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Abstract
Diseases associated with nicotine dependence in the form of habitual tobacco use are a major cause of premature death in the United States. The majority of tobacco smokers will relapse within the first month of attempted abstinence. Smoking cessation agents increase the likelihood that smokers can achieve long-term abstinence. Nevertheless, currently available smoking cessation agents have limited utility and fail to prevent relapse in the majority of smokers. Pharmacotherapy is therefore an effective strategy to aid smoking cessation efforts but considerable risk of relapse persists even when the most efficacious medications currently available are used. The past decade has seen major breakthroughs in our understanding of the molecular, cellular, and systems-level actions of nicotine in the brain that contribute to the development and maintenance of habitual tobacco use. In parallel, large-scale human genetics studies have revealed allelic variants that influence vulnerability to tobacco use disorder. These advances have revealed targets for the development of novel smoking cessation agents. Here, we summarize current efforts to develop smoking cessation therapeutics and highlight opportunities for future efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Lengel
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Paul J. Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Drug Discovery Institute (DDI), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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2
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Ito M, Walzer M, Blauwet MB, Spence A, Heo N, Kelsh D, Blahunka P, Erdman J, Alsharif MN, Marek GJ. A phase 1 randomized, placebo-controlled study to investigate potential interactions between ASP8062, a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA B receptor, and morphine in recreational opioid users. J Psychopharmacol 2023; 37:449-461. [PMID: 37125424 DOI: 10.1177/02698811231167852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent increases in opioid use and subsequent opioid use disorder are a major public health crisis in the United States. AIMS This phase 1 randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PKs) of ASP8062, a γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor-positive allosteric modulator, with and without administration of morphine in participants who used opioids recreationally. METHODS Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to daily dosing with ASP8062 25 mg or placebo on days 1-10. On day 10, all participants received morphine as a single oral dose of 45 mg; assessments were performed on days 11-16. The primary end point was safety, evaluated as the nature, frequency, and severity of adverse events, and end-tidal CO2 levels. PK end points were a secondary outcome measure. RESULTS A total of 24 participants (aged 21-54 years) received ASP8062 (n = 16) or placebo (n = 8). There were no deaths or serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation during the study. Most adverse events were mild, with numerically lower absolute number of adverse events reported with ASP8062 plus morphine versus placebo plus morphine. ASP8062 plus morphine did not increase respiratory depression, potential drug abuse- or withdrawal-related adverse events. There were no significant PK interactions. CONCLUSIONS In this phase 1 study, we did not observe any unexpected safety signals or notable PK interactions with concomitant morphine administration. These data suggest a potentially low risk for an increase in drug abuse- or withdrawal-related adverse events or respiratory distress in participants exposed to ASP8062 and morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mototsugu Ito
- Development Project Management, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Mark Walzer
- Clinical Pharmacology & Exploratory Development, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Mary Beth Blauwet
- Biostatistics Department, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Anna Spence
- Biostatistics Department, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Nakyo Heo
- Clinical Pharmacology & Exploratory Development, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Debra Kelsh
- Altasciences, Clinical Kansas, Inc., Overland Park, KS, USA
| | - Paul Blahunka
- Employee of Astellas, Northbrook, IL, USA, at the time of the study
| | - Jay Erdman
- Development Project Management, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Mohamad Nour Alsharif
- Development Project Management, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Gerard J Marek
- Employee of Astellas, Northbrook, IL, USA, at the time of the study
- Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals Inc., New York, NY, USA
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3
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Ito M, Walzer M, Beth Blauwet M, Spence A, Heo N, Kelsh D, Blahunka P, Erdman J, Nour Alsharif M, Marek GJ. A phase 1b study to investigate the potential interactions between ASP8062 and buprenorphine/naloxone in patients with opioid use disorder. J Psychopharmacol 2023; 37:144-154. [PMID: 36738100 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221149657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an unmet need for therapeutics with greater efficacy and tolerability for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). ASP8062 is a novel compound with positive allosteric modulator activity on the γ-aminobutyric acid type B receptor under development for use with standard-of-care treatment for patients with OUD. AIMS To investigate the safety, tolerability, interaction potential, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of ASP8062 in combination with buprenorphine/naloxone (B/N; Suboxone®). METHODS In this phase 1, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study, patients with OUD began B/N (titrated to 16/4 mg/day) treatment upon enrollment (induction, Days 1-4; maintenance, Days 5-18; downward titration, Days 19-26; and discharge, Day 27). On Day 12, patients received a single dose of ASP8062 60 mg or placebo with B/N and underwent safety and PK assessments. Primary endpoints included frequency and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), clinical laboratory tests, respiratory depression, and suicidal ideation. Secondary endpoints investigated the impact of ASP8062 on B/N PK. RESULTS Eighteen patients were randomized and completed the study (ASP8062, n = 12; placebo, n = 6). With this sample size typical for phase 1 drug-drug interaction studies, ASP8062 was well tolerated; most TEAEs were mild in severity, and none led to treatment withdrawal. ASP8062 did not enhance substance use-related TEAEs, respiratory depression, or suicidal ideation and did not have a clinically significant impact on the PK of B/N. CONCLUSIONS In this phase 1 study, ASP8062 was safe, well tolerated, and did not enhance respiratory suppression induced by buprenorphine. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04447287.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mototsugu Ito
- Development Project Management, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Mark Walzer
- Clinical Pharmacology and Exploratory Development, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Mary Beth Blauwet
- Biostatistics Department, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Anna Spence
- Biostatistics Department, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Nakyo Heo
- Clinical Pharmacology and Exploratory Development, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Debra Kelsh
- Altasciences Clinical Kansas, Inc., Overland Park, KS, USA
| | | | - Jay Erdman
- Medical Specialties, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | | | - Gerard J Marek
- Employee of Astellas at the time of the study.,Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New York, NY, USA
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4
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Wang P, Nan S, Zhang Y, Fan J. Effects of GABA B receptor positive allosteric modulator BHF177 and IRS-1 on apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with refractory epilepsy via the PI3K/Akt pathway. Cell Biol Int 2022; 46:1775-1786. [PMID: 35989486 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to determine the effects of the γ-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB ) receptor positive allosteric modulator BHF177 on refractory epilepsy (RE). An RE rat model was initially established via treatment with lithium-pilocarpine. The RE rats were then treated with BHF177 or the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP46381, followed by recording of their seizure rate and assessment of their spatial learning in the Morris water maze test. Treatment of BHF177 reduced the seizure intensity, whereas this effect was revered upoj treatment with CGP46381. Immunohistochemistry revealed that BHF177 treatment diminished P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in the hippocampal tissues of RE rats. Next, we found that BHF177 activated GABAB receptor, resulting in upregulated expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and PI3K, as well as antiapoptotic factors (Bcl-2 and mTOR), along with suppression of the apoptosis factors Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in the hippocampal tissues. Further, activation of GABAB receptors by BHF177 alleviated the inflammatory response in hippocampal tissues of RE rats, as evidenced by reduced VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. Next, we treated primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons with BHF177 and the IRS-1 selective inhibitor NT157. BHF177 inhibited hippocampal apoptosis in rat hippocampal neurons by regulating the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt axis through crosstalk between GABAB and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors. Collectively, our findings indicate that the BHF177 inhibited neuron apoptosis, thus protecting against RE through the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt axis, which may present a new therapeutic channel for RE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Shanji Nan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yizhi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Davis S, Zhu J. Substance abuse and neurotransmission. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2022; 93:403-441. [PMID: 35341573 PMCID: PMC9759822 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The number of people who suffer from a substance abuse disorder has continued to rise over the last decade; particularly, the number of drug-related overdose deaths has sharply increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Converging lines of clinical observations, supported by imaging and neuropsychological performance testing, have demonstrated that substance abuse-induced dysregulation of neurotransmissions in the brain is critical for development and expression of the addictive properties of abused substances. Recent scientific advances have allowed for better understanding of the neurobiological processes that mediates drugs of abuse and addiction. This chapter presents the past classic concepts and the recent advances in our knowledge about how cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, alcohol, and nicotine alter multiple neurotransmitter systems, which contribute to the behaviors associated with each drug. Additionally, we discuss the interactive effects of HIV-1 or COVID-19 and substance abuse on neurotransmission and neurobiological pathways. Finally, we introduce therapeutic strategies for development of pharmacotherapies for substance abuse disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Davis
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Jun Zhu
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
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Maccioni P, Kaczanowska K, Lawrence H, Yun S, Bratzu J, Gessa GL, McDonald P, Colombo G. The Novel Positive Allosteric Modulator of the GABA B Receptor, KK-92A, Suppresses Alcohol Self-Administration and Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Alcohol Seeking in Rats. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:727576. [PMID: 34778249 PMCID: PMC8585307 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.727576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs) are of interest in the addiction field due to their ability to suppress several behaviors motivated by drugs of abuse. KK-92A is a novel GABAB PAM found to attenuate intravenous self-administration of nicotine and reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats. This present study was aimed at extending to alcohol the anti-addictive properties of KK-92A. To this end, Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats were trained to lever-respond for oral alcohol (15% v/v) or sucrose (0.7% w/v) under the fixed ratio (FR) 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding behavior had stabilized, rats were exposed to tests with acutely administered KK-92A under FR5 and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement and cue-induced reinstatement of previously extinguished alcohol seeking. KK-92A effect on spontaneous locomotor activity was also evaluated. Treatment with 10 and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed lever-responding for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol. Treatment with 20 mg/kg KK-92A reduced sucrose self-administration. Combination of per se ineffective doses of KK-92A (2.5 mg/kg) and the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen (1 mg/kg), reduced alcohol self-administration. Treatment with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Only treatment with 80 mg/kg KK-92A affected spontaneous locomotor activity. These results demonstrate the ability of KK-92A to inhibit alcohol-motivated behaviors in rodents and confirm that these effects are common to the entire class of GABAB PAMs. The remarkable efficacy of KK-92A is discussed in terms of its ago-allosteric properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Kaczanowska
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Harshani Lawrence
- Chemical Biology Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Sang Yun
- Chemical Biology Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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7
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Abstract
GABAB receptors are implicated in numerous central nervous system-based behaviours and mechanisms, including cognitive processing in preclinical animal models. Homeostatic changes in the expression and function of these receptors across brain structures have been found to affect cognitive processing. Numerous preclinical studies have focused on the role of GABAB receptors in learning, memory and cognition per se with some interesting, although sometimes contradictory, findings. The majority of the existing clinical literature focuses on alterations in GABAB receptor function in conditions and disorders whose main symptomatology includes deficits in cognitive processing. The aim of this chapter is to delineate the role of GABAB receptors in cognitive processes in health and disease of animal models and human clinical populations. More specifically, this review aims to present literature on the role of GABAB receptors in animal models with cognitive deficits, especially those of learning and memory. Further, it aims to capture the progress and advances of research studies on the effects of GABAB receptor compounds in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions with cognitive dysfunctions. The neurodevelopmental conditions covered include autism spectrum disorders, fragile X syndrome and Down's syndrome and the neurodegenerative conditions discussed are Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and autoimmune anti-GABAB encephalitis. Although some findings are contradictory, results indicate a possible therapeutic role of GABAB receptor compounds for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction and learning/memory impairments for some of these conditions, especially in neurodegeneration. Moreover, future research efforts should aim to develop selective GABAB receptor compounds with minimal, if any, side effects.
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Yunusoğlu O. Linalool attenuates acquisition and reinstatement and accelerates the extinction of nicotine-induced conditioned place preference in male mice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2021; 47:422-432. [PMID: 33852814 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2021.1898627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: Nicotine is the addictive agent in tobacco products. The monoterpene linalool is the main ingredient in the essential oils of various aromatic plants. It has previously been demonstrated that linalool has beneficial effects on some mechanisms that are important in drug addiction.Objectives: The goal of the current study was to investigate the effect of linalool on nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in male mice.Methods: CPP was induced by administering intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) during the conditioning phase. The effects of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist varenicline and linalool on the rewarding characteristics of nicotine were tested in mice with administration of linalool (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.p.), varenicline (2 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline 30 minutes before nicotine injection. CPP was extinguished by repeated testing, during which conditioned mice were administered varenicline and linalool every day. One day after the last extinction trial, mice that received linalool, varenicline or saline 30 minutes before a priming injection of nicotine (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) were immediately tested for reinstatement of CPP.Results: Linalool attenuated nicotine acquisition (50 mg/kg, p < .01) and reinstatement (25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively p < .05, p < .01) and accelerated the extinction of nicotine-induced CPP (50 mg/kg, p < .05). Linalool exhibited similar effects on the reference drug varenicline in the CPP phases.Conclusion: These results suggest that linalool may be helpful as an adjuvant for the treatment of nicotine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oruç Yunusoğlu
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
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9
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Therapeutic potential of targeting G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels in the central nervous system. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 223:107808. [PMID: 33476640 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir3/GirK) are important for maintaining resting membrane potential, cell excitability and inhibitory neurotransmission. Coupled to numerous G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), they mediate the effects of many neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and hormones contributing to the general homeostasis and particular synaptic plasticity processes, learning, memory and pain signaling. A growing number of behavioral and genetic studies suggest a critical role for the appropriate functioning of the central nervous system, as well as their involvement in many neurologic and psychiatric conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases, mood disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, epilepsy, alcoholism and drug addiction. Hence, GirK channels emerge as a very promising tool to be targeted in the current scenario where these conditions already are or will become a global public health problem. This review examines recent findings on the physiology, function, dysfunction, and pharmacology of GirK channels in the central nervous system and highlights the relevance of GirK channels as a worthful potential target to improve therapies for related diseases.
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Lobina C, Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Zaru A, Collu M, Carai MAM, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Gessa GL, Corelli F, Colombo G. Suppressing effect of the novel positive allosteric modulator of the GABA B receptor, COR659, on locomotor hyperactivity induced by different drugs of abuse. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113045. [PMID: 33309750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
COR659 is a recently synthesized positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABAB receptor. Similarly to all GABAB PAMs tested to date, COR659 has been reported to suppress different alcohol-related behaviors in rodents. The present study was designed to assess whether the anti-addictive properties of COR659 extend to drugs of abuse other than alcohol. Specifically, it investigated the effect of COR659 on cocaine-, amphetamine-, nicotine-, and morphine-induced locomotor hyperactivity in mice. To this aim, independent groups of CD1 mice were acutely pretreated with COR659 (0, 10, and 20 mg/kg; i.p.), then acutely treated with cocaine (0 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.), amphetamine (0 and 5 mg/kg; s.c.), nicotine (0 and 0.05 mg/kg; s.c.), or morphine (0 and 20 mg/kg; s.c.), and finally exposed for 60 min to a photocell-equipped motility cage. When given alone, both doses of COR659 were ineffective on spontaneous locomotor activity. Pretreatment with COR659 reduced, or even suppressed, the increase in motility counts induced by cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine, and morphine. Since locomotor hyperactivity is an attribute common to drugs of abuse, the results of the present study constitute the first line of evidence on the extension of the preclinical, anti-addictive profile of COR659 to cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine, and morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaru
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Maria Collu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research, Cagliari, CA, I-09127, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy.
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11
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Sun K, Mu Q, Chang H, Zhang C, Wang Y, Rong S, Liu S, Zuo D, He Z, Wan D, Yang H, Wang F, Sun T. Postretrieval Microinjection of Baclofen Into the Agranular Insular Cortex Inhibits Morphine-Induced CPP by Disrupting Reconsolidation. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:743. [PMID: 32508658 PMCID: PMC7248341 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental cues associated with drug abuse are powerful mediators of drug craving and relapse in substance-abuse disorders. Consequently, attenuating the strength of cue-drug memories could reduce the number of factors that cause drug craving and relapse. Interestingly, impairing cue-drug memory reconsolidation is a generally accepted strategy aimed at reducing the intensity of cues that trigger drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors. In addition, the agranular insular cortex (AI) is an important component of the neural circuits underlying drug-related memory reconsolidation. GABAB receptors (GABABRs) are potential targets for the treatment of addiction, and baclofen (BLF) is the only prototypical GABAB agonist available for application in clinical addiction treatment. Furthermore, ΔFosB is considered a biomarker for the evaluation of potential therapeutic interventions for addiction. Here, we used the morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to investigate whether postretrieval microinjections of BLF into the AI could affect reconsolidation of drug-reward memory, reinstatement of CPP, and the level of ΔFosB in mice. Our results showed that BLF infused into the AI immediately following morphine CPP memory retrieval, but not 6 h postretrieval or following nonretrieval, could eliminate the expression of a morphine CPP memory. This effect persisted in a morphine-priming–induced reinstatement test, suggesting that BLF in the AI was capable of preventing the reconsolidation of the morphine CPP memory. Our results also showed that the elimination of morphine CPP memory was associated with reduced morphine-associated ΔFosB expression in the longer term. Taken together, the results of our research provide evidence to support that GABABRs in the AI have an important role in drug-cue memory reconsolidation and further our understanding of the role of the AI in drug-related learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuisheng Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Gaozhou, China
| | - Qingchun Mu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Gaozhou, China
| | - Haigang Chang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yehua Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shikuo Rong
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shenhai Liu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Di Zuo
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Zhenquan He
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Ding Wan
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
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12
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Ranson DC, Ayoub SS, Corcoran O, Casalotti SO. Pharmacological targeting of the GABA B receptor alters Drosophila's behavioural responses to alcohol. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12725. [PMID: 30761704 PMCID: PMC7050513 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
When exposed to ethanol, Drosophila melanogaster display a variety of addiction-like behaviours similar to those observed in mammals. Sensitivity to ethanol can be quantified by measuring the time at which 50% of the flies are sedated by ethanol exposure (ST50); an increase of ST50 following multiple ethanol exposures is widely interpreted as development of tolerance to ethanol. Sensitivity and tolerance to ethanol were measured after administration of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor B (GABAB ) agonist (SKF 97541) and antagonist (CGP 54626), when compared with flies treated with ethanol alone. Dose-dependent increases and decreases in sensitivity to ethanol were observed for both the agonist and antagonist respectively. Tolerance was recorded in the presence of GABAB drugs, but the rate of tolerance development was increased by SKF 97451 and unaltered in presence of CGP 54626. This indicates that the GABAB receptor contributes to both the sensitivity to ethanol and mechanisms by which tolerance develops. The data also reinforce the usefulness of Drosophila as a model for identifying the molecular components of addictive behaviours and for testing drugs that could potentially be used for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samir S. Ayoub
- Medicines Research GroupUniversity of East London London UK
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13
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Li X, Slesinger PA. GABA B Receptors and Drug Addiction: Psychostimulants and Other Drugs of Abuse. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 52:119-155. [PMID: 33442842 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic GABAB receptors (GABABRs) mediate slow inhibition and modulate synaptic plasticity throughout the brain. Dysfunction of GABABRs has been associated with psychiatric illnesses and addiction. Drugs of abuse alter GABAB receptor (GABABR) signaling in multiple brain regions, which partly contributes to the development of drug addiction. Recently, GABABR ligands and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have been shown to attenuate the initial rewarding effect of addictive substances, inhibit seeking and taking of these drugs, and in some cases, ameliorate drug withdrawal symptoms. The majority of the anti-addiction effects seen with GABABR modulation can be localized to ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons, which receive complex inhibitory and excitatory inputs that are modified by drugs of abuse. Preclinical research suggests that GABABR PAMs are emerging as promising candidates for the treatment of drug addiction. Clinical studies on drug dependence have shown positive results with GABABR ligands but more are needed, and compounds with better pharmacokinetics and fewer side effects are critically needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Li
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Paul A Slesinger
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Schmidt HD, Rupprecht LE, Addy NA. Neurobiological and Neurophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Nicotine Seeking and Smoking Relapse. MOLECULAR NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2019; 4:169-189. [PMID: 30815453 PMCID: PMC6388439 DOI: 10.1159/000494799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco-related morbidity and mortality continue to be a significant public health concern. Unfortunately, current FDA-approved smoking cessation pharmacotherapies have limited efficacy and are associated with high rates of relapse. Therefore, a better understanding of the neurobiological and neurophysiological mechanisms that promote smoking relapse is needed to develop novel smoking cessation medications. Here, we review preclinical studies focused on identifying the neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems that mediate nicotine relapse, often modeled in laboratory animals using the reinstatement paradigm, as well as the plasticity-dependent neurophysiological mechanisms that facilitate nicotine reinstatement. Particular emphasis is placed on how these neuroadaptations relate to smoking relapse in humans. We also highlight a number of important gaps in our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying nicotine reinstatement and critical future directions, which may lead toward the development of novel, target pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heath D. Schmidt
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura E. Rupprecht
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nii A. Addy
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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15
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Phillips AG, Geyer MA, Robbins TW. Effective Use of Animal Models for Therapeutic Development in Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:915-923. [PMID: 29478700 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Athina Markou and others argue forcefully for the adoption of a "translational-back translational strategy" for central nervous system drug discovery involving novel application of drugs with established safety profiles in proof-of-principle studies in humans, which in turn encourage parallel studies using experimental animals to provide vital data on the neural systems and neuropharmacological mechanisms related to the actions of the candidate drugs. Encouraged by the increasing adoption of drug-development strategies involving reciprocal information exchange between preclinical animal studies and related clinical research programs, this review presents additional compelling examples related to the following: 1) the treatment of cognitive deficits that define attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; 2) the development of fast-acting antidepressants based on promising clinical effects with low doses of the anesthetic ketamine; and 3) new and effective medications for the treatment of substance misuse. In the context of addressing the unmet medical need for new and effective drugs for treatment of mental ill health, now may be the time to launch major new academic-industry consortia committed to open access of all preclinical and clinical data generated by this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Phillips
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Mark A Geyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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16
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Ehlers CL, Pergadia ML, Stoker AK, Vlachou S. Contribution to Mentorship and Promoting Women in Science. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:913-914. [PMID: 28917609 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cindy L Ehlers
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.
| | - Michele L Pergadia
- Integrated Medical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Astrid K Stoker
- Medical Communications Manager/Medical Advisor at Excerpta Medica BV - Adelphi Group, Universiteit Utrecht, Amsterdam Area, Netherlands
| | - Styliani Vlachou
- Department of Psychology, School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
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17
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Geyer MA, Semenova S, Li X, Der-Avakian A, Barnes SA, Grant I. Overview of the Biography and Legacy of Professor Athina Markou. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:910-912. [PMID: 29501205 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Geyer
- Markou Consortium for Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
| | - Svetlana Semenova
- Markou Consortium for Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Xia Li
- Markou Consortium for Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Andre Der-Avakian
- Markou Consortium for Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Samuel A Barnes
- Markou Consortium for Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Igor Grant
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
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18
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Jacobson LH, Vlachou S, Slattery DA, Li X, Cryan JF. The Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid B Receptor in Depression and Reward. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:963-976. [PMID: 29759132 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The metabotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor was the first described obligate G protein-coupled receptor heterodimer and continues to set the stage for discoveries in G protein-coupled receptor signaling complexity. In this review, dedicated to the life and work of Athina Markou, we explore the role of GABAB receptors in depression, reward, and the convergence of these domains in anhedonia, a shared symptom of major depressive disorder and withdrawal from drugs of abuse. GABAB receptor expression and function are enhanced by antidepressants and reduced in animal models of depression. Generally, GABAB receptor antagonists are antidepressant-like and agonists are pro-depressive. Exceptions to this rule likely reflect the differential influence of GABAB1 isoforms in depression-related behavior and neurobiology, including the anhedonic effects of social stress. A wealth of data implicate GABAB receptors in the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. We focus on nicotine as an example. GABAB receptor activation attenuates, and deactivation enhances, nicotine reward and associated neurobiological changes. In nicotine withdrawal, however, GABAB receptor agonists, antagonists, and positive allosteric modulators enhance anhedonia, perhaps owing to differential effects of GABAB1 isoforms on the dopaminergic system. Nicotine cue-induced reinstatement is more reliably attenuated by GABAB receptor activation. Separation of desirable and undesirable side effects of agonists is achievable with positive allosteric modulators, which are poised to enter clinical studies for drug abuse. GABAB1 isoforms are key to understanding the neurobiology of anhedonia, whereas allosteric modulators may offer a mechanism for targeting specific brain regions and processes associated with reward and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura H Jacobson
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Styliani Vlachou
- School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin
| | - David A Slattery
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - John F Cryan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Varani AP, Pedrón VT, Aon AJ, Höcht C, Acosta GB, Bettler B, Balerio GN. Nicotine-induced molecular alterations are modulated by GABA B receptor activity. Addict Biol 2018; 23:230-246. [PMID: 28419642 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that GABAB receptors modulate nicotine (NIC) reward effect; nevertheless, the mechanism implicated is not well known. In this regard, we evaluated the involvement of GABAB receptors on the behavioral, neurochemical, biochemical and molecular alterations associated with the rewarding effects induced by NIC in mice, from a pharmacological and genetic approach. NIC-induced rewarding properties (0.5 mg/kg, subcutaneously, sc) were evaluated by conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. CPP has three phases: preconditioning, conditioning and postconditioning. GABAB receptor antagonist 2-hydroxysaclofen (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg; intraperitoneally, ip) or the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (3 mg/kg; ip) was injected before NIC during the conditioning phase. GABAB1 knockout (GABAB1 KO) mice received NIC during the conditioning phase. Vehicle and wild-type controls were employed. Neurochemical (dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites), biochemical (nicotinic receptor α4β2, α4β2nAChRs) and molecular (c-Fos) alterations induced by NIC were analyzed after the postconditioning phase by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), receptor-ligand binding assays and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in nucleus accumbens (Acb), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). NIC induced rewarding effects in the CPP paradigm and increased dopamine levels in Acb and PFC, α4β2nAChRs density in VTA and c-Fos expression in Acb shell (AcbSh), VTA and PFC. We showed that behavioral, neurochemical, biochemical and molecular alterations induced by NIC were prevented by baclofen. However, in 2-hydroxysaclofen pretreated and GABAB1 KO mice, these alterations were potentiated, suggesting that GABAB receptor activity is necessary to control alterations induced by NIC-induced rewarding effects. Therefore, the present findings provided important contributions to the mechanisms implicated in NIC-induced rewarding effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres P Varani
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria T Pedrón
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Amira J Aon
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Christian Höcht
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela B Acosta
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bernhard Bettler
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Graciela N Balerio
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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20
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Rich MT, Torregrossa MM. Molecular and synaptic mechanisms regulating drug-associated memories: Towards a bidirectional treatment strategy. Brain Res Bull 2017; 141:58-71. [PMID: 28916448 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The successful treatment of substance use disorders is dependent on the establishment of a long-term abstinent state. Relapse can be suppressed by interfering with memories of drug use that are evoked by re-exposure to drug-associated contexts and cues. Two strategies for accomplishing this goal are either to prevent drug-memory reconsolidation or to induce the formation of a competing, extinction memory. However, clinical attempts to prolong abstinence by behavioral modification of drug-related memories have had limited success. One approach to improve behavioral treatment strategies is to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate these memory processes and then use pharmacological tools as supplements to improve efficacy. Still, due to the involvement of several overlapping signaling cascades in both reconsolidation and extinction, it is difficult to specifically modify one of the two processes. For example, attempting to elicit extinction may instead initiate reconsolidation, resulting in the unintentional strengthening of drug-related memories. A better approach is to identify diverging components of the two processes, whereby a single medication would simultaneously weaken reconsolidation and enhance extinction. This review will provide an overview of the neural substrates that are involved in the regulation of drug-associated memories, and will discuss emerging approaches to pharmacologically weaken these memories, including recent efforts to precisely and bidirectionally target reconsolidation and extinction. Ultimately, pharmacologically-enhanced memory-based approaches have the potential to produce more informed relapse-prevention therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Rich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, 4400 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States.
| | - Mary M Torregrossa
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States.
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21
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KK-92A, a novel GABA B receptor positive allosteric modulator, attenuates nicotine self-administration and cue-induced nicotine seeking in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:1633-1644. [PMID: 28382542 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4594-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE GABAB receptors (GABABR) play a critical role in GABAergic neurotransmission in the brain and are thought to be one of the most promising targets for the treatment of drug addiction. GABABR positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have shown promise as potential anti-addictive therapies, as they lack the sedative and muscle relaxant properties of full GABAB receptor agonists such as baclofen. OBJECTIVES The present study was aimed at developing novel, selective, and potent GABABR PAMs with efficacy on abuse-related effects of nicotine. RESULTS We synthetized ~100 analogs of BHF177, a GABABR PAM that has been shown to inhibit nicotine taking and seeking, and tested their activity in multiple cell-based functional assays. Among these compounds, KK-92A displayed superior PAM properties at the GABABR. Interestingly, our results revealed the existence of pathway-selective differential modulation of GABABR signaling by the structurally related GABABR allosteric modulators BHF177 and KK-92A. In vivo, similarly to BHF177, KK-92A inhibited intravenous nicotine self-administration under both fixed- and progressive-ratio schedules of reinforcement in rats. In contrast to BHF177, KK-92A had no effect on food self-administration. Furthermore, KK-92A decreased cue-induced nicotine-seeking behavior without affecting food seeking. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that KK-92A is a selective GABABR PAM with efficacy in inhibition of the primary reinforcing and incentive motivational effects of nicotine, and attenuation of nicotine seeking, further confirming that GABABR PAMs may be useful antismoking medications.
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Sturchler E, Li X, de Lourdes Ladino M, Kaczanowska K, Cameron M, Griffin PR, Finn MG, Markou A, McDonald P. GABA B receptor allosteric modulators exhibit pathway-dependent and species-selective activity. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2017; 5:e00288. [PMID: 28357120 PMCID: PMC5368958 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Positive modulation of the GABAB receptor (GABABR) represents a potentially useful therapeutic approach for the treatment of nicotine addiction. The positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABABR GS39783 and BHF177 enhance GABA‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS‐binding, and have shown efficacy in a rodent nicotine self‐administration procedure reflecting aspects of nicotine dependence. Interestingly, the structural related analog, NVP998, had no effect on nicotine self‐administration in rats despite demonstrating similar pharmacokinetic properties. Extensive in vitro characterization of GS39783, BHF177, and NVP998 activity on GABABR‐regulated signaling events, including modulation of cAMP, intracellular calcium levels, and ERK activation, revealed that these structurally related molecules display distinct pathway‐specific signaling activities that correlate with the dissimilarities observed in rodent models and may be predictive of in vivo efficacy. Furthermore, these GABABR allosteric modulators exhibit species‐dependent activity. Collectively, these data will be useful in guiding the development of GABABR allosteric modulators that display optimal in vivo efficacy in a preclinical model of nicotine dependence, and will identify those that have the potential to lead to novel antismoking therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Sturchler
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps way Jupiter Florida 33458
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Psychiatry University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla California 92093
| | - Maria de Lourdes Ladino
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps way Jupiter Florida 33458; Present address: School of Medicine Vanderbilt University 2215 Garland Ave Nashville Tennessee 37232
| | - Kasia Kaczanowska
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla California 92037; Present address: Department of Chemistry University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla California 92093
| | - Michael Cameron
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps way Jupiter Florida 33458
| | - Patrick R Griffin
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps way Jupiter Florida 33458
| | - M G Finn
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla California 92037; Present address: Georgia Institute of Technology School of Chemistry and Biochemistry 901 Atlantic Drive Atlanta Georgia 30332
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla California 92093
| | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps way Jupiter Florida 33458
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Li X, D'Souza MS, Niño AM, Doherty J, Cross A, Markou A. Attenuation of nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking behavior by the mGlu2 receptor positive allosteric modulators AZD8418 and AZD8529 in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:1801-14. [PMID: 26873083 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4220-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Numerous medication development strategies seek to decrease nicotine consumption and prevent relapse to tobacco smoking by blocking glutamate transmission. Decreasing glutamate release by activating presynaptic inhibitory metabotropic glutamate (mGlu)2/3 receptors inhibits the reinforcing effects of nicotine and blocks cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior in rats. However, the relative contribution of mGlu2 receptors in nicotine dependence is still unknown. OBJECTIVES The present study evaluated the role of mGlu2 receptors in nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking behavior using the novel, relatively selective mGlu2 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) AZD8418 and AZD8529. RESULTS Acute treatment with AZD8418 (0.37, 1.12, 3.73, 7.46, and 14.92 mg/kg) and AZD8529 (1.75, 5.83, 17.5, and 58.3 mg/kg) deceased nicotine self-administration and had no effect on food-maintained responding. Chronic treatment with AZD8418 attenuated nicotine self-administration, but tolerance to this effect developed quickly. The inhibition of nicotine self-administration by chronic AZD8529 administration persisted throughout the 14 days of treatment. Chronic treatment with either PAMs inhibited food self-administration. AZD8418 (acute) and AZD8529 (acute and subchronic) blocked cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine- and food-seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate an important role for mGlu2 receptors in the reinforcing properties of self-administered nicotine and the motivational impact of cues that were previously associated with nicotine administration (i.e., cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior). Thus, mGlu2 PAMs may be useful medications to assist people to quit tobacco smoking and prevent relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Department of Psychiatry, M/C 0603, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0603, USA
| | - Manoranjan S D'Souza
- Department of Psychiatry, M/C 0603, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0603, USA
| | - Ana M Niño
- Department of Psychiatry, M/C 0603, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0603, USA
| | - James Doherty
- Present address: Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Alan Cross
- AstraZeneca Neuroscience Innovative Medicines, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, M/C 0603, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0603, USA.
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24
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Neuroscience of nicotine for addiction medicine: novel targets for smoking cessation medications. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2015; 223:191-214. [PMID: 26806777 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Morbidity and mortality associated with tobacco smoking constitutes a significant burden on healthcare budgets all over the world. Therefore, promoting smoking cessation is an important goal of health professionals and policy makers throughout the world. Nicotine is a major psychoactive component in tobacco that is largely responsible for the widespread addiction to tobacco. A majority of the currently available FDA-approved smoking cessation medications act via neuronal nicotinic receptors. These medications are effective in approximately half of all the smokers, who want to quit and relapse among abstinent smokers continues to be high. In addition to relapse among abstinent smokers, unpleasant effects associated with nicotine withdrawal are a major motivational factor in continued tobacco smoking. Over the last two decades, animal studies have helped in identifying several neural substrates that are involved in nicotine-dependent behaviors including those associated with nicotine withdrawal and relapse to tobacco smoking. In this review, first the role of specific brain regions/circuits that are involved in nicotine dependence will be discussed. Next, the review will describe the role of specific nicotinic receptor subunits in nicotine dependence. Finally, the review will discuss the role of classical neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid) as well as endogenous opioid and endocannabinoid signaling in nicotine dependence. The nicotinic and nonnicotinic neural substrates involved in nicotine-dependent behaviors can serve as possible targets for future smoking cessation medications.
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25
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Enhancing glutamatergic transmission during adolescence reverses early-life stress-induced deficits in the rewarding effects of cocaine in rats. Neuropharmacology 2015; 99:168-76. [PMID: 26187394 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence marks a critical time when the brain is highly susceptible to pathological insult yet also uniquely amenable to therapeutic intervention. It is during adolescence that the onset of the majority of psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorder (SUDs), occurs. It has been well established that stress, particularly during early development, can contribute to the pathological changes which contribute to the development of SUDs. Glutamate as the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS plays a key role in various physiological processes, including reward function, and in mediating the effects of psychological stress. We hypothesised impairing glutamatergic signalling during the key adolescent period would attenuate early-life stress induced impaired reward function. To test this, we induced early-life stress in male rats using the maternal-separation procedure. During the critical adolescent period (PND25-46) animals were treated with the glutamate transporter activator, riluzole, or the NMDA receptor antagonist, memantine. Adult reward function was assessed using voluntary cocaine intake measured via intravenous self-administration. We found that early-life stress in the form of maternal-separation impaired reward function, reducing the number of successful cocaine-infusions achieved during the intravenous self-administration procedure as well impairing drug-induced reinstatement of cocaine-taking behaviour. Interestingly, riluzole and memantine treatment reversed this stress-induced impairment. These data suggest that reducing glutamatergic signalling may be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating vulnerable individuals at risk of developing SUDs including certain adolescent populations, particularly those which may have experienced trauma during early-life.
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The GABA(B) receptor positive modulator BHF177 attenuated anxiety, but not conditioned fear, in rats. Neuropharmacology 2015; 97:357-64. [PMID: 26002628 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
GABAB (γ-aminobutyric acid B) receptors may be a therapeutic target for anxiety disorders. Here we characterized the effects of the GABAB receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM) BHF177 on conditioned and unconditioned physiological responses to threat in the light-enhanced startle (LES), stress-induced hyperthermia, and fear-potentiated startle (FPS) procedures in rats. The effects of BHF177 on LES were compared with those of the GABAB receptor agonists baclofen and CGP44532, and the positive control buspirone, a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist with anxiolytic activity in humans. Baclofen (0.4, 0.9 and 1.25 mg/kg) and CGP44532 (0.065, 0.125 and 0.25 mg/kg) administration had significant sedative, but not anxiolytic, activity reflected in overall decrease in the startle response in the LES tests. BHF177 (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) had no effect on LES, nor did it produce an overall sedative effect. Interesting, however, when rats were grouped by high and low LES responses, BHF177 had anxiolytic-like effects only on LES in high, but not low, LES responding rats. BHF177 also blocked stress-induced hyperthermia, but had no effect on conditioned fear responses in the FPS test. Buspirone (1 and 3 mg/kg) had an anxiolytic-like profile in both LES and FPS tests. These results indicate that BHF177 may specifically attenuate unconditioned anxiety in individuals that exhibit a high anxiety state, and has fewer sedative effects than direct agonists. Thus, BHF177 or other GABAB receptor PAMs may be promising compounds for alleviating increased anxiety seen in various psychiatric disorders with a superior side-effect profile compared to GABAB receptor agonists.
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Neurobiological Bases of Cue- and Nicotine-induced Reinstatement of Nicotine Seeking: Implications for the Development of Smoking Cessation Medications. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2015; 24:125-54. [PMID: 25638336 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-13482-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
A better understanding of the neurobiological factors that contribute to relapse to smoking is needed for the development of efficacious smoking cessation medications. Reinstatement procedures allow the preclinical assessment of several factors that contribute to relapse in humans, including re-exposure to nicotine via tobacco smoking and the presentation of stimuli that were previously associated with nicotine administration (i.e., conditioned stimuli). This review provides an integrated discussion of the results of animal studies that used reinstatement procedures to assess the efficacy of pharmacologically targeting various neurotransmitter systems in attenuating the cue- and nicotine-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. The results of these animal studies have increased our understanding of the neurobiological processes that mediate the conditioned effects of stimuli that trigger reinstatement to nicotine seeking. Thus, these findings provide important insights into the neurobiological substrates that modulate relapse to tobacco smoking in humans and the ongoing search for novel efficacious smoking cessation medications.
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Filip M, Frankowska M, Sadakierska-Chudy A, Suder A, Szumiec Ł, Mierzejewski P, Bienkowski P, Przegaliński E, Cryan JF. GABAB receptors as a therapeutic strategy in substance use disorders: Focus on positive allosteric modulators. Neuropharmacology 2015; 88:36-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Varani AP, Pedrón VT, Machado LM, Antonelli MC, Bettler B, Balerio GN. Lack of GABAB receptors modifies behavioural and biochemical alterations induced by precipitated nicotine withdrawal. Neuropharmacology 2014; 90:90-101. [PMID: 25479464 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The nicotine (NIC) withdrawal syndrome is considered to be a major cause of the high relapse rate among individuals undergoing smoking cessation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible role of GABAB receptors in NIC withdrawal, by comparing GABAB1 knockout mice and their wild-type littermates. We analysed the time course of the global withdrawal score, the anxiety-like effects, monoamine concentrations, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, the corticosterone plasmatic levels and [(3)H]epibatidine binding sites during NIC withdrawal precipitated by mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist (MEC). In NIC withdrawn wild-type mice, we observed a global withdrawal score, an anxiety-like effect in the elevated plus maze, a decrease of the striatal dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid concentrations, an increase of corticosterone plasma levels, a reduction of BDNF expression in several brain areas and an increase of [(3)H]epibatidine binding sites in specific brain regions. Interestingly, the effects found in NIC withdrawn wild-type mice were absent in GABAB1 knockout mice, suggesting that GABAB1 subunit of the GABAB receptor is involved in the regulation of the behavioural and biochemical alterations induced by NIC withdrawal in mice. These results reveal an interaction between the GABAB receptors and the neurochemical systems through which NIC exerts its long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés P Varani
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Valeria T Pedrón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Lirane Moutinho Machado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Marta C Antonelli
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bernhard Bettler
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Graciela N Balerio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina; Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina.
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Perry CJ, Zbukvic I, Kim JH, Lawrence AJ. Role of cues and contexts on drug-seeking behaviour. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:4636-72. [PMID: 24749941 PMCID: PMC4209936 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental stimuli are powerful mediators of craving and relapse in substance-abuse disorders. This review examined how animal models have been used to investigate the cognitive mechanisms through which cues are able to affect drug-seeking behaviour. We address how animal models can describe the way drug-associated cues come to facilitate the development and persistence of drug taking, as well as how these cues are critical to the tendency to relapse that characterizes substance-abuse disorders. Drug-associated cues acquire properties of conditioned reinforcement, incentive motivation and discriminative control, which allow them to influence drug-seeking behaviour. Using these models, researchers have been able to investigate the pharmacology subserving the behavioural impact of environmental stimuli, some of which we highlight. Subsequently, we examine whether the impact of drug-associated stimuli can be attenuated via a process of extinction, and how this question is addressed in the laboratory. We discuss how preclinical research has been translated into behavioural therapies targeting substance abuse, as well as highlight potential developments to therapies that might produce more enduring changes in behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J Perry
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, Vic., Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Isabel Zbukvic
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, Vic., Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, Vic., Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, Vic., Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, Vic., Australia
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Forray A, Sofuoglu M. Future pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2014; 77:382-400. [PMID: 23039267 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04474.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorders represent a serious public health and social issue worldwide. Recent advances in our understanding of the neurobiological basis of the addictive processes have led to the development of a growing number of pharmacological agents to treat addictions. Despite this progress, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis addiction. Moving treatment development to the next stage will require novel ways of approaching substance use disorders. One such novel approach is to target individual vulnerabilities, such as cognitive function, sex differences and psychiatric comorbidities. This review provides a summary of promising pharmacotherapies for alcohol, opiate, stimulant and nicotine addictions. Many medications that target positive and negative reinforcement of drugs, as well as individual vulnerabilities to addiction, are in different phases of development. Clinical trials testing the efficacy of these medications for substance use disorder are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Forray
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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D'Souza MS, Markou A. Differential role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell and core in nicotine seeking in rats. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1314-22. [PMID: 24467279 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Nicotine, a major psychoactive component of tobacco smoke, increases glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). However, the role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission in the NAcc shell and core subdivisions in nicotine-dependent behaviors has not been studied. The present study evaluated, in rats, the effects of bilateral administration of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist LY235959 (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 ng/0.5 μL/side) into the NAcc shell or core on intravenous nicotine (fixed- and progressive-ratio schedules) and food (fixed-ratio schedule) self-administration, and cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior. In addition, the effects of LY235959 injections in the NAcc shell were evaluated on nicotine-induced conditioned taste aversion, a procedure that assesses the aversive effects of nicotine. LY235959 injections into the NAcc shell significantly increased nicotine self-administration under both fixed- and progressive-ratio schedules, and decreased food self-administration, but had no effect on nicotine-induced conditioned taste aversion or cue-induced nicotine seeking. Furthermore, injections of LY235959 in the lateral septal nucleus, originally intended as an anatomical control site for the NAcc shell, increased nicotine self-administration and decreased food self-administration under the fixed-ratio schedule. In contrast, LY235959 injections into the NAcc core increased the cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking and decreased food self-administration, but had no effect on nicotine self-administration. The present data suggest that NMDA receptor-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission in the NAcc shell and core differentially regulates food- and nicotine-maintained responding. Importantly, the data suggest an inhibitory role for NMDA-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission in the NAcc shell and core in nicotine self-administration and the cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoranjan S D'Souza
- Department of Psychiatry, M/C 0603, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0603, USA
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Hwa LS, Kalinichev M, Haddouk H, Poli S, Miczek KA. Reduction of excessive alcohol drinking by a novel GABAB receptor positive allosteric modulator ADX71441 in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:333-43. [PMID: 23975038 PMCID: PMC3947346 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3245-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE A promising pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorders has been positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor B (GABAB R) since GABAB R PAMs reduce ethanol drinking and self-administration in rodents. OBJECTIVE The current studies investigated a novel, selective GABAB R PAM, ADX71441, in comparison to naltrexone in a protocol of ethanol binge-like drinking, drinking-in-the-dark (DID), and in a model of long-term, excessive drinking, intermittent access to ethanol (IA). METHODS Male C57BL/6 J mice were given doses of ADX71441 (3, 10, 30 mg/kg, p.o.) before the fourth test day of repeated DID access to 20 % ethanol. Another group of mice had a history of 4 weeks of IA before ADX71441 (3, 10, 17 mg/kg, p.o.) treatment. The opioid antagonist, naltrexone (0.1, 1, 10 mg/kg, i.p.), was administered to different groups of mice in both protocols as a positive control. RESULTS In both DID and IA protocols, ADX71441 showed a selective and potent reduction of ethanol drinking, but not water drinking, while naltrexone had a more modest and transient effect on reducing ethanol drinking. The long-lasting effect of ADX71441 agrees with its plasma pharmacokinetics in showing peak concentrations at 2 h followed by a slow decay lasting well beyond 8 h. CONCLUSIONS These findings support previous studies demonstrating that GABAB R PAMs decrease voluntary ethanol intake without altering water intake. ADX71441 may be a worthwhile candidate for developing a treatment of alcoholism, yet its site of action in the brain and long-term pharmacological effects require further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara S. Hwa
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | | | | | | | - Klaus A. Miczek
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, USA. Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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Li X, Semenova S, D'Souza MS, Stoker AK, Markou A. Involvement of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems in nicotine dependence: Implications for novel pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation. Neuropharmacology 2014; 76 Pt B:554-65. [PMID: 23752091 PMCID: PMC3830589 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking continues to be a major global health hazard despite significant public awareness of its harmful consequences. Although several treatment options are currently available for smoking cessation, these medications are effective in only a small subset of smokers, and relapse rates continue to be high. Therefore, a better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate tobacco dependence is essential for the development of effective smoking cessation medications. Nicotine is the primary psychoactive component of tobacco that drives the harmful tobacco smoking habit. Nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain, resulting in the release of a wide range of neurotransmitters, including glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This review article focuses on the role of the excitatory glutamate system and inhibitory GABA system in nicotine dependence. Accumulating evidence suggests that blockade of glutamatergic transmission or facilitation of GABAergic transmission attenuates the positive reinforcing and incentive motivational aspects of nicotine, inhibits the reward-enhancing and conditioned rewarding effects of nicotine, and blocks nicotine-seeking behavior. Chronic nicotine exposure produced long-term neuroadaptations that contribute to nicotine withdrawal, but the role of GABA and glutamate transmission in nicotine withdrawal is less understood. Overall, the findings presented in this review provide strong converging evidence for the potential effectiveness of glutamatergic and GABAergic medications in nicotine dependence. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'NIDA 40th Anniversary Issue'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Astrid K. Stoker
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Li X, Risbrough VB, Cates-Gatto C, Kaczanowska K, Finn MG, Roberts AJ, Markou A. Comparison of the effects of the GABAB receptor positive modulator BHF177 and the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen on anxiety-like behavior, learning, and memory in mice. Neuropharmacology 2013; 70:156-67. [PMID: 23376712 PMCID: PMC3644349 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2012] [Revised: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor activation is a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of drug addiction, pain, anxiety, and depression. However, full agonists of this receptor induce side-effects, such as sedation, muscle relaxation, tolerance, and cognitive disruption. Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor may have similar therapeutic effects as agonists with superior side-effect profiles. The present study behaviorally characterized N-([1R,2R,4S]-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-2-methyl-5-(4-[trifluoromethyl]phenyl)-4-pyrimidinamine (BHF177), a GABAB receptor PAM, in mouse models of anxiety-like behavior, learning and memory. In addition, the effects of BHF177 were compared with the agonist baclofen. Unlike the anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide, baclofen (0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and BHF177 (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, orally) had no effect on anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, light/dark box, or Vogel conflict test. Baclofen increased punished drinking in the Vogel conflict test, but this effect may be attributable to the analgesic actions of baclofen. At the highest dose tested (2.5 mg/kg), baclofen-treated mice exhibited sedation-like effects (i.e., reduced locomotor activity) across many of the tests, whereas BHF177-treated mice exhibited no sedation-like effects. BHF177 exhibited pro-convulsion properties only in mice, but not in rats, indicating that this effect may be species-specific. At doses that were not sedative or pro-convulsant, baclofen and BHF177 had no selective effects on fear memory retrieval in contextual and cued fear conditioning or spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze. These data suggest that BHF177 has little sedative activity, no anxiolytic-like profile, and minimal impairment of learning and memory in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Victoria B. Risbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chelsea Cates-Gatto
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - M. G. Finn
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Amanda J Roberts
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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D'Souza MS, Markou A. The "stop" and "go" of nicotine dependence: role of GABA and glutamate. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2013; 3:3/6/a012146. [PMID: 23732855 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a012146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of tobacco smoking. Importantly, chronic nicotine exposure alters the function of brain reward systems, resulting in the development of a nicotine-dependent state. This nicotine-dependent state is associated with aversive affective and somatic signs upon abstinence from smoking, often leading to relapse in abstinent smokers. This article reviews the role of the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively, in both the reinforcing effects of nicotine and development of nicotine dependence. Evidence suggests that blockade of glutamatergic neurotransmission attenuates both nicotine intake and nicotine seeking. In contrast, both nicotine intake and nicotine seeking are attenuated when GABA neurotransmission is facilitated. In conclusion, medications that either attenuate/negatively modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission or facilitate/positively modulate GABA neurotransmission may be useful for promoting smoking cessation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoranjan S D'Souza
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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Mugnaini C, Pedani V, Casu A, Lobina C, Casti A, Maccioni P, Porcu A, Giunta D, Lamponi S, Solinas M, Dragoni S, Valoti M, Colombo G, Castelli MP, Gessa GL, Corelli F. Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of 2-(acylamino)thiophene derivatives as metabolically stable, orally effective, positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor. J Med Chem 2013; 56:3620-35. [PMID: 23544432 DOI: 10.1021/jm400144w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Two recently reported hit compounds, COR627 and COR628, underpinned the development of a series of 2-(acylamino)thiophene derivatives. Some of these compounds displayed significant activity in vitro as positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor by potentiating GTPγS stimulation induced by GABA at 2.5 and 25 μM while failing to exhibit intrinsic agonist activity. Compounds were also found to be effective in vivo, potentiating baclofen-induced sedation/hypnosis in DBA mice when administered either intraperitoneally or intragastrically. Although displaying a lower potency in vitro than the reference compound GS39783, the new compounds 6, 10, and 11 exhibited a higher efficacy in vivo: combination of these compounds with a per se nonsedative dose of baclofen resulted in shorter onset and longer duration of the loss of righting reflex in mice. Test compounds showed cytotoxic effects at concentrations comparable to or higher than those of GS39783 or BHF177.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro, Siena, Italy
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N-acetylcysteine decreased nicotine self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats: comparison with the effects of N-acetylcysteine on food responding and food seeking. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 225:473-82. [PMID: 22903390 PMCID: PMC3697766 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2837-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Chronic nicotine administration decreases the functioning of the cystine-glutamate antiporter system x(c)- which is hypothesized to promote nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking behaviors. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a cystine pro-drug, increases the activity of the cystine-glutamate antiporter system x(c)-. Thus, NAC could potentially reverse nicotine-induced alterations in glutamatergic transmission and decrease nicotine taking and seeking. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS To test this hypothesis in the present study, the effects of acute NAC treatment (30, 60, and 90 mg/kg, i.p.) on nicotine (fixed- and progressive-ratio schedules) and food (fixed-ratio schedule) self-administration were assessed in rats. In addition, the effects of acute NAC treatment on cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine- and food-seeking behaviors were investigated. Finally, the effects of repeated daily NAC administration (60 mg/kg, i.p., 14 days) on nicotine and food self-administration were assessed. RESULTS Acute NAC administration decreased nicotine self-administration but not food responding under a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement. In addition, acute NAC administration showed a nonsignificant trend in attenuating nicotine self-administration under a progressive-ratio schedule that was similar to the dose-response function under the fixed-ratio schedule. Furthermore, repeated NAC administration decreased nicotine self-administration from day 6 to 14 compared with vehicle treatment, with no indication of tolerance development. By contrast, repeated NAC administration decreased food responding from day 6 to 8 compared with vehicle treatment and showed rapid development of tolerance. Finally, acute NAC administration attenuated cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine and food seeking. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these findings suggest that NAC may be useful in promoting smoking cessation in humans.
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Koek W, Cheng K, Rice KC. Discriminative stimulus effects of the GABAB receptor-positive modulator rac-BHFF: comparison with GABAB receptor agonists and drugs of abuse. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2012; 344:553-60. [PMID: 23275067 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.112.202226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA(B) receptor-positive modulators are thought to have advantages as potential medications for anxiety, depression, and drug addiction. They may have fewer side effects than GABA(B) receptor agonists, because selective enhancement of activated receptors could have effects different from nonselective activation of all receptors. To examine this, pigeons were trained to discriminate the GABA(B) receptor-positive modulator (R,S)-5,7-di-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-3-trifluoromethyl-3H-benzofuran-2-one (rac-BHFF) from its vehicle. The discriminative stimulus effects of rac-BHFF were not mimicked by the GABA(B) receptor agonists baclofen and γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), not by diazepam, and not by alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine, whose self-administration has been reported to be attenuated by GABA(B) receptor-positive modulators. The discriminative stimulus effects of rac-BHFF were not antagonized by the GABA(B) receptor antagonist 3-aminopropyl (diethoxymethyl)phosphinic acid (CGP35348) but were attenuated by the less efficacious GABA(B) receptor-positive modulator 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropyl)phenol (CGP7930), suggesting the possibility that rac-BHFF produces its discriminative stimulus effects by directly activating GABA(B2) subunits of GABA(B) receptors. At a dose 10-fold lower than the training dose, rac-BHFF enhanced the discriminative stimulus effects of baclofen, but not of GHB. This study provides evidence that the effects of GABA(B) receptor-positive modulators are not identical to those of GABA(B) receptor agonists. In addition, the results suggest that positive modulation of GABA(B) receptors does not produce discriminative stimulus effects similar to those of benzodiazepines, alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine. Finally, the finding that rac-BHFF enhanced effects of baclofen but not of GHB is consistent with converging evidence that the populations of GABA(B) receptors mediating the effects of baclofen and GHB are not identical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Koek
- Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 7792, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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D’Souza MS, Markou A. Neuronal mechanisms underlying development of nicotine dependence: implications for novel smoking-cessation treatments. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2011; 6:4-16. [PMID: 22003417 PMCID: PMC3188825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco smoking causes high rates of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Despite the availability of smoking-cessation medications, maintenance of long-term abstinence is difficult, and most individuals who attempt to quit smoking relapse. Although tobacco smoke contains many substances, researchers and policymakers agree that nicotine is a major cause of tobacco dependence. Understanding the neural substrates of nicotine dependence is essential for the development of more effective antismoking medications than those currently available. This article focuses on the neural substrates, especially nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, that mediate the reinforcing effects of nicotine and the development of nicotine dependence. Neuroadaptations in the function of the neurotransmitters dopamine, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which have been shown to be critically involved in nicotine dependence, are also reviewed. Finally, the article discusses progress in the discovery and development of smoking-cessation medications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Athina Markou
- CORRESPONDENCE: Professor Athina Markou, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, M/C 0603, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093; e-mail:
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Lobina C, Carai MAM, Froestl W, Mugnaini C, Pasquini S, Corelli F, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Activation of the GABA(B) Receptor Prevents Nicotine-Induced Locomotor Stimulation in Mice. Front Psychiatry 2011; 2:76. [PMID: 22232609 PMCID: PMC3248647 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrated that activation of the GABA(B) receptor, either by means of orthosteric agonists or positive allosteric modulators (PAMs), inhibited different nicotine-related behaviors, including intravenous self-administration and conditioned place preference, in rodents. The present study investigated whether the anti-nicotine effects of the GABA(B) receptor agonist, baclofen, and GABA(B) PAMs, CGP7930, and GS39783, extend to nicotine stimulant effects. To this end, CD1 mice were initially treated with baclofen (0, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg, i.p.), CGP7930 (0, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.g.), or GS39783 (0, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.g.), then treated with nicotine (0 and 0.05 mg/kg, s.c.), and finally exposed to an automated apparatus for recording of locomotor activity. Pretreatment with doses of baclofen, CGP7930, or GS39783 that did not alter locomotor activity when given with nicotine vehicle fully prevented hyperlocomotion induced by 0.05 mg/kg nicotine. These data extend to nicotine stimulant effects the capacity of baclofen and GABA(B) PAMs to block the reinforcing, motivational, and rewarding properties of nicotine. These data strengthen the hypothesis that activation of the GABA(B) receptor may represent a potentially useful, anti-smoking therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari Monserrato, Italy
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