Article
Neurosciences
Ettel Keifman, Camila Coll, Cecilia Tubert, Rodrigo M. Paz, Juan E. Belforte, Mario G. Murer, Barbara Y. Braz
Summary: In Parkinson's disease patients and rodent models, loss of dopaminergic neurons results in severe motor disabilities. However, in rodents, general motility is preserved after early postnatal loss of dopaminergic neurons. This preservation is likely due to functional changes in certain neurons in the brain.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Guendalina Bergonzoni, Jessica Doring, Marta Biagioli
Summary: Huntington's disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by an aberrant expansion of the CAG tract within the HTT gene. Despite the ubiquity of the HTT gene, striatal Medium-sized Spiny Neurons are particularly vulnerable to the HD mutation, with D1R and D2R displaying different susceptibility. Understanding cell type-specific gene expression dysregulation in the striatum may offer new paths for therapeutic intervention in HD patients.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Rose B. Creed, Rosalinda C. Roberts, Charlene B. Farmer, Lori L. McMahon, Matthew S. Goldberg
Summary: Loss-of-function PTEN Induced Kinase1 (PINK1) mutations lead to early-onset familial Parkinson's disease (PD) with similar characteristics to idiopathic PD. Knockout of Pink1 in rats leads to increased excitability of presynaptic neurons, altered glutamate release probability, and abnormal synaptic vesicle pool recovery, potentially contributing to striatal circuit dysfunction in PD.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Maria Christensen, Soren Emil Norr, Ulrik Gether, Mattias Rickhag
Summary: The study focuses on the pivotal role of the striatum in controlling voluntary movements and the impact of permanently inhibiting dSPN activity with TeLC on behavioral outcomes. It was found that the observed ipsilateral rotations in TeLC-expressing mice were due to the silencing of dSPN activity in one hemisphere, causing a temporal imbalance in the basal ganglia circuit and resulting in short bursts of rotations, particularly evident during extrinsic dopaminergic modulation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yong Han, Guobin Xia, Yanlin He, Yang He, Monica Farias, Yong Xu, Qi Wu
Summary: This study identified a group of dopamine neurons located in the caudal ventral tegmental area that suppress food intake through enhanced satiation response by directly innervating DRD1-expressing neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus. Acute inhibition of these neurons before feeding bout termination significantly suppresses satiety and prolongs feeding, while activation of DRD1(LPBN) neurons inhibits feeding. Genetic deletion of Drd1 in LPBN leads to increased food intake and weight gain. Furthermore, DRD1(LPBN) signaling is crucial for methylphenidate-induced hypophagia.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dmitry Troshev, Alyona Bannikova, Victor Blokhin, Anna Kolacheva, Tatiana Pronina, Michael Ugrumov
Summary: This study investigated the phenotype and functional significance of striatal neurons expressing dopamine-synthesizing enzymes. The results showed that these neurons are not dopaminergic and produce dopamine in cooperation with complementary enzymes. Additionally, the study revealed the delivery pathways of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and dopamine into the cerebrospinal fluid through striatal nerve fibers. The findings also indicated the fine regulation of these neurons through the expression of receptor genes for various signaling molecules. Overall, the study suggests that dopamine synthesis by striatal neurons may be a compensatory response in Parkinson's disease, providing prospects for novel therapies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Melissa Serrano, Matteo Tripodi, Pico Caroni
Summary: Adaptive behavior requires flexible control over learning and exploitation of potentially viable options. This study reveals the specific role of mouse RSC in flexible learning and maps the relevant brain networks. The results suggest that RSC is crucial for learning new alternative options, which relies on its connections with DMS and PF neurons.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Subramaniam Jayanthi, Bruce Ladenheim, Patricia Sullivan, Michael T. McCoy, Irina N. Krasnova, David S. Goldstein, Jean Lud Cadet
Summary: Perturbations in striatal dopamine homeostasis may contribute to METH use disorder. Rats exposed to footshocks after long-term METH intake showed decreased intake when given a DA D1 receptor antagonist. Compulsive METH takers exhibited abnormal DA metabolism and decreased protein levels. These findings are consistent with studies on human METH users.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Elia Mota, Segolene Bompierre, Dahdjim Betolngar, Liliana R. Castro, Pierre Vincent
Summary: This study reveals the functional contribution of PDE2A, PDE4, and PDE10A in regulating cAMP/PKA response to dopamine stimulation in the striatum. PDE10A is found to play a key role in reducing cAMP levels back to baseline and dephosphorylating PKA substrates. Inhibiting PDE10A dampens responsiveness to dopamine, while inhibiting PDE2A or PDE4 strengthens dopamine action.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Gwenaelle Laverne, Jonathan Pesce, Ana Reynders, Etienne Combrisson, Eduardo Gascon, Christophe Melon, Lydia Kerkerian-Le Goff, Nicolas Maurice, Corinne Beurrier
Summary: Striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs) play an important regulatory role in cortico-striatal transmission and striatal-dependent motor-skill learning, which is dependent on the integrity of dopaminergic inputs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John N. J. Reynolds, Riccardo Avvisati, Paul D. Dodson, Simon D. Fisher, Manfred J. Oswald, Jeffery R. Wickens, Yan-Feng Zhang
Summary: Dopamine-dependent long-term plasticity is a cellular mechanism underlying reinforcement learning. The coincidence of phasic dopamine activation and pauses in striatal cholinergic interneuron firing plays a critical role in long-term potentiation of corticostriatal synapses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roxana E. Mesias, Yosif Zaki, Christopher A. Guevara, Lauren G. Friedman, Ayan Hussein, Karen Therrien, Alexandra R. Magee, Nikolaos Tzavaras, Pamela Del Valle, Mark G. Baxter, George W. Huntley, Deanna L. Benson
Summary: This study investigates the formation of connections between the prefrontal cortex and the dorsal striatum during postnatal development in mice. It shows that a specific protein, Cdh8, plays a crucial role in the development of these connections.
Article
Neurosciences
Masanori Takahashi, Ryoji Fukabori, Hiroshi Kawasaki, Kazuto Kobayashi, Kiyoshi Kawakami
Summary: The study revealed the presence of a cell adhesion molecule gene called Cdh20 in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) of rats, which is expressed in specific subregions and distinguishes different types of SPNs, suggesting divergent regulation of gene expression in v-DLS and Pu among mammals.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Raquel Correia, Barbara Coimbra, Ana Veronica Domingues, Marcelina Wezik, Natacha Vieitas-Gaspar, Rita Gaspar, Nuno Sousa, Luisa Pinto, Ana Joao Rodrigues, Carina Soares-Cunha
Summary: The study examined the contribution of specific neuronal projections from the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) to anxiety-like behavior. Activation of dopamine receptor D2-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) projecting to the ventral pallidum (VP) increased anxiety-like behavior, while activation of D1-MSNs projecting to the VP or ventral tegmental area (VTA) did not. This effect was mediated by modulation of GABAergic activity in the VP.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY & NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Marianna Tolve, Ayse Ulusoy, Nikolaos Patikas, K. Ushna S. Islam, Gabriela O. Bodea, Ece Oeztuerk, Bianca Broske, Astrid Mentani, Antonia Wagener, Karen M. J. van Loo, Stefan Britsch, Pengtao Liu, Walid T. Khaled, Emmanouil Metzakopian, Stephan L. Baader, Donato A. Di Monte, Sandra Blaess
Summary: The transcription factor BCL11A is expressed in subsets of murine and human dopamine neurons, forming specific subcircuits within the dopamine system. These Bcl11a-expressing neurons are vulnerable to neurodegeneration, as inactivation of Bcl11a increases susceptibility and results in motor behavior deficits. BCL11A is crucial for establishing and maintaining the physiological characteristics of dopamine neuron subpopulations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sebastien Valverde, Marie Vandecasteele, Charlotte Piette, Willy Derousseaux, Giuseppe Gangarossa, Asier Aristieta Arbelaiz, Jonathan Touboul, Bertrand Degos, Laurent Venance
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Wendy Klement, Fabiana Oliviero, Giuseppe Gangarossa, Emma Zub, Frederic De Bock, Isabel Forner-Piquer, Marine Blaquiere, Frederic Lasserre, Jean-Marc Pascussi, Tangui Maurice, Etienne Audinat, Sandrine Ellero-Simatos, Laurence Gamet-Payrastre, Laila Mselli-Lakhal, Nicola Marchi
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Cutando, Emma Puighermanal, Laia Castell, Pauline Tarot, Federica Bertaso, Patricia Bonnavion, Alban de Kerchove d'Exaerde, Elsa Isingrini, Micaela Galante, Glenn Dallerac, Vincent Pascoli, Christian Luescher, Bruno Giros, Emmanuel Valjent
Summary: The study found that d-amphetamine and methylphenidate can increase phosphorylation of GluA1 in the membrane fraction of the mouse cerebellum; Bergmann glial cells are the source of pS845-GluA1 and intact NE release is required; NE regulates GluA1 phosphorylation in Bergmann glial cells in response to prescription stimulants.
Review
Neurosciences
Emmanuel Valjent, Giuseppe Gangarossa
Summary: The dorsal striatum plays a critical role in controlling motor behaviors and recent studies have shown that the tail of striatum (TS) represents an additional functional domain with unique input-output connectivity, making it an integrator of sensory processing.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabel Forner-Piquer, Wendy Klement, Giuseppe Gangarossa, Emma Zub, Frederic de Bock, Marine Blaquiere, Tangui Maurice, Etienne Audinat, Adele Faucherre, Frederic Lasserre, Sandrine Ellero-Simatos, Laurence Gamet-Payrastre, Chris Jopling, Nicola Marchi
Summary: The study found that male offspring of mice exposed to a pesticide cocktail exhibited anxiety-like behavior, while zebrafish larvae exposed to the pesticide cocktail during development showed alterations in motor behaviors.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Chloe Berland, Dana M. Small, Serge Luquet, Giuseppe Gangarossa
Summary: The abundance of energy-dense and palatable diets in the modern food environment contributes to the obesity pandemic; recent reports suggest that dietary lipids can modulate dopamine transmission, potentially leading to maladaptations of the dopamine system.
TRENDS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mathieu Favier, Nicolas Pietrancosta, Salah El Mestikawy, Giuseppe Gangarossa
Summary: VGLUT3, an atypical vesicular transporter, is expressed in various types of neurons and plays a critical role in modulating brain functions through glutamate co-transmission. Targeting VGLUT3 for therapeutic strategies could lead to breakthroughs in treating conditions such as Parkinson's disease and addiction.
TRENDS IN PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chloe Berland, Julien Castel, Romano Terrasi, Enrica Montalban, Ewout Foppen, Claire Martin, Giulio G. Muccioli, Serge Luquet, Giuseppe Gangarossa
Summary: This study explores the functional connection between the gut-brain axis and the reward and homeostatic brain structures using a physiologically relevant binge eating (BE) mouse model and multiscale in vivo approaches. The results reveal that compensatory adaptations in response to BE require the gut-to-brain axis, which relies on the permissive actions of peripheral endocannabinoids (eCBs) signaling through the vagus nerve. Inhibition of peripheral CB1 receptors increases hypothalamic activity, modulates metabolic efficiency, and dampens mesolimbic dopamine circuit activity, suppressing palatable eating. This study provides compelling evidence for a yet unappreciated physiological integrative mechanism involving peripheral eCBs and the vagus nerve in regulating homeostatic and reward-driven feeding.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Enrica Montalban, Albert Giralt, Lieng Taing, Evelien H. S. Schut, Laura F. Supiot, Laia Castell, Yuki Nakamura, Benoit de Pins, Assunta Pelosi, Laurence Goutebroze, Pola Tuduri, Wei Wang, Katrina Daila Neiburga, Letizia Vestito, Julien Castel, Serge Luquet, Angus C. Nairn, Denis Herve, Nathaniel Heintz, Claire Martin, Paul Greengard, Emmanuel Valjent, Frank J. Meye, Nicolas Gambardella, Jean-Pierre Roussarie, Jean-Antoine Girault
Summary: Forebrain dopamine-sensitive neurons play important roles in movement, action selection, motivation, and working memory. This study compares different populations of dopaminoceptive neurons and identifies differences in gene expression between them. Additionally, it reveals the potential role of prostaglandin E2 as a neuromodulator in the striatum and a potential therapeutic target.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Clarisse Dumont, Guangping Li, Julien Castel, Serge Luquet, Giuseppe Gangarossa
Summary: The regulation of food intake and energy balance relies on the integration of signals monitoring nutritional, metabolic, cognitive, and emotional states. The paraventricular thalamus (PVT) is a central hub that may contribute to the regulation of feeding and homeostatic/allostatic processes. This study reveals the role of catecholaminergic (CA) inputs from the hindbrain to the PVT in scaling feeding and metabolic efficiency, as well as the modulation of downstream hypothalamic neuron activity.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Blazej D. Pedzich, Sarah Rubens, Mehdi Sekssaoui, Anouk Pierre, Andries Van Schuerbeek, Philippe Marin, Joel Bockaert, Emmanuel Valjent, Carine Becamel, Dimitri De Bundel
Summary: Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has gained attention as a novel treatment strategy for fear-related mental disorders. This study investigated the effect of activating the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor, a key target for psychedelics, on emotional processing. The findings suggest that activation of 5-HT2A receptors in the amygdala suppresses fear expression and reduces anxiety-like behavior, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
F. Javier Rubio, Emmanuel Valjent, Bruce T. Hope
FRONTIERS IN SYNAPTIC NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oriane Onimus, Emmanuel Valjent, Gilberto Fisone, Giuseppe Gangarossa
Summary: This study focuses on the regulatory mechanisms of antipsychotic drugs on immediate early genes in the striatum. The results show that the induction of immediate early genes in the striatum requires the synergistic activation of A2a and NMDA receptors, while the PKA/DARPP-32 and mTOR pathways also cooperate in this process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Roberta Haddad-Tovolli, Sara Ramirez, Emma Munoz-Moreno, Maria Mila-Guasch, Lluis Miquel-Rio, Macarena Pozo, Inigo Chivite, Jordi Altirriba, Arnaud Obri, Alicia G. Gomez-Valades, Miriam Toledo, Elena Eyre, Analia Bortolozzi, Emmanuel Valjent, Guadalupe Soria, Marc Claret
Summary: Preparation for motherhood involves various physiological and behavioral adjustments to create an optimal environment for embryonic development. Pregnant women often experience cravings for highly palatable foods, which can contribute to overweight or obesity. The neurobiology behind specific food cravings during pregnancy is still unknown. This study shows that mice, like humans, have pregnancy food craving-like episodes, which are associated with changes in brain connectivity. Dopaminergic signaling in the nucleus accumbens, regulated by dopamine D2 receptors, plays a role in modulating these food craving-like events. Importantly, persistent maternal food craving-like behavior can have long-lasting effects on offspring, particularly in males, leading to metabolic and neuropsychological health issues in adulthood.