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Rice RC, Gil DV, Baratta AM, Frawley RR, Hill SY, Farris SP, Homanics GE. Inter- and transgenerational heritability of preconception chronic stress or alcohol exposure: Translational outcomes in brain and behavior. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 29:100603. [PMID: 38234394 PMCID: PMC10792982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress and alcohol (ethanol) use are highly interrelated and can change an individual's behavior through molecular adaptations that do not change the DNA sequence, but instead change gene expression. A recent wealth of research has found that these nongenomic changes can be transmitted across generations, which could partially account for the "missing heritability" observed in genome-wide association studies of alcohol use disorder and other stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize the molecular and behavioral outcomes of nongenomic inheritance of chronic stress and ethanol exposure and the germline mechanisms that could give rise to this heritability. In doing so, we outline the need for further research to: (1) Investigate individual germline mechanisms of paternal, maternal, and biparental nongenomic chronic stress- and ethanol-related inheritance; (2) Synthesize and dissect cross-generational chronic stress and ethanol exposure; (3) Determine cross-generational molecular outcomes of preconception ethanol exposure that contribute to alcohol-related disease risk, using cancer as an example. A detailed understanding of the cross-generational nongenomic effects of stress and/or ethanol will yield novel insight into the impact of ancestral perturbations on disease risk across generations and uncover actionable targets to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C. Rice
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniela V. Gil
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Annalisa M. Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Remy R. Frawley
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shirley Y. Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sean P. Farris
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gregg E. Homanics
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Nieto SJ, Kosten TA. Paternal alcohol exposure attenuates maintenance and reinstated operant responding for alcohol in the offspring of rats. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:1494-1504. [PMID: 37353981 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The heritability of alcohol use disorder is close to 50%, yet common genetic variants account for less than 5% of risk. The missing heritability may reflect environmental exposure in the parents prior to conception. Indeed, paternal alcohol exposure has many behavioral and biological consequences for rodent offspring. We recently found that paternal alcohol exposure attenuated the acquisition of operant alcohol self-administration in offspring of rats of both sexes. Here we test whether this effect extends to other phases of operant self-administration thought to model motivation, craving, and relapse. METHODS Wistar male rats exposed to alcohol vapors or air for 6 weeks were mated with alcohol-naïve females 8 weeks later. The adult offspring were trained to lever press for alcohol and tested under several conditions: (1) maintenance responding under a progressive ratio schedule, (2) extinction responding due to removal of the alcohol delivery contingency, (3) reinstatement of extinguished responding in the presence of alcohol-associated cues, and (4) reinitiation of lever press responding for alcohol delivery under fixed and progressive ratio schedules. RESULTS Alcohol-sired offspring showed reduced responding under the progressive ratio schedule and blunted cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished responding. Alcohol-sired offspring also emitted fewer responses during extinction sessions and did not reinitiate responding to the same extent as control-sired rats after alcohol delivery was restored. CONCLUSIONS Across all conditions, paternal alcohol exposure led to a reduction in the reinforcing effects of alcohol in offspring. These results are consistent with studies conducted with paternal cocaine exposure except that here we find effects in rats of both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Nieto
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Therese A Kosten
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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Valyear MD, LeCocq MR, Brown A, Villaruel FR, Segal D, Chaudhri N. Learning processes in relapse to alcohol use: lessons from animal models. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:393-416. [PMID: 36264342 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06254-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol use is reliably preceded by discrete and contextual stimuli which, through diverse learning processes, acquire the capacity to promote alcohol use and relapse to alcohol use. OBJECTIVE We review contemporary extinction, renewal, reinstatement, occasion setting, and sex differences research within a conditioning framework of relapse to alcohol use to inform the development of behavioural and pharmacological therapies. KEY FINDINGS Diverse learning processes and corresponding neurobiological substrates contribute to relapse to alcohol use. Results from animal models indicate that cortical, thalamic, accumbal, hypothalamic, mesolimbic, glutamatergic, opioidergic, and dopaminergic circuitries contribute to alcohol relapse through separable learning processes. Behavioural therapies could be improved by increasing the endurance and generalizability of extinction learning and should incorporate whether discrete cues and contexts influence behaviour through direct excitatory conditioning or occasion setting mechanisms. The types of learning processes that most effectively influence responding for alcohol differ in female and male rats. CONCLUSION Sophisticated conditioning experiments suggest that diverse learning processes are mediated by distinct neural circuits and contribute to relapse to alcohol use. These experiments also suggest that gender-specific behavioural and pharmacological interventions are a way towards efficacious therapies to prevent relapse to alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan D Valyear
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada. .,Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Ave. Dr. Penfield, Room N8/5, Montréal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada.
| | - Mandy R LeCocq
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexa Brown
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Franz R Villaruel
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Diana Segal
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Nadia Chaudhri
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Nieto SJ, Harding MJ, Nielsen DA, Kosten TA. Paternal alcohol exposure has task- and sex-dependent behavioral effect in offspring. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:2191-2202. [PMID: 36281832 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endophenotypes for alcohol use disorder are well known and may reflect paternal exposure effects passed down to offspring via epigenetic mechanisms. Previously, we showed that paternal alcohol exposure prior to conception attenuates the acquisition of operant alcohol self-administration. We now test whether paternal alcohol exposure alters their offsprings' behavioral responses to alcohol (endophenotypes) and global DNA methylation levels in reward-related brain regions. METHODS Adult male rats were exposed to alcohol vapors or air for 6 weeks and mated with alcohol-naïve females 8 weeks later. Adult male and female offspring of the alcohol- and control-sired litters were tested on three behaviors 30 m after gavage with water or alcohol (1.5 g/kg): open field, elevated plus maze, and accelerating rotarod. Global DNA methylation levels in sperm, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex were examined in male sires and in another group of offspring. RESULTS Alcohol-sired males showed less anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze that was not affected by alcohol administration. By contrast, alcohol had anxiolytic effects in the open field in male offspring only with no paternal alcohol effect. Neither paternal alcohol exposure nor alcohol administration altered locomotor activity in either sex. Sex-specific effects of paternal alcohol exposure were seen in the rotarod test. Alcohol-sired male offspring showed blunted sensitivity to the alcohol's motor-impairing effects, whereas alcohol-sired female offspring showed enhanced sensitivity. Global DNA methylation was altered in the sperm of alcohol-exposed males, but no changes were seen in their offspring. CONCLUSIONS Paternal alcohol exposure prior to conception has sex- and task-dependent effects on unconditioned behaviors in their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Nieto
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | - Therese A Kosten
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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Hussain S, Lesscher HMD, Day DJ, Ellenbroek BA. Genetics and epigenetics: paternal adolescent ethanol consumption in serotonin transporter knock-out rats and offspring sensitivity to ethanol. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:3145-3159. [PMID: 35939082 PMCID: PMC9481507 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06195-5] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is shown to have an overall heritability of around 50%. One of the genes associated with AUD is SLC6A4 (solute carrier family 6 member A4) which codes for the serotonin transporter (SERT). The study looked at serotonin dysfunction on ethanol consumption in adolescents and the subsequent intergenerational effects of drinking by using a rat model: SERT+/+ (regular functioning), SERT+/- (50% transporter reduction) and SERT-/- (complete reduction). OBJECTIVES We investigated sex and genotype differences in ethanol consumption in SERT knock-out Wistar rats (F0) followed by studying behaviour in the offspring (F1) of the male drinkers to assess effects of paternal alcohol consumption. METHODS An intermittent access two-bottle choice paradigm (IA2BC) was used to yield ethanol drinking behaviour in F0 adolescent Wistar rats. The highest drinking males were mated to alcohol-naive females and their offspring were compared with controls. Drinking behaviour (IA2BC) and ethanol-induced motor coordination effects (via rotarod) were measured in the F1s. RESULTS F0 drinking saw no SERT genotype differences in males. However, females consumed higher volumes of ethanol compared to males, with SERT-/- females showing the highest intake. A clearer genotype effect was seen in the F1 animals, with reduction in SERT activity leading to enhanced ethanol intake in both sexes. Importantly, paternal exposure to ethanol significantly reduced the ethanol induced motor side effects in offspring, independent of sex and genotype. CONCLUSIONS These indicate a difference in the way genetic factors may act across sexes and suggest the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the intergenerational effects of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahir Hussain
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, 6104, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Heidi M D Lesscher
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Darren J Day
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, 6104, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Bart A Ellenbroek
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, 6104, Wellington, New Zealand.
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Fredriksson I, Venniro M, Reiner DJ, Chow JJ, Bossert JM, Shaham Y. Animal Models of Drug Relapse and Craving after Voluntary Abstinence: A Review. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:1050-1083. [PMID: 34257149 PMCID: PMC11060480 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapse to drug use during abstinence is a defining feature of addiction. During the last several decades, this clinical scenario has been studied at the preclinical level using classic relapse/reinstatement models in which drug seeking is assessed after experimenter-imposed home-cage forced abstinence or extinction of the drug-reinforced responding in the self-administration chambers. To date, however, results from studies using rat relapse/reinstatement models have yet to result in Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for relapse prevention. The reasons for this state of affairs are complex and multifaceted, but one potential reason is that, in humans, abstinence is often self-imposed or voluntary and occurs either because the negative consequences of drug use outweigh the drug's rewarding effects or because of the availability of nondrug alternative rewards that are chosen over the drug. Based on these considerations, we and others have recently developed rat models of relapse after voluntary abstinence, achieved either by introducing adverse consequences to drug taking (punishment) or seeking (electric barrier) or by providing mutually exclusive choices between the self-administered drug and nondrug rewards (palatable food or social interaction). In this review, we provide an overview of these translationally relevant relapse models and discuss recent neuropharmacological findings from studies using these models. We also discuss sex as a biological variable, future directions, and clinical implications of results from relapse studies using voluntary abstinence models. Our main conclusion is that the neuropharmacological mechanisms controlling relapse to drug seeking after voluntary abstinence are often different from the mechanisms controlling relapse after home-cage forced abstinence or reinstatement after extinction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review describes recently developed rat models of relapse after voluntary abstinence, achieved either by introducing adverse consequences to drug taking or seeking or by providing mutually exclusive choices between the self-administered drug and nondrug rewards. This review discusses recent neuropharmacological findings from studies using these models and discusses future directions and clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Fredriksson
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (I.F., M.V., D.J.R., J.J.C., J.M.B., Y.S.), and Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marco Venniro
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (I.F., M.V., D.J.R., J.J.C., J.M.B., Y.S.), and Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - David J Reiner
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (I.F., M.V., D.J.R., J.J.C., J.M.B., Y.S.), and Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jonathan J Chow
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (I.F., M.V., D.J.R., J.J.C., J.M.B., Y.S.), and Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jennifer M Bossert
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (I.F., M.V., D.J.R., J.J.C., J.M.B., Y.S.), and Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Yavin Shaham
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (I.F., M.V., D.J.R., J.J.C., J.M.B., Y.S.), and Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Koabel J, McNivens M, McKee P, Pautassi R, Bordner K, Nizhnikov M. The offspring of alcohol-exposed sires exhibit heightened ethanol intake and behavioral alterations in the elevated plus maze. Alcohol 2021; 92:65-72. [PMID: 33722694 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2021.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Research suggests that addictive traits are indeed heritable, but very few preclinical studies have explored transgenerational effects of paternal alcohol exposure. The present study addressed this gap in knowledge. We explored whether offspring of ethanol-exposed sires would be more likely to accept ethanol than descendants of water-exposed and control sires. We also investigated whether the second generation of ethanol-exposed descendants would accept ethanol more than controls and were more or less likely to experience anxiety-like behavior in behavioral assessments. We exposed male rats to repeated binge doses of alcohol (4 g/kg/day across 8 days), water, or left them untreated and mated them with untreated females. We then bred the offspring of these rats to test transgenerational effects of paternal alcohol exposure. We tested 14-day-old offspring from the first and second filial generation for their acceptance of ethanol and water, and measured anxiety-like behavior in 38-day-old, second-generation offspring using an elevated plus maze. The results indicate that offspring of ethanol-exposed sires increase ethanol acceptance in the first generation compared to untreated controls, whereas in the second-generation increased ethanol acceptance vs. these controls is seen in descendants of both ethanol- and vehicle-treated sires. At adolescence, the second generation of rats derived from alcohol-exposed sires exhibited significantly more time spent in the open arms and significantly more arm entries than any other group. The present study suggests that parental ethanol exposure is associated with lingering effects in the infant and adolescent offspring. The second filial generation was also found to be affected, albeit similarly by grandparental ethanol exposure or by the stress of the vehicle administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Koabel
- Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, United States.
| | - Meghan McNivens
- Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, United States
| | - Paul McKee
- Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent St., New Haven, CT, 06515, United States
| | - Ricardo Pautassi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET), Friuli 2434, Córdoba, Cba, 5016, Argentina
| | - Kelly Bordner
- Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent St., New Haven, CT, 06515, United States
| | - Michael Nizhnikov
- Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent St., New Haven, CT, 06515, United States
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Rutkowska J, Lagisz M, Bonduriansky R, Nakagawa S. Mapping the past, present and future research landscape of paternal effects. BMC Biol 2020; 18:183. [PMID: 33246472 PMCID: PMC7694421 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00892-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although in all sexually reproducing organisms an individual has a mother and a father, non-genetic inheritance has been predominantly studied in mothers. Paternal effects have been far less frequently studied, until recently. In the last 5 years, research on environmentally induced paternal effects has grown rapidly in the number of publications and diversity of topics. Here, we provide an overview of this field using synthesis of evidence (systematic map) and influence (bibliometric analyses). RESULTS We find that motivations for studies into paternal effects are diverse. For example, from the ecological and evolutionary perspective, paternal effects are of interest as facilitators of response to environmental change and mediators of extended heredity. Medical researchers track how paternal pre-fertilization exposures to factors, such as diet or trauma, influence offspring health. Toxicologists look at the effects of toxins. We compare how these three research guilds design experiments in relation to objects of their studies: fathers, mothers and offspring. We highlight examples of research gaps, which, in turn, lead to future avenues of research. CONCLUSIONS The literature on paternal effects is large and disparate. Our study helps in fostering connections between areas of knowledge that develop in parallel, but which could benefit from the lateral transfer of concepts and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Rutkowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Campbell EJ, Hill MK, Maddern XJ, Jin S, Pang TY, Lawrence AJ. Orexin-1 receptor signaling within the lateral hypothalamus, but not bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, mediates context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking. J Psychopharmacol 2020; 34:1261-1270. [PMID: 33063594 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120959638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lateral hypothalamic orexin (hypocretin) system has a well-established role in the motivation for reward. This has particular relevance to substance use disorders since orexin-1 receptors play a critical role in alcohol-seeking behavior, acting at multiple nodes in relapse-associated networks. AIMS This study aimed to further our understanding of the role of orexin-1 receptor signaling within the lateral hypothalamus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, specifically in context-induced relapse to alcohol-seeking following punishment-imposed abstinence. METHODS We trained inbred male alcohol-preferring rats to self-administer alcohol in one environment or context (Context A) and subsequently punished their alcohol-reinforced lever presses in a different environment (Context B) using contingent foot shock punishment. Finally, we tested rats for relapse-like behavior in either context following systemic, intra-lateral hypothalamus or intra-bed nucleus of the stria terminalis orexin-1 receptor antagonism with SB-334867. RESULTS/OUTCOMES We found that systemic orexin-1 receptor antagonism significantly reduced alcohol-seeking in both contexts. Intra-lateral hypothalamus orexin-1 receptor antagonism significantly reduced alcohol-seeking in Context A whereas intra-bed nucleus of the stria terminalis orexin-1 receptor antagonism had no effect on alcohol-seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Our results suggest a role for the orexin-1 receptor system in context-induced relapse to alcohol-seeking. Specifically, intra-lateral hypothalamus orexin microcircuits contribute to alcohol-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin J Campbell
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Mitchell Kri Hill
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Xavier J Maddern
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Shubo Jin
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Terence Y Pang
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
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Baratta AM, Rathod RS, Plasil SL, Seth A, Homanics GE. Exposure to drugs of abuse induce effects that persist across generations. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 156:217-277. [PMID: 33461664 PMCID: PMC8167819 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders are highly prevalent and continue to be one of the leading causes of disability in the world. Notably, not all people who use addictive drugs develop a substance use disorder. Although substance use disorders are highly heritable, patterns of inheritance cannot be explained purely by Mendelian genetic mechanisms. Vulnerability to developing drug addiction depends on the interplay between genetics and environment. Additionally, evidence from the past decade has pointed to the role of epigenetic inheritance in drug addiction. This emerging field focuses on how environmental perturbations, including exposure to addictive drugs, induce epigenetic modifications that are transmitted to the embryo at fertilization and modify developmental gene expression programs to ultimately impact subsequent generations. This chapter highlights intergenerational and transgenerational phenotypes in offspring following a history of parental drug exposure. Special attention is paid to parental preconception exposure studies of five drugs of abuse (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, cannabinoids, and opiates) and associated behavioral and physiological outcomes in offspring. The highlighted studies demonstrate that parental exposure to drugs of abuse has enduring effects that persist into subsequent generations. Understanding the contribution of epigenetic inheritance in drug addiction may provide clues for better treatments and therapies for substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa M Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Richa S Rathod
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sonja L Plasil
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Amit Seth
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Gregg E Homanics
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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11
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Rathod RS, Ferguson C, Seth A, Baratta AM, Plasil SL, Homanics GE. Effects of Paternal Preconception Vapor Alcohol Exposure Paradigms on Behavioral Responses in Offspring. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10090658. [PMID: 32971974 PMCID: PMC7564629 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10090658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We and others previously reported that paternal preconception chronic ethanol exposure leads to molecular, physiological, and behavioral changes in offspring including reduced ethanol consumption and preference relative to controls. The goal of the present study was to further explore the impact of paternal ethanol exposure on a wide variety of basal and drug-induced behavioral responses in first generation offspring. Adult male mice were exposed to chronic intermittent vapor ethanol or control conditions for 5-6 weeks before being mated with ethanol-naïve females to produce ethanol (E)- and control (C)-sired offspring. E-sired male offspring showed stress hyporesponsivity in a stress-induced hyperthermia assay and E-sired female offspring had reduced binge-like ethanol consumption in a drinking in the dark assay compared to C-sired offspring. E-sired offspring also showed altered sensitivity to a sedative/hypnotic dose of the GABAergic drug midazolam, but not ketamine or ethanol, in a loss of the righting response assay. E-sired offspring did not differ from controls in marble burying, novel object location, novel object recognition, social interaction, bottle-brush, novelty suppressed feeding, prepulse inhibition, every-other-day ethanol drinking, or home cage activity assays. This study adds to a growing body of literature suggesting that like in utero alcohol exposure, paternal preconception alcohol exposure can also have effects that persist and impact behavior of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa S. Rathod
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (R.S.R.); (C.F.); (A.S.)
| | - Carolyn Ferguson
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (R.S.R.); (C.F.); (A.S.)
| | - Amit Seth
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (R.S.R.); (C.F.); (A.S.)
| | - Annalisa M. Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
| | - Sonja L. Plasil
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
| | - Gregg E. Homanics
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (R.S.R.); (C.F.); (A.S.)
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-412-648-8172
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Campbell EJ, Jin S, Lawrence AJ. Environmental enrichment reduces the propensity to relapse following punishment-imposed abstinence of alcohol seeking. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112638. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Cadet JL, Patel R, Jayanthi S. Compulsive methamphetamine taking and abstinence in the presence of adverse consequences: Epigenetic and transcriptional consequences in the rat brain. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 179:98-108. [PMID: 30797763 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Methamphetamine addiction is characterized by compulsive binges of drug intake despite adverse life consequences. A model of methamphetamine self-administration that includes contingent footshocks to constitute adverse consequences has helped to segregate rats that reduce or stop lever pressing for methamphetamine (sensitive) from those that continue to lever press for the drug (resistant) in the presence of negative outcomes. We have observed differential DNA hydroxymethylation and increased expression of potassium channel mRNAs in the nucleus accumbens of sensitive compared to resistant rats, suggesting a role of these channels in suppressing methamphetamine intake. There were also significant increases in nerve growth factor (NGF) expression and activation of its downstream signaling pathway (NGF-TrkA and p75NTR/MAPK signaling) in only the dorsal striatum of sensitive rats after a month of abstinence. In contrast, oxytocin mRNA expression was increased in only the nucleus accumbens of resistant rats compared to sensitive rats euthanized after that time. These results indicate that footshocks can differentiate two behavioral phenotypes with differential biochemical and epigenetic consequences in the ventral and dorsal striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Lud Cadet
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Ravish Patel
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Subramaniam Jayanthi
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Campbell EJ, Flanagan JPM, Walker LC, Hill MKRI, Marchant NJ, Lawrence AJ. Anterior Insular Cortex is Critical for the Propensity to Relapse Following Punishment-Imposed Abstinence of Alcohol Seeking. J Neurosci 2019; 39:1077-1087. [PMID: 30509960 PMCID: PMC6363928 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1596-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans with alcohol use disorder typically abstain because of the negative consequences associated with excessive drinking, and exposure to contexts previously associated with alcohol use can trigger relapse. We used a rat model that captures a characteristic of this human condition: namely voluntary abstinence from alcohol use because of contingent punishment. There is substantial variability in the propensity to relapse following extended periods of abstinence, and this is a critical feature preventing the successful treatment of alcohol use disorder. Here we examined relapse following acute or prolonged abstinence. In male alcohol preferring P rats, we found an increased propensity to relapse in Context B, the punishment context after prolonged abstinence. Next, we found that neither alcohol intake history nor the motivational strength of alcohol predicted the propensity to relapse. We next examined the putative circuitry of context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking following prolonged abstinence using Fos as a marker of neuronal activation. The anterior insular cortex (AI) was the only brain region examined where Fos expression correlated with alcohol seeking behavior in Context B after prolonged abstinence. Finally, we used local infusion of GABAA and GABAB receptor agonists (muscimol + baclofen) to show a causal role of the AI in context-induced relapse in Context B, the punishment context after prolonged abstinence. Our results show that there is substantial individual variability in the propensity to relapse in the punishment-associated context after prolonged abstinence, and this is mediated by activity in the AI.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A key feature of alcohol use disorder is that sufferers show an enduring propensity to relapse throughout their lifetime. Relapse typically occurs despite the knowledge of adverse consequences including health complications or relationship breakdowns. Here we use a recently developed rodent model that recapitulates this behavior. After an extended period of abstinence, relapse propensity is markedly increased in the "adverse consequence" environment, akin to humans with alcohol use disorder relapsing in the face of adversity. From a circuitry perspective, we demonstrate a causal role of the anterior insular cortex in relapse to alcohol seeking after extended abstinence following punishment imposed voluntary cessation of alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin J Campbell
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia,
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia, and
| | - Jeremy P M Flanagan
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia, and
| | - Leigh C Walker
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia, and
| | - Mitchell K R I Hill
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia, and
| | - Nathan J Marchant
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia, and
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia,
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia, and
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