The dynamics of EEG correlates of activity of subcortical structures of the bird brain in conditions of chronic stress

In birds, acute stress (a three-day 12-hour inversion of the photomode) is associated with the dominant activity of the sympathetic hypothalamus and hippocampus, which suppress the tone of the parasympathetic section and the reticular formation of the midbrain. The effect of hyperglycemia on the background of a negative chronotropic effect indicates a mismatch of the functions of the autonomic sections of the hypothalamus on the 30th day. Chronic stress in birds (30-days crowding) causes persistent pathological stress of the functions of the anterior hypothalamus and reticular formation of the middle brain with the suppression of parasympathetic tone of the posterior hypothalamus and high functional activity of the hippocampus, determining the switching of the ventricles of the heart to a more economical mode of functioning by the 30th day. Using central cholinoblockers or tranquilizers, having a cholinoblocking component in the mechanism of its influence during neurogenic stress and in the post-stress period is excluded, but it is possible to use stressprotektors.

Nitric oxide-mediated defensive and antinociceptive responses organised at the anterior hypothalamus of mice are modulated by glutamatergic inputs from area 24b of the cingulate cortex

Background: Previous studies suggested that Cg1 area of the cingulate cortex of rats controls glutamate-mediated fear-induced defensive behaviour and antinociception organised at the posterior hypothalamus. In turn, microinjection of the nitric oxide donor SIN-1 into the anterior hypothalamus of mice produced defensive behaviours and fear-induced antinociception. However, it remains unknown whether Cg1 also modulates the latter mechanisms in mice. Aims: The present study examined the influence of Cg1 on SIN1-evoked fear-induced defensive behaviour and antinociception organised at the anterior hypothalamus of mice. Methods: The fear-like behavioural and antinociceptive responses to the microinjection of SIN-1 (300 nmol) into the anterior hypothalamus were evaluated after the microinjection of either N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor agonist (0.1, 1 and 10 nmol) or physiological saline into the cingulate cortex of C57BL/6 male mice. In addition, neurotracing and immunohistochemistry were used to characterise Cg1-anterior hypothalamus glutamatergic pathways. Results: The data showed that activation of Cg1 N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors increased escape while reducing freezing and antinociceptive responses to SIN-1 microinjections into the anterior hypothalamus. Anterograde neural tract tracer co-localised with VGLUT2-labelled fibres suggests these responses are mediated by glutamatergic synapses at the anterior hypothalamus. Conclusions: In contrast with previous studies showing that Cg1 facilitates both escape and antinociception to chemical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus in rats, the present data suggest that Cg1 facilitates escape while inhibiting defensive antinociception produced by the microinjection of SIN-1 in the anterior hypothalamus of mice. Accordingly, Cg1 may have opposite effects on antinociceptive responses organised in the anterior and posterior hypothalamus of mice and rats, respectively.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide as a mediator of the effects of a supergene on social behaviour

Supergenes, or linked groups of alleles that are inherited together, present excellent opportunities to understand gene–behaviour relationships. In white-throated sparrows ( Zonotrichia albicollis ), a supergene on the second chromosome associates with a more aggressive and less parental phenotype. This supergene includes the gene for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a neuropeptide known to play a causal role in both aggression and parental behaviour. Here, using a free-living population, we compared the levels of VIP mRNA between birds with and without the supergene. We focused on the anterior hypothalamus and infundibular region, two brain regions containing VIP neurons known to play a causal role in aggression and parental behaviour, respectively. First, we show that the supergene enhances VIP expression in the anterior hypothalamus and that expression positively predicts vocal aggression independently of genotype in both sexes. Next, we show that the supergene reduces VIP expression in the infundibular region, which suggests reduced secretion of prolactin, a pro-parental hormone. Thus, the patterns of VIP expression in these two regions are consistent with the enhanced aggression and reduced parental behaviour of birds with the supergene allele. Our results illustrate mechanisms by which elements of genomic architecture, such as supergenes, can contribute to the evolution of alternative behavioural phenotypes.

Hypothalamic activation discriminates painful and non-painful initiation of the trigeminal autonomic reflex – an fMRI study

Background The role of the trigeminal autonomic reflex in headache syndromes, such as cluster headache, is undisputed but sparsely investigated. The aim of the present study was therefore, to identify neural correlates that play a role in the initiation of the trigeminal autonomic reflex. We further aimed to discriminate between components of the reflex that are involved in nociceptive compared to non-nociceptive processing. Methods Kinetic Oscillation Stimulation (KOS) in the left nostril was applied in order to provoke autonomic symptoms (e.g. lacrimation) via the trigeminal autonomic reflex in 26 healthy participants using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Unpleasantness and painfulness were assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS), in order to assess the quality of the stimulus (e.g. pain or no pain). Results During non-painful activation, specific regions involved in the trigeminal autonomic reflex became activated, including several brainstem nuclei but also cerebellar and bilateral insular regions. However, when the input leading to activation of the trigeminal autonomic reflex was perceived as painful, activation of the anterior hypothalamus, the locus coeruleus (LC), the ventral posteriomedial nucleus of the thalamus (VPM), as well as an activation of ipsilateral insular regions, was observed. Conclusion Our results suggest the anterior hypothalamus, besides the thalamus and specific brain stem regions, play a significant role in networks that mediate autonomic output (e.g. lacrimation) following trigeminal input, but only if the trigeminal system is activated by a stimulus comprising a painful component.

Effects of stereotactic surgery on the anterior hypothalamus (HA) on the estrous cycle: Role of the dopaminergic system in spontaneous ovulation in the rat

We evaluated the function of dopaminergic receptors (DAR) of the anterior hypothalamus (AH) on the estral cycle (EC) regulation and spontaneous ovulation by a single microinjection (MI) with the dopaminergic antagonist haloperidol (HLP) in adult rats. One hundred thirty nine rats that exhibit forth-day estral cycles (cyclic animals: CA) received a stereotaxic surgery (STXS) on the right, left or both AH sides and were distributed in three different groups with a MI of 1 µL of: HLP (15 µg) or dimethyl-sulfoxide (vehicle) or other false MI group. All the animals with STXS were sacrificed in next vaginal estrus (VE) exhibited and the ova shed (OS) counted. In sixteen AC, the OS were counted at VE and forming a control group. The STXS affected the animals EC: just 59/139 exhibited a short EC (SEC) with 4.6±0.1 days compared with 80/139 that exhibited a long EC (LEC) of 13.6±0.2 days. False or HLP MI diminished OS just in animals exhibiting a SEC. STXS affects neuroendocrine processes controlling EC length when cutting dorsal connections to AH. The DAR of the AH participate on ovarian mechanisms of follicular selection.