Enriched environment modulates behavior, myelination and augments molecules governing the plasticity in the forebrain region of rats exposed to chronic immobilization stress

Thamizhoviya, Gangadharan; Vanisree, Arambakkam Janardhanam

doi:10.1007/s11011-018-0370-8

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 66 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In another study, an increase in Npas4 expression was detected in the hippocampus of mice subjected to prolonged exposure to an enriched environment early in life [42], and this enriched environment often also caused an enhancement of social behavior in the adult animals [43,44]. Rats with higher hippocampal expression of Npas4 [38] manifest enhanced exploratory behavior.…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Maternal Separation Early in Life Alters the Expression of Genes Npas4 and Nr1d1 in Adult Female Mice: Correlation with Social Behavior

Ryabushkina

Reshetnikov

Bondar

2020

Behavioural Neurology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Early-life stress affects neuronal plasticity of the brain regions participating in the implementation of social behavior. Our previous studies have shown that brief and prolonged separation of pups from their mothers leads to enhanced social behavior in adult female mice. The goal of the present study was to characterize the expression of genes (which are engaged in synaptic plasticity) Egr1, Npas4, Arc, and Homer1 in the prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus of adult female mice with a history of early-life stress. In addition, we evaluated the expression of stress-related genes: glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (Nr3c1 and Nr3c2) and Nr1d1, which encodes a transcription factor (also known as REVERBα) modulating sociability and anxiety-related behavior. C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to either maternal separation (MS, 3 h once a day) or handling (HD, 15 min once a day) on postnatal days 2 through 14. In adulthood, the behavior of female mice was analyzed by some behavioral tests, and on the day after the testing of social behavior, we measured the gene expression. We found increased Npas4 expression only in the prefrontal cortex and higher Nr1d1 expression in both the prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus of adult female mice with a history of MS. The expression of the studied genes did not change in HD female mice. The expression of stress-related genes Nr3c1 and Nr3c2 was unaltered in both groups. We propose that the upregulation of Npas4 and Nr1d1 in females with a history of early-life stress and the corresponding enhancement of social behavior may be regarded as an adaptation mechanism reversing possible aberrations caused by early-life stress.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Maternal Separation Early in Life Alters the Expression of Genes Npas4 and Nr1d1 in Adult Female Mice: Correlation with Social Behavior

Ryabushkina

Reshetnikov

Bondar

2020

Behavioural Neurology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Constitutively, active Akt can enhance the myelination of the central nervous system of mice, and as the mouse ages, the increase of myelin sheath continues, leading to the enlargement of the optic nerve and white matter area [ 71 ]. EE plays a positive role in myelination by reversing the decrease of Akt and MBP levels in the forebrain area of chronic fixed stress rats [ 11 ]. mTOR is a well-known Akt substrate.…”

Section: Effect Of Enriched Environment On Myelinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ERK signaling could active during the rapid growth and thickness of myelin and promote OL differentiation and the initiation of myelination in Erk1/2 KO mice [ 75 ]. It is gratifying that EE promotes myelination and increases myelin thickness by improving ERK mRNA levels in the forebrain of rats with chronic fixation stress [ 11 ].…”

Section: Effect Of Enriched Environment On Myelinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, EE could promote remyelination and some ongoing myelination in the white matter of aging rats [ 10 ]. EE group exhibited increased myelination, preserved normal protein and mRNA levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), TrkA, PI3K, AKT, ERK, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and myelin basic protein (MBP) in the forebrain regions of rats exposed to chronic immobilization stress [ 11 ]. Therefore, EE may open a novel direction in myelination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Enriched Environment Effects on Myelination of the Central Nervous System: Role of Glial Cells

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Myelination is regulated by various glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), including oligodendrocytes (OLs), microglia, and astrocytes. Myelination of the CNS requires the generation of functionally mature OLs from OPCs. OLs are the myelin-forming cells in the CNS. Microglia play both beneficial and detrimental roles during myelin damage and repair. Astrocyte is responsible for myelin formation and regeneration by direct interaction with oligodendrocyte lineage cells. These glial cells are influenced by experience-dependent activities such as environmental enrichment (EE). To date, there are few studies that have investigated the association between EE and glial cells. EE with a complex combination of sensorimotor, cognitive, and social stimulation has a significant effect on cognitive impairment and brain plasticity. Hence, one mechanism through EE improving cognitive function may rely on the mutual effect of EE and glial cells. The purpose of this paper is to review recent research into the efficacy of EE for myelination and glial cells at cellular and molecular levels and offers critical insights for future research directions of EE and the treatment of EE in cognitive impairment disease.

show abstract

“…Therefore, non-pharmacological therapies are emerging [ 32 , 33 ], which can be used concurrently with pharmacotherapy to improve treatment outcomes. Interestingly, these alternative approaches can also be mimicked at the preclinical level by housing the animal in an enriched environment (EE), resembling psychological support [ 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Because individuals characterized by an inherited reduction in SERT expression are more sensitive to both negative and positive environmental stimuli [ 37 ], we hypothesized that SERT knockout rats would benefit most from EE and would display a reduction in depression-like behavior and related neuroplasticity markers when compared to wild-type animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enrichment Environment Positively Influences Depression- and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats through the Modulation of Neuroplasticity, Spine, and GABAergic Markers

Sbrini

Brivio

Bosch

et al. 2020

Genes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The serotonin transporter (5-HTT in humans, SERT in rodents) is the main regulator of serotonergic transmission in the brain. The short allelic variant of the 5-HTT gene is in humans associated with psychopathologies and may enhance the vulnerability to develop depression after exposure to stressful events. Interestingly, the short allele also increases the sensitivity to a positive environment, which may buffer the vulnerability to depression. Since this polymorphism does not exist in rodents, male SERT knockout (SERT−/−) rats were tested to explore the molecular mechanisms based on this increased predisposition. This article investigates the influences of a positive manipulation, namely, enriched environment (EE), on the depressive-like behavior observed in SERT−/− rats. We found that one month of EE exposure normalized the anhedonic and anxious-like phenotype characteristics of this animal model. Moreover, we observed that EE exposure also restored the molecular alterations in the prefrontal cortex by positively modulating the expression of the neurotrophin Bdnf, and of spines and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic markers. Overall, our data confirm the depression-like phenotype of SERT−/− rats and highlight the ability of EE to restore behavioral and molecular alterations, thus promoting the opportunity to use EE as a supporting non-pharmacological approach to treat mood disorders.

show abstract

Enriched environment modulates behavior, myelination and augments molecules governing the plasticity in the forebrain region of rats exposed to chronic immobilization stress

Cited by 14 publications

References 66 publications

Maternal Separation Early in Life Alters the Expression of Genes Npas4 and Nr1d1 in Adult Female Mice: Correlation with Social Behavior

Maternal Separation Early in Life Alters the Expression of Genes Npas4 and Nr1d1 in Adult Female Mice: Correlation with Social Behavior

Enriched Environment Effects on Myelination of the Central Nervous System: Role of Glial Cells

Enrichment Environment Positively Influences Depression- and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats through the Modulation of Neuroplasticity, Spine, and GABAergic Markers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About