Jan N. Keijser

Enhanced 5-HT1A receptor expression in forebrain regions of aggressive house mice.

The brain 5-HT1A receptor system in male wild house mice selected for high and low offensive aggression was investigated by autoradiographic analysis of in situ hybridization and radioligand binding. In high-aggressive mice, characterized by a short attack latency, the rise in plasma corticosterone concentration during the early dark phase was reduced. At that time the level of 5-HT1A mRNA in the dorsal hippocampus (dentate gyrus and CA1) was twice the amount measured in low-aggressive mice that had long attack latency and high plasma corticosterone level. Increased postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor radioligand binding was found in dentate gyrus, CA1, lateral septum, and frontal cortex. No difference in ligand binding was found for the 5-HT1A autoreceptor on cell bodies in the dorsal raphe nucleus. In conclusion, genetic selection for high offensive aggression co-selects for reduced (circadian peak) level in plasma corticosterone and increased postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor number in limbic and cortical regions.

Sleep deprivation impairs spatial working memory and reduces hippocampal AMPA receptor phosphorylation

Sleep is important for brain function and cognitive performance. Sleep deprivation (SD) may affect subsequent learning capacity and ability to form new memories, particularly in the case of hippocampus‐dependent tasks. In the present study we examined whether SD for 6 or 12 h during the normal resting phase prior to learning affects hippocampus‐dependent working memory in mice. In addition, we determined effects of SD on hippocampal glutamate α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors and their regulatory pathways, which are crucially involved in working memory. After 12 h SD, but not yet after 6 h, spatial working memory in a novel arm recognition task was significantly impaired. This deficit was not likely due to stress as corticosterone levels after SD were not significantly different between groups. In parallel with the change in cognitive function, we found that 12 h SD significantly reduced hippocampal AMPA receptor phosphorylation at the GluR1‐S845 site, which is important for incorporation of the receptors into the membrane. SD did not affect protein levels of cyclic‐AMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA) or phosphatase calcineurin (CaN), which regulate GluR1 phosphorylation. However, SD did reduce the expression of the scaffolding molecule A‐kinase anchoring protein 150 (AKAP150), which binds and partly controls the actions of PKA and CaN. In conclusion, a relatively short SD during the normal resting phase may affect spatial working memory in mice by reducing hippocampal AMPA receptor function through a change in AKAP150 levels. Together, these findings provide further insight into the possible mechanism of SD‐induced hippocampal dysfunction and memory impairment.

Selective decline of 5-HT1A receptor binding sites in rat cortex, hippocampus and cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei during aging

The effect of aging on 5-HT1A receptor binding in several forebrain areas associated with the basal forebrain cholinergic system was investigated in rats of 3-, 24- and 30-months-old by receptor autoradiography and biochemical binding assay using [3H]8-OH-DPAT as a ligand. Autoradiographic measurements demonstrated a marked region-specific decline of ligand binding in: (i) regions of the basal forebrain cholinergic cell groups, i.e. the medial septum, diagonal band nuclei and magnocellular nucleus basalis, (ii) the frontal and parietal neocortex and (iii) the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. No change or only a slight decrease of the 5-HT1A receptor density was found in other areas investigated: the CA1 and CA3 sectors of hippocampus, the cingular and perirhinal cerebral cortex and the lateral septum. The autoradiographic findings were substantiated by the biochemical binding assay, which revealed a comparable loss of 5-HT1A receptor in the hippocampus and neocortex at the age of 30 months. The results clearly show that with increasing age the decrement of 5-HT1A receptor binding in the rat forebrain is remarkably region-selective and particularly affects the cholinergic cell groups that innervate cortex and hippocampus. This phenomenon appears to be especially significant in relation to the neuronal substrates underlying the age-related alterations of mood and cognition.

Input from the medial septum regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis

Neural progenitors in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal formation form a continuously proliferating cell population, generating new granule neurons throughout adult life. Between 10 days and 1 month after their formation, many of the newly generated cells die. The present study investigated whether a partial lesion of one of the main nuclei projecting to the hippocampus, the medial septum (MS), affects survival and differentiation of cells during this critical period. Rats were injected with BrdU and 5 days later excitotoxic lesion of the MS was applied by infusion of either 30 or 60 nmol of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). One week after the lesion, quantification of immunopositive cells revealed that the number of GABAergic cells was significantly reduced in both lesioned groups, whereas a decline in cholinergic cell number was observed only after injection of 60 nmol of NMDA. The partial septohippocampal denervation significantly reduced hippocampal neurogenesis. Survival of newly generated neurons was decreased by approximately 40%. The MS lesion did not affect proliferation of hippocampal progenitors. The present study points out the importance of a functional septohippocampal pathway for the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis and highlights the potential role of GABA as a mediator in this phenomenon.

Dietary long chain PUFAs differentially affect hippocampal muscarinic 1 and serotonergic 1A receptors in experimental cerebral hypoperfusion

The chronic dietary intake of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can modulate learning and memory by being incorporated into neuronal plasma membranes. Representatives of two PUFA families, the n-3 and n-6 types become integrated into membrane phospholipids, where the actual (n-6)/(n-3) ratio can determine membrane fluidity and thus the function of membrane-bound proteins. In the present experiment we studied hippocampal neurotransmitter receptors after chronic administration of n-3 PUFA enriched diets in a brain hypoperfusion model, which mimics decreased cerebral perfusion as it occurs in ageing and dementia. Male Wistar rats received experimental diets with a decreased (n-6)/(n-3) ratio from weaning on. Chronic experimental cerebral hypoperfusion was imposed by a permanent, bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (2VO) at the age of 4 months. The experiment was terminated when the rats were 7 months old. Three receptor types, the muscarinic 1, serotonergic 1A and the glutaminergic NMDA receptors were labeled in hippocampal slices by autoradiographic methods. Image analysis demonstrated that 2VO increased muscarinic 1 and NMDA receptor density, specifically in the dentate gyrus and the CA3 region, respectively. The increased ratio of n-3 fatty acids in combination with additional dietary supplements enhanced the density of the serotonergic 1A and muscarinic 1 receptors, while n-3 fatty acids alone increased binding only to the muscarinic 1 receptors. Since the examined receptor types reacted differently to the diets, we concluded that besides changes in membrane fluidity, the biochemical regulation of receptor sensitivity might also play a role in increasing hippocampal receptor density.

Increased amyloid precursor protein expression and serotonergic sprouting following excitotoxic lesion of the rat magnocellular nucleus basalis: Neuroprotection by Ca2+ antagonist nimodipine

In the present study plastic neural responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced excitotoxic lesions and the neuroprotective effects of the L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel antagonist nimodipine were investigated in the rat magnocellular nucleus basalis. Assessment of spontaneous behaviour in the elevated plus maze and small open-field paradigms on day 5 and day 14 post-surgery indicated anxiety and persistent hypoactivity of N-methyl-D-aspartate-lesioned rats, as compared with sham-operated controls. Nimodipine administration significantly alleviated the behavioural deficits. Quantitative histochemical analysis of acetylcholinesterase-positive fibre innervation of the somatosensory cortex and determination of the numbers of choline-acetyltransferase-positive proximal fibre branches of cholinergic projection neurons in the magnocellular nucleus basalis demonstrated a severe cholinergic deficit as a consequence of the excitotoxic lesion 14 days post-surgery. Nimodipine pre-treatment significantly attenuated the loss of cortical cholinergic innervation and preserved the functional integrity of cholinergic projection neurons in the magnocellular nucleus basalis. Double-labelling immunocytochemistry demonstrated increased amyloid precursor protein expression in shrinking and presumably apoptotic choline-acetyltransferase-positive neurons, whereas surviving cholinergic nerve cells were devoid of excessive amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity. Moreover, as a consequence of N-methyl-D-aspartate infusion, rim-like accumulation of amyloid precursor protein-positive astrocytes was visualized in a penumbra-like zone of the excitotoxic injury. Furthermore, abundant sprouting of serotonergic projection fibres invading the damaged magnocellular nucleus basalis subdivision was demonstrated. Pharmacological blockade by the Ca(2+) antagonist nimodipine significantly attenuated both neuronal and glial amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity and serotonergic fibre sprouting following N-methyl-D-aspartate infusion. The present data characterize plastic endogenous glial and neuronal responses in the magnocellular nucleus basalis model of acute excitotoxic brain damage. The increased amyloid precursor protein expression may indicate effective means of intrinsic neuroprotection, as secreted amyloid precursor protein isoforms are suggested to play a role in neuronal rescue following excitotoxic injury. From a pharmacological point of view, extensive sprouting of serotonergic projections in the damaged magnocellular nucleus basalis may also counteract N-methyl-D-aspartate excitotoxicity via serotonin-induced inhibition of Ca(2+) currents and membrane hyperpolarization. Hence, lesion-induced changes in spontaneous animal behaviour, such as anxiety and novelty-induced hypoactivity, may well be attributed to the considerable re-distribution of serotonergic projections in the basal forebrain. In conclusion, our present data emphasize a role of neuron-glia and neurotransmitter-system interactions in functional recovery after acute excitotoxic brain injury, and the efficacy of L-type Ca(2+) channel blockade by the selective 1,4-dihydropyridine antagonist nimodipine.

Neuroprotective effects of vinpocetine and its major metabolite cis-apovincaminic acid on NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in a rat entorhinal cortex lesion model

Vinpocetine (ethyl‐apovincaminate, Cavinton), a synthetic derivative of the Vinca minor alkaloid vincamine, has been used now for decades for prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases predisposing to development of dementia. Both vinpocetine and its main metabolite cis‐apovincaminic acid (cAVA) exert a neuroprotective type of action. Bilateral N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA)‐induced neurodegeneration in the entorhinal cortex of rat was used as a dementia model to confirm the neuroprotective action of these compounds in vivo. NMDA‐lesioned rats were treated 60 min before lesion and throughout 3 postoperative days with a 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of vinpocetine or cAVA. Behavioral tests started after termination of drug treatment and consisted of novel object recognition, social discrimination, and spontaneous alternation in a Y‐maze, and spatial learning in the Morris water maze. At the end of behavioral testing brains were perfused with fixative and the size of the excitotoxic neuronal lesion and that of microglial activation around the lesion were assayed quantitatively on brain sections immunostained for neuron‐specific nuclear protein (NeuN) and integrin CD11b, respectively. Entorhinal NMDA lesions impaired recognition of novel objects and the new social partner, and suppressed spontaneous alternation and spatial learning performance in the Morris maze. Both vinpocetine and cAVA effectively attenuated the behavioral deficits, and significantly decreased lesion size and the region of microglia activation. Both lesion‐induced attention deficit and learning disabilities were markedly alleviated by vinpocetine and cAVA. The morphological findings corroborated the behavioral observations and indicated reduced lesion size and microglia activation especially after vinpocetine treatment which supports an in vivo neuroprotective mode of action of vinpocitine and a less potent action of cAVA.

DIFFERENTIAL TESTOSTERONE SECRETORY CAPACITY OF THE TESTES OF AGGRESSIVE AND NONAGGRESSIVE HOUSE MICE DURING ONTOGENY

In this study, testosterone secretory capacity of testicular Leydig cells during ontogeny was determined in males of an aggressive and a nonaggressive genetic selection line of wild house mice. Neonates, 23-day-old prepubertals, and adult male mice were studied. A morphometric method was used to quantify 3-beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3-beta-HSD)-stained Leydig cells in testicular sections to determine testosterone secretory capacity. We consider this parameter to reflect circulating testosterone in the plasma. The results of this study show that the testosterone secretory capacity of Leydig cells in the testis changes differentially during development in males of the aggressive and nonaggressive selection lines. This capacity is highest in the aggressive selection line males at adulthood and at the prepubertal age of 23 days. Surprisingly, at birth, the highest T-secretory capacity was observed in the males of the nonaggressive selection line. The significance of an interaction between genetic factors and differences in perinatal testosterone for the individual variation in adult aggressive behavior is discussed.

Rabbit forebrain cholinergic system: Morphological characterization of nuclei and distribution of cholinergic terminals in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

Although the rabbit brain, in particular the basal forebrain cholinergic system, has become a common model for neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimers disease, detailed neuroanatomical studies on the morphological organization of basal forebrain cholinergic nuclei and on their output pathways are still awaited. Therefore, we performed quantitative choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunocytochemistry to localize major cholinergic nuclei and to determine the number of respective cholinergic neurons in the rabbit forebrain. The density of ChAT‐immunoreactive terminals in layer V of distinct neocortical territories and in hippocampal subfields was also measured. Another cholinergic marker, the low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), was also employed to identify subsets of cholinergic neurons. Double‐immunofluorescence labeling of ChAT and p75NTR, calbindin D‐28k (CB), parvalbumin, calretinin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), tyrosine hydroxylase, or substance P was used to elucidate the neuroanatomical borders of cholinergic nuclei and to analyze the neurochemical complexity of cholinergic cell populations. Cholinergic projection neurons with heterogeneous densities were found in the medial septum, vertical and horizontal diagonal bands of Broca, ventral pallidum, and magnocellular nucleus basalis (MBN)/substantia innominata (SI) complex; cholinergic interneurons were observed in the caudate nucleus, putamen, accumbens nucleus, and olfactory tubercule, whereas the globus pallidus was devoid of cholinergic nerve cells. Cholinergic interneurons were frequently present in the hippocampus and to a lesser extent in cerebral cortex. Cholinergic projection neurons, except those localized in SI, abundantly expressed p75NTR, and a subset of cholinergic neurons in posterior MBN was immunoreactive for CB and nNOS. A strict laminar distribution pattern of cholinergic terminals was recorded both in the cerebral cortex and in CA1–CA3 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. In summary, the structural organization and chemoarchitecture of rabbit basal forebrain may be considered as a transition between that of rodents and that of primates. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:597–611, 2003.

Galantamine-induced behavioral recovery after sublethal excitotoxic lesions to the rat medial septum

Clinical trials show beneficial effects of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, including galantamine, on cognitive functions in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease. Galantamine shows a dual action profile by also acting as an allosteric modulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Nevertheless, its in vivo mechanism of action is only partly understood. Here, we first established a novel lesion model provoking significant functional impairment of the septo-hippocampal projection system without triggering massive neuronal death in the rat medial septum. Next, we studied whether galantamine, administered in doses of 1 and 3mg/kg post-lesion, promotes functional recovery of spatial navigation behaviors, and affects the output of septal cholinergic projections. Infusion of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA; 30nmol/1microl) in the medial septum resulted in spatial learning deficits associated with significant shrinkage of cholinergic neurons and reduced AChE activity in the hippocampus at 7 days post-lesion. Galantamine treatment alone significantly increased the hippocampal acetylcholine concentration and attenuated the NMDA-induced spatial learning impairment. Galantamine post-treatment also affected NMDA-induced changes in AChE and choline-acetyltransferase activities. In conclusion, our data show that galantamine attenuates experimentally-induced cognitive impairments underscored by mild neuronal damage.