Anxiogenic-like effects of mCPP microinfusions into the amygdala (but not dorsal or ventral hippocampus) in mice exposed to elevated plus-maze

Serotonin (5-HT) can either increase or decrease anxiety-like behaviour in animals, actions that depend upon neuroanatomical site of action and 5-HT receptor subtype. Although systemic studies with 5-HT(2) receptor agonists and antagonists suggest a facilitatory role for this receptor subtype in anxiety, somewhat inconsistent results have been obtained when such compounds have been directly applied to limbic targets such as the hippocampus and amygdala. The present study investigated the effects of the 5-HT(2B/2C) receptor agonist mCPP bilaterally microinjected into the dorsal hippocampus (DH: 0, 0.3 1.0 or 3.0 nmol/0.2 mu l), the ventral hippocampus (VH: 0, 0.3, 1.0 or 3.0 nmol/0.2 mu l) or the amygdaloid complex (0, 0.15, 0.5, 1.0 or 3.0 nmol/0.1 mu l) in mice exposed to the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Test sessions were videotaped and subsequently scored for conventional indices of anxiety (percentage of open arm entries and percentage of open arm time) and locomotor activity (closed arm entries). Results showed that mCPP microinfusions into the DH or VH failed to affect any behavioural measure in the EPM. However, when injected into the amygdaloid complex, the dose of 1.0 nmol of this 5HT(2B/2C) receptor agonist increased behavioural indices of anxiety without significantly altering general activity levels. This anxiogenic-like effect of mCPP was selectively and completely blocked by local injection of a behaviourally-inactive dose of SDZ SER-082 (10 nmol/0.1 mu l), a preferential 5-HT(2C) receptor antagonist. These data suggest that 5HT(2C) receptors located within the amygdaloid complex (but not the dorsal or ventral hippocampus) play a facilitatory role in plus-maze anxiety in mice. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Contributions of Dorsal/Ventral Hippocampus and Dorsolateral/Dorsomedial Striatum to Interval Timing

Humans and animals have remarkable capabilities in keeping time and using time as a guide to orient their learning and decision making. Psychophysical models of timing and time perception have been proposed for decades and have received behavioral, anatomical and pharmacological data support. However, despite numerous studies that aimed at delineating the neural underpinnings of interval timing, a complete picture of the neurobiological network of timing in the seconds-to-minutes range remains elusive. Based on classical interval timing protocols and proposing a Timing, Immersive Memory and Emotional Regulation (TIMER) test battery, the author investigates the contributions of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus as well as the dorsolateral and the dorsomedial striatum to interval timing by comparing timing performances in mice after they received cytotoxic lesions in the corresponding brain regions. On the other hand, a timing-based theoretical framework for the emergence of conscious experience that is closely related to the function of the claustrum is proposed so as to serve both biological guidance and the research and evolution of “strong” artificial intelligence. Finally, a new “Double Saturation Model of Interval Timing” that integrates the direct- and indirect- pathways of striatum is proposed to explain the set of empirical findings.

Contribuição diferencial do hipocampo ventral e do complexo amidalóide na modulação de respostas defensivas inatas e condicionadas de camundongos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Envolvimento de receptores 5-HT1A no hipocampo ventral na regulação de comportamentos defensivos relacionados com a ansiedade generalizada e com o pânico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Single voxel Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic (1H-MRS) analysis of deep brain structures after traumatic prefrontal brain injury (TBI) in rat

Chronic difficulties arising from mild brain injury (TBI) are difficult to predict because the processes underlying changes after TBI are poorly understood. In mild brain injury the extent of neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms correspond poorly to overt tissue loss (Barth 1983; Liu 2010). Cellular, immune and hormonal cascades occurring after injury and continuing during the healing process may impact uninjured brain regions sensitive to the effects of physiological and emotional stress, which receive projections from the injury site. Changes in these most basic properties due to injury or disease have profound implications for virtually every aspect of brain function through disruption of neurotransmitter, neuroendocrine and metabolic systems. In order to screen for changes in transmitter and metabolic activity, in this study we developed Single voxel proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) for use in both injured and control animals. We first evaluated if 1H-MRS could be used to evaluate in vivo, alterations in brain metabolism and catabolism of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and ventral hippocampus in both control and injured animals after controlled cortical impact injury to the rat prefrontal cortex. We found that metabolite measurements for Myo-Inositol, Choline, creatine, Glutamate+Glutamine, and N-acetyl-acetate are attainable in deep brain structures in vivo in injured and controls rats. We next seek to evaluate longitudinally, in vivo, alterations in brain metabolism and catabolism of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and ventral hippocampus during the first month after controlled cortical impact injury to the rat prefrontal cortex. These ongoing studies will provide data on the changes in transmitters and metabolites over time in injured and non-injured subjects. These studies address some of the fundamental questions about how mild brain injury has such diverse effects on overall brain health and function.

1. 大鼠海马-前额叶回路在学习记忆中的作用2. 芬克罗酮改善恒河猴空间工作记忆的谷氨酸机制

一、大鼠海马-前额叶回路在学习记忆中的作用 解剖学研究证实大鼠和猴的海马结构（hippocampal formation, HF；本文‘海马 (hippocampus, Hip)’一词即指海马结构）和前额叶 (prefrontal cortex, PFC) 之间存在一条单向、同侧和单突触的神经回路，即海马-前额叶回路（Hip-PFC回路）。Hip和PFC均参与学习记忆等多种认知功能，PFC是工作记忆的关键脑区，而Hip是空间参考记忆的关键脑区。虽然人们已经对PFC和Hip进行了广泛深入的研究，但对Hip-PFC回路参与哪些认知功能还知之甚少。本研究的目的就是通过暂时阻断Hip-PFC回路，探讨其在学习和记忆中的作用。 在大鼠，Hip-PFC回路中的纤维主要从Hip腹部 (ventral hippocampus, VH)发出，投射到PFC的前边缘皮质(prelimbic cortex, PLC)、下边缘皮质 (infralimbic cortex, ILC) 和外侧前额叶 (lateral prefrontal cortex) 等亚区，其中PLC是Hip-PFC主要投射的区域。我们通过给动物安装慢性导管向脑内注射GABAA受体激动剂muscimol (MU) 阻断Hip-PFC回路。注射位点包括 ①双侧PLC，②双侧VH，③一侧VH和对侧PLC (VH-PLC)。我们首先观察了在PLC或VH局部注射MU对自由活动大鼠PLC和VH脑电功率的影响，并以此确定在行为实验中所用蝇蕈醇的剂量。然后采用T-迷宫空间交互延缓作业 (spatial delayed alternation task) 测试Hip-PFC回路被阻断的动物的空间工作记忆功能；采用被动回避作业 (passive avoidance task) 测试其情绪相关记忆的能力（训练前给药；24 h后重测试）；采用Morris水迷宫作业 (Morris water maze task) 测试其空间参考记忆的能力（每天训练前给药；训练期（3 d）结束24 h后重测试）。结果表明：在大鼠PLC或VH局部注射0.5 μg/0.25μl MU后30 min显著抑制VH 和PLC的脑电功率 (VH, p < 0.01; PLC, p < 0.05 vs. PBS/baseline)。注射MU (0.5 μg/0.25μl) 到 ①双侧PLC、②双侧VH、③VH-PLC均显著降低动物在空间交互延缓作业 (All p < 0.001, vs. PBS) 和空间Morris水迷宫作业中的成绩 (All p < 0.05, vs. PBS)，表明Hip-PFC回路在空间工作记忆（空间短时记忆）和在空间参考记忆（空间长时记忆）中均起重要作用。在空间交互延缓作业中，双侧PLC被抑制的大鼠的成绩显著低于双侧VH或VH-PLC被抑制的动物，说明PFC在空间工作记忆功能中占有主导地位。在被动回避作业中，双侧VH被抑制动物的回避反应的潜伏期显著短于对照动物 (p < 0.05 vs. PBS)，说明双侧VH被抑制动物的情绪记忆受损；而双侧PLC或VH-PLC被抑制的动物其回避反应的潜伏期与对照动物无显著差异 (PLC, p > 0.9; VH-PLC, p > 0.3 vs. PBS)，表明双侧PLC或VH-PLC被抑制的动物情绪记忆正常。被动回避作业的结果说明VH参与情绪记忆的形成，但Hip-PFC回路在情绪记忆形成中不起重要作用。 以上结果表明，大鼠Hip-PFC回路参与空间工作记忆和空间参考记忆而不是情绪记忆功能。情绪记忆的关键脑结构是杏仁复合体 (amygdala complex, AMC)，VH与AMC有密切的纤维联系。VH被抑制的大鼠情绪记忆受损，说明情绪记忆可能与AMC-Hip回路有关。情绪记忆与空间记忆（参考记忆和工作记忆）在解剖上的分离说明，对于不同类型的记忆来说，其在脑内的信息加工过程是并行的。神经回路内部的信息加工过程则是串行的，回路上任何一个结构的破坏均可导致回路功能的损伤。本研究的结果为学习记忆的“多重记忆系统”理论和记忆信息加工的串行并行机制提供了新的实验证据。 二、芬克罗酮改善成年恒河猴空间工作记忆的谷氨酸机制 芬克罗酮是中科院昆明植物所郝小江等合成的取代吡咯烷酮类化合物。中科院昆明动物所蔡景霞等发现芬克罗酮能改善东莨菪碱、育亨宾等导致的多种动物的不同类型的学习记忆障碍，提高老年动物的学习记忆能力，尤其是老年猴的空间工作记忆。已证实芬克罗酮为部分钙激动剂，可使脑缺血沙土鼠脑内升高的谷氨酸降低，而使正常的沙土鼠海马胞外谷氨酸释放增加。那么芬克罗酮能否提高正常动物的学习记忆，其对正常动物学习记忆的提高是否与其增加谷氨酸的释放有关？本研究采用空间延缓反应作业和谷氨酸NMDA受体拮抗剂MK-801在正常成年猴恒河猴上探讨了以上问题。 结果表明，口服芬克罗酮可显著提高成年猴的空间工作记忆，其量效曲线呈倒‘U’形，符合许多促智药的量效特点。0.25 mg/kg和0.5 mg/kg为芬克罗酮的最佳有效剂量 (p < 0.05 vs. 安慰剂)。肌注MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) 显著降低成年猴的空间工作记忆 (p < 0.01 vs. 安慰剂)，而口服2.0 mg/kg和4.0 mg/kg的芬克罗酮则显著改善MK-801导致的工作记忆障碍 (p < 0.05 vs. MK-801)。芬克罗酮的所有测试剂量不影响猴在作业中的反应时 (p > 0.05 vs. 安慰剂)，表明芬克罗酮在该剂量范围不影响动物的运动能力。 本研究结果提示，芬克罗酮可能通钙激动作用促进谷氨酸的释放，在一定剂量范围内提高胞外谷氨酸水平，提高正常动物的空间工作记忆等认知功能。 关键词：芬克罗酮，恒河猴，空间工作记忆，空间延缓反应作业，谷氨酸，MK-801

吗啡相关情境线索的形成及效应表达的神经基础——海马与基底外侧杏仁核在其中的作用

Drug-associated cue-induced relapse to drug seeking causes most difficulties of therapy for drug addiction. Addicts are exposed to two forms of environmental stimuli during drug-taking: contextual stimuli (e.g. a house in which the drug is consumed) and discrete stimuli (DS, e.g. a crack pipe or a syringe for drug). These stimuli become contextual cues and discrete cues, respectively. The incentive value of contextual cues plays a great role in opiates relapse. Compared with drug self-administration model, conditioned place preference (CPP) reflects the approach behavior for drug cues, not concerned with acquisition of operant behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the role of basolateral amygdala (BLA) and hippocampus in the effect of opiates-related contextual cues using CPP model. Establishing DS-dependent or contextual cues-dependent CPP, the effect of BLA or hippocampus inactivation prior to training phase on acquisition of contextual cues-opiates association was evaluated. Inactivation prior to test phase was used to evaluate roles of BLA and hippocampus in expression of contextual cues-dependent morphine CPP. The main results were as follows: Inactivation of BLA or dorsal hippocampus selectively impaired acquisition of contextual cue-dependent CPP, but inactivation of ventral hippocampus had no impact on acquisition of either DS-dependent or contextual cue-dependent morphine CPP. Inactivation of BLA selectively inhibited expression of contextual cue-depended CPP. Inactivation of ventral hippocampus inhibited expression of both DS-dependent and contextual cue-dependent morphine CPP. These results suggest that BLA and dorsal hippocampus contribute to contextual cue association with opiates but not DS-opiates association. BLA and ventral hippocampus play important roles in incentive value of contextual cues. The present study provides more information for the neurological substrates underlying contextual cues associated with opiates.

Effets motivationnels des cannabinoïdes dans un modèle animal de la schizophrénie

Depuis quelques décennies, la consommation de cannabis et son usage thérapeutique sont le sujet de nombreux débats. Le cannabis est la drogue illicite la plus consommée au monde et cette consommation se trouve dix fois plus élevée chez les patients atteints de schizophrénie que dans la population générale. L’hypothèse d’une automédication initialement proposée afin d’expliquer la consommation élevée de cannabis chez les patients atteints de schizophrénie est maintenant remise en question. En effet, les rapports indiquant une aggravation des symptômes plutôt qu’une amélioration suite à une consommation à long terme sont de plus en plus nombreux. Sachant que le cannabis peut induire des effets soit plaisants soit aversifs, la question se pose à savoir si une prédominance de la valence motivationnelle positive ou une diminution de la valence négative du cannabis peut expliquer la consommation élevée parmi les individus ayant un diagnostic de schizophrénie? Bien qu’un grand nombre de recherches pré-cliniques aient été menées chez l’animal normal pour évaluer l’effet motivationnel du Δ9-tétrahydrocannabinol (THC) et autres cannabinoïdes synthétiques, aucune n’a abordé cette problématique dans un modèle animal de la schizophrénie. Cette lacune nous a donc amené à étudier la valence motivationnelle du THC et de l’agoniste cannabinoïde WIN55,212-2 (WIN) dans un modèle animal de la schizophrénie: la lésion néonatale de l’hippocampe ventral (NVHL). Dans le premier article, nous présentons les résultats de quatre expériences. Une première avait pour objectif de déterminer si la procédure expérimentale que nous avons utilisée permettait de reproduire des signes distinctifs du modèle animal de la schizophrénie. Par la suite, nous avons évalué i) l’effet d’une dose de WIN sur l’activité locomotrice spontanée et ii) la valence motivationnelle du THC (0.5 mg/kg, i.p) et du WIN (1 mg/kg, i.p) chez les rats adolescents (jour post-natal 28-40, PD28-40) et adultes (PD56) au moyen du paradigme de préférence de place conditionnée (PPC). Tel qu’attendu, la réponse locomotrice à l’amphétamine (0.75 et 1.5 mg/kg) chez les rats NVHL adultes était supérieure à celle des rats contrôles (test distinctif du modèle). Le THC a induit une tendance aversive chez les rats contrôles adultes. Enfin, le WIN a stimulé l’activité locomotrice et induit une aversion significative chez les rats adultes NVHL. Dans un deuxième article, nous avons évalué la valence motivationnelle du THC (0.5 mg/kg), du WIN (1 et 3 mg/kg) et l’effet de l’amphétamine au moyen du paradigme d’autostimulation électrique intracérébrale (ASI). Les résultats montrent que : i) l’effet amplificateur de l’amphétamine sur l’ASI était de plus courte durée chez les rats NVHL; ii) le THC produit une légère atténuation de la récompense chez les rats contrôles tandis que le WIN a produit une atténuation plus prononcée de la récompense chez les rats NVHL, un effet qui a été bloqué par l’antagoniste aux récepteurs CB1, le AM251 (3 mg/kg). Pour la première fois les résultats suggèrent une altération du système endocannabinoïde dans un modèle animal de la schizophrénie. Ils indiquent qu’une exposition aigüe conduit à une prédominance de la valence négative. Bien qu’en apparente contradiction avec les études cliniques, ces résultats soulignent l’importance du contexte socio-environnemental pour expliquer les effets du cannabis chez les patients. De plus ils encouragent les futures études à évaluer cette valence sur un modèle d’exposition chronique.

Effects of intra-hippocampal infusion of WAY-100635 on plus-maze behavior in mice - Influence of site of injection and prior test experience

The positive profile of systemically-administered 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonists in several rodent models of anxiolytic activity suggests an important role for postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptor mechanisms in anxiety. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of WAY-100635 microinfusions (0, 0.1, 1.0 or 3.0 mug in 0.2 mul) into the dorsal (DH) or ventral (VH) hippocampus an behaviours displayed by male Swiss-Webster mice in the elevated plus-maze. As prior experience is known to modify pharmacological responses in this test, the effects of intra-hippocampal infusions were examined both in maze-naive and maze-experienced subjects. Test videotapes were scored for conventional indices of anxiety (% open arm entries/time) and locomotor activity (closed arm entries), as well as a range of ethological measures (e.g. risk assessment). In maze-naive mice, intra-VH (but not intra-M) infusions of WAY-100635 (3.0 mug but not lower doses) increased open arm exploration and reduced risk assessment. These effects were observed in the absence of significant changes in locomotor activity. In contrast, neither intra-VH nor intra-DH infusions of WAY-100635 altered the behaviour of maze-experienced mice. These Findings suggest that postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors in the ventral (but not dorsal) hippocampus play a significant role both in the mediation of plus-maze anxiety in mice and in experientially-induced alterations in responses to this test. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. BY All rights reserved.

Anxiolytic-like effect of way-100635 microinfusions into the median (but not dorsal) raphe nucleus in mice exposed to the plus-maze: influence of prior test experience

Studies in several laboratories have confirmed the anxiolytic potential of a wide range of 5-HT1A receptor antagonists in rats and mice, with recent evidence pointing to a postsynaptic site of action in the ventral hippocampus. It would, therefore, be predicted that blockade of 5-HT1A somatodendritic autoreceptors in the midbrain raphe nuclei should produce anxiogenic-like effects. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of WAY-100635 microinfusions (0, 1.0 or 3.0 mug in 0.1 mul) into the dorsal (DRN) or median (MRN) raphe nuclei on behaviours displayed by male Swiss-Webster mice in the elevated plus-maze. As this test is sensitive to prior experience. The effects of intra-raphe infusions were examined both in maze-naive and maze-experienced subjects. Sessions, were videotaped and subsequently scored for conventional indices of anxiety (open arm avoidance) and locomotor activity (closed arm entries), as well as a range of ethological measures (e.g. risk assessment). In maze-naive mice, intra-MRN (but not intra-DRN) infusions of WAY-100635 (3.0 mug) increased open arm exploration and reduced risk assessment. Importantly, these effects could not be attributed to a general reduction in locomotor activity. A similar, though somewhat weaker, pattern of behavioural change was observed in maze-experienced animals. This unexpected anxiolytic effect of 5-HT1A autoreceptor blockade in the MRN cannot be accounted fur by a disinhibition of 5-HT release in forebrain targets (e.g. hippocampus and amygdala), where stimulation of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors enhances anxiety-like responses. However, as the MRN also projects to the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), an area known to be sensitive to the anti-aversive effects or 5-HT, it is argued that present results may reflect increased 5-HT release at this crucial midbrain locus within the neural circuitry of defense. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Fos-like immunoreactivity in central nervous system of mice simultaneously exposed to the elevated plus-maze and nociception

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chronic administration of risperidone in a rat model of schizophrenia: A behavioural, morphological and molecular study

In the present work we analyzed the effect of the chronic administration of risperidone (2mg/kg over 65 days) on behavioural, morphological and molecular aspects in an experimental model of schizophrenia obtained by bilateral injection of ibotenic acid into the ventral hippocampus of new-born rats. Our results show that during their adult lives the animals with hippocampal lesions exhibit different alterations, mainly at behavioural level and in the gene expression of dopamine D2 and 5-HT2A receptors. However, at morphological level the study performed on the prefrontal cortex did not reveal any alterations in either the thickness or the number of cells immunoreactive for c-Fos, GFAP, CBP or PV. Overall, risperidone administration elicited a trend towards the recovery of the values previously altered by the hippocampal lesion, approaching the values seen in the animals without lesions. It may be concluded that the administration of risperidone in the schizophrenia model employed helps to improve the altered functions, with no significant negative effects. © 2013.

The endocannabinoid and endovanilloid systems interact in the rat prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex to control anxiety-like behavior

Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) agonists usually induce dose-dependent biphasic effects on anxiety-related responses. Low doses induce anxiolytic-like effects, whereas high doses are ineffective or anxiogenic, probably due to activation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type 1 (TRPV1) channels. In this study we have investigated this hypothesis by verifying the effects of the CB1/TRPV1 agonist ACEA injected into the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (PL) and the participation of endocannabinoids in the anxiolytic-like responses induced by TRPV1 antagonism, using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the Vogel conflict test (VCT). Moreover, we verified the expression of these receptors in the PL by double labeling immunofluorescence. ACEA induced anxiolytic-like effect in the intermediate dose, which was attenuated by previous injection of AM251, a CB1 receptor antagonist. The higher and ineffective ACEA dose caused anxiogenic- and anxiolytic-like effects, when injected after AM251 or the TRPV1 antagonist 6-iodonordihydrocapsaicin (6-I-CPS), respectively. Higher dose of 6-I-CPS induced anxiolytic-like effects both in the EPM and the VCT, which were prevented by previous administration of AM251. In addition, immunofluorescence showed that CB1 and TRPV1 receptors are closely located in the PL These results indicate that the endocannabinoid and endovanilloid systems interact in the PL to control anxiety-like behavior. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chronic unpredictable mild stress alters an anxiety-related defensive response, Fos immunoreactivity and hippocampal adult neurogenesis

Previous results show that elevated T-maze (ETM) avoidance responses are facilitated by acute restraint. Escape, on the other hand, was unaltered. To examine if the magnitude of the stressor is an important factor influencing these results, we investigated the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) on ETM avoidance and escape measurements. Analysis of Fos protein immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) was used to map areas activated by stress exposure in response to ETM avoidance and escape performance. Additionally, the effects of the UCMS protocol on the number of cells expressing the marker of migrating neuroblasts doublecortin (DCX) in the hippocampus were investigated. Corticosterone serum levels were also measured. Results showed that UCMS facilitates ETM avoidance, not altering escape. In unstressed animals, avoidance performance increases Fos-ir in the cingulate cortex, hippocampus (dentate gyrus) and basomedial amygdala, and escape increases Fos-ir in the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray and locus ceruleus. In stressed animals submitted to ETM avoidance, increases in Fos-ir were observed in the cingulate cortex, ventrolateral septum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala, dorsal and median raphe nuclei. In stressed animals submitted to ETM escape, increases in Fos-ir were observed in the cingulate cortex, periaqueductal gray and locus ceruleus. Also, UCMS exposure decreased the number of DCX-positive cells in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus and increased corticosterone serum levels. These data suggest that the anxiogenic effects of UCMS are related to the activation of specific neurobiological circuits that modulate anxiety and confirm that this stress protocol activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and decreases hippocampal adult neurogenesis.