European Journal of Pharmacology 753 (2015) 114–126
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
European Journal of Pharmacology
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ejphar
The catecholaminergic–cholinergic balance hypothesis of bipolar
disorder revisited
Jordy van Enkhuizen a,b, David S. Janowsky a, Berend Olivier b, Arpi Minassian a,
William Perry a, Jared W. Young a,c, Mark A. Geyer a,c,n
a
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
c
Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
b
art ic l e i nf o
a b s t r a c t
Article history:
Accepted 27 May 2014
Available online 5 August 2014
Bipolar disorder is a unique illness characterized by fluctuations between mood states of depression and
mania. Originally, an adrenergic–cholinergic balance hypothesis was postulated to underlie these
different affective states. In this review, we update this hypothesis with recent findings from human
and animal studies, suggesting that a catecholaminergic–cholinergic hypothesis may be more relevant.
Evidence from neuroimaging studies, neuropharmacological interventions, and genetic associations
support the notion that increased cholinergic functioning underlies depression, whereas increased
activations of the catecholamines (dopamine and norepinephrine) underlie mania. Elevated functional
acetylcholine during depression may affect both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in a
compensatory fashion. Increased functional dopamine and norepinephrine during mania on the other
hand may affect receptor expression and functioning of dopamine reuptake transporters. Despite
increasing evidence supporting this hypothesis, a relationship between these two neurotransmitter
systems that could explain cycling between states of depression and mania is missing. Future studies
should focus on the influence of environmental stimuli and genetic susceptibilities that may affect the
catecholaminergic–cholinergic balance underlying cycling between the affective states. Overall, observations from recent studies add important data to this revised balance theory of bipolar disorder, renewing
interest in this field of research.
& 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:
Bipolar disorder
Mania
Depression
Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Mice
1. Introduction
Bipolar disorder is a debilitating neuropsychiatric illness that
affects approximately 1% of the global population (Merikangas
et al., 2011). A fundamental and distinctive characteristic of bipolar
disorder is its cyclical nature involving switches between periods
of mania and depression, distinguishing it from other psychiatric
disorders such as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.
Symptoms of mania include elevated or irritable mood, hyperactivity, racing thoughts, less need for sleep, grandiosity, and sometimes psychotic symptoms. Depression is largely associated with
symptoms seemingly opposite to those of mania, such as sad
mood, poor self-esteem, insomnia, lethargy or feeling ‘slowed
down’, and anhedonia (DSM-V, 2013). Despite the availability
n
Corresponding author at: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA.
Tel.: þ 1 619 543 3582; fax: þ 1 619 735 9205.
E-mail address: mgeyer@ucsd.edu (M.A. Geyer).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.05.063
0014-2999/& 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
of a broad range of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood
stabilizers, the treatment of bipolar disorder remains inadequate
and an unmet public health need. Together with the multifaceted
symptomatology, about a third of bipolar disorder patients
attempt suicide (Novick et al., 2010), and the associated mortality
rate from suicide attempts is high in this population (Osby et al.,
2001). A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the
specific states of mania and depression could improve development of targeted therapies and ultimately benefit patients.
2. The original adrenergic–cholinergic balance hypothesis of
mania and depression
Several decades ago, an adrenergic–cholinergic balance
hypothesis was first postulated, proposing that the underlying
mechanisms of mania reflect an imbalance of high adrenergic
activity, whereas depression is a state caused by relative high
cholinergic compared to adrenergic activity (Janowsky et al., 1972).
Evidence for the involvement of central acetylcholine in the
J. van Enkhuizen et al. / European Journal of Pharmacology 753 (2015) 114–126
regulation of depression arose from reports of cholinergic agonists
and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors inducing severe depression in
humans and antagonizing symptoms of mania (Janowsky et al.,
1994). These compounds increase central cholinergic tone because
acetylcholinesterase is the primary enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholine throughout the nervous system. Various
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (Gershon and Shaw, 1961;
Rowntree et al., 1950; Bowers et al., 1964), including physostigmine (Janowsky et al., 1973b; Modestin et al., 1973b, 1973a;
Janowsky et al., 1974; Davis et al., 1978; Oppenheim et al., 1979;
Risch et al., 1981) have been reported to induce symptoms of
depression in human subjects. Other agents that induce depression are the direct cholinergic muscarinic receptor agonist arecoline (Nurnberger et al., 1983), the non-selective muscarinic
receptor agonist oxotremorine (Davis et al., 1987), and acetylcholine precursors including deanol, choline, and lecithin (Casey,
1979; Davis et al., 1979) [see Janowsky et al. (1994) for review].
Importantly, symptoms observed after administration of these
compounds were similar to those that manifest in naturally
occurring depression (Janowsky et al., 1994). These depressive
states induced by cholinergic agonists or acetylcholinesterase
inhibitors were observed in a wide range of populations, including
healthy subjects (Risch et al., 1981; Nurnberger et al., 1983),
marijuana-intoxicated subjects (El-Yousef et al., 1973), patients
with Alzheimer's (Davis et al., 1979), and patients with a psychiatric illness such as depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder
(Janowsky et al., 1974, 1980). Furthermore, patients with an
affective component displayed an exaggerated depressive behavioral response after increasing central acetylcholine levels compared to healthy volunteers. Hence, a super- or hypersensitivity of
patients with endogenous depression or bipolar disorder for
cholinergic manipulations was observed, supportive of a cholinergic imbalance during periods of depression (Janowsky et al., 1994).
In further support of the central acetylcholine-mediation of
effects, the centrally acting agent physostigmine antagonizes mania
and induces depression, whereas its non-centrally acting congener
neostigmine does not, thus suggesting a central mechanism
(Janowsky et al., 1973b). In addition, the centrally acting muscarinic
antagonist scopolamine blocks the effects of physostigmine, whereas
the non-centrally acting methscopolamine does not cause behavioral
effects (Janowsky et al., 1986). Further supporting a role for central
muscarinic acetylcholine mechanisms in contributing to depression
comes from neuroendocrine and sleep electroencephalography (EEG)
studies. Physostigmine administration increases serum adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, epinephrine, and β-endorphine serum
levels, all neuroendocrine compounds that are increased in endogenous depression (Janowsky et al., 1986) and concomitantly increase
pulse and blood pressure levels. Furthermore, physostigmine further
shortens the sleep EEG marker rapid eye movement (REM) latency in
depressed patients. REM latency shortening itself is thought to be a
marker of depression, an acetylcholine-mediated phenomenon that
increases blood pressure and pulse rate (Dube et al., 1985; Sitaram et
al., 1987). Significantly, these physostigmine-induced changes, as
with the behavioral, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine changes
described above, are antagonized by scopolamine (Janowsky et al.,
1986). Hence, centrally acting acetylcholine, acting particularly via
muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, mediates physiological changes
similar to those present during depressive behaviors.
Importantly, investigations into the mechanisms underlying
depression and mania support an adrenergic–cholinergic balance.
Intravenous administration of the dopamine/norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitor methylphenidate antagonized the depressive
behavior induced by physostigmine in humans (Janowsky et al.,
1973a). Conversely, the behavioral activation and manic symptoms
caused by methylphenidate were antagonized by physostigmine
(Janowsky et al., 1973a), supporting an adrenergic–cholinergic
115
balance hypothesis. Moreover, methylphenidate as well as other
psychostimulants such as amphetamine can induce symptoms
relevant to mania in healthy persons (Peet and Peters, 1995) or
exacerbate symptoms of mania in patients with bipolar disorder
(Meyendorff et al., 1985; Hasler et al., 2006). Therefore, mania was
thought to involve an underlying pathophysiology of hypocholinergia and increased adrenergic signaling in contrast to depression, which was thought to have the converse.
Since the original concept of the adrenergic–cholinergic hypothesis was proposed in 1972 and the latest review was written in 1994,
years of extensive research have been conducted. Both preclinical and
clinical studies have led to significant discoveries, warranting an
updated review on this potential neurochemical imbalance theory
underlying bipolar disorder. Today's technology is far superior to that
available a few decades ago, with neuroimaging techniques such as
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography
(PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
including novel radioligands being possible to quantify receptors
in vivo in the human brain. Other techniques include different
manipulations such as viral knockdown of genes in animal models.
At the time of the adrenergic–cholinergic hypothesis of bipolar
disorder, little was known about dopamine, let alone its contribution
to mania. More recently however, research supports a strong contribution of dopamine to the mechanism(s) underlying mania. Hence,
a catecholaminergic (i.e., dopamine and norepinephrine) mechanism
may better describe the potential biological underpinnings of mania.
Although the importance of the cholinergic system during depression
was recently reviewed (Dagyte et al., 2011), bipolar disorder was not
its primary focus and it was not contrasted with mania. Thus, the
purpose of this comprehensive review is to provide an overview of
recent evidence from both human and animal studies that support a
catecholaminergic–cholinergic balance theory of bipolar disorder.
The original adrenergic–cholinergic balance hypothesis of
mania and depression in bipolar disorder is updated with recent
observations in a revised catecholaminergic–cholinergic hypothesis of bipolar disorder. First, we discuss clinical findings regarding
the involvement of the cholinergic and catecholaminergic system
and their interactions in bipolar depression and mania respectively. We summarize data from neuroimaging studies, discuss
neuropharmacological evidence, and briefly mention some genetic
association studies. While discussing depression, it is important to
note that it currently remains difficult to differentiate between
bipolar and unipolar depression. We have therefore included
findings from both affective states, highlighting differences and
interactions where they occur. After a clinical update, we will
discuss observations from preclinical studies investigating both
the cholinergic and catecholaminergic systems in animal models.
Finally, recommendations for future studies are made followed by
concluding remarks.
2.1. Bipolar depression—evidence from humans
The original hypothesis of bipolar disorder was largely based on
findings of increased acetylcholine by different manipulations
causing depression. Since then, a variety of studies have supported
these observations and renewed interest in this old theory. Studies
have also led to a monoamine deficiency theory, in particular
reduced serotonin deduced from the efficacy of selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of depression. Here,
we will update evidence regarding the involvement of the cholinergic system in depression (Table 1).
2.1.1. Observations from neuroimaging studies
In order to present an overview of neuroimaging data concerning cholinergic receptors, it must be mentioned that over the past
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Table 1
Summary of human findings on the cholinergic system in depression.
Evidence
Observations
References
Neuroimaging
↓ M2 in BD depression, but not MDD
E M2/M4 in BD (postmortem)
↓ M2/M3 in BD (postmortem)
↓ M2 in MDD (postmortem)
↓ β2-nAChR in MDD
↓ β2-nAChR in BD depression, but not euthymic
↑ choline in MDD
Cannon et al., 2006
Zavitsanou et al., 2005
Gibbons et al., 2009
Gibbons et al., 2009
Saricicek et al., 2012
Hannestad et al., 2013
Charles et al., 1994; Steingard et al., 2000
Neuropharmacological
Antidepressant effects of scopolamine
Antidepressant effects of scopolamine in MDD and BD depressed
Antidepressant effects of scopolamine as adjuvant with SSRI in MDD
Antidepressant effects of nAChR antagonist mecamylamine as adjuvant with SSRI
Mood stabilizing effect of nAChR antagonist mecamylamine in BD
Antidepressant effects of nAChR agonists
Janowsky, 2011
Furey et al., 2006, 2010; Drevets and Furey, 2010;
Frankel et al., 2011
Khajavi et al., 2012
George et al., 2008
Shytle et al., 2000
Gatto et al., 2004; Dagyte et al., 2011
M2 associated with MDD
M2 associated with BD depression
α7-nAChR associated with BD
α2-nAChR not associated with BD
Comings et al., 2002; Wang et al., 2004
Cannon et al., 2011
Hong et al., 2004; Ancin et al., 2010
Lohoff et al., 2005
Genetic
m¼ muscarinic, BD ¼bipolar disorder, MDD ¼major depressive disorder, nAChR ¼nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, SSRI ¼ selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, ↑ ¼ increased,
↓ ¼decreased, E ¼ no effect.
several decades increasingly more subtypes of cholinergic receptors
have been discovered. Cholinergic receptors are divided into the
ionotropic nicotinic and metabotropic muscarinic (M) acetylcholine
receptors. Several subtypes of the nicotinic receptors have been
discovered, differing in their α and β subunit composition (Ferreira
et al., 2008). Of the muscarinic receptors, to date five different
subtypes have been discovered (M1 to M5). This diversity in
composition and subtypes of acetylcholine receptors plus the use
of radioligands having varying degrees of specificity for these
receptor subtypes makes studying receptor functioning in patients
complex. Nevertheless, several reports exist that have enhanced our
current understanding of the acetylcholine receptor system in
patients with depression.
PET imaging is an excellent methodology to determine whether
abnormal receptor expression occurs in living patients. For example, using PET imaging, reduced M2 receptor binding was observed
within the anterior cingulate cortex of individuals with bipolar
depression, but not in patients with major depressive disorder,
compared to healthy subjects (Cannon et al., 2006). For their PET
scans, the authors used a radioligand whose binding can be
reduced by direct competition for receptor binding from endogenous acetylcholine. Therefore, this reduced M2 receptor binding
noted above was likely because of increased endogenous acetylcholine levels and not a decreased M2 receptor population. This
interpretation is supported by a postmortem study, in which M2
and M4 receptor density was unaltered in bipolar disorder subjects
compared to controls (Zavitsanou et al., 2005). However, another
postmortem study reported reduced M2 and M3 receptor binding
in discrete regions of the frontal cortex of bipolar disorder patients
and reduced M2 receptor binding alone in major depressive
disorder patients (Gibbons et al., 2009). Together, this possible
reduced receptor density could reflect a compensatory mechanism
to maintain normal cholinergic activity as a result of long-term
hypercholinergia in bipolar disorder depression. In a more recent
study investigating the nicotinic receptors using SPECT and MRI
scans, it was observed that major depressive disorder patients had
a lower availability of β2-subunit-containing nicotinic receptors
compared to healthy comparison subjects (Saricicek et al., 2012).
Importantly, no differences in β2 nicotinic receptor availability
were observed after endogenous bound acetylcholine was washed
out in postmortem samples, suggesting that the low levels of β2
nicotinic receptors in vivo were likely due to high levels of
extracellular acetylcholine. Moreover, acutely ill patients had lower
β2 nicotinic receptor levels than remitted subjects, suggesting that
elevated acetylcholine activity is more closely associated with
depressive symptoms. These findings were confirmed in patients
with bipolar disorder, where lower β2 nicotinic receptor availability
was observed in depressed bipolar disorder subjects compared to
both euthymic and control subjects (Hannestad et al., 2013). As with
the major depressive disorder study, differences in β2 nicotinic
receptor levels disappeared after acetylcholine was washed out,
suggesting again that increased endogenous acetylcholine functioning may underlie depression. This theory is also supported by
increased levels of choline, the rate-limiting precursor to acetylcholine, observed in brains of depressed patients measured in vivo
(Charles et al., 1994; Steingard et al., 2000). Altogether, these
neuroimaging data support a hypercholinergic nature of depression
resulting in altered (i.e., decreased) compensatory levels of both
muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
2.1.2. Observations from neuropharmacological studies
Additional support for a hypercholinergic imbalance during
depression comes from observations of the antidepressant effects of
the non-competitive muscarinic antagonist scopolamine in patients
(Janowsky, 2011). Intravenously administered scopolamine rapidly
attenuated symptoms of depression in both major depressive disorder
and bipolar depressed patients (Furey and Drevets, 2006), a finding
replicated in patients with major depressive disorder (Drevets and
Furey, 2010; Furey et al., 2010) and bipolar disorder depression
(Frankel et al., 2011). Another study demonstrated the effectiveness
of oral scopolamine as an adjuvant to citalopram in alleviating the
symptoms of major depression (Khajavi et al., 2012).
Other support for a cholinergic role in depression comes from
drug studies targeting the nicotinic receptors, although results so
far have been mixed [see Dagyte et al. (2011)]. That nicotinic
receptors play a role in mood regulation, may partially explain the
high prevalence of smoking in patients with affective disorders
(Glassman et al., 1990) and the high rates of depression in these
patients upon nicotine withdrawal. It is unclear however, whether
depressed smokers use nicotine to alleviate their symptoms
(self-medicate) or if smoking increases the risk of developing
depression (Markou et al., 1998; Shytle et al., 2002). Inconsistent
results on the treatment of depression have been observed when
J. van Enkhuizen et al. / European Journal of Pharmacology 753 (2015) 114–126
nicotinic receptor agonists and antagonists are given (Shytle et al.,
2002; Dagyte et al., 2011). For instance, the nicotinic receptor
antagonist mecamylamine reduced symptoms of depression as an
augmentation strategy with SSRI treatment (George et al., 2008)
and stabilized mood in bipolar patients (Shytle et al., 2000), while
antidepressant effects with nicotinic receptor agonists have also
been described (Gatto et al., 2004; Dagyte et al., 2011). Together,
both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors are widely expressed and
co-localized in the brain (Ferreira et al., 2008). Studies from drugs
targeting both receptors underscore the importance of cholinergic
systems in depressed states and offer potential therapeutic targets.
2.1.3. Observations from genetic studies
Although the field of genetics exceeds the scope of this review,
some findings from single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) association studies deserve mentioning. Regarding the muscarinic
receptors, the M2 receptor gene has been associated with major
depressive disorder (Comings et al., 2002; Wang et al., 2004).
More recently, genetic variation within the M2 receptor gene has
been associated with the above-mentioned reduced M2 receptor
binding in patients with bipolar disorder depression (Cannon et
al., 2011). Other linkage studies observed genetic variation within
the α7 nicotinic receptor gene associated with bipolar disorder
(Hong et al., 2004; Ancin et al., 2010), but not the α2 nicotinic
receptors gene (Lohoff et al., 2005).
2.1.4. Summary of findings associating acetylcholine with
bipolar disorder
In summary, these data support a hypercholinergic state during
periods of bipolar depression. As a result of these elevated
acetylcholine levels, compensatory decreases likely occur in both
muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, in particular the
M2 and β2 receptors. Treatment studies with anticholinergic drugs
are few so far, although results with scopolamine seem promising
and may provide a target for potential new drugs.
2.2. Bipolar mania—evidence from humans
Increased functional catecholamines (norepinephrine and
dopamine) was postulated several decades ago as a mechanism
underlying the manic phase of bipolar disorder, termed the
catecholamine hypothesis (Bunney and Garland, 1982). Over time,
the role of catecholamines in the etiology of bipolar disorder
mania remains relevant, with supportive evidence ranging from
more recent neuropharmacological and neuroimaging studies
(Garakani et al., 2007; Cousins et al., 2009). Several reviews so
far have described the importance of hyperdopaminergia during
mania (Vawter et al., 2000; Manji et al., 2003; Berk et al., 2007).
Here, we will review recent findings on the involvement of the
catecholaminergic system in bipolar disorder mania (Table 2).
2.2.1. Observations from neuroimaging studies
Dopamine receptors are grouped into two families: the D1-type
(D1 and D5) and D2-type receptors (D2, D3, and D4). These subtypes
of dopamine receptors have been studied in patients with bipolar
disorder. For instance, lower D1 receptors were observed in the
frontal cortex, but not the striatum, of bipolar disorder subjects
across all states compared with healthy controls (Suhara et al.,
1992). Lower D1 receptor levels could reflect higher synaptic
dopamine levels, supporting a hyperdopaminergic state in these
bipolar disorder patients. No difference in D2 receptor availability
was observed between nonpsychotic bipolar disorder patients and
healthy individuals however (Anand et al., 2000; Yatham et al.,
2002), although increased caudate D2 receptor density was
observed in psychotic bipolar disorder patients compared to
117
healthy individuals (Pearlson et al., 1995; Wong et al., 1997).
Treatment with the mood-stabilizing medication valproate
decreased dopaminergic function in manic bipolar disorder
patients (Yatham et al., 2002), perhaps underlying its mechanism
of efficacy. Besides dopamine receptors, the dopamine transporter
—the primary mechanism for reuptake of free dopamine in the
presynaptic neuron (Cooper et al., 1991)—has also been studied
extensively in bipolar disorder research (Vaughan and Foster,
2013). Higher striatal dopamine transporter binding was observed
in both depressed (Amsterdam and Newberg, 2007) and drug-free
euthymic (Chang et al., 2010) bipolar disorder patients. In contrast
however, reduced striatal levels of dopamine transporter were
observed in unmedicated depressed and euthymic bipolar disorder patients (Anand et al., 2011), in the postmortem tissue of
bipolar disorder patients (Rao et al., 2012), but also in patients
with attention deficit disorder (Fusar-Poli et al., 2012). Future and
larger studies should investigate dopamine transporter levels in
patients with bipolar disorder mania in relation to behavior and
symptomatology.
2.2.2. Observations from neuropharmacological studies
Evidence for increased catecholaminergic activity underlying
bipolar disorder mania comes from pharmacological interventions
commonly used for treatment. Both typical and atypical antipsychotics, commonly used to treat mania, have direct and indirect
actions on lowering dopamine signaling. Numerous antidepressants increase levels of synaptic catecholamines, and subsequently
can switch a patient from a depressive to manic state (Salvi et al.,
2008). Mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproate also exert
some actions on dopamine signaling (Cousins et al., 2009), with
valproate increasing dopamine transporter gene expression in
human cells (Wang et al., 2007). Other support comes from
psychostimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine that increase
extracellular dopamine and norepinephrine and can induce symptoms similar to mania (Jacobs and Silverstone, 1986; Malison et al.,
1995), while amphetamine withdrawal is frequently associated
with depression (Jacobs and Silverstone, 1986). The euphoric
effects of amphetamine have been reversed by the mood stabilizer
lithium and antipsychotics in some reports (Van Kammen and
Murphy, 1975; Silverstone et al., 1980), but not others (Brauer and
De Wit, 1997; Silverstone et al., 1998). Other agents such as the
dopamine precursor L-dopa and dopaminergic agonists pramipexole and bromocriptine can also induce mania (Cousins et al., 2009).
Interestingly, pramipexole and bromocriptine improved the mood
of bipolar disorder depressed patients (Silverstone, 1984; Zarate
et al., 2004), supporting a catecholamine deficiency during depression. Other support for a hypodopaminergic state during depression comes from reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the
metabolite of dopamine homovanillic acid in untreated bipolar
disorder depressed patients (Subrahmanyam, 1975; Gerner et al.,
1984). When bipolar disorder depressed patients were treated
with medication, normal or increased homovanillic acid levels
were observed compared to controls. In contrast, increased CSF
homovanillic acid levels are observed during manic episodes of
bipolar disorder (Sjostrom and Roos, 1972; Gerner et al., 1984).
Tyrosine hydroxylase activity is the rate-limiting step in dopamine synthesis. Treatment with the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor
alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine therefore depletes catecholamines
and was observed to reduce symptoms of mania, while it
increased depression (Brodie et al., 1971; Bunney et al., 1971).
Euthymic patients with bipolar disorder became hypomanic after
recovery from catecholamine depletion by treatment with the
synthesis inhibitor (Anand et al., 1999). Catecholamine synthesis
and release, in particular dopamine compared to norepinephrine,
can also be reduced by administration of a tyrosine-free mixture
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Table 2
Summary of human findings on the catecholaminergic system in mania.
Evidence
Observations
References
Neuroimaging
↓ D1 receptors in BD across states
E D2 receptors in non-psychotic BD
↑ D2 receptors in psychotic BD
↑ DAT in BD depression
↑ DAT in drug-free euthymic BD
↓ DAT in drug-free euthymic or depressed BD
↓ DAT in BD (postmortem)
Suhara et al., 1992
Anand et al., 2000; Yatham et al., 2002
Pearlson et al., 1995; Wong et al., 1997
Amsterdam and Newberg, 2007
Chang et al., 2010
Anand et al., 2011
Rao et al., 2012
Neuropharmacological Valproate↓dopamine functioning in BD mania
Valproate↑DAT gene expression
Antidepressants can switch depression to mania
Amphetamine and cocaine↑mania-like symptoms
Amphetamine withdrawal-depression
Euphoria by amphetamine reversed by lithium and
antipsychotics
Euphoria by amphetamine not reversed by lithium and
antipsychotics
L-dopa, pramipexole, and bromocriptine--mania
Pramipexole and bromocriptine improves mood in BD
depression
↓ CSF HVA levels in drug-free BD depressed
E or↑ CSF HVA levels in medicated BD depressed
↑ CSF HVA levels in BD mania
AMPT↓mania, but↑depression
After AMPT recovery euthymic BD-manic
Tyrosine free diet↓BD mania
Tyrosine free diet↓mania-like effects of amphetamine and
methamphetamine
Genetic
D1 receptors associated with BD
D1 receptors not associated with BD
D2–D5 receptors not associated with BD
COMT associated with rapid cycling in BD
DAT associated with BD
Yatham et al., 2002
Wang et al., 2007
Salvi et al., 2008
Jacobs and Silverstone, 1986; Malison et al., 1995
Jacobs and Silverstone, 1986
Van Kammen and Murphy, 1975; Silverstone et al., 1980
Brauer and De Wit, 1997; Silverstone et al., 1998
Cousins et al., 2009
Silverstone, 1984; Zarate et al., 2004
Subrahmanyam, 1975; Gerner et al., 1984
Subrahmanyam, 1975; Gerner et al., 1984
Sjostrom and Roos, 1972; Gerner et al., 1984
Brodie et al., 1971; Bunney et al., 1971
Anand et al., 1999
McTavish et al., 2001
McTavish et al., 1999b
Ni et al., 2002; Dmitrzak-Weglarz et al., 2006
Nothen et al., 1992; Cichon et al., 1996
Cousins et al., 2009
Cousins et al., 2009
Greenwood et al., 2001, 2006; Pinsonneault et al., 2011; Kelsoe et al., 1996;
Horschitz et al., 2005
BD¼ bipolar disorder, DAT ¼dopamine transporter, CSF HVA¼ cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid, AMPT¼ alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine, COMT¼ catechol-O-methyl
transferase, ↑ ¼ increased, ↓ ¼ decreased, E ¼ no effect.
(McTavish et al., 1999a). This diet attenuated manic symptomatology in patients (McTavish et al., 2001) and reduced the psychostimulant effects of both amphetamine and methamphetamine in
healthy volunteers (McTavish et al., 1999b). Together, these multiple lines of pharmacological evidence implicate an overactivity
of catecholamines, in particular dopamine, in mania, while the
opposite may be true for depression.
2.2.3. Observations from genetic studies
Over the years, several potential candidate genes associated
with the catecholaminergic system conferring susceptibility to the
development of bipolar disorder have been identified. A comprehensive overview would go beyond the scope of this review
however, and therefore we briefly present some of these findings.
Mixed results have been observed for the D1 receptor with some
studies observing linkage of polymorphisms of the D1 receptor
gene to bipolar disorder (Ni et al., 2002; Dmitrzak-Weglarz et al.,
2006), while other studies do not support this link (Nothen et al.,
1992; Cichon et al., 1996). For the other dopamine receptors
(D2–D5), the majority of studies fail to show an association with
bipolar disorder (Cousins et al., 2009). Polymorphisms of genes
coding for breakdown pathways of catecholamines have also been
investigated. Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) which acts
similarly to the dopamine transporter but in the prefrontal cortex,
conferred susceptibility for bipolar disorder including occurrence
of rapid cycling (Cousins et al., 2009). In addition, studies have
begun to investigate the effects of the COMT Val 158Met gene
polymorphism on behavioral organization in a small sample of
manic bipolar disorder patients (Minassian et al., 2009). Studying
genetic variants of dopamine-related genes such as COMT in
relation to human behavior can be informative in understanding
dopamine functioning in bipolar disorder (Henry et al., 2010).
Another protein involved in the synthesis of dopamine—dopa
decarboxylase—was generally not associated with bipolar disorder
(Cousins et al., 2009). Finally, polymorphisms of the dopamine
transporter gene have been linked to bipolar disorder on numerous occasions (Greenwood et al., 2001, 2006; Pinsonneault et al.,
2011) with a possible locus for bipolar disorder observed near the
dopamine transporter on chromosome 5 (Kelsoe et al., 1996).
Moreover, a missense mutation in the dopamine transporter gene
has been associated with reduced cell surface expression of
dopamine transporters in patients with bipolar disorder
(Horschitz et al., 2005). Overall, progress has been made in
delineating polymorphisms of both the norepinephrine transporter and dopamine transporter related to bipolar disorder. The
mixed findings to date (Hahn and Blakely, 2007) and linkage of
dopamine transporter with attention deficit disorder (Vaughan
and Foster, 2013) and schizophrenia, indicates that future research
is required to fully examine the role of these transporters in
bipolar disorder.
2.2.4. Summary of findings associating catecholamine with
bipolar disorder
In sum, these data support increased catecholaminergic activity underlying the manic phase of bipolar disorder. Data from
pharmacological interventions highlight the implication of both
increased dopamine and norepinephrine activations during mania
and the reverse during depression. Although neuroimaging studies
J. van Enkhuizen et al. / European Journal of Pharmacology 753 (2015) 114–126
fail to reveal consistent abnormalities in specific receptors or other
proteins involved in the catecholaminergic system, increased D2
receptor density in psychotic bipolar disorder patients underscores
the involvement of the dopaminergic system in bipolar disorder.
Similarly, genetic studies so far are inconsistent but may prove to
be an exciting future area of research.
2.3. Bipolar depression—evidence from animals
Investigating aspects of depression in animals such as rodents
is a complex endeavor. Difficulties in discriminating between
unipolar and bipolar depression is even more troublesome in
animal research. Because preclinical psychiatric models are often
based on behaviors representing symptoms in patients, models of
unipolar and bipolar depression are commonly interwoven and
separation is rarely attempted. With this caveat in mind, we will
highlight data from studies in animals that support a cholinergic
imbalance during depression (Table 3).
2.3.1. Nicotinic manipulations
Assessing depression-like behavior in rodents can be assessed by
different behavioral paradigms, which are all characterized by different
strengths and weaknesses (McGonigle, 2014). The most commonly
used assay to study antidepressant effects and depression is the
measurement of immobility duration in the tail suspension test
(Cryan et al., 2005) and forced swim test (Petit-Demouliere et al.,
119
2005), which is interpreted as a measure of depression-like “behavioral despair”.
Using these assays, various results have been observed from
investigations on cholinergic manipulations in rodents. For
instance, treatment with an α7 nicotinic receptor agonist induced
antidepressant-like activities in mice as measured by reduced
immobility times (Andreasen et al., 2012). Treatment with a high
affinity subtype-selective nicotinic receptor agonist also reversed
depression-like behavior in the learned helplessness model of
depression in rats (Ferguson et al., 2000). Furthermore, nicotine
alleviated anhedonia-like behavior in a rat chronic mild stress
model of depression (Andreasen et al., 2011), and also produced
antidepressant-like effects in the tail suspension test and forced
swim test (Andreasen and Redrobe, 2009b). Nicotine also augmented the antidepressant-like effects of citalopram and the
norepinephrine transporter inhibitor reboxetine in mice, whereas
the broad nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine had no
such effect (Andreasen and Redrobe, 2009a). Similar to some
studies in humans, mice exhibited depression-like behavior upon
withdrawal from chronic nicotine exposure (Markou and Kenny,
2002; Roni and Rahman, 2014). Other studies have also demonstrated antidepressant-like effects using the tail suspension test
and forced swim test using mecamylamine (Rabenstein et al.,
2006; Mineur et al., 2007; Andreasen and Redrobe, 2009b) and
other nicotinic receptor antagonists (Hall et al., 2010). Moreover,
the high affinity nicotinic receptor partial agonist varenicline
(Rollema et al., 2009) and full agonist cytosine (Mineur et al.,
Table 3
Summary of cholinergic findings from animal studies and depression-like behavior.
Manipulation
Nicotinic
α7-nAChR agonist
Subtype-selective
nAChR agonist
Full nAChR agonist
cytosine
nAChR agonists
Nicotine
Nicotine
Nicotine
Withdrawal from
chronic nicotine
exposure
nAChR antagonist
mecamylamine
nAChR antagonist
mecamylamine
Different nAChR
antagonists
nAChR partial agonist
varenicline
nAChR antagonist
AChE inhibition
Physostigmine
Physostigmine
Observations
Interpretation
References
↓ immobility in mice
Reversed learned helplessness in rats
Antidepressant-like
Antidepressant-like
Andreasen et al., 2012
Ferguson et al., 2000
↓ immobility in mice
Antidepressant-like
Mineur et al., 2007
E immobility in mice
↓ anhedonia-like behavior in chronic mild stress model in rats
↓ immobility in mice
↑ effects of SSRI citalopram and NET inhibitor reboxetine in mice
↑ immobility in mice
No effect
Antidepressant-like
Antidepressant-like
Antidepressant-like
Depression-like
Andreasen et al., 2009
Andreasen et al., 2011
Andreasen and Redrobe, 2009b
Andreasen and Redrobe, 2009a
Markou and Kenny, 2002; Roni and
Rahman, 2014
No augmenting effects of citalopram and reboxetine in mice
No effect
Andreasen and Redrobe, 2009a
↓ immobility in mice
Antidepressant-like
↓ immobility in mice
Antidepressant-like
Rabenstein et al., 2006; Mineur et al.,
2007; Andreasen and Redrobe, 2009b
Hall et al., 2010
↓ immobility in mice
Antidepressant-like
Rollema et al., 2009
↓ immobility in mice
Antidepressant-like
Andreasen et al., 2009
↑ immobility in rats
Depression-like
↑ immobility and other behaviors in mice (reversed by muscarinic and Depression- and
nicotinic receptor antagonists and SSRI fluoxetine)
anxiety like and
reversal
Hasey and Hanin, 1991
Mineur et al., 2013
Genetic
FSL rats
FSL rats
FSL rats
↑ behavioral and physiological response to cholinergic agents
↓ activity,↓body weight,↑sleep, cognitive difficulties
Blunted response to effects of cocaine
Depression-like
Depression-like
Depression-like
Dilsaver et al., 1992
Overstreet, 1993
Fagergren et al., 2005
Treatments
Lithium and valproate
Lithium
Citalopram
↑ AChE activity in rat brain
↑ muscarinic receptors in rat hippocampus
Reversed memory impairment by↑ACh release in rat hippocampus
Antidepressant-like
Antidepressant-like
Antidepressant-like
Varela et al., 2012
Marinho et al., 1998
Egashira et al., 2006
nAChR¼ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, SSRI ¼selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, NET ¼ norepinephrine transporter, AChE ¼ acetylcholinesterase, FSL ¼ Flinders Sensitive
Line, ↑ ¼ increased, ↓ ¼ decreased, E ¼ no effect.
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J. van Enkhuizen et al. / European Journal of Pharmacology 753 (2015) 114–126
2007) also reduced immobility time in the forced swim test and
tail suspension test. Another study suggested that nicotinic receptor antagonists, but not agonists, induced antidepressant-like
effects in mice in the forced swim and tail suspension tests
(Andreasen et al., 2009). Strain differences in laboratory animals
may account for some of the discrepancies between agonist and
antagonist effects described above (Andreasen and Redrobe,
2009b), but other underlying differences in effects remain unclear.
Using tests that go beyond measuring immobility time such as the
tail suspension and forced swim test is advisable for assessing
depression-relevant behaviors.
2.3.2. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition
Other studies have focused on examining the effect of elevating
functional acetylcholine on depression-relevant behaviors. In an
early study, the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine
reduced mouse locomotor activity at higher doses (Dunstan and
Jackson, 1977). Consistent with observations in humans, treatment
with physostigmine increased immobility time in rats, suggestive
of increasing depression-like behaviors (Hasey and Hanin, 1991).
This immobility time was negatively correlated with expression of
a variant acetylcholinesterase mRNA expression in mice (Livneh
et al., 2010), suggesting that greater inhibition of acetylcholinesterase causes increased immobility in the forced swim test. Similar
to rats and humans, physostigmine also induced depression- and
anxiety-like behaviors in C57BL/6 mice also (Mineur et al., 2013)
without affecting locomotion. In these mice, both muscarinic and
nicotinic receptor antagonists and the SSRI fluoxetine reversed the
effects of physostigmine, although fluoxetine also reduced immobility time in control animals. Assessing whether other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors could also induce depression-relevant
behaviors in animals would provide convergent support that
elevated acetylcholine functionality may underlie depression.
2.3.3. Evidence from genetic studies
Other support for increased extracellular cholinergic tone underlying depression-like behaviors comes from specific lines of rats. A
selectively bred line of rats with increased sensitivity to acetylcholinesterase, the Flinders Sensitive Line, exhibit an exaggerated
behavioral and physiological response to cholinergic agents such as
nicotine (Dilsaver et al., 1992). Furthermore, this line exhibits
depression-like behaviors including lower startle thresholds
(Markou et al., 1994), fulfilling some criteria of face, construct, and
predictive validities [see Overstreet (1993) for review]. More recently,
the Flinders Sensitive Line model of depression was demonstrated to
exhibit a blunted response to the behavioral effects of cocaine
(Fagergren et al., 2005). Hence, this Flinders Sensitive Line with its
hypersensitivity to cholinergic manipulations together with another
animal model for cholinergic supersensitivity (Orpen and Steiner,
1995) supports a cholinergic imbalance contributing to depressionrelated behaviors.
2.3.4. Evidence from treatments for bipolar disorder
Finally, rodent studies investigating the mechanisms behind
approved treatments for bipolar disorder may also inform us on
the biological underpinnings of the disorder, particularly
when focus is placed on treatments for bipolar depression. For
example, the mood stabilizers lithium and valproate both
increased acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain of rats
(Varela et al., 2012). Lithium can also upregulate hippocampal
muscarinic receptors in rats (Marinho et al., 1998). Furthermore,
treatment with amphetamine decreased levels of acetylcholinesterase activity in the striatum of rats (Varela et al., 2012). Alternatively, the SSRI citalopram reversed memory impairment
induced by scopolamine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by
enhancing acetylcholine release in the hippocampus of rats
(Egashira et al., 2006). Taken together however, these data support
a catecholaminergic–cholinergic interaction underlying behaviors
relevant to depression.
A better understanding of the cholinergic contribution to
depression-related behaviors may arise from examining other
aspects of these behaviors beyond immobility measured in the
forced swim or tail suspension test. It has been noted that such
immobility could arise as an adaptive learned response to conserve energy (Arai et al., 2000). Moreover, this behavior is heavily
influenced by activity levels. Hence, multiple behavioral tests
assaying various aspects of depression-like behaviors are recommended. For example, people with depression exhibit poor
decision-making as a result of a poor choices following punishing
stimuli, e.g., in the Iowa Gambling Task (Adida et al., 2011). By
utilizing the rodent version of this task (Rivalan et al., 2009; Young
et al., 2011b; van Enkhuizen et al., 2013b), it could be determined
whether cholinergic manipulations described above result in
punishment-sensitive depression-related behaviors. Alternatively,
measuring reward responsiveness in the response bias probabilistic reward task which is available for humans and rodents is
another approach (Der-Avakian et al., 2013). Such complementary
evidence would provide what is referred to as convergent validity
for a particular manipulation (Young et al., 2010a), increasing
the likelihood of its relevance to the neurobiology underlying
depression.
2.3.5. Summary of findings associating acetylcholine with
depression-like behavior
Overall, data from animal studies highlight the importance of
the cholinergic system underlying depression-like behavior as well
as its treatment. Recent studies have focused on the nicotinic
system although the results have lacked consistency and need
further elucidation. Together with results from the effects of
physostigmine in rodents and older data from the Flinders
Sensitive Line of rats, these studies support a cholinergic imbalance during periods of bipolar depression.
2.4. Bipolar mania—evidence from animals
When attempting to model bipolar disorder in rodents, studies
often focus on recreating mania-relevant behaviors. Mania is
characterized by mood symptoms such as elevated mood and
‘racing thoughts', which to our knowledge no one has attempted
to recreate in rodent models. However, hyperactivity, inhibitory
deficits, and cognitive dysfunction can be assessed in animals, at
least partially mirroring behavior in humans. In this section, we
will describe some of the findings in this body of research that
underscore the importance of a dysfunctional catecholamine
system in the neurobiology underlying bipolar disorder mania
(Table 4).
2.4.1. Psychostimulant-induced mania like behavior
Evidence that psychostimulants can induce mania-like behavior in healthy humans and exacerbate symptoms in patients
(see above) has resulted in the use of stimulants in rodents to
model mania. Specifically, amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in
rodents is one of the most frequently used models for bipolar
disorder mania (Young et al., 2011a). Other stimulants such as the
direct dopamine agonist quinpirole (Shaldubina et al., 2002) and
the selective dopamine transporter inhibitor GBR12909 (Young et
al., 2010c) have also been used for the purpose of modeling
hyperactivity as mania-like behavior in rodents. These treatments either directly activate catecholamine receptors or elevate
extracellular levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Importantly,
J. van Enkhuizen et al. / European Journal of Pharmacology 753 (2015) 114–126
121
Table 4
Summary of catecholaminergic findings from animal studies and mania-like behavior.
Manipulation
Stimulants
Amphetamine
Direct DA agonist
quinpirole
Selective DAT
inhibitor GBR12909
Observations
Interpretation References
Hyperactivity in rodents
Hyperactivity in rats
Mania-like
Mania-like
Unique behavioral pattern in BPM consistent with BD patients; impaired PPI;↑motor Mania-like
impulsivity
Genetic
DAT knockdown
mice
Unique behavioral pattern in BPM consistent with BD patients; attenuated with
environmental familiarity, but reinstated with novelty; hypersensitive to
stimulants;↓decision-making,↑motivation
DAT knockout mice Hyperactive; PPI deficits
Clock∆19 mutant
mice
Treatments
Lithium
Lithium
Lithium
Valproate
Valproate (acute)
Valproate (chronic)
Antipsychotic
aripiprazole
Antipsychotics
clozapine and
olanzapine
AMPT
Young et al., 2011a
Shaldubina et al., 2002
Young et al., 2010c; Perry et al., 2009;
Douma et al., 2011; van Enkhuizen et al.,
2013b
Mania-like
Perry et al., 2009; Young et al., 2010b,
2011b; Cagniard et al., 2006
Mania-like
Giros et al., 1996; Ralph-Williams et al.,
2003
McClung et al., 2005; Roybal et al., 2007;
van Enkhuizen et al., 2013a; Spencer et
al., 2012
Disrupted circadian rhythms,↓sleep, hyperactivity,↑reward sensitivity to cocaine, PPI Mania-like
deficits, hyper-exploration,↑hedonia-like behavior,↑DA firing and release
↓ some behavioral deficits of DAT mouse models
↓ some behavioral deficits of DAT mouse models
↓ stimulant-induced hyperactivity
Dencker and Husum, 2010
McClung et al., 2005; Roybal et al., 2007
Ferrie et al., 2005, 2006
Shaldubina et al., 2002; van Enkhuizen et
al., 2013c
Antimania-like Ralph-Williams et al., 2003
Antimania-like Van Enkhuizen et al., 2013c
Antimania-like Mavrikaki et al., 2010
↓ PPI deficits of DAT knockout mice
Antimania-like Powell et al., 2008
↓ some behavioral deficits of DAT mouse models
Antimania-like van Enkhuizen et al., 2014
↓
↓
↓
↓
stimulant-induced hyperactivity
mania-like behavior of Clock∆19 mutant mice
DA release in rats
stimulant-induced hyperactivity
Antimania-like
Antimania-like
Antimania-like
Antimania-like
DA ¼ dopamine, DAT ¼dopamine transporter, BD¼ bipolar disorder, BPM ¼ behavioral pattern monitor, PPI ¼ prepulse inhibition, AMPT ¼ alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine,
↑ ¼ increased, ↓ ¼decreased.
such stimulant-induced hyperactivity can be attenuated by treatments approved for bipolar disorder mania such as lithium
(Dencker and Husum, 2010), valproate (Shaldubina et al., 2002;
van Enkhuizen et al., 2013c), and antipsychotics (Mavrikaki et al.,
2010). Hence, elevated catecholamine functioning may indeed play
a vital role in the neurobiology underlying bipolar disorder mania.
2.4.2. Evidence from genetic studies
Despite the high predictive validity of findings using bipolar
disorder treatments, many of these simple models suffer from
several shortcomings: for example (1) hyperactivity is present in
other disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder, (2) treatments
used for other disorders are efficacious in some models, and (3)
mania-relevant behaviors go beyond hyperactivity and reflect a
multifaceted symptomatology [see Young et al. (2011a) for extensive review]. With this knowledge, other models have been
developed that extend beyond solely measuring hyperactivity. In
combination with genetic manipulations, some of these models
provide additional evidence for increased catecholamine levels
causing mania-like behavior. For example, hyperdopaminergic
mice resulting from reduced dopamine transporter functioning
have been created and model aspects of bipolar disorder mania.
These dopamine transporter knockdown mice have been characterized in a translational behavioral pattern monitor (BPM) and
compared with bipolar disorder patients (Perry et al., 2009). Using
this approach, a unique behavioral pattern of hyperactivity, hyperexploration, and more linear patterns of movement was observed
in manic bipolar disorder patients that differed from healthy
comparison subjects, people with attention deficit disorder, and
individuals with schizophrenia. Interestingly, this specific pattern
was also observed in mice with reduced dopamine transporter
functioning through genetic knockdown or pharmacological treatment (GBR12909) in the mouse behavioral pattern monitor, while
amphetamine did not replicate this pattern since it decreased
exploration (Perry et al., 2009). While GBR12909 selectively
inhibits the dopamine transporter, in mice amphetamine has a
higher potency at the norepinephrine transporter compared to the
dopamine transporter (Han and Gu, 2006). Thus, although norepinephrine and dopamine as separate neurotransmitters contributing to bipolar disorder are difficult to isolate due to their close
relationship in the metabolic chain, these results suggest that
dopaminergic dysfunction is more important in mediating the
hyper-exploratory profile observed in manic bipolar disorder
patients than noradrenergic dysfunction (Young et al., 2010c).
Other studies observed that the hyper-exploratory mania-like
profile of the dopamine transporter mouse models was attenuated
with environmental familiarity, but reinstated with environmental
novelty (Young et al., 2010b). Consistent with stimulant-induced
mania in bipolar disorder, these mice were hypersensitive to
psychostimulants (Young et al., 2010b). Moreover, treatment with
acute (Ralph-Williams et al., 2003) or chronic valproate (van
Enkhuizen et al., 2013c) or the dopamine synthesis inhibitor
alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (van Enkhuizen et al., 2014) attenuated some of these abnormal behaviors in mice, but not all.
Another strength of these models for bipolar disorder mania is
that they exhibit other abnormal behaviors implicated in bipolar
disorder such as poor decision-making (Young et al., 2011b),
increased motor impulsivity (van Enkhuizen et al., 2013b),
increased motivation (Cagniard et al., 2006), and impaired
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prepulse inhibition (PPI) (Douma et al., 2011). Therefore, these
animal models based on reduced dopamine transporter functioning support increased catecholamine functions underlying many of
the abnormal behavior present in manic bipolar disorder patients.
Mice with the complete gene encoding for the dopamine transporter protein deleted, have also been investigated as models for
bipolar disorder mania. Dopamine transporter knockout mice
were hyperactive (Giros et al., 1996) and exhibited PPI deficits
(Ralph et al., 2001), which were reversed by treatment with the
atypical antipsychotics clozapine and olanzapine (Powell et al.,
2008). The hyperactivity of these mice was reversed by stimulant
treatment however (Gainetdinov et al., 2001), leading to suggestions that these mice may better model aspects of attention deficit
disorder as opposed to bipolar disorder.
Another genetic animal model for bipolar disorder mania is
developed from deletion of exon 19 in the gene encoding for the
“circadian locomotor output cycles kaput” (CLOCK) protein, which
regulates circadian rhythms and is implicated in people with bipolar
disorder (Benedetti et al., 2003; Serretti et al., 2003). These Clock∆19
mutant mice have disrupted circadian rhythms and exhibit several
mania-like behaviors including reduced sleep, hyperactivity, and
increased reward sensitivity to cocaine (McClung et al., 2005; Roybal
et al., 2007). Several of these aberrant behaviors were normalized by
chronic lithium treatment. Moreover, these mice exhibited PPI deficits,
hyper-exploration in the behavioral pattern monitor, and exaggerated
hedonia-like behavior (van Enkhuizen et al., 2013a). Interestingly, their
mania-like behavior and disrupted circadian rhythms may be
mediated by increased dopamine firing in the ventral tegmental area
(Coque et al., 2011) or relate to increased dopamine release and
turnover in the striatum (Spencer et al., 2012). This possibility is
buttressed by microdialysis studies in rats indicating that lithium
decreased dopamine release (Ferrie et al., 2005, 2006). Together, these
investigations suggest that there are several mechanisms by which
hyperdopaminergia can occur and lead to mania-like behaviors in
bipolar disorder.
2.4.3. Summary of findings associating catecholamines with
mania-like behavior
A variety of stimulants that elevate extracellular dopamine and
norepinephrine functions increase activity in rodents and induce
certain ‘mania-like’ behavior. Genetic manipulations in mice have
further indicated the importance of elevated functional dopamine
and norepinephrine in mediating mania-like behaviors that go
beyond hyperactivity. The fact that some of these behaviors can be
normalized by treatment with medications approved for bipolar
disorder support the premise that increased catecholamine may
underlie manic behaviors in bipolar disorder.
3. Limitations and future studies
This review attempts to provide an overview of different lines
of evidence that support a revised catecholaminergic–cholinergic
theory of bipolar disorder based on the original adrenergic–
cholinergic hypothesis. Data from several studies in both humans
and animals have begun to elucidate the mechanisms contributing
to depression and mania. One of the key limitations in this review
however, is that we have focused on depression and mania as
being different disorders, while both these states often occur in
the same patient. Understanding how patients cycle from one
state to another remains vital and is referred to as the ‘holy grail’ of
bipolar disorder research. What happens on a pathophysiological
level when patients switch from depression to mania and vice
versa could provide the missing link that ties together cholinergic
and catecholaminergic abnormalities.
There is an important relationship between acetylcholine and
dopamine systems in the brain (Mark et al., 2011). For example,
acetylcholine has an inhibitory effect on dopamine-mediated function (Graybiel, 1990). Decreased functional acetylcholine may therefore minimize this inhibition and result in hyperdopaminergia and
the manic state. An increase in acetylcholine activity could then
inhibit dopamine neurotransmission, resulting in a depressive state.
Factors influencing both systems may include both internal and
external stimuli (Fig. 1). Stress effects for instance, are unequivocally
linked to the cholinergic system (Gold and Chrousos, 2002;
Srikumar et al., 2006) and may thus play a key role in the
neurobiological switch process from one bipolar state into another.
Stress reduces acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus of
animals (Das et al., 2000; Sunanda et al., 2000), increasing acetylcholine activity and resulting in a shift towards more depressionlike behavior. A hypersensitivity to bright light on the other hand
may also cause a switch and is indeed thought to underlie the onset
of seasonal mania (Wang and Chen, 2013). Light level-related
cycling may be explained from an evolutionary theory of bipolar
disorder going back to the era of early Neanderthals. This theory
postulates that long periods of short daylight (resulting in hibernating in caves during winter in which conserving energy would be
beneficial) resulted in depression-relevant behaviors, while periods
of longer light necessitated an onset of mania-relevant behaviors
(increased energy to run and hunt all day long) (Sherman, 2012).
Studies in animals support this theory, where short photoperiods
induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in diurnal rodents
(Krivisky et al., 2012). More recently, altering photoperiod lengths
also switched the behavior of rats into mania- or depressionrelevant behaviors that were accompanied by increased or
decreased levels of tyrosine hydroxylase respectively (Dulcis et al.,
Fig. 1. Potential influences disturbing the catecholaminergic–cholinergic balance hypothesis of bipolar disorder, resulting in a switch to and from depression and mania. In
healthy individuals, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) regulates extracellular ACh, which is in balance with functional dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) (A). External
stimuli such as stress may decrease AChE activity, thereby increasing extracellular ACh and the inhibitory effect on DA and NE activity resulting in depression (B). Other
stimuli such as increased photoperiod exposure can increase tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which is the precursor to DA and NE, potentially leading to a switch into manic
behavior (C). Certain genes such as the DA transporter (DAT) or Clock gene may alter susceptibility to these external stimuli and could therefore regulate such cycling
behavior.
J. van Enkhuizen et al. / European Journal of Pharmacology 753 (2015) 114–126
2013). Importantly however, the behavioral responses of these rats
were not extreme. Combining such environmental approaches with
potential genetic susceptibility relevant to bipolar disorder could be
helpful in elucidating the mechanism(s) underlying the switch
between depression and mania neurobiology (Malkesman et al.,
2009). Another mechanism by which these environmental stimuli
could alter the neurobiology of patients could be through the
molecular clock machinery. The mechanisms responsible for the
homeostasis of circadian rhythms may be susceptible to external
stimuli in patients with bipolar disorder and subsequently influence
the homeostasis of dopamine/norepinephrine (transporters), evoking a switch into either depression or mania. Future studies should
investigate these combination approaches, ideally in cross-species
translational studies. Increasingly, similar behaviors can be assessed
in animals and humans using similar paradigms that could broaden
our knowledge on the interactions between genetic susceptibility
and environmental stressors on the changing neurobiology in
patients.
4. Summary and conclusions
We have updated and revised the original adrenergic–cholinergic
balance hypothesis of bipolar disorder with more recent observations
from both human and animal studies. In sum, dysfunctional cholinergic neurotransmission may underlie phases of depression in bipolar
disorder, which are restored during euthymic phases. When experiencing periods of mania however, aberrant activations of the catecholamines dopamine and norepinephrine may be the predominant
underlying factor. This concept is buttressed by findings from neuroimaging and pharmacological studies in both humans and rodents.
Future studies may elucidate mechanisms by which this imbalance in
biological systems shifts and switches a patient from one mood state
into another. For now, this review highlights the importance of the
cholinergic system in depression and its potential to be targeted by
novel antidepressants as well as the importance of the catecholaminergic system in mania.
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr. Brook Henry, Ms. Mahalah Buell, and Mr. Richard
Sharp for their support. This study was supported by National
Institute of Mental Health Grant MH071916 as well as by the
Veteran's Administration VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center.
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