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Dai Q, Qu T, Shen G, Wang H. Characterization of the neural circuitry of the auditory thalamic reticular nucleus and its potential role in salicylate-induced tinnitus. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1368816. [PMID: 38629053 PMCID: PMC11019010 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1368816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Subjective tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external acoustic source, is often subsequent to noise-induced hearing loss or ototoxic medications. The condition is believed to result from neuroplastic alterations in the auditory centers, characterized by heightened spontaneous neural activities and increased synchrony due to an imbalance between excitation and inhibition. However, the role of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), a structure composed exclusively of GABAergic neurons involved in thalamocortical oscillations, in the pathogenesis of tinnitus remains largely unexplored. Methods We induced tinnitus in mice using sodium salicylate and assessed tinnitus-like behaviors using the Gap Pre-Pulse Inhibition of the Acoustic Startle (GPIAS) paradigm. We utilized combined viral tracing techniques to identify the neural circuitry involved and employed immunofluorescence and confocal imaging to determine cell types and activated neurons. Results Salicylate-treated mice exhibited tinnitus-like behaviors. Our tracing clearly delineated the inputs and outputs of the auditory-specific TRN. We discovered that chemogenetic activation of the auditory TRN significantly reduced the salicylate-evoked rise in c-Fos expression in the auditory cortex. Discussion This finding posits the TRN as a potential modulatory target for tinnitus treatment. Furthermore, the mapped sensory inputs to the auditory TRN suggest possibilities for employing optogenetic or sensory stimulations to manipulate thalamocortical activities. The precise mapping of the auditory TRN-mediated neural pathways offers a promising avenue for designing targeted interventions to alleviate tinnitus symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Guoming Shen
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
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Peng X, Mao Y, Liu Y, Dai Q, Tai Y, Luo B, Liang Y, Guan R, Zhou W, Chen L, Zhang Z, Shen G, Wang H. Microglial activation in the lateral amygdala promotes anxiety-like behaviors in mice with chronic moderate noise exposure. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14674. [PMID: 38468130 PMCID: PMC10927919 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14674] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term non-traumatic noise exposure, such as heavy traffic noise, can elicit emotional disorders in humans. However, the underlying neural substrate is still poorly understood. METHODS We exposed mice to moderate white noise for 28 days to induce anxiety-like behaviors, measured by open-field, elevated plus maze, and light-dark box tests. In vivo multi-electrode recordings in awake mice were used to examine neuronal activity. Chemogenetics were used to silence specific brain regions. Viral tracing, immunofluorescence, and confocal imaging were applied to define the neural circuit and characterize the morphology of microglia. RESULTS Exposure to moderate noise for 28 days at an 85-dB sound pressure level resulted in anxiety-like behaviors in open-field, elevated plus maze, and light-dark box tests. Viral tracing revealed that fibers projecting from the auditory cortex and auditory thalamus terminate in the lateral amygdala (LA). A noise-induced increase in spontaneous firing rates of the LA and blockade of noise-evoked anxiety-like behaviors by chemogenetic inhibition of LA glutamatergic neurons together confirmed that the LA plays a critical role in noise-induced anxiety. Noise-exposed animals were more vulnerable to anxiety induced by acute noise stressors than control mice. In addition to these behavioral abnormalities, ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1)-positive microglia in the LA underwent corresponding morphological modifications, including reduced process length and branching and increased soma size following noise exposure. Treatment with minocycline to suppress microglia inhibited noise-associated changes in microglial morphology, neuronal electrophysiological activity, and behavioral changes. Furthermore, microglia-mediated synaptic phagocytosis favored inhibitory synapses, which can cause an imbalance between excitation and inhibition, leading to anxiety-like behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Our study identifies LA microglial activation as a critical mediator of noise-induced anxiety-like behaviors, leading to neuronal and behavioral changes through selective synapse phagocytosis. Our results highlight the pivotal but previously unrecognized roles of LA microglia in chronic moderate noise-induced behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Yunfeng Mao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Yehao Liu
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Qian Dai
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Yingju Tai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Bin Luo
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
- Department of PsychiatryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCHefeiChina
| | - Yue Liang
- Department of OtolaryngologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCHefeiChina
| | - Ruirui Guan
- Department of OtolaryngologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCHefeiChina
| | - Wenjie Zhou
- Songjiang Research InstituteShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Lin Chen
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Guoming Shen
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Haitao Wang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
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Ma W, Li L, Kong L, Zhang H, Yuan P, Huang Z, Wang Y. Whole-brain monosynaptic inputs to lateral periaqueductal gray glutamatergic neurons in mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:4147-4159. [PMID: 37424163 PMCID: PMC10651995 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14338] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The lateral periaqueductal gray (LPAG), which mainly contains glutamatergic neurons, plays an important role in social responses, pain, and offensive and defensive behaviors. Currently, the whole-brain monosynaptic inputs to LPAG glutamatergic neurons are unknown. This study aims to explore the structural framework of the underlying neural mechanisms of LPAG glutamatergic neurons. METHODS This study used retrograde tracing systems based on the rabies virus, Cre-LoxP technology, and immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS We found that 59 nuclei projected monosynaptic inputs to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons. In addition, seven hypothalamic nuclei, namely the lateral hypothalamic area (LH), lateral preoptic area (LPO), substantia innominata (SI), medial preoptic area, ventral pallidum, posterior hypothalamic area, and lateral globus pallidus, projected most densely to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons. Notably, we discovered through further immunofluorescence analysis that the inputs to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons were colocalized with several markers related to important neurological functions associated with physiological behaviors. CONCLUSION The LPAG glutamatergic neurons received dense projections from the hypothalamus, especially nuclei such as LH, LPO, and SI. The input neurons were colocalized with several markers of physiological behaviors, which show the pivotal role of glutamatergic neurons in the physiological behaviors regulation by LPAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei‐Xiang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ling‐Xi Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hui Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re‐evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, School of PharmacyWannan Medical CollegeWuhuChina
| | - Ping‐Chuan Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re‐evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, School of PharmacyWannan Medical CollegeWuhuChina
| | - Zhi‐Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yi‐Qun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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Wu K, Wang D, Wang Y, Tang P, Li X, Pan Y, Tao HW, Zhang LI, Liang F. Distinct circuits in anterior cingulate cortex encode safety assessment and mediate flexibility of fear reactions. Neuron 2023; 111:3650-3667.e6. [PMID: 37652003 PMCID: PMC10990237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Safety assessment and threat evaluation are crucial for animals to live and survive in the wilderness. However, neural circuits underlying safety assessment and their transformation to mediate flexibility of fear-induced defensive behaviors remain largely unknown. Here, we report that distinct neuronal populations in mouse anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) encode safety status by selectively responding under different contexts of auditory threats, with one preferably activated when an animal staysing in a self-deemed safe zone and another specifically activated in more dangerous environmental settings that led to escape behavior. The safety-responding neurons preferentially target the zona incerta (ZI), which suppresses the superior colliculus (SC) via its GABAergic projection, while the danger-responding neurons preferentially target and excite SC. These distinct corticofugal pathways antagonistically modulate SC responses to threat, resulting in context-dependent expression of fear reactions. Thus, ACC serves as a critical node to encode safety/danger assessment and mediate behavioral flexibility through differential top-down circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaibin Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Dijia Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yuwei Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Peiwen Tang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xuan Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yidi Pan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huizhong W Tao
- Center for Neural Circuits & Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Li I Zhang
- Center for Neural Circuits & Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Feixue Liang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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Wang Y, You L, Tan K, Li M, Zou J, Zhao Z, Hu W, Li T, Xie F, Li C, Yuan R, Ding K, Cao L, Xin F, Shang C, Liu M, Gao Y, Wei L, You Z, Gao X, Xiong W, Cao P, Luo M, Chen F, Li K, Wu J, Hong B, Yuan K. A common thalamic hub for general and defensive arousal control. Neuron 2023; 111:3270-3287.e8. [PMID: 37557180 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The expression of defensive responses to alerting sensory cues requires both general arousal and a specific arousal state associated with defensive emotions. However, it remains unclear whether these two forms of arousal can be regulated by common brain regions. We discovered that the medial sector of the auditory thalamus (ATm) in mice is a thalamic hub controlling both general and defensive arousal. The spontaneous activity of VGluT2-expressing ATm (ATmVGluT2+) neurons was correlated with and causally contributed to wakefulness. In sleeping mice, sustained ATmVGluT2+ population responses were predictive of sensory-induced arousal, the likelihood of which was markedly decreased by inhibiting ATmVGluT2+ neurons or multiple downstream pathways. In awake mice, ATmVGluT2+ activation led to heightened arousal accompanied by excessive anxiety and avoidance behavior. Notably, blocking their neurotransmission abolished alerting stimuli-induced defensive behaviors. These findings may shed light on the comorbidity of sleep disturbances and abnormal sensory sensitivity in specific brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ling You
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - KaMun Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Meijie Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jingshan Zou
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610036, China
| | - Zhifeng Zhao
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wenxin Hu
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fenghua Xie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China
| | - Caiqin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ruizhi Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kai Ding
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lingwei Cao
- Zhili College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fengyuan Xin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Congping Shang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yixiao Gao
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Liqiang Wei
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhiwei You
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaorong Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing 102206, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kun Li
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiamin Wu
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bo Hong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Kexin Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China.
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Peng X, Mao Y, Tai Y, Luo B, Dai Q, Wang X, Wang H, Liang Y, Guan R, Liu C, Guo Y, Chen L, Zhang Z, Wang H. Characterization of Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Neural Circuitry following Chronic Moderate Noise Exposure in Mice. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:107004. [PMID: 37796530 PMCID: PMC10552915 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Commonly encountered nontraumatic, moderate noise is increasingly implicated in anxiety; however, the neural substrates underlying this process remain unclear. OBJECTIVES We investigated the neural circuit mechanism through which chronic exposure to moderate-level noise causes anxiety-like behaviors. METHODS Mice were exposed to chronic, moderate white noise [85 decibel (dB) sound pressure level (SPL)], 4 h/d for 4 wk to induce anxiety-like behaviors, which were assessed by open field, elevated plus maze, light-dark box, and social interaction tests. Viral tracing, immunofluorescence confocal imaging, and brain slice patch-clamp recordings were used to characterize projections from auditory brain regions to the lateral amygdala. Neuronal activities were characterized by in vivo multielectrode and fiber photometry recordings in awake mice. Optogenetics and chemogenetics were used to manipulate specific neural circuitry. RESULTS Mice chronically (4 wk) exposed to moderate noise (85 dB SPL, 4 h/d) demonstrated greater neuronal activity in the lateral amygdala (LA), and the LA played a critical role in noise-induced anxiety-like behavior in these model mice. Viral tracing showed that the LA received monosynaptic projections from the medial geniculate body (MG) and auditory cortex (ACx). Optogenetic excitation of the MG → LA or ACx → LA circuits acutely evoked anxiety-like behaviors, whereas their chemogenetic inactivation abolished noise-induced anxiety-like behavior. Moreover, mice chronically exposed to moderate noise were more susceptible to acute stress, with more neuronal firing in the LA, even after noise withdrawal. DISCUSSION Mice exposed to 4 wk of moderate noise (85 dB SPL, 4 h/d) demonstrated behavioral and physiological differences compared to controls. The neural circuit mechanisms involved greater excitation from glutamatergic neurons of the MG and ACx to LA neurons under chronic, moderate noise exposure, which ultimately promoted anxiety-like behaviors. Our findings support the hypothesis that nontraumatic noise pollution is a potentially serious but unrecognized public health concern. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12532.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yunfeng Mao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yingju Tai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Bin Luo
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, USTC, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Qian Dai
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Xiyang Wang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yue Liang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Ruirui Guan
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Chunhua Liu
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiping Guo
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
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Zhao J, Song Q, Wu Y, Yang L. Advances in neural circuits of innate fear defense behavior. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2023; 52:653-661. [PMID: 37899403 PMCID: PMC10630063 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2023-0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Fear, a negative emotion triggered by dangerous stimuli, can lead to psychiatric disorders such as phobias, anxiety disorders, and depression. Investigating the neural circuitry underlying congenital fear can offer insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of related psychiatric conditions. Research on innate fear primarily centers on the response mechanisms to various sensory signals, including olfactory, visual and auditory stimuli. Different types of fear signal inputs are regulated by distinct neural circuits. The neural circuits of the main and accessory olfactory systems receive and process olfactory stimuli, mediating defensive responses like freezing. Escape behaviors elicited by visual stimuli are primarily regulated through the superior colliculus and hypothalamic projection circuits. Auditory stimuli-induced responses, including escape, are mainly mediated through auditory cortex projection circuits. In this article, we review the research progress on neural circuits of innate fear defensive behaviors in animals. We further discuss the different sensory systems, especially the projection circuits of olfactory, visual and auditory systems, to provide references for the mechanistic study of related mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhao
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Qi Song
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yongye Wu
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine School of Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
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Koirala N, Deroche MLD, Wolfe J, Neumann S, Bien AG, Doan D, Goldbeck M, Muthuraman M, Gracco VL. Dynamic networks differentiate the language ability of children with cochlear implants. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1141886. [PMID: 37409105 PMCID: PMC10318154 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1141886] [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: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cochlear implantation (CI) in prelingually deafened children has been shown to be an effective intervention for developing language and reading skill. However, there is a substantial proportion of the children receiving CI who struggle with language and reading. The current study-one of the first to implement electrical source imaging in CI population was designed to identify the neural underpinnings in two groups of CI children with good and poor language and reading skill. Methods Data using high density electroencephalography (EEG) under a resting state condition was obtained from 75 children, 50 with CIs having good (HL) or poor language skills (LL) and 25 normal hearing (NH) children. We identified coherent sources using dynamic imaging of coherent sources (DICS) and their effective connectivity computing time-frequency causality estimation based on temporal partial directed coherence (TPDC) in the two CI groups compared to a cohort of age and gender matched NH children. Findings Sources with higher coherence amplitude were observed in three frequency bands (alpha, beta and gamma) for the CI groups when compared to normal hearing children. The two groups of CI children with good (HL) and poor (LL) language ability exhibited not only different cortical and subcortical source profiles but also distinct effective connectivity between them. Additionally, a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm using these sources and their connectivity patterns for each CI group across the three frequency bands was able to predict the language and reading scores with high accuracy. Interpretation Increased coherence in the CI groups suggest overall that the oscillatory activity in some brain areas become more strongly coupled compared to the NH group. Moreover, the different sources and their connectivity patterns and their association to language and reading skill in both groups, suggest a compensatory adaptation that either facilitated or impeded language and reading development. The neural differences in the two groups of CI children may reflect potential biomarkers for predicting outcome success in CI children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabin Koirala
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Jace Wolfe
- Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Sara Neumann
- Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Alexander G. Bien
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Derek Doan
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Michael Goldbeck
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Muthuraman Muthuraman
- Department of Neurology, Neural Engineering with Signal Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (NESA-AI), Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vincent L. Gracco
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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9
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Beebe NL, Silveira MA, Goyer D, Noftz WA, Roberts MT, Schofield BR. Neurotransmitter phenotype and axonal projection patterns of VIP-expressing neurons in the inferior colliculus. J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 126:102189. [PMID: 36375740 PMCID: PMC9772258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurons in the inferior colliculus (IC), the midbrain hub of the central auditory pathway, send ascending and descending projections to other auditory brain regions, as well as projections to other sensory and non-sensory brain regions. However, the axonal projection patterns of individual classes of IC neurons remain largely unknown. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide expressed by subsets of neurons in many brain regions. We recently identified a class of IC stellate neurons that we called VIP neurons because they are labeled by tdTomato (tdT) expression in VIP-IRES-Cre x Ai14 mice. Here, using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we found that tdT+ neurons in VIP-IRES-Cre x Ai14 mice express Vglut2, a marker of glutamatergic neurons, and VIP, suggesting that VIP neurons use both glutamatergic and VIPergic signaling to influence their postsynaptic targets. Next, using viral transfections with a Cre-dependent eGFP construct, we labeled the axonal projections of VIP neurons. As a group, VIP neurons project intrinsically, within the ipsilateral and contralateral IC, and extrinsically to all the major targets of the IC. Within the auditory system, VIP neurons sent axons and formed axonal boutons in higher centers, including the medial geniculate nucleus and the nucleus of the brachium of the IC. Less dense projections terminated in lower centers, including the nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, superior olivary complex, and dorsal cochlear nucleus. VIP neurons also project to several non-auditory brain regions, including the superior colliculus, periaqueductal gray, and cuneiform nucleus. The diversity of VIP projections compared to the homogeneity of VIP neuron intrinsic properties suggests that VIP neurons play a conserved role at the microcircuit level, likely involving neuromodulation through glutamatergic and VIPergic signaling, but support diverse functions at the systems level through their participation in different projection pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichole L Beebe
- Hearing Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.
| | - Marina A Silveira
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - David Goyer
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - William A Noftz
- Hearing Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.
| | - Michael T Roberts
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Brett R Schofield
- Hearing Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.
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10
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Efraim Kaufman A, Weissman-Fogel I, Rosenthal MZ, Kaplan Neeman R, Bar-Shalita T. Opening a window into the riddle of misophonia, sensory over-responsiveness, and pain. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:907585. [PMID: 35992931 PMCID: PMC9381840 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.907585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Misophonia and sensory over-responsiveness (SOR) share physiological and psychological symptoms. While individuals with SOR demonstrate pain perception alterations, these were not explored in misophonia. Methods This exploratory study comprised thirty healthy adults with (n = 15; based on the Misophonia Questionnaire) and without misophonia. The Sensory Responsiveness Questionnaire (SRQ) was used for evaluating sensory responsiveness. In addition, psychophysical tests were applied for quantification of: (i) stimulus-response function of painful stimuli, (ii) the individual perceived pain intensity, (iii) pain modulation efficiency, (iv) auditory intensity discrimination capability, and (v) painful and unpleasantness responses to six ecological daily sounds using the Battery of Aversiveness to Sounds (BAS). Results Individuals with misophonia reported higher scores in the SRQ-Aversive (p = 0.022) and SRQ-Hedonic (p = 0.029) scales as well as in auditory (p = 0.042) and smell (p = 0.006) sub-scales, indicating higher sensory responsiveness. Yet they were not identified with the SOR type of sensory modulation dysfunction. Groups did not differ in the pain psychophysical tests, and in auditory discrimination test scores (p > 0.05). However, in the misophonia group the BAS evoked higher pain intensity (p = 0.046) and unpleasantness (p <0.001) ratings in the apple biting sound, and higher unpleasantness rating in the scraping a dish sound (p = 0.007), compared to the comparison group. Conclusion Findings indicate increased sensory responsiveness in individuals with misophonia, yet not defined as SOR. Thus, this suggests that misophonia and SOR are two distinct conditions, differing in their behavioral responses to painful and non-painful stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Efraim Kaufman
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Irit Weissman-Fogel
- Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - M. Zachary Rosenthal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Misophonia and Emotion Regulation, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ricky Kaplan Neeman
- Department of Communication Disorders, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tami Bar-Shalita
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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11
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Kuner R, Kuner T. Sounding out pain. Science 2022; 377:155-156. [DOI: 10.1126/science.add0640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
A circuit for sound-induced analgesia has been found in the mouse brain
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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12
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Lenzi SC, Cossell L, Grainger B, Olesen SF, Branco T, Margrie TW. Threat history controls flexible escape behavior in mice. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2972-2979.e3. [PMID: 35659863 PMCID: PMC9616793 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In many instances, external sensory-evoked neuronal activity is used by the brain to select the most appropriate behavioral response. Predator-avoidance behaviors such as freezing and escape1,2 are of particular interest since these stimulus-evoked responses are behavioral manifestations of a decision-making process that is fundamental to survival.3,4 Over the lifespan of an individual, however, the threat value of agents in the environment is believed to undergo constant revision,5 and in some cases, repeated avoidance of certain stimuli may no longer be an optimal behavioral strategy.6 To begin to study this type of adaptive control of decision-making, we devised an experimental paradigm to probe the properties of threat escape in the laboratory mouse Mus musculus. First, we found that while robust escape to visual looming stimuli can be observed after 2 days of social isolation, mice can also rapidly learn that such stimuli are non-threatening. This learned suppression of escape (LSE) is extremely robust and can persist for weeks and is not a generalized adaptation, since flight responses to novel live prey and auditory threat stimuli in the same environmental context were maintained. We also show that LSE cannot be explained by trial number or a simple form of stimulus desensitization since it is dependent on threat-escape history. We propose that the action selection process mediating escape behavior is constantly updated by recent threat history and that LSE can be used as a robust model system to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying experience-dependent decision-making. Individually housed, but not group-housed, mice show robust escape to looming stimuli Mice can learn to suppress escape, and LSE memory is long lasting LSE is not a general adaptation since it is stimulus specific LSE is not simply habituation and is dependent on recent threat-escape experience
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Lenzi
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Lee Cossell
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Benjamin Grainger
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Sarah F Olesen
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Tiago Branco
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Troy W Margrie
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK.
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13
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Wheatcroft T, Saleem AB, Solomon SG. Functional Organisation of the Mouse Superior Colliculus. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:792959. [PMID: 35601532 PMCID: PMC9118347 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.792959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a highly conserved area of the mammalian midbrain that is widely implicated in the organisation and control of behaviour. SC receives input from a large number of brain areas, and provides outputs to a large number of areas. The convergence and divergence of anatomical connections with different areas and systems provides challenges for understanding how SC contributes to behaviour. Recent work in mouse has provided large anatomical datasets, and a wealth of new data from experiments that identify and manipulate different cells within SC, and their inputs and outputs, during simple behaviours. These data offer an opportunity to better understand the roles that SC plays in these behaviours. However, some of the observations appear, at first sight, to be contradictory. Here we review this recent work and hypothesise a simple framework which can capture the observations, that requires only a small change to previous models. Specifically, the functional organisation of SC can be explained by supposing that three largely distinct circuits support three largely distinct classes of simple behaviours-arrest, turning towards, and the triggering of escape or capture. These behaviours are hypothesised to be supported by the optic, intermediate and deep layers, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samuel G. Solomon
- Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Lawrenson C, Paci E, Pickford J, Drake RAR, Lumb BM, Apps R. Cerebellar modulation of memory encoding in the periaqueductal grey and fear behaviour. eLife 2022; 11:76278. [PMID: 35287795 PMCID: PMC8923669 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The pivotal role of the periaqueductal grey (PAG) in fear learning is reinforced by the identification of neurons in male rat ventrolateral PAG (vlPAG) that encode fear memory through signalling the onset and offset of an auditory-conditioned stimulus during presentation of the unreinforced conditioned tone (CS+) during retrieval. Some units only display CS+ onset or offset responses, and the two signals differ in extinction sensitivity, suggesting that they are independent of each other. In addition, understanding cerebellar contributions to survival circuits is advanced by the discovery that (i) reversible inactivation of the medial cerebellar nucleus (MCN) during fear consolidation leads in subsequent retrieval to (a) disruption of the temporal precision of vlPAG offset, but not onset responses to CS+, and (b) an increase in duration of freezing behaviour. And (ii) chemogenetic manipulation of the MCN-vlPAG projection during fear acquisition (a) reduces the occurrence of fear-related ultrasonic vocalisations, and (b) during subsequent retrieval, slows the extinction rate of fear-related freezing. These findings show that the cerebellum is part of the survival network that regulates fear memory processes at multiple timescales and in multiple ways, raising the possibility that dysfunctional interactions in the cerebellar-survival network may underlie fear-related disorders and comorbidities. Anxiety disorders are a cluster of mental health conditions characterised by persistent and excessive amounts of fear and worry. They affect millions of people worldwide, but treatments can sometimes be ineffective and have unwanted side effects. Understanding which brain regions are involved in fear and anxiety-related behaviours, and how those areas are connected, is the first step towards designing more effective treatments. A region known as the periaqueductal grey (or PAG) sits at the centre of the brain’s fear and anxiety network, regulating pain, encoding fear memories and responding to threats and stressors. It also controls survival behaviours such as the ‘freeze’ response, when an animal is frightened. A more recent addition to the fear and anxiety network is the cerebellum, which sits at the base of the brain. Two-way connections between this region and the PAG have been well described, but how the cerebellum might influence fear and anxiety-related behaviours remains unclear. To explore this role, Lawrenson, Paci et al. investigated whether the cerebellum modulates brain activity within the PAG and if so, how this relates to fear behaviours. Rats had electrodes implanted in their brains to record the activity of nerve cells within the PAG. A common fear-conditioning task was then used to elicit ‘freeze’ responses: a sound was paired with mild foot shocks until the animals learned to fear the auditory signal. In the rats, a subset of neurons within the PAG responded to the tone, consistent with those cells encoding a fear memory. But when a drug blocked the cerebellum’s output during fear conditioning, the timing of the PAG response was less precise and the rats’ freeze response lasted longer. Lawrenson, Paci et al. concluded that the cerebellum, through its interactions with the brain’s fear and anxiety network, might be responsible for coordinating the most appropriate behavioural response to fear, and how long ‘freezing’ lasts. In summary, these findings show that the cerebellum is a part of the brain’s survival network which regulates fear-memory processes. It raises the possibility that disruption of the cerebellum might underlie anxiety and other fear-related disorders, thereby providing a new target for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Lawrenson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Paci
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmine Pickford
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A R Drake
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Bridget M Lumb
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Apps
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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15
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Sun W, Tang P, Liang Y, Li J, Feng J, Zhang N, Lu D, He J, Chen X. The anterior cingulate cortex directly enhances auditory cortical responses in air-puffing-facilitated flight behavior. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110506. [PMID: 35263590 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For survival, animals encode prominent events in complex environments, which modulates their defense behavior. Here, we design a paradigm that assesses how a mild aversive cue (i.e., mild air puff) interacts with sound-evoked flight behavior in mice. We find that air puffing facilitates sound-evoked flight behavior by enhancing the auditory responses of auditory cortical neurons. We then find that the anterior part of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) encodes the valence of air puffing and modulates the auditory cortex through anatomical examination, physiological recordings, and optogenetic/chemogenetic manipulations. Activating ACC projections to the auditory cortex simulates the facilitating effect of air puffing, whereas inhibiting the ACC or its projections to the auditory cortex neutralizes this facilitating effect. These findings show that the ACC regulates sound-evoked flight behavior by potentiating neuronal responses in the auditory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjian Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Ye Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Jingyu Feng
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Danyi Lu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518507, P.R. China.
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518507, P.R. China.
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A glutamatergic basal forebrain to midbrain circuit mediates wakefulness and defensive behavior. Neuropharmacology 2022; 208:108979. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.108979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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17
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MEYE: Web App for Translational and Real-Time Pupillometry. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0122-21.2021. [PMID: 34518364 PMCID: PMC8489024 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0122-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pupil dynamics alterations have been found in patients affected by a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism. Studies in mouse models have used pupillometry for phenotypic assessment and as a proxy for arousal. Both in mice and humans, pupillometry is noninvasive and allows for longitudinal experiments supporting temporal specificity; however, its measure requires dedicated setups. Here, we introduce a convolutional neural network that performs online pupillometry in both mice and humans in a web app format. This solution dramatically simplifies the usage of the tool for the nonspecialist and nontechnical operators. Because a modern web browser is the only software requirement, this choice is of great interest given its easy deployment and setup time reduction. The tested model performances indicate that the tool is sensitive enough to detect both locomotor-induced and stimulus-evoked pupillary changes, and its output is comparable to state-of-the-art commercial devices.
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18
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A somatosensory cortex input to the caudal dorsolateral striatum controls comorbid anxiety in persistent pain. Pain 2021; 161:416-428. [PMID: 31651582 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain and anxiety symptoms are frequently encountered clinically, but the neural circuit mechanisms underlying the comorbid anxiety symptoms in pain (CASP) in context of chronic pain remain unclear. Using viral neuronal tracing in mice, we identified a previously unknown pathway whereby glutamatergic neurons from layer 5 of the hindlimb primary somatosensory cortex (S1) (Glu), a well-known brain region involved in pain processing, project to GABAergic neurons in the caudal dorsolateral striatum (GABA). In a persistent inflammatory pain model induced by complete Freund's adjuvant injection, enhanced excitation of the Glu→GABA pathway was found in mice exhibiting CASP. Reversing this pathway using chemogenetic or optogenetic approaches alleviated CASP. In addition, the optical activation of Glu terminals in the cDLS produced anxiety-like behaviors in naive mice. Overall, the current study demonstrates the putative importance of a novel Glu→GABA pathway in controlling at least some aspects of CASP.
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19
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Glutamatergic lateral hypothalamus promotes defensive behaviors. Neuropharmacology 2020; 178:108239. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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20
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Li D, Yang H, Xiong F, Xu X, Zeng WB, Zhao F, Luo MH. Anterograde Neuronal Circuit Tracers Derived from Herpes Simplex Virus 1: Development, Application, and Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5937. [PMID: 32824837 PMCID: PMC7460661 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has great potential to be applied as a viral tool for gene delivery or oncolysis. The broad infection tropism of HSV-1 makes it a suitable tool for targeting many different cell types, and its 150 kb double-stranded DNA genome provides great capacity for exogenous genes. Moreover, the features of neuron infection and neuron-to-neuron spread also offer special value to neuroscience. HSV-1 strain H129, with its predominant anterograde transneuronal transmission, represents one of the most promising anterograde neuronal circuit tracers to map output neuronal pathways. Decades of development have greatly expanded the H129-derived anterograde tracing toolbox, including polysynaptic and monosynaptic tracers with various fluorescent protein labeling. These tracers have been applied to neuroanatomical studies, and have contributed to revealing multiple important neuronal circuits. However, current H129-derived tracers retain intrinsic drawbacks that limit their broad application, such as yet-to-be improved labeling intensity, potential nonspecific retrograde labeling, and high toxicity. The biological complexity of HSV-1 and its insufficiently characterized virological properties have caused difficulties in its improvement and optimization as a viral tool. In this review, we focus on the current H129-derived viral tracers and highlight strategies in which future technological development can advance its use as a tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (D.L.); (H.Y.); (F.X.); (W.-B.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (D.L.); (H.Y.); (F.X.); (W.-B.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Feng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (D.L.); (H.Y.); (F.X.); (W.-B.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-1275, USA;
| | - Wen-Bo Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (D.L.); (H.Y.); (F.X.); (W.-B.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fei Zhao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Min-Hua Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (D.L.); (H.Y.); (F.X.); (W.-B.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Manohar S, Adler HJ, Radziwon K, Salvi R. Interaction of auditory and pain pathways: Effects of stimulus intensity, hearing loss and opioid signaling. Hear Res 2020; 393:108012. [PMID: 32554129 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Moderate intensity sounds can reduce pain sensitivity (i.e., audio-analgesia) whereas intense sounds can induce aural pain, evidence of multisensory interaction between auditory and pain pathways. To explore auditory-pain pathway interactions, we used the tail-flick (TF) test to assess thermal tail-pain sensitivity by measuring the latency of a rat to remove its tail from 52 °C water. In Experiment 1, TF latencies were measured in ambient noise and broadband noise (BBN) presented from 80 to 120 dB SPL. TF latencies gradually increased from ambient to 90 dB SPL (audio-analgesia), but then declined. At 120 dB, TF latencies were significantly shorter than normal, evidence for audio-hyperalgesia near the aural threshold for pain. In Experiment II, the opioid pain pathway was modified by treating rats with a high dose of fentanyl known to induce post-treatment hyperalgesia. TF latencies in ambient noise were normal 10-days post-fentanyl. However, TF latencies became shorter than normal from 90 to 110 dB indicating that fentanyl pre-treatment had converted audio-analgesia to audio-hyperalgesia. In Experiment III, we tested the hypothesis that hearing loss could alter pain sensitivity by unilaterally exposing rats to an intense noise that induced a significant hearing loss. TF latencies in ambient noise gradually declined from 1- to 4-weeks post-exposure indicating that noise-induced hearing loss had increased pain sensitivity. Our results suggest that auditory and pain pathways interact in ways that depend on intensity, hearing loss and opioid pain signaling, results potentially relevant to pain hyperacusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthilvelan Manohar
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, 137 Cary Hall, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Henry J Adler
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, 137 Cary Hall, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Kelly Radziwon
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, 137 Cary Hall, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Richard Salvi
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, 137 Cary Hall, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
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Lefler Y, Campagner D, Branco T. The role of the periaqueductal gray in escape behavior. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 60:115-121. [PMID: 31864105 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Escape behavior is a defensive action deployed by animals in response to imminent threats. In mammalian species, a variety of different brain circuits are known to participate in this crucial survival behavior. One of these circuits is the periaqueductal gray, a midbrain structure that can command a variety of instinctive behaviors. Recent experiments using modern systems neuroscience techniques have begun to elucidate the specific role of the periaqueductal gray in controlling escape. These have shown that periaqueductal gray neurons are crucial units for gating and commanding the initiation of escape, specifically activated in situations of imminent, escapable threat. In addition, it is becoming clear that the periaqueductal gray integrates brain-wide information that can modulate escape initiation to generate flexible defensive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaara Lefler
- UCL Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Dario Campagner
- UCL Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, London W1T 4JG, UK; UCL Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Tiago Branco
- UCL Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, London W1T 4JG, UK.
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