scholarly journals Social isolation induces neuroinflammation and microglia overactivation, while dihydromyricetin prevents and improves them

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alzahra J. Al Omran ◽  
Amy S. Shao ◽  
Saki Watanabe ◽  
Zeyu Zhang ◽  
Jifeng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Signal Transmission ◽  
Corticosterone Level ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Serum Corticosterone ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Socially Isolated

Abstract Background Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illnesses in the U.S. and are estimated to consume one-third of the country’s mental health treatment cost. Although anxiolytic therapies are available, many patients still exhibit treatment resistance, relapse, or substantial side effects. Further, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home order, social isolation, fear of the pandemic, and unprecedented times, the incidence of anxiety has dramatically increased. Previously, we have demonstrated dihydromyricetin (DHM), the major bioactive flavonoid extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata, exhibits anxiolytic properties in a mouse model of social isolation-induced anxiety. Because GABAergic transmission modulates the immune system in addition to the inhibitory signal transmission, we investigated the effects of short-term social isolation on the neuroimmune system. Methods Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were housed under absolute social isolation for 4 weeks. The anxiety-like behaviors after DHM treatment were examined using elevated plus-maze and open field behavioral tests. Gephyrin protein expression, microglial profile changes, NF-κB pathway activation, cytokine level, and serum corticosterone were measured. Results Socially isolated mice showed increased anxiety levels, reduced exploratory behaviors, and reduced gephyrin levels. Also, a dynamic alteration in hippocampal microglia were detected illustrated as a decline in microglia number and overactivation as determined by significant morphological changes including decreases in lacunarity, perimeter, and cell size and increase in cell density. Moreover, social isolation induced an increase in serum corticosterone level and activation in NF-κB pathway. Notably, DHM treatment counteracted these changes. Conclusion The results suggest that social isolation contributes to neuroinflammation, while DHM has the ability to improve neuroinflammation induced by anxiety.

scholarly journals Social Isolation Induces Neuroinflammation And Microglia Overactivation, While Dihydromyricetin Prevents And Improves Them.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alzahra J Al Omran ◽  
Amy S Shao ◽  
Saki Watanabe ◽  
Zeyu Zhang ◽  
Jifeng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Signal Transmission ◽  
Corticosterone Level ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Serum Corticosterone ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Socially Isolated

Abstract Background: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illnesses in the U.S. and are estimated to consume one-third of the country's mental health treatment cost. Although anxiolytic therapies are available, many patients still exhibit treatment-resistance, relapse, or substantial side effects. Further, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home order, social isolation, fear of the pandemic, and unprecedented times, the incidence of anxiety has dramatically increased. Previously, we have demonstrated dihydromyricetin (DHM), the major bioactive flavonoid extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata, exhibits anxiolytic properties in a mouse model of social isolation-induced anxiety. Because GABAergic transmission modulates the immune system in addition to the inhibitory signal transmission, we investigated the effects of short-term social isolation on the neuroimmune system.Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were housed under absolute social isolation for 4 weeks. The anxiety like behaviors after DHM treatment were examined using elevated plus maze and open field behavioral tests. Gephyrin protein expression, microglial profile changes, NF-κB pathway activation, cytokine level, and serum corticosterone were measured. Results: Socially isolated mice showed increased anxiety levels, reduced exploratory behaviors, and reduced gephyrin levels. Also, a dynamic alteration in hippocampal microglia were detected illustrated as a decline in microglia number and overactivation as determined by significant morphological changes including decreases in lacunarity, perimeter, and cell size and increase in cell density. Moreover, social isolation also induced an increase in serum corticosterone level and activation in NF-κB pathway. Notably, DHM treatment counteracted these changes.Conclusion: The results suggest that social isolation contributes to neuroinflammation, while DHM has the ability to restore neuroinflammatory changes induced by anxiety.

Social isolation-induced effects on male-specific courtship behaviours and dendritic architecture in associative forebrain areas in Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

2021 ◽  
pp. 175815592199798
Author(s):  
Vidya Shukla ◽  
Monika Sadananda
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Branch Points ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Pair Bonds ◽  
Golgi Technique ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Male Specific

Zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata) are highly monogamous birds that maintain lifelong pair-bonds. Females make the mate choice based on the quality of males who initiate pair-bond formation by courting the female. A mate separation-reunion paradigm can help to evaluate the adaptive value of social affiliation of male finches and their affinity to new females in absence of mated females which can manifest at a neuronal level by dendritic measures. The aim of this study was to examine behavioural and neuronal changes as a result of social isolation following pair-bonding in male zebra finches. Towards this, male zebra finches from a pair-bonded group were isolated for a period of ten days and then exposed to either the mate or a new female. Four main courtship behaviours: clumping, allopreening, nest box occupancy and directed singing were recorded and analysed. Brains were processed by a modified Golgi technique to detect changes in dendritic arborizations using the Sholl analysis. Baseline behavioural results showed an increase in clumping and nest box activity by day 10. Isolated males re-introduced with their pair-bonded females demonstrated increased nest box activity. Alternatively, isolated males exposed to new females demonstrated increased directed singing when compared to their pair-bonded state, but lower than when exposed to same female. Neuro-morphological changes assessed through quantification of dendritic intersections and branch points were observed in pallial brain areas known to be implicated in the development of social/sexual preferences, with the pair-bonded group demonstrating more branching and longer dendrites when compared to the socially-isolated group. Thus social isolation impacts both courtship behaviour and neuronal morphologies with differential responses to the pair-bonded female versus a new female.

Addressing COVID-19 Worry and Social Isolation in Home-Based Primary Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Elizabeth Weiskittle ◽  
Michelle Mlinac ◽  
LICSW Nicole Downing
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Home Based Primary Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Socially Isolated

Social distancing measures following the outbreak of COVID-19 have led to a rapid shift to virtual and telephone care. Social workers and mental health providers in VA home-based primary care (HBPC) teams face challenges providing psychosocial support to their homebound, medically complex, socially isolated patient population who are high risk for poor health outcomes related to COVID-19. We developed and disseminated an 8-week telephone or virtual group intervention for front-line HBPC social workers and mental health providers to use with socially isolated, medically complex older adults. The intervention draws on skills from evidence-based psychotherapies for older adults including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Problem-Solving Therapy. The manual was disseminated to VA HBPC clinicians and geriatrics providers across the United States in March 2020 for expeditious implementation. Eighteen HBPC teams and three VA Primary Care teams reported immediate delivery of a local virtual or telephone group using the manual. In this paper we describe the manual’s development and clinical recommendations for its application across geriatric care settings. Future evaluation will identify ways to meet longer-term social isolation and evolving mental health needs for this patient population as the pandemic continues.

scholarly journals GPER-Deficient Rats Exhibit Lower Serum Corticosterone Level and Increased Anxiety-Like Behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zheng ◽  
Meimei Wu ◽  
Ting Gao ◽  
Li Meng ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Corticosterone Level ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Serum Corticosterone ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Prolonged Stress

Ample evidence suggests that estrogens have strong influences on the occurrence of stress-related mood disorders, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Through multiple approaches, we demonstrate that the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is widely distributed along the HPA axis and in brain structures critically involved in mood control. Genetic ablation of GPER in the rat resulted in significantly lower basal serum corticosterone level but enhanced ACTH release in response to acute restraint stress, especially in the female. GPER-/- rats of either sex displayed increased anxiety-like behaviors and deficits in learning and memory. Additionally, GPER deficiency led to aggravation of anxiety-like behaviors following single-prolonged stress (SPS). SPS caused significant decreases in serum corticosterone in WT but not in GPER-deficient rats. The results highlight an important role of GPER at multiple sites in regulation of the HPA axis and mood.

Lack of correlation between serum corticosterone level and immune functions in undernourished mice

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 801-813
Author(s):  
S.M. Filteau ◽  
T.J. Kaido ◽  
Maureen P. O'Grady ◽  
Robert A. Menzies ◽  
Nicholas R.S. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Corticosterone Level ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Serum Corticosterone

Morphological changes in the basolateral amygdala and behavioral disruptions associated with social isolation

2021 ◽  
pp. 113572
Author(s):  
Michael J. Hylin ◽  
W. Tang Watanasriyakul ◽  
Natalee Hite ◽  
Neal McNeal ◽  
Angela J. Grippo
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Basolateral Amygdala ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Behavioral Disruptions

scholarly journals Neurotoxic Effect of Fipronil in Male Wistar Rats: Ameliorative Effect of L-Arginine and L-Carnitine

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 682
Author(s):  
Yasmina K. Mahmoud ◽  
Ahmed A. Ali ◽  
Heba M. A. Abdelrazek ◽  
Tahany Saleh Aldayel ◽  
Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Corticosterone Level ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Spatial Learning And Memory ◽  
Serum Corticosterone ◽  
Group I ◽  
Ameliorative Effect

The ameliorative effect of L-arginine (LA) and L-carnitine (LC) against fipronil (FPN)-induced neurotoxicity was explored. In this case, 36 adult male rats were randomly divided into six groups: group I received distilled water, group II received 500 mg/kg LA, group III received 100 mg/kg LC, group IV received 4.85 mg/kg FPN, group V received 4.85 mg/kg FPN and 500 mg/kg LA and group VI received 4.85 mg/kg FPN and 100 mg/kg LC for 6 weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed using Barnes maze (BM). Serum corticosterone, brain total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and dopamine were measured. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of ionized calcium-binding adaptor (Iba-1), doublecortin (DCX) and serotonin (S-2A) receptors were performed. Fipronil induced noticeable deterioration in spatial learning and memory performance. In addition, FPN significantly (p < 0.05) diminished brain antioxidant defense system and dopamine coincide with elevated serum corticosterone level. Histopathological examination revealed degenerative and necrotic changes. Furthermore, Iba-1 and DCX were significantly expressed in cortex and hippocampus whereas S-2A receptors were significantly lowered in FPN group. However, administration of LA or LC alleviated FPN-induced deteriorations. In conclusion, LA and LC could be prospective candidates for mitigation of FPN-induced neurotoxicity via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuropotentiating effects.

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