The bed nucleus of stria terminalis and the amygdala as targets of antenatal glucocorticoids: implications for fear and anxiety responses

Oliveira, Miguel; Rodrigues, Ana João; Leão, Pedro; Cardona, Diana M.; Pêgo, José M.; Sousa, Nuno

doi:10.1007/s00213-011-2494-y

Cited by 38 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…One other interesting finding supported by this work and our previous studies 12,13 was the selectivity of DA receptor D2 expression changes (putatively due to epigenetic alterations 13 ) in the mesocorticolimbic system, particularly in the light of evidence associating D2 receptor with reward-associated disorders that present altered incentive salience attribution such as addiction and binge eating 60 as well as motivation perception. 61 Moreover, it was shown that the D2 antagonist pimozide abolishes PIT, 17 and NAc microinjections of D2 antagonist raclopride reduce transfer.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…D2 receptor (~47 kDa isoform) was increased in the mPFC (Figures 3c and d; U =0.0, P =0.01) and in the OFC (Figures 3g and h; U =0.0, P =0.004) of iuGC animals; these findings are in alignment with those previously reported for the NAc 13 and amygdala. 12 Conversely, we did not find changes in the D1 or D3 receptors in both the mPFC (Figures 3c and d) and the OFC (Figures 3g and h). …”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 54%

“…11, 12, 13 As a result, these animals displayed persistent anhedonia but enhanced vulnerability for drug-seeking behavior in adulthood. 13,14 These symptoms may result from a complex differential attribution of incentive salience to natural versus non-natural rewards and their associated cues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The motivational drive to natural rewards is modulated by prenatal glucocorticoid exposure

et al. 2014

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Exposure to elevated levels of glucocorticoids (GCs) during neurodevelopment has been identified as a triggering factor for the development of reward-associated disorders in adulthood. Disturbances in the neural networks responsible for the complex processes that assign value to rewards and associated stimuli are critical for disorders such as depression, obsessive–compulsive disorders, obesity and addiction. Essential in the understanding on how cues influence behavior is the Pavlovian–instrumental transfer (PIT), a phenomenon that refers to the capacity of a Pavlovian stimulus that predicts a reward to elicit instrumental responses for that same reward. Here, we demonstrate that in utero exposure to GCs (iuGC) impairs both general and selective versions of the PIT paradigm, suggestive of deficits in motivational drive. The iuGC animals presented impaired neuronal activation pattern upon PIT performance in cortical and limbic regions, as well as morphometric changes and reduced levels of dopamine in prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices, key regions involved in the integration of Pavlovian and instrumental stimuli. Normalization of dopamine levels rescued this behavior, a process that relied on D2/D3, but not D1, dopamine receptor activation. In summary, iuGC exposure programs the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic circuitry, leading to a reduction in the attribution of the incentive salience to cues, in a dopamine-D2/D3-dependent manner. Ultimately, these results are important to understand how GCs bias incentive processes, a fact that is particularly relevant for disorders where differential attribution of incentive salience is critical.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 54%

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The motivational drive to natural rewards is modulated by prenatal glucocorticoid exposure

et al. 2014

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“…In addition, deficits in learning and memory, and increased anxiety, have been observed in such instances (Hauser et al, 2009). Accompanying such behavioral alterations are structural changes in brain regions including the hippocampus, amygdala, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, that are known to be involved in learning, memory, anxiety, and stress responsiveness (Noorlander et al, 2008;Oliveira et al, 2012;Zuloaga et al, 2012). Complementing these studies with glucocorticoid exposure are others that subjected pregnant rats to environmental stressors at different points in gestation.…”

Section: Influence Of Environment In Utero On Biology Of Future Genermentioning

confidence: 99%

Models of Intergenerational and Transgenerational Transmission of Risk for Psychopathology in Mice

Klengel

Dias

Ressler

2015

Neuropsychopharmacol

101

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Trajectories toward risk or resilience in psychiatric disorders are influenced by acquired and inherited factors. More recently, evidence from rodent studies suggest that acquired risk factors can be transmitted through non-genomic, epigenetic mechanisms to subsequent generations, potentially contributing to a cycle of disease and disease risk. Here, we review examples of transmission of environmental factors across generations and illustrate the difference between behavioral transmission and epigenetic inheritance. We highlight essential definitions of intergenerational and transgenerational transmission of disease risk with corresponding examples. We then explore how these phenomena may influence our understanding of psychiatric disorders leading toward new prevention and therapeutic approaches.

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“…1 Currently used therapeutic regimens have important limitations such as long-time lag for clinical response, induction of resistance or even response failure. 2, 3 Several different factors seem to have a role in MD: imbalances in neurotransmitters 4 and cytokine production, 5, 6 hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation 7 and impaired neuroplasticity. 8, 9 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The positive effect on ketamine as a priming adjuvant in antidepressant treatment

et al. 2015

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Ketamine is an anesthetic with antidepressant properties. The rapid and lasting effect of ketamine observed in preclinical and clinical research makes it a promising therapeutic to improve current major depression (MD) treatment. Our work intended to evaluate whether the combined use of classic antidepressants (imipramine or fluoxetine) and ketamine would improve the antidepressant response. Using an animal model of depressive-like behavior, we show that the addition of ketamine to antidepressants anticipates the behavioral response and accelerates the neuroplastic events when compared with the use of antidepressants alone. In conclusion, our results suggest the need for a reappraisal of the current pharmacological treatment of MD.

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The bed nucleus of stria terminalis and the amygdala as targets of antenatal glucocorticoids: implications for fear and anxiety responses

Abstract: Altogether, our results show that in utero DEX exposure can modulate anxiety and fear behavior in parallel with significant morphological, neurochemical and molecular changes; importantly, GCs seem to differentially affect distinct brain regions involved in this type of behaviors.

Cited by 38 publications

References 75 publications

The motivational drive to natural rewards is modulated by prenatal glucocorticoid exposure

The motivational drive to natural rewards is modulated by prenatal glucocorticoid exposure

Models of Intergenerational and Transgenerational Transmission of Risk for Psychopathology in Mice

The positive effect on ketamine as a priming adjuvant in antidepressant treatment

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