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Talani G, Licheri V, Biggio F, Locci V, Mostallino MC, Secci PP, Melis V, Dazzi L, Carta G, Banni S, Biggio G, Sanna E. Enhanced Glutamatergic Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampal CA1 Field of Food-Restricted Rats: Involvement of CB1 Receptors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:1308-18. [PMID: 26354043 PMCID: PMC4793114 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The endogenous endocannabinoid system has a crucial role in regulating appetite and feeding behavior in mammals, as well as working memory and reward mechanisms. In order to elucidate the possible role of cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1Rs) in the regulation of hippocampal plasticity in animals exposed to food restriction (FR), we limited the availability of food to a 2-h daily period for 3 weeks in Sprague-Dawley rats. FR rats showed a higher long-term potentiation at hippocampal CA1 excitatory synapses with a parallel increase in glutamate release when compared with animals fed ad libitum. FR rats showed a significant increase in the long-term spatial memory determined by Barnes maze. FR was also associated with a decreased inhibitory effect of the CB1R agonist win55,212-2 on glutamatergic field excitatory postsynaptic potentials, together with a decrease in hippocampal CB1R protein expression. In addition, hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein levels and mushroom dendritic spine density were significantly enhanced in FR rats. Altogether, our data suggest that alterations of hippocampal CB1R expression and function in FR rats are associated with dendritic spine remodeling and functional potentiation of CA1 excitatory synapses, and these findings are consistent with increasing evidence supporting the idea that FR may improve cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Talani
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria, SS 554 km 4,500, Monserrato, Cagliari 09124, Italy, Tel: +39 070 675 4200, Fax: +39 070 675 4166, E-mail:
| | - Valentina Licheri
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Francesca Biggio
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Valentina Locci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mostallino
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Pietro Paolo Secci
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Valentina Melis
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Laura Dazzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Gianfranca Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Banni
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Biggio
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy,Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Enrico Sanna
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy,Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
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Poddighe S, De Rose F, Marotta R, Ruffilli R, Fanti M, Secci PP, Mostallino MC, Setzu MD, Zuncheddu MA, Collu I, Solla P, Marrosu F, Kasture S, Acquas E, Liscia A. Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean) rescues motor, olfactory, mitochondrial and synaptic impairment in PINK1B9 Drosophila melanogaster genetic model of Parkinson's disease. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110802. [PMID: 25340511 PMCID: PMC4207759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) mutant for PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1B9) gene is a powerful tool to investigate physiopathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using PINK1B9 mutant Dm we sought to explore the effects of Mucuna pruriens methanolic extract (Mpe), a L-Dopa-containing herbal remedy of PD. The effects of Mpe on PINK1B9 mutants, supplied with standard diet to larvae and adults, were assayed on 3-6 (I), 10-15 (II) and 20-25 (III) days old flies. Mpe 0.1% significantly extended lifespan of PINK1B9 and fully rescued olfactory response to 1-hexanol and improved climbing behavior of PINK1B9 of all ages; in contrast, L-Dopa (0.01%, percentage at which it is present in Mpe 0.1%) ameliorated climbing of only PINK1B9 flies of age step II. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of antennal lobes and thoracic ganglia of PINK1B9 revealed that Mpe restored to wild type (WT) levels both T-bars and damaged mitochondria. Western blot analysis of whole brain showed that Mpe, but not L-Dopa on its own, restored bruchpilot (BRP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression to age-matched WT control levels. These results highlight multiple sites of action of Mpe, suggesting that its effects cannot only depend upon its L-Dopa content and support the clinical observation of Mpe as an effective medication with intrinsic ability of delaying the onset of chronic L-Dopa-induced long-term motor complications. Overall, this study strengthens the relevance of using PINK1B9 Dm as a translational model to study the properties of Mucuna pruriens for PD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Poddighe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Marotta
- Electron Microscopy Lab, Nanochemistry Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Ruffilli
- Electron Microscopy Lab, Nanochemistry Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maura Fanti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Ignazio Collu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paolo Solla
- Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Marrosu
- Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sanjay Kasture
- Sanjivani College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
| | - Elio Acquas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Study of Neurobiology of Addiction, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- National Institute of Neuroscience - INN, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Anna Liscia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Dazzi L, Talani G, Biggio F, Utzeri C, Lallai V, Licheri V, Lutzu S, Mostallino MC, Secci PP, Biggio G, Sanna E. Involvement of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in modulation of dopamine output in the prefrontal cortex associated with food restriction in rats. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92224. [PMID: 24632810 PMCID: PMC3954872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Increase in dopamine output on corticolimbic structures, such as medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens, has been related to reward effects associated with palatable food or food presentation after a fasting period. The endocannabinoid system regulates feeding behavior through a modulatory action on different neurotransmitter systems, including the dopaminergic system. To elucidate the involvement of type 1 cannabinoid receptors in the regulation of dopamine output in the mPFC associated with feeding in hungry rats, we restricted the food availability to a 2-h period daily for 3 weeks. In food-restricted rats the extracellular dopamine concentration in the mPFC increased starting 80 min before food presentation and returned to baseline after food removal. These changes were attenuated in animals treated with the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716. To better understand how food restriction can change the response of mesocortical dopaminergic neurons, we studied several components of the neuronal circuit that regulates dopamine output in the mPFC. Patch-clamp experiments revealed that the inhibitory effect of the CB1 receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 on GABAergic sIPSC frequency was diminished in mPFC neurons of FR compared to fed ad libitum rats. The basal sIPSC frequency resulted reduced in mPFC neurons of food-restricted rats, suggestive of an altered regulation of presynaptic GABA release; these changes were accompanied by an enhanced excitability of mPFC and ventral tegmental area neurons. Finally, type 1 cannabinoid receptor expression in the mPFC was reduced in food-restricted rats. Together, our data support an involvement of the endocannabinoid system in regulation of dopamine release in the mPFC through changes in GABA inhibitory synapses and suggest that the emphasized feeding-associated increase in dopamine output in the mPFC of food-restricted rats might be correlated with an altered expression and function of type 1 cannabinoid receptor in this brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dazzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Giuseppe Talani
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesca Biggio
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Cinzia Utzeri
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valeria Lallai
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valentina Licheri
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefano Lutzu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Paolo Secci
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Biggio
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Enrico Sanna
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, Centre of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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Bencini A, Caddeo F, Caltagirone C, Garau A, Hurstouse MB, Isaia F, Lampis S, Lippolis V, Lopez F, Meli V, Monduzzi M, Mostallino MC, Murgia S, Puccioni S, Schmidt J, Secci PP, Talmon Y. An OFF–ON chemosensor for biological and environmental applications: sensing Cd2+ in water using catanionic vesicles and in living cells. Org Biomol Chem 2013; 11:7751-9. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ob41420e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Pisu MG, Mostallino MC, Dore R, Maciocco E, Secci PP, Serra M. Effects of voluntary ethanol consumption on emotional state and stress responsiveness in socially isolated rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2011; 21:414-25. [PMID: 21067904 PMCID: PMC3044778 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2010.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2010] [Revised: 06/04/2010] [Accepted: 07/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Social isolation of rats immediately after weaning is thought to represent an animal model of anxiety-like disorders. This mildly stressful condition reduces the cerebrocortical and plasma concentrations of 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3α,5α-TH PROG) as well as increases the sensitivity of rats to the effects of acute ethanol administration on the concentrations of this neuroactive steroid. We further investigated the effects of voluntary consumption of ethanol at concentrations increasing from 2.5 to 10% over 4 weeks of isolation. Isolated rats showed a reduced ethanol preference compared with group-housed animals. Ethanol consumption did not affect the isolation-induced down-regulation of BDNF or Arc, but it attenuated the increase in the cerebrocortical concentration of 3α,5α-TH PROG induced by foot-shock stress in both isolated and group-housed animals as well as increased the percentage of number of entries made by socially isolated rats into the open arms in the elevated plus-maze test. Ethanol consumption did not affect expression of the α₄ subunit of the GABA(A) receptor in the hippocampus of group-housed or isolated rats, whereas it up-regulated the δ subunit throughout the hippocampus under both conditions. The results suggest that low consumption of ethanol may ameliorate some negative effects of social isolation on stress sensitivity and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Riccardo Dore
- Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09100, Italy
| | | | | | - Mariangela Serra
- Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09100, Italy
- Center of Excellence for Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09100, Italy
- C.N.R., Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari 09100, Italy
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Pisu MG, Dore R, Mostallino MC, Loi M, Pibiri F, Mameli R, Cadeddu R, Secci PP, Serra M. Down-regulation of hippocampal BDNF and Arc associated with improvement in aversive spatial memory performance in socially isolated rats. Behav Brain Res 2011; 222:73-80. [PMID: 21420441 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2010] [Revised: 03/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/10/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Rats deprived of social contact with other rats at a young age experience a form of prolonged stress that leads to long-lasting changes in behavioral profile. Such isolation is thought to be anxiogenic for these normally gregarious animals, and the abnormal reactivity of isolated rats to environmental stimuli is thought to be a product of prolonged stress. We now show that isolation of rats at weaning reduced immobility time in the forced swim test, decreased sucrose intake and preference, and down-regulated both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and activity-regulated cytoskeletal associated protein (Arc) in the hippocampus. In the Morris water maze, isolated rats showed a reduced latency to reach the hidden platform during training, indicative of an improved learning performance, compared with group-housed rats. The cumulative search error during place training trials indicated a reliable difference between isolated and group-housed rats on days 4 and 5. The probe trial revealed a significant decrease of the average proximity to the target location in the isolated rats suggesting an improvement in spatial memory. Isolated rats also showed an increase in the plasma level of corticosterone on the 5th day of training and increased expression of BDNF and Arc in the hippocampus on both days 1 and 5. These results show that social isolation from weaning in rats results in development of depressive-like behavior but has a positive effect on spatial learning, supporting the existence of a facilitating effect of stress on cognitive function.
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Sanna E, Talani G, Obili N, Mascia MP, Mostallino MC, Secci PP, Pisu MG, Biggio F, Utzeri C, Olla P, Biggio G, Follesa P. Voluntary Ethanol Consumption Induced by Social Isolation Reverses the Increase of α(4)/δ GABA(A) Receptor Gene Expression and Function in the Hippocampus of C57BL/6J Mice. Front Neurosci 2011; 5:15. [PMID: 21347217 PMCID: PMC3039156 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2011.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2010] [Accepted: 01/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-weaning social isolation (SI) is a model of prolonged mild stress characterized by behavioral and neurochemical alterations. We used SI in C57BL/6J mice to investigate the effects of ethanol (EtOH) in the free-choice drinking paradigm on gene expression and function of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) and the role of neuroactive steroids in the actions of EtOH in the hippocampus. SI stress induced a marked reduction in hippocampal 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3α,5α-TH PROG) and was associated with molecular and functional changes of the GABAAR. The gene expression of the α4 and δ subunits was increased in the hippocampus of SI C57BL/6J mice; the expression of the γ2 subunit was decreased whereas that of the α1 did not change. Patch-clamp recordings in dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells obtained from SI C57BL/6J mice revealed a greater enhancement of tonic currents induced by α-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c] pyridin-3-ol (THIP) compared to that in control C57BL/6J mice. These neurochemical, molecular and functional changes observed in SI C57BL/6J mice were associated with an increased EtOH intake and EtOH preference. Nevertheless, the increase in EtOH consumption did not restore the reduction in hippocampal 3α,5α-TH PROG induced by SI. EtOH self-administration blocked the changes in gene expression of the α4 subunit but not those of the δ and γ2 subunits induced by SI. In addition, EtOH self-administration did not block the SI-induced changes in GABAAR-mediated tonic inhibition in hippocampal granule cells but increased the frequency of basal GABAergic sIPSCs in DG granule cells. We conclude that self-administration of EtOH selectively abolishes the increase of α4 subunit but not other neurochemical, molecular, and functional modifications induced by SI prolonged mild stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Sanna
- Section of Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Biology, Center of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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