Computational Analysis of Neonatal Mouse Ultrasonic Vocalization.

Neonatal vocalization is structurally altered in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our published data showed that pup vocalization, under conditions of maternal separation, contains sequences whose alterations in a genetic mouse model of ASD impair social communication between pups and mothers. We describe details of a method which reveals the statistical structure of call sequences that are functionally critical for optimal maternal care. Entropy analysis determines the degree of non-random call sequencing. A Markov model determines the actual call sequences used by pups. Sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) identifies call sequences that differentiate groups and reveals the degrees of individual variability in call sequences between groups. These three sets of analyses can be used to identify the otherwise hidden call structure that is altered in mouse models of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, including not only autism but also schizophrenia. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Environmental enrichment enhances autophagy signaling in the rat hippocampus.

The findings that antidepressive treatments increase hippocampal neurotrophins have led researchers to emphasize the importance of neurogenesis, formation of new dendrites, and survival of neurons in the brain. However, it is difficult to maintain neural plasticity just by enriching the environment to facilitate formation of new networks. Neural plasticity also requires a degradation process that clears off unnecessary and undesirable components. We have recently reported an increase in autophagy signaling (wherein the cell digests components of itself) that has the potential of enhancing neuronal and synaptic plasticity after multiple sessions of electroconvulsive seizure treatment. The present study revealed an increase in autophagy signaling in the rat hippocampus following 2 weeks of environmental enrichment (EE), a procedure known to elicit antidepressive and anxiolytic behavioral changes in various animal paradigms. Western blot analysis showed an increase in hippocampal expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II), which is lipidated from LC3-I, in rats in the EE group. The effectiveness of the 2-week EE housing condition was validated by anxiolytic effects observed in the elevated plus maze test, enhanced habituation in the open field test, and elevation of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. In addition, we showed that the EE housing condition ameliorated numbing/avoidance behaviors, but not hypervigilant behaviors, in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is the first report to show that EE can increase autophagy signaling and improve numbing/avoidance behaviors in an animal model of PTSD.

[Involvement of autophagy in neuronal plasticity by psychiatric treatment].

Recently we have reported increased hippocampal autophagy signaling after multiple electroconvulsive seizure treatments. The involvement of autophagy process in the neuronal plasticity of synapses and dendrites and in the regulation of the number of specific receptors has been reported in basic studies using C. elegans, drosophila, and cultured neurons. The importance of the autophagy process in neuronal plasticity that supports the stress resilience should be further studied.

Therapeutic effect of paroxetine on stress-induced gastric lesions in mice.

Compared to the well-known anti-ulcerogenic properties of tricyclic antidepressants, the impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on gastric mucosa is less clear. Human clinical trials have shown that SSRIs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act synergistically and promote stomach ulcer formation and upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Acute SSRI treatment confers an additional risk for the formation of NSAID-induced gastric ulcers through increase in gastric acid secretion. Stress, which is often experienced by depressed patients, also deteriorates the gastric environment. Thus the potential for exacerbating stress-induced gastric lesions must be considered before prescribing SSRIs. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of paroxetine by using a water-immersion stress-induced stomach ulcer model of mice, by examining single vs. repeated paroxetine treatments for 8 and 22 days before stress induction. Repeated administration of paroxetine significantly decreased the area of stress-induced stomach lesions. Although stress significantly increased the serum corticosterone concentrations, the levels were not affected by the 8-day paroxetine treatment. We confirmed the anxiolytic and antidepressive effects of 8-day paroxetine treatment at 1 and 5 days after stress induction by using the elevated plus-maze and tail-suspension tests. We concluded that repeated paroxetine treatment significantly attenuates the stress-induced ulcerogenic process in the stomach.

Comparison of psychiatrists' views on classification of mental disorders in four East Asian countries/area.

OBJECTIVE: Authors of this study collaborated with psychiatrists in East Asia to undertake the international survey with the following objectives: (1) to identify the psychiatric classification systems currently used in East Asia, (2) to describe the views of psychiatrists on the classificatory systems of mental disorders in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan, (3) to analyze their similarities and differences among the four countries/area, and (4) to discuss factors which influence the usages of the classificatory systems in East Asia. METHOD: Views of psychiatrists in four East Asian countries/area were collected by a minimum of 100 psychiatrists in each country/area using the same questionnaire. Psychiatrists from East Asian countries/area completed the questionnaire developed originally by a New Zealand psychiatrist and translated into Japanese, Korean and Chinese. The questionnaire was designed to determine the views of psychiatrists in the utilization, preference, and opinion about the current classificatory systems represented by the DSM and ICD. RESULTS: The study revealed variations in the utilization, preference and opinion for further revision of the DSM and the ICD classificatory systems in East Asia. Psychiatrists in China and Japan routinely use the ICD, while psychiatrists in Korea and Taiwan favor using the DSM. The majority of Asian psychiatrists expressed the view that it was sometimes difficult to apply the system transculturally. CONCLUSIONS: Views on psychiatric classification in a country/area are strongly influenced by several factors including mental health service systems, psychiatric resources and historical background.