Cholinergic Basal Forebrain Research Articles

Localization of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor immunoreactivity on GABAergic interneurons in layers I–III of the rat retrosplenial granular cortex

The rat retrosplenial granular cortex (RSG) receives cholinergic input from the medial septum–diagonal band (MS–DB) of the cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF), with projections terminating in layers I–III of RSG. The modulatory effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on cortical GABAergic interneurons in these layers are mediated by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChRs). α7nAChRs are most abundant in the cerebral cortex and are largely localized to GABAergic interneurons. However, the CBF projection to the RSG has not been studied in detail, and the cellular or subcellular distribution of α7nAChRs in the rat RSG remains unclear. The main objective of this study was to test that α7nAChRs reside on GABAergic interneurons in CBF terminal fields of the rat RSG.First, we set out to define the characteristics of CBF projections from the MS–DB to layers of the RSG using anterograde neural tracing and immunohistochemical labeling with cholinergic markers. These results revealed that the pattern of axon terminal labeling in layer Ia, as well as layer II/III of the RSG is remarkably similar to the pattern of cholinergic axons in the RSG. Next, we investigated the relationship between α7nAChRs, labeled using either α-bungarotoxin or α7nAChR antibody, and the local neurochemical environment by labeling surrounding cells with antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), parvalbumin (PV) and reelin (a marker of the ionotropic serotonin receptor-expressing GABAergic interneurons). α7nAChRs were found to be localized on both somatodendritic and neuronal elements within subpopulations of GABAergic PV-, reelin-stained and non PV-stained neurons in layers I–III of the RSG. Finally, electron microscopy revealed that α7nAChRs are GAD- and PV-positive cytoplasmic and neuronal elements.These results strongly suggest that ACh released from CBF afferents is transmitted via α7nAChR to GAD-, PV-, and reelin-positive GABAergic interneurons in layers I–III of the RSG.

Cholinergic Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

There is increasing interest in the clinical effects of cholinergic basal forebrain and tegmental pedunculopontine complex (PPN) projection degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent evidence supports an expanded role beyond cognitive impairment, including effects on olfaction, mood, REM sleep behavior disorder, and motor functions. Cholinergic denervation is variable in PD without dementia and may contribute to clinical symptom heterogeneity. Early in vivo imaging evidence that impaired cholinergic integrity of the PPN associates with frequent falling in PD is now confirmed by human post-mortem evidence. Brainstem cholinergic lesioning studies in primates confirm the role of the PPN in mobility impairment. Degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic projections correlates with decreased walking speed. Cumulatively, these findings provide evidence for a new paradigm to explain dopamine-resistant features of mobility impairments in PD. Recognition of the increased clinical role of cholinergic system degeneration may motivate new research to expand indications for cholinergic therapy in PD.

Cortical Metabolic Deficits in a Rat Model of Cholinergic Basal Forebrain Degeneration

Evidence indicates that the degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons may represent an important factor underlying the progressive cognitive decline characterizing Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the nature of the relationship between cholinergic depletion and AD is not fully elucidated. This study aimed at clarifying some aspects of the relation existing between deficits in cerebral energy metabolism and degeneration of cholinergic system in AD, by investigating the neuronal metabolic activity of several cortical areas after depletion of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. In cholinergically depleted rats, we evaluated the neuronal metabolic activity by assaying cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity in frontal, parietal and posterior parietal cortices at four different time-points after unilateral injection of 192 IgG-saporin in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis. Unilateral depletion of cholinergic cells in the basal forebrain induced a bilateral decrease of metabolic activity in all the analyzed areas. Frontal and parietal cortices showed decreased metabolic activity even 3 days after the lesion, when the cholinergic degeneration was still incomplete. In posterior parietal cortex metabolic activity decreased only 7 days after the lesion. The possible molecular mechanisms underlying these findings were also investigated. Real-time PCR showed an increase of CO mRNA levels at 3, 7 and 15 days after the lesion both in frontal and parietal cortices, followed by normalization at 30 days. Western Blot analysis did not show any change in CO protein levels at any time-point after the lesion. Our findings support a link between metabolic deficit and cholinergic hypofunctionality characterizing AD pathology. The present model of cholinergic hypofunctionality provides a useful means to study the complex mechanisms linking two fundamental and interrelated phenomena characterizing AD from the early stages.

Sex differences in the cholinergic basal forebrain in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.

In the Down syndrome (DS) population, there is an early incidence of dementia and neuropathology similar to that seen in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), including dysfunction of the basal forebrain cholinergic neuron (BFCN) system. Using Ts65Dn mice, a model of DS and AD, we examined differences in the BFCN system between male and female segmentally trisomic (Ts65Dn) and disomic (2N) mice at ages 5-8 months. Quantitative stereology was applied to BFCN subfields immunolabeled for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) within the medial septum/vertical limb of the diagonal band (MS/VDB), horizontal limb of the diagonal band (HDB) and nucleus basalis of Meynert/substantia innominata (NBM/SI). We found no sex differences in neuron number or subregion area measurement in the MS/VDB or HDB. However, 2N and Ts65Dn females showed an average 34% decrease in BFCN number and an average 20% smaller NBM/SI region area compared with genotype-matched males. Further, relative to genotype-matched males, female mice had smaller BFCNs in all subregions. These findings demonstrate that differences between the sexes in BFCNs of young adult Ts65Dn and 2N mice are region and genotype specific. In addition, changes in post-processing tissue thickness suggest altered parenchymal characteristics between male and female Ts65Dn mice.

In vivo detection of cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy using cytoarchitectonic mappings and multimodal imaging approaches

In vivo detection of cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy using cytoarchitectonic mappings and multimodal imaging approaches

Volume of the cholinergic basal forebrain: A potential surrogate of brain resilience?

However, longitudinal and quantitative studies clarifying the temporal relationships between these changes have been exceptionally rare. Therefore, we used longitudinal MRI to assess associations between hippocampus atrophy and changes of hippocampal FC in cognitively normal elders (CN). Methods: Forty-six CN elders (mean age: 75.26 6.9 years) received resting state functional and structural MRI scans at 1.5T field strength, as well as detailed clinical evaluations, at two time points (mean interval: 2.5 6 0.5 years). The hippocampus was manually traced on each structural MRI, and the gray matter (GM) tissue maps were generated from SPM5. Hippocampal FC was calculated as the Fisher-Z transformed Pearson correlation between the mean functional MRI time series among each individual hippocampal voxels and the time series of other voxels throughout the brain. Hippocampal FC change (DFC) map, hippocampal atrophy volume (DHV), and GM atrophy map were calculated for each individual. Multiple regression models were applied for the relationships between DFC and DHV throughout the brain, controlling for age, gender, education, inter-scan interval (Dtime), baseline hippocampus volume and GM atrophy map. AlphaSim was applied for multiple comparison correction with a p < 0.01 threshold. Results: A cluster of voxels on the thalamus and caudate nucleus showed a significant association between DFC and DHV, which indicated that CN elders with more hippocampus atrophy had greater FC increases or less FC decreases. Local gray matter atrophy did not affect this association. There was no evidence of an association between greater hippocampus atrophy and greater hippocampus FC reduction or less FC increases (see figure). Conclusions: The hippocampus and thalamus are structurally connected via the cingulum bundle as part of an extended neuronal network that is critical for successful memory function. Our results reflected this structural connection. Moreover, the relationship between the quantitative measures ofDHVandDFC showed a compensatory effect of FC changes against HVatrophy in CN elders, and implies that FC may play an important role in cognitive reserve.

Cognitive correlates of cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy and associated cortical hypometabolism in mild cognitive impairment

Cognitive correlates of cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy and associated cortical hypometabolism in mild cognitive impairment

Cholinergic dysregulation in prodromal Alzheimer’s disease

The cholinergic hypothesis of geriatric memory dysfunction led to the development of FDA-approved anticholinesterase drugs to maintain this system in AD patients. The importance of defining the status of the cholinergic basal forebrain cortical projection system in subjects with prodromal AD who are at risk for developing AD continues to be of great clinical and translational interest. The findings presented are derived from molecular and cellular neuropathologic investigations of people who died with a premortem clinical diagnosis of no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as from AD transgenic animal studies. Clinical pathologic investigations revealed that CBF neurons maintain their cholinergic neuronal phenotype despite exhibiting pretangles, which correlate with cognitive impairment and an altered ratio of 3 repeat to 4 repeat tau in the MCI brain. Interestingly, the cortical cholinergic system displays an upregulation of choline acetyltransferease (ChAT) activity in the frontal cortex and hippocampus suggesting early reparative mechanisms during prodromal AD. Moreover, despite the early accumulation of amyloid burden in the precuneus component of the default memory network, cholinergic enzyme activity remains stable in MCI and only declines in clinical AD, when PiB binding and soluble beta-amyloid 42 levels are substantially elevated compared to MCI. Moreover, amyloid deposition failed to induce cholinergic cortical neuronal degeneration in APP and triple transgenic mouse models of AD. Increased cortical levels of proNGF and a decrease in TrkA suggest a shift away from cell survival to apoptotic proNGF signaling. Interestingly, this switch to cell death mechanisms did not occur in the hippocampus during prodromal AD. Together these data suggest that CBF system dysregulation is not uniform, the system is neuroplastic, pretangle pathology plays a key role in cognitive impairment, amyloid deposition may not be toxic early on and there is a shift from cell survival to cell death trophic factor signaling in MCI.

Distribution of parvalbumin, calbindin and calretinin containing neurons and terminal networks in relation to sleep associated nuclei in the brain of the giant Zambian mole-rat (Fukomys mechowii)

To broaden the understanding of the neural control and evolution of the sleep–wake cycle in mammals, the distribution and interrelations of sleep associated nuclei with neurons and terminal networks expressing the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin and calretinin were explored in a rodent that lacks a significant visual system. The sleep-associated nuclei explored include the cholinergic basal forebrain and pontine nuclei, the catecholaminergic locus coeruleus complex, the serotonergic dorsal raphe nuclear complex, the hypothalamic orexinergic nuclei, and the thalamic reticular nucleus. Zambian mole-rat brains were sectioned and stained in a one in nine series for Nissl, myelin, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), serotonin (5HT), orexin (OrxA), calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV). We observed that while the density of immunopositive calbindin (CB+) neurons and terminal networks varied in the different sleep related nuclei, they were found in all nuclei apart from the compact and diffuse subdivisions of the subcoeruleus, which lacked CB+ neurons but evinced a CB+ terminal network. The density of calretinin immunopositive (CR+) neurons and terminal networks varied between the sleep related nuclei, but was present in all nuclei examined. Neurons and terminal networks associated with PV immunoreactivity were the most sparsely distributed in these nuclei, but were present in the majority of nuclei. The thalamic reticular nucleus had the highest density of PV+ neurons and terminal networks, while PV+ neurons were absent in the cholinergic pontine nuclei, and PV+ neurons and terminal networks were absent in the orexinergic nuclei. The increased presence of neurons and terminal networks expressing the calcium binding proteins in comparison to that seen in the laboratory rat, specifically in the brainstem, may account for the prominent muscle twitches during REM sleep previously observed in this subterranean African rodent.

Drain of the brain: low-affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor affords a molecular sink for clearance of cortical amyloid β by the cholinergic modulator system

Cholinergic basal forebrain (BF) neurons source one of the largest modulator systems of the brain, supplying acetylcholine to the entire cerebral mantle. Ample evidence suggests a causal link between the depletion of cortical acetylcholine and the selective disruption of cognitive functions in the course of aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). A distinctive yet underappreciated feature of BF cholinergic neurons is their enrichment with the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), which is also recognized as a high-affinity acceptor for the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. Herein, we critically overview the emerging data, which suggest the relevance of p75NTR-mediated uptake of Aβ followed by its degradation in lysosomes of BF cholinergic neurons for the homeostasis and clearance of this peptide from the cerebral cortex. We propose that via such a unique arrangement, cholinergic neurons afford their functional targets with an efficient molecular “drain” for Aβ. This process is suggested as the proximal cause for the greater “wear and tear” of the BF cholinergic system during aging and especially AD.

Cholinergic basal forebrain structures are involved in the mediation of the arousal effect of noradrenaline

Cholinergic basal forebrain structures are implicated in cortical arousal and regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Cholinergic neurones are innervated by noradrenergic terminals, noradrenaline excites them via alpha-1 receptors and microinjection of noradrenaline into the basal forebrain enhances wakefulness. However, it is not known to what extent the cholinergic versus non-cholinergic basal forebrain projection neurones contribute to the arousing effects of noradrenaline. To elucidate the roles of cholinergic basal forebrain structures we administered methoxamine, an alpha-1-adrenergic agonist into the basal forebrain, in intact animals and again after selective destruction of the basal forebrain cholinergic cells by 192 IgG-saporin. In eight male Han-Wistar rats implanted with electroencephalogram/electromyogram electrodes, a microdialysis probe targeted into the basal forebrain was perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid for 6h on a baseline day, and with cerebrospinal fluid in the first and with methoxamine in the second 3-h period of the subsequent day. The sleep-wake activity was recorded for 24h on both days. Saporin was then injected into the basal forebrain and 2weeks later the same experimental schedule (with cerebrospinal fluid and methoxamine) was repeated. In the intact animals, methoxamine exhibited a robust arousing effect and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM sleep was suppressed. Lesioning of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurones abolished almost completely the NREM sleep-suppressing effect of methoxamine, whereas the REM sleep-suppressing effect remained intact. Thus, the basal forebrain cholinergic neurones mediate, at least in part, cortical arousal and non-REM sleep-suppression, but they are not involved in the REM sleep-suppressing effects of noradrenaline.

Cholinergic basal forebrain circuit degeneration in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by loss of synapses and neurons in specific areas of the brain, leading to loss of learning, memory and cognitive function. Among the most vulnerable neurons in Alzheimer's disease are basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Degeneration of cholinergic projections to cortex and hippocampus is responsible for learning and memory deficits. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons rely on two target‐derived neurotrophic factors, nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), to maintain survival, differentiation, connectivity and function. NGF and BDNF are dysregulated in Alzheimer's disease by very different mechanisms. NGF is found in the brain in its precursor form, proNGF, which accumulates in Alzheimer's disease and becomes toxic to basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. BDNF, on the other hand, is decreased in Alzheimer's disease at the transcriptional level, causing cholinergic dysfunction and synapse loss. The molecular pathways for BDNF down‐regulation have been partially elucidated, and recent work demonstrates that lifestyle changes can raise BDNF levels and rescue age‐related cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, a full understanding of the causes and mechanisms of basal forebrain cholinergic neuron degeneration in Alzheimer's disease remains a challenge.

Sound‐specific plasticity in the primary auditory cortex as induced by the cholinergic pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus

Brain cholinergic modulation is essential for learning-induced plasticity of the auditory cortex. The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) is an important cholinergic nucleus in the brainstem, and appears to be involved in learning and subcortical plasticity. This study confirms the involvement of the PPTg in the plasticity of the auditory cortex in mice. We show here that electrical stimulation of the PPTg paired with a tone induced drastic changes in the frequency tunings of auditory cortical neurons. Importantly, the changes in frequency tuning were highly specific to the frequency of the paired tone; the best frequency of auditory cortical neurons shifted towards the frequency of the paired tone. We further demonstrated that such frequency-specific plasticity was largely eliminated by either thalamic or cortical application of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist atropine. Our finding suggests that the PPTg significantly contributes to auditory cortical plasticity via the auditory thalamus and cholinergic basal forebrain.

A Cholinergic Mechanism for Reward Timing within Primary Visual Cortex

Neurons in rodent primary visual cortex (V1) relate operantly conditioned stimulus-reward intervals with modulated patterns of spiking output, but little is known about the locus or mechanism of this plasticity. Here we show that cholinergic basal forebrain projections to V1 are necessary for the neural acquisition, but not the expression, of reward timing in the visual cortex of awake, behaving animals. We then mimic reward timing invitro by pairing white matter stimulation with muscarinic receptor activation at a fixed interval and show that this protocol results in the prolongation of electrically evoked spike train durations out to the conditioned interval. Together, these data suggest that V1 possesses the circuitry and plasticity to support reward time prediction learning and the cholinergic system serves as an important reinforcement signal which, invivo, conveys to the cortex the outcome of behavior.

Lesions of the Basal Forebrain Cholinergic System in Mice Disrupt Idiothetic Navigation

Loss of integrity of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons is a consistent feature of Alzheimer’s disease, and measurement of basal forebrain degeneration by magnetic resonance imaging is emerging as a sensitive diagnostic marker for prodromal disease. It is also known that Alzheimer’s disease patients perform poorly on both real space and computerized cued (allothetic) or uncued (idiothetic) recall navigation tasks. Although the hippocampus is required for allothetic navigation, lesions of this region only mildly affect idiothetic navigation. Here we tested the hypothesis that the cholinergic medial septo-hippocampal circuit is important for idiothetic navigation. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons were selectively lesioned in mice using the toxin saporin conjugated to a basal forebrain cholinergic neuronal marker, the p75 neurotrophin receptor. Control animals were able to learn and remember spatial information when tested on a modified version of the passive place avoidance test where all extramaze cues were removed, and animals had to rely on idiothetic signals. However, the exploratory behaviour of mice with cholinergic basal forebrain lesions was highly disorganized during this test. By contrast, the lesioned animals performed no differently from controls in tasks involving contextual fear conditioning and spatial working memory (Y maze), and displayed no deficits in potentially confounding behaviours such as motor performance, anxiety, or disturbed sleep/wake cycles. These data suggest that the basal forebrain cholinergic system plays a specific role in idiothetic navigation, a modality that is impaired early in Alzheimer’s disease.

Progression of Tau Pathology in Cholinergic Basal Forebrain Neurons in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

Progression of Tau Pathology in Cholinergic Basal Forebrain Neurons in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

Longitudinal measures of cholinergic forebrain atrophy in the transition from healthy aging to Alzheimer's disease

Recent evidence from cross-sectional in vivo imaging studies suggests that atrophy of the cholinergic basal forebrain (BF) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be distinguished from normal age-related degeneration even at predementia stages of the disease. Longitudinal study designs are needed to specify the dynamics of BF degeneration in the transition from normal aging to AD. We applied recently developed techniques for in vivo volumetry of the BF to serial magnetic resonance imaging scans of 82 initially healthy elderly individuals (60–93 years) and 50 patients with very mild AD (Clinical Dementia Rating score = 0.5) that were clinically followed over an average of 3 ± 1.5 years. BF atrophy rates were found to be significantly higher than rates of global brain shrinkage even in cognitively stable healthy elderly individuals. Compared with healthy control subjects, very mild AD patients showed reduced BF volumes at baseline and increased volume loss over time. Atrophy of the BF was more pronounced in progressive patients compared with those that remained stable. The cholinergic BF undergoes disproportionate degeneration in the aging process, which is further increased by the presence of AD.

Gating of Fear in Prelimbic Cortex by Hippocampal and Amygdala Inputs

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulates emotional responses, but it is unclear how PFC integrates diverse inputs to select the appropriate response. We therefore evaluated the contribution of basolateral amygdala (BLA) and ventral hippocampus (vHPC) inputs to fear signaling in the prelimbic (PL) cortex, a PFC region critical for the expression of conditioned fear. In conditioned rats trained to press for food, BLA inactivation decreased the activity of projection cells in PL, and reduced PL conditioned tone responses. In contrast, vHPC inactivation decreased activity of interneurons in PL and increased PL conditioned tone responses. Consistent with hippocampal gating of fear after extinction, vHPC inactivation increased fear and PL pyramidal activity in extinguished, but not in conditioned, rats. These results suggest a prefrontal circuit whereby hippocampus gates amygdala-based fear. Thus, deficient hippocampal inhibition of PFC may underlie emotional disorders, especially in light of reduced hippocampal volume observed in depression and PTSD.

Histamine release in the basal forebrain mediates cortical activation through cholinergic neurons.

The basal forebrain (BF) is a key structure in regulating both cortical activity and sleep homeostasis. It receives input from all ascending arousal systems and is particularly highly innervated by histaminergic neurons. Previous studies clearly point to a role for histamine as a wake-promoting substance in the BF. We used in vivo microdialysis and pharmacological treatments in rats to study which electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral properties are associated with histamine-induced wakefulness and whether this wakefulness is followed by increased sleep and increased EEG delta power during sleep. We also investigated which BF neurons mediate histamine-induced cortical activation. Extracellular BF histamine levels rose immediately and remained constant throughout a 6 h period of sleep deprivation, returning to baseline levels immediately afterward. During the spontaneous sleep-wake cycle, we observed a strong correlation between wakefulness and extracellular histamine concentrations in the BF, which was unaffected by the time of day. The perfusion of histamine into the BF increased wakefulness and cortical activity without inducing recovery sleep. The perfusion of a histamine receptor 1 antagonist into the BF decreased both wakefulness and cortical activity. Lesioning the BF cholinergic neurons abolished these effects. Together, these results show that activation of the cholinergic BF by histamine is important in sustaining a high level of cortical activation, and that a lack of activation of the cholinergic BF by histamine may be important in initiating and maintaining nonrapid eye movement sleep. The level of histamine release is tightly connected to behavioral state, but conveys no information about sleep pressure.

O1‐10‐05: Increased cerebral amyloid load is associated with reduced volume of the cholinergic basal forebrain in nondemented elderly

O1‐10‐05: Increased cerebral amyloid load is associated with reduced volume of the cholinergic basal forebrain in nondemented elderly