Effects of the mGluR2/3 receptor agonist LY379268 on the reinforcing strength of cocaine in rhesus monkeys

Improving translation of animal models of addiction and relapse by reverse translation

Critical features of human addiction are increasingly being incorporated into complementary animal models, including escalation of drug intake, punished drug seeking and taking, intermittent drug access, choice between drug and non-drug rewards, and assessment of individual differences based on criteria in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Combined with new technologies, these models advanced our understanding of brain mechanisms of drug self-administration and relapse, but these mechanistic gains have not led to improvements in addiction treatment. This problem is not unique to addiction neuroscience, but it is an increasing source of disappointment and calls to regroup. Here we first summarize behavioural and neurobiological results from the animal models mentioned above. We then propose a reverse translational approach, whose goal is to develop models that mimic successful treatments: opioid agonist maintenance, contingency management and the community-reinforcement approach. These reverse-translated 'treatments' may provide an ecologically relevant platform from which to discover new circuits, test new medications and improve translation.

Cocaine-Induced Sensitization is Linked to Distal Chromosome 6 Region in Congenic Mouse Model

OBJECTIVE

Previously we mapped QTL Eac2 to mouse Chr6 and identified the first gene (Grm7) as accounting for alcohol consumption in a mammalian model. Despite the central role of glutamate receptors in addiction, the effects of Grm7 gene variants are not well known. Here we test the hypothesis that genetic variation of the distal mouse Chr6 Eac2 region, location of Grm7, controls cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization.

METHOD

C57BL/6By background and B6.C6.327.54 congenic mice were subjected to whole-genome SNP genotyping. Isogeneic (C57BL/6ByXB6.C6.327.54)F2 mice homozygous for SNPs in the BALB/c-type Eac2 region were selected to create a subcongenic strain (B6By.C6.108-120). In a 2-strain x 2-sex 2-treatment factorial design (n = 6-10) C57BL/6By and B6By.C6.108-120 mice received repeated daily cocaine or saline intraperitoneal injections, and locomotor activity was recorded for 90 minutes immediately after injection.

RESULTS

C57BL/6By females with the G/G genotype of SNP rs3723352 of Grm7 responded to cocaine with significantly higher activity and greater cocaine-induced sensitization than those with the BALB/cJ-type T/T genotype in the congenic strain.

CONCLUSION

The results are consistent with a large body of accumulated mechanistic evidence for a role of the mGlu7 receptor in the control of neurobiological responses to cocaine, and are consistent with the hypotheses that (1) natural variants of the Grm7 gene show pleiotropy and can modulate cocaine-induced behaviors in addition to alcohol consumption, (2) interactions between mGluR7 expression, estrogen receptors, and estradiol may explain phenotypic variation in females. Heritable variation of GRM7 may affect vulnerability to substance abuse in women.