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The Projection-Specific Noradrenergic Modulation of Perseverative Spatial Behavior in Adult Male Rats.
- Source :
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ENeuro [eNeuro] 2024 Aug 19; Vol. 11 (8). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 19 (Print Publication: 2024). - Publication Year :
- 2024
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Abstract
- Adaptive behavior relies on efficient cognitive control. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a key node within the executive prefrontal network. The reciprocal connectivity between the locus ceruleus (LC) and ACC is thought to support behavioral reorganization triggered by the detection of an unexpected change. We transduced LC neurons with either excitatory or inhibitory chemogenetic receptors in adult male rats and trained rats on a spatial task. Subsequently, we altered LC activity and confronted rats with an unexpected change of reward locations. In a new spatial context, rats with decreased noradrenaline (NA) in the ACC entered unbaited maze arms more persistently which was indicative of perseveration. In contrast, the suppression of the global NA transmission reduced perseveration. Neither chemogenetic manipulation nor inactivation of the ACC by muscimol affected the rate of learning, possibly due to partial virus transduction of the LC neurons and/or the compensatory engagement of other prefrontal regions. Importantly, we observed behavioral deficits in rats with LC damage caused by virus injection. The latter finding highlights the importance of careful histological assessment of virus-transduced brain tissue as inadvertent damage of the targeted cell population due to virus neurotoxicity or other factors might cause unwanted side effects. Although the specific role of ACC in the flexibility of spatial behavior has not been convincingly demonstrated, our results support the beneficial role of noradrenergic transmission for an optimal function of the ACC. Overall, our findings suggest the LC exerts the projection-specific modulation of neural circuits mediating the flexibility of spatial behavior.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.<br /> (Copyright © 2024 Kabanova et al.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Male
Rats
Muscimol pharmacology
Maze Learning physiology
Maze Learning drug effects
Neural Pathways drug effects
Neural Pathways physiology
Adrenergic Neurons drug effects
Adrenergic Neurons physiology
Locus Coeruleus drug effects
Locus Coeruleus physiology
Norepinephrine metabolism
Gyrus Cinguli drug effects
Gyrus Cinguli physiology
Spatial Behavior physiology
Spatial Behavior drug effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2373-2822
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- ENeuro
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39160074
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0063-24.2024