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Sharma S, Badenhorst CA, Ashby DM, Di Vito SA, Tran MA, Ghavasieh Z, Grewal GK, Belway CR, McGirr A, Whelan PJ. Inhibitory medial zona incerta pathway drives exploratory behavior by inhibiting glutamatergic cuneiform neurons. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1160. [PMID: 38326327 PMCID: PMC10850156 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45288-x] [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: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The cuneiform nucleus (CnF) regulates locomotor activity, which is canonically viewed as being primarily involved in initiating locomotion and regulating speed. Recent research shows greater context dependency in the locomotor functions of this nucleus. Glutamatergic neurons, which contain vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGLUT2), regulate context-dependent locomotor speed in the CnF and play a role in defensive behavior. Here, we identify projections from the medial zona incerta (mZI) to CnF vGLUT2 neurons that promote exploratory behavior. Using fiber photometry recordings in male mice, we find that mZI gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons increase activity during periods of exploration. Activation of mZI GABAergic neurons is associated with reduced spiking of CnF neurons. Additionally, activating both retrogradely labeled mZI-CnF GABAergic projection neurons and their terminals in the CnF increase exploratory behavior. Inhibiting CnF vGLUT2 neuronal activity also increases exploratory behavior. These findings provide evidence for the context-dependent dynamic regulation of CnF vGLUT2 neurons, with the mZI-CnF circuit shaping exploratory behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Sharma
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Cecilia A Badenhorst
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Donovan M Ashby
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Stephanie A Di Vito
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Michelle A Tran
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Zahra Ghavasieh
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Gurleen K Grewal
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Cole R Belway
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Alexander McGirr
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Patrick J Whelan
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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Wang Q, Zhang X, Leng H, Luan X, Guo F, Sun X, Gao S, Liu X, Qin H, Xu L. Zona incerta projection neurons and GABAergic and GLP-1 mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens are involved in the control of gastric function and food intake. Neuropeptides 2020; 80:102018. [PMID: 32000986 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2020.102018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our aim was to explore the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) on promoting gastric function and food intake through glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)-sensitive gastric distension (GD) neurons under the regulatory control of the zona incerta (ZI). METHODS GABA neuronal projections were traced using retrograde tracing following fluorescence immunohistochemistry. An extracellular electrophysiological recording method was used to observe the firing of neurons in the NAc. HPLC was used to quantify the GABA and glutamate levels in the NAc after electrical stimulation of the ZI. Gastric functions including gastric motility and secretion, as well as food intake, were measured after the administration of different concentrations of GABA in the NAc or electrical stimulation of the ZI. RESULTS Some of the GABA-positive neurons arising from the ZI projected to the NAc. Some GABA-A receptor (GABA-AR)-immunoreactive neurons in the NAc were also positive for GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) immunoreactivity. The firing of most GLP-1-sensitive GD neurons was decreased by GABA infusion in the NAc. Intra-NAc GABA administration also promoted gastric function and food intake. The responses induced by GABA were partially blocked by the GABA-AR antagonist bicuculline (BIC) and weakened by the GLP-1R antagonist exendin 9-39 (Ex9). Electrical stimulation of the ZI changed the firing patterns of most GLP-1-sensitive GD neurons in the NAc and promoted gastric function and food intake. Furthermore, these excitatory effects induced by electrical stimulation of the ZI were weakened by preadministration of BIC in the NAc. CONCLUSION Retrograde tracing and immunohistochemical staining showed a GABAergic pathway from the ZI to the NAc. GABAergic and GLP-1 mechanisms in the NAc are involved in the control of gastric function and food intake. In addition, the interaction (direct or indirect) between the ZI and these NAc mechanisms is involved in the control of gastric function and food intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Xiaoqian Zhang
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, B-300 Leuven, Belgium; Family Medicine Department, Qingdao United Family Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266001, China
| | - Hui Leng
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Xiao Luan
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Feifei Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Xiangrong Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Shengli Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Xuehuan Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Hao Qin
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Luo Xu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China.
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Cha M, Lee KH, Lee BH. Astroglial changes in the zona incerta in response to motor cortex stimulation in a rat model of chronic neuropathy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:943. [PMID: 31969638 PMCID: PMC6976635 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57797-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although astrocytes are known to regulate synaptic transmission and affect new memory formation by influencing long-term potentiation and functional synaptic plasticity, their role in pain modulation is poorly understood. Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) has been used to reduce neuropathic pain through the incertothalamic pathway, including the primary motor cortex (M1) and the zona incerta (ZI). However, there has been no in-depth study of these modulatory effects and region-specific changes in neural plasticity. In this study, we investigated the effects of MCS-induced pain modulation as well as the relationship between the ZI neuroplasticity and MCS-induced pain alleviation in neuropathic pain (NP). MCS-induced threshold changes were evaluated after daily MCS. Then, the morphological changes of glial cells were compared by tissue staining. In order to quantify the neuroplasticity, MAP2, PSD95, and synapsin in the ZI and M1 were measured and analyzed with western blot. In behavioral test, repetitive MCS reduced NP in nerve-injured rats. We also observed recovered GFAP expression in the NP with MCS rats. In the NP with sham MCS rats, increased CD68 level was observed. In the NP with MCS group, increased mGluR1 expression was observed. Analysis of synaptogenesis-related molecules in the M1 and ZI revealed that synaptic changes occured in the M1, and increased astrocytes in the ZI were more closely associated with pain alleviation after MCS. Our findings suggest that MCS may modulate the astrocyte activities in the ZI and synaptic changes in the M1. Our results may provide new insight into the important and numerous roles of astrocytes in the formation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myeounghoon Cha
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hee Lee
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Division of Health Science, Dongseo University, Busan, 47011, Republic of Korea
| | - Bae Hwan Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Brain Research Institute, Epilepsy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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