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Gao H, Wang J, Zhang R, Luo T. Recent advances in neural mechanism of general anesthesia induced unconsciousness: insights from optogenetics and chemogenetics. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1360864. [PMID: 38655183 PMCID: PMC11035785 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1360864] [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: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
For over 170 years, general anesthesia has played a crucial role in clinical practice, yet a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the induction of unconsciousness by general anesthetics remains elusive. Ongoing research into these mechanisms primarily centers around the brain nuclei and neural circuits associated with sleep-wake. In this context, two sophisticated methodologies, optogenetics and chemogenetics, have emerged as vital tools for recording and modulating the activity of specific neuronal populations or circuits within distinct brain regions. Recent advancements have successfully employed these techniques to investigate the impact of general anesthesia on various brain nuclei and neural pathways. This paper provides an in-depth examination of the use of optogenetic and chemogenetic methodologies in studying the effects of general anesthesia on specific brain nuclei and pathways. Additionally, it discusses in depth the advantages and limitations of these two methodologies, as well as the issues that must be considered for scientific research applications. By shedding light on these facets, this paper serves as a valuable reference for furthering the accurate exploration of the neural mechanisms underlying general anesthesia. It aids researchers and clinicians in effectively evaluating the applicability of these techniques in advancing scientific research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Gao
- School of Anesthesiology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Anesthesiology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Tao Luo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Zhao YN, Jiang JB, Tao SY, Zhang Y, Chen ZK, Qu WM, Huang ZL, Yang SR. GABAergic neurons in the rostromedial tegmental nucleus are essential for rapid eye movement sleep suppression. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7552. [PMID: 36477665 PMCID: PMC9729601 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35299-x] [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: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbances are prevalent in various psychiatric disorders. However, the neural circuits that regulate REM sleep remain poorly understood. Here, we found that in male mice, optogenetic activation of rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) GABAergic neurons immediately converted REM sleep to arousal and then initiated non-REM (NREM) sleep. Conversely, laser-mediated inactivation completely converted NREM to REM sleep and prolonged REM sleep duration. The activity of RMTg GABAergic neurons increased to a high discharge level at the termination of REM sleep. RMTg GABAergic neurons directly converted REM sleep to wakefulness and NREM sleep via inhibitory projections to the laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT) and lateral hypothalamus (LH), respectively. Furthermore, LDT glutamatergic neurons were responsible for the REM sleep-wake transitions following photostimulation of the RMTgGABA-LDT circuit. Thus, RMTg GABAergic neurons are essential for suppressing the induction and maintenance of REM sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Zhao
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Jian-Bo Jiang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Shi-Yuan Tao
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Yang Zhang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Ze-Ka Chen
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Wei-Min Qu
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Su-Rong Yang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
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Lee SM, Jang HB, Fan Y, Lee BH, Kim SC, Bills KB, Steffensen SC, Kim HY. Nociceptive Stimuli Activate the Hypothalamus-Habenula Circuit to Inhibit the Mesolimbic Reward System and Cocaine-Seeking Behaviors. J Neurosci 2022; 42:9180-9192. [PMID: 36280259 PMCID: PMC9761669 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0577-22.2022] [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: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nociceptive signals interact with various regions of the brain, including those involved in physical sensation, reward, cognition, and emotion. Emerging evidence points to a role of nociception in the modulation of the mesolimbic reward system. The mechanism by which nociception affects dopamine (DA) signaling and reward is unclear. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) and the lateral habenula (LHb) receive somatosensory inputs and are structurally connected with the mesolimbic DA system. Here, we show that the LH-LHb pathway is necessary for nociceptive modulation of this system using male Sprague Dawley rats. Our extracellular single-unit recordings and head-mounted microendoscopic calcium imaging revealed that nociceptive stimulation by tail pinch excited LHb and LH neurons, which was inhibited by chemical lesion of the LH. Tail pinch increased activity of GABA neurons in ventral tegmental area, decreased the extracellular DA level in the nucleus accumbens ventrolateral shell in intact rats, and reduced cocaine-increased DA concentration, which was blocked by disruption of the LH. Furthermore, tail pinch attenuated cocaine-induced locomotor activity, 22 and 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, which was inhibited by chemogenetic silencing of the LH-LHb pathway. Our findings suggest that nociceptive stimulation recruits the LH-LHb pathway to inhibit mesolimbic DA system and drug reinstatement.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The LHb and the LH have been implicated in processing nociceptive signals and modulating DA release in the mesolimbic DA system. Here, we show that the LH-LHb pathway is critical for nociception-induced modulation of mesolimbic DA release and cocaine reinstatement. Nociceptive stimulation alleviates extracellular DA release in the mesolimbic DA system, cocaine-induced psychomotor activities, and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behaviors through the LH-LHb pathway. These findings provide novel evidence for sensory modulation of the mesolimbic DA system and drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Min Lee
- Emotion, Cognition & Behavior Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu 41062, South Korea
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 42158, South Korea
| | - Han Byeol Jang
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 42158, South Korea
| | - Yu Fan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 42158, South Korea
| | - Bong Hyo Lee
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 42158, South Korea
| | - Sang Chan Kim
- Medical Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan 38610, South Korea
| | - Kyle B Bills
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, Provo, Utah 84606
| | - Scott C Steffensen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
| | - Hee Young Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, South Korea
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Zhao YN, Zhang Y, Tao SY, Huang ZL, Qu WM, Yang SR. Whole-Brain Monosynaptic Afferents to Rostromedial Tegmental Nucleus Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid-Releasing Neurons in Mice. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:914300. [PMID: 35733933 PMCID: PMC9207306 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.914300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence has revealed that the rostromedial tegmental area (RMTg) mediates many behaviors, including sleep and addiction. However, presynaptic patterns governing the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid-releasing (GABAergic) neurons, the main neuronal type in the RMTg, have not been defined. Here, we used cell-type-specific retrograde trans-synaptic rabies viruses to map and quantify the monosynaptic afferents to RMTg GABAergic neurons in mouse whole brains. We identified 71 ascending projection brain regions. Sixty-eight percent of the input neurons arise from the ipsilateral and 32% from the contralateral areas of the brain. The first three strongest projection regions were the ipsilateral lateral hypothalamus, zone incerta, and contralateral pontine reticular nucleus. Immunohistochemistry imaging showed that the input neurons in the dorsal raphe, laterodorsal tegmentum, and dorsal part of zone incerta were colocalized with serotoninergic, cholinergic, and neuronal nitric oxide synthetase-expressing neurons, respectively. However, in the lateral hypothalamus, a few input neurons innervating RMTg GABAergic neurons colocalized orexinergic neurons but lacked colocalization of melanin-concentrating hormone neurons. Our findings provide anatomical evidence to understand how RMTg GABAergic neurons integrate diverse information to exert varied functions.
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Zheng L, Wang Z, Liu Y, Zhao J, Huang S. Activation of the RMTg Nucleus by Chemogenetic Techniques Alleviates the Learning and Memory Impairment in APP/PS1 Mice. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2022; 18:2957-2965. [PMID: 36573138 PMCID: PMC9789721 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s388832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is a relationship between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) is activated can enhance NREM. Therefore, our experiment was designed to investigate the effects of activation of RMTg by chemical genetic techniques on APP/PS1 mice learning and memory. MATERIALS AND METHODS After the AAV-hSyn-hM3Dq-mCherry virus was injected into the RMTg nucleus, CNO solution was intraperitoneally injected to activate RMTg. The new object test and Morris water maze were used to determine the learning and memory level; T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) scanning was performed to analyze the volume of hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of each group; The virus transfection status was determined by laser confocal microscope and use immunohistochemical detection to observe the deposition of Beta Amyloid 1-42 (Aβ42). RESULTS Activation of RMTg by chemical genetic techniques can reduce the escape latency and increase discrimination index (RI) and the number of crossing platform; Activation of RMTg by chemical genetic techniques reduced the atrophy of the entorhinal cortex. Aβ42 deposition in the brain was decreased after activation of RMTg. CONCLUSION Activation of the RMTg nucleus by chemogenetic techniques can improve the learning and memory impairment in APP/PS1 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zheng
- Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.,College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenjie Wang
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujia Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiapei Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xiamen Fifth Hospital, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Saie Huang
- Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
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Jhou TC. The rostromedial tegmental (RMTg) "brake" on dopamine and behavior: A decade of progress but also much unfinished work. Neuropharmacology 2021; 198:108763. [PMID: 34433088 PMCID: PMC8593889 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Between 2005 and 2009, several research groups identified a strikingly dense inhibitory input to midbrain dopamine neurons arising from a previously uncharted region posterior to the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This region is now denoted as either the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) or the "tail of the VTA" (tVTA), and is recognized to express distinct genetic markers, encode negative "prediction errors" (inverse to dopamine neurons), and play critical roles in behavioral inhibition and punishment learning. RMTg neurons are also influenced by many categories of abused drugs, and may drive some aversive responses to such drugs, particularly cocaine and alcohol. However, despite much progress, many important questions remain about RMTg molecular/genetic properties, diversity of projection targets, and applications to addiction, depression, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. This article is part of the special Issue on 'Neurocircuitry Modulating Drug and Alcohol Abuse'.
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