investigate PPI size [PPI size = (1 - R2 area at prepulse trials/R2 area at baseline trials) × 100%]. Results The prepulse stimulus significantly inhibited the R 2 component at the three ISIs in both groups, but less inhibition was shown in the BSP group (p < 0.05). In HCs, the prepulse stimulus induced prolonged R 2 and R 2c latencies at the three ISIs and increased the R 1 amplitude at ISIs of 120 ms; these changes were absent in BSP patients. In the BSP group, patients with sensory tricks showed better PPI than patients without sensory tricks. Disease duration and motor symptom severity showed no significant correlation with PPI size. Conclusion In BSP patients, PPI was impaired while R 1 facilitation was absent. PPI size did not correlate with the motor symptom severity and disease duration. Patients with sensory tricks showed better PPI than those without sensory tricks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqing Hao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaofeng Huang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaoxue Yin
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hai-Yang Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China,Department of Neurology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, China
| | - Ren Lu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhanhua Liang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China,*Correspondence: Zhanhua Liang ✉
| | - Chunli Song
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China,Chunli Song ✉
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