1
|
Cruz APM, Castro-Gomes V, Landeira-Fernandez J. An animal model of trait anxiety: Carioca high freezing rats as a model of generalized anxiety disorder. Personal Neurosci 2024; 7:e6. [PMID: 38384665 PMCID: PMC10877273 DOI: 10.1017/pen.2023.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Despite being one of the main components of anxiety and playing a pivotal role in how an individual perceives and copes with anxiogenic situations or responds to a given treatment, trait anxiety is paradoxically omitted in most animal models of anxiety. This is problematic and particularly more concerning in models that are used to screen drugs and other treatments for specific anxiety disorders and to investigate their neurobiological mechanisms. Our group has been engaged in the search for specific anxiety-related traits in animal models of anxiety. We developed two new lines of rats with strong phenotypic divergence for high (Carioca High-conditioned Freezing [CHF]) and low (Carioca Low-conditioned Freezing [CLF]) trait anxiety as expressed in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. Here, we summarize key behavioral, pharmacological, physiological, and neurobiological differences in one these lines, the CHF rat line, relative to randomized-cross controls and discuss how far they represent a valid and reliable animal model of generalized anxiety disorder and so high trait anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pedro Mello Cruz
- Laboratory of Psychobiology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Vitor Castro-Gomes
- Institute of Psychology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - J. Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abdelhadi S, Nordlind K, Johansson B, Theodorsson E, Holst M, Lönndahl L. Expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in atopic dermatitis and correlation with distress. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2024; 46:67-72. [PMID: 37676055 DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2023.2253988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory, often severely itching skin disorder. It may worsen due to stress, depression, or anxiety. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) may be involved in inflammation signaling. CGRP has also been suggested in relation to stress, depression, and anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the expression of CGRP in the skin of patients with AD. METHODS Twenty-seven adult patients with AD, characterized with clinical and psychodemographic parameters, were investigated regarding CGRP expression in skin biopsies, using an immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS The total number of CGRP-positive nerve-like fibers was found to be higher in lesional skin than in non-lesional skin. Moreover, more inflammatory cells of dendritic shape intruded into the epidermis in lesional skin compared to non-lesional skin. Keratinocytes showing expression of CGRP were also found in lesional skin. Interestingly, the number of CGRP-positive nerve-like fibers in lesional skin correlated with depressive and anxiety scores. Correlation with depressive score was also found for round CGRP-positive inflammatory cells in the epidermis. CONCLUSIONS CGRP may have a role in both the inflammatory process and distress, in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saly Abdelhadi
- Dermatology and Venereology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klas Nordlind
- Dermatology and Venereology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Johansson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elvar Theodorsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mikael Holst
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Louise Lönndahl
- Dermatology and Venereology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao H, Zhou M, Liu Y, Jiang J, Wang Y. Recent advances in anxiety disorders: Focus on animal models and pathological mechanisms. Animal Model Exp Med 2023; 6:559-572. [PMID: 38013621 PMCID: PMC10757213 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders have become one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, and the incidence is increasing every year. They impose an extraordinary personal and socioeconomic burden. Anxiety disorders are influenced by multiple complex and interacting genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors, which contribute to disruption or imbalance in homeostasis and eventually cause pathologic anxiety. The selection of a suitable animal model is important for the exploration of disease etiology and pathophysiology, and the development of new drugs. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages and limitations of existing animal models of anxiety disorders is helpful to further study the underlying pathological mechanisms of the disease. This review summarizes animal models and the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, and discusses the current research status to provide insights for further study of anxiety disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongqing Zhao
- Science & technology innovation centerHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaChina
| | - Mi Zhou
- Science & technology innovation centerHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaChina
| | - Yang Liu
- Science & technology innovation centerHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaChina
| | - Jiaqi Jiang
- Science & technology innovation centerHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaChina
| | - Yuhong Wang
- Science & technology innovation centerHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaChina
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tringali G, Lavanco G, Castelli V, Pizzolanti G, Kuchar M, Currò D, Cannizzaro C, Brancato A. Cannabidiol tempers alcohol intake and neuroendocrine and behavioural correlates in alcohol binge drinking adolescent rats. Focus on calcitonin gene-related peptide's brain levels. Phytother Res 2023; 37:4870-4884. [PMID: 37525534 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol binge drinking is common among adolescents and may challenge the signalling systems that process affective stimuli, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) signalling. Here, we employed a rat model of adolescent binge drinking to evaluate reward-, social- and aversion-related behaviour, glucocorticoid output and CGRP levels in affect-related brain regions. As a potential rescue, the effect of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol was explored. Adolescent male rats underwent the intermittent 20% alcohol two-bottle choice paradigm; at the binge day (BD) and the 24 h withdrawal day (WD), we assessed CGRP expression in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), amygdala, hypothalamus and brainstem; in addition, we evaluated sucrose preference, social motivation and drive, nociceptive response, and serum corticosterone levels. Cannabidiol (40 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered before each drinking session, and its effect was measured on the above-mentioned readouts. At BD and WD, rats displayed decreased CGRP expression in mPFC, NAc and amygdala; increased CGRP levels in the brainstem; increased response to rewarding- and nociceptive stimuli and decreased social drive; reduced serum corticosterone levels. Cannabidiol reduced alcohol consumption and preference; normalised the abnormal corticolimbic CGRP expression, and the reward and aversion-related hyper-responsivity, as well as glucocorticoid levels in alcohol binge-like drinking rats. Overall, CGRP can represent both a mediator and a target of alcohol binge-like drinking and provides a further piece in the intricate puzzle of alcohol-induced behavioural and neuroendocrine sequelae. CBD shows promising effects in limiting adolescent alcohol binge drinking and rebalancing the bio-behavioural abnormalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Tringali
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Lavanco
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of Excellence "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valentina Castelli
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pizzolanti
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of Excellence "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Martin Kuchar
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czechia
- Psychedelics Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Prague, Czechia
| | - Diego Currò
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Cannizzaro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Brancato
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of Excellence "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lages YV, Balthazar L, Krahe TE, Landeira-Fernandez J. Pharmacological and Physiological Correlates of the Bidirectional Fear Phenotype of the Carioca Rats and Other Bidirectionally Selected Lines. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1864-1883. [PMID: 36237160 PMCID: PMC10514533 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666221012121534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Carioca rat lines originated from the selective bidirectional breeding of mates displaying extreme defense responses to contextual conditioned fear. After three generations, two distinct populations could be distinguished: the Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing rats, CHF, and CLF, respectively. Later studies identified strong anxiety-like behaviors in the CHF line, while indications of impulsivity and hyperactivity were prominent in the CLF animals. The present review details the physiological and pharmacological-related findings obtained from these lines. The results discussed here point towards a dysfunctional fear circuitry in CHF rats, including alterations in key brain structures and the serotoninergic system. Moreover, data from these animals highlight important alterations in the stress-processing machinery and its associated systems, such as energy metabolism and antioxidative defense. Finally, evidence of an alteration in the dopaminergic pathway in CLF rats is also debated. Thus, accumulating data gathered over the years, place the Carioca lines as significant animal models for the study of psychiatric disorders, especially fear-related ones like anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yury V. Lages
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Laura Balthazar
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Biology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thomas. E. Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J. Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kupcova I, Danisovic L, Grgac I, Harsanyi S. Anxiety and Depression: What Do We Know of Neuropeptides? Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12080262. [PMID: 36004833 PMCID: PMC9405013 DOI: 10.3390/bs12080262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In modern society, there has been a rising trend of depression and anxiety. This trend heavily impacts the population’s mental health and thus contributes significantly to morbidity and, in the worst case, to suicides. Modern medicine, with many antidepressants and anxiolytics at hand, is still unable to achieve remission in many patients. The pathophysiology of depression and anxiety is still only marginally understood, which encouraged researchers to focus on neuropeptides, as they are a vast group of signaling molecules in the nervous system. Neuropeptides are involved in the regulation of many physiological functions. Some act as neuromodulators and are often co-released with neurotransmitters that allow for reciprocal communication between the brain and the body. Most studied in the past were the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of oxytocin, vasopressin or neuropeptide Y and S, or Substance P. However, in recent years, more and more novel neuropeptides have been added to the list, with implications for the research and development of new targets, diagnostic elements, and even therapies to treat anxiety and depressive disorders. In this review, we take a close look at all currently studied neuropeptides, their related pathways, their roles in stress adaptation, and the etiology of anxiety and depression in humans and animal models. We will focus on the latest research and information regarding these associated neuropeptides and thus picture their potential uses in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ida Kupcova
- Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (I.K.); (L.D.)
| | - Lubos Danisovic
- Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (I.K.); (L.D.)
| | - Ivan Grgac
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Stefan Harsanyi
- Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (I.K.); (L.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-2-59357-299
| |
Collapse
|