ASSESSMENT OF RAT BRAIN MORPHOFUNCTIONAL STATE IN A PARKINSON'S MODEL: INFLUENCE OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS OF ANIMAL AND SYNTHETIC ORIGINS.

In neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in Parkinson's disease (PD), antinociceptive centers are often implicated in neurodegeneration, leading to persistent pain unresponsive to narcotic substances. This study investigated the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) and the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM), components of the brain's antinociceptive system. In conditions of rotenone intoxication (an experimental PD model), morphological changes in intracellular structures were observed in PAG and NRM neurons, indicating metabolic disorders characteristic of PD (alterations in the shape and size of neuronal bodies and processes, disruption of acid phosphatase activity in neuron cytoplasm). Under the influence of bacterial melanin and in combination with synoestrol, positive changes in structural properties were observed in PAG and NRM neurons compared to the rotenone model of PD. This included the preservation of the morphological characteristics typical of these brain regions, with cells exhibiting shapes and sizes close to normal. Furthermore, under the influence of these therapeutic agents, an increase in phosphatase activity in cell cytoplasm was detected, indicating an acceleration of metabolic processes (metabolic activation) disrupted by rotenone intoxication. The data obtained suggests that bacterial melanin and synoestrol may act as potential neuroprotective agents against PAG and NRM neurons in the rat brain in the rotenone model of PD. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of therapeutic doses and propose their use in the treatment of PD, either in isolation or combination therapy.

Projection-defined median raphe Pet+ subpopulations are diversely implicated in seizure.

The raphe nuclei, the primary resource of forebrain 5-HT, play an important but heterogeneous role in regulating subcortical excitabilities. Fundamental circuit organizations of different median raphe (MR) subsystems are far from completely understood. In the present study, using cell-specific viral tracing, Ca2+ fiber photometry and epilepsy model, we map out the forebrain efferent and afferent of different MR Pet+ subpopulations and their divergent roles in epilepsy. We found that PetMR neurons send both collateral and parallel innervations to different downstream regions through different subpopulations. Notably, CA3-projecting PetMR subpopulations are largely distinct from habenula (Hb)-projecting PetMR subpopulations in anatomical distribution and topological organization, while majority of the CA3-projecting PetMR subpopulations are overlapped with the medial septum (MS)-projecting PetMR subpopulations. Further, using Ca2+ fiber photometry, we monitor activities of PetMR neurons in hippocampal-kindling seizure, a classical epilepsy model with pathological mechanisms caused by excitation-inhibition imbalance. We found that soma activities of PetMR neurons are heterogeneous during different periods of generalized seizures. These divergent activities are contributed by different projection-defined PetMR subpopulations, manifesting as increased activities in CA3 but decreased activity in Hb resulting from their upstream differences. Together, our findings provide a novel framework of MR subsystems showing that projection-defined MR Pet+ subpopulations are topologically heterogenous with divergent circuit connections and are diversely implicated in seizures. This may help in the understanding of heterogeneous nature of MR 5-HTergic subsystems and the paradox roles of 5-HTergic systems in epilepsy.

Sustained and potent analgesia with negligible side effects enabled by adaptive individualized granular stimulation in rat brainstem.

Objectives.To clarify if an adaptive current stimulation protocol, in which current amplitude is modulated during continuous stimulation, provides better efficacy than constant current stimulation protocol with respect to analgesia caused by individualized stimulation in rat periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) /dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN).Approach.Ultrathin microelectrodes adapted for recording (n= 6) and stimulation (n= 16) were implanted in rat primary somatosensory cortex and PAG/DRN, respectively. In each animal included (n= 12), a subset of PAG/DRN microelectrodes (n= 1-3 per animal) was selected that on simultaneous stimulation blocked nociceptive withdrawal reflexes in awake unrestrained animals without noticeable side effects. Analgesic effects were subsequently assessed from both nociceptive withdrawal reflexes and intracortical pain-related responses on CO2laser hind paw stimulation. The analgesic effects of adaptive current PAG/DRN stimulation comprising incremental increases of 5µA/microelectrode (initial median current 30µA/microelectrode) when effects declined were compared to the effects of constant current stimulation. Behavioral effects and brain state related changes were analyzed using quantitative movement analysis and electrocorticography (recorded on top of the dura mater), respectively. Tissue reactions and probe placement in PAG/DRN were assessed with immunohistochemistry.Main results.Powerful and sustained (4 h) analgesia was achieved with the adaptive current protocol within a rather wide area of PAG/DRN. Analgesic after-effects were seen for up to 30 min. Behavioral and brain state related side effects were minimal. Moreover, 6 weeks after implantation, there were no traces of bleedings, only small glial reactions and small but not statistically significant loss of neurons nearby indicating that the microelectrode stimulation employed is biocompatible.Significance.The results indicate that sustained and powerful analgesia with minimal side effects can be achieved by granular and individualized stimulation in PAG/DRN using an adaptive current stimulation protocol. This microelectrode technology and stimulation paradigm thus has the potential of providing a highly efficient and safe pain therapy.

Essential roles of the hypothalamic A11 region and the medullary raphe nuclei in regulation of colorectal motility in rats.

The supraspinal brain regions controlling defecation reflex remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the roles of the hypothalamic A11 region and the medullary raphe nuclei in regulation of defecation. For chemogenetic manipulation of specific neurons, we used the double virus vector infection method in rats. hM3Dq or hM4Di was expressed in neurons of the A11 region and/or the raphe nuclei that send output to the lumbosacral defecation center. Immunohistological and functional experiments revealed that both the A11 region and the raphe nuclei directly connected with the lumbosacral spinal cord through descending pathways composed of stimulatory monoaminergic neurons. Stimulation of the hM3Dq-expressing neurons in the A11 region or the raphe nuclei enhanced colorectal motility only when GABAergic transmission in the lumbosacral spinal cord was blocked by bicuculline. Experiments using inhibitory hM4Di-expressing rats revealed that enhancement of colorectal motility caused by noxious stimuli in the colon is mediated by both the A11 region and the raphe nuclei. Furthermore, suppression of the A11 region and/or the raphe nuclei significantly inhibited water avoidance stress-induced defecation. These findings demonstrate that the A11 region and the raphe nuclei play an essential role in the regulation of colorectal motility. This is important because brain regions that mediate both intracolonic noxious stimuli-induced defecation and stress-induced defecation have been clarified for the first time.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The A11 region and the raphe nuclei, constituting descending pain inhibitory pathways, are related to both intracolonic noxious stimuli-induced colorectal motility and stress-induced defecation. Our findings may provide an explanation for the concurrent appearance of abdominal pain and defecation disorders in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Furthermore, overlap of the pathway controlling colorectal motility with the pathway mediating stress responses may explain why stress exacerbates bowel symptoms.

Pharmacogenetic excitation of the median raphe region affects social and depressive-like behavior and core body temperature in male mice.

AIMS: Median raphe region (MRR) is an important bottom-up regulatory center for various behaviors as well as vegetative functions, but detailed descriptions and links between the two are still largely unexplored. METHODS: Pharmacogenetics was used to study the role of MRR in social (sociability, social interaction, resident intruder test) and emotional behavior (forced swim test) parallel with some vegetative changes (biotelemetry: core body temperature). Additionally, to validate pharmacogenetics, the effect of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), the ligand of the artificial receptor, was studied by measuring (i) serum and brainstem concentrations of CNO and clozapine; (ii) MRR stimulation induced neurotransmitter release in hippocampus; (iii) CNO induced changes in body temperature and locomotor activity. KEY FINDINGS: MRR stimulation decreased locomotion, increased friendly social behavior in the resident intruder test and enhanced depressive-like behavior. The latter was accompanied by diminished decrease in core body temperature. Thirty minutes after CNO injection clozapine was predominant in the brainstem. Nonetheless, peripheral CNO injection was able to induce glutamate release in the hippocampus. CNO had no immediate (<30 min) or chronic (repeated injections) effect on the body temperature or locomotion. SIGNIFICANCE: We confirmed the role of MRR in locomotion, social and depressive-like behavior. Most interestingly, only depressive-like behavior was accompanied by changed body temperature regulation, which was also observed in human depressive disorders previously. This indicates clinical relevance of our findings. Despite low penetration, CNO acts centrally, but does not influence the examined basic parameters, being suitable for repeated behavioral testing.

Gray areas: Neuropeptide circuits linking the Edinger-Westphal and Dorsal Raphe nuclei in addiction.

The circuitry of addiction comprises several neural networks including the midbrain - an expansive region critically involved in the control of motivated behaviors. Midbrain nuclei like the Edinger-Westphal (EW) and dorsal raphe (DR) contain unique populations of neurons that synthesize many understudied neuroactive molecules and are encircled by the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Despite the proximity of these special neuron classes to the ventral midbrain complex and surrounding PAG, functions of the EW and DR remain substantially underinvestigated by comparison. Spanning approximately -3.0 to -5.2 mm posterior from bregma in the mouse, these various cell groups form a continuum of neurons that we refer to collectively as the subaqueductal paramedian zone. Defining how these pathways modulate affective behavioral states presents a difficult, yet conquerable challenge for today's technological advances in neuroscience. In this review, we cover the known contributions of different neuronal subtypes of the subaqueductal paramedian zone. We catalogue these cell types based on their spatial, molecular, connectivity, and functional properties and integrate this information with the existing data on the EW and DR in addiction. We next discuss evidence that links the EW and DR anatomically and functionally, highlighting the potential contributions of an EW-DR circuit to addiction-related behaviors. Overall, we aim to derive an integrated framework that emphasizes the contributions of EW and DR nuclei to addictive states and describes how these cell groups function in individuals suffering from substance use disorders. This article is part of the special Issue on 'Neurocircuitry Modulating Drug and Alcohol Abuse'.

5-HT neurons of the medullary raphe contribute to respiratory control in toads.

Air-breathing vertebrates undergo respiratory adjustments when faced with disturbances in the gas composition of the environment. In mammals, the medullary raphe nuclei are involved in the neuronal pathway that mediates the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercarbia. We investigate whether the serotoninergic neurons of the medullary raphe nuclei of toads (Rhinella diptycha) play a functional role in respiratory control during resting conditions (room air), hypercarbia (5% CO2), and hypoxia (5% O2). The raphe nuclei were located and identified based on the location of the serotoninergic neurons in the brainstem. We then lesioned the medullary raphe (raphe pallidus, obscurus and magnus) with anti-SERT-SAP and measured ventilation in both control and lesioned groups and we observed that serotonin (5-HT) specific chemical lesions of the medullary raphe caused reduced respiratory responses to both hypercarbia and hypoxia. In summary, we report that the serotoninergic neurons of the medullary raphe of the cururu toad Rhinella diptycha participate in the chemoreflex responses during hypercarbia and hypoxia, but not during resting conditions. This current evidence in anurans, together with the available data in mammals, brings insights to the evolution of brain sites, such as the medullary raphe, involved in the ventilatory chemoreflex in vertebrates.

Transneuronal delivery of hyper-interleukin-6 enables functional recovery after severe spinal cord injury in mice.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often causes severe and permanent disabilities due to the regenerative failure of severed axons. Here we report significant locomotor recovery of both hindlimbs after a complete spinal cord crush. This is achieved by the unilateral transduction of cortical motoneurons with an AAV expressing hyper-IL-6 (hIL-6), a potent designer cytokine stimulating JAK/STAT3 signaling and axon regeneration. We find collaterals of these AAV-transduced motoneurons projecting to serotonergic neurons in both sides of the raphe nuclei. Hence, the transduction of cortical neurons facilitates the axonal transport and release of hIL-6 at innervated neurons in the brain stem. Therefore, this transneuronal delivery of hIL-6 promotes the regeneration of corticospinal and raphespinal fibers after injury, with the latter being essential for hIL-6-induced functional recovery. Thus, transneuronal delivery enables regenerative stimulation of neurons in the deep brain stem that are otherwise challenging to access, yet highly relevant for functional recovery after SCI.

Serotonergic Modulation of Locomotor Activity From Basal Vertebrates to Mammals.

During the last 50 years, the serotonergic (5-HT) system was reported to exert a complex modulation of locomotor activity. Here, we focus on two key factors that likely contribute to such complexity. First, locomotion is modulated directly and indirectly by 5-HT neurons. The locomotor circuitry is directly innervated by 5-HT neurons in the caudal brainstem and spinal cord. Also, indirect control of locomotor activity results from ascending projections of 5-HT cells in the rostral brainstem that innervate multiple brain centers involved in motor action planning. Second, each approach used to manipulate the 5-HT system likely engages different 5-HT-dependent mechanisms. This includes the recruitment of different 5-HT receptors, which can have excitatory or inhibitory effects on cell activity. These receptors can be located far or close to the 5-HT release sites, making their activation dependent on the level of 5-HT released. Here we review the activity of different 5-HT nuclei during locomotor activity, and the locomotor effects of 5-HT precursors, exogenous 5-HT, selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), electrical or chemical stimulation of 5-HT neurons, genetic deletions, optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations. We highlight both the coherent and controversial aspects of 5-HT modulation of locomotor activity from basal vertebrates to mammals. This mini review may hopefully inspire future studies aiming at dissecting the complex effects of 5-HT on locomotor function.

Midbrain circuits of novelty processing.

Novelty triggers an increase in orienting behavior that is critical to evaluate the potential salience of unknown events. As novelty becomes familiar upon repeated encounters, this increase in response rapidly habituates as a form of behavioral adaptation underlying goal-directed behaviors. Many neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders are associated with abnormal responses to novelty and/or familiarity, although the neuronal circuits and cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying these natural behaviors in the healthy brain are largely unknown, as is the maladaptive processes that occur to induce impairment of novelty signaling in diseased brains. In rodents, the development of cutting-edge tools that allow for measurements of real time activity dynamics in selectively identified neuronal ensembles by gene expression signatures is beginning to provide advances in understanding the neural bases of the novelty response. Accumulating evidence indicate that midbrain circuits, the majority of which linked to dopamine transmission, promote exploratory assessments and guide approach/avoidance behaviors to different types of novelty via specific projection sites. The present review article focuses on midbrain circuit analysis relevant to novelty processing and habituation with familiarity.

Blood pressure drives multispectral tuning of inspiration via a linked-loop neural network.

The respiratory motor pattern is coordinated with cardiovascular system regulation. Inspiratory drive and respiratory phase durations are tuned by blood pressure and baroreceptor reflexes. We hypothesized that perturbations of systemic arterial blood pressure modulate inspiratory drive through a raphe-pontomedullary network. In 15 adult decerebrate vagotomized neuromuscular-blocked cats, we used multielectrode arrays to record the activities of 704 neurons within the medullary ventral respiratory column, pons, and raphe areas during baroreceptor-evoked perturbations of breathing, as measured by altered peak activity in integrated efferent phrenic nerve activity and changes in respiratory phase durations. Blood pressure was transiently (30 s) elevated or reduced by inflations of an embolectomy catheter in the descending aorta or inferior vena cava. S-transform time-frequency representations were calculated for multiunit phrenic nerve activity and some spike trains to identify changes in rhythmic activity during perturbations. Altered firing rates in response to either or both conditions were detected for 474 of 704 tested cells. Spike trains of 17,805 neuron pairs were evaluated for short-time scale correlational signatures indicative of functional connectivity with standard cross-correlation analysis, supplemented with gravitational clustering; ∼70% of tested (498 of 704) and responding neurons (333 of 474) were involved in a functional correlation with at least one other cell. Changes in high-frequency oscillations in the spiking of inspiratory neurons and the evocation or resetting of slow quasi-periodic fluctuations in the respiratory motor pattern associated with oscillations of arterial pressure were observed. The results support a linked-loop pontomedullary network architecture for multispectral tuning of inspiration.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The brain network that supports cardiorespiratory coupling remains poorly understood. Using multielectrode arrays, we tested the hypothesis that blood pressure and baroreceptor reflexes "tune" the breathing motor pattern via a raphe-pontomedullary network. Neuron responses to changes in arterial pressure and identified functional connectivity, together with altered high frequency and slow Lundberg B-wave oscillations, support a model with linked recurrent inhibitory loops that stabilize the respiratory network and provide a path for transmission of baroreceptor signals.

Global reward state affects learning and activity in raphe nucleus and anterior insula in monkeys.

People and other animals learn the values of choices by observing the contingencies between them and their outcomes. However, decisions are not guided by choice-linked reward associations alone; macaques also maintain a memory of the general, average reward rate - the global reward state - in an environment. Remarkably, global reward state affects the way that each choice outcome is valued and influences future decisions so that the impact of both choice success and failure is different in rich and poor environments. Successful choices are more likely to be repeated but this is especially the case in rich environments. Unsuccessful choices are more likely to be abandoned but this is especially likely in poor environments. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed two distinct patterns of activity, one in anterior insula and one in the dorsal raphe nucleus, that track global reward state as well as specific outcome events.

Quipazine Elicits Swallowing in the Arterially Perfused Rat Preparation: A Role for Medullary Raphe Nuclei?

Pharmacological neuromodulation of swallowing may represent a promising therapeutic option to treat dysphagia. Previous studies suggested a serotonergic control of swallowing, but mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of the serotonergic agonist quipazine on swallowing, using the arterially perfused working heart-brainstem (in situ) preparation in rats. Systemic injection of quipazine produced single swallows with motor patterns and swallow-breathing coordination similar to spontaneous swallows, and increased swallow rate with moderate changes in cardiorespiratory functions. Methysergide, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, blocked the excitatory effect of quipazine on swallowing, but had no effect on spontaneous swallow rate. Microinjections of quipazine in the nucleus of the solitary tract were without effect. In contrast, similar injections in caudal medullary raphe nuclei increased swallow rate without changes in cardiorespiratory parameters. Thus, quipazine may exert an excitatory effect on raphe neurons via stimulation of 5-HT2A receptors, leading to increased excitability of the swallowing network. In conclusion, we suggest that pharmacological stimulation of swallowing by quipazine in situ represents a valuable model for experimental studies. This work paves the way for future investigations on brainstem serotonergic modulation, and further identification of neural populations and mechanisms involved in swallowing and/or swallow-breathing interaction.

Key role of the 5-HT1A receptor addressing protein Yif1B in serotonin neurotransmission and SSRI treatment.

Background: Altered function of serotonin receptor 1A (5-HT1AR) has been consistently implicated in anxiety, major depressive disorder and resistance to antidepressants. Mechanisms by which the function of 5-HT1AR (expressed as an autoreceptor in serotonergic raphe neurons and as a heteroreceptor in serotonin [5-HT] projection areas) is altered include regulation of its expression, but 5-HT1AR trafficking may also be involved. Methods: We investigated the consequences of the lack of Yif1B (the 5-HT1AR trafficking protein) on 5-HT neurotransmission in mice, and whether Yif1B expression might be affected under conditions known to alter 5-HT neurotransmission, such as anxious or depressive states or following treatment with fluoxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) in humans, monkeys and mice. Results: Compared with wild-type mice, Yif1B-knockout mice showed a significant decrease in the forebrain density of 5-HT projection fibres and a hypofunctionality of 5-HT1A autoreceptors expressed on raphe 5-HT neurons. In addition, social interaction was less in Yif1B-knockout mice, which did not respond to the antidepressant-like effect of acute fluoxetine injection. In wild-type mice, social defeat was associated with downregulated Yif1B mRNA in the prefrontal cortex, and chronic fluoxetine treatment increased Yif1B expression. The expression of Yif1B was also downregulated in the postmortem prefrontal cortex of people with major depressive disorder and upregulated after chronic treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in monkeys. Limitations: We found sex differences in Yif1B expression in humans and monkeys, but not in mice under the tested conditions. Conclusion: These data support the concept that Yif1B plays a critical role in 5-HT1AR functioning and brain 5-HT homeostasis. The opposite changes in its expression observed in anxious or depressive states and after therapeutic fluoxetine treatment suggest that Yif1B might be involved in vulnerability to anxiety and depression, and fluoxetine efficacy.

An optical brain-to-brain interface supports rapid information transmission for precise locomotion control.

Brain-to-brain interfaces (BtBIs) hold exciting potentials for direct communication between individual brains. However, technical challenges often limit their performance in rapid information transfer. Here, we demonstrate an optical brain-to-brain interface that transmits information regarding locomotor speed from one mouse to another and allows precise, real-time control of locomotion across animals with high information transfer rate. We found that the activity of the genetically identified neuromedin B (NMB) neurons within the nucleus incertus (NI) precisely predicts and critically controls locomotor speed. By optically recording Ca2+ signals from the NI of a "Master" mouse and converting them to patterned optogenetic stimulations of the NI of an "Avatar" mouse, the BtBI directed the Avatar mice to closely mimic the locomotion of their Masters with information transfer rate about two orders of magnitude higher than previous BtBIs. These results thus provide proof-of-concept that optical BtBIs can rapidly transmit neural information and control dynamic behaviors across individuals.

GABAergic neurons of the medullary raphe regulate active expiration during hypercapnia.

The parafacial respiratory group (pFRG), located in the lateral aspect of the rostroventral lateral medulla, has been described as a conditional expiratory oscillator that emerges mainly in conditions of high metabolic challenges to increase breathing. The convergence of inhibitory and excitatory inputs to pFRG and the generation of active expiration may be more complex than previously thought. We hypothesized that the medullary raphe, a region that has long been described to be involved in breathing activity, is also responsible for the expiratory activity under hypercapnic condition. To test this hypothesis, we performed anatomical and physiological experiments in urethane-anesthetized adult male Wistar rats. Our data showed anatomical projections from serotonergic (5-HT-ergic) and GABAergic neurons of raphe magnus (RMg) and obscurus (ROb) to the pFRG region. Pharmacological inhibition of RMg or ROb with muscimol (60 pmol/30 nL) did not change the frequency or amplitude of diaphragm activity and did not generate active expiration. However, under hypercapnia (9-10% CO2), the inhibition of RMg or ROb increased the amplitude of abdominal activity, without changing the increased amplitude of diaphragm activity. Depletion of serotonergic neurons with saporin anti-SERT injections into ROb and RMg did not increase the amplitude of abdominal activity during hypercapnia. These results show that the presumably GABAergic neurons within the RMg and ROb may be the inhibitory source to modulate the activity of pFRG during hypercapnia condition.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Medullary raphe has been involved in the inspiratory response to central chemoreflex; however, these reports have never addressed the role of raphe neurons on active expiration induced by hypercapnia. Here, we showed that a subset of GABA cells within the medullary raphe directly project to the parafacial respiratory region, modulating active expiration under high levels of CO2.

Modulation of Cough Reflex by Gaba-Ergic Inhibition in Medullary Raphé of the Cat.

We studied the effects of GABA receptor agonists microinjections in medullary raphé on the mechanically induced tracheobronchial cough response in anesthetized, unparalyzed, spontaneously breathing cats. The results suggest that GABA-ergic inhibition significantly contributes to the regulation of cough reflex by action of both GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors. The data are consistent with inhomogeneous occurrence of GABA-ergic neurons in medullary raphé and their different involvement in the cough reflex control. Cells within rostral nucleus raphéobscurus with dominant role of GABA(A) receptors and neurons of rostral nucleus raphépallidus and caudal nucleus raphémagnus with dominant role of GABA(B) receptors participate in regulation of cough expiratory efforts. These cough control elements are distinct from cough gating mechanism. GABA-ergic inhibition in the raphé caudal to obex had insignificant effect on cough. Contradictory findings for GABA, muscimol and baclofen administration in medullary raphé suggest involvement of coordinated activity of GABA on multiple receptors affecting raphé neurons and/or the local neuronal circuits in the raphé modulating cough motor drive.

The Raphe Dopamine System Controls the Expression of Incentive Memory.

The brain dopamine (DA) system participates in forming and expressing memory. Despite a well-established role of DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area in memory formation, the exact DA circuits that control memory expression remain unclear. Here, we show that DA neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and their medulla input control the expression of incentive memory. DRN DA neurons are activated by both rewarding and aversive stimuli in a learning-dependent manner and exhibit elevated activity during memory recall. Disrupting their physiological activity or DA synthesis blocks the expression of natural appetitive and aversive memories as well as drug memories associated with opioids. Moreover, a glutamatergic pathway from the lateral parabrachial nucleus to the DRN selectively regulates the expression of reward memories associated with opioids or foods. Our study reveals a specialized DA subsystem important for memory expression and suggests new targets for interventions against opioid addiction.

Sodium channels implement a molecular leaky integrator that detects action potentials and regulates neuronal firing.

Voltage-gated sodium channels play a critical role in cellular excitability, amplifying small membrane depolarizations into action potentials. Interactions with auxiliary subunits and other factors modify the intrinsic kinetic mechanism to result in new molecular and cellular functionality. We show here that sodium channels can implement a molecular leaky integrator, where the input signal is the membrane potential and the output is the occupancy of a long-term inactivated state. Through this mechanism, sodium channels effectively measure the frequency of action potentials and convert it into Na+ current availability. In turn, the Na+ current can control neuronal firing frequency in a negative feedback loop. Consequently, neurons become less sensitive to changes in excitatory input and maintain a lower firing rate. We present these ideas in the context of rat serotonergic raphe neurons, which fire spontaneously at low frequency and provide critical neuromodulation to many autonomous and cognitive brain functions.

Control of locomotor speed, arousal, and hippocampal theta rhythms by the nucleus incertus.

Navigation requires not only the execution of locomotor programs but also high arousal and real-time retrieval of spatial memory that is often associated with hippocampal theta oscillations. However, the neural circuits for coordinately controlling these important processes remain to be fully dissected. Here we show that the activity of the neuromedin B (NMB) neurons in the nucleus incertus (NI) is tightly correlated with mouse locomotor speed, arousal level, and hippocampal theta power. These processes are reversibly suppressed by optogenetic inhibition and rapidly promoted by optogenetic stimulation of NI NMB neurons. These neurons form reciprocal connections with several subcortical areas associated with arousal, theta oscillation, and premotor processing. Their projections to multiple downstream stations regulate locomotion and hippocampal theta, with the projection to the medial septum being particularly important for promoting arousal. Therefore, NI NMB neurons functionally impact the neural circuit for navigation control according to particular brains states.