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Doyle MR, Beltran NM, Bushnell MSA, Syed M, Acosta V, Desai M, Rice KC, Serafine KM, Gould GG, Daws LC, Collins GT. Effects of access condition on substance use disorder-like phenotypes in male and female rats self-administering MDPV or cocaine. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.04.583431. [PMID: 38496609 PMCID: PMC10942381 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.04.583431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a heterogeneous disorder, where severity, symptoms, and patterns of substance use vary across individuals. Yet, when rats are allowed to self-administer drugs such as cocaine under short-access conditions, their behavior tends to be well-regulated and homogeneous in nature; though individual differences can emerge when rats are provided long- or intermittent-access to cocaine. In contrast to cocaine, significant individual differences emerge when rats are allowed to self-administer 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), even under short-access conditions, wherein ~30% of rats rapidly transition to high levels of drug-taking. This study assessed the SUD-like phenotypes of male and female Sprague Dawley rats self-administering MDPV (0.032 mg/kg/infusion) or cocaine (0.32 mg/kg/infusion) by comparing level of drug intake, responding during periods of signaled drug unavailability, and sensitivity to footshock punishment to test the hypotheses that: (1) under short-access conditions, rats that self-administer MDPV will exhibit a more robust SUD-like phenotype than rats that self-administered cocaine; (2) female rats will have a more severe phenotype than male rats; and (3) compared to short-access, long- and intermittent-access to MDPV or cocaine self-administration will result in a more robust SUD-like phenotype. After short-access, rats that self-administered MDPV exhibited a more severe phenotype than rats that self-administered cocaine. Though long- and intermittent-access to cocaine and MDPV self-administration altered drug-taking patterns, manipulating access conditions did not systematically alter their SUD-like phenotype. Evidence from behavioral and quantitative autoradiography studies suggest that these differences are unlikely due to changes in expression levels of dopamine transporter, dopamine D2 or D3 receptors, or 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, or 5-HT2C receptors, though these possibilities cannot be ruled out. These results show that the phenotype exhibited by rats self-administering MDPV differs from that observed for rats self-administering cocaine, and suggests that individuals that use MDPV and/or related cathinones may be at greater risk for developing a SUD, and that short-access MDPV self-administration may provide a useful method to understand the factors that mediate the transition to problematic or disordered substance use in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle R. Doyle
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nina M. Beltran
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Mark S. A. Bushnell
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Maaz Syed
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Valeria Acosta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Marisa Desai
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kenner C. Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Georgianna G. Gould
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Lynette C. Daws
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Gregory T. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Hrickova M, Amchova P, Ruda-Kucerova J. The effect of CNQX on self-administration: present in nicotine, absent in methamphetamine model. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1305412. [PMID: 38249125 PMCID: PMC10796660 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1305412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Addiction is a chronic disease with limited pharmacological options for intervention. Focusing on reducing glutamate levels in the brain seems to be a promising strategy in addiction treatment research. Our research aimed to evaluate the effects of CNQX, an antagonist that targets AMPA and kainate glutamatergic receptors while also exhibiting affinity for the NMDA receptor, especially by modulating its glycine site. We conducted this assessment on the self-administration of nicotine and methamphetamine via intravenous (IV) administration in rats. Methods An operant IV self-administration model was used in male Wistar rats. When animals maintained a stable intake of nicotine or methamphetamine, we administered a single injection of CNQX (in the dose of 3 or 6 mg/kg IV) to evaluate its effect on drug intake. Subsequently, the rats were forced to abstain by staying in their home cages for 2 weeks. The period of abstinence was followed by a context-induced relapse-like session before which animals were pretreated with the injection of CNQX (3 or 6 mg/kg IV) to evaluate its effect on drug seeking. Results CNQX significantly reduced nicotine intake during the maintenance phase, but no effect was revealed on nicotine seeking after forced abstinence. CNQX did not affect methamphetamine taking or seeking. Conclusion The effect of reducing nicotine taking but not seeking could be explained by different involvement of glutamatergic receptors in various stages of nicotine dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jana Ruda-Kucerova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
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Towers EB, Williams IL, Qillawala EI, Lynch WJ. Role of nucleus accumbens dopamine 2 receptors in motivating cocaine use in male and female rats prior to and following the development of an addiction-like phenotype. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1237990. [PMID: 37564182 PMCID: PMC10411909 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1237990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of cocaine use disorder (CUD) is dysfunction of dopamine signaling in the mesolimbic pathway, including impaired dopamine 2 (D2) receptor signaling. One of the most replicated findings in human imagining studies is decreased striatal D2 receptor binding in individuals with a substance use disorder relative to healthy controls; however, the vast majority of the data is from males, and findings in smokers suggest this molecular shift may not translate to females. The goal of this study was to determine whether there are sex differences in the role of D2 receptors in motivating cocaine use prior to and following the development of an addiction-like phenotype (defined by an enhanced motivation for cocaine relative to the short-access, ShA, group). Here, male and female rats were given ShA (20 infusions/day, 3 days) or extended-access (ExA; 24h/day, 96 infusions/day, 10 days) to cocaine self-administration and then following 14 days of withdrawal, were tested under a progressive-ratio schedule to assess motivation for cocaine use. Once a stable level of motivation was established, the effect of NAc-infusions of the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride (0-3.0 µg/side) were examined. We found that in males, eticlopride was less effective at decreasing motivation for cocaine following ExA versus ShA self-administration, particularly at low eticlopride doses. In contrast, in females, there were no differences in the effectiveness of eticlopride between ExA and ShA. These findings indicate that males, but not females, become less sensitive to NAc-D2 receptor antagonism with the development of an addiction-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Blair Towers
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Ivy L. Williams
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Emaan I. Qillawala
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Wendy J. Lynch
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Towers EB, Williams IL, Qillawala EI, Rissman EF, Lynch WJ. Sex/Gender Differences in the Time-Course for the Development of Substance Use Disorder: A Focus on the Telescoping Effect. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:217-249. [PMID: 36781217 PMCID: PMC9969523 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex/gender effects have been demonstrated for multiple aspects of addiction, with one of the most commonly cited examples being the "telescoping effect" where women meet criteria and/or seek treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) after fewer years of drug use as compared with men. This phenomenon has been reported for multiple drug classes including opioids, psychostimulants, alcohol, and cannabis, as well as nonpharmacological addictions, such as gambling. However, there are some inconsistent reports that show either no difference between men and women or opposite effects and a faster course to addiction in men than women. Thus, the goals of this review are to evaluate evidence for and against the telescoping effect in women and to determine the conditions/populations for which the telescoping effect is most relevant. We also discuss evidence from preclinical studies, which strongly support the validity of the telescoping effect and show that female animals develop addiction-like features (e.g., compulsive drug use, an enhanced motivation for the drug, and enhanced drug-craving/vulnerability to relapse) more readily than male animals. We also discuss biologic factors that may contribute to the telescoping effect, such as ovarian hormones, and its neurobiological basis focusing on the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway and the corticomesolimbic glutamatergic pathway considering the critical roles these pathways play in the rewarding/reinforcing effects of addictive drugs and SUD. We conclude with future research directions, including intervention strategies to prevent the development of SUD in women. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: One of the most widely cited gender/sex differences in substance use disorder (SUD) is the "telescoping effect," which reflects an accelerated course in women versus men for the development and/or seeking treatment for SUD. This review evaluates evidence for and against a telescoping effect drawing upon data from both clinical and preclinical studies. We also discuss the contribution of biological factors and underlying neurobiological mechanisms and highlight potential targets to prevent the development of SUD in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Blair Towers
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences (E.B.T., I.L.W., E.I.Q., W.J.L.) and Medical Scientist Training Program (E.B.T.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (E.F.R.)
| | - Ivy L Williams
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences (E.B.T., I.L.W., E.I.Q., W.J.L.) and Medical Scientist Training Program (E.B.T.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (E.F.R.)
| | - Emaan I Qillawala
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences (E.B.T., I.L.W., E.I.Q., W.J.L.) and Medical Scientist Training Program (E.B.T.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (E.F.R.)
| | - Emilie F Rissman
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences (E.B.T., I.L.W., E.I.Q., W.J.L.) and Medical Scientist Training Program (E.B.T.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (E.F.R.)
| | - Wendy J Lynch
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences (E.B.T., I.L.W., E.I.Q., W.J.L.) and Medical Scientist Training Program (E.B.T.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (E.F.R.)
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Doyle MR, Peng LN, Cao J, Rice KC, Newman AH, Collins GT. 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone High-Responder Phenotype as a Tool to Evaluate Candidate Medications for Stimulant Use Disorder. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 384:353-362. [PMID: 36627204 PMCID: PMC9976791 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research, there are no medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat stimulant use disorders. Self-administration procedures are widely used to screen candidate medications for stimulant use disorder, although preclinical reductions in stimulant self-administration have not translated to meaningful reductions in stimulant use in humans. One possible reason for this discordance is that most preclinical studies evaluate candidate medications under conditions that promote predictable, and well-regulated patterns of drug-taking rather than the dysregulated and/or compulsive patterns of drug-taking characteristic of a stimulant use disorder. A subset of rats ("high-responders") that self-administer 3,4-methelyendioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a monoamine uptake inhibitor, develop high levels of dysregulated drug-taking consistent with behaviors related to stimulant use disorders. Because MDPV acts on dopamine, serotonin (5-HT), and sigma receptor systems, the current studies compared the potency and effectiveness of a dopamine D3 receptor partial agonist (VK4-40) or antagonist (VK4-116), a sigma receptor antagonist (BD1063), a dopamine D2/D3/sigma receptor antagonist (haloperidol), and a 5-HT2C receptor agonist (CP-809,101) to reduce MDPV (0.0032-0.1 mg/kg/infusion) self-administration in high- and low-responding rats as well as rats self-administering cocaine (0.032-1 mg/kg/infusion). VK4-40, VK4-116, haloperidol, and CP-809,101 were equipotent and effective at reducing drug-taking in all three groups of rats, including the high-responders; however, VK4-116 and CP-809,101 were less potent at reducing drug-taking in female compared with male rats. Together, these studies suggest that drugs targeting dopamine D3 or 5-HT2C receptors can effectively reduce dysregulated patterns of stimulant use, highlighting their potential utility for treating stimulant use disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: There are no United States Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for stimulant use disorder, perhaps in part because candidate medications are most often evaluated in preclinical models using male subjects with well-regulated drug-taking. In an attempt to better model aberrant drug taking, this study found compounds acting at dopamine D3 or 5-HT2C receptors can attenuate drug-taking in male and female rats that self-administered two different stimulants and exhibited either a high or low substance use disorder-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle R Doyle
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., L.N.P., G.T.C.); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., G.T.C.); Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland (J.C., A.H.N.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Lindsey N Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., L.N.P., G.T.C.); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., G.T.C.); Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland (J.C., A.H.N.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Jianjing Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., L.N.P., G.T.C.); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., G.T.C.); Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland (J.C., A.H.N.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., L.N.P., G.T.C.); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., G.T.C.); Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland (J.C., A.H.N.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., L.N.P., G.T.C.); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., G.T.C.); Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland (J.C., A.H.N.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Gregory T Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., L.N.P., G.T.C.); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas (M.R.D., G.T.C.); Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland (J.C., A.H.N.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland (K.C.R.)
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Ruda-Kucerova J, Amchova P, Siska F, Tizabi Y. NBQX attenuates relapse of nicotine seeking but not nicotine and methamphetamine self-administration in rats. World J Biol Psychiatry 2021; 22:733-743. [PMID: 33787469 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2021.1907714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pharmacological manipulations of glutamatergic ionotropic receptors have been suggested as a promising target for addiction treatment. Antagonists of AMPA/kainate receptors were shown to reduce alcohol intake or alcohol-seeking in various animal models. In this study, we evaluated the effect of NBQX, an AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist, on methamphetamine (METH) and nicotine self-administration in rats. METHODS Male Wistar rats were trained to self-administer METH (0.08 mg/kg per infusion, session of 90 min) and nicotine (0.03 mg/kg per infusion, session of 60 min) under the fixed ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement. The maintenance training was 2 weeks. During the second week, NBQX was injected subcutaneously at doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg 20 min before the session or intravenously (IV) at doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg 10 min before the session. Following the maintenance training, rats were subjected to forced abstinence for 2 weeks and 1 day of the drug-free relapse-like session with IV NBQX treatment performed as before. RESULTS Although NBQX did not affect nicotine maintenance, it significantly suppressed the drug-paired responding in the relapse session. Regarding METH, NBQX did not exert a significant effect at either phase of the study. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest selective involvement of AMPA/kainate receptors in the relapse of nicotine seeking after a period of forced abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Ruda-Kucerova
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Amchova
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Siska
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
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Towers EB, Lynch WJ. The importance of examining sex differences in animal models validated to induce an addiction-like phenotype. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 209:173255. [PMID: 34416219 PMCID: PMC8456716 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Blair Towers
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America.
| | - Wendy J Lynch
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
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