1
|
Johansen AN, Acuff SF, Strickland JC. Human laboratory models of reward in substance use disorder. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 241:173803. [PMID: 38843997 PMCID: PMC11223959 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Human laboratory models in substance use disorder provide a key intermediary step between highly controlled and mechanistically informative non-human preclinical methods and clinical trials conducted in human populations. Much like preclinical models, the variety of human laboratory methods provide insights into specific features of substance use disorder rather than modelling the diverse causes and consequences simultaneously in a single model. This narrative review provides a discussion of popular models of reward used in human laboratory research on substance use disorder with a focus on the specific contributions that each model has towards informing clinical outcomes (forward translation) and analogs within preclinical models (backward translation). Four core areas of human laboratory research are discussed: drug self-administration, subjective effects, behavioral economics, and cognitive and executive function. Discussion of common measures and models used, the features of substance use disorder that these methods are purported to evaluate, unique issues for measure validity and application, and translational links to preclinical models and special considerations for studies wishing to evaluate homology across species is provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel F Acuff
- Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Justin C Strickland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hur KH, Lee Y, Donio AL, Kim SK, Lee BR, Seo JY, Kundu D, Kim KM, Kohut SJ, Lee SY, Jang CG. Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 channel modulates the abuse-related mechanisms of methamphetamine through interaction with dopamine transporter. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:2794-2809. [PMID: 38644533 PMCID: PMC11230846 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Methamphetamine (METH) use disorder has risen dramatically over the past decade, and there are currently no FDA-approved medications due, in part, to gaps in our understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms related to METH action in the brain. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Here, we investigated whether transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) mediates each of several METH abuse-related behaviours in rodents: self-administration, drug-primed reinstatement, acquisition of conditioned place preference, and hyperlocomotion. Additionally, METH-induced molecular (i.e., neurotransmitter and protein) changes in the brain were compared between wild-type and TRPA1 knock-out mice. Finally, the relationship between TRPA1 and the dopamine transporter was investigated through immunoprecipitation and dopamine reuptake assays. KEY RESULTS TRPA1 antagonism blunted METH self-administration and drug-primed reinstatement of METH-seeking behaviour. Further, development of METH-induced conditioned place preference and hyperlocomotion were inhibited by TRPA1 antagonist treatment, effects that were not observed in TRPA1 knock-out mice. Similarly, molecular studies revealed METH-induced increases in dopamine levels and expression of dopamine system-related proteins in wild-type, but not in TRPA1 knock-out mice. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of TRPA1 receptors reduced the interaction between TRPA1 and the dopamine transporter, thereby increasing dopamine reuptake activity by the transporter. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS This study demonstrates that TRPA1 is involved in the abuse-related behavioural effects of METH, potentially through its modulatory role in METH-induced activation of dopaminergic neurotransmission. Taken together, these data suggest that TRPA1 may be a novel therapeutic target for treating METH use disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Hyun Hur
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Behavioral Neuroimaging Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Youyoung Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Audrey Lynn Donio
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Kyung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Ram Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee-Yeon Seo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dooti Kundu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwang-Ju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong-Man Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwang-Ju, Republic of Korea
| | - Stephen J Kohut
- Behavioral Neuroimaging Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Seok-Yong Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Choon-Gon Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Millard SJ, Hoang IB, Sherwood S, Taira M, Reyes V, Greer Z, O'Connor SL, Wassum KM, James MH, Barker DJ, Sharpe MJ. Cognitive representations of intracranial self-stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons depend on stimulation frequency. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1253-1259. [PMID: 38741021 PMCID: PMC11239488 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01643-1] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area support intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), yet the cognitive representations underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Here, 20-Hz stimulation of dopamine neurons, which approximates a physiologically relevant prediction error, was not sufficient to support ICSS beyond a continuously reinforced schedule and did not endow cues with a general or specific value. However, 50-Hz stimulation of dopamine neurons was sufficient to drive robust ICSS and was represented as a specific reward to motivate behavior. The frequency dependence of this effect is due to the rate (not the number) of action potentials produced by dopamine neurons, which differently modulates dopamine release downstream.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Millard
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ivy B Hoang
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Savannah Sherwood
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Masakazu Taira
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vanessa Reyes
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zara Greer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shayna L O'Connor
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Kate M Wassum
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Morgan H James
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - David J Barker
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Melissa J Sharpe
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Prete JN, Collier MA, Epperly PM, Czoty PW. Effects of self- and experimenter-administered cocaine on subsequent ethanol drinking in rhesus monkeys. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 260:111347. [PMID: 38833794 PMCID: PMC11186377 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One possible reason for the lack of FDA-approved pharmacotherapies to treat cocaine use disorder (CUD) is that, although cocaine is typically used in combination with alcohol, it is studied in isolation in preclinical studies. A better understanding of the cocaine-alcohol interactions that promote polysubstance use (PSU) will improve animal models of CUD and hasten pharmacotherapy development. We used a rhesus monkey model of cocaine-alcohol PSU to investigate one possible mechanism: that alcohol is used to mitigate negative effects associated with termination of cocaine use. METHODS In 6 adult male rhesus monkeys, the relationship between self-administered cocaine intake and oral ethanol intake 2hours later was examined during self-administration of cocaine (0.0003-0.3mg/kg per injection, i.v.) under a fixed-ratio 30 schedule (FR30) or a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule. Next, ethanol consumption was measured 0-120minutes after experimenter-administered cocaine (0.3-1.7mg/kg, i.v.). RESULTS Self-administered cocaine intake under both FR30 and PR schedules was unrelated to oral ethanol intakes 2hours later. When cocaine was administered non-contingently, cocaine decreased ethanol intake as well as intake of a non-alcoholic solution in monkeys who never consumed ethanol (n=4) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the results do not provide evidence for cocaine-induced increases in ethanol consumption. By extension, the results do not support the hypothesis that cocaine users drink alcohol to counteract negative effects that occur after terminating use. This finding implies either that such effects do not exist or that such effects exist but are unaffected by ethanol.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua N Prete
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157, USA
| | - Miracle A Collier
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157, USA
| | - Phillip M Epperly
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157, USA
| | - Paul W Czoty
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Desmercieres S, Lardeux V, Longueville JE, Dugast E, Thiriet N, Solinas M. Effects of Highly Palatable Diet on motivation for food and resistance to punishment in rats: Role of sex and age of exposure. Appetite 2024; 198:107340. [PMID: 38582135 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to highly palatable food is believed to induce behavioral and neurobiological changes that may produce addiction-like behavior and increase the risks of obesity and overweight. Studies in rodents have led to conflicting results suggesting that several factors such as sex and age of exposure contribute to the development of maladaptive behaviors towards food. In addition, it is not clear whether effects of exposure to highly palatable diets (HPD) persist after their discontinuation, which would indicate long-term risks to develop addiction-like behavior. In this study, we investigated the persistent effects of an intermittent 8-week exposure to HPD in male and female rats as a function of age of exposure (adult and adolescent). We found that intermittent exposure to HPD did not alter body weight, but it affected consumption of standard food during the time of exposure in all groups. In addition, in adults, HPD produced a decrease in the initial baseline responding in FR1 schedules, an effect that persisted for 4 weeks in males but not in female rats. However, we found that exposure to HPD did not affect resistance to punishment measured by progressive shock strength break points or motivation for food as measured by progressive-ratio break points regardless of sex or age of exposure. Altogether, these results do not provide support for the hypothesis that intermittent exposure to HPD produce persistent increases in the vulnerability to develop addiction-like behaviors towards palatable food.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stevenson Desmercieres
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Virginie Lardeux
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Jean-Emmanuel Longueville
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Emilie Dugast
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France; CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Nathalie Thiriet
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Marcello Solinas
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kuhn BN, Cannella N, Chitre AS, Nguyen KMH, Cohen K, Chen D, Peng B, Ziegler KS, Lin B, Johnson BB, Missfeldt Sanches T, Crow AD, Lunerti V, Gupta A, Dereschewitz E, Soverchia L, Hopkins JL, Roberts AT, Ubaldi M, Abdulmalek S, Kinen A, Hardiman G, Chung D, Polesskaya O, Solberg Woods LC, Ciccocioppo R, Kalivas PW, Palmer AA. Genome-wide association study reveals multiple loci for nociception and opioid consumption behaviors associated with heroin vulnerability in outbred rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.27.582340. [PMID: 38712202 PMCID: PMC11071306 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.27.582340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The increased prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) makes it imperative to disentangle the biological mechanisms contributing to individual differences in OUD vulnerability. OUD shows strong heritability, however genetic variants contributing toward vulnerability remain poorly defined. We performed a genome-wide association study using over 850 male and female heterogeneous stock (HS) rats to identify genes underlying behaviors associated with OUD such as nociception, as well as heroin-taking, extinction and seeking behaviors. By using an animal model of OUD, we were able to identify genetic variants associated with distinct OUD behaviors while maintaining a uniform environment, an experimental design not easily achieved in humans. Furthermore, we used a novel non-linear network-based clustering approach to characterize rats based on OUD vulnerability to assess genetic variants associated with OUD susceptibility. Our findings confirm the heritability of several OUD-like behaviors, including OUD susceptibility. Additionally, several genetic variants associated with nociceptive threshold prior to heroin experience, heroin consumption, escalation of intake, and motivation to obtain heroin were identified. Tom1 , a microglial component, was implicated for nociception. Several genes involved in dopaminergic signaling, neuroplasticity and substance use disorders, including Brwd1 , Pcp4, Phb1l2 and Mmp15 were implicated for the heroin traits. Additionally, an OUD vulnerable phenotype was associated with genetic variants for consumption and break point, suggesting a specific genetic contribution for OUD-like traits contributing to vulnerability. Together, these findings identify novel genetic markers related to the susceptibility to OUD-relevant behaviors in HS rats.
Collapse
|
7
|
Escobedo A, Holloway SA, Votoupal M, Cone AL, Skelton H, Legaria AA, Ndiokho I, Floyd T, Kravitz AV, Bruchas MR, Norris AJ. Glutamatergic supramammillary nucleus neurons respond to threatening stressors and promote active coping. eLife 2024; 12:RP90972. [PMID: 38829200 PMCID: PMC11147510 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Threat-response neural circuits are conserved across species and play roles in normal behavior and psychiatric diseases. Maladaptive changes in these neural circuits contribute to stress, mood, and anxiety disorders. Active coping in response to stressors is a psychosocial factor associated with resilience against stress-induced mood and anxiety disorders. The neural circuitry underlying active coping is poorly understood, but the functioning of these circuits could be key for overcoming anxiety and related disorders. The supramammillary nucleus (SuM) has been suggested to be engaged by threat. SuM has many projections and a poorly understood diversity of neural populations. In studies using mice, we identified a unique population of glutamatergic SuM neurons (SuMVGLUT2+::POA) based on projection to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) and found SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons have extensive arborizations. SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons project to brain areas that mediate features of the stress and threat responses including the paraventricular nucleus thalamus (PVT), periaqueductal gray (PAG), and habenula (Hb). Thus, SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons are positioned as a hub, connecting to areas implicated in regulating stress responses. Here we report SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons are recruited by diverse threatening stressors, and recruitment correlated with active coping behaviors. We found that selective photoactivation of the SuMVGLUT2+::POA population drove aversion but not anxiety like behaviors. Activation of SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons in the absence of acute stressors evoked active coping like behaviors and drove instrumental behavior. Also, activation of SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons was sufficient to convert passive coping strategies to active behaviors during acute stress. In contrast, we found activation of GABAergic (VGAT+) SuM neurons (SuMVGAT+) neurons did not alter drive aversion or active coping, but termination of photostimulation was followed by increased mobility in the forced swim test. These findings establish a new node in stress response circuitry that has projections to many brain areas and evokes flexible active coping behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Escobedo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Salli-Ann Holloway
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Megan Votoupal
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoUnited States
| | - Aaron L Cone
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Hannah Skelton
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Alex A Legaria
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Imeh Ndiokho
- Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Tasheia Floyd
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Bioengineering University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Aaron J Norris
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lehmann CM, Miller NE, Nair VS, Costa KM, Schoenbaum G, Moussawi K. Generalized cue reactivity in dopamine neurons after opioids. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.02.597025. [PMID: 38853878 PMCID: PMC11160774 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.02.597025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Cue reactivity is the maladaptive neurobiological and behavioral response upon exposure to drug cues and is a major driver of relapse. The leading hypothesis is that dopamine release by addictive drugs represents a persistently positive reward prediction error that causes runaway enhancement of dopamine responses to drug cues, leading to their pathological overvaluation compared to non-drug reward alternatives. However, this hypothesis has not been directly tested. Here we developed Pavlovian and operant procedures to measure firing responses, within the same dopamine neurons, to drug versus natural reward cues, which we found to be similarly enhanced compared to cues predicting natural rewards in drug-naïve controls. This enhancement was associated with increased behavioral reactivity to the drug cue, suggesting that dopamine release is still critical to cue reactivity, albeit not as previously hypothesized. These results challenge the prevailing hypothesis of cue reactivity, warranting new models of dopaminergic function in drug addiction, and provide critical insights into the neurobiology of cue reactivity with potential implications for relapse prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Collin M. Lehmann
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, 15219, USA
| | - Nora E. Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, 15219, USA
| | - Varun S. Nair
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, 15219, USA
| | - Kauê M. Costa
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, 35233, USA
| | - Geoffrey Schoenbaum
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health; Baltimore, 21224, USA
| | - Khaled Moussawi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, 15219, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, 94158, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Huijgens PT, Heijkoop R, Vanderschuren LJMJ, Lesscher HMB, Snoeren EMS. CaMKIIa+ neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis modulate pace of natural reward seeking depending on internal state. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1245-1263. [PMID: 38396196 PMCID: PMC11106149 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06561-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that regulate natural reward seeking behaviors, specifically in the context of sexual behavior and sucrose self-administration. The role of CaMKIIa+ neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) was explored using chemogenetic silencing and -stimulation. Additionally, the study examined how these effects interacted with the internal state of the animals. Through detailed behavioral analysis, it was demonstrated that CaMKIIa+ neurons in the BNST play a significant role in the regulation of both sexual behavior and sucrose self-administration. Although the behavioral outcome measures differed between the two behaviors, the regulatory role of the CaMKIIa+ neurons in the BNST was found to converge on the modulation of the pacing of engagement in these behaviors in male rats. Moreover, our study confirmed that the internal physiological state of the animal affects how the BNST modulates these behaviors. These findings suggest that different types of natural rewards may recruit a similar brain circuitry to regulate the display of motivated behaviors. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying natural reward seeking and sheds light on the interconnected nature of reward-related behaviors in male rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patty T Huijgens
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Roy Heijkoop
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Louk J M J Vanderschuren
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Heidi M B Lesscher
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eelke M S Snoeren
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Algallal HE, Jacquemet V, Samaha AN. Intermittent nicotine access is as effective as continuous access in promoting nicotine seeking and taking in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1135-1149. [PMID: 38326505 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06546-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Nicotine is a principal psychoactive agent in tobacco, contributing to tobacco's addictive potential. Preclinical studies on the effects of voluntary nicotine intake typically use self-administration procedures that provide continuous nicotine access during each self-administration session. However, many smokers consume cigarettes intermittently rather than continuously throughout each day. For drugs including cocaine and opioids, research in laboratory rats shows that intermittent intake can be more effective than continuous intake in producing patterns of drug use relevant to addiction. OBJECTIVE We determined how intermittent versus continuous nicotine self-administration influences nicotine seeking and taking behaviours. METHODS Female and male rats had continuous (i.e., Long Access; LgA, 6 h/day) or intermittent (IntA; 12 min ON, 60 min OFF, for 6 h/day) access to intravenous nicotine (15 µg/kg/infusion), for 12 daily sessions. We then assessed intake, responding for nicotine under a progressive ratio schedule of drug reinforcement and cue- and nicotine-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. We also estimated nicotine pharmacokinetic parameters during LgA and IntA self-administration. RESULTS Overall, LgA rats took twice more nicotine than did IntA rats, yielding more sustained increases in estimated brain concentrations of the drug. However, the two groups showed similar motivation to seek and take nicotine, as measured using reinstatement and progressive ratio procedures, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Intermittent nicotine use is just as effective as continuous use in producing addiction-relevant behaviours, despite significantly less nicotine exposure. This has implications for modeling nicotine self-administration patterns in human smokers and resulting effects on brain and behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hajer E Algallal
- Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent Jacquemet
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Anne-Noël Samaha
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
- Neural Signaling and Circuitry Research Group (SNC), Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research On the Brain and Learning (CIRCA), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Walker NB, Tucker BR, Thomas LN, Tapp AE, Neel AI, Chen R, Jones SR, Drenan RM. β2* nAChR sensitivity modulates acquisition of cocaine self-administration in male rats. Neuropharmacology 2024; 250:109927. [PMID: 38508306 PMCID: PMC10994757 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109927] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Signaling through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) plays a role in cocaine reward and reinforcement, suggesting that the cholinergic system could be manipulated with therapeutics to modulate aspects of cocaine use disorder (CUD). We examined the interaction between nAChRs and cocaine reinforcement by expressing a hypersensitive β2 nAChR subunit (β2Leu9'Ser) in the ventral tegmental area of male Sprague Dawley rats. Compared to control rats, β2Leu9'Ser rats acquired (fixed ratio) intravenous cocaine self-administration faster and with greater likelihood. By contrast, β2Leu9'Ser rats were approximately equivalent to controls in their intake of cocaine on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, suggesting differential effects of cholinergic signaling depending on experimental parameters. Like progressive ratio cocaine SA, β2Leu9'Ser rats and controls did not differ significantly in food SA assays, including acquisition on a fixed ratio schedule or in progressive ratio sessions. These results highlight the specific role of high-affinity, heteropentameric β2* (β2-containing) nAChRs in acquisition of cocaine SA, suggesting that mesolimbic acetylcholine signaling is active during this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noah B Walker
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Brenton R Tucker
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Leanne N Thomas
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Andrew E Tapp
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Anna I Neel
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Rong Chen
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sara R Jones
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Ryan M Drenan
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Allen MI, Johnson BN, Kumar A, Su Y, Singh S, Deep G, Nader MA. Behavioral and neuronal extracellular vesicle biomarkers associated with nicotine's enhancement of the reinforcing strength of cocaine in female and male monkeys. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 11:100151. [PMID: 38911873 PMCID: PMC11192513 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2024.100151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
While the majority of people with cocaine use disorders (CUD) also co-use tobacco/nicotine, most preclinical cocaine research does not include nicotine. The present study examined nicotine and cocaine co-use under several conditions of intravenous drug self-administration in monkeys, as well as potential peripheral biomarkers associated with co-use. In Experiment 1, male rhesus monkeys (N = 3) self-administered cocaine (0.001-0.1 mg/kg/injection) alone and with nicotine (0.01-0.03 mg/kg/injection) under a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement. When nicotine was added to cocaine, there was a significant leftward/upward shift in the number of injections received. In Experiment 2, socially housed female and male cynomolgus monkeys (N = 14) self-administered cocaine under a concurrent drug-vs-food choice schedule of reinforcement. Adding nicotine to the cocaine solution shifted the cocaine dose-response curves to the left, with more robust shifts noted in the female animals. There was no evidence of social rank differences. To assess reinforcing strength, delays were added to the presentation of drug; the co-use of nicotine and cocaine required significantly longer delays to decrease drug choice, compared with cocaine alone. Blood samples obtained post-session were used to analyze concentrations of neuronally derived small extracellular vesicles (NDE); significant differences in NDE profile were observed for kappa-opioid receptors when nicotine and cocaine were co-used compared with each drug alone and controls. These results suggest that drug interactions involving the co-use of nicotine and cocaine are not simply changing potency, but rather resulting in changes in reinforcing strength that should be utilized to better understand the neuropharmacology of CUD and the evaluation of potential treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mia I. Allen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Center for Addiction Research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Bernard N. Johnson
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Center for Addiction Research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Yixin Su
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Sangeeta Singh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Gagan Deep
- Center for Addiction Research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- J Paul Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Michael A. Nader
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Center for Addiction Research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jackson MG, Lightman SL, Robinson ESJ. Characterisation of behaviours relevant to apathy syndrome in the aged male rat. Behav Brain Res 2024; 466:114977. [PMID: 38570074 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Apathy is a complex psychiatric syndrome characterised by motivational deficit, emotional blunting and cognitive changes. It occurs alongside a broad range of neurological disorders, but also occurs in otherwise healthy ageing. Despite its clinical prevalence, apathy does not yet have a designated treatment strategy. Generation of a translational animal model of apathy syndrome would facilitate the development of novel treatments. Given the multidimensional nature of apathy, a model cannot be achieved with a single behavioural test. Using a battery of behavioural tests we investigated whether aged rats exhibit behavioural deficits across different domains relevant to apathy. Using the effort for reward and progressive ratio tasks we found that aged male rats (21-27 months) show intact reward motivation. Using the novelty supressed feeding test and position-based object exploration we found aged rats showed increased anxiety-like behaviour inconsistent with emotional blunting. The sucrose preference test and reward learning assay showed intact reward sensitivity and reward-related cognition in aged rats. However, using a bowl-digging version of the probabilistic reversal learning task, we found a deficit in cognitive flexibility in aged rats that did not translate across to a touchscreen version of the task. While these data reveal important changes in cognitive flexibility and anxiety associated with ageing, aged rats do not show deficits across other behavioural domains relevant to apathy. This suggests that aged rats are not a suitable model for age-related apathy syndrome. These findings contrast with previous work in mice, revealing important species differences in behaviours relevant to apathy syndrome in ageing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan G Jackson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Stafford L Lightman
- Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Emma S J Robinson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Schiffino FL, McNally JM, Maness EB, McKenna JT, Brown RE, Strecker RE. Basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons modulate vigilant attention and rescue deficits produced by sleep deprivation. J Sleep Res 2024; 33:e13919. [PMID: 37211393 PMCID: PMC10659990 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Attention is impaired in many neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as by sleep disruption, leading to decreased workplace productivity and increased risk of accidents. Thus, understanding the neural substrates is important. Here we test the hypothesis that basal forebrain neurons that contain the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin modulate vigilant attention in mice. Furthermore, we test whether increasing the activity of basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons can rescue the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation on vigilance. A lever release version of the rodent psychomotor vigilance test was used to assess vigilant attention. Brief and continuous low-power optogenetic excitation (1 s, 473 nm @ 5 mW) or inhibition (1 s, 530 nm @ 10 mW) of basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons was used to test the effect on attention, as measured by reaction time, under control conditions and following 8 hr of sleep deprivation by gentle handling. Optogenetic excitation of basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons that preceded the cue light signal by 0.5 s improved vigilant attention as indicated by quicker reaction times. By contrast, both sleep deprivation and optogenetic inhibition slowed reaction times. Importantly, basal forebrain parvalbumin excitation rescued the reaction time deficits in sleep-deprived mice. Control experiments using a progressive ratio operant task confirmed that optogenetic manipulation of basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons did not alter motivation. These findings reveal for the first time a role for basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons in attention, and show that increasing their activity can compensate for disruptive effects of sleep deprivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe L. Schiffino
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA. Work performed at the VA
| | - James M. McNally
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
| | - Eden B. Maness
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
| | - James T. McKenna
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
| | - Ritchie E. Brown
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
| | - Robert E. Strecker
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Cannella N, Tambalo S, Lunerti V, Scuppa G, de Vivo L, Abdulmalek S, Kinen A, Mackle J, Kuhn B, Solberg Woods LC, Chung D, Kalivas P, Soverchia L, Ubaldi M, Hardiman G, Bifone A, Ciccocioppo R. Long-access heroin self-administration induces region specific reduction of grey matter volume and microglia reactivity in the rat. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 118:210-220. [PMID: 38452987 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In opioid use disorder (OUD) patients, a decrease in brain grey matter volume (GMV) has been reported. It is unclear whether this is the consequence of prolonged exposure to opioids or is a predisposing causal factor in OUD development. To investigate this, we conducted a structural MRI longitudinal study in NIH Heterogeneous Stock rats exposed to heroin self-administration and age-matched naïve controls housed in the same controlled environment. Structural MRI scans were acquired before (MRI1) and after (MRI2) a prolonged period of long access heroin self-administration resulting in escalation of drug intake. Heroin intake resulted in reduced GMV in various cortical and sub-cortical brain regions. In drug-naïve controls no difference was found between MRI1 and MRI2. Notably, the degree of GMV reduction in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the insula positively correlated with the amount of heroin consumed and the escalation of heroin use. In a preliminary gene expression analysis, we identified a number of transcripts linked to immune response and neuroinflammation. This prompted us to hypothesize a link between changes in microglia homeostasis and loss of GMV. For this reason, we analyzed the number and morphology of microglial cells in the mPFC and insula. The number of neurons and their morphology was also evaluated. The primary motor cortex, where no GMV change was observed, was used as negative control. We found no differences in the number of neurons and microglia cells following heroin. However, in the same regions where reduced GMV was detected, we observed a shift towards a rounder shape and size reduction in microglia, suggestive of their homeostatic change towards a reactive state. Altogether these findings suggest that escalation of heroin intake correlates with loss of GMV in specific brain regions and that this phenomenon is linked to changes in microglial morphology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
| | - Stefano Tambalo
- CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Veronica Lunerti
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Giulia Scuppa
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Luisa de Vivo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | - Analia Kinen
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy; Faculty of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, UK
| | - James Mackle
- Faculty of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, UK
| | - Brittany Kuhn
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston (SC), USA
| | | | - Dongjun Chung
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus (OH), USA
| | - Peter Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston (SC), USA
| | - Laura Soverchia
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | - Angelo Bifone
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy; Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
da Silva D, Matsui A, Murray EM, Mamais A, Authement ME, Shin JH, Shaw M, Ron D, Cookson MR, Alvarez VA. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 limits dopamine D1 receptor signaling in striatum and biases against heavy persistent alcohol drinking. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:824-836. [PMID: 37684522 PMCID: PMC10948780 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01731-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The transition from hedonic alcohol drinking to problematic drinking is a hallmark of alcohol use disorder that occurs only in a subset of drinkers. This transition requires long-lasting changes in the synaptic drive and the activity of striatal neurons expressing dopamine D1 receptor (D1R). The molecular mechanisms that generate vulnerability in some individuals to undergo the transition are less understood. Here, we report that the Parkinson's-related protein leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) modulates striatal D1R function to affect the behavioral response to alcohol and the likelihood that mice transition to heavy, persistent alcohol drinking. Constitutive deletion of the Lrrk2 gene specifically from D1R-expressing neurons potentiated D1R signaling at the cellular and synaptic level and enhanced alcohol-related behaviors and drinking. Mice with cell-specific deletion of Lrrk2 were more prone to heavy alcohol drinking, and consumption was insensitive to punishment. These findings identify a potential novel role for LRRK2 function in the striatum in promoting resilience against heavy and persistent alcohol drinking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel da Silva
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Aya Matsui
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Erin M Murray
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Adamantios Mamais
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michael E Authement
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jung Hoon Shin
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Marlisa Shaw
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Dorit Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark R Cookson
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Veronica A Alvarez
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research Program, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- NIMH, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Carreño D, Facundo A, Nguyen MTT, Lotfipour S. Dopamine and Norepinephrine Tissue Levels in the Developing Limbic Brain Are Impacted by the Human CHRNA6 3'-UTR Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (rs2304297) in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3676. [PMID: 38612487 PMCID: PMC11011259 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that a genetic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs2304297) in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the human CHRNA6 gene has sex- and genotype-dependent effects on nicotine-induced locomotion, anxiety, and nicotine + cue-induced reinstatement in adolescent rats. This study aims to investigate how the CHRNA6 3'-UTR SNP influences dopaminergic and noradrenergic tissue levels in brain reward regions during baseline and after the reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. Naïve adolescent and adult rats, along with those undergoing nicotine + cue reinstatement and carrying the CHRNA6 3'-UTR SNP, were assessed for dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and metabolites in reward pathway regions. The results reveal age-, sex-, and genotype-dependent baseline DA, NE, and DA turnover levels. Post-reinstatement, male α6GG rats show suppressed DA levels in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) Shell compared to the baseline, while nicotine+ cue-induced reinstatement behavior correlates with neurotransmitter levels in specific brain regions. This study emphasizes the role of CHRNA6 3'-UTR SNP in the developmental maturation of the dopaminergic and noradrenergic system in the adolescent rat brain, with tissue levels acting as predictors of nicotine + cue-induced reinstatement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Carreño
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Antonella Facundo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - My Trang Thi Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Shahrdad Lotfipour
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Solinas M, Lardeux V, Leblanc PM, Longueville JE, Thiriet N, Vandaele Y, Panlilio LV, Jaafari N. Delay of punishment highlights differential vulnerability to developing addiction-like behavior toward sweet food. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:155. [PMID: 38509086 PMCID: PMC10954751 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Resistance to punishment is commonly used to measure the difficulty in refraining from rewarding activities when negative consequences ensue, which is a hallmark of addictive behavior. We recently developed a progressive shock strength (PSS) procedure in which individual rats can titrate the amount of punishment that they are willing to tolerate to obtain food rewards. Here, we investigated the effects of a range of delays (0-12 s) on resistance to punishment measured by PSS break points. As expected from delay discounting principles, we found that delayed shock was less effective as a punisher, as revealed by higher PSS breakpoints. However, this discounting effect was not equally distributed in the population of rats, and the introduction of a delay highlighted the existence of two populations: rats that were sensitive to immediate punishment were also sensitive to delayed shock, whereas rats that were resistant to immediate punishment showed strong temporal discounting of delayed punishment. Importantly, shock-sensitive rats suppressed responding even in subsequent non-punishment sessions, and they differed from shock-resistant rats in anxiety-like behavior, but not in sensitivity to pain. These results show that manipulation of temporal contingencies of punishment in the PSS procedure provides a valuable tool to identify individuals with a double vulnerability to addiction: low sensitivity to aversion and excessive discounting of negative future consequences. Conversely, the shock-sensitive population may provide a model of humans who are vulnerable to opportunity loss due to excessive anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Solinas
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France.
- Unité de Recherche Clinique Intersectorielle en Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Henri-Laborit, Poitiers, France.
| | - Virginie Lardeux
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Pierre-Marie Leblanc
- Unité de Recherche Clinique Intersectorielle en Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Henri-Laborit, Poitiers, France
| | - Jean-Emmanuel Longueville
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Nathalie Thiriet
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Youna Vandaele
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Leigh V Panlilio
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Unit, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nematollah Jaafari
- Unité de Recherche Clinique Intersectorielle en Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Henri-Laborit, Poitiers, France
- Université de Poitiers, CNRS, UMR 7295, Centre de Recherche sur la Cognition et l'apprentissage, Poitiers, France
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Murdaugh LB, Miliano C, Chen I, Faunce CL, Natividad LA, Gregus AM, Buczynski MW. Effect of chronic vapor nicotine exposure on affective and cognitive behavior in male mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6646. [PMID: 38503831 PMCID: PMC10951409 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56766-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Nicotine use is a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide, and most of those who attempt to quit will relapse. While electronic cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) were presented as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes and promoted as devices to help traditional tobacco smokers reduce or quit smoking, they have instead contributed to increasing nicotine use among youths. Despite this, ENDS also represent a useful tool to create novel preclinical animal models of nicotine exposure that more accurately represent human nicotine use. In this study, we validated a chronic, intermittent, ENDS-based passive vapor exposure model in mice, and then measured changes in multiple behaviors related to nicotine abstinence. First, we performed a behavioral dose curve to investigate the effects of different nicotine inter-vape intervals on various measures including body weight, locomotor activity, and pain hypersensitivity. Next, we performed a pharmacokinetic study to measure plasma levels of nicotine and cotinine following chronic exposure for each inter-vape interval. Finally, we utilized a behavior test battery at a single dosing regimen that produces blood levels equivalent to human smokers in order to characterize the effects of chronic nicotine, vehicle, or passive airflow and identified nicotine-induced impairments in cognitive behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Murdaugh
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 970 Washington St SW, Life Sciences I, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Cristina Miliano
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 970 Washington St SW, Life Sciences I, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Irene Chen
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 970 Washington St SW, Life Sciences I, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Christine L Faunce
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 970 Washington St SW, Life Sciences I, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Luis A Natividad
- College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ann M Gregus
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 970 Washington St SW, Life Sciences I, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Matthew W Buczynski
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 970 Washington St SW, Life Sciences I, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Estave PM, Albertson SE, Karkhanis AN, Jones SR. Co-targeting the kappa opioid receptor and dopamine transporter reduces motivation to self-administer cocaine and partially reverses dopamine system dysregulation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6509. [PMID: 38499566 PMCID: PMC10948819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53463-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cocaine disrupts dopamine (DA) and kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system activity, with long-term exposure reducing inhibiton of DA uptake by cocaine and increasing KOR system function. Single treatment therapies have not been successful for cocaine use disorder; therefore, this study focuses on a combination therapy targeting the dopamine transporter (DAT) and KOR. Sprague Dawley rats self-administered 5 days of cocaine (1.5 mg/kg/inf, max 40 inf/day, FR1), followed by 14 days on a progressive ratio (PR) schedule (0.19 mg/kg/infusion). Behavioral effects of individual and combined administration of phenmetrazine and nBNI were then examined using PR. Additionally, ex vivo fast scan cyclic voltammetry was then used to assess alterations in DA and KOR system activity in the nucleus accumbens before and after treatments. Chronic administration of phenmetrazine as well as the combination of phenmetrazine and nBNI-but not nBNI alone-significantly reduced PR breakpoints. In addition, the combination of phenmetrazine and nBNI partially reversed cocaine-induced neurodysregulations of the KOR and DA systems, indicating therapeutic benefits of targeting the DA and KOR systems in tandem. These data highlight the potential benefits of the DAT and KOR as dual-cellular targets to reduce motivation to administer cocaine and reverse cocaine-induced alterations of the DA system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paige M Estave
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake University Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Steven E Albertson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake University Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Anushree N Karkhanis
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University - State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
| | - Sara R Jones
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake University Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bettadapura S, Dowling K, Jablon K, Al-Humadi AW, le Roux CW. Changes in food preferences and ingestive behaviors after glucagon-like peptide-1 analog treatment: techniques and opportunities. Int J Obes (Lond) 2024:10.1038/s41366-024-01500-y. [PMID: 38454010 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01500-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs are approved for the treatment of obesity in adults and adolescents. Reports have emerged that the weight loss effect of these medications may be related to changes in food preferences and ingestive behaviors following the treatment. Understanding the mechanisms which impact ingestive behavior could expand opportunities to develop more refined and personalized treatment options for obesity. METHODS Recent studies investigating the relationship between GLP-1 analogs and ingestive behaviors were retrieved from PubMed using the search terms: "obesity," "food preference," "taste," "ingestive behavior," "weight loss medication," "anti-obesity medication," "GLP-1 analog," "tirzepatide," "liraglutide," "semaglutide." Measurement tools were studied to compare variables used to assess food intake behavior. The main outcomes from each study were analyzed to evaluate the current standing and future directions of appetitive, ingestive, and consummatory behaviors and their association with GLP-1 analogs. RESULTS Thus far, studies have primarily explored the weight loss phase and report decreased short-term appetite and food intake upon treatment. However, research during the weight maintenance phase and objective measurements of food intake are notably sparse. Additionally, verbal reports have been primarily used to examine food intake, which can be susceptible to subjectivity. CONCLUSIONS Elucidating the relationship between GLP-1 analogs and ingestive behavior could reveal additional parameters which contribute to their anti-obesity effects. To better understand these mechanisms, it is imperative to consider objective measurements of food intake in future studies. Several measurement tools have been adapted to measure variables of food behavior in humans, and each must be carefully considered with their strengths and limitations to develop optimal investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sahana Bettadapura
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | | | - Kelli Jablon
- Renaissance School of Medicine, Stonybrook University, Stonybrook, NY, USA
| | - Ahmed W Al-Humadi
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Carel W le Roux
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland.
- Diabetes Research Centre, Ulster University, Belfast, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Achterberg EJM, Biemans B, Vanderschuren LJMJ. Neurexin1α knockout in rats causes aberrant social behaviour: relevance for autism and schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06559-z. [PMID: 38418646 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06559-z] [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] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Genetic and environmental factors cause neuropsychiatric disorders through complex interactions that are far from understood. Loss-of-function mutations in synaptic proteins like neurexin1α have been linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ), both characterised by problems in social behaviour. Childhood social play behaviour is thought to facilitate social development, and lack of social play may precipitate or exacerbate ASD and SCZ. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that an environmental insult acts on top of genetic vulnerability to precipitate psychiatric-like phenotypes. To that aim, social behaviour in neurexin1α knockout rats was assessed, with or without deprivation of juvenile social play. We also tested drugs prescribed in ASD or SCZ to assess the relevance of this dual-hit model for these disorders. RESULTS Neurexin1α knockout rats showed an aberrant social phenotype, with high amounts of social play, increased motivation to play, age-inappropriate sexual mounting, and an increase in general activity. Play deprivation subtly altered later social behaviour, but did not affect the phenotype of neurexin1α knockout rats. Risperidone and methylphenidate decreased play behaviour in both wild-type and knockout rats. Amphetamine-induced hyperactivity was exaggerated in neurexin1α knockout rats. CONCLUSION Deletion of the neurexin1α gene in rats causes exaggerated social play, which is not modified by social play deprivation. This phenotype therefore resembles disinhibited behaviour rather than the social withdrawal seen in ASD and SCZ. The neurexin1α knockout rat could be a model for inappropriate or disinhibited social behaviour seen in childhood mental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E J Marijke Achterberg
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Barbara Biemans
- Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Louk J M J Vanderschuren
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Cannella N, Tambalo S, Lunerti V, Scuppa G, de Vivo L, Abdulmalek S, Kinen A, Mackle J, Kuhn B, Solberg Woods LC, Chung D, Kalivas P, Soverchia L, Ubaldi M, Hardiman G, Bifone A, Ciccocioppo R. Long-access heroin self-administration induces region specific reduction of grey matter volume and microglia reactivity in the rat. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.26.582024. [PMID: 38463974 PMCID: PMC10925188 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.26.582024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
In opioid use disorder (OUD) patients, a decrease in brain grey matter volume (GMV) has been reported. It is unclear whether this is the consequence of prolonged exposure to opioids or is a predisposing causal factor in OUD development. To investigate this, we conducted a structural MRI longitudinal study in NIH Heterogeneous Stock rats exposed to heroin self-administration and age-matched naïve controls housed in the same controlled environment. Structural MRI scans were acquired before (MRI 1 ) and after (MRI 2 ) a prolonged period of long access heroin self-administration resulting in escalation of drug intake. Heroin intake resulted in reduced GMV in various cortical and sub-cortical brain regions. In drug-naïve controls no difference was found between MRI 1 and MRI 2 . Notably, the degree of GMV reduction in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the insula positively correlated with the amount of heroin consumed and the escalation of heroin use. In a preliminary gene expression analysis, we identified a number of transcripts linked to immune response and neuroinflammation. This prompted us to hypothesize a link between changes in microglia homeostasis and loss of GMV. For this reason, we analyzed the number and morphology of microglial cells in the mPFC and insula. The number of neurons and their morphology was also evaluated. The primary motor cortex, where no GMV change was observed, was used as negative control. We found no differences in the number of neurons and microglia cells following heroin. However, in the same regions where reduced GMV was detected, we observed a shift towards a rounder shape and size reduction in microglia, suggestive of their homeostatic change towards a reactive state. Altogether these findings suggest that escalation of heroin intake correlates with loss of GMV in specific brain regions and that this phenomenon is linked to changes in microglial morphology.
Collapse
|
24
|
Liu Y, Zhao ZD, Xie G, Chen R, Zhang Y. A molecularly defined NAcSh D1 subtype controls feeding and energy homeostasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.27.530275. [PMID: 36909586 PMCID: PMC10002697 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.27.530275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Orchestrating complex behavioral states, such as approach and consumption of food, is critical for survival. In addition to hypothalamus neuronal circuits, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) also plays an important role in controlling appetite and satiety in responses to changing external stimuli. However, the specific neuronal subtypes of NAc involved as well as how the humoral and neuronal signals coordinate to regulate feeding remain incompletely understood. Here, we deciphered the spatial diversity of neuron subtypes of the NAc shell (NAcSh) and defined a dopamine receptor D1(Drd1)- and Serpinb2-expressing subtype located in NAcSh encoding food consumption. Chemogenetics- and optogenetics-mediated regulation of Serpinb2 + neurons bidirectionally regulates food seeking and consumption specifically. Circuitry stimulation revealed the NAcSh Serpinb2 →LH LepR projection controls refeeding and can overcome leptin-mediated feeding suppression. Furthermore, NAcSh Serpinb2 + neuron ablation reduces food intake and upregulates energy expenditure resulting in body weight loss. Together, our study reveals a neural circuit consisted of molecularly distinct neuronal subtype that bidirectionally regulates energy homeostasis, which can serve as a potential therapeutic target for eating disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiong Liu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Zheng-dong Zhao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Guoguang Xie
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Renchao Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Toivainen S, Xu L, Gobbo F, Della Valle A, Coppola A, Heilig M, Domi E. Different mechanisms underlie compulsive alcohol self-administration in male and female rats. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:17. [PMID: 38368341 PMCID: PMC10874042 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00592-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex is an important factor in the progression and treatment of alcohol addiction, and therapeutic approaches may have to be tailored to potential sex differences. This highlights the importance of understanding sex differences in behaviors that reflect key elements of clinical alcohol addiction, such as continued use despite negative consequences ("compulsive use"). Studies in experimental animals can help provide an understanding of the role sex plays to influence these behaviors. METHODS Large populations of genetically heterogeneous male and female Wistar rats were tested in an established model of compulsive alcohol self-administration, operationalized as alcohol responding despite contingent foot shock punishment. We also tested baseline (fixed ratio, unpunished) operant alcohol self-administration, motivation to self-administer alcohol (progressive ratio), and temporal discounting for alcohol reward. In search of predictors of compulsivity, animals were screened for novelty-induced place preference, anxiety-like behavior, pain sensitivity and corticosterone levels. The estrous cycle was monitored throughout the study. RESULTS Unpunished self-administration of alcohol did not differ between males and females when alcohol intake was corrected for body weight. Overall, females showed higher levels of compulsive responding for alcohol. Compulsive response rates showed bimodal distributions in male but not in female rats when intermediate shock intensities were used (0.2 and 0.25 mA); at higher shock intensities, responding was uniformly suppressed in both males and females. We also found less steep discounting in females when alcohol was devalued by delaying its delivery. Males exhibited a stronger motivation to obtain alcohol under unpunished conditions, while females showed higher corticosterone levels at baseline. Factor analysis showed that an underlying dimension related to stress and pain predicted compulsivity in females, while compulsivity in males was predicted by a reward factor. We did not find differences in alcohol-related behaviors throughout the various stages of the estrous cycle. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that mechanisms promoting compulsivity, a key feature of alcohol addiction, likely differ between males and females. This underscores the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in both preclinical and clinical research, and has potential treatment implications in alcohol addiction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Toivainen
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Li Xu
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Francesco Gobbo
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Andrea Della Valle
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrea Coppola
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Esi Domi
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden.
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Wingert JC, Ramos JD, Reynolds SX, Gonzalez AE, Rose RM, Hegarty DM, Aicher SA, Bailey LG, Brown TE, Abbas AI, Sorg BA. Perineuronal nets in the rat medial prefrontal cortex alter hippocampal-prefrontal oscillations and reshape cocaine self-administration memories. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.05.577568. [PMID: 38370716 PMCID: PMC10871211 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.05.577568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a major contributor to relapse to cocaine in humans and to reinstatement behavior in rodent models of cocaine use disorder. Output from the mPFC is modulated by parvalbumin (PV)-containing fast-spiking interneurons, the majority of which are surrounded by perineuronal nets (PNNs). Here we tested whether chondroitinase ABC (ABC)- mediated removal of PNNs prevented the acquisition or reconsolidation of a cocaine self-administration memory. ABC injections into the dorsal mPFC prior to training attenuated the acquisition of cocaine self-administration. Also, ABC given 3 days prior to but not 1 hr after memory reactivation blocked cue-induced reinstatement. However, reduced reinstatement was present only in rats given a novel reactivation contingency, suggesting that PNNs are required for the updating of a familiar memory. In naive rats, ABC injections into mPFC did not alter excitatory or inhibitory puncta on PV cells but reduced PV intensity. Whole-cell recordings revealed a greater inter-spike interval 1 hr after ABC, but not 3 days later. In vivo recordings from the mPFC and dorsal hippocampus (dHIP) during novel memory reactivation revealed that ABC in the mPFC prevented reward-associated increases in beta and gamma activity as well as phase-amplitude coupling between the dHIP and mPFC. Together, our findings show that PNN removal attenuates the acquisition of cocaine self-administration memories and disrupts reconsolidation of the original memory when combined with a novel reactivation session. Further, reduced dHIP/mPFC coupling after PNN removal may serve as a key biomarker for how to disrupt reconsolidation of cocaine memories and reduce relapse.
Collapse
|
27
|
Schuh KM, Ahmed J, Kwak E, Xu CX, Davis TT, Aronoff CB, Tronson NC. A mouse model of oral contraceptive exposure: Depression, motivation, and the stress response. Horm Behav 2024; 158:105470. [PMID: 38061232 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Hormonal contraceptives, including oral contraceptives (OCs), regulate hormonal cycles and broadly affect physiological processes, including stress responsivity. Whereas many users describe overall improved mood, up to 10 % of OC users experience adverse effects, including depression and anxiety. Given the link between regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, stress exposure, and risk for depression, it is likely that OC-effects on stress mediate increased risk or increased resilience to these disorders. In this study, we developed and characterized a tractable mouse model of OC exposure with which to identify the mechanisms underlying OC modulation of brain, behavior, and mood. Specifically, we aimed to determine whether translationally relevant doses of OC-hormones in mice mimic changes in stress responsivity observed in humans taking OCs and describe behavioral changes during OC exposure. Young adult female C57Bl/6 N mice received daily ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LVNG) in 10 % sucrose, EE and drospirenone (DRSP) in 10 % sucrose, or 10 % sucrose alone. Translationally relevant doses of EE + LVNG-exposure, but not EE + DRSP, suppressed the acute stress response, consistent with effects observed in human OC users. EE + LVNG caused a specific anhedonia-like effect, without broad changes in stress-coping behavior, other depression-like behaviors, or anxiety-like behaviors. The suppression of regular estrous cycling, together with the blunting of the corticosterone response to acute stress, demonstrate the utility of this model for future studies to identify the mechanisms underlying OC interactions with stress, motivation, and risk for depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Schuh
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Jabir Ahmed
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Esther Kwak
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Cecilia X Xu
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Tronjay T Davis
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Chloe B Aronoff
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Natalie C Tronson
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Hofford RS, Meckel KR, Wiser EJ, Wang W, Sens JP, Kim M, Godino A, Lam TT, Kiraly DD. Microbiome Depletion Increases Fentanyl Self-Administration and Alters the Striatal Proteome Through Short-Chain Fatty Acids. eNeuro 2024; 11:11/2/ENEURO.0388-23.2023. [PMID: 38164564 PMCID: PMC10875718 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0388-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a public health crisis currently being exacerbated by increased rates of use and overdose of synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. Therefore, the identification of novel biomarkers and treatment strategies to reduce problematic fentanyl use and relapse to fentanyl taking is critical. In recent years, there has been a growing body of work demonstrating that the gut microbiome can serve as a potent modulator of the behavioral and transcriptional responses to both stimulants and opioids. Here, we advance this work to define how manipulations of the microbiome drive fentanyl intake and fentanyl-seeking in a translationally relevant drug self-administration model. Depletion of the microbiome of male rats with broad spectrum antibiotics leads to increased drug administration on increased fixed ratio, progressive ratio, and drug seeking after abstinence. Utilizing 16S sequencing of microbiome contents from these animals, specific populations of bacteria from the gut microbiome correlate closely with levels of drug taking. Additionally, global proteomic analysis of the nucleus accumbens following microbiome manipulation and fentanyl administration to define how microbiome status alters the functional proteomic landscape in this key limbic substructure. These data demonstrate that an altered microbiome leads to marked changes in the synaptic proteome in response to repeated fentanyl treatment. Finally, behavioral effects of microbiome depletion are reversible by upplementation of the microbiome derived short-chain fatty acid metabolites. Taken together, these findings establish clear relevance for gut-brain signaling in models of OUD and lay foundations for further translational work in this space.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Hofford
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
| | - Katherine R Meckel
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
| | - Elizabeth J Wiser
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Keck MS & Proteomics Resource, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Jonathon P Sens
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
| | - Michelle Kim
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
| | - Arthur Godino
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
| | - TuKiet T Lam
- Keck MS & Proteomics Resource, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale/NIDA Neuroproteomics Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NewYork, NY 10029
- Department of Psychiatry, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bernstein DL, Lewandowski SI, Besada C, Place D, España RA, Mortensen OV. Inactivation of ERK1/2 Signaling in Dopaminergic Neurons by Map Kinase Phosphatase MKP3 Regulates Dopamine Signaling and Motivation for Cocaine. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0727232023. [PMID: 38296649 PMCID: PMC10860627 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0727-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The mesolimbic dopamine system is a crucial component of reward and reinforcement processing, including the psychotropic effects of drugs of abuse such as cocaine. Drugs of abuse can activate intracellular signaling cascades that engender long-term molecular changes to brain reward circuitry, which can promote further drug use. However, gaps remain about how the activity of these signaling pathways, such as ERK1/2 signaling, can affect cocaine-induced neurochemical plasticity and cocaine-associated behaviors specifically within dopaminergic cells. To enable specific modulation of ERK1/2 signaling in dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area, we utilize a viral construct that Cre dependently expresses Map kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP3) to reduce the activity of ERK1/2, in combination with transgenic rats that express Cre in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells. Following viral transfection, we found an increase in the surface expression of the dopamine transporter (DAT), a protein associated with the regulation of dopamine signaling, dopamine transmission, and cocaine-associated behavior. We found that inactivation of ERK1/2 reduced post-translational phosphorylation of the DAT, attenuated the ability of cocaine to inhibit the DAT, and decreased motivation for cocaine without affecting associative learning as tested by conditioned place preference. Together, these results indicate that ERK1/2 signaling plays a critical role in shaping the dopamine response to cocaine and may provide additional insights into the function of dopaminergic neurons. Further, these findings lay important groundwork toward the assessment of how signaling pathways and their downstream effectors influence dopamine transmission and could ultimately provide therapeutic targets for treating cocaine use disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David L Bernstein
- Departments of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
| | - Stacia I Lewandowski
- Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
| | - Christina Besada
- Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
| | - Delaney Place
- Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
| | - Rodrigo A España
- Departments of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
| | - Ole V Mortensen
- Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Gildawie KR, Wang K, Budge KE, Byrnes EM. Effects of Maternal Separation on Effort-based Responding for Sucrose Are Associated with c-Fos Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens Core. Neuroscience 2024; 537:174-188. [PMID: 38036058 PMCID: PMC10872495 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
In both people and animals, exposure to adverse experiences early in life can alter neurodevelopment and lead to long-term behavioral effects, including effects on reward processing. In the current study, we use a well-validated rodent model of maternal neglect, maternal separation (MS), to investigate the impact of early life adversity on reward learning and motivation and identify associated modifications in cellular activation in reward-relevant areas. Litters of Long-Evans rats were separated from the dam for either 15 min (brief) or 180 min (prolonged)/day from postnatal day (PND)2 to PND14. As adults, offspring were trained to lever press for a sucrose pellet using fixed ratio (FR) schedules and motivation was tested using a progressive ratio (PR) schedule over 10 daily sessions to assess sustained effects on effort-based responding. Immunohistochemical staining for c-Fos was conducted in a subset of animals that underwent an additional PR session. While there were no effects on reward learning, both MS180 males and females demonstrated increased effort-based responding on the first day of PR testing, while only MS180 males demonstrated a sustained increase in effort across all 10 days. MS180-induced changes in c-Fos expression in the dorsal and ventral striatum were observed, with subregion-specific effects along the rostrocaudal axis. Moreover, regression analyses suggest that motivated responding for a sucrose food reward in MS180-exposed, but not MS15-exposed animals, was associated with increased c-Fos expression in the rostral nucleus accumbens core. These findings implicate specific striatal regions in sex-specific modulation of sustained effort-based reward behavior following early life adversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsea R Gildawie
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Katherine Wang
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Kerri E Budge
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Byrnes
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Sayar-Atasoy N, Yavuz Y, Laule C, Dong C, Kim H, Rysted J, Flippo K, Davis D, Aklan I, Yilmaz B, Tian L, Atasoy D. Opioidergic signaling contributes to food-mediated suppression of AgRP neurons. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113630. [PMID: 38165803 PMCID: PMC10865729 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Opioids are generally known to promote hedonic food consumption. Although much of the existing evidence is primarily based on studies of the mesolimbic pathway, endogenous opioids and their receptors are widely expressed in hypothalamic appetite circuits as well; however, their role in homeostatic feeding remains unclear. Using a fluorescent opioid sensor, deltaLight, here we report that mediobasal hypothalamic opioid levels increase by feeding, which directly and indirectly inhibits agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons through the μ-opioid receptor (MOR). AgRP-specific MOR expression increases by energy surfeit and contributes to opioid-induced suppression of appetite. Conversely, its antagonists diminish suppression of AgRP neuron activity by food and satiety hormones. Mice with AgRP neuron-specific ablation of MOR expression have increased fat preference without increased motivation. These results suggest that post-ingestion release of endogenous opioids contributes to AgRP neuron inhibition to shape food choice through MOR signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nilufer Sayar-Atasoy
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Yavuz Yavuz
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul 34755, Turkey
| | - Connor Laule
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Chunyang Dong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Hyojin Kim
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jacob Rysted
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kyle Flippo
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Debbie Davis
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Iltan Aklan
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Bayram Yilmaz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul 34755, Turkey
| | - Lin Tian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC), Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Peretz-Rivlin N, Marsh-Yvgi I, Fatal Y, Terem A, Turm H, Shaham Y, Citri A. An automated group-housed oral fentanyl self-administration method in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06528-6. [PMID: 38246893 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06528-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Social factors play a critical role in human drug addiction, and humans often consume drugs together with their peers. In contrast, in traditional animal models of addiction, rodents consume or self-administer the drug in their homecage or operant self-administration chambers while isolated from their peers. Here, we describe HOMECAGE ("Home-cage Observation and Measurement for Experimental Control and Analysis in a Group-housed Environment"), a translationally relevant method for studying oral opioid self-administration in mice. This setting reduces experimental confounds introduced by social isolation or interaction with the experimenter. METHODS We have developed HOMECAGE, a method in which mice are group-housed and individually monitored for their consumption of a drug vs. a reference liquid. RESULTS Mice in HOMECAGE preserve naturalistic aspects of behavior, including social interactions and circadian activity. The mice showed a preference for fentanyl and escalated their fentanyl intake over time. Mice preferred to consume fentanyl in bouts during the dark cycle. Mice entrained to the reinforcement schedule of the task, optimizing their pokes to obtain fentanyl rewards, and maintained responding for fentanyl under a progressive ratio schedule. HOMECAGE also enabled the detection of cage-specific and individual-specific behavior patterns and allowed the identification of differences in fentanyl consumption between co-housed control and experimental mice. CONCLUSIONS HOMECAGE serves as a valuable procedure for translationally relevant studies on oral opioid intake under conditions that more closely mimic the human condition. The method enables naturalistic investigation of factors contributing to opioid addiction-related behaviors and can be used to identify novel treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noa Peretz-Rivlin
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Idit Marsh-Yvgi
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yonatan Fatal
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anna Terem
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hagit Turm
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yavin Shaham
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, IRP/NIDA/NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ami Citri
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Program in Child and Brain Development, MaRS Centre, West Tower, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, 661 University Ave, Suite 505, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ihara K, Shikano Y, Kato S, Yagishita S, Tanaka KF, Takata N. A reinforcement learning model with choice traces for a progressive ratio schedule. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1302842. [PMID: 38268795 PMCID: PMC10806202 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1302842] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The progressive ratio (PR) lever-press task serves as a benchmark for assessing goal-oriented motivation. However, a well-recognized limitation of the PR task is that only a single data point, known as the breakpoint, is obtained from an entire session as a barometer of motivation. Because the breakpoint is defined as the final ratio of responses achieved in a PR session, variations in choice behavior during the PR task cannot be captured. We addressed this limitation by constructing four reinforcement learning models: a simple Q-learning model, an asymmetric model with two learning rates, a perseverance model with choice traces, and a perseverance model without learning. These models incorporated three behavioral choices: reinforced and non-reinforced lever presses and void magazine nosepokes, because we noticed that male mice performed frequent magazine nosepokes during PR tasks. The best model was the perseverance model, which predicted a gradual reduction in amplitudes of reward prediction errors (RPEs) upon void magazine nosepokes. We confirmed the prediction experimentally with fiber photometry of extracellular dopamine (DA) dynamics in the ventral striatum of male mice using a fluorescent protein (genetically encoded GPCR activation-based DA sensor: GRABDA2m). We verified application of the model by acute intraperitoneal injection of low-dose methamphetamine (METH) before a PR task, which increased the frequency of magazine nosepokes during the PR session without changing the breakpoint. The perseverance model captured behavioral modulation as a result of increased initial action values, which are customarily set to zero and disregarded in reinforcement learning analysis. Our findings suggest that the perseverance model reveals the effects of psychoactive drugs on choice behaviors during PR tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Ihara
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu Shikano
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Sae Kato
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sho Yagishita
- Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji F. Tanaka
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Takata
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Spaulding MO, Hoffman JR, Madu GC, Lord MN, Iizuka CS, Myers KP, Noble EE. Adolescent food insecurity in female rodents and susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Physiol Behav 2024; 273:114416. [PMID: 38000529 PMCID: PMC10790603 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Food insecurity is defined as having limited or uncertain access to nutritious foods, and adolescent food insecurity is associated with obesity and disordered eating behaviors in humans. We developed a rodent model of adolescent food insecurity to determine whether adolescent food insecurity per se promotes increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and altered eating behaviors during adulthood. Female juvenile Wistar rats were singly housed and assigned to three experimental diets: food-secure with standard chow (CHOW), food-secure with a high-fat/sugar Western diet (WD), and food-insecure with WD (WD-FI). Food-secure rats (CHOW and WD) received meals at fixed feeding times (9:00, 13:00, and 16:00). WD-FI rats received meals at unpredictable intervals of the above-mentioned feeding times but had isocaloric amounts of food to WD. We investigated the impact of adolescent food insecurity on motivation for sucrose (Progressive Ratio), approach-avoidance behavior for palatable high-fat food (Approach-Avoidance task), and susceptibility to weight gain and hyperphagia when given an obesogenic choice diet. Secondary outcomes were the effects of food insecurity during development on anxiety-like behaviors (Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze) and learning and memory function (Novel Location Recognition task). Rodents with adolescent food insecurity showed a greater trend of weight gain and significantly increased fat mass and liver fat accumulation on an obesogenic diet in adulthood, despite no increases in motivation for sucrose or high-fat food. These data suggest that adolescent unpredictable food access increases susceptibility to diet-induced fat gain without impacting food motivation or food intake in female rodents. These findings are among a small group of recent studies modeling food insecurity in rodents and suggest that adolescent food insecurity in females may have long-term implications for metabolic physiology later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mai O Spaulding
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Jessica R Hoffman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Grace C Madu
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Magen N Lord
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Caroline Soares Iizuka
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Kevin P Myers
- Department of Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, United States
| | - Emily E Noble
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Benvenuti F, De Carlo S, Rullo L, Caffino L, Losapio L, Morosini C, Ubaldi M, Soverchia L, Cannella N, Domi E, Candeletti S, Mottarlini F, Fattore L, Romualdi P, Fumagalli F, Trezza V, Roberto M, Ciccocioppo R. Early social isolation differentially affects the glucocorticoid receptor system and alcohol-seeking behavior in male and female Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 28:100598. [PMID: 38115888 PMCID: PMC10727952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100598] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Adverse early life experiences during postnatal development can evoke long-lasting neurobiological changes in stress systems, thereby affecting subsequent behaviors including propensity to develop alcohol use disorder. Here, we exposed genetically selected male and female Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) and Wistar rats to mild, repeated social deprivation from postnatal day 14 (PND14) to PND21 and investigated the effect of the early social isolation (ESI) on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) system and on the propensity to drink and seek alcohol in adulthood. We found that ESI resulted in higher levels of GR gene and protein expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in male but not female msP rats. In female Wistars, ESI resulted in significant downregulation of Nr3c1 mRNA levels and lower GR protein levels. In male and female msP rats, plasma corticosterone levels on PND35 were similar and unaffected by ESI. Wistar females exhibited higher levels of corticosterone compared with males, independently from ESI. In alcohol self-administration experiments we found that the pharmacological stressor yohimbine (0.0, 0.312, 0.625, and 1.25 mg/kg) increased alcohol self-administration in both rat lines, regardless of ESI. After extinction, 0.625 mg/kg yohimbine significantly reinstated alcohol seeking in female rats only. ESI enhanced reinstatement in female msP rats. Overall, the present results indicate that repeated social deprivation during the third week of postnatal life affects GR expression in a strain- and sex-dependent manner: such effect may contribute, at least partially, to the heightened sensitivity of female msP rats to the effects of yohimbine-induced alcohol seeking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F. Benvenuti
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - S. De Carlo
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - L. Rullo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - L. Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, ‘Rodolfo Paoletti’, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - L.M. Losapio
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - C. Morosini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - M. Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - L. Soverchia
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - N. Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - E. Domi
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - S. Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - F. Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, ‘Rodolfo Paoletti’, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - L. Fattore
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience-Cagliari, National Research Council, Cagliari, Italy
| | - P. Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - F. Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, ‘Rodolfo Paoletti’, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - V. Trezza
- Department of Science, University “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - M. Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - R. Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Bryant KG, Barker JM. Positive correlation between measures of habitual responding and motivated responding in mice. J Exp Anal Behav 2024; 121:74-87. [PMID: 38105634 PMCID: PMC10841761 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Habit and motivation are thought to be separate processes, with motivated behavior often considered to be goal directed, whereas habits are defined by the absence of goal-directed control over behavior. However, there has been increasing interrogation of the binary nature of habitual versus goal-directed behavior. Furthermore, although drug and alcohol exposure can promote the formation of habits, drug seeking itself can also be highly flexible, pointing toward the need for complex consideration of the parallel processes that drive behavior. The goal of the current study was to determine whether there was a relation between motivation-as measured by progressive ratio-and habit-as measured by contingency degradation-and whether this relation was affected by ethanol exposure history and sex. The results showed that these measures were positively correlated such that greater contingency insensitivity was associated with achieving higher break points on the progressive-ratio task. However, this relation depended on reinforcement schedule history, ethanol exposure history, and sex. These point to potential relations between measures of habit and motivation and stress the importance of carefully parsing behavioral findings and assays. These findings are also expected to inform future substance use research, as drug history may affect these relations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen G Bryant
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Barker
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Beasley MM, Pilz EM, Kearns DN. A test of the role of stimulus-response and stimulus-outcome associations in the effects of intermittent-access training. Behav Processes 2024; 214:104984. [PMID: 38103808 PMCID: PMC10842382 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Increased reinforcer motivation in rats has been repeatedly demonstrated following intermittent-access (IntA) training, where the reinforcer is only available for brief periods during a session, compared to continuous-access (ContA) training where the reinforcer is available throughout the session. The present study investigated whether different associations learned during training on the two procedures contributes to the effect. Two experiments tested the importance of the stimulus-response (S-R) and stimulus-outcome (S-O) associations between the IntA availability cues and the training response and reinforcer, respectively. In Exp. 1, separate groups of rats were trained to lever press for saccharin on the IntA or ContA procedures. Increased motivation for saccharin was observed in the IntA group on a later progressive ratio test where nosepoking was the operant (but not when lever pressing was the operant). The outcome of the nosepoke test suggests that a potential S-R association formed during IntA training was not critical for the effect. In Exp. 2, increased saccharin motivation (on nosepoke tests) after IntA training (with lever pressing) was observed regardless of the presence or absence of IntA availability cues, indicating that the S-O association formed during training is not critical for the effect either. Overall, these results suggest that the elemental associations learned on IntA procedures may not be what drives increased motivation observed after IntA training.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline M Beasley
- Psychology Department, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Emma M Pilz
- Psychology Department, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - David N Kearns
- Psychology Department, American University, Washington, DC, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Fetterly TL, Catalfio AM, Ferrario CR. Effects of junk-food on food-motivated behavior and nucleus accumbens glutamate plasticity; insights into the mechanism of calcium-permeable AMPA receptor recruitment. Neuropharmacology 2024; 242:109772. [PMID: 37898332 PMCID: PMC10883075 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
In rats, eating obesogenic diets increases calcium-permeable AMPA receptor (CP-AMPAR) transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core, and enhances food-motivated behavior. Interestingly, these diet-induced alterations in NAc transmission are pronounced and sustained in obesity-prone (OP) male rats and absent in obesity-resistant (OR) populations. However, effects of diet manipulation on food motivation, and the mechanisms underlying this NAc plasticity in OPs is unknown. Using male selectively-bred OP and OR rats, we assessed food-motivated behavior following ad lib access to chow (CH), junk-food (JF), or 10d of JF followed by a return to chow diet (JF-Dep). Motivation for food was greater in OP than OR rats, as expected. However, JF-Dep only produced enhancements in food-seeking in OP groups, while continuous JF access reduced food-seeking in both OPs and ORs. Additionally, optogenetic, chemogenetic, and pharmacological approaches were used to examine NAc CP-AMPAR recruitment following diet manipulation and ex vivo treatment of brain slices. Reducing excitatory transmission in the NAc was sufficient to recruit CP-AMPARs to synapses in OPs, but not ORs. In OPs, JF-induced increases in CP-AMPARs occurred in mPFC-, but not BLA-to-NAc inputs. Together results show that diet differentially affects behavioral and neural plasticity in obesity susceptible populations. We also identify conditions for acute recruitment of NAc CP-AMPARs; these results suggest that synaptic scaling mechanisms contribute to NAc CP-AMPAR recruitment. Overall, this work helps elucidate how diet interacts with obesity susceptibility to influence food-motivated behavior and extends our fundamental understanding of NAc CP-AMPAR recruitment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Fetterly
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Amanda M Catalfio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Carrie R Ferrario
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Psychology Department (Biopsychology) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Aomine Y, Oyama Y, Sakurai K, Macpherson T, Ozawa T, Hikida T. Clozapine N-oxide, compound 21, and JHU37160 do not influence effortful reward-seeking behavior in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:89-96. [PMID: 37792024 PMCID: PMC10774210 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06465-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Clozapine N-oxide (CNO) has been developed as a ligand to selectively activate designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). However, previous studies have revealed that peripherally injected CNO is reverse-metabolized into clozapine, which, in addition to activating DREADDs, acts as an antagonist at various neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting potential off-target effects of CNO on animal physiology and behaviors. Recently, second-generation DREADD agonists compound 21 (C21) and JHU37160 (J60) have been developed, but their off-target effects are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES The present studies assessed the effect of novel DREADD ligands on reward-seeking behavior. METHODS We first tested the possible effect of acute i.p. injection of low-to-moderate (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 mg/kg) of CNO, C21, and J60 on motivated reward-seeking behavior in wild-type mice. We then examined whether a high dose (10 mg/kg) of these drugs might be able to alter responding. RESULTS Low-to-moderate doses of all drugs and a high dose of CNO or C21 did not alter operant lick responding for a reward under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, in which the number of operant lick responses to obtain a reward increases after each reward collection. However, high-dose J60 resulted in a total lack of responding that was later observed in an open field arena to be due to a sedative effect. CONCLUSIONS This study provides definitive evidence that commonly used doses of CNO, C21, and J60 have negligible off-target effects on motivated reward-seeking but urges caution when using high doses of J60 due to sedative effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiatsu Aomine
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Oyama
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koki Sakurai
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Protein Profiling and Functional Proteomics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tom Macpherson
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ozawa
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Takatoshi Hikida
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Mármol Contreras Y, Vasquez TES, Shah P, Payne K, Di Re J, Laezza F, Green TA. Bar press durations as a reliable and robust measure of frustration-related operant behavior: Sensitivity to incentive downshift and dose-response paradigms. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296090. [PMID: 38127939 PMCID: PMC10734988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296090] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, frustrating experiences are known to trigger relapse events and individuals with higher frustration intolerance show increased risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs). Despite this clear relationship, frustration-related behavior is seldom studied concurrently with self-administration behavior in rodent models. A major obstacle has been the lack of robust, quantitative assays of frustration-related operant behavior thus far. In previous work, we identified increased bar press (BP) durations in response to frustrating conditions in rats self-administering natural or drug rewards. Here, to propose BP durations as a measure of frustration-related behavior, we conducted an operant successive negative contrast (oSNC) study and found that increases in BP durations are observed in the absence of increased effort, providing evidence that this is a psychological phenomenon. Moreover, we assess the viability of widespread use of BP duration measurements as a behavioral tool by quantifying performance as it pertains to sensitivity, robustness, replicability, and sex differences. We conclude that increases in BP durations are a highly sensitive psychological response to frustrating conditions and that this measure is robust, replicable, and applicable to both sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yorkiris Mármol Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Mental Health Research Group, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tileena E. S. Vasquez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Mental Health Research Group, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Poonam Shah
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Mental Health Research Group, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kelsey Payne
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Mental Health Research Group, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jessica Di Re
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Mental Health Research Group, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Fernanda Laezza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Mental Health Research Group, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thomas A. Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Mental Health Research Group, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Kallupi M, Ciccocioppo R. Cue-induced reinstatement of seeking behavior in male rats is independent from the rewarding value of the primary reinforcer: Effect of mGluR5 blockade. Neuropharmacology 2023; 240:109694. [PMID: 37659439 PMCID: PMC11094430 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditioning factors have a profound impact on alcohol-seeking behavior and the maintenance of alcohol use in individuals with alcohol dependence. Cues associated with alcohol, depending on the perceived value of the primary reinforcer, gain salience and can trigger relapse. This study investigates the correlation between the reward magnitude of the primary reinforcer and the reinstatement evoked by cues predictive of their availability in male rats. Rat self-administration procedures were used to test reinstatement, with reinforcers consisting of 10% alcohol, 10% sucrose, or 2% sodium chloride (NaCl) experienced under need-state conditions. The effect of MTEP ([(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl) ethynyl] pyridine), a selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antagonist, on motivation and reinstatement behaviors was also evaluated. RESULTS: demonstrate that under Fixed Ratio 1 (FR1) schedule, the three reinforcers maintain operant responding with the following order of magnitude 10% sucrose >2% NaCl >10% alcohol > water. Under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement, rats exhibit a significantly higher breakpoint for 2% NaCl (under Na-depletion), followed by 10% sucrose and 10% alcohol. After extinction, a significant reinstatement is observed with the magnitude order of 10% sucrose >10% alcohol >2% NaCl. However, only re-exposure to alcohol-paired cues induced significant reinstatement of alcohol-seeking after 4 and 8 months. Treatment with MTEP significantly reduces reinstatement of responding across all reinforcers, with the strongest effect observed on alcohol-seeking. These findings suggest that mGluR5 plays a general role in controlling cue-reactivity, but the effect is prominent in the case of alcohol compared to natural rewards. In conclusion, the results demonstrate a remarkable dissociation between the rewarding magnitude of the primary reinforcer and its ability to trigger relapse upon presentation of a cue previously associated with it. Importantly, alcohol, despite having lower intrinsic motivational value compared to a natural reward (sucrose) or a consummatory stimulus experienced under need state conditions (NaCl), can elicit more robust and longer-term reinstatement of seeking responses. Finally, our data demonstrate a significant involvement of the mGluR5 system in the regulation of seeking behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marsida Kallupi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA.
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
So WL, Hu J, Jeffs L, Dempsey H, Lockie SH, Zigman JM, Stark R, Reichenbach A, Andrews ZB. Ghrelin signalling in AgRP neurons links metabolic state to the sensory regulation of AgRP neural activity. Mol Metab 2023; 78:101826. [PMID: 37898450 PMCID: PMC10643323 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The sensory detection of food and food cues suppresses Agouti related peptide (AgRP) neuronal activity prior to consumption with greatest suppression occurring in response to highly caloric food or interoceptive energy need. However, the interoceptive mechanisms priming an appropriate AgRP neural response to external sensory information of food availability remain unexplored. Since hunger increases plasma ghrelin, we hypothesized that ghrelin receptor (GHSR) signalling on AgRP neurons is a key interoceptive mechanism integrating energy need with external sensory cues predicting caloric availability. METHODS We used in vivo photometry to measure the effects of ghrelin administration or fasting on AgRP neural activity with GCaMP6s and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens with GRAB-DA in mice lacking ghrelin receptors in AgRP neurons. RESULTS The deletion of GHSR on AgRP neurons prevented ghrelin-induced food intake, motivation and AgRP activity. The presentation of food (peanut butter pellet) or a wooden dowel suppressed AgRP activity in fasted WT but not mice lacking GHSRs in AgRP neurons. Similarly, peanut butter and a wooden dowel increased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens after ip ghrelin injection in WT but not mice lacking GHSRs in AgRP neurons. No difference in dopamine release was observed in fasted mice. Finally, ip ghrelin administration did not directly increase dopamine neural activity in the ventral tegmental area. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that AgRP GHSRs integrate an interoceptive state of energy need with external sensory information to produce an optimal change in AgRP neural activity. Thus, ghrelin signalling on AgRP neurons is more than just a feedback signal to increase AgRP activity during hunger.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wang Lok So
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jiachen Hu
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lotus Jeffs
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Harry Dempsey
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Mental Health Division, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah H Lockie
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jeffrey M Zigman
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Romana Stark
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Reichenbach
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zane B Andrews
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Woodlief K, Allen MI, Cornelissen JC, Banks ML, Newman AH, Nader MA. Effects of selective dopamine D3 receptor partial agonist/antagonists on oxycodone self-administration and antinociception in monkeys. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1716-1723. [PMID: 37118057 PMCID: PMC10579365 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01590-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that dopamine D3 receptors (D3R) may be a therapeutic target for opioid use disorders (OUD). This study examined the effects of the D3R partial agonist (±)VK4-40 and the D3R-selective antagonist (±)VK4-116, compared to the mu-opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (NTX), in nonhuman primate models of OUD and antinociception. Adult male and female (N = 4/sex) cynomolgus monkeys were trained to self-administer oxycodone (0.003-0.1 mg/kg/injection) first under a fixed-ratio (FR) and then a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement during daily 1- and 4-hr sessions, respectively. Under the FR schedule, intravenous NTX (0.01-0.1 mg/kg), (±)VK4-116 (1.0-10 mg/kg), and (±)VK4-40 (1.0-10 mg/kg) were studied in combination with the peak oxycodone dose and a dose on the descending limb of the dose-effect curve; NTX and (±)VK4-40 were also studied at the peak of the PR dose-response curve (N = 4). Following saline extinction, each compound was examined on oxycodone-induced reinstatement. Finally, these compounds were assessed in adult male rhesus monkeys (N = 3) in a warm-water (38 °C, 50 °C, 54 °C) tail withdrawal assay. NTX decreased responding on the peak of the FR oxycodone dose-response curve, but increased responding on the descending limb. (±)VK4-40, but not (±)VK4-116, significantly decreased peak oxycodone self-administration; (±)VK4-40 did not increase responding on the descending limb. NTX and (±)VK4-40, but not (±)VK4-116, attenuated oxycodone-induced reinstatement. Under PR responding, NTX and (±)VK4-40 decreased breakpoints. Oxycodone-induced antinociception was attenuated by NTX, but not by (±)VK4-40 or (±)VK4-116. Together, these results suggest that further research evaluating the effects of (±)VK4-40 as a novel pharmacotherapy for OUD is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendall Woodlief
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, 27157, NC, USA
| | - Mia I Allen
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, 27157, NC, USA
| | - Jeremy C Cornelissen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, 23298, VA, USA
| | - Matthew L Banks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, 23298, VA, USA
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | - Michael A Nader
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, 27157, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Zell V, Teuns G, Needham AS, Mukherjee S, Roscoe N, Le M, Fourgeaud L, Woodruff G, Bhattacharya A, Marella M, Bonaventure P, Drevets WC, Balana B. Characterization of Selective M 5 Acetylcholine Muscarinic Receptor Modulators on Dopamine Signaling in the Striatum. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 387:226-234. [PMID: 37679045 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The type-5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR, M5) is almost exclusively expressed in dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta; therefore, they are ideally located to modulate DA signaling and underlying behaviors. However, the role of M5 in shaping DA release is still poorly characterized. In this study, we first quantitatively mapped the expression of M5 in different neurons of the mouse midbrain, then used voltammetry in mouse striatum to evaluate the effect of M5-selective modulators on DA release. The M5 negative allosteric modulator ML375 significantly decreased electrically evoked DA release and blocked the effect of Oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M; nonselective mAChR agonist) on DA release in the presence of an acetylcholine nicotinic receptor blocker. Conversely, the M5 positive allosteric modulator VU 0365114 significantly increased electrically evoked DA release and the Oxo-M effect on DA release. We then assessed M5's impact on mesolimbic circuit function in vivo. Although psychostimulant-induced locomotor activity models in knockout mice have previously been used to characterize the role of M5 in DA transmission, the results of these studies conflict, leading us to select a different in vivo model, namely a cocaine self-administration paradigm. In contrast to a previous study that also used this model, in the current study, administration of ML375 did not decrease cocaine self-administration in rats (using fixed and progressive ratio). These conflicting results illustrate the complexity of M5 modulation and the need to further characterize its involvement in the regulation of dopamine signaling, central to multiple neuropsychiatric diseases. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This work describes the type-5 muscarinic receptor (M5) pattern of expression within the midbrain as well as its physiological modulation by selective compounds at the axon terminal level in the striatum, where M5 directly shapes dopamine transmission. It offers the first direct readout of mesolimbic dopamine release modulation by M5, highlighting its role in regulating neurocircuits implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders such as substance use disorders, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Zell
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Greetje Teuns
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Alexandra Stormy Needham
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Sruti Mukherjee
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Nathaniel Roscoe
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Michelle Le
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Lawrence Fourgeaud
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Grace Woodruff
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Anindya Bhattacharya
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Mathieu Marella
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Pascal Bonaventure
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Wayne C Drevets
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| | - Bartosz Balana
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, California (V.Z., A.S.N., S.M., N.R., M.L., L.F., G.W., A.B., M.M., P.B., W.C.D., B.B.) and Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium (G.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Barrett JE, Shekarabi A, Inan S. Oxycodone: A Current Perspective on Its Pharmacology, Abuse, and Pharmacotherapeutic Developments. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:1062-1118. [PMID: 37321860 PMCID: PMC10595024 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxycodone, a semisynthetic derivative of naturally occurring thebaine, an opioid alkaloid, has been available for more than 100 years. Although thebaine cannot be used therapeutically due to the occurrence of convulsions at higher doses, it has been converted to a number of other widely used compounds that include naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, and oxycodone. Despite the early identification of oxycodone, it was not until the 1990s that clinical studies began to explore its analgesic efficacy. These studies were followed by the pursuit of several preclinical studies to examine the analgesic effects and abuse liability of oxycodone in laboratory animals and the subjective effects in human volunteers. For a number of years oxycodone was at the forefront of the opioid crisis, playing a significant role in contributing to opioid misuse and abuse, with suggestions that it led to transitioning to other opioids. Several concerns were expressed as early as the 1940s that oxycodone had significant abuse potential similar to heroin and morphine. Both animal and human abuse liability studies have confirmed, and in some cases amplified, these early warnings. Despite sharing a similar structure with morphine and pharmacological actions also mediated by the μ-opioid receptor, there are several differences in the pharmacology and neurobiology of oxycodone. The data that have emerged from the many efforts to analyze the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of oxycodone have generated considerable insight into its many actions, reviewed here, which, in turn, have provided new information on opioid receptor pharmacology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Oxycodone, a μ-opioid receptor agonist, was synthesized in 1916 and introduced into clinical use in Germany in 1917. It has been studied extensively as a therapeutic analgesic for acute and chronic neuropathic pain as an alternative to morphine. Oxycodone emerged as a drug with widespread abuse. This article brings together an integrated, detailed review of the pharmacology of oxycodone, preclinical and clinical studies of pain and abuse, and recent advances to identify potential opioid analgesics without abuse liability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James E Barrett
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Aryan Shekarabi
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Saadet Inan
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Nguyen JD, Grant Y, Yang C, Gutierrez A, Taffe MA. Oxycodone Self-Administration in Female Rats is Enhanced by ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, but not by Cannabidiol, in a Progressive Ratio Procedure. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.26.564282. [PMID: 37961225 PMCID: PMC10634900 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.564282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests that the legalization of cannabis may reduce opioid-related harms. Preclinical evidence of neuropharmacological interactions of endogenous cannabinoid and opioid systems prompts further investigation of cannabinoids as potential therapeutics for the non-medical use of opioids. In these studies female rats, previously trained to self-administer oxycodone (0.15 mg/kg/infusion) intravenously in 6 h sessions, were allowed to self-administer oxycodone after exposure to cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by vapor inhalation and THC by injection (5.0-20 mg/kg, i.p.). Self-administration was characterized under Progressive Ratio (PR) and Fixed Ratio (FR) 1 schedules of reinforcement in 3 h sessions. THC decreased IVSA of oxycodone in a FR procedure but increased reward seeking in a PR procedure. CBD decreased the IVSA of oxycodone in the FR but not the PR procedure. The results are consistent with an anti-reward effect of CBD but suggest THC acts to increase the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone in this procedure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacques D. Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Celine Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Arnold Gutierrez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael A. Taffe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Sayar-Atasoy N, Laule C, Aklan I, Kim H, Yavuz Y, Ates T, Coban I, Koksalar-Alkan F, Rysted J, Davis D, Singh U, Alp MI, Yilmaz B, Cui H, Atasoy D. Adrenergic modulation of melanocortin pathway by hunger signals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6602. [PMID: 37857606 PMCID: PMC10587058 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42362-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Norepinephrine (NE) is a well-known appetite regulator, and the nor/adrenergic system is targeted by several anti-obesity drugs. To better understand the circuitry underlying adrenergic appetite control, here we investigated the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), a key brain region that integrates energy signals and receives dense nor/adrenergic input, using a mouse model. We found that PVN NE level increases with signals of energy deficit and decreases with food access. This pattern is recapitulated by the innervating catecholaminergic axon terminals originating from NTSTH-neurons. Optogenetic activation of rostral-NTSTH → PVN projection elicited strong motivation to eat comparable to overnight fasting whereas its inhibition attenuated both fasting-induced & hypoglycemic feeding. We found that NTSTH-axons functionally targeted PVNMC4R-neurons by predominantly inhibiting them, in part, through α1-AR mediated potentiation of GABA release from ARCAgRP presynaptic terminals. Furthermore, glucoprivation suppressed PVNMC4R activity, which was required for hypoglycemic feeding response. These results define an ascending nor/adrenergic circuit, NTSTH → PVNMC4R, that conveys peripheral hunger signals to melanocortin pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nilufer Sayar-Atasoy
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Connor Laule
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Iltan Aklan
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Hyojin Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Yavuz Yavuz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tayfun Ates
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Ilknur Coban
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jacob Rysted
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Debbie Davis
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Uday Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Muhammed Ikbal Alp
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bayram Yilmaz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Huxing Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Bagley JR, Tan Y, Zhu W, Cheng Z, Takeda S, Fang Z, Arslan A, Wang M, Guan Y, Jiang L, Jian R, Gu F, Parada I, Prince D, Jentsch JD, Peltz G. Neuron Navigator 1 (Nav1) regulates the response to cocaine in mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1053. [PMID: 37853211 PMCID: PMC10584906 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05430-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation accounts for much of the risk for developing a substance use disorder, but the underlying genetic factors and their genetic effector mechanisms are mostly unknown. Inbred mouse strains exhibit substantial and heritable differences in the extent of voluntary cocaine self-administration. Computational genetic analysis of cocaine self-administration data obtained from twenty-one inbred strains identified Nav1, a member of the neuron navigator family that regulates dendrite formation and axonal guidance, as a candidate gene. To test this genetic hypothesis, we generated and characterized Nav1 knockout mice. Consistent with the genetic prediction, Nav1 knockout mice exhibited increased voluntary cocaine intake and had increased motivation for cocaine consumption. Immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology, and transcriptomic studies were performed as a starting point for investigating the mechanism for the Nav1 knockout effect. Nav1 knockout mice had a reduced inhibitory synapse density in their cortex, increased excitatory synaptic transmission in their cortex and hippocampus, and increased excitatory neurons in a deep cortical layer. Collectively, our results indicate that Nav1 regulates the response to cocaine, and we identified Nav1 knockout induced changes in the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic balance in the cortex and hippocampus that could contribute to this effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jared R Bagley
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Yalun Tan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wan Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zhuanfen Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Saori Takeda
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zhouqing Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ahmed Arslan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Meiyue Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yuan Guan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lihua Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ruiqi Jian
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Feng Gu
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, USA
| | - Isabel Parada
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David Prince
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - J David Jentsch
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Gary Peltz
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Dawes MH, Estave PM, Albertson SE, Wallace CW, Holleran KM, Jones SR. Nicotine modifies cocaine responding in a concurrent self-administration model. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 251:110960. [PMID: 37703771 PMCID: PMC10710190 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical models of cocaine use disorder (CUD) have not yielded any FDA-approved pharmacotherapies, potentially due to a focus on cocaine use in isolation, which may not fully translate to real-world drug taking patterns. Cocaine and nicotine are commonly used together, and clinical research suggests that nicotine may increase the potency and reinforcing strength of cocaine. In this study, we sought to determine whether and how the addition of nicotine would alter ongoing intravenous cocaine self-administration and motivation to take cocaine in rats. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats self-administered cocaine alone on a long access, Fixed Ratio one (FR1) schedule, and then switched to a combination of cocaine and nicotine. Finally, rats responded on a Progressive Ratio (PR) schedule for several doses of cocaine alone and in combination with a single dose of nicotine. RESULTS Under long access conditions, rats co-self-administering cocaine and nicotine responded less and with decreased response rates than for cocaine alone and did not escalate responding. However, under PR conditions that test motivation to take drugs, the dose response curve for the combination was shifted upwards relative to cocaine alone. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results suggest that nicotine may enhance the reinforcing strength of cocaine, increasing PR responding for cocaine across the dose response curve.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica H Dawes
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Paige M Estave
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Steven E Albertson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Conner W Wallace
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Katherine M Holleran
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Sara R Jones
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Abraham AD, Wiley JL, Marusich JA. Experimenter administered Δ 9-THC decreases nicotine self-administration in a rat model. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 231:173632. [PMID: 37690617 PMCID: PMC10543614 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The co-use of nicotine and cannabis has been steadily rising in the United States. Rodent studies suggest that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) could increase addictive qualities of nicotine, but whether repeated THC exposure alters self-administration of nicotine has not been tested. We hypothesized that THC would increase the reinforcing effects of nicotine and alter nicotine intake. METHODS Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with THC (0, 3, 30 mg/kg) daily for 14 days prior to and during training for intravenous self-administration of nicotine. Rats were allowed to self-administer nicotine for several weeks, then tested for sensitivity to nicotine dose through multiple determinations of a nicotine dose-effect curve with or without THC pretreatment. A separate set of rats were trained on fixed ratio responding for sucrose and assessed for THC effects on behavior. RESULTS Post-session THC decreased nicotine self-administration in male and female rats throughout acquisition and maintenance and increased the latency to stable rates of nicotine intake during acquisition. Post-session THC shifted nicotine dose-effect curves downward, and pre-session THC suppressed responding at higher nicotine doses. Unlike nicotine, responding for sucrose was not affected by post-session THC. Pre-session THC decreased responding for sucrose, particularly for THC-naïve rats. CONCLUSIONS Repeated post-session THC decreased nicotine-taking behaviors but did not alter sucrose responding. Thus, post-session THC may alter sensitivity to nicotine. Pre-session THC treatment decreased lever pressing in both sucrose and nicotine studies, indicating this effect was nonspecific. These studies show that THC modulates patterns of nicotine intake in rat models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antony D Abraham
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jenny L Wiley
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Julie A Marusich
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| |
Collapse
|