Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei

Abstract The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a large cortical structure, expansive across anterior-posterior axes. It is essential for flexibly updating learned behaviors, and paradoxically, also implicated in inflexible and compulsive-like behaviors. Here, we investigated mice bred to display inflexi...

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Main Authors: Laura M. Butkovich, Sophie T. Yount, Aylet T. Allen, Esther H. Seo, Andrew M. Swanson, Shannon L. Gourley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84369-1
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author Laura M. Butkovich
Sophie T. Yount
Aylet T. Allen
Esther H. Seo
Andrew M. Swanson
Shannon L. Gourley
author_facet Laura M. Butkovich
Sophie T. Yount
Aylet T. Allen
Esther H. Seo
Andrew M. Swanson
Shannon L. Gourley
author_sort Laura M. Butkovich
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a large cortical structure, expansive across anterior-posterior axes. It is essential for flexibly updating learned behaviors, and paradoxically, also implicated in inflexible and compulsive-like behaviors. Here, we investigated mice bred to display inflexible reward-seeking behaviors that are insensitive to action consequences. We found that these mice also demonstrate insensitivity to Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer, as well as compulsive-like grooming behavior that is ameliorated by fluoxetine and inhibitory, but not excitatory, chemogenetic modulation of excitatory OFC neurons. Thus, these mice offer the opportunity to identify neurobiological factors associated with inflexible and compulsive-like behavior. Experimentally bred mice suffer excitatory dendritic spine attrition, as well as changes in inhibitory synapse-associated proteins, GAD67/GAD1 and SLITRK3, largely in the anterior and not posterior OFC (or medial frontal cortex). They also display higher levels of the excitatory synaptic marker striatin in the nucleus accumbens and lower levels of the excitatory synaptic marker SAPAP3 in the dorsal striatum, striatal nuclei that receive input from the anterior OFC. Together, our findings point to the anterior OFC as a potential locus controlling action flexibility and compulsive-like behavior alike.
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spelling doaj-art-93587cb81fd3431c9dd469b23aa3bae62025-01-19T12:23:35ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111810.1038/s41598-024-84369-1Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nucleiLaura M. Butkovich0Sophie T. Yount1Aylet T. Allen2Esther H. Seo3Andrew M. Swanson4Shannon L. Gourley5Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of MedicineAbstract The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a large cortical structure, expansive across anterior-posterior axes. It is essential for flexibly updating learned behaviors, and paradoxically, also implicated in inflexible and compulsive-like behaviors. Here, we investigated mice bred to display inflexible reward-seeking behaviors that are insensitive to action consequences. We found that these mice also demonstrate insensitivity to Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer, as well as compulsive-like grooming behavior that is ameliorated by fluoxetine and inhibitory, but not excitatory, chemogenetic modulation of excitatory OFC neurons. Thus, these mice offer the opportunity to identify neurobiological factors associated with inflexible and compulsive-like behavior. Experimentally bred mice suffer excitatory dendritic spine attrition, as well as changes in inhibitory synapse-associated proteins, GAD67/GAD1 and SLITRK3, largely in the anterior and not posterior OFC (or medial frontal cortex). They also display higher levels of the excitatory synaptic marker striatin in the nucleus accumbens and lower levels of the excitatory synaptic marker SAPAP3 in the dorsal striatum, striatal nuclei that receive input from the anterior OFC. Together, our findings point to the anterior OFC as a potential locus controlling action flexibility and compulsive-like behavior alike.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84369-1OrbitalSAPAP3GroomingVentral striatumHabitCompulsivity
spellingShingle Laura M. Butkovich
Sophie T. Yount
Aylet T. Allen
Esther H. Seo
Andrew M. Swanson
Shannon L. Gourley
Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei
Scientific Reports
Orbital
SAPAP3
Grooming
Ventral striatum
Habit
Compulsivity
title Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei
title_full Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei
title_fullStr Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei
title_full_unstemmed Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei
title_short Action inflexibility and compulsive-like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei
title_sort action inflexibility and compulsive like behavior accompany neurobiological alterations in the anterior orbitofrontal cortex and associated striatal nuclei
topic Orbital
SAPAP3
Grooming
Ventral striatum
Habit
Compulsivity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84369-1
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