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Huang T, Guo X, Huang X, Yi C, Cui Y, Dong Y. Input-output specific orchestration of aversive valence in lateral habenula during stress dynamics. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38616136 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Stress has been considered as a major risk factor for depressive disorders, triggering depression onset via inducing persistent dysfunctions in specialized brain regions and neural circuits. Among various regions across the brain, the lateral habenula (LHb) serves as a critical hub for processing aversive information during the dynamic process of stress accumulation, thus having been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. LHb neurons integrate aversive valence conveyed by distinct upstream inputs, many of which selectively innervate the medial part (LHbM) or lateral part (LHbL) of LHb. LHb subregions also separately assign aversive valence via dissociable projections to the downstream targets in the midbrain which provides feedback loops. Despite these strides, the spatiotemporal dynamics of LHb-centric neural circuits remain elusive during the progression of depression-like state under stress. In this review, we attempt to describe a framework in which LHb orchestrates aversive valence via the input-output specific neuronal architecture. Notably, a physiological form of Hebbian plasticity in LHb under multiple stressors has been unveiled to incubate neuronal hyperactivity in an input-specific manner, which causally encodes chronic stress experience and drives depression onset. Collectively, the recent progress and future efforts in elucidating LHb circuits shed light on early interventions and circuit-specific antidepressant therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taida Huang
- Department of Neurology and International Institutes of Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China
- Department of Neurology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Research Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Xiaonan Guo
- Department of Neurology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaomin Huang
- Research Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Chenju Yi
- Research Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Guangzhou 510080, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active Substance Screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen 518107, China.
| | - Yihui Cui
- Department of Neurology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China. ,
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. ,
| | - Yiyan Dong
- Department of Neurology and International Institutes of Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China. ,
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2
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Cardona-Acosta AM, Bolaños-Guzmán CA. Role of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway in the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Neuropharmacology 2023; 225:109374. [PMID: 36516891 PMCID: PMC9839658 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a complex and highly heterogeneous disorder which diagnosis is based on an exceedingly variable set of clinical symptoms. Current treatments focus almost exclusively on the manipulation of monoamine neurotransmitter systems, but despite considerable efforts, these remain inadequate for a significant proportion of those afflicted by the disorder. The emergence of racemic (R, S)-ketamine as a fast-acting antidepressant has provided an exciting new path for the study of major depressive disorder (MDD) and the search for better therapeutics for its treatment. Previous work suggested that ketamine's mechanism of action is primarily mediated via blockaded of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, however, this is an area of active research and clinical and preclinical evidence now indicate that ketamine acts on multiple systems. The last couple of decades have cemented the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway's involvement in the pathogenesis of MDD and related mood disorders. Exposure to negative stress dysregulates dopamine neuronal activity disrupting reward and motivational processes resulting in anhedonia (lack of pleasure), a hallmark symptom of depression. Although the mechanism(s) underlying ketamine's antidepressant activity continue to be elucidated, current evidence indicate that its therapeutic effects are mediated, at least in part, via long-lasting synaptic changes and subsequent molecular adaptations in brain regions within the mesolimbic dopamine system. Notwithstanding, ketamine is a drug of abuse, and this liability may pose limitations for long term use as an antidepressant. This review outlines the current knowledge of ketamine's actions within the mesolimbic dopamine system and its abuse potential. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Ketamine and its Metabolites'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid M Cardona-Acosta
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Program in Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Carlos A Bolaños-Guzmán
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Program in Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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3
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Lee H, Hikosaka O. Lateral habenula neurons signal step-by-step changes of reward prediction. iScience 2022; 25:105440. [DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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4
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Tian H, Hu Z, Xu J, Wang C. The molecular pathophysiology of depression and the new therapeutics. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e156. [PMID: 35875370 PMCID: PMC9301929 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent and disabling disorder. Despite the many hypotheses proposed to understand the molecular pathophysiology of depression, it is still unclear. Current treatments for depression are inadequate for many individuals, because of limited effectiveness, delayed efficacy (usually two weeks), and side effects. Consequently, novel drugs with increased speed of action and effectiveness are required. Ketamine has shown to have rapid, reliable, and long-lasting antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant MDD patients and represent a breakthrough therapy for patients with MDD; however, concerns regarding its efficacy, potential misuse, and side effects remain. In this review, we aimed to summarize molecular mechanisms and pharmacological treatments for depression. We focused on the fast antidepressant treatment and clarified the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of ketamine and its metabolites for the MDD treatment, along with a review of the potential pharmacological mechanisms, research challenges, and future clinical prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihua Tian
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience Ningbo University School of Medicine Ningbo Zhejiang China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology School of Medicine Ningbo University Ningbo Zhejiang China.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Ningbo University School of Medicine Ningbo Zhejiang China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine Ningbo Kangning Hospital Ningbo Zhejiang China
| | - Zhenyu Hu
- Department of Child Psychiatry Ningbo Kanning Hospital Ningbo Zhejiang China
| | - Jia Xu
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience Ningbo University School of Medicine Ningbo Zhejiang China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology School of Medicine Ningbo University Ningbo Zhejiang China.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Ningbo University School of Medicine Ningbo Zhejiang China
| | - Chuang Wang
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience Ningbo University School of Medicine Ningbo Zhejiang China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology School of Medicine Ningbo University Ningbo Zhejiang China.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Ningbo University School of Medicine Ningbo Zhejiang China
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5
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Webster JF, Vroman R, Beerens S, Sakata S, Wozny C. NDNF is selectively expressed by neocortical, but not habenular neurogliaform cells. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:3561-3575. [PMID: 33866632 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb) is a brain structure which is known to be pathologically hyperactive in depression, whereby it shuts down the brains' reward systems. Interestingly, inhibition of the LHb has been shown to have an antidepressant effect, hence making the LHb a fascinating subject of study for developing novel antidepressant therapies. Despite this however, the exact mechanisms by which inhibitory signalling is processed within the LHb remain incompletely understood. Some studies have proposed the existence of locally targeting inhibitory interneuron populations within the LHb. One such population is believed to be akin to neocortical neurogliaform cells, yet specific molecular markers for studying these neurons are sparse and hence their function remains elusive. Recently, neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF) has been proposed as one such marker for neocortical neurogliaform cells. Using a combination of histological, physiological and optogenetic tools, we hence sought to first validate if NDNF was selectively expressed by such inhibitory neurons within the neocortex, and then if it was confined to a similar population within the LHb. While we report this to be true for the neocortex, we find no such evidence within the LHb; rather that NDNF is expressed without restriction to a particular neuronal subpopulation. These results hence indicate that molecular markers can represent broadly diverse populations of neurons on a region-to-region basis and that therefore each population as defined by molecular marker expression should be validated in each brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack F Webster
- Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Rozan Vroman
- Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sanne Beerens
- Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Shuzo Sakata
- Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Christian Wozny
- Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.,MSH Medical School Hamburg, Medical University, Hamburg, Germany
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T-Type Calcium Channels Contribute to Burst Firing in a Subpopulation of Medial Habenula Neurons. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0201-20.2020. [PMID: 32719103 PMCID: PMC7433892 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0201-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Action potential (AP) burst firing caused by the activation of low-voltage-activated T-type Ca2+ channels is a unique mode of neuronal firing. T-type channels have been implicated in diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes, including epilepsy, autism, and mood regulation, but the brain structures involved remain incompletely understood. The medial habenula (MHb) is an epithalamic structure implicated in anxiety-like and withdrawal behavior. Previous studies have shown that MHb neurons fire tonic APs at a frequency of ∼2–10 Hz or display depolarized low-amplitude membrane oscillations. Here, we report in C57BL/6J mice that a subpopulation of MHb neurons are capable of firing transient, high-frequency AP bursts mediated by T-type channels. Burst firing was observed following rebounding from hyperpolarizing current injections or during depolarization from hyperpolarized membrane potentials in ∼20% of MHb neurons. It was rarely observed at baseline but could be evoked in MHb neurons displaying different initial activity states. Further, we show that T-type channel mRNA, in particular Cav3.1, is expressed in the MHb in both cholinergic and substance P-ergic neurons. Pharmacological Cav3 antagonism blocked both burst firing and evoked Ca2+ currents in MHb neurons. Additionally, we observed high-frequency AP doublet firing at sustained depolarized membrane potentials that was independent of T-type channels. Thus, there is a greater diversity of AP firing patterns in MHb neurons than previously identified, including T-type channel-mediated burst firing, which may uniquely contribute to behaviors with relevance to neuropsychiatric disease.
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7
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Ramaswamy M, Cheng RK, Jesuthasan S. Identification of GABAergic neurons innervating the zebrafish lateral habenula. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:3918-3928. [PMID: 32464693 PMCID: PMC7689879 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Habenula neurons are constantly active. The level of activity affects mood and behaviour, with increased activity in the lateral habenula reflecting exposure to punishment and a switch to passive coping and depression. Here, we identify GABAergic neurons that could reduce activity in the lateral habenula of larval zebrafish. GAD65/67 immunohistochemistry and imaging of gad1b:DsRed transgenic fish suggest the presence of GABAergic terminals in the neuropil and between cell bodies in the lateral habenula. Retrograde tracing with the lipophilic dye DiD suggests that the former derives from the thalamus, while the latter originates from a group of cells in the posterior hypothalamus that are located between the posterior tuberal nucleus and hypothalamic lobes. Two‐photon calcium imaging indicates that blue light causes excitation of thalamic GABAergic neurons and terminals in the neuropil, while a subpopulation of lateral habenula neurons show reduced intracellular calcium levels. Whole‐cell electrophysiological recording indicates that blue light reduces membrane potential of lateral habenula neurons. These observations suggest that GABAergic input from the thalamus may mediate inhibition in the zebrafish lateral habenula. Mechanisms governing release of GABA from the neurons in the posterior hypothalamus, which are likely to be in the tuberomammillary nucleus, remain to be defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahathi Ramaswamy
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ruey-Kuang Cheng
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore
| | - Suresh Jesuthasan
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore
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8
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Webster JF, Vroman R, Balueva K, Wulff P, Sakata S, Wozny C. Disentangling neuronal inhibition and inhibitory pathways in the lateral habenula. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8490. [PMID: 32444785 PMCID: PMC7244525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65349-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb) is hyperactive in depression, and thus potentiating inhibition of this structure makes an interesting target for future antidepressant therapies. However, the circuit mechanisms mediating inhibitory signalling within the LHb are not well-known. We addressed this issue by studying LHb neurons expressing either parvalbumin (PV) or somatostatin (SOM), two markers of particular sub-classes of neocortical inhibitory neurons. Here, we find that both PV and SOM are expressed by physiologically distinct sub-classes. Furthermore, we describe multiple sources of inhibitory input to the LHb arising from both local PV-positive neurons, from PV-positive neurons in the medial dorsal thalamic nucleus, and from SOM-positive neurons in the ventral pallidum. These findings hence provide new insight into inhibitory control within the LHb, and highlight that this structure is more neuronally diverse than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack F Webster
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
| | - Rozan Vroman
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
| | - Kira Balueva
- Institute of Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 5, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Peer Wulff
- Institute of Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 5, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Shuzo Sakata
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
| | - Christian Wozny
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK.
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9
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Hu H, Cui Y, Yang Y. Circuits and functions of the lateral habenula in health and in disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:277-295. [PMID: 32269316 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0292-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed exponentially growing interest in the lateral habenula (LHb) owing to new discoveries relating to its critical role in regulating negatively motivated behaviour and its implication in major depression. The LHb, sometimes referred to as the brain's 'antireward centre', receives inputs from diverse limbic forebrain and basal ganglia structures, and targets essentially all midbrain neuromodulatory systems, including the noradrenergic, serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. Its unique anatomical position enables the LHb to act as a hub that integrates value-based, sensory and experience-dependent information to regulate various motivational, cognitive and motor processes. Dysfunction of the LHb may contribute to the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, especially major depression. Recently, exciting progress has been made in identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms in the LHb that underlie negative emotional state in animal models of drug withdrawal and major depression. A future challenge is to translate these advances into effective clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailan Hu
- Department of Psychiatry of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China. .,Fountain-Valley Institute for Life Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yihui Cui
- The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Yang
- The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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10
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Aizawa H, Zhu M. Toward an understanding of the habenula's various roles in human depression. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:607-612. [PMID: 31131942 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The habenula is an evolutionarily conserved structure in the vertebrate brain. Lesion and electrophysiological studies in animals have suggested that it is involved in the regulation of monoaminergic activity through projection to the brain stem nuclei. Since studies in animal models of depression and human functional imaging have indicated that increased activity of the habenula is associated with depressive phenotypes, this structure has attracted a surge of interest in neuroscience research. According to pathway- and cell-type-specific dissection of habenular function in animals, we have begun to understand how the heterogeneity of the habenula accounts for alteration of diverse physiological functions in depression. Indeed, recent studies have revealed that the subnuclei embedded in the habenula show a wide variety of molecular profiles not only in neurons but also in glial cells implementing the multifaceted regulatory mechanism for output from the habenula. In this review, we overview the known facts on mediolateral subdivision in the habenular structure, then discuss heterogeneity of the habenular structure from the anatomical and functional viewpoint to understand its emerging role in diverse neural functions relevant to depressive phenotypes. Despite the prevalent use of antidepressants acting on monoamine metabolisms, ~30% of patients with major depression are reported to be treatment-resistant. Thus, cellular mechanisms deciphering such diversity in depressive symptoms would be a promising candidate for the development of new antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Aizawa
- Department of Neurobiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Meina Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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11
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Cui Y, Hu S, Hu H. Lateral Habenular Burst Firing as a Target of the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine. Trends Neurosci 2019; 42:179-191. [PMID: 30823984 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The revolutionary discovery of the rapid antidepressant ketamine has been a milestone in psychiatry field in the last half century. Unlike conventional antidepressants that often take weeks to months to show efficacy, ketamine causes rapid antidepressant effects, emerging as early as within 1h after administration. However, how ketamine improves mood symptoms so quickly has remained elusive. Here, we first introduce the historical background of ketamine as a rapid antidepressant. We then discuss current hypotheses underlying ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects, with a focus on our latest discovery that ketamine silences NMDAR-dependent burst firing in the 'anti-reward center', the lateral habenula. While ketamine may act on many brain regions, we argue that its rapid antidepressant effects are critically dependent on ketamine's action in the lateral habenula, with this brain region acting as a primary site of action (or one among a few primary nodes). This molecular-, cellular-, and circuit-based mechanism advances our understanding of the etiology of depression and suggests a new conceptual framework for the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Cui
- Center for Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shaohua Hu
- Center for Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Brain Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Hailan Hu
- Center for Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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12
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Hong S, Amemori S, Chung E, Gibson DJ, Amemori KI, Graybiel AM. Predominant Striatal Input to the Lateral Habenula in Macaques Comes from Striosomes. Curr Biol 2018; 29:51-61.e5. [PMID: 30554903 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Striosomes, neurochemically specialized modules in the striatum, are thought to be nodes in circuits extending, via basal ganglia pathways, from mood-related neocortical regions to dopamine-containing neurons of the substantia nigra. Yet striosomes have remained beyond the reach of electrophysiological methods to identify them, especially in non-human primates. Such work is needed for translational as well as for basic science. Here we introduce a method to identify striosomes on-line in awake, behaving macaques. We combined electrical microstimulation of the striatum with simultaneous electrophysiological recording in the lateral habenula (LHb) followed by immunohistochemistry. We demonstrate that striosomes provide the predominant striatal input to the macaque pallido-habenular circuit, which is known to function in relation to reinforcement signaling. Further, our experiments suggest that striosomes from different striatal regions may convergently influence the lateral habenula. This work now opens the way to defining the functions of striosomes in behaving primates in relation to mood, motivation, and action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Hong
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Satoko Amemori
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Emily Chung
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Daniel J Gibson
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ken-Ichi Amemori
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research and Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 41-2 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Ann M Graybiel
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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13
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Weiss T, Bernard R, Bernstein HG, Veh RW, Laube G. Agmatine modulates spontaneous activity in neurons of the rat medial habenular complex-a relevant mechanism in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression? Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:201. [PMID: 30250120 PMCID: PMC6155246 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0254-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The dorsal diencephalic conduction system connects limbic forebrain structures to monaminergic mesencephalic nuclei via a distinct relay station, the habenular complexes. Both habenular nuclei, the lateral as well as the medial nucleus, are considered to play a prominent role in mental disorders like major depression. Herein, we investigate the effect of the polyamine agmatine on the electrical activity of neurons within the medial habenula in rat. We present evidence that agmatine strongly decreases spontaneous action potential firing of medial habenular neurons by activating I1-type imidazoline receptors. Additionally, we compare the expression patterns of agmatinase, an enzyme capable of inactivating agmatine, in rat and human habenula. In the medial habenula of both species, agmatinase is similarly distributed and observed in neurons and, in particular, in distinct neuropil areas. The putative relevance of these findings in the context of depression is discussed. It is concluded that increased activity of the agmatinergic system in the medial habenula may strengthen midbrain dopaminergic activity. Consequently, the habenular-interpeduncular axis may be dysregulated in patients with major depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Weiss
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Vegetative Anatomy, Berlin, Germany.
| | - René Bernard
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Klinik für Neurologie, Department of Experimental Neurology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans-Gert Bernstein
- 0000 0001 1018 4307grid.5807.aDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Rüdiger W. Veh
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Vegetative Anatomy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregor Laube
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Vegetative Anatomy, Berlin, Germany
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14
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Song MY, Li CY, Liu XF, Xiao JY, Zhao H. Effect of 17β-oestradiol on T-type calcium channels in the lateral habenula. J Neuroendocrinol 2018; 30:e12629. [PMID: 29917292 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
T-type calcium channels (T-channels) are critical for regulating neuronal excitability. Oestrogen alters neuronal excitability by modulating the expression of T-channels. The lateral habenula (LHb), as a link between the limbic system and midbrain structures, expresses T-channels and ERs. However, little is known about the role of oestrogen with respect to modulating T-channels in the LHb. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of T-channels in 3 LHb subregions (rostral, middle and caudal) in normal female rats. Next, we analysed the influence of 17β-oestradiol (E2 ) on T-channels in the LHb in ovariectomised (OVX) rats (oil and E2 groups) using whole-cell patch clamp recording and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In normal rats, the results obtained showed that the peak of T-type calcium current (IT ) was -474.61 ± 48.33 pA and IT density was -29.11 ± 1.93 pA/pF. The IT peak and IT density on LHb neurones gradually decreased across the rostrocaudal axis. The neuronal firing pattern varied depending on the location: burst firing was dominant (53.85%) in the rostral LHb, whereas tonic firing was dominant (79.31%) in the caudal LHb. In OVX rats, real-time PCR analysis revealed that E2 treatment decreased Cav3.3 mRNA expression in the caudal LHb. Patch clamp recording showed that E2 treatment decreased the peak IT and also reduced the low-threshold spikes (LTS) number, amplitude and width of LTS in the caudal LHb. Taken together, the results obtained in the present study suggest that E2 may inhibit T-channel activity by selectively down-regulating Cav3.3 calcium channel in the caudal LHb, leading to reduced the possibility of burst firing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Ying Song
- Neuroscience Research Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chun Ying Li
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiao Feng Liu
- Neuroscience Research Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jin Yu Xiao
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hua Zhao
- Neuroscience Research Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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15
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Ketamine blocks bursting in the lateral habenula to rapidly relieve depression. Nature 2018; 554:317-322. [PMID: 29446381 DOI: 10.1038/nature25509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 566] [Impact Index Per Article: 94.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine has attracted enormous interest in mental health research owing to its rapid antidepressant actions, but its mechanism of action has remained elusive. Here we show that blockade of NMDAR-dependent bursting activity in the 'anti-reward center', the lateral habenula (LHb), mediates the rapid antidepressant actions of ketamine in rat and mouse models of depression. LHb neurons show a significant increase in burst activity and theta-band synchronization in depressive-like animals, which is reversed by ketamine. Burst-evoking photostimulation of LHb drives behavioural despair and anhedonia. Pharmacology and modelling experiments reveal that LHb bursting requires both NMDARs and low-voltage-sensitive T-type calcium channels (T-VSCCs). Furthermore, local blockade of NMDAR or T-VSCCs in the LHb is sufficient to induce rapid antidepressant effects. Our results suggest a simple model whereby ketamine quickly elevates mood by blocking NMDAR-dependent bursting activity of LHb neurons to disinhibit downstream monoaminergic reward centres, and provide a framework for developing new rapid-acting antidepressants.
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Fakhoury M. The dorsal diencephalic conduction system in reward processing: Spotlight on the anatomy and functions of the habenular complex. Behav Brain Res 2018; 348:115-126. [PMID: 29684476 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal diencephalic conduction system (DDC) is a highly conserved pathway in vertebrates that provides a route for the neural information to flow from forebrain to midbrain structures. It contains the bilaterally paired habenular nuclei along with two fiber tracts, the stria medullaris and the fasciculus retroflexus. The habenula is the principal player in mediating the dialogue between forebrain and midbrain regions, and functional abnormalities in this structure have often been attributed to pathologies like mood disorders and substance use disorder. Following Matsumoto and Hikosaka seminal work on the lateral habenula as a source of negative reward signals, the last decade has witnessed a great surge of interest in the role of the DDC in reward-related processes. However, despite significant progress in research, much work remains to unfold the behavioral functions of this intriguing, yet complex, pathway. This review describes the current state of knowledge on the DDC with respect to its anatomy, connectivity, and functions in reward and aversion processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Fakhoury
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C3J7, Canada.
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17
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Authement ME, Langlois LD, Shepard RD, Browne CA, Lucki I, Kassis H, Nugent FS. A role for corticotropin-releasing factor signaling in the lateral habenula and its modulation by early-life stress. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/520/eaan6480. [PMID: 29511121 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aan6480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Centrally released corticotropin-releasing factor or hormone (extrahypothalamic CRF or CRH) in the brain is involved in the behavioral and emotional responses to stress. The lateral habenula (LHb) is an epithalamic brain region involved in value-based decision-making and stress evasion. Through its inhibition of dopamine-mediated reward circuitry, the increased activity of the LHb is associated with addiction, depression, schizophrenia, and behavioral disorders. We found that extrahypothalamic CRF neurotransmission increased neuronal excitability in the LHb. Through its receptor CRFR1 and subsequently protein kinase A (PKA), CRF application increased the intrinsic excitability of LHb neurons by affecting changes in small-conductance SK-type and large-conductance BK-type K+ channels. CRF also reduced inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid-containing (GABAergic) synaptic transmission onto LHb neurons through endocannabinoid-mediated retrograde signaling. Maternal deprivation is a severe early-life stress that alters CRF neural circuitry and is likewise associated with abnormal mental health later in life. LHb neurons from pups deprived of maternal care exhibited increased intrinsic excitability, reduced GABAergic transmission, decreased abundance of SK2 channel protein, and increased activity of PKA, without any substantial changes in Crh or Crhr1 expression. Furthermore, maternal deprivation blunted the response of LHb neurons to subsequent, acute CRF exposure. Activating SK channels or inhibiting postsynaptic PKA activity prevented the effects of both CRF and maternal deprivation on LHb intrinsic excitability, thus identifying potential pharmacological targets to reverse central CRF circuit dysregulation in patients with associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Authement
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Ludovic D Langlois
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Ryan D Shepard
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Caroline A Browne
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Haifa Kassis
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
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18
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Flanigan M, Aleyasin H, Takahashi A, Golden SA, Russo SJ. An emerging role for the lateral habenula in aggressive behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 162:79-86. [PMID: 28499809 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Inter-male aggression is an essential component of social behavior in organisms from insects to humans. However, when expressed inappropriately, aggression poses significant threats to the mental and physical health of both the aggressor and the target. Inappropriate aggression is a common feature of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders in humans and has been hypothesized to result from the atypical activation of reward circuitry in response to social targets. The lateral habenula (LHb) has recently been identified as a major node of the classical reward circuitry and inhibits the release of dopamine from the midbrain to signal negative valence. Here, we discuss the evidence linking LHb function to aggression and its valence, arguing that strong LHb outputs to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) are likely to play roles in aggression and its rewarding components. Future studies should aim to elucidate how various inputs and outputs of the LHb shape motivation and reward in the context of aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Flanigan
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hossein Aleyasin
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aki Takahashi
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Sam A Golden
- National Institute of Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Scott J Russo
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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D1-like dopamine receptor dysfunction in the lateral habenula nucleus increased anxiety-like behavior in rat. Neuroscience 2017; 340:542-550. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Neumann PA, Ishikawa M, Otaka M, Huang YH, Schlüter OM, Dong Y. Increased excitability of lateral habenula neurons in adolescent rats following cocaine self-administration. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyu109. [PMID: 25548105 PMCID: PMC4390528 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyu109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lateral habenula is a brain region that has been critically implicated in modulating negative emotional states and responses to aversive stimuli. Exposure to addictive drugs such as cocaine negatively impacts affective states, an effect persisting longer than acute drug effects. However, the mechanisms of this effect are poorly understood. We hypothesized that drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, may contribute to drug-induced negative affective states by altering the firing properties of lateral habenula neurons, thus changing the signaling patterns from the lateral habenula to downstream circuits. METHODS Using whole-cell current-clamp recording of acutely prepared brain slices of rats after various periods of withdrawal from cocaine self-administration, we characterized an important heterogeneous subregion of the lateral habenula based on membrane properties. RESULTS We found two major relevant neuronal subtypes: burst firing neurons and regular spiking neurons. We also found that lateral habenula regular spiking neurons had higher membrane excitability for at least 7 days following cocaine self-administration, likely due to a greater membrane resistance. Both the increase in lateral habenula excitability and membrane resistance returned to baseline when tested after a more prolonged period of 45 days of withdrawal. CONCLUSION This is the first study to look at intrinsic lateral habenula neuron properties following cocaine exposure beyond acute drug effects. These results may help to explain how cocaine and other drugs negatively impact affect states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Neumann
- Neuroscience Department (Drs Neumann, Ishikawa, Otaka, and Dong), and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Dr Huang); Molecular Neurobiology, European Neuroscience Institute, Göttingen, Germany (Dr Schlüter).
| | - Masago Ishikawa
- Neuroscience Department (Drs Neumann, Ishikawa, Otaka, and Dong), and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Dr Huang); Molecular Neurobiology, European Neuroscience Institute, Göttingen, Germany (Dr Schlüter)
| | - Mami Otaka
- Neuroscience Department (Drs Neumann, Ishikawa, Otaka, and Dong), and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Dr Huang); Molecular Neurobiology, European Neuroscience Institute, Göttingen, Germany (Dr Schlüter)
| | - Yanhua H Huang
- Neuroscience Department (Drs Neumann, Ishikawa, Otaka, and Dong), and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Dr Huang); Molecular Neurobiology, European Neuroscience Institute, Göttingen, Germany (Dr Schlüter)
| | - Oliver M Schlüter
- Neuroscience Department (Drs Neumann, Ishikawa, Otaka, and Dong), and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Dr Huang); Molecular Neurobiology, European Neuroscience Institute, Göttingen, Germany (Dr Schlüter)
| | - Yan Dong
- Neuroscience Department (Drs Neumann, Ishikawa, Otaka, and Dong), and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Dr Huang); Molecular Neurobiology, European Neuroscience Institute, Göttingen, Germany (Dr Schlüter).
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21
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Lecca S, Meye FJ, Mameli M. The lateral habenula in addiction and depression: an anatomical, synaptic and behavioral overview. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1170-8. [PMID: 24712996 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb) is an epithalamic region with a crucial role in the regulation of midbrain monoaminergic systems. Over the past few years a renewed interest in the LHb has emerged due to studies highlighting its central role in encoding rewarding and aversive aspects of stimuli. Moreover, an increasing number of functional as well as behavioral indications provide substantial evidence supporting a role of LHb in neuropsychiatric diseases, including mood disorders and drug addiction. Cellular and synaptic adaptations in the LHb may therefore represent a critical phenomenon in the etiology of these diseases. In the current review we describe the anatomical and functional connections allowing the LHb to control the dopamine and serotonin systems, as well as possible roles of these connections in motivated behaviors and neuropsychiatric disorders. Finally, we discuss how drug exposure and stressful conditions alter the cellular physiology of the LHb, highlighting a role for the LHb in the context of drug addiction and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Lecca
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005, Paris, France; Inserm, UMR-S 839, 75005, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
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22
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Sakhi K, Wegner S, Belle MDC, Howarth M, Delagrange P, Brown TM, Piggins HD. Intrinsic and extrinsic cues regulate the daily profile of mouse lateral habenula neuronal activity. J Physiol 2014; 592:5025-45. [PMID: 25194046 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.280065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithalamic lateral habenula (LHb) is implicated as part of the mammalian brain's circadian system. Anatomical evidence suggests that the LHb receives extrinsic circadian timing cues from retinal ganglion cells and the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). Intriguingly, some LHb neurones contain the molecular circadian clock, but it is unclear if and how intrinsic and extrinsic circadian processes influence neuronal activity in the mouse LHb. Here, using an in vitro brain slice preparation isolating the LHb from the SCN, we show through whole-cell patch-clamp recordings that LHb neurones exhibit heterogeneity in their resting state, but the majority spontaneously fire action potentials (APs). Discharge rate of APs varied from low firing in the early day to higher firing later in the day and was absent in LHb brain slices prepared from Cry1(-/-)Cry2(-/-) mice that lack a functional molecular clock. Low amplitude circadian oscillations in the molecular circadian clock were also monitored in LHb brain slices, but were absent in Cry1(-/-)Cry2(-/-) LHb brain tissue. A putative neurochemical output signal of the SCN, prokineticin 2 (PK2), inhibited some LHb neurones by elevating the frequency of GABA release in the LHb. Using multi-electrode recordings in vivo, we found that LHb neurones sluggishly respond to retinal illumination, suggesting that they receive such information through polysynaptic processes. In summary, our results show for the first time that intrinsic circadian signals are important for regulating LHb neuronal state, while the SCN-derived signal PK2 is less influential. Moreover, we demonstrate that mouse LHb neurones have access to and can respond to visual input, but such signals are unlikely to be directly communicated to the LHb. Broadly, these findings raise the possibility that intrinsic circadian signals are likely to be influential in shaping LHb contributions to cognition and emotionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanwal Sakhi
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sven Wegner
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Mino D C Belle
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Michael Howarth
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Philippe Delagrange
- Unité de Recherches et Découvertes en Neurosciences, Institut de Recherches Servier, 78290, Croissy-sur-Seine, France
| | - Timothy M Brown
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hugh D Piggins
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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23
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Meye FJ, Lecca S, Valentinova K, Mameli M. Synaptic and cellular profile of neurons in the lateral habenula. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:860. [PMID: 24379770 PMCID: PMC3863943 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb) is emerging as a crucial structure capable of conveying rewarding and aversive information. Recent evidence indicates that a rapid increase in the activity of LHb neurons drives negative states and avoidance. Furthermore, the hyperexcitability of neurons in the LHb, especially those projecting to the midbrain, may represent an important cellular correlate for neuropsychiatric disorders like depression and drug addiction. Despite the recent insights regarding the implications of the LHb in the context of reward and aversion, the exact nature of the synaptic and cellular players regulating LHb neuronal functions remains largely unknown. Here we focus on the synaptic and cellular physiology of LHb neurons. First, we discuss the properties of excitatory transmission and the implications of glutamate receptors for long-term synaptic plasticity; second, we review the features of GABAergic transmission onto LHb neurons; and finally, we describe the contribution that neuromodulators such as dopamine (DA) and serotonin may have for LHb neuronal physiology. We relate these findings to the role that the LHb can play in processing aversive and rewarding stimuli, both in health and disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank J Meye
- Institut du Fer à Moulin Paris, France ; INSERM, UMR-S 839 Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris, France
| | - Salvatore Lecca
- Institut du Fer à Moulin Paris, France ; INSERM, UMR-S 839 Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris, France
| | - Kristina Valentinova
- Institut du Fer à Moulin Paris, France ; INSERM, UMR-S 839 Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris, France
| | - Manuel Mameli
- Institut du Fer à Moulin Paris, France ; INSERM, UMR-S 839 Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris, France
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24
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Aizawa H, Cui W, Tanaka K, Okamoto H. Hyperactivation of the habenula as a link between depression and sleep disturbance. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:826. [PMID: 24339810 PMCID: PMC3857532 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression occurs frequently with sleep disturbance such as insomnia. Sleep in depression is associated with disinhibition of the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Despite the coincidence of the depression and sleep disturbance, neural substrate for depressive behaviors and sleep regulation remains unknown. Habenula is an epithalamic structure regulating the activities of monoaminergic neurons in the brain stem. Since the imaging studies showed blood flow increase in the habenula of depressive patients, hyperactivation of the habenula has been implicated in the pathophysiology of the depression. Recent electrophysiological studies reported a novel role of the habenular structure in regulation of REM sleep. In this article, we propose possible cellular mechanisms which could elicit the hyperactivation of the habenular neurons and a hypothesis that dysfunction in the habenular circuit causes the behavioral and sleep disturbance in depression. Analysis of the animals with hyperactivated habenula would open the door to understand roles of the habenula in the heterogeneous symptoms such as reduced motor behavior and altered REM sleep in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Aizawa
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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25
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Abstract
The development and the ionic nature of bistable behavior in lumbar motoneurons were investigated in rats. One week after birth, almost all (∼80%) ankle extensor motoneurons recorded in whole-cell configuration displayed self-sustained spiking in response to a brief depolarization that emerged when the temperature was raised >30°C. The effect of L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers on self-sustained spiking was variable, whereas blockade of the persistent sodium current (I(NaP)) abolished them. When hyperpolarized, bistable motoneurons displayed a characteristic slow afterdepolarization (sADP). The sADPs generated by repeated depolarizing pulses summed to promote a plateau potential. The sADP was tightly associated with the emergence of Ca(2+) spikes. Substitution of extracellular Na(+) or chelation of intracellular Ca(2+) abolished both sADP and the plateau potential without affecting Ca(2+) spikes. These data suggest a key role of a Ca(2+)-activated nonselective cation conductance ((CaN)) in generating the plateau potential. In line with this, the blockade of (CaN) by flufenamate abolished both sADP and plateau potentials. Furthermore, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), a common activator of thermo-sensitive vanilloid transient receptor potential (TRPV) cation channels, promoted the sADP. Among TRPV channels, only the selective activation of TRPV2 channels by probenecid promoted the sADP to generate a plateau potential. To conclude, bistable behaviors are, to a large extent, determined by the interplay between three currents: L-type I(Ca), I(NaP), and a Na(+)-mediated I(CaN) flowing through putative TRPV2 channels.
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26
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Electrical stimulation of lateral habenula during learning: frequency-dependent effects on acquisition but not retrieval of a two-way active avoidance response. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65684. [PMID: 23840355 PMCID: PMC3695985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb) is an epithalamic structure involved in signaling reward omission and aversive stimuli, and it inhibits dopaminergic neurons during motivated behavior. Less is known about LHb involvement in the acquisition and retrieval of avoidance learning. Our previous studies indicated that brief electrical stimulation of the LHb, time-locked to the avoidance of aversive footshock (presumably during the positive affective “relief” state that occurs when an aversive outcome is averted), inhibited the acquisition of avoidance learning. In the present study, we used the same paradigm to investigate different frequencies of LHb stimulation. The effect of 20 Hz vs. 50 Hz vs. 100 Hz stimulation was investigated during two phases, either during acquisition or retrieval in Mongolian gerbils. The results indicated that 50 Hz, but not 20 Hz, was sufficient to produce a long-term impairment in avoidance learning, and was somewhat more effective than 100 Hz in this regard. None of the stimulation parameters led to any effects on retrieval of avoidance learning, nor did they affect general motor activity. This suggests that, at frequencies in excess of the observed tonic firing rates of LHb neurons (>1–20 Hz), LHb stimulation may serve to interrupt the consolidation of new avoidance memories. However, these stimulation parameters are not capable of modifying avoidance memories that have already undergone extensive consolidation.
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27
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Cocaine drives aversive conditioning via delayed activation of dopamine-responsive habenular and midbrain pathways. J Neurosci 2013; 33:7501-12. [PMID: 23616555 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3634-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many strong rewards, including abused drugs, also produce aversive effects that are poorly understood. For example, cocaine can produce aversive conditioning after its rewarding effects have dissipated, consistent with opponent process theory, but the neural mechanisms involved are not well known. Using electrophysiological recordings in awake rats, we found that some neurons in the lateral habenula (LHb), where activation produces aversive conditioning, exhibited biphasic responses to single doses of intravenous cocaine, with an initial inhibition followed by delayed excitation paralleling cocaine's shift from rewarding to aversive. Recordings in LHb slice preparations revealed similar cocaine-induced biphasic responses and further demonstrated that biphasic responses were mimicked by dopamine, that the inhibitory phase depended on dopamine D2-like receptors, and that the delayed excitation persisted after drug washout for prolonged durations consistent with findings in vivo. c-Fos experiments further showed that cocaine-activated LHb neurons preferentially projected to and activated neurons in the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), a recently identified target of LHb axons that is activated by negative motivational stimuli and inhibits dopamine neurons. Finally, pharmacological excitation of the RMTg produced conditioned place aversion, whereas cocaine-induced avoidance behaviors in a runway operant paradigm were abolished by lesions of LHb efferents, lesions of the RMTg, or by optogenetic inactivation of the RMTg selectively during the period when LHb neurons are activated by cocaine. Together, these results indicate that LHb/RMTg pathways contribute critically to cocaine-induced avoidance behaviors, while also participating in reciprocally inhibitory interactions with dopamine neurons.
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28
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Kim U, Lee T. Topography of descending projections from anterior insular and medial prefrontal regions to the lateral habenula of the epithalamus in the rat. Eur J Neurosci 2012; 35:1253-69. [PMID: 22512256 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08030.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The epithalamic lateral nucleus of the habenula (LHb) plays a key role in regulating firing of dopamine and serotonin neurons in the midbrain and is thereby involved in various cognitive and affective behaviors. It is not yet clear, however, from where the LHb receives cognitive and affective information relevant to its regulation of the midbrain monoaminergic systems. The prefrontal cortex would be among the ideal sources. Here, using anterograde and retrograde tracer injections in the rat brain, we characterized the topography of the corticohabenular projections. Following injections of cholera toxin subunit B into the LHb, retrogradely labeled neurons were produced in the anterior insular, cingulate, prelimbic and infralimbic cortices. Consistent with this retrograde tracing, injections of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into these cortical regions labeled robust terminals in the LHb. Our quantification of the BDA-impregnated varicosities revealed that projections from the anterior insula terminated mainly in the intersection regions of the lateral and ventral two-thirds of the LHb, while projections from the cingulate cortex terminated mainly in the lateral two-thirds of the LHb. By comparison, BDA-labeled terminals originating from the medial prefrontal regions were contained mainly in the medial plus ventral one-third of LHb. Based on these data, we hypothesize that LHb provides a link for conveying cognitive and affective information from prefrontal and insular regions to the midbrain monoaminergic centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uhnoh Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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Kuo SP, Lu HW, Trussell LO. Intrinsic and synaptic properties of vertical cells of the mouse dorsal cochlear nucleus. J Neurophysiol 2012; 108:1186-98. [PMID: 22572947 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00778.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple classes of inhibitory interneurons shape the activity of principal neurons of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), a primary target of auditory nerve fibers in the mammalian brain stem. Feedforward inhibition mediated by glycinergic vertical cells (also termed tuberculoventral or corn cells) is thought to contribute importantly to the sound-evoked response properties of principal neurons, but the cellular and synaptic properties that determine how vertical cells function are unclear. We used transgenic mice in which glycinergic neurons express green fluorescent protein (GFP) to target vertical cells for whole cell patch-clamp recordings in acute slices of DCN. We found that vertical cells express diverse intrinsic spiking properties and could fire action potentials at high, sustained spiking rates. Using paired recordings, we directly examined synapses made by vertical cells onto fusiform cells, a primary DCN principal cell type. Vertical cell synapses produced unexpectedly small-amplitude unitary currents in fusiform cells, and additional experiments indicated that multiple vertical cells must be simultaneously active to inhibit fusiform cell spike output. Paired recordings also revealed that a major source of inhibition to vertical cells comes from other vertical cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidney P Kuo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Weiss T, Veh RW. Morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of neurons within identified subnuclei of the lateral habenula in rat brain slices. Neuroscience 2010; 172:74-93. [PMID: 20974229 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2010] [Revised: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 10/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Based on the specificity of its inputs and targets, the lateral habenular complex (LHb) constitutes a pivotal motor-limbic interface implicated in various cerebral functions particularly in regulating monoamine transmission. Despite its functional significance, cellular characteristics underlying LHb functionality have not been examined systematically. The present study aimed to correlate morphological and electrophysiological properties of neurons within the different subnuclei of the LHb using whole-cell recording and neurobiotin labeling in rat slice preparations. Morphological analysis revealed a heterogeneous population of projection neurons randomly distributed throughout the LHb. According to somatodendritic characteristics four main categories were classified including spherical, fusiform, polymorphic and vertical cells. Electrophysiological characterization of neurons within the different categories demonstrated homologous profiles and no significant differences between groups. Typically, LHb neurons possessed high input resistances and long membrane time constants. They also displayed time-dependent inward rectification and distinct afterhyperpolarization. A salient electrophysiological feature of LHb neurons was their ability to generate rebound bursts of action potentials in response to membrane hyperpolarization. Based on the pattern of spontaneous activity, neurons were classified as silent, tonic or bursting. The occurrence of distinctive firing modes was not related to topographic allocation. The patterns of spontaneous firing and evoked discharge were highly sensitive to alterations in membrane potential and merged upon de- and hyperpolarizing current injection and synaptic stimulation. Besides projection neurons, recordings revealed the existence of a subpopulation of cells possessing morphological and physiological properties of neocortical neurogliaform cells. They were considered to be interneurons. Our data suggest that neurons within the different LHb subnuclei behave electrophysiologically more similar than expected, considering their morphological heterogeneity. We conclude that the formation of functional neuronal entities within the LHb may be achieved through defined synaptic inputs to particular neurons, rather than by individual neuronal morphologies and intrinsic membrane properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Weiss
- Institut für Integrative Neuroanatomie, Centrum für Anatomie, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Kowski A, Veh R, Weiss T. Dopaminergic activation excites rat lateral habenular neurons in vivo. Neuroscience 2009; 161:1154-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2009] [Revised: 04/07/2009] [Accepted: 04/09/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Kim U. Topographic commissural and descending projections of the habenula in the rat. J Comp Neurol 2009; 513:173-87. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.21951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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33
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Cueni L, Canepari M, Adelman JP, Lüthi A. Ca2+ signaling by T-type Ca2+ channels in neurons. Pflugers Arch 2008; 457:1161-72. [DOI: 10.1007/s00424-008-0582-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2008] [Accepted: 08/15/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Kim U, Chung LY. Dual GABAergic synaptic response of fast excitation and slow inhibition in the medial habenula of rat epithalamus. J Neurophysiol 2007; 98:1323-32. [PMID: 17615126 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00575.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We report here a novel action of GABAergic synapses in regulating tonic firing in the mammalian brain. By using gramicidin-perforated patch recording in rat brain slices, we show that cells of the medial habenula of the epithalamus generate tonic firing in basal conditions. The GABAergic input onto these cells at postnatal days 18-25 generates a combinatorial activation of fast excitation and slow inhibition. The fast excitation, mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA A Rs), is alone capable of triggering robust action potentials to increase cell firing. This excitatory influence of GABAergic input results from the Cl(-) homeostasis that maintains intracellular Cl(-) at high levels. The GABA A excitation is often followed by a slow inhibition mediated by GABA B Rs that suppresses tonic firing. Interestingly, in a subpopulation of the cells, the GABA B inhibition exhibits a remarkably low threshold for synaptic activation in that low-strength GABAergic input often activates selectively the GABA B slow inhibition, whereas the GABA A excitation requires further increases in stimulus strength. Our study demonstrates that the dual activation of GABAergic excitation and inhibition through GABA A Rs and GABA B Rs generates distinct temporal patterns of cell firing that alter the cellular output in an activity-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uhnoh Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA.
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Lecourtier L, Kelly PH. A conductor hidden in the orchestra? Role of the habenular complex in monoamine transmission and cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2007; 31:658-72. [PMID: 17379307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2006] [Revised: 01/09/2007] [Accepted: 01/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Influences of the habenular complex on electrophysiological and neurochemical aspects of brain functioning are well known. However, its role in cognition has been sparsely investigated until recently. The habenular complex, composed of medial and lateral subdivisions, is a node linking the forebrain with midbrain and hindbrain structures. The lateral habenula is the principal actor in this direct dialogue, while the medial habenula mostly conveys information to the interpeduncular nucleus before this modulates further regions. Here we describe neuroanatomical and physiological aspects of the habenular complex, and its role in cognitive processes, including new behavioral, electrophysiological and imaging findings. Habenular complex lesions result in deficits in learning, memory and attention, some of which decline during repeated testing, while others become worse, consistent with multiple roles in cognition. The habenular complex is particularly responsive to feedback about errors. Electrophysiological studies indicate a role in metaplasticity, the modulation of neuroplasticity. These studies thus reveal important roles of the habenular complex in learning, memory and attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Lecourtier
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 446 Crawford Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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Tavakoli-Nezhad M, Schwartz WJ. Hamsters running on time: is the lateral habenula a part of the clock? Chronobiol Int 2006; 23:217-24. [PMID: 16687295 DOI: 10.1080/07420520500521947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Previous anatomical and physiological studies have implicated the lateral habenula, and especially its medial division (LHbM), as a candidate component of the circadian timing system in rodents. We assayed lateral habenula rhythmicity in rodents using c-FOS immunohistochemistry and found a robust rhythm in immunoreactive cell counts in the LHbM, with higher counts during the dark phase of a light-dark (LD) cycle and during subjective night in constant darkness. We have also observed an obvious asymmetry of c-FOS expression in the LHbM of behaviorally "split" hamsters in constant light, but only during their active phase (when they were running in wheels). Locomotor activity rhythms appear to be regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) via multiple output pathways, one of which might be diffusible while the other might be neural, involving the lateral habenula.
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Sharp PE, Turner-Williams S, Tuttle S. Movement-related correlates of single cell activity in the interpeduncular nucleus and habenula of the rat during a pellet-chasing task. Behav Brain Res 2005; 166:55-70. [PMID: 16143407 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2005.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2004] [Revised: 06/21/2005] [Accepted: 07/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The habenula and interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) are part of a dorsal diencephalic conduction system which receives input from cholinergic, striatal, and hypothalamic areas, and sends output to several, disparate midbrain regions. These output regions include the dorsal tegmental nucleus, which is part of a navigation-related system that provides a signal for directional heading. The habenula and IPN also project to the dorsal and medial Raphe nuclei, thought to be involved in mood and behavioral state regulation. Here, cells in both the habenula and IPN were recorded in freely moving rats while they foraged for food pellets. There were four major findings. First, many of the cells tended to fire in sporadic bouts of relatively high versus low rates, and this may be related to intrinsic cell properties discovered during in vitro studies. Second, although these regions are connected to the direction signaling circuit, they do not, themselves demonstrate a directional signal. Third, about 10% of the cells in the lateral habenula showed a strong correlation between rate and angular head motion. This may constitute an important, requisite input to the above-mentioned head direction circuit. Finally, many of the cells in each region showed a temporally coarse correlation with running speed, so that bouts of high frequency firing coincided with episodes of higher behavioral activation. This last finding may be related to work which shows an influence of the habenula on locomotor activity, and in relation to the protective effects of exercise in relation to stress, as mediated by the Raphe nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia E Sharp
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA.
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Kim U, Chang SY. Dendritic morphology, local circuitry, and intrinsic electrophysiology of neurons in the rat medial and lateral habenular nuclei of the epithalamus. J Comp Neurol 2005; 483:236-50. [PMID: 15678472 DOI: 10.1002/cne.20410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The habenular complex of the epithalamus in the mammalian brain receives input from the limbic forebrain and pallidum and, in turn, projects to numerous midbrain structures. Traditionally, the habenular complex is divided into the medial nucleus and two divisions of the lateral nucleus. Based on their distinct input and output pathways, the habenula is considered to constitute three, partially overlapping channels that regulate information flow from the limbic forebrain and pallidum to the midbrain. As a step to improve our understanding of how information delivered from the limbic forebrain and pallidum is processed in the habenula, we examined the electrical property and morphology of medial and lateral habenular cells. For this study, we generated live brain slices from rat habenula and performed whole cell recording. During recording, we filled habenular cells with biocytin. Medial habenular cells generate tonic trains of action potentials, whereas lateral habenular cells are capable of producing action potentials in burst mode. Lateral habenular cells produce dendrites that are much longer than those of medial habenular cells. Two distinct intrinsic circuits exist in the medial habenular nucleus, whereas in the lateral habenular nucleus, intrinsic axons travel largely from medial to lateral direction. The connection between the two habenular nuclei is asymmetrical in that only the medial habenula sends projection to the lateral habenula. The differences in the electrical and morphological properties of medial and lateral habenular cells indicate that the two nuclei process and integrate information in distinct fashions that is delivered from the limbic forebrain and pallidum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uhnoh Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, IA 50011-1250, USA.
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