Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose was used to measure changes in regional brain glucose metabolism (BGluM) in response to optogenetic stimulation (using the excitatory channelrhodopsin-2) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in awake rats. We demonstrated not only increases in BGluM that correlated with c-Fos expression in the region of stimulation, but also BGluM increases in the ipsilateral striatum, periaqueductal gray, and somatosensory cortex, and in contralateral amygdala, ventral pallidum, globus pallidus, and hippocampus, as well as decreases in BGluM in regions of the default mode network (retrosplenial cortex and cingulate gyrus) and secondary motor cortex. Additional exploration of c-Fos expression in regions found to be activated by PET results found corroborating evidence, with increased c-Fos expression in the ipsilateral somatosensory cortex, contralateral amygdala and globus pallidus, and bilateral periaqueductal gray. These findings are consistent with optogenetic excitation of the area of stimulation (NAc), as well as with stimulatory and inhibitory effects on downstream regions. They also confirm the utility of PET imaging to monitor connectivity in the awake rodent brain.
Introduction
The development of optogenetic tools to selectively activate or inhibit particular brain regions or cells types has allowed researchers to map the function of specific neuronal circuits in the rodent brain (Boyden et al., 2005; Cardin et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010; Lee, 2012). One approach is based on the use of the excitatory channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a cation channel that is activated when exposed to blue light at ∼470 nm (Boyden et al., 2005; Cardin et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010; Lee, 2012). More recently, the combined use of optogenetic and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to investigate functional connectivity in the rodent brain (Lee et al., 2010; Kahn et al., 2011; Lee, 2011, 2012). These fMRI studies, however, are limited by the use of anesthesia, which affects neuronal activity and the strength of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals measured by fMRI (Stover et al., 2004; Heinke and Koelsch, 2005; Qiu et al., 2008; Tsurugizawa et al., 2010).
Brain imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) has been extensively used with [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) to measure regional brain glucose metabolism, which serves as a marker of brain activity, both in humans and laboratory animals (Volkow et al., 2009, 2011; Wang et al., 2009; Apostolova et al., 2010). Access to high-resolution PET scanners (μPET) has facilitated their use for assessing brain glucose metabolism in vivo in rodents (Rice et al., 2006; Thanos et al., 2008a; Sobrado et al., 2011; Michaelides et al., 2012). Glucose metabolism, as measured with PET-FDG, reflects brain activity occurring during the uptake period of FDG (first 30–35 min after radiotracer injection), after which the activity is trapped in the brain and remains stable for at least 60 min; and it is during this period that scanning is performed. Since animals are anesthetized after the uptake of FDG by the brain is complete, this allows researchers to measure brain metabolism in awake animals noninvasively.
The present study used μPET with FDG to measure optogenetic stimulation (OGS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a major brain reward region, using ChR2. We tested the hypothesis that excitation of the NAc by OGS would result in increased metabolism in the region of stimulation and in cortical (frontal cortex) and subcortical [striatum, globus pallidus (GP), and subthalamic nucleus] projections. In parallel, we mapped c-Fos expression to corroborate regional activation by OGS. We show increases in glucose metabolism in the NAc that correlate with c-Fos expression, and in downstream projections regions, which is corroborated by c-Fos immunolabeling data. We also found that stimulation of the NAc decreased activity in regions from the default mode network (DMN). This demonstrates the feasibility of using μPET with FDG in conjunction with OGS to map connectivity in the awake rat brain.
Materials and Methods
Animals
Male Sprague Dawley rats (Charles River) were housed under standard laboratory conditions (22.0 ± 2°C, 12 h reverse light/dark cycle). Food and water were available ad libitum except for the night before μPET scans, during which subjects were food-deprived for 12 h to attain consistency in blood glucose levels as abnormal blood glucose levels interfere with FDG uptake (Fueger et al., 2006; Wong et al., 2011). The experiment was conducted in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996) and approved by the Brookhaven National Laboratory Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Stereotaxic surgery
At age 8–10 weeks, rats were anesthetized with ketamine (75 mg/kg) and xylazine (6.7 mg/kg), placed in a small-animal stereotaxic headholder, and their skull was exposed. One milliliter of adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2)-hsyn-ChR2-EYFP (vector obtained from Karl Deisseroth, Stanford University, Stanford, CA) (n = 8/group) or AAV2-GFP control virus (n = 9/group) was infused into the NAc core in the right hemisphere (AP +1.7, ML +1.5, DV −6.5 from bregma) at a rate of 0.1 μl/min. A 20 gauge cannula, 6 mm in length from the cannula base, was placed into the right NAc (AP +1.7, ML +1.5, DV −6.0 from bregma). Instant adhesive was placed between the cannula base and the skull, micro-screws were placed around the skull, and dental cement was used to secure the cannula to the skull. Rats recovered for a minimum of 2 weeks while waiting for optimal AAV expression.
In vivo imaging
FDG scanning protocol.
Each rat was scanned twice, one week apart (counterbalanced design): once at baseline (optical fiber attached but no stimulation applied) and once following OGS (Fig. 1). Rats were connected to the optical fiber and placed in a small Plexiglas cage (dimensions 19.1 cm × 29.2 cm × 12.7 cm; Ancare) to restrict movement and minimize regional brain activation from motor behavior. All animals were previously habituated to this cage for three sessions. After placement in the small cage, blue (473 nm) light stimulation, pulsed at 10 Hz, was applied through the optical fiber at 30 s intervals (30 s on/30 s off) for 5 min (light turned off for the baseline scan). Blue light was calculated to target ∼900 μm tissue depth from the optic fiber tip with a tissue irradiance of ∼35 mW/mm2 at the tip using the online predicted irradiance calculator (http://www.stanford.edu/group/dlab/cgi-bin/graph/chart.php).
FDG scanning protocol.
Figure 1 shows the location of cannula and light delivery, with relevant projections to and from the NAc. Rats were then injected intraperitoneally with ∼0.5 mCi of FDG. FDG was purchased from a commercially available radiopharmaceutical supplier (Cardinal Health). Each rat was awake for the 30 min period of FDG uptake, during which time the blue light was applied through the optical fiber at the same frequency and time intervals as before (light turned off for the baseline scan). During the uptake period, a photobeam activity monitoring system (dimensions 40.64 cm × 40.64 cm × 40.64 cm; TruScan, Coulbourn Instruments) measured locomotor activity (floor plane distance traveled) in the cage. Rats were previously habituated to being transported to the μPET facility, connected to the optical fiber, and to the Plexiglas “uptake” cage for 30 min for 3 d before testing. During these habituation trials, locomotor activity also was measured.
μPET image acquisition.
Following the uptake period, rats were anesthetized with isoflurane (1.5–2.0%) and placed in a prone position on the μPET scanner. An R4 μPET tomograph (Concorde CTI, Siemens), which has a transaxial resolution of 2.0 mm full-width at half maximum, with a field-of-view (FOV) of 11.5 cm was used for imaging. Animals were placed in the center of the FOV and dynamic scans were taken for 30 min (21 frames: 6 frames, 10 s; 3 frames, 20 s; 8 frames, 60 s; 4 frames, 300 s) and then averaged. After scanning, images were corrected for photon emission and reconstructed using the OSEM3D/MAP algorithm provided by Concorde CTI.
μPET image analysis
Statistical parametric mapping analysis.
Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) image processing was completed using PMOD v.2.75 software (PMOD Technologies Ltd.), and the averaged FDG images (across all dynamic acquisitions) were coregistered to the Schweinhardt atlas in Paxinos coordinates. Images were classified into four datasets: GFP baseline, GFP stimulation, ChR2 baseline, and ChR2 stimulation. Images were smoothed (4 mm Gaussian), then spatially normalized to a μPET reference image (manually selected by the user), as previously described (Thanos et al., 2008b; Pascau et al., 2009). Images were analyzed using the SPM8 software package. Regional metabolic changes for each animal were assessed relative to its global activity to normalize for injected dose and weight differences between animals, with intensity normalization to the mean by the proportional scaling method. A paired t test was performed for each group (GFP and ChR2) comparing regional brain glucose metabolism between the baseline and the stimulation scans. After estimation of the statistical model, t contrasts were applied to reveal the effects of interest. An uncorrected p-value of <0.005 and a cluster Ke > 100 were used as threshold to determine statistical significance. To minimize the likelihood of false positives, we set the threshold for significance to T = 5.7, which was the maximum T value obtained for the comparisons in the GFP rats (baseline vs stimulation), which we used as an estimate for random significant events.
NAc cluster analysis (region of interest method).
To quantify changes in brain glucose metabolism in the NAc following OGS, PMOD software (v.2.75, PMOD Technologies Ltd.) was used to manually draw a region of interest (ROI) in the location of the NAc cluster (at given SPM coordinates) that was significantly activated in the ChR2 group. Activity in this ROI was measured both for the baseline and stimulation condition for the GFP and ChR2 rats, and was normalized to the activity in the whole brain (NAc ROI activity/whole-brain activity).
Immunohistochemistry
Perfusion and sectioning.
One week after the μPET imaging experiment, rats (GFP, n = 4; ChR2, n = 6) were again stimulated with blue (473 nm) light, pulsed at 10 Hz, applied through the optical fiber at 30 s intervals (30 s on/30 s off) for 10 min. Ninety minutes after stimulation (to allow for maximum c-Fos expression), rats were anesthetized with 100/10 mg/kg ketamine/xylazine, i.p. and were then perfused with 0.9% saline solution followed by 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) in 0.2 m PBS. Perfusions were performed using the Perfusion One Sacrifice Perfusion System (NeuroLab). Brains were postfixed overnight in 4% PFA in 0.2 m PBS and then cryoprotected in 30% sucrose in PBS. Brains were mounted using Tissue-Tek O.C.T. compound embedding medium and rapidly frozen in dry ice for cryosectioning. The brains were cryosectioned (Leica CM3050S) at 40 μm and stored in PBS with 0.01% Azide.
c-Fos immunolabeling, imaging, and analysis.
Brain sections were rinsed in PBS and subsequently blocked for 30 min in 3% Normal Donkey Serum and 0.3% Triton-X in PBS. Tissue sections were incubated overnight at room temperature in the above blocking solution containing chicken anti-GFP (1:8000, catalog #GFP-1020, Aves Labs) for EYFP or GFP detection and rabbit anti-c-Fos (1:1000, catalog #sc-52, Santa Cruz Biotechnology) for c-Fos detection. On the second day, tissue sections were rinsed in PBS, followed by a 1 h incubation in secondary antibodies: Donkey anti-Chicken-Dylight-488 and Donkey anti-rabbit-Cy3 (both at 1:500, Jackson Immunoresearch) in PBS. The tissue was then rinsed in PBS before mounting onto Superfrost Plus slides. Sections were dehydrated in a graded ethanol series and Citrosolve, and then coverslipped with mounting media.
Immunofluorescence was imaged on an Olympus Bx61 confocal microscope. c-Fos-positive cells were counted in the region of the virus infection directly beneath the cannula-optic fiber, as well as in the secondary somatosensory cortex, amygdala, globus pallidus, and periaqueductal gray (PAG). Total c-Fos cell number was quantified from two 636 μm × 636 μm images from each subject using ImageJ software (NIH).
Statistical analysis
A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (between-subjects factor: Group; within-subjects factor: Time) was used to assess locomotor activity during the habituation and the baseline and stimulation sessions. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA (between-subjects factor: Group; within-subjects factor: Intervention) was used to assess brain glucose metabolism in the ROI encompassing the NAc cluster during baseline and stimulation scans. A one-way ANOVA (between-subjects factor: Group) was used to compare c-Fos expression in the NAc induced by OGS in GFP and ChR2 rats. A two-way ANOVA (between-subjects factors: Group and Hemisphere) was used to compare c-Fos expression induced by OGS in the remaining brain regions in GFP and ChR2 rats. ANOVAs were followed by post hoc tests (Holm–Sidak method) where appropriate. Pearson product correlations were used to assess the relationship between the changes in glucose metabolism and the changes in c-Fos expression in the NAc. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and statistical tests were performed using SigmaStat v11.0 software.
Results
Brain glucose utilization in response to OGS of the NAc
Statistical parametric mapping
Brain metabolic differences between baseline and OGS stimulation were determined both for activation (stimulation > baseline) and inhibition (stimulation < baseline). To assess significance in the ChR2 group we initially set the statistical threshold to p < 0.005 (cluster Ke > 100) and then reset for the threshold corresponding to the maximum T value in the GFP group (T = 5.7), which we used as estimate of randomness. Based on these criteria, OGS in the ChR2 group resulted in five activated and two inhibited clusters (Table 1, Fig. 2). One of the activated clusters was located in the core of the NAc where the cannula was placed for light stimulation. The other four clusters that showed significant increases encompassed (1) dorsal hippocampus and stria terminalis; (2) caudate/putamen and adjoining somatosensory cortex; (3) globus pallidus, ventral pallidum, and amygdala; and (4) periaqueductal gray. The two clusters showing decreases encompassed (1) retrosplenial cortex (from −3.2 to −4.2 mm AP); and (2) anterior cingulate gyrus (from 0 to −1.8 mm AP) and secondary motor cortex.
SPM-derived stereotaxic coordinates of clusters with significant differences between baseline and stimulation scans in the ChR2 group (p < 0.005; Ke > 100)
μPET and statistical parametric mapping (SPM8) results from the ChR2 group coregistered to the Schweinhardt MRI template. Red, Stimulation > Baseline (Excitation); Blue, Baseline > Stimulation (Inhibition). p < 0.005; Ke > 100; T > 5.72. Location of coronal sections shown from sagittal view on the right, numbered respectively. Sagittal reference image on the right adapted to show location of corresponding numbered coronal plates (Paxinos and Watson, 2007). Regions labeled represent regions encompassed by the span of the respective cluster. Cg1, Cingulate gyrus, area 1; CPu, caudate–putamen; VP, ventral pallidum; S2, secondary somatosensory cortex; Amyg, amygdala; RSA, retrosplenial cortex; dHP, dorsal hippocampus; st, stria terminalis.
Effects in NAc (ROI method)
The effect of OGS at the site of stimulation was further explored by measuring the individual metabolic values (normalized to whole brain) in the region in the NAc where differences between the baseline and stimulation scans were observed (Fig. 3A). Each rat in the ChR2 group had a positive response (increased activation) between the baseline and stimulation scans, suggesting a consistent stimulation and activation near the site of OGS, while this was not the case for GFP rats. The two-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant interaction between group and intervention (F(1,15) = 9.332, p = 0.008). Pairwise comparisons revealed that only ChR2 rats showed a significant increase (16 ± 3%) in brain glucose metabolism in the NAc from baseline to stimulation scans (p = 0.004). Additionally, during the stimulation scan, NAc metabolism was significantly greater (13%) in the ChR2 than in the GFP group (p = 0.005).
A, Individual metabolic values in NAc and correlation with cFOS. Brain glucose metabolism (BGluM) in the NAc during the baseline (BL) and stimulation (STIM) scans in GFP (left) and ChR2 (right) rats. A ROI was drawn around the SPM cluster in the NAc that was shown to be significantly activated following OGS in the ChR2 group, and activity in this ROI was normalized to whole-brain activity during baseline and stimulation for both groups of rats. Each dot represents a data value for one animal. All ChR2 rats had greater activity in the NAc in the stimulation scan compared with the baseline scan, and this increase between scans was statistically significant for the ChR2 group only (**p < 0.01). Additionally, ChR2 rats had greater BGluM in the NAc ROI during the stimulation scan compared with GFP rats (**p < 0.01). B, Correlation between c-Fos expression following stimulation and percent change in BGluM from baseline to stimulation scans. There was a statistically significant positive association between c-Fos expression in the NAc following stimulation and percent change in BGluM in the NAc from baseline to stimulation scans (r = 0.7721, **p < 0.01).
c-Fos expression
c-Fos expression in the NAc was compared between GFP and ChR2 rats following OGS (Fig. 4). ChR2 rats exhibited increased c-Fos expression compared with GFP rats (F(1,8) = 20.392; p = 0.002). The changes in brain glucose metabolism in the NAc between baseline and stimulation and c-Fos expression across both groups (all animals) were significantly correlated (r = 0.7721, p = 0.009; Fig. 3B). Similarly, in ChR2 rats we found induction of c-Fos in four brain regions within clusters found to be activated in the SPM PET results (Fig. 5). ChR2 rats displayed increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in S2 (secondary somatosensory cortex), ipsilateral to the ChR2 site, (F(1,18) = 17.26 (Interaction), 18.37 (Group), and 36.84 (Hemisphere), p < 0.0001)). The amygdala and GP, contralateral to the ChR2 site, both displayed increased c-Fos in ChR2 rats (Amygdala, F(1,18) = 10.11 (Interaction), p < 0.01); GP, F(1,18) = 4.89 (Interaction), 26.35 (Group), p < 0.001)). Finally, both PAG hemispheres, in ChR2 rats, displayed an enhanced induction of c-Fos (F(1,18) = 43.40 (Group), p < 0.001 for ipsilateral and p < 0.01 for contralateral)).
Rats were optogenetically stimulated in the NAc for 10 min, then perfused 90 min later and their brains harvested. Immunohistochemistry was performed to visualize and quantify c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens following stimulation. A, Immunolabeling of c-Fos expression following optogenetic stimulation in GFP and ChR2 rats. B, Quantification of c-Fos expression following optogenetic stimulation in GFP and ChR2 rats. ChR2 rats showed significantly greater c-Fos expression compared with GFP rats (**p < 0.01).
Quantification of c-Fos immunolabeling in regions found to be significantly activated (from μPET results) following optogenetic stimulation of the NAc. Rats were optogenetically stimulated in the NAc for 10 min, then perfused 90 min later and their brains harvested. Immunohistochemistry was performed to visualize and quantify c-Fos expression in the contralateral and ipsilateral secondary somatosensory cortex (S2), amygdala, GP, and PAG following stimulation. ChR2 rats showed significantly greater c-Fos expression compared with GFP rats in the ipsilateral S2 (****p < 0.0001), contralateral amygdala (**p < 0.01), and GP (***p < 0.001), as well as the ipsilateral (***p < 0.001) and contralateral (**p < 0.01) PAG.
Locomotor activity
There were no significant differences in locomotor activity between the groups (ChR2, GFP) (F(1,14) = 2.658, p = 0.125), nor was there a significant group × time interaction effect (F(4,56) = 0.603, p = 0.662) (Fig. 6). There was only a significant main effect of time (F(4,56) = 5.188, p = 0.001); as expected, rats were more active during the habituation sessions compared with the sessions when the μPET scans were performed.
Locomotor activity during habituation and μPET scans. Locomotor activity was measured during three habituation (Hab) sessions, as well as during the period of FDG uptake immediately preceding baseline and stimulation μPET scans. During all habituation and μPET scan locomotor activity assessment periods, rats were attached to the optical fiber (light turned on for stimulation scan only) and locomotor activity was restricted by placement in a small holding cage. Rats were more active in the habituation sessions compared with the sessions before μPET scans (***p < 0.05).
Discussion
Here, we show that OGS of the NAc using ChR2 increased c-Fos expression and glucose metabolism in the region of stimulation. Additionally, we observed increased metabolism in regions interconnected with the NAc, including the basal ganglia (caudate–putamen, globus pallidus, and ventral pallidum) and limbic regions (amygdala, hippocampus) and decreased metabolism in regions of the default mode network or DMN (retrosplenial cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus), and in secondary motor cortex.
Our finding of increased glucose metabolism and c-Fos expression at the site of OGS—the NAc—is consistent with fMRI results reporting an increase in BOLD signal in the area of stimulation (for prior study it was the motor cortex) (Lee, 2012), as well as immunohistochemistry studies showing increased c-Fos expression at the site of stimulation (Adamantidis et al., 2010; Lobo et al., 2010). This indicates that OGS with ChR2 activates neurons in the region where the light is delivered. As predicted, we also observed increased metabolism (activation) in regions that are connected to the NAc; specifically, the hippocampus, caudate/putamen, amygdala, periaqueductal gray, globus pallidus, and ventral pallidum. This is consistent with fMRI studies showing BOLD signal increases in regions neuroanatomically connected to the site of stimulation (Lee et al., 2010; Lee, 2012).
Interestingly, we showed decreased metabolic activity in the retrosplenial cortex (posterior cingulate gyrus), anterior cingulate gyrus, and secondary motor cortex. Both the retrosplenial cortex and the anterior cingulate gyrus are part of the DMN that is deactivated (including decreases in glucose metabolism) when engaging in a task (Raichle and Snyder, 2007; Pfefferbaum et al., 2011). The clusters of inhibition that we observed following OGS of the NAc fall within the previously reported DMN of the rat brain (Upadhyay et al., 2011; Lu et al., 2012). Moreover, brain imaging studies indicate a correlation between markers of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission and deactivation of the DMN (Tomasi et al., 2009; Dang et al., 2012; Sambataro et al., 2013), which, in conjunction with our findings, suggests that NAc activation facilitates DMN inhibition.
A previous optogenetic fMRI study reported local excitatory responses (positive BOLD signal) following stimulation of the motor cortex with ChR2, flanked by inhibitory responses (negative BOLD signal) in lateral regions; however, no inhibitory responses in nonadjacent regions were reported (Lee et al., 2010). The NAc is comprised mostly of small spiny GABAergic neurons, which constitute the source of projections out of the NAc, but there are also acetylcholine interneurons that modulate activity of GABAergic neurons. Thus, increased metabolism in NAc is likely to reflect the activation of both sets of neurons, unless OGS also indirectly influences activity of afferent terminals into the region, in which case the increased metabolism could reflect increased glutamate release from corticostriatal, thalamo-striatal, or amygdo-striatal terminals or DA release from DA terminals (Kegeles et al., 2000; Fernandez et al., 2006; Eyjolfsson et al., 2011; Surmeier and Graybiel, 2012). Since the GABAergic neurons are the ones that project out of the NAc, the activation in connected regions is likely to reflect indirect circuit-level consequences of NAc activation. Studies that restrict the expression of the ChR2 to the NAc's two main types of projection neurons, those predominantly expressing DA D1 versus DA D2 receptors, are needed to clarify the circuitry underlying the metabolic changes seen with NAc stimulation. Note that Lee et al. (2010) used a vector that was designed to specifically drive the expression of ChR2 in Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKIIα)-expressing principal cortical neurons, which are excitatory, but not in GABAergic or other inhibitory cell types. However, we may have also stimulated cholinergic interneurons in the NAc; for while they constitute <1% of NAc neurons (Rymar et al., 2004), their optogenetic activation and inhibition has been shown to modulate activity in other NAc neurons (Witten et al., 2010).
Downstream effects of OGS of the NAc seen in the amygdala and hippocampus are supported by known anatomical and functional connectivity that constitute the limbic system (Parkinson et al., 2000; Cardinal et al., 2002; Heidbreder and Groenewegen, 2003; Morgane et al., 2005). The activation of the basal ganglia (caudate/putamen, globus pallidus, and ventral pallidum) is also consistent with the basal ganglia modulating or being modulated by activity in the NAc, as well as the hypothesis that the NAc is the interface between limbic and motor systems (Groenewegen and Uylings, 2000; Heimer, 2003; Morgane et al., 2005; Postuma and Dagher, 2006). The activation of the PAG could reflect the functional loop between the NAc, PAG, and amygdala that underlies opioid-mediated antinociception (Ma and Han, 1991, 1992; Ma et al., 1992). Our results are also consistent with findings in the human brain of functional connectivity between the NAc and the amygdala, hippocampus, globus pallidus, caudate/putamen, anterior and posterior cingulate, and precuneus (retrosplenial cortex in the rat) (Cauda et al., 2011). Clinical studies have shown additional connectivity of the NAc with the orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and midbrain (Di Martino et al., 2008; Cauda et al., 2011); however, the lack of an observed effect in these regions in our study may reflect distinct connectivity patterns when the brain is studied during a resting state versus when it is studied during regional activation, as well as species and methodological differences.
In our study, NAc stimulation increased metabolism in the contralateral amygdala and hippocampus, which is consistent with a lateralization of NAc connections with these two other regions (Cauda et al., 2011); however, we did not see ipsilateral activation of these limbic regions. It is possible that this contralateral activation of downstream regions represents a compensatory mechanism for maintaining homeostasis. A similar effect has been demonstrated, such that unilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus results in contralateral activation of downstream basal ganglia circuitry (Parent and Hazrati, 1995; Liu et al., 2002; Arai et al., 2008). We further explored c-Fos activation in some of the contralaterally activated regions, as well as control regions with ipsilateral and bilateral activation, following OGS of the NAc to determine whether these could be artifacts. Our findings from c-Fos immunolabeling corroborate our μPET findings, showing increased expression in the contralateral amygdala and globus pallidus, ipsilateral secondary somatosensory cortex, and bilateral periaqueductal gray.
In our study, we also showed decreased metabolic activity in the motor cortex following stimulation of the NAc that might reflect the fact that during OGS the rats were placed in a small cage, which was used to prevent stimulation-induced locomotor hyperactivity. Thus, the restricted containment may have required that the animals inhibit motoric brain regions that otherwise would have been activated had they had the space to move. However, a previous study of unilateral OGS of the NAc also failed to increase basal locomotor activity even when mice were in a larger space (Lobo et al., 2010), which indicates that unilateral OGS of the NAc may be insufficient to elicit significant increases in locomotor activation. Previous studies have shown that locomotion-stimulating drugs are less effective when microinjected unilaterally into the NAc, compared with bilaterally (Jackson et al., 1975; Essman et al., 1993; Schildein et al., 1998). Additionally, the observed contralateral activation of downstream regions, previously proposed to be a compensatory mechanism, may be the neurobiological substrate through which the brain is homeostatically regulating behavioral output in response to unilateral stimulation of the NAc.
A limitation of our study is that since the vector we used equally infects all neurons, we cannot distinguish which neuronal cell type(s) drive the increases in metabolism in the NAc and its effects on downstream brain regions. As well, rats were food-deprived overnight (12 h), according to standard protocols, before FDG PET scans to attain consistency in blood glucose levels as abnormal blood glucose levels interfere with FDG uptake (Fueger et al., 2006; Wong et al., 2011). While longer food deprivation (24–48 h) is known to be a stressor and to affect behavioral sensitivity to both natural and food rewards (Levine et al., 1995; Shalev et al., 2003a,b), it does not affect c-Fos immunoreactivity in the NAc or other regions of the reward pathway (Shalev et al., 2003a). This may be less of a concern in the present study as food deprivation was brief (12 h). Last, although OGS-induced motor activation could have been a potential confound, this is unlikely to be the case since there were no differences in locomotor activation between the GFP and ChR2 rats during the stimulation session.
This study shows that ChR2-mediated OGS of the NAc results in activation of the NAc (as measured by both glucose metabolism and c-Fos expression), in addition to activation and inhibition of downstream projection regions. These results also provide evidence of the feasibility of using μPET with FDG in conjunction with OGS to map connectivity in the awake, behaving rat brain.
Footnotes
This work was supported by the intramural program at NIAAA and Grants AA11034, AA07574, AA07611, and DA08227. We thank Javier Gonzalez-Garzon, Manuel Desco, and Mala Ananth for helpful suggestions with the SPM.
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
- Correspondence should be addressed to either of the following: Mary Kay Lobo, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street HSFII S251, Baltimore, MD 21201, mklobo{at}umaryland.edu; or Dr. Nora D. Volkow, 6000 Executive Blvd # 402, Rockville, MD 20852, nvolkow{at}nida.nih.gov
