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Cruz B, Vozella V, Borgonetti V, Bullard R, Bianchi PC, Kirson D, Bertotto LB, Bajo M, Vlkolinsky R, Messing RO, Zorrilla EP, Roberto M. Chemogenetic inhibition of central amygdala CRF-expressing neurons decreases alcohol intake but not trauma-related behaviors in a rat model of post-traumatic stress and alcohol use disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02514-8. [PMID: 38509197 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02514-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are often comorbid. Few treatments exist to reduce comorbid PTSD/AUD. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying their comorbidity could reveal new avenues for therapy. Here, we employed a model of comorbid PTSD/AUD, in which rats were subjected to a stressful shock in a familiar context followed by alcohol drinking. We then examined fear overgeneralization and irritability in these rats. Familiar context stress elevated drinking, increased fear overgeneralization, increased alcohol-related aggressive signs, and elevated peripheral stress hormones. We then examined transcripts of stress- and fear-relevant genes in the central amygdala (CeA), a locus that regulates stress-mediated alcohol drinking. Compared with unstressed rats, stressed rats exhibited increases in CeA transcripts for Crh and Fkbp5 and decreases in transcripts for Bdnf and Il18. Levels of Nr3c1 mRNA, which encodes the glucocorticoid receptor, increased in stressed males but decreased in stressed females. Transcripts of Il18 binding protein (Il18bp), Glp-1r, and genes associated with calcitonin gene-related peptide signaling (Calca, Ramp1, Crlr-1, and Iapp) were unaltered. Crh, but not Crhr1, mRNA was increased by stress; thus, we tested whether inhibiting CeA neurons that express corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) suppress PTSD/AUD-like behaviors. We used Crh-Cre rats that had received a Cre-dependent vector encoding hM4D(Gi), an inhibitory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs. Chemogenetic inhibition of CeA CRF neurons reduced alcohol intake but not fear overgeneralization or irritability-like behaviors. Our findings suggest that CeA CRF modulates PTSD/AUD comorbidity, and inhibiting CRF neural activity is primarily associated with reducing alcohol drinking but not trauma-related behaviors that are associated with PTSD/AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Cruz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Ryan Bullard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Paula C Bianchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Dean Kirson
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Luisa B Bertotto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Michal Bajo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Roman Vlkolinsky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Robert O Messing
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Eric P Zorrilla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA.
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Vozella V, Cruz B, Feldman HC, Bullard R, Bianchi PC, Natividad LA, Cravatt BF, Zorrilla EP, Ciccocioppo R, Roberto M. Sexually dimorphic effects of monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor MJN110 on stress-related behaviour and drinking in Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:3130-3145. [PMID: 37488777 PMCID: PMC10805956 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays an important homeostatic role in the regulation of stress circuits and has emerged as a therapeutic target to treat stress disorders and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Extensive research has elucidated a role for the eCB anandamide (AEA), but less is known about 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) mediated signalling. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We pharmacologically enhanced eCB signalling by inhibiting the 2-AG metabolizing enzyme, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), in male and female Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats, a model of innate alcohol preference and stress hypersensitivity, and in control Wistar rats. We tested the acute effect of the selective MAGL inhibitor MJN110 in alleviating symptoms of alcohol drinking, anxiety, irritability and fear. KEY RESULTS A single systemic administration of MJN110 increased 2-AG levels in the central amygdala, prelimbic and infralimbic cortex but did not acutely alter alcohol drinking. MAGL inhibition reduced aggressive behaviours in female msPs, and increased defensive behaviours in male msPs, during the irritability test. Moreover, in the novelty-induced hypophagia test, MJN110 selectively enhanced palatable food consumption in females, mitigating stress-induced food suppression. Lastly, msP rats showed increased conditioned fear behaviour compared with Wistar rats, and MJN110 reduced context-associated conditioned fear responses, but not cue-probed fear expression, in male msPs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Acute inhibition of MAGL attenuated some stress-related responses in msP rats but not voluntary alcohol drinking. Our results provide new insights into the sex dimorphism documented in stress-induced responses. Sex-specific eCB-based approaches should be considered in the clinical development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Bryan Cruz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Hannah C. Feldman
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ryan Bullard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Paula C. Bianchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Luis A. Natividad
- College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W. Dean Keeton Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Benjamin F. Cravatt
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Eric P. Zorrilla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, Camerino, 62032 Italy
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Becker HC, Lopez MF, King CE, Griffin WC. Oxytocin Reduces Sensitized Stress-Induced Alcohol Relapse in a Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder Comorbidity. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:215-225. [PMID: 36822933 PMCID: PMC10247903 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is high comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder with few effective treatment options. Animal models of PTSD have shown increases in alcohol drinking, but effects of stress history on subsequent vulnerability to alcohol relapse have not been examined. Here we present a mouse model of PTSD involving chronic multimodal stress exposure that resulted in long-lasting sensitization to stress-induced alcohol relapse, and this sensitized stress response was blocked by oxytocin (OT) administration. METHODS Male and female mice trained to self-administer alcohol were exposed to predator odor (TMT) + yohimbine over 5 consecutive days or left undisturbed. After reestablishing stable alcohol responding/intake, mice were tested under extinction conditions, and then all mice were exposed to TMT or context cues previously associated with TMT before a reinstatement test session. Separate studies examined messenger RNA expression of Oxt and Oxtr in hypothalamus following chronic stress exposure. A final study examined the effects of systemic administration of OT on stress-induced alcohol relapse in mice with and without a history of chronic stress experience. RESULTS Chronic stress exposure produced long-lasting sensitization to subsequent stress-induced alcohol relapse that also generalized to stress-related context cues and transcriptional changes in hypothalamic OT system. OT injected before the reinstatement test session completely blocked the sensitized stress-induced alcohol relapse effect. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these results provide support for the therapeutic potential of OT, along with highlighting the value of utilizing this model in evaluating other pharmacological interventions for treatment of PTSD/alcohol use disorder comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard C Becker
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina.
| | - Marcelo F Lopez
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Courtney E King
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - William C Griffin
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
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Borgonetti V, Cruz B, Vozella V, Khom S, Steinman MQ, Bullard R, D’Ambrosio S, Oleata CS, Vlkolinsky R, Bajo M, Zorrilla EP, Kirson D, Roberto M. IL-18 Signaling in the Rat Central Amygdala Is Disrupted in a Comorbid Model of Post-Traumatic Stress and Alcohol Use Disorder. Cells 2023; 12:1943. [PMID: 37566022 PMCID: PMC10416956 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and anxiety disorders are frequently comorbid and share dysregulated neuroimmune-related pathways. Here, we used our established rat model of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/AUD to characterize the interleukin 18 (IL-18) system in the central amygdala (CeA). Male and female rats underwent novel (NOV) and familiar (FAM) shock stress, or no stress (unstressed controls; CTL) followed by voluntary alcohol drinking and PTSD-related behaviors, then all received renewed alcohol access prior to the experiments. In situ hybridization revealed that the number of CeA positive cells for Il18 mRNA increased, while for Il18bp decreased in both male and female FAM stressed rats versus CTL. No changes were observed in Il18r1 expression across groups. Ex vivo electrophysiology showed that IL-18 reduced GABAA-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) frequencies in CTL, suggesting reduced CeA GABA release, regardless of sex. Notably, this presynaptic effect of IL-18 was lost in both NOV and FAM males, while it persisted in NOV and FAM females. IL-18 decreased mIPSC amplitude in CTL female rats, suggesting postsynaptic effects. Overall, our results suggest that stress in rats with alcohol access impacts CeA IL-18-system expression and, in sex-related fashion, IL-18's modulatory function at GABA synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Bryan Cruz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Sophia Khom
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Q. Steinman
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Ryan Bullard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Shannon D’Ambrosio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Christopher S. Oleata
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Roman Vlkolinsky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Michal Bajo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Eric P. Zorrilla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Dean Kirson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92073, USA; (V.B.); (B.C.); (V.V.); (S.K.); (M.Q.S.); (R.B.); (S.D.); (C.S.O.); (R.V.); (M.B.); (E.P.Z.); (D.K.)
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Cruz B, Vozella V, Carper BA, Xu JC, Kirson D, Hirsch S, Nolen T, Bradley L, Fain K, Crawford M, Kosten TR, Zorrilla EP, Roberto M. FKBP5 inhibitors modulate alcohol drinking and trauma-related behaviors in a model of comorbid post-traumatic stress and alcohol use disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1144-1154. [PMID: 36396784 PMCID: PMC10267127 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01497-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leads to enhanced alcohol drinking and development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Identifying shared neural mechanisms might help discover new therapies for PTSD/AUD. Here, we employed a rat model of comorbid PTSD/AUD to evaluate compounds that inhibit FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5), a co-chaperone modulator of glucocorticoid receptors implicated in stress-related disorders. Male and female rats received a familiar avoidance-based shock stress followed by voluntary alcohol drinking. We then assessed trauma-related behaviors through sleep bout cycles, hyperarousal, fear overgeneralization, and irritability. To evaluate the role of stress and alcohol history on the sensitivity to FKBP5 inhibitors, in two separate studies, we administered two FKBP5 inhibitors, benztropine (Study 1) or SAFit2 (Study 2). FKBP5 inhibitors were administered on the last alcohol drinking session and prior to each trauma-related behavioral assessment. We also measured plasma corticosterone to assess the actions of FKBP5 inhibitors after familiar shock stress and alcohol drinking. Benztropine reduced alcohol preference in stressed males and females, while aggressive bouts were reduced in benztropine-treated stressed females. During hyperarousal, benztropine reduced several startle response outcomes across stressed males and females. Corticosterone was reduced in benztropine-treated stressed males. The selective FKBP5 inhibitor, SAFit2, reduced alcohol drinking in stressed males but not females, with no differences in irritability. Importantly, SAFit2 decreased fear overgeneralization in stressed males and females. SAFit2 also reduced corticosterone across stressed males and females. Neither FKBP5 inhibitor changed sleep bout structure. These findings indicate that FKBP5 inhibitors modulate stress-related alcohol drinking and partially modulate trauma-related behaviors. This work supports the hypothesis that targeting FKBP5 may alleviate PTSD/AUD comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Cruz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Benjamin A Carper
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Joy C Xu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
| | - Dean Kirson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Shawn Hirsch
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Tracy Nolen
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Lauren Bradley
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Katie Fain
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Meg Crawford
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Thomas R Kosten
- Division of Alcohol and Addiction Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Eric P Zorrilla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA.
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92073, USA.
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Hackleman A, Ibrahim M, Shim K, Sangha S. Interaction of stress and alcohol on discriminating fear from safety and reward in male and female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:609-621. [PMID: 35960326 PMCID: PMC9922333 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06206-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Stressful events can have lasting and impactful effects on behavior, especially in terms of appropriate fear regulation and reward seeking. Our prior work in rats has shown baseline sex differences in fear expression and sucrose seeking in a discriminative reward-fear-safety conditioning task. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the current study were to determine how prior stress may affect alcohol consumption across a reward-fear-safety learning task, and how prior alcohol history may interact with stress to impact learning in this task. METHODS Male and female Long Evans rats were given home cage intermittent 24 h access to both water and alcohol for 5 weeks. A subset of rats then received exposure to stress (15 unsignaled footshocks), while remaining unstressed rats received context exposure without shock. One week later, all rats were trained on the same reward-fear-safety cue task while having continuous home cage access to both water and alcohol. RESULTS All rats increased consumption (g/kg/24 h) across the 5 weeks of intermittent access, with females showing higher consumption levels. Stress exposure did not alter alcohol consumption in the week following stress, but did increase home cage alcohol consumption during later reward-fear-safety cue learning. Stress in both sexes also elevated freezing levels to the reward cue resulting in decreased sucrose seeking and was positively correlated with home cage alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS While stress increased drinking in both males and females, the effects of stress were particularly pronounced in females, indicating our results could be capturing a higher propensity for females to display stress-induced drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Hackleman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Muhja Ibrahim
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Kevin Shim
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Susan Sangha
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN, NB 300A46202, USA.
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Zhan B, Zhu Y, Xia J, Li W, Tang Y, Beesetty A, Ye JH, Fu R. Comorbidity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder: Animal Models and Associated Neurocircuitry. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010388. [PMID: 36613829 PMCID: PMC9820348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders and frequently co-occur concomitantly. Individuals suffering from this dual diagnosis often exhibit increased symptom severity and poorer treatment outcomes than those with only one of these diseases. Lacking standard preclinical models limited the exploration of neurobiological mechanisms underlying PTSD and AUD comorbidity. In this review, we summarize well-accepted preclinical model paradigms and criteria for developing successful models of comorbidity. We also outline how PTSD and AUD affect each other bidirectionally in the nervous nuclei have been heatedly discussed recently. We hope to provide potential recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhan
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Yingxin Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Jianxun Xia
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunkang School of Medicine and Health, Nanfang College, Guangzhou 510970, China
| | - Wenfu Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Anju Beesetty
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Jiang-Hong Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Correspondence: (J.-H.Y.); (R.F.)
| | - Rao Fu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
- Correspondence: (J.-H.Y.); (R.F.)
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Rodriguez L, Kirson D, Wolfe SA, Patel RR, Varodayan FP, Snyder AE, Gandhi PJ, Khom S, Vlkolinsky R, Bajo M, Roberto M. Alcohol Dependence Induces CRF Sensitivity in Female Central Amygdala GABA Synapses. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7842. [PMID: 35887190 PMCID: PMC9318832 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronically relapsing disease characterized by loss of control in seeking and consuming alcohol (ethanol) driven by the recruitment of brain stress systems. However, AUD differs among the sexes: men are more likely to develop AUD, but women progress from casual to binge drinking and heavy alcohol use more quickly. The central amygdala (CeA) is a hub of stress and anxiety, with corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-CRF1 receptor and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)-ergic signaling dysregulation occurring in alcohol-dependent male rodents. However, we recently showed that GABAergic synapses in female rats are less sensitive to the acute effects of ethanol. Here, we used patch-clamp electrophysiology to examine the effects of alcohol dependence on the CRF modulation of rat CeA GABAergic transmission of both sexes. We found that GABAergic synapses of naïve female rats were unresponsive to CRF application compared to males, although alcohol dependence induced a similar CRF responsivity in both sexes. In situ hybridization revealed that females had fewer CeA neurons containing mRNA for the CRF1 receptor (Crhr1) than males, but in dependence, the percentage of Crhr1-expressing neurons in females increased, unlike in males. Overall, our data provide evidence for sexually dimorphic CeA CRF system effects on GABAergic synapses in dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Dean Kirson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Sarah A. Wolfe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Reesha R. Patel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Florence P. Varodayan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Angela E. Snyder
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Pauravi J. Gandhi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Sophia Khom
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Vlkolinsky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Michal Bajo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.R.); (S.A.W.); (R.R.P.); (F.P.V.); (A.E.S.); (P.J.G.); (S.K.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
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Apostolakopoulou XA, Kontopoulou L, Karpetas GE, Marakis G, Vasara E, Katsaras IG, Maraki Z, Papathanasiou IV, Bonotis KS. Sugars, Alcohol, and Caffeine Intake From Drinks Among Outpatients With Mental Health Disorders in Greece: A Pilot Study. Cureus 2022; 14:e21563. [PMID: 35228922 PMCID: PMC8873368 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.21563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Excessive intake of sugars and energy from drinks has been postulated to increase the risk of obesity, which may in turn be associated with mental health disorders. In addition, excessive intakes of alcohol and caffeine may co-occur with psychiatric disorders. The purpose of the present pilot study was to estimate energy, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol intakes through the consumption of drinks in patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders and assess potential differences in drink consumption between the two disorders. Methodology The current study included 89 outpatients with schizophrenia (n = 36) and affective disorders (n = 53) attending the psychiatric clinic of the University General Hospital of Larissa (UGHL) in Greece. In addition to anthropometric measurements, the patients were asked to complete a specific, previously validated questionnaire on the frequency of drink consumption in order to estimate sugar, caffeine, and alcohol intakes. Results The participants had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.9 ± 5.6 kg/m2 without significant differences between the two types of mental disorders. Similarly, the mean waist circumference (102.6 ± 15.7 cm) and mean body fat percentage (32.9% ± 10.8%) were above the recommended values. The total energy intake from drinks was more than a third of the estimated daily energy requirements. Although there was no significant difference in the mean daily caffeine intake, those with affective disorders had a significantly higher intake of sugars from drinks (median (Mdn) = 80.0 (interquartile range (IQR) = 89.8) g/day) and alcohol (Mdn = 45.6 (IQR = 31.1) g/day), compared to those with schizophrenia (Mdn = 60.0 (IQR = 45.4) g/day and Mdn = 24.9 (IQR = 19.8) g/day, respectively). Conclusions Considering the link between high sugar and alcohol intake with excess body weight and mental health, these preliminary data are of particular concern and point to the need for better dietary counseling in order to improve the dietary behaviors of these patients.
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