Dopamine receptor activity participates in hippocampal synaptic plasticity associated with novel object recognition.

Physiological and behavioral evidence supports that dopamine (DA) receptor signaling influences hippocampal function. While several recent studies examined how DA influences CA1 plasticity and learning, there are fewer studies investigating the influence of DA signaling to the dentate gyrus. The dentate gyrus receives convergent cortical input through the perforant path fiber tracts and has been conceptualized to detect novelty in spatial memory tasks. To test whether DA-receptor activity influences novelty-detection, we used a novel object recognition (NOR) task where mice remember previously presented objects as an indication of learning. Although DA innervation arises from other sources and the main DA signaling may be from those sources, our molecular approaches verified that midbrain dopaminergic fibers also sparsely innervate the dentate gyrus. During the NOR task, wild-type mice spent significantly more time investigating novel objects rather than previously observed objects. Dentate granule cells in slices cut from those mice showed an increased AMPA/NMDA-receptor current ratio indicative of potentiated synaptic transmission. Post-training injection of a D1-like receptor antagonist not only effectively blocked the preference for the novel objects, but also prevented the increased AMPA/NMDA ratio. Consistent with that finding, neither NOR learning nor the increase in the AMPA/NMDA ratio were observed in DA-receptor KO mice under the same experimental conditions. The results indicate that DA-receptor signaling contributes to the successful completion of the NOR task and to the associated synaptic plasticity of the dentate gyrus that likely contributes to the learning.

Early Developmental EEG and Seizure Phenotypes in a Full Gene Deletion of Ubiquitin Protein Ligase E3A Rat Model of Angelman Syndrome.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with unique behavioral phenotypes, seizures, and distinctive electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns. Recent studies identified motor, social communication, and learning and memory deficits in a CRISPR engineered rat model with a complete maternal deletion of the Ube3a gene. It is unknown whether this model recapitulates other aspects of the clinical disorder. We report here the effect of Ube3a maternal deletion in the rat on epileptiform activity, seizure threshold, and quantitative EEG. Using video-synchronized EEG (vEEG) monitoring, we assessed spectral power and epileptiform activity early postnatally through adulthood. While EEG power was similar to wild-type (WT) at 1.5 weeks postnatally, at all other ages analyzed, our findings were similar to the AS phenotype in mice and humans with significantly increased δ power. Analysis of epileptiform activity in juvenile and adult rats showed increased time spent in epileptiform activity in AS compared with WT rats. We evaluated seizure threshold using pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), audiogenic stimulus, and hyperthermia to provoke febrile seizures (FSs). Behavioral seizure scoring following PTZ induction revealed no difference in seizure threshold in AS rats, however behavioral recovery from the PTZ-induced seizure was longer in the adult group with significantly increased hippocampal epileptiform activity during this phase. When exposed to hyperthermia, AS rat pups showed a significantly lower temperature threshold to first seizure than WT. Our findings highlight an age-dependence for the EEG and epileptiform phenotypes in a preclinical model of AS, and support the use of quantitative EEG and increased δ power as a potential biomarker of AS.

Cardiac dysregulation following intrahippocampal kainate-induced status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) is a prevalent disorder associated with significant morbidity, including the development of epilepsy and mortality. Cardiac arrhythmias (i.e. inappropriate sinus tachycardia and bradycardia, asystole, and atrioventricular blocks) are observed in patients following SE. We characterized ictal (during a seizure) and interictal (between seizure) cardiac arrhythmogenesis following SE using continuous electrocardiography and video electroencephalography (vEEG) recordings throughout a 14-day monitoring period in an intrahippocampal chemoconvulsant mouse model that develops epilepsy. We quantified heart rhythm abnormalities and examined whether the frequency of cardiac events correlated with epileptiform activity, circadian (light/dark) cycle, the presence of seizures, and survival during this period of early epileptogenesis (the development of epilepsy) following SE. Shortly following SE, mice developed an increased interictal heart rate and heart rhythm abnormalities (i.e. sinus pause and sinus arrhythmias) when compared to control mice. Heart rhythm abnormalities were more frequent during the light cycle and were not correlated with increased epileptiform activity or seizure frequency. Finally, SE animals had early mortality, and a death event captured during vEEG recording demonstrated severe bradycardia prior to death. These cardiac changes occurred within 14 days after SE and may represent an early risk factor for sudden death following SE.

Correction to: Comparison of the Effect of Exercise on Late-Phase LTP of the Dentate Gyrus and CA1 of Alzheimer's Disease Model.

The original version of this article unfortunately does not include the second affiliating institution of Dr. Munder A. Zagaar. "Department of Pharmacy Pracce and Clinical Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX 77004" should have been included on the paper.

Strain-dependence of the Angelman Syndrome phenotypes in Ube3a maternal deficiency mice.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, most commonly caused by deletion or mutation of the maternal allele of the UBE3A gene, with behavioral phenotypes and seizures as key features. Currently no treatment is available, and therapeutics are often ineffective in controlling AS-associated seizures. Previous publications using the Ube3a maternal deletion model have shown behavioral and seizure susceptibility phenotypes, however findings have been variable and merit characterization of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. In this study, we extend previous studies comparing the effect of genetic background on the AS phenotype by investigating the behavioral profile, EEG activity, and seizure threshold. AS C57BL/6J mice displayed robust behavioral impairments, spontaneous EEG polyspikes, and increased cortical and hippocampal power primarily driven by delta and theta frequencies. AS 129 mice performed poorly on wire hang and contextual fear conditioning and exhibited a lower seizure threshold and altered spectral power. AS F1 hybrid mice (C57BL/6J × 129) showed milder behavioral impairments, infrequent EEG polyspikes, and fewer spectral power alterations. These findings indicate the effect of common genetic backgrounds on the Ube3a maternal deletion behavioral, EEG, and seizure threshold phenotypes. Our results will inform future studies on the optimal strain for evaluating therapeutics with different AS-like phenotypes.

Wortmannin Attenuates Seizure-Induced Hyperactive PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling, Impaired Memory, and Spine Dysmorphology in Rats.

Numerous studies have shown epilepsy-associated cognitive deficits, but less is known about the effects of one single generalized seizure. Recent studies demonstrate that a single, self-limited seizure can result in memory deficits and induces hyperactive phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt (protein kinase B)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling. However, the effect of a single seizure on subcellular structures such as dendritic spines and the role of aberrant PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in these seizure-induced changes are unclear. Using the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model, we induced a single generalized seizure in rats and: (1) further characterized short- and long-term hippocampal and amygdala-dependent memory deficits, (2) evaluated whether there are changes in dendritic spines, and (3) determined whether inhibiting hyperactive PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling rescued these alterations. Using the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin (Wort), we partially rescued short- and long-term memory deficits and altered spine morphology. These studies provide evidence that pathological PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling plays a role in seizure-induced memory deficits as well as aberrant spine morphology.

Comparison of the Effect of Exercise on Late-Phase LTP of the Dentate Gyrus and CA1 of Alzheimer's Disease Model.

We investigated the neuroprotective effect of regular treadmill exercise training on long-term memory and its correlate: the late-phase long-term potentiation (L-LTP) and plasticity- and memory-related signaling molecules in the DG and CA1 areas of a rat model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (i.c.v. infusion of Aß1-42 peptides, 2 weeks, 250 pmol/day). Testing in the radial arm water maze revealed severe impairment of spatial long-term memory in Aß-infused sedentary rats but not in exercised Aß-infused rats. The L-LTP, measured as changes in the field (f)EPSP and in the amplitude of population spike (pspike), was induced by multiple high-frequency stimulation in the CA1 and DG areas of anesthetized rats. The L-LTP of fEPSP in both areas was severely impaired in the sedentary Aß rats but not in exercised Aß rats. However, L-LTP of the pspike was severely suppressed in the CA1 area but not in the DG of sedentary Aß rats. Immunoblot analysis revealed no increase in the levels of phosphorylated (p)-CREB, CaMKIV, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in both CA1 and DG areas of sedentary Aß rats during L-LTP, whereas the levels of these molecules were robustly increased in exercised Aß rats. Impairment of synaptic function may be due to deleterious changes in the molecular signaling cascades that mediate synaptic structural and functional changes. The protective effect of regular exercise can be a promising therapeutic measure for countering or delaying the AD-like pathology.

Dopamine Regulates Aversive Contextual Learning and Associated In Vivo Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus.

Dopamine release during reward-driven behaviors influences synaptic plasticity. However, dopamine innervation and release in the hippocampus and its role during aversive behaviors are controversial. Here, we show that in vivo hippocampal synaptic plasticity in the CA3-CA1 circuit underlies contextual learning during inhibitory avoidance (IA) training. Immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques verified sparse dopaminergic innervation of the hippocampus from the midbrain. The long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) underlying the learning of IA was assessed with a D1-like dopamine receptor agonist or antagonist in ex vivo hippocampal slices and in vivo in freely moving mice. Inhibition of D1-like dopamine receptors impaired memory of the IA task and prevented the training-induced enhancement of both ex vivo and in vivo LTP induction. The results indicate that dopamine-receptor signaling during an aversive contextual task regulates aversive memory retention and regulates associated synaptic mechanisms in the hippocampus that likely underlie learning.

Treadmill exercise prevents learning and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease-like pathology.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by progressive memory loss. In contrast, accumulating evidence suggests a neuroprotective role of regular exercise in aging associated memory impairment. In this study, we investigated the ability of regular exercise to prevent impairments of short-term memory (STM) and early long-term potentiation (E-LTP) in area CA1 of the hippocampus in a rat model of AD (i.c.v. infusion of 250 pmol/day Aß1-42 peptides). We utilized behavioral assessment, in vivo electrophysiological recording, and immunoblotting in 4 groups of adult Wistar rats: control, treadmill exercise (Ex), ß-amyloid-infused (Aß), and amyloid-infused/treadmill exercised (Ex/Aß). Our findings indicated that Aß rats made significantly more errors in the radial arm water maze (RAWM) compared to all other groups and exhibited suppressed E-LTP in area CA1, which correlated with deleterious alterations in the levels of memory and E-LTP-related signaling molecules including calcineurin (PP2B), brain derivedneurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated CaMKII (p-CaMKII). Compared to controls, Ex and Ex/Aß rats showed a similar behavioral performance and a normal E-LTP with no detrimental changes in the levels of PP2B, BDNF, and p- CaMKII. We conclude that treadmill exercise maybe able to prevent cognitive impairment associated with AD pathology.