Electrical stimulation or MK-801 in the inferior colliculus improve motor deficits in MPTP-treated mice.

The inferior colliculus (IC) is an important midbrain relay station for the integration of descending and ascending auditory information. Additionally, the IC has been implicated in processing sensorimotor responses. Glutamatergic and GABAergic manipulations in the IC can improve motor deficits as demonstrated by the animal model of haloperidol-induced catalepsy. However, how the IC influences motor function remains unclear. We investigated the effects of either intracollicular deep brain stimulation (DBS) or microinjection of the glutamatergic antagonist MK-801 or the agonist NMDA in C57BL/6J mice chronically treated with saline or 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). After DBS or microinjections, the mice were submitted to rotarod and open field tests, respectively. DBS in the IC was effective to increase the time spent on the rotarod in MPTP-treated mice. After unilateral microinjection of MK-801, but not NMDA, MPTP-treated mice increased the distance travelled in the open field (p < 0.05). In conclusion, intracollicular DBS or MK-801 microinjection can improve motor performance in parkinsonian mice suggesting the IC as a new and non-conventional therapeutic target in motor impairment.

CB1 cannabinoid receptor-mediated anandamide signaling mechanisms of the inferior colliculus modulate the haloperidol-induced catalepsy.

The inferior colliculus (IC), a midbrain structure that processes acoustic information of aversive nature, is distinguished from other auditory nuclei in the brainstem by its connections with structures of the motor system. Previous evidence relating the IC to motor behavior shows that glutamatergic and GABAergic mechanisms in the IC exert influence on systemic haloperidol-induced catalepsy. There is substantial evidence supporting a role played by the endocannabinoid system as a modulator of the glutamatergic neurotransmission, as well as the dopaminergic activity in the basal nuclei and therefore it may be considered as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of movement disorders. The present study evaluated if the endocannabinoid system in the IC plays a role in the elaboration of systemic haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Male Wistar rats received intracollicular microinjection of either the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (AEA) at different concentrations (5, 50 or 100pmol/0.2µl), the CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM251 at 50, 100 or 200pmol/0.2µl or vehicle, followed by intraperitoneal (IP) administration of either haloperidol at 0.5 or 1mg/kg or physiological saline. Systemic injection of haloperidol at both doses (0.5 or 1mg/kg, IP) produced a cataleptic state, compared to vehicle/physiological saline-treated group, lasting 30 and 50min after systemic administration of the dopaminergic receptors non-selective antagonist. The midbrain microinjection of AEA at 50pmol/0.2µl increased the latency for stepping down from the horizontal bar after systemic administration of haloperidol. Moreover, the intracollicular administration of AEA at 50pmol/0.2µl was able to increase the duration of catalepsy as compared to AEA at 100pmol/0.2-µl-treated group. Intracollicular pretreatment with AM251 at the intermediate concentration (100pmol/0.2µl) was able to decrease the duration of catalepsy after systemic administration of haloperidol. However, neither the intracollicular microinjection of AM251 at the lowest (50pmol/0.2µl) nor at the highest (200pmol/0.2µl) concentration was able to block the systemic haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Furthermore, the intracollicular administration of AM251 at 100pmol/0.2µl was able to decrease the duration of catalepsy as compared to AM251 at 50pmol/0.2µl- and AM251 at 200pmol/0.2-µl-treated group. The latency for stepping down from the horizontal bar - induced by haloperidol administration - was decreased when microinjection of AEA at 50pmol/0.2µl was preceded with blockade of CB1 receptor with AM251 (100pmol/0.2µl). Our results strengthen the involvement of CB1-signaled endocannabinoid mechanisms of the IC in the neuromodulation of catalepsy induced by systemic administration of the dopaminergic receptors non-selective antagonist haloperidol.

Glutamatergic neurotransmission in the inferior colliculus influences intrastriatal haloperidol-induced catalepsy.

The inferior colliculus (IC) is an important midbrain relay station for the integration of descending and ascending auditory information. In addition, it has also been implicated in the processing of acoustic information of aversive nature, as well as in sensory-motor gating. There is evidence that glutamate-mediated mechanisms at the IC level influence haloperidol-induced catalepsy. The present study investigated the influence of glutamate-mediated mechanisms in the IC on catalepsy induced by intrastriatal microinjection of haloperidol (10 µg/0.5 µl). Male Wistar rats received bilateral intracollicular microinjections of the glutamate receptor agonist NMDA (10 or 20 nmol/0.5 µl), the NMDA receptor antagonists MK-801 (15 or 30 nmol/0.5 µl) or physiological saline (0.5 µl), followed by bilateral microinjections of haloperidol (10 µg/0.5 µl) or vehicle (0.5 µl) into the dorso-rostral or ventro-rostral striatum. The catalepsy test was performed positioning both forepaws of the rats on an elevated horizontal wooden bar and recording the time during which the animal remained in this position. The results showed that the administration of physiological saline in the IC followed by the microinjection of haloperidol in the dorso-rostral region of the striatum was not able to induce catalepsy. However, when the bilateral administration of NMDA into the IC was followed by microinjection of haloperidol into the dorso-rostral striatum, catalepsy was observed. The microinjection of haloperidol into the ventro-rostral striatum induced catalepsy, counteracted by previous administration of MK-801 into the IC. These findings suggest that glutamate-mediated mechanisms in the IC can influence the intrastriatal haloperidol-induced catalepsy and that the IC plays an important role as a sensorimotor interface.

Modulation of haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats by GABAergic neural substrate in the inferior colliculus.

Not only is the inferior colliculus (IC) a highly important center of integration within the central auditory pathway, but it may also play a modulatory role in sensory-motor circuitry. Previous evidence from our laboratory relating the IC to motor behavior shows that glutamate-mediated mechanisms within the IC modulate haloperidol-induced catalepsy. The high density of GABAergic receptors in the IC led to this study of a possible link between these receptors, haloperidol-induced catalepsy, and a possible involvement of the blockade of dopaminergic receptors. Catalepsy was evaluated by positioning both forepaws of rats on an elevated horizontal wooden bar and recording the time that the animal maintained this position. The present study shows that haloperidol-induced catalepsy was enhanced by local microinjection into the IC of midazolam (20nmol/0.5µl), a benzodiazepine receptor agonist, whereas animals receiving a microinjection of bicuculline (40 or 80ng/0.5µl), a GABAergic antagonist, showed a reduction in the time of catalepsy. However, the microinjection of haloperidol (2.5 or 5.0µg/0.5µl) bilaterally into the IC did not induce catalepsy. Therefore, our results suggest the involvement of the IC in the modulation of catalepsy induced by haloperidol, even though the dopaminergic mechanisms of the IC are unable to induce catalepsy when blocked by the direct microinjection of haloperidol. It is thus possible that the IC plays a role in sensorimotor gating and that GABA-mediated mechanisms are involved.

Chronic unpredictable mild stress alters an anxiety-related defensive response, Fos immunoreactivity and hippocampal adult neurogenesis.

Previous results show that elevated T-maze (ETM) avoidance responses are facilitated by acute restraint. Escape, on the other hand, was unaltered. To examine if the magnitude of the stressor is an important factor influencing these results, we investigated the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) on ETM avoidance and escape measurements. Analysis of Fos protein immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) was used to map areas activated by stress exposure in response to ETM avoidance and escape performance. Additionally, the effects of the UCMS protocol on the number of cells expressing the marker of migrating neuroblasts doublecortin (DCX) in the hippocampus were investigated. Corticosterone serum levels were also measured. Results showed that UCMS facilitates ETM avoidance, not altering escape. In unstressed animals, avoidance performance increases Fos-ir in the cingulate cortex, hippocampus (dentate gyrus) and basomedial amygdala, and escape increases Fos-ir in the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray and locus ceruleus. In stressed animals submitted to ETM avoidance, increases in Fos-ir were observed in the cingulate cortex, ventrolateral septum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala, dorsal and median raphe nuclei. In stressed animals submitted to ETM escape, increases in Fos-ir were observed in the cingulate cortex, periaqueductal gray and locus ceruleus. Also, UCMS exposure decreased the number of DCX-positive cells in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus and increased corticosterone serum levels. These data suggest that the anxiogenic effects of UCMS are related to the activation of specific neurobiological circuits that modulate anxiety and confirm that this stress protocol activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and decreases hippocampal adult neurogenesis.

L-NOARG-induced catalepsy can be influenced by glutamatergic neurotransmission mediated by NMDA receptors in the inferior colliculus.

The inferior colliculus (IC), a midbrain structure that processes acoustic information of aversive nature, is distinguished from other auditory nuclei in the brainstem by its connections with structures of the motor system. Recent evidence relating the IC to motor behavior shows that glutamate-mediated mechanisms in the neural circuits at the IC level modulate haloperidol-induced catalepsy. It has been shown that N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), inhibitor of enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), can induce catalepsy after intraperitoneal (ip), intracerebroventricular or intrastriatal administration. The present study examined whether the catalepsy induced by L-NOARG (ip) can be influenced by collicular glutamatergic mechanisms and if a NO-dependent neural substrate into the IC plays a role in this immobility state. L-NOARG-induced catalepsy was challenged with prior intracollicular microinjections of glutamate NMDA receptor antagonists, AP7 (20 or 40 nmol/0.5 µl), or of the NMDA receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 30 nmol/0.5 µl). Catalepsy was evaluated by positioning both forepaws of the rats on an elevated horizontal wooden bar and recording the time for which the animal maintained this position. The results showed that intracollicular microinjection of AP7 previous to systemic injections of L-NOARG (90 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the catalepsy. Conversely, intracollicular microinjection of NMDA increased the time of catalepsy when administered 10 min before systemic L-NOARG (10 or 45 mg/kg). The microinjection of L-NOARG (50 or 100 nmol) directly into the IC was not able to induce catalepsy. These findings suggest that glutamate-mediated mechanisms in the neural circuits of the IC modulate L-NOARG-induced catalepsy and participate in the regulation of motor activity.