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The European Journal of Neuroscience Oct 2021The lateral preoptic area is implicated in numerous aspects of substance use disorder. In particular, the lateral preoptic area is highly sensitive to the...
The lateral preoptic area is implicated in numerous aspects of substance use disorder. In particular, the lateral preoptic area is highly sensitive to the pharmacological properties of psychomotor stimulants, and its activity promotes drug-seeking in the face of punishment and reinstatement during abstinence. Despite the lateral preoptic area's complicity in substance use disorder, how precisely lateral preoptic area neurons signal the individual components of drug self-administration has not been ascertained. To bridge this gap, we examined how the firing of single lateral preoptic area neurons correlates with three discrete elements of cocaine self-administration: (1) drug-seeking (pre-response), (2) drug-taking (response) and (3) receipt of the cocaine infusion. A significant subset of lateral preoptic area neurons responded to each component with a mix of increases and decreases in firing-rate. A majority of these neurons signal the operant response with increases in spiking, though responses during the drug-seeking, taking and reciept windows were highly correlated.
Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conditioning, Operant; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Humans; Neurons; Preoptic Area; Self Administration
PubMed: 34505325
DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15452 -
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology Jul 2019Maternal behavior is a defining characteristic of mammals, which is regulated by a core, conserved neural circuit. However, mothering behavior is not always a default... (Review)
Review
Maternal behavior is a defining characteristic of mammals, which is regulated by a core, conserved neural circuit. However, mothering behavior is not always a default response to infant conspecifics. For example, initial fearful, fragmented or aggressive responses toward infants in laboratory rats and mice can give way to highly motivated and organized caregiving behaviors following appropriate hormone exposure or repeated experience with infants. Therefore hormonal and/or experiential factors must be involved in determining the extent to which infants access central approach and avoidance neural systems. In this review we describe evidence supporting the idea that infant conspecifics are capable of activating distinct neural pathways to elicit avoidant, aggressive and parental responses from adult rodents. Additionally, we discuss the hypothesis that alterations in transcriptional regulation within the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus may be a key mechanism of neural plasticity involved in programming the differential sensitivity of these neural pathways.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Female; Maternal Behavior; Mice; Neural Pathways; Neuronal Plasticity; Olfactory Perception; Preoptic Area; Rats
PubMed: 31009675
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.04.002 -
Current Biology : CB May 2022Previous studies suggest that the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) of the hypothalamus plays an important role in regulating the wake-sleep cycle and, in particular,...
Previous studies suggest that the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) of the hypothalamus plays an important role in regulating the wake-sleep cycle and, in particular, homeostatic sleep drive. However, the precise cellular phenotypes, targets, and central mechanisms by which the MnPO neurons regulate the wake-sleep cycle remain unknown. Both excitatory and inhibitory MnPO neurons innervate brain regions implicated in sleep promotion and maintenance, suggesting that both cell types may participate in sleep control. Using genetically targeted approaches, we investigated the role of the MnPO GABAergic (MnPO) and glutamatergic (MnPO) neurons in modulating wake-sleep behavior of mice. We found that both neuron populations differentially participate in wake-sleep control, with MnPO neurons being involved in sleep homeostasis and MnPO neurons facilitating sleep during allostatic (stressful) challenges.
Topics: Animals; Glutamic Acid; Mice; Neurons; Preoptic Area; Sleep; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 35385692
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.03.039 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2022The mammalian preoptic area (POA) has large populations of calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) neurons, but phenotypes of these cells are unknown....
The mammalian preoptic area (POA) has large populations of calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) neurons, but phenotypes of these cells are unknown. Therefore, the question is whether neurons expressing CB, CR, and/or PV are GABAergic or glutamatergic. Double-immunofluorescence staining followed by epifluorescence and confocal microscopy was used to determine the coexpression patterns of CB, CR and PV expressing neurons with vesicular GABA transporters (VGAT) as specific markers of GABAergic neurons and vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT 2) as specific markers of glutamatergic neurons. The guinea pig was adopted as, like humans, it has a reproductive cycle with a true luteal phase and a long gestation period. The results demonstrated that in the guinea pig POA of both sexes, ~80% of CB+ and ~90% of CR+ neurons coexpress VGAT; however, one-fifth of CB+ neurons and one-third of CR+ cells coexpress VGLUT. About two-thirds of PV+ neurons express VGAT, and similar proportion of them coexpress VGLUT. Thus, many CB+, CR+ and PV+ neurons may be exclusively GABAergic (VGAT-expressing cells) or glutamatergic (VGLUT-expressing cells); however, at least a small fraction of CR+ cells and at least one-third of PV+ cells are likely neurons with a dual GABA/glutamate phenotype that may coexpress both transporters.
Topics: Animals; Calbindin 2; Calbindins; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Female; GABAergic Neurons; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Male; Mammals; Parvalbumins; Phenotype; Preoptic Area
PubMed: 35887305
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147963 -
Hormones and Behavior Sep 2021Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling through CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) regulates autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral responses to stress, as well as behavioral...
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling through CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) regulates autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral responses to stress, as well as behavioral changes during the maternal period. Previous work in our lab reported higher levels of CRFR1 in female, compared to male, mice within the rostral anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV/PeN), a brain region involved in maternal behaviors. In this study, we used CRFR1-GFP reporter mice to investigate whether the reproductive status (postpartum vs. nulliparous) of acutely stressed females affects levels of CRFR1 in the AVPV/PeN and other regions involved in maternal functions. Compared to nulliparous, postpartum day 14 females showed increased AVPV/PeN CRFR1-GFP immunoreactivity and an elevated number of restraint stress-activated AVPV/PeN CRFR1 cells as assessed by immunohistochemical co-localization of CRFR1-GFP and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB). The medial preoptic area (MPOA) and paraventricular hypothalamus (PVN) of postpartum mice showed modest decreases in CRFR1-GFP immunoreactivity, while increased CRFR1-GFP/pCREB co-expressing cells were found in the PVN following restraint stress relative to nulliparous mice. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and CRFR1-GFP co-localization was also assessed in the AVPV/PeN and other regions and revealed a decrease in co-localized neurons in the AVPV/PeN and ventral tegmental area of postpartum mice. Corticosterone analysis of restrained mice revealed blunted peak, but elevated recovery, levels in postpartum compared to nulliparous mice. Finally, we investigated projection patterns of AVPV/PeN CRFR1 neurons using female CRFR1-Cre mice and revealed dense efferent projections to several preoptic, hypothalamic, and hindbrain regions known to control stress-associated and maternal functions. Together, these findings contribute to our understanding of the neurobiology that might underlie changes in stress-related functions during the postpartum period.
Topics: Animals; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Female; Humans; Hypothalamus; Male; Mice; Postpartum Period; Preoptic Area; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
PubMed: 34507241
DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105044 -
Oncotarget Nov 2016
Topics: Neurons; Preoptic Area; Serotonin; Sleep
PubMed: 27861160
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13419 -
ELife Jun 2023Vocalizations facilitate mating and social affiliation but may also inadvertently alert predators and rivals. Consequently, the decision to vocalize depends on brain...
Vocalizations facilitate mating and social affiliation but may also inadvertently alert predators and rivals. Consequently, the decision to vocalize depends on brain circuits that can weigh and compare these potential benefits and risks. Male mice produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during courtship to facilitate mating, and previously isolated female mice produce USVs during social encounters with novel females. Earlier we showed that a specialized set of neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG-USV neurons) are an obligatory gate for USV production in both male and female mice, and that both PAG-USV neurons and USVs can be switched on by their inputs from the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus and switched off by their inputs from neurons on the border between the central and medial amygdala (Amg neurons) (Michael et al., 2020). Here, we show that the USV-suppressing Amg neurons are strongly activated by predator cues or during social contexts that suppress USV production in male and female mice. Further, we explored how vocal promoting and vocal suppressing drives are weighed in the brain to influence vocal production in male mice, where the drive and courtship function for USVs are better understood. We found that Amg neurons receive monosynaptic inhibitory input from POA neurons that also project to the PAG, that these inhibitory inputs are active in USV-promoting social contexts, and that optogenetic activation of POA cell bodies that make divergent axonal projections to the amygdala and PAG is sufficient to elicit USV production in socially isolated male mice. Accordingly, Amg neurons, along with POA and PAG-USV neurons, form a nested hierarchical circuit in which environmental and social information converges to influence the decision to vocalize.
Topics: Mice; Male; Female; Animals; Periaqueductal Gray; Amygdala; Neurons; Ultrasonics; Preoptic Area; Vocalization, Animal
PubMed: 37314164
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.85547 -
The Journal of Physiological Sciences :... Jun 2024Hibernation and torpor are not passive responses caused by external temperature drops and fasting but are active brain functions that lower body temperature. A...
Hibernation and torpor are not passive responses caused by external temperature drops and fasting but are active brain functions that lower body temperature. A population of neurons in the preoptic area was recently identified as such active torpor-regulating neurons. We hypothesized that the other hypothermia-inducing maneuvers would also activate these neurons. To test our hypothesis, we first refined the previous observations, examined the brain regions explicitly activated during the falling phase of body temperature using c-Fos expression, and confirmed the preoptic area. Next, we observed long-lasting hypothermia by reactivating torpor-tagged Gq-expressing neurons using the activity tagging and DREADD systems. Finally, we found that about 40-60% of torpor-tagged neurons were activated by succeeding isoflurane anesthesia and by icv administration of an adenosine A1 agonist. Isoflurane-induced and central adenosine-induced hypothermia is, at least in part, an active process mediated by the torpor-regulating neurons in the preoptic area.
Topics: Animals; Preoptic Area; Isoflurane; Adenosine; Neurons; Male; Anesthetics, Inhalation; Body Temperature; Hypothermia; Torpor; Mice; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
PubMed: 38867187
DOI: 10.1186/s12576-024-00927-2 -
Brain Research Reviews Jun 2008Through a highly divergent efferent projection system, the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system supplies norepinephrine throughout the central nervous system.... (Review)
Review
Through a highly divergent efferent projection system, the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system supplies norepinephrine throughout the central nervous system. State-dependent neuronal discharge activity of locus coeruleus neurons has long-suggested a role of this system in the induction of an alert waking state. More recent work supports this hypothesis, demonstrating robust wake-promoting actions of the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system. Norepinephrine enhances arousal, in part, via actions of beta- and alpha1-receptors located within multiple subcortical structures, including the general regions of the medial septal area and the medial preoptic areas. Recent anatomical studies suggest that arousal-enhancing actions of norepinephrine are not limited to the locus coeruleus system and likely include the A1 and A2 noradrenergic cell groups. Thus, noradrenergic modulation of arousal state involves multiple noradrenergic systems acting within multiple subcortical regions. Pharmacological studies indicate that the combined actions of these systems are necessary for the sustained maintenance of arousal levels associated with spontaneous waking. Enhanced arousal state is a prominent aspect of both stress and psychostimulant drug action and evidence indicates that noradrenergic systems likely play an important role in both stress-related and psychostimulant-induced arousal. These and other observations suggest that the dysregulation of noradrenergic neurotransmission could well contribute to the dysregulation of arousal associated with a variety of behavioral disorders including insomnia and stress-related disorders.
Topics: Animals; Arousal; Humans; Locus Coeruleus; Models, Anatomic; Neural Pathways; Norepinephrine; Preoptic Area; Receptors, Adrenergic; Septum of Brain
PubMed: 18199483
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2007.10.013 -
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology Jul 2015Postpartum neuropsychiatric disorders are a major source of morbidity and mortality and affect at least 10% of childbearing women. Affective dysregulation within this... (Review)
Review
Postpartum neuropsychiatric disorders are a major source of morbidity and mortality and affect at least 10% of childbearing women. Affective dysregulation within this context has been identified in association with changes in reproductive steroids. Steroids promote maternal actions and modulate affect, but can also destabilize mood in some but not all women. Potential brain regions that mediate these effects include the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (vBNST). Herein, we review the regulation of neural activity in the mPOA/vBNST by environmental and hormonal concomitants in puerperal females. Such activity may influence maternal anxiety and motivation and have significant implications for postpartum affective disorders. Future directions for research are also explored, including physiological circuit-level approaches to gain insight into the functional connectivity of hormone-responsive maternal circuits that modulate affect.
Topics: Animals; Anxiety; Female; Humans; Maternal Behavior; Neurons; Preoptic Area; Reward; Septal Nuclei
PubMed: 25910426
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2015.04.001