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Radke AK, Sneddon EA, Frasier RM, Hopf FW. Recent Perspectives on Sex Differences in Compulsion-Like and Binge Alcohol Drinking. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073788. [PMID: 33917517 PMCID: PMC8038761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder remains a substantial social, health, and economic problem and problem drinking levels in women have been increasing in recent years. Understanding whether and how the underlying mechanisms that drive drinking vary by sex is critical and could provide novel, more targeted therapeutic treatments. Here, we examine recent results from our laboratories and others which we believe provide useful insights into similarities and differences in alcohol drinking patterns across the sexes. Findings for binge intake and aversion-resistant, compulsion-like alcohol drinking are considered, since both are likely significant contributors to alcohol problems in humans. We also describe studies regarding mechanisms that may underlie sex differences in maladaptive alcohol drinking, with some focus on the importance of nucleus accumbens (NAcb) core and shell regions, several receptor types (dopamine, orexin, AMPA-type glutamate), and possible contributions of sex hormones. Finally, we discuss how stressors such as early life stress and anxiety-like states may interact with sex differences to contribute to alcohol drinking. Together, these findings underscore the importance and critical relevance of studying female and male mechanisms for alcohol and co-morbid conditions to gain a true and clinically useful understanding of addiction and neuropsychiatric mechanisms and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45040, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Elizabeth A. Sneddon
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45040, USA;
| | - Raizel M. Frasier
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (R.M.F.); (F.W.H.)
| | - Frederic W. Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (R.M.F.); (F.W.H.)
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Abstract
Animal models of addictive behaviors are useful for uncovering neural mechanisms involved in the development of dependence and for identifying risk factors for drug abuse. One such risk factor is biological sex, which strongly moderates drug self-administration behavior in rodents. Female rodents are more likely to acquire drug self-administration behaviors, consume higher amounts of drug, and reinstate drug-seeking behavior more readily. Despite this female vulnerability, preclinical addiction research has largely been done in male animals. The study of sex differences in rodent models of addictive behavior is increasing, however, as more investigators are choosing to include both male and female animals in experiments. This commentary is meant to serve as an introductory guide for preclinical investigators new to the study of sex differences in addiction. We provide an overview of self-administration models, a broad view of female versus male self-administration behaviors, and suggestions for study design and implementation. Inclusion of female subjects in preclinical addiction research is timely, as problem drug and alcohol use in women is increasing. With proper attention, design, and analysis, the study of sex differences in addiction has the potential to uncover novel neural mechanisms and lead to greater translational success for addiction research. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
| | - Elizabeth A. Sneddon
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
| | - Sean C. Monroe
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
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Monroe SC, Radke AK. Aversion-resistant fentanyl self-administration in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:699-710. [PMID: 33226446 PMCID: PMC7914171 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05722-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Animal models of compulsive drug use that continues despite negative consequences can be used to investigate the neural mechanisms of addiction. However, models of punished or aversion-resistant opioid self-administration are notably lacking. OBJECTIVES We sought to develop an aversion-resistant, oral fentanyl self-administration paradigm. METHODS In Experiment 1, C57BL/6J male and female, adult mice consumed fentanyl (10 μg/mL) in a two-bottle drinking in the dark task and escalating concentrations of quinine were added to the bottles. In Experiment 2, mice were trained to administer oral fentanyl (10 μg/mL) in an operant response task. Quinine was next added to the fentanyl solution in escalating concentrations. In Experiment 3, mice were trained to respond for oral fentanyl or fentanyl adulterated with 500 μM quinine on every session. In Experiment 4, mice were trained to respond for a 1% sucrose solution before introduction of quinine. RESULTS Quinine reduced two-bottle choice consumption in males but not in females. Both sexes demonstrated the ability to detect the selected concentrations of quinine in fentanyl. In the operant chamber, mice responded robustly for oral fentanyl but introduction of quinine at any stage of training was insufficient to reduce responding. In contrast, quinine reduced responding for sucrose at concentrations above 250 μM. CONCLUSIONS Mice will respond for and consume oral fentanyl in both a two-bottle choice and an operant response task. Quinine is detectable in fentanyl but mice will continue to respond for and consume fentanyl with quinine in both paradigms. These data support the use of these models in behavioral studies of compulsive-like opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna K. Radke
- Correspondence to: Anna K. Radke, PhD, 90 N Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH, USA 45056,
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Bauer MR, McVey MM, Boehm SL. Three Weeks of Binge Alcohol Drinking Generates Increased Alcohol Front-Loading and Robust Compulsive-Like Alcohol Drinking in Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:650-660. [PMID: 33496972 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current models of compulsive-like quinine-adulterated alcohol (QuA) drinking in mice, if improved, could be more useful for uncovering the neural mechanisms of compulsive-like alcohol drinking. The purpose of these experiments was to further characterize and improve the validity of a model of compulsive-like QuA drinking in C57BL/6J mice. We sought to determine whether compulsive-like alcohol drinking could be achieved following 2 or 3 weeks of Drinking-in-the-Dark (DID), whether it provides evidence for a robust model of compulsive-like alcohol drinking by inclusion of a water control group and use of a highly concentrated QuA solution, whether repeated QuA exposures alter compulsive-like drinking, and whether there are sex differences in compulsive-like alcohol drinking. METHODS Male and Female C57BL/6J mice were allowed free access to either 20% alcohol or tap water for 2 hours each day for approximately 3 weeks. After 2 or 3 weeks, the mice were given QuA (500 μM) and the effect of repeated QuA drinking sessions on compulsive-like alcohol drinking was assessed. 3-minute front-loading, 2 hour binge-drinking, and blood alcohol concentrations were determined. RESULTS Compulsive-like QuA drinking was achieved after 3 weeks, but not 2 weeks, of daily alcohol access as determined by alcohol history mice consuming significantly more QuA than water history mice and drinking statistically nondifferent amounts of QuA than nonadulterated alcohol at baseline. Thirty-minute front-loading of QuA revealed that alcohol history mice front-loaded significantly more QuA than water history mice, but still found the QuA solution aversive. Repeated QuA exposures did not alter these patterns, compulsive-like drinking did not differ by sex, and BACs for QuA drinking were at the level of a binge. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that compulsive-like QuA drinking can be robustly achieved following 3 weeks of DID and male and female C57BL/6J mice do not differ in compulsive-like alcohol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith R Bauer
- Department of Psychology, Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Megan M McVey
- Department of Psychology, Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stephen L Boehm
- Department of Psychology, Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Sneddon EA, Schuh KM, Frankel JW, Radke AK. The contribution of medium spiny neuron subtypes in the nucleus accumbens core to compulsive-like ethanol drinking. Neuropharmacology 2021; 187:108497. [PMID: 33582151 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Compulsive alcohol use, or drinking that persists despite negative or aversive consequences, is a defining characteristic of alcohol use disorder. Here, chemogenetic technology (i.e. Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs; DREADDs) was used to inhibit or excite the NAc core or selectively inhibit D1-or D2 receptor-expressing neurons in the NAc core to understand the role of the NAc core and how these subpopulations of neurons may influence compulsive-like ethanol (EtOH) drinking using C57BL/6J, Drd1-cre, and Drd2-cre male and female mice. Compulsive-like EtOH drinking was modeled with a two-bottle choice, drinking in the dark paradigm. The major finding of this study was that mice decreased compulsive-like EtOH intake when the NAc core was inhibited and there was no change of EtOH + quinine intake when the NAc core was excited. Interestingly, inhibition of D1-or D2 receptor-expressing neurons did not alter compulsive-like EtOH intake. Control experiments showed that NAc core excitation and selective inhibition of D1-or D2-receptor-expressing neurons had no effect on baseline EtOH drinking, intake of water, or intake of quinine-adulterated water. CNO reduced amphetamine-induced locomotion in the D1-CRE+ (but not the D2CRE+) group in a control experiment. Finally, pharmacological antagonism of D1 and D2 receptors together, but not separately, reduced quinine-resistant EtOH drinking. These results suggest that the NAc core is a critical region involved in compulsive-like EtOH consumption, and that both D1-and D2 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons participate in controlling this behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Sneddon
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Kristen M Schuh
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - John W Frankel
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Anna K Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.
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56
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Moench KM, Logrip ML. Housing Condition Differentially Impacts Escalation of Alcohol Intake, Relapse-Like Drinking, Anxiety-Like Behavior, and Stress History Effects by Sex. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:480-489. [PMID: 33351976 PMCID: PMC7890766 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress triggers alcohol use and relapse to drinking, with different effects by sex. Women are more susceptible to stress-related alcohol misuse, and most stressors in rodents produce sexually divergent effects. Female rodents are particularly sensitive to the stress produced by solitary housing, yet the impact of housing conditions on the establishment, escalation, and post-abstinence potentiation of intermittent access alcohol drinking in male and female rats, and the interaction of these factors with stress history are not well described. METHODS Male (n = 62) and female (n = 64) Wistar rats were housed individually or in pairs separated by a perforated divider. Rats were exposed to light-cued footshock stress (stress history), or cues alone (control), once daily for 3 days, followed by 8 weeks' drinking under intermittent access to a 2-bottle choice (IA2BC), with 20% alcohol (v/v in water) available in addition to water for 24 hours on alternate days. After a 2-week forced abstinence, anxiety-like behavior was assessed via defensive withdrawal testing; then, IA2BC alcohol access was renewed for 2 weeks to model relapse-like behavior. RESULTS Pair-housed female rats did not increase their alcohol intake across the 8-week drinking period, unlike all other groups, and stress history did not significantly change alcohol consumption. After abstinence, anxiety-like behavior was greatest in pair-housed stress history males, whereas alcohol intake was significantly elevated only in female rats, particularly those in solitary housing. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings suggest that paired housing differentially contributes to behavior in male and female rats, blunting alcohol intake in females, and unmasking stress history effects on anxiety-like behavior in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M. Moench
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Marian L. Logrip
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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57
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Differential importance of nucleus accumbens Ox1Rs and AMPARs for female and male mouse binge alcohol drinking. Sci Rep 2021; 11:231. [PMID: 33420199 PMCID: PMC7794293 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79935-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder exhausts substantial social and economic costs, with recent dramatic increases in female problem drinking. Thus, it is critically important to understand signaling differences underlying alcohol consumption across the sexes. Orexin-1 receptors (Ox1Rs) can strongly promote motivated behavior, and we previously identified Ox1Rs within nucleus accumbens shell (shell) as crucial for driving binge intake in higher-drinking male mice. Here, shell Ox1R inhibition did not alter female mouse alcohol drinking, unlike in males. Also, lower dose systemic Ox1R inhibition reduced compulsion-like alcohol intake in both sexes, indicating that female Ox1Rs can drive some aspects of pathological consumption, and higher doses of systemic Ox1R inhibition (which might have more off-target effects) reduced binge drinking in both sexes. In contrast to shell Ox1Rs, inhibiting shell calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) strongly reduced alcohol drinking in both sexes, which was specific to alcohol since this did not reduce saccharin intake in either sex. Our results together suggest that the shell critically regulates binge drinking in both sexes, with shell CP-AMPARs supporting intake in both sexes, while shell Ox1Rs drove drinking only in males. Our findings provide important new information about sex-specific and -general mechanisms that promote binge alcohol intake and possible targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Caruso MA, Robins MT, Fulenwider HD, Ryabinin AE. Temporal analysis of individual ethanol consumption in socially housed mice and the effects of oxytocin. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:899-911. [PMID: 33404737 PMCID: PMC7786142 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05741-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The majority of preclinical studies assessing treatments for alcohol use disorder use singly housed animals. Because social factors affect ethanol intake, studies investigating such treatments in group-housed animals are needed. OBJECTIVES We investigated the effects of repeated oxytocin treatment on ethanol intake in socially housed male and female C57BL/6J mice. METHODS We used the novel "Herdsman" system implementing radiotracking technology to measure individual ethanol intake in group-housed animals. Mice were housed in same-sex groups of 4 per cage and exposed to 3 and 6% ethanol solutions. After baseline drinking was established, half of the animals in each cage received repeated intraperitoneal injections of 3 mg/kg oxytocin. RESULTS During baseline, females consumed more ethanol than males partly due to greater number of ethanol drinks taken by females. We also observed a gradual development of two peaks of ethanol consumption during the dark phase of the circadian cycle. The effects of oxytocin treatment were short-acting and varied across treatment days. Oxytocin significantly decreased ethanol intake on three out the four treatment days. On the fourth treatment day, oxytocin decreased ethanol intake and water intake. CONCLUSION The greater intake of ethanol in female mice is associated with the number of drinks taken. Oxytocin treatments not only cause an acute decrease in ethanol consumption, but can also change in efficacy over time. While the oxytocin system remains a promising therapeutic target for alcoholism, studies investigating longer periods of repeated oxytocin treatment and those using additional oxytocin receptor agonists are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya A. Caruso
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L470, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Meridith T. Robins
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L470, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Hannah D. Fulenwider
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L470, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Andrey E. Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L470, Portland, OR 97239 USA
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Bloch S, Rinker JA, Marcus MM, Mulholland PJ. Absence of effects of intermittent access to alcohol on negative affective and anxiety-like behaviors in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Alcohol 2020; 88:91-99. [PMID: 32777473 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2020.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is highly comorbid with other neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Importantly, women and men are affected differentially by heavy drinking, with women experiencing longer negative affective states after intoxication and increased likelihood to present with comorbid mood or anxiety disorders. In rodents, several studies using different alcohol administration models have shown the development of depressive-like or anxiety-like phenotypes that emerge during abstinence. In this study, we compared the emergence of negative affective behaviors during abstinence from 7 weeks of two-bottle choice intermittent access to 20% alcohol in male and female C57BL/6J mice, a drinking paradigm little studied in this context. Half of the mice were tested 24 hours into abstinence on the elevated zero maze and 19-20 days into abstinence in a novel object in the home cage encounter test. The other half of the mice were tested 27-28 days into abstinence with the novelty-suppressed feeding test. As expected, females drank more than males across the 7 weeks of access to alcohol. Drinking history did not affect performance on these tasks, with the exception of increasing the number of open arm entries on the elevated zero maze. Interestingly, in alcohol-naïve mice, females showed fewer anxiety-like behaviors than males in the elevated zero maze and the novelty-suppressed feeding test. Our results suggest that the intermittent access model does not reliably induce negative affective behaviors on these tasks, and that behavior in female and male mice differs across these tests. Rather, intermittent alcohol drinking may induce a mild form of behavioral disinhibition. Thus, the model of alcohol access is a critical factor in determining the appearance of behavioral disturbances that emerge during abstinence.
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60
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Radke AK, Held IT, Sneddon EA, Riddle CA, Quinn JJ. Additive influences of acute early life stress and sex on vulnerability for aversion-resistant alcohol drinking. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12829. [PMID: 31657073 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute early life stress (ELS) alters stress system functioning in adulthood and increases susceptibility to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The current study assessed the effects of acute, infant ELS on alcohol drinking, including aversion-resistant drinking, in male and female Long Evans rats. Acute ELS was induced using a stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) protocol that consisted of 15 footshocks delivered on postnatal day (PND) 17. Alcohol drinking during adolescence and adulthood was measured with a two-bottle choice intermittent alcohol access paradigm. Aversion-resistant drinking was assessed in adulthood by adding quinine (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 g/L) to the alcohol bottle after 5 to 6 weeks and 11 to 12 weeks of drinking. ELS had minimal influences on adolescent and adult alcohol consumption and preference. However, ELS, sex, and alcohol exposure history all influenced aversion-resistant alcohol drinking in an additive fashion. Higher concentrations of quinine were tolerated in females, ELS-exposed rats, and after 11 to 12 weeks of drinking. Tests of quinine sensitivity in a separate cohort of animals found that rats can detect concentrations of quinine as low as 0.001 g/L in water and that quinine sensitivity is not influenced by sex or ELS exposure. These results agree with reports of sex differences in aversion-resistant drinking and are the first to demonstrate an influence of ELS on this behavior. Our results also suggest that a single traumatic stress exposure in infancy may be a promising model of comorbid PTSD and AUD and useful in studying the interactions between ELS, sex, and alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Isabel T Held
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Sneddon
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Collin A Riddle
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer J Quinn
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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61
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Rodriguez KM, Smith BL, Caldwell HK. Voluntary alcohol consumption is increased in female, but not male, oxytocin receptor knockout mice. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01749. [PMID: 32666677 PMCID: PMC7507036 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The oxytocin (Oxt) system, while typically associated with the neural regulation of social behaviors, also plays a role in an individual's vulnerability to develop alcohol use disorders (AUD). In humans, changes to the Oxt system, due to early life experience and/or genetic mutations, are associated with increased vulnerability to AUD. While a considerable amount is known about Oxt's role in AUD in males, less is known or understood, about how Oxt may affect AUD in females, likely due to many clinical and preclinical studies of AUD not directly considering sex as a biological variable. This is unfortunate given that females are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and have increased alcohol consumption, as compared to males. Therefore, in the current study we wanted to determine whether genetic disruption of the Oxt receptor (Oxtr), that is, Oxtr knockout (-/-) mice, affected stress-induced alcohol consumption in males and females. We hypothesized that genetic disruption of the Oxtr would result in increased stress-induced alcohol consumption in both males and females compared to wild-type (+/+) controls. Though, we predicted that these disruptions might be greater in female Oxtr -/- mice. METHODS To test this hypothesis, a two-bottle preference test was utilized along with the forced swim test (FST), and pre- and poststress alcohol consumption and preference measured within each sex (males and females were run separately). As a follow-up experiment, a taste preference test, to control for possible genotypic differences in taste, was also performed. RESULTS In males, we found no significant genotypic differences in alcohol consumption or preference. However, in females, we found that genetic disruption of the Oxtr resulted in a greater consumption of alcohol both pre- and poststress compared to controls. CONCLUSION These data suggest that in females, disruptions in Oxt signaling may contribute to increased vulnerability to alcohol-associated addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla M Rodriguez
- School of Biomedical Sciences and the Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.,Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Brittany L Smith
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Heather K Caldwell
- School of Biomedical Sciences and the Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.,Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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Darevsky D, Hopf FW. Behavioral indicators of succeeding and failing under higher-challenge compulsion-like alcohol drinking in rat. Behav Brain Res 2020; 393:112768. [PMID: 32544510 PMCID: PMC7444822 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Intake despite negative consequences (compulsivity) contributes strongly to the harm of alcohol use disorder, making the underlying psychological and circuit mechanisms of great importance. To gain insight into possible underlying action strategies, we compared rat licking microstructure across compulsion-like and non-compulsive conditions. We previously showed that drinking under a moderate-challenge, quinine-alcohol model (Alc-ModQ) shows less variable responding in many measures, suggesting a more automatic strategy to overcome challenge. Here, we reanalyzed our original data, newly focusing on the behavioral profile of higher-challenge intake (100 mg/L quinine in alcohol, Alc-HighQ). Alc-HighQ greatly dropped consumption, yet retained aspects of greater automaticity and drive seen with Alc-ModQ, including earlier bout initiation and measures suggesting more stereotyped tongue control. In contrast, Alc-HighQ disordered bout generation and timing. Importantly, only fast-starting bouts persisted under Alc-HighQ, and while there were many fewer longer Alc-HighQ bouts, they still contributed >50 % of consumption. Also, longer bouts under Alc-HighQ had an early, several-second period with greater chance of stopping, but afterwards showed similar persistence and recovery from slow licking as other drinking conditions. Together, our findings elucidate novel behavioral indicators of successful and unsuccessful epochs of Alc-HighQ, compulsion-like intake. We also relate findings to congruent human and animal work implicating anterior insula and medial prefrontal cortices as critical for compulsion-like alcohol responding, and where ventral frontal cortex has been more associated with overall action plan and tongue control (retained under Alc-HighQ), with medial cortex more related to proximal action timing (disrupted under Alc-HighQ except after faster bout initiation).
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Affiliation(s)
- David Darevsky
- University of California at Berkeley, University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), Graduate Program in Bioengineering, United States; UCSF Medical Scientist Training Program, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Neurology, UCSF, United States
| | - Frederic W Hopf
- Department of Neurology, UCSF, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
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Rath M, Guergues J, Pinho JPC, Zhang P, Nguyen TG, MacFadyen KA, Peris J, McLaughlin JP, Stevens SM, Liu B. Chronic Voluntary Binge Ethanol Consumption Causes Sex-Specific Differences in Microglial Signaling Pathways and Withdrawal-associated Behaviors in Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:1791-1806. [PMID: 32767774 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microglia are the resident immune cells in the brain where they play essential roles in the development and maintenance of physiological functions of this organ. Aberrant activation of microglia is speculated to be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of neurological disorders, including alcohol use disorders. Repeated binge ethanol (EtOH) consumption can have a profound impact on the function and integrity of the brain resulting in changes in behaviors such as withdrawal and reward. However, the microglial molecular and cellular pathways associated with EtOH binge consumption remain poorly understood. METHOD In this study, adult C57BL/6J male and female mice were subjected daily to a gelatin-based drinking-in-the-dark voluntary EtOH consumption paradigm (3 h/d for 4 months) to characterize EtOH consumption and withdrawal-associated and anxiety-like behaviors. Brain microglia were isolated at the end and analyzed for protein expression profile changes using unbiased mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis. RESULTS Both male and female mice consistently consumed binge quantities of EtOH daily, resulting in blood EtOH levels > 80 mg/dl measured at the end of the 3-hour daily consumption period. Although female mice consumed a significantly greater amount of EtOH than male mice, EtOH withdrawal-associated anxiety-like behaviors measured by marble-burying, light-dark box, and elevated plus maze tests were predominantly observed in male mice. Proteomic analysis of microglia isolated from the brains of animals at the end of the 4-month binge EtOH consumption identified 117 and 37 proteins that were significantly up- or downregulated in EtOH-exposed male and female mice, respectively, compared to their pair-fed controls. Protein expression profile-based pathway analysis identified several cellular pathways that may underlie the sex-specific and EtOH withdrawal-associated behavioral abnormalities. CONCLUSION Taken together, our findings revealed sex-specific changes in EtOH withdrawal-associated behaviors and signaling pathways in the mouse brain microglia and may help advance our understanding of the molecular, cellular, and behavioral changes related to human binge EtOH consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera Rath
- From the, Department of Pharmacodynamics (MR, PZ, TGN, KAM, JP, JPM, BL), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jennifer Guergues
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (JG, SMS), Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Colchester, Vermont, USA
| | - Joao P C Pinho
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology (JPCP), University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Ping Zhang
- From the, Department of Pharmacodynamics (MR, PZ, TGN, KAM, JP, JPM, BL), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Truc G Nguyen
- From the, Department of Pharmacodynamics (MR, PZ, TGN, KAM, JP, JPM, BL), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kaley A MacFadyen
- From the, Department of Pharmacodynamics (MR, PZ, TGN, KAM, JP, JPM, BL), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Joanna Peris
- From the, Department of Pharmacodynamics (MR, PZ, TGN, KAM, JP, JPM, BL), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jay P McLaughlin
- From the, Department of Pharmacodynamics (MR, PZ, TGN, KAM, JP, JPM, BL), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Stanley M Stevens
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (JG, SMS), Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Colchester, Vermont, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- From the, Department of Pharmacodynamics (MR, PZ, TGN, KAM, JP, JPM, BL), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Sneddon EA, Ramsey OR, Thomas A, Radke AK. Increased Responding for Alcohol and Resistance to Aversion in Female Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:1400-1409. [PMID: 32472651 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND More women are being diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD), are increasing the amount of alcohol they are drinking, and are partaking in risky drinking behaviors. Compulsive drinking which persists despite negative consequences is a hallmark of AUD. Preclinical aversion-resistant models suggest that females may be more vulnerable to the rewarding effects of alcohol such that they show increased compulsivity when drinking is punished with quinine, a bitter tastant. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice were trained in an operant response task on a first-order fixed ratio schedule. Experiment 1 tested responding for escalating concentrations (10 to 25%) of ethanol (EtOH). Experiment 2 assessed the effects of increasing concentrations of quinine (100, 250, or 500 μM) on responding for 10% EtOH followed by a 48-hour 2-bottle choice quinine preference test. Experiment 3 investigated the effects of increasing concentrations of quinine (100, 250, or 500 μM) on responding for 2.5% sucrose. RESULTS Experiment 1 revealed that females respond more than males for 15% EtOH. Experiment 2 showed that females tolerate higher concentrations of quinine in EtOH than males. Males reduced responding for 10% EtOH when adulterated with 250 or 500 µM of quinine, while females did not reduce responding at any concentration of quinine. Males and females also exhibited similar preference for quinine in a 2-bottle drinking task. Experiment 3 demonstrated that both males and females reduced responding for 2.5% sucrose when quinine (100, 250, or 500 μM) was added. CONCLUSIONS Females respond more for EtOH at higher concentrations and continue to respond for 10% EtOH at all concentrations of quinine, suggesting that female mice are more motivated to respond for EtOH in an operant self-administration paradigm than males. Understanding behavioral and mechanistic sex differences in responding for alcohol will allow for the advancement of treatments for women with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Sneddon
- From the Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Olivia R Ramsey
- From the Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Annemarie Thomas
- From the Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Anna K Radke
- From the Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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Unequal interactions between alcohol and nicotine co-consumption: suppression and enhancement of concurrent drug intake. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:967-978. [PMID: 31858160 PMCID: PMC7124972 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05426-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol and nicotine addiction are prevalent conditions that co-occur. Despite the prevalence of co-use, factors that influence the suppression and enhancement of concurrent alcohol and nicotine intake are largely unknown. OBJECTIVES Our goals were to assess how nicotine abstinence and availability influenced concurrent alcohol consumption and to determine the impact of quinine adulteration of alcohol on aversion-resistant alcohol consumption and concurrent nicotine consumption. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice voluntarily consumed unsweetened alcohol, nicotine, and water in a chronic 3-bottle choice procedure. In experiment 1, nicotine access was removed for 1 week and re-introduced the following week, while the alcohol and water bottles remained available at all times. In experiment 2, quinine (100-1000 μM) was added to the 20% alcohol bottle, while the nicotine and water bottles remained unaltered. RESULTS In experiment 1, we found that alcohol consumption and preference were unaffected by the presence or absence of nicotine access in both male and female mice. In experiment 2a, we found that quinine temporarily suppressed alcohol intake and enhanced concurrent nicotine, but not water, preference in both male and female mice. In experiment 2b, chronic quinine suppression of alcohol intake increased nicotine consumption and preference in female mice without affecting water preference, whereas it increased water and nicotine preference in male mice. CONCLUSIONS Quinine suppression of alcohol consumption enhanced the preference for concurrent nicotine preference in male and female mice, suggesting that mice compensate for the quinine adulteration of alcohol by increasing their nicotine preference.
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Shaw GA, Bent MAM, Council KR, Pais AC, Amstadter A, Wolstenholme JT, Miles MF, Neigh GN. Chronic repeated predatory stress induces resistance to quinine adulteration of ethanol in male mice. Behav Brain Res 2020; 382:112500. [PMID: 31978491 PMCID: PMC7035990 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trauma related psychiatric disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid illnesses that separately present an opposing, sex-specific pattern, with increased prevalence of PTSD in females and increased prevalence of AUD diagnoses in males. Likewise, PTSD is a risk factor in the development of AUD, with conflicting data on the impact of sex in the comorbid development of both disorders. Because the likelihood of experiencing more than one traumatic event is high, we aim to utilize chronic repeated predatory stress (CRPS) to query the extent to which sex interacts with CRPS to influence alcohol consumption, or cessation of consumption. METHODS Male (n = 16) and female (n = 15) C57BL/6 J mice underwent CRPS or daily handling for two weeks during adolescence (P35-P49) and two weeks during adulthood (P65-P79). Following the conclusion of two rounds of repeated stress, behavior was assessed in the open field. Mice subsequently underwent a two-bottle choice intermittent ethanol access (IEA) assessment (P90-131) with the options of 20 % ethanol or water. After establishing drinking behavior, increasing concentrations of quinine were added to the ethanol to assess the drinking response to adulteration of the alcohol. RESULTS CRPS increased fecal corticosterone concentrations and anxiety-like behaviors in the open field in both male and female mice as compared to control mice that had not been exposed to CRPS. Consistent with previous reports, we observed a sex difference in alcohol consumption such that females consumed more ethanol per gram of body mass than males. In addition, CRPS reduced alcohol aversion in male mice such that higher concentrations of quinine were necessary to reduce alcohol intake as compared to control mice. CRPS did not alter alcohol-related behaviors in female mice. CONCLUSION Collectively, we demonstrate that repeated CRPS can induce anxiety-like behavior in both sexes but selectively influences the response to ethanol adulteration in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys A Shaw
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Maria Alexis M Bent
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Kimaya R Council
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - A Christian Pais
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Ananda Amstadter
- Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Jennifer T Wolstenholme
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Michael F Miles
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Gretchen N Neigh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
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Giacometti LL, Barker JM. Sex differences in the glutamate system: Implications for addiction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:157-168. [PMID: 32173404 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and preclinical research have identified sex differences in substance use and addiction-related behaviors. Historically, substance use disorders are more prevalent in men than women, though this gap is closing. Despite this difference, women appear to be more susceptible to the effects of many drugs and progress to substance abuse treatment more quickly than men. While the glutamate system is a key regulator of addiction-related behaviors, much of the work implicating glutamate signaling and glutamatergic circuits has been conducted in men and male rodents. An increasing number of studies have identified sex differences in drug-induced glutamate alterations as well as sex and estrous cycle differences in drug seeking behaviors. This review will describe sex differences in the glutamate system with an emphasis on implications for substance use disorders, highlighting the gaps in our current understanding of how innate and drug-induced alterations in the glutamate system may contribute to sex differences in addiction-related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L L Giacometti
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, United States.
| | - J M Barker
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, United States.
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Haun HL, Griffin WC, Lopez MF, Becker HC. Kappa opioid receptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis regulate binge-like alcohol consumption in male and female mice. Neuropharmacology 2020; 167:107984. [PMID: 32023486 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.107984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Binge drinking is the most common pattern of excessive alcohol consumption and is a significant contributor to the development of Alcohol Use Disorder and dependence. Previous studies demonstrated involvement of kappa opioid receptors (KOR) in binge-like drinking in mice using the Drinking-in-the-Dark model. The current studies examined the role of KOR specifically in the bed nucleus of the stria terminals (BNST) in binge-like alcohol consumption in male and female mice. Direct administration of the long lasting KOR antagonist, nor-BNI, into the BNST decreased binge-like alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentrations in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Similarly, direct nor-BNI administration into the BNST modestly reduced sucrose consumption and the suppression of fluid intake was not related to reduced locomotor activity. To further determine the role of KOR within the BNST on binge-like alcohol consumption, the KOR agonist U50,488 was administered systemically which resulted in a robust increase in alcohol intake. Microinjection of nor-BNI into the BNST blocked the high level of alcohol intake after systemic U50,488 challenge reducing intake and resultant blood alcohol concentrations. Together, these data suggest that KOR activity in the BNST contributes to binge-like alcohol consumption in both male and female mice. This article is part of the special issue on 'Neuropeptides'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold L Haun
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - William C Griffin
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Marcelo F Lopez
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Howard C Becker
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; RHJ Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA.
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Sern KR, Fultz EK, Coelho MA, Bryant CD, Szumlinski KK. A prior history of binge-drinking increases sensitivity to the motivational valence of methamphetamine in female C57BL/6J mice. SUBSTANCE ABUSE-RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2020; 14:1178221819897073. [PMID: 32009790 PMCID: PMC6971957 DOI: 10.1177/1178221819897073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) and alcohol use disorders exhibit a high degree of co-morbidity and sequential alcohol-MA mixing increases risk for co-abuse. Recently, we reported greater MA-conditioned reward in male C57BL/6J mice with a prior history of binge alcohol-drinking (14 days of 2-hour access to 5, 10, 20 and 40% alcohol). As female mice tend to binge-drink more alcohol than males and females tend to be more sensitive than males to the psychomotor-activating properties of MA, we first characterized the effects of binge-drinking upon MA-induced place-conditioning (four pairings of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg IP) in females and then incorporated our prior data to analyze for sex differences in MA-conditioned reward. Prior binge-drinking history did not significantly affect locomotor hyperactivity or its sensitization in female mice. However, the dose-response function for place-conditioning was shifted to the left of water-drinking controls, indicating an increase in sensitivity to MA-conditioned reward. The examination of sex differences revealed no sex differences in alcohol intake, although females exhibited greater MA-induced locomotor stimulation than males, irrespective of their prior drinking history. No statistically significant sex difference was apparent for the potentiation of MA-conditioned reward produced by prior binge-drinking history. If relevant to humans, these data argue that both males and females with a prior binge-drinking history are similarly vulnerable to MA abuse and it remains to be determined whether or not the neural substrates underpinning this increased vulnerability reflect common or sex-specific adaptations in reward-related brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly R Sern
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Elissa K Fultz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Michal A Coelho
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Camron D Bryant
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen K Szumlinski
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular, Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Evans O, Rodríguez-Borillo O, Font L, Currie PJ, Pastor R. Alcohol Binge Drinking and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Socialized Versus Isolated C57BL/6J Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 44:244-254. [PMID: 31713874 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Binge alcohol drinking has been characterized as a key feature of alcoholism. The drinking-in-the-dark (DID) preclinical model, a procedure that promotes high levels of ethanol (EtOH) intake in short periods of time, has been extensively used to investigate neuropharmacological and genetic determinants of binge-like EtOH consumption. Using DID methodology, alcohol-preferring strains of mice such as C57BL/6J (B6) mice consume enough EtOH to achieve blood concentrations (≥1.0 mg/ml) associated with behavioral intoxication (i.e., motor incoordination). DID procedures typically involve the use of socially isolated animals (single-housed prior to and during the experiment). Previous research indicates that stress associated with social isolation can induce anxiety-like behavior and promote increases in EtOH intake. The present study investigates the role of housing conditions in anxiety-like behavior and binge-like EtOH intake using a DID procedure. METHODS Male and female B6 mice were isolated or pair-housed for a period of 6 weeks prior to evaluation of anxiety-like (elevated plus maze, light and dark box, open field) and drinking (water, 10% sucrose, 10 to 30% EtOH) behavior. In order to measure intake, a variation of the standard DID procedure using a removable, transparent, and perforated plastic barrier strip (designed to temporarily divide the cage in 2) was introduced. This allowed for individual intake records (2-hour test) of isolated and socially housed animals. RESULTS Increased anxiety-like behavior and reduced sucrose consumption were found in isolated mice. The effects of housing conditions on EtOH intake were sex- and concentration-dependent. In male mice, isolation increased 20 and 30% EtOH intake. In females, however, an increased intake of EtOH (30%) was found in socialized animals. No effects of housing or sex were found at EtOH 10%. CONCLUSIONS Together with previous literature, the present study suggests that social isolation can promote anxiety-associated behavior and produce sex-dependent changes in binge-like EtOH consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ophelia Evans
- Department of Psychology, Reed College, Portland, Oregon
| | | | - Laura Font
- Area de Psicobiología, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
| | - Paul J Currie
- Department of Psychology, Reed College, Portland, Oregon
| | - Raúl Pastor
- Department of Psychology, Reed College, Portland, Oregon.,Area de Psicobiología, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
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Neddenriep B, Bagdas D, Contreras KM, Ditre JW, Wolstenholme JT, Miles MF, Damaj MI. Pharmacological mechanisms of alcohol analgesic-like properties in mouse models of acute and chronic pain. Neuropharmacology 2019; 160:107793. [PMID: 31562845 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use and chronic pain are highly comorbid. Acute alcohol use typically produces an analgesic effect. However, chronic use can worsen the progression of chronic pain. In rodent models, acute models of pain have primarily been used to investigate the relationship between alcohol and pain analgesia. Here, we use two models of chronic pain, chronic inflammatory and peripheral neuropathic pain, to investigate acute alcohol's antinociceptive and analgesic properties. We hypothesize that acute ethanol is acting through opioid receptors to create an analgesic-like effect in both reflexive and affective dimensions of pain. Using male and female C57BL/6J mice, oral ethanol administration (0-1.25 g/kg) showed a dose-dependent reversal of mechanical hypersensitivity in both Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) and chronic constriction injury (CCI) models of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. No sex differences were observed. Using the conditioned place preference (CPP) task to assess the subjective responses to ethanol's anti-nociceptive properties, CCI-injured animals showed a preference for the ethanol-paired side, suggesting a reduction in an aversive and pain-like state produced by nerve injury. These effects are likely mediated through the kappa and possibly the mu opioid systems, since ethanol-induced anti-nociception following CCI was fully reversed by pretreatment with the kappa selective antagonist, nor-BNI, or high doses of naltrexone. These data show that ethanol possesses analgesic-like properties in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain models in mice and provide new insight into ethanol as it relates to chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Neddenriep
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA; Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA
| | - Deniz Bagdas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA; Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA
| | - Katherine M Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA; Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA
| | - Joseph W Ditre
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer T Wolstenholme
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA; VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA
| | - Michael F Miles
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA; VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA; Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA.
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Richard JM. Female Rodents Yield New Insights into Compulsive Alcohol Use and the Impact of Dependence: Commentary on Xie et al., 2019, "Sex Differences in Ethanol Reward Seeking Under Conflict in Mice". Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1648-1650. [PMID: 31216058 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn M Richard
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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73
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Xie Q, Buck LA, Bryant KG, Barker JM. Sex Differences in Ethanol Reward Seeking Under Conflict in Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1556-1566. [PMID: 31034618 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorders are characterized by inflexible alcohol seeking that occurs despite adverse consequences. Males and females are differentially sensitive to ethanol (EtOH) reward, but it is unclear whether sex differences in EtOH seeking under reward-aversion conflict are present. METHODS To investigate sex differences in EtOH seeking under conflict, adult male and female C57BL/6J mice underwent chronic intermittent EtOH (CIE) exposure by vapor inhalation or served as air-exposed controls. After CIE, mice were trained in a modified EtOH conditioned place preference paradigm. During 3 conditioning sessions, 2 g/kg EtOH was administered prior to confinement in the "EtOH-paired" chamber. On alternating days, saline was injected prior to confinement in the "saline-paired" chamber. After conditioning, mice experienced a footshock in the EtOH-paired chamber. EtOH-seeking behavior was assessed before and after footshock. RESULTS Control and CIE-exposed males reduced the time spent in and increased latency to enter the reward-paired chamber following footshock. Control females did not alter EtOH-seeking behavior following footshock. CIE-exposed females spent more time in the EtOH-paired chamber at baseline. However, following a footshock, CIE-exposed females significantly reduced the time spent in and increased latency to enter the EtOH-paired chamber. CONCLUSIONS Nondependent female mice exhibited aversion-resistant alcohol seeking to a greater degree than males. Chronic EtOH exposure did not impact EtOH seeking in males. In females, CIE enhanced EtOH seeking in the absence of conflict, but reduced EtOH seeking after an aversive experience. While these sex-specific effects of CIE are not present when reward seeking is assessed in the absence of an aversive experience, multiple factors may underlie the differences in reward seeking despite adverse consequences, including reward- and aversion-related learning and decision making under conflict. These data highlight the importance of considering sex as a variable influencing EtOH seeking and provide a greater understanding of how sex interacts with EtOH exposure to alter behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaowei Xie
- From the, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lauren A Buck
- From the, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kathleen G Bryant
- From the, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jacqueline M Barker
- From the, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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