Shaughnessy Emma K, Horne Benjamin W, Huhman Kim L
Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Brain Behav. 2024 Dec;14(12):e70189. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70189.
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrix proteoglycans surrounding neurons and glia. It has been suggested that PNNs are involved in the pathophysiology of multiple CNS illnesses, including stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders.
Before examining the putative role of PNNs in stress-related responses, we described for the first time the anatomical distribution in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), an excellent model organism for studying social stress and circadian rhythms.
We observed PNNs throughout the hamster cortex and hippocampus but found low to no expression in subcortical regions such as the hypothalamus, thalamus, and striatum, sites where they are observed in rats and mice. We further demonstrated that PNNs are dynamically regulated in a sex-dependent manner in response to acute social stress, specifically in hippocampal area CA1. We did not observe a difference in PNNs between the beginning of the dark versus light phase of the light-dark cycle in hamsters, despite other laboratory rodents showing diurnal variation in PNNs. Finally, we also demonstrated that there are sex differences in PNN expression in the somatosensory cortex and the basolateral amygdala in hamsters, suggesting that sex as a biological variable should be considered in studies of PNN function.
Together, the data from the current study suggest that a comparative approach will be necessary to fully elucidate the functional role of PNNs and, further, that Syrian hamsters are a valuable model in this endeavor.
神经周网（PNNs）是围绕神经元和神经胶质细胞的细胞外基质蛋白聚糖。有人提出，神经周网参与多种中枢神经系统疾病的病理生理过程，包括与应激相关的神经精神障碍，如精神分裂症、重度抑郁症和焦虑症。
在研究神经周网在应激相关反应中的假定作用之前，我们首次描述了叙利亚仓鼠（金仓鼠）的解剖分布，叙利亚仓鼠是研究社会应激和昼夜节律的优秀模式生物。
我们在仓鼠的整个皮质和海马体中观察到神经周网，但在下丘脑、丘脑和纹状体等皮质下区域发现其表达较低或无表达，而在大鼠和小鼠中这些区域可观察到神经周网。我们进一步证明，神经周网在急性社会应激反应中以性别依赖的方式动态调节，特别是在海马体CA1区。尽管其他实验啮齿动物的神经周网表现出昼夜变化，但我们未观察到仓鼠明暗周期的黑暗期与光照期开始时神经周网存在差异。最后，我们还证明了仓鼠体感皮层和基底外侧杏仁核中神经周网表达存在性别差异，这表明在神经周网功能研究中应考虑性别这一生物学变量。
综上所述，本研究的数据表明，需要采用比较方法来充分阐明神经周网的功能作用，此外，叙利亚仓鼠是这项研究中的一个有价值的模型。
