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Vierkant V, Xie X, Huang Z, He L, Bancroft E, Wang X, Nguyen T, Srinivasan R, Zhou Y, Wang J. Optogenetic inhibition of light-captured alcohol-taking striatal engrams facilitates extinction and suppresses reinstatement. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024. [PMID: 39095328 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex condition, and it remains unclear which specific neuronal substrates mediate alcohol-seeking and -taking behaviors. Engram cells and their related ensembles, which encode learning and memory, may play a role in this process. We aimed to assess the precise neural substrates underlying alcohol-seeking and -taking behaviors and determine how they may affect one another. METHODS Using FLiCRE (Fast Light and Calcium-Regulated Expression; a newly developed technique which permits the trapping of acutely activated neuronal ensembles) and operant self-administration (OSA), we tagged striatal neurons activated during alcohol-taking behaviors. We used FLiCRE to express an inhibitory halorhodopsin in alcohol-taking neurons, permitting loss-of-function manipulations. RESULTS We found that the inhibition of OSA-tagged alcohol-taking neurons decreased both alcohol-seeking and -taking behaviors in future OSA trials. In addition, optogenetic inhibition of these OSA-tagged alcohol-taking neurons during extinction training facilitated the extinction of alcohol-seeking behaviors. Furthermore, inhibition of these OSA-tagged alcohol-taking neurons suppressed the reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behaviors, but, interestingly, it did not significantly suppress alcohol-taking behaviors during reinstatement. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that alcohol-taking neurons are crucial for future alcohol-seeking behaviors during extinction and reinstatement. These results may help in the development of new therapeutic approaches to enhance extinction and suppress relapse in individuals with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Vierkant
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Xueyi Xie
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Zhenbo Huang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Lian He
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eric Bancroft
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Xuehua Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Tran Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Rahul Srinivasan
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Yubin Zhou
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
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Vierkant V, Xie X, Huang Z, He L, Bancroft E, Wang X, Srinivisan R, Zhou Y, Wang J. Optogenetic inhibition of light-captured alcohol-taking striatal engrams facilitates extinction and suppresses reinstatement. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.02.597021. [PMID: 38853893 PMCID: PMC11160798 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.02.597021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Background Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex condition, and it remains unclear which specific neuronal substrates mediate alcohol-seeking and -taking behaviors. Engram cells and their related ensembles, which encode learning and memory, may play a role in this process. We aimed to assess the precise neural substrates underlying alcohol-seeking and -taking behaviors and determine how they may affect one another. Methods Using FLiCRE (Fast Light and Calcium-Regulated Expression; a newly developed technique which permits the trapping of acutely activated neuronal ensembles) and operant-self administration (OSA), we tagged striatal neurons activated during alcohol-taking behaviors. We used FLiCRE to express an inhibitory halorhodopsin in alcohol-taking neurons, permitting loss-of-function manipulations. Results We found that the inhibition of OSA-tagged alcohol-taking neurons decreased both alcohol-seeking and -taking behaviors in future OSA trials. In addition, optogenetic inhibition of these OSA-tagged alcohol-taking neurons during extinction training facilitated the extinction of alcohol-seeking behaviors. Furthermore, inhibition of these OSA-tagged alcohol-taking neurons suppressed the reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behaviors, but, interestingly, it did not significantly suppress alcohol-taking behaviors during reinstatement. Conclusions Our findings suggest that alcohol-taking neurons are crucial for future alcohol-seeking behaviors during extinction and reinstatement. These results may help in the development of new therapeutic approaches to enhance extinction and suppress relapse in individuals with AUD.
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Abstract
Ethanol (EtOH) has effects on numerous cellular molecular targets, and alterations in synaptic function are prominent among these effects. Acute exposure to EtOH activates or inhibits the function of proteins involved in synaptic transmission, while chronic exposure often produces opposing and/or compensatory/homeostatic effects on the expression, localization, and function of these proteins. Interactions between different neurotransmitters (e.g., neuropeptide effects on release of small molecule transmitters) can also influence both acute and chronic EtOH actions. Studies in intact animals indicate that the proteins affected by EtOH also play roles in the neural actions of the drug, including acute intoxication, tolerance, dependence, and the seeking and drinking of EtOH. The present chapter is an update of our previous Lovinger and Roberto (Curr Top Behav Neurosci 13:31-86, 2013) chapter and reviews the literature describing these acute and chronic synaptic effects of EtOH with a focus on adult animals and their relevance for synaptic transmission, plasticity, and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Lovinger
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Molecular Medicine Department, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Characterization of DREADD receptor expression and function in rhesus macaques trained to discriminate ethanol. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:857-865. [PMID: 34654906 PMCID: PMC8882175 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01181-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Circuit manipulation has been a staple technique in neuroscience to identify how the brain functions to control complex behaviors. Chemogenetics, including designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), have proven to be a powerful tool for the reversible modulation of discrete brain circuitry without the need for implantable devices, thereby making them especially useful in awake and unrestrained animals. This study used a DREADD approach to query the role of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in mediating the interoceptive effects of 1.0 g/kg ethanol (i.g.) in rhesus monkeys (n = 7) using a drug discrimination procedure. After training, stereotaxic surgery was performed to introduce an AAV carrying the human muscarinic 4 receptor DREADD (hM4Di) bilaterally into the NAc. The hypothesis was that decreasing the output of the NAc by activation of hM4Di with the DREADD actuator, clozapine-n-oxide (CNO), would potentiate the discriminative stimulus effect of ethanol (i.e., a leftward shift the ethanol dose discrimination curve). The results showed individual variability shifts of the ethanol dose-response determination under DREADD activation. Characterization of the expression and function of hM4Di with MRI, immunohistochemical, and electrophysiological techniques found the selectivity of NAc transduction was proportional to behavioral effect. Specifically, the proportion of hM4Di expression restricted to the NAc was associated with the potency of the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol. Together, these experiments highlight the NAc in mediating the interoceptive effects of ethanol, provide a framework for validation of chemogenetic tools in primates, and underscore the importance of robust within-subjects examination of DREADD expression for interpretation of behavioral findings.
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Cheng Y, Xie X, Lu J, Gangal H, Wang W, Melo S, Wang X, Jerger J, Woodson K, Garr E, Huang Y, Janak P, Wang J. Optogenetic induction of orbitostriatal long-term potentiation in the dorsomedial striatum elicits a persistent reduction of alcohol-seeking behavior in rats. Neuropharmacology 2021; 191:108560. [PMID: 33894220 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Uncontrolled drug-seeking and -taking behaviors are generally driven by maladaptive corticostriatal synaptic plasticity. The orbital frontal cortex (OFC) and its projections to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) have been extensively implicated in drug-seeking and relapse behaviors. The influence of the synaptic plasticity of OFC projections to the DMS (OFC→DMS) on drug-seeking and -taking behaviors has not been fully characterized. To investigate this, we trained rats to self-administer 20% alcohol and then delivered an in vivo optogenetic protocol designed to induce long-term potentiation (LTP) selectively at OFC→DMS synapses. We selected LTP induction because we found that voluntary alcohol self-administration suppressed OFC→DMS transmission and LTP may normalize this transmission, consequently reducing alcohol-seeking behavior. Importantly, ex vivo slice electrophysiology studies confirmed that this in vivo optical stimulation protocol resulted in a significant increase in excitatory OFC→DMS transmission strength on day two after stimulation, suggesting that LTP was induced in vivo. Rat alcohol-seeking and -taking behaviors were significantly reduced on days 1-3, but not on days 7-11, after LTP induction. Striatal synaptic plasticity is modulated by several critical neurotransmitter receptors, including dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) and adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs). We found that delivery of in vivo optical stimulation in the presence of a D1R antagonist abolished the LTP-associated decrease in alcohol-seeking behavior, whereas delivery in the presence of an A2AR antagonist may facilitate this LTP-induced behavioral change. These results demonstrate that alcohol-seeking behavior was negatively regulated by the potentiation of excitatory OFC→DMS neurotransmission. Our findings provide direct evidence that the OFC exerts "top-down" control of alcohol-seeking behavior via the DMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Cheng
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA; Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Xueyi Xie
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Jiayi Lu
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Himanshu Gangal
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Sebastian Melo
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Xuehua Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Jared Jerger
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Kayla Woodson
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Eric Garr
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Yufei Huang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Patricia Janak
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA.
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Nonhuman animal models of substance use disorders: Translational value and utility to basic science. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 206:107733. [PMID: 31790978 PMCID: PMC6980671 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently released a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting comments on nonhuman animal models of substance use disorders (SUD). METHODS A literature review was performed to address the four topics outlined in the RFI and one topic inspired by the RFI: (1) animal models that best recapitulate SUD, (2) animal models that best balance the trade-offs between resources and ecological validity, (3) animal models whose translational value are frequently misrepresented or overrepresented by the scientific community, (4) aspects of SUD that are not currently being modeled in animals, and (5) animal models that are optimal for examining the basic mechanisms by which drugs produce their abuse-related effects. RESULTS Models that employ response-contingent drug administration, use complex schedules of reinforcement, measure behaviors that mimic the distinguishing features of SUD, and use animals that are phylogenetically similar to humans have the greatest translational value. Models that produce stable and reproducible baselines of behavior, lessen the number of uncontrolled variables, and minimize the influence of extraneous factors are best at examining basic mechanisms contributing to drug reward and reinforcement. CONCLUSIONS Nonhuman animal models of SUD have undergone significant refinements to increase their utility for basic science and translational value for SUD. The existing literature describes numerous examples of how these models may best be utilized to answer mechanistic questions of drug reward and identify potential therapeutic interventions for SUD. Progress in the field could be accelerated by further collaborations between researchers using animals versus humans.
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Roltsch Hellard E, Binette A, Zhuang X, Lu J, Ma T, Jones B, Williams E, Jayavelu S, Wang J. Optogenetic control of alcohol-seeking behavior via the dorsomedial striatal circuit. Neuropharmacology 2019; 155:89-97. [PMID: 31121177 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption alters glutamatergic transmission in many brain regions, including the dorsomedial striatum (DMS); this aberrant plasticity is thought to be responsible for alcohol-seeking behavior. Recent studies reported that alcohol induced such plasticity specifically in direct pathway spiny projection neurons (dSPNs) of the DMS. However, it is unknown how this specific change contributes to alcohol-seeking behavior and relapse. Here, we first demonstrated that operant alcohol self-administration increased NMDA receptor activity in DMS dSPNs. Next, we found that optogenetic inhibition of dSPNs reversibly decreased operant lever presses for alcohol and alcohol intake. Furthermore, optogenetic stimulation of corticostriatal inputs at low and moderate frequencies induced reliable LTD in DMS slices. Surprisingly, in vivo delivery of the LTD-inducing protocol increased operant alcohol self-administration; this effect was blocked by a D2R antagonist. Importantly, LTD induction in the presence of both D1 and D2 receptor antagonists produced a long-lasting decrease in operant alcohol self-administration. Our results suggest that suppressing DMS dSPNs activity and their cortical inputs represents a novel treatment mechanism for alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Roltsch Hellard
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Annalise Binette
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Xiaowen Zhuang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Jiayi Lu
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Tengfei Ma
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Bradley Jones
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Eric Williams
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Swetha Jayavelu
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Ron D, Weiner J. Special issue on new technologies for alcohol research and treatment. Alcohol 2019; 74:1-2. [PMID: 30409742 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143 United States.
| | - Jeff Weiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157 United States.
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