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Finn DA, Clark CD, Ryabinin AE. Traumatic stress-enhanced alcohol drinking: Sex differences and animal model perspectives. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2024; 11:327-341. [PMID: 38915732 PMCID: PMC11196023 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-023-00540-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of review Stress is associated with alcohol drinking, and epidemiological studies document the comorbidity of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with higher comorbid prevalence in females than in males. The aim of this paper is to highlight information related to sex differences in stress-enhanced alcohol drinking from clinical studies and from preclinical studies utilizing an animal model of traumatic stress. Recent findings Stress is associated with alcohol drinking and relapse in males and females, but there are sex differences in the alcohol-related adaptation of stress pathways and in the association of different prefrontal regions with stress-induced anxiety. The predator stress model of traumatic stress produced enhanced alcohol drinking in a subgroup of stress-sensitive male and female animals, which could be associated with sex and subgroup differences in stress axis responsivity, behavioral responses to predator odors, and epigenetic mechanisms engaged by traumatic experiences. Summary While additional studies in females are necessary, existing clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that biological mechanisms underlying stress-enhanced drinking likely differ between males and females. Thus, effective treatment strategies may differ between the sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A. Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Crystal D. Clark
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Andrey E. Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Nipper MA, Helms ML, Finn DA, Ryabinin AE. Stress-enhanced ethanol drinking does not increase sensitivity to the effects of a CRF-R1 antagonist on ethanol intake in male and female mice. Alcohol 2024:S0741-8329(24)00001-6. [PMID: 38185336 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Research confirms that stress is associated with alcohol drinking and relapse in males and females and that there are sex differences in the alcohol-related adaptations of stress pathways. The predator stress (PS) model of traumatic stress produces an increase in alcohol drinking or self-administration in a subpopulation of rodents, so it is utilized as an animal model of comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous work determined that sensitivity to PS-enhanced drinking produced sex differences in proteins related to stress-regulating systems in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The present studies examined whether male and female C57BL/6J mice differ in sensitivity to the ability of the corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist CP-376395 to decrease PS-enhanced drinking. In control studies, CP-376395 doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg dose-dependently decreased 4-hour ethanol drinking. Next, CP-376395 doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg were tested for effects on ethanol drinking in mice with differential sensitivity to PS-enhanced drinking. Subgroups of "Sensitive" and "Resilient" male and female mice were identified based on changes in ethanol intake in an unrestricted access ethanol drinking procedure following four exposures to PS (dirty rat bedding). During the first 2 hours post-injection of CP-376395, both doses significantly decreased ethanol licks versus vehicle in the females, with no significant interaction between subgroups, whereas the 10 mg/kg dose significantly decreased ethanol licks versus vehicle in the "Resilient" males. Thus, sensitivity to the suppressive effect of CP-376395 on stress-induced ethanol intake was greater in females versus males, whereas sensitivity and resilience to PS-enhanced drinking produced differential sensitivity to the ability of CP-376395 to decrease ethanol drinking only in male mice. Our results argue against greater efficacy of CRF-R1's ability to decrease ethanol intake in subjects with traumatic stress-enhanced ethanol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Nipper
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Melinda L Helms
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Deborah A Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239; Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Andrey E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239.
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Bahi A. Gestational environmental enrichment prevents chronic social stress induced anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in offspring. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 234:173679. [PMID: 37977553 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173679] [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: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological surveys have shown a strong relationship between maternal stress and offspring's mood disorders. Growing evidence suggested that environmental enrichment (EE) improves cognitive function in models of psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the potential protective effects of gestational EE on social stress-elicited mood disorders in offspring have not been studied. Knowing that the undeveloped brain is more sensitive to gestational environmental stimuli, we hypothesized that initiating cognitive stimulation, during gestation, would protect against social stress-induced behavioral alterations in adulthood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of gestational EE on social stress-elicited anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in adult offspring. EE consisted of free access, of dams, to tubular devices of different shapes, colors, and sizes that were changed regularly. After birth and weaning, young adult offspring were exposed to 19 days of social stress and anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by elevated plus maze, open field, and marbles burying tests. The two-bottle choice (TBC) drinking paradigm was used to assess stress-induced ethanol intake. Results showed that gestational EE prevented social stress-elicited anxiogenic-like effects with no differences in spontaneous locomotor activity. Moreover, in the TBC paradigm, mice pre-exposed to EE consistently showed a significantly decreased consumption and preference for ethanol with no effects on tastants' intakes. Interestingly, gestational EE increased serum BDNF levels, which showed a correlation with measures of anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors. These findings indicate that some neurodevelopmental changes associated with prenatal EE may counteract adult social stress-induced behavioral alterations through a BDNF mechanism. Therefore, we propose that gestational EE has significant protective and beneficial effects on social stress-induced cognitive impairment. It can also alleviate anxiety-like behavior and subsequent excessive alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anatomy, CMHS, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Saraiya TC, Back SE, Jarnecke AM, Blakey SM, Bauer AG, Brown DG, Ruglass LM, Killeen T, Hien DA. Sex and Gender Differences in Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2023; 10:617-627. [PMID: 39026610 PMCID: PMC11257080 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-023-00511-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Research demonstrates a strong association between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, less is known about sex- and gender-based differences among individuals with AUD + PTSD. This narrative review examines recent literature in this area and aims to be a reference for future research endeavors. Recent Findings Extant literature shows that intertwining biological systems increase females' risk of developing PTSD and experiencing more adverse effects from AUD compared to males. Sex-based physiological differences further interact with gendered sociocultural environments to influence the risk of AUD + PTSD. Emerging research suggests potential gender-specific pathways between PTSD, coping, and AUD which may inform prevention and treatment. However, barriers to care are often gender-specific and tailored approaches are needed to improve reach and uptake. Summary Additional research is needed to examine intersectional and contextual factors that synergistically influence sex/gender differences in AUD + PTSD, particularly beyond cisgender identities, and mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya C. Saraiya
- Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Sudie E. Back
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Amber M. Jarnecke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | | | - Alexandria G. Bauer
- Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Delisa G. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Lesia M. Ruglass
- Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Psychology, City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Therese Killeen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Denise A. Hien
- Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Chen Y, Knorr E, Boisvert A, Xiao T, Kimbrough A. Prior experience with flavored alcohol increases preference for flavored alcohol but flavor does not influence binge-like drinking behavior in mice. Physiol Behav 2023; 269:114275. [PMID: 37336280 PMCID: PMC10527159 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114275] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Binge drinking can lead to various negative consequences and in non-experimental settings, alcohol usually contains flavoring, which may promote increased binge drinking. Preclinical models of binge-like drinking have been well established, however, the influence of flavor on alcohol preference and binge-like drinking has not been fully explored. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6 J mice were tested via two-bottle choice with alcohol flavored with different concentrations of unsweetened Cherry flavor Kool-Aid and water. Next, mice were tested for preference for flavored alcohol over plain alcohol. Consumption of flavored alcohol versus water was examined over 48 h. Binge-like drinking with flavored alcohol was validated via drinking in the dark (DID). A separate cohort of mice underwent chronic DID for 6 weeks with either flavored or plain alcohol. After chronic DID, mice were then tested for preference for flavored versus plain alcohol and then alcohol consumption despite adverse effects was examined using the quinine adulteration test. RESULTS The 0.1% Kool-Aid concentration was chosen to use for further testing based on intake. Mice preferred Kool-Aid flavored alcohol over plain alcohol after the concentration test, but mice with no prior exposure to plain or flavored alcohol preferred plain over flavored alcohol. Throughout all initial testing, female mice showed increased alcohol intake compared to male mice. Both male and female mice showed binge-like drinking of flavored alcohol, with females having higher intake and blood alcohol levels. Kool-Aid flavor did not increase alcohol intake during chronic binge-like drinking. Previous exposure to flavored alcohol during DID increased the preference for flavored alcohol over plain alcohol but did not influence alcohol consumption despite adverse effects. CONCLUSION The present study indicates that prior experience with flavored alcohol increases preference and intake, suggesting an effect of learned safety from neophobia. However, flavor does not impact binge-like alcohol consumption or alcohol drinking despite negative consequences. Additionally, the current study shows that female mice will consume more flavored alcohol than males, similar to findings from other alcohol studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyi Chen
- Purdue University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, United States of America
| | - Emily Knorr
- Purdue University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, United States of America
| | - Alyssa Boisvert
- Purdue University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, United States of America
| | - Tiange Xiao
- Purdue University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, United States of America
| | - Adam Kimbrough
- Purdue University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, United States of America; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, United States of America; Purdue University, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, United States of America; Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, United States of America.
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Carlson HN, Weiner JL. The maladaptive alcohol self-administration task: An adapted novel model of alcohol seeking with negative consequences. J Exp Anal Behav 2023; 119:488-500. [PMID: 36788660 PMCID: PMC10175096 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.834] [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: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The progression of recreational drinking to alcohol use disorder is characterized by loss of control over seeking, which involves continued use of alcohol despite negative consequences. The present study proposes a novel maladaptive alcohol self-administration task in which animals are trained to withhold alcohol drinking in the presence of an auditory cue signaling consequence (conflict phase) but to drink freely when there is no consequence (neutral phase). These phases are performed within trial; successful performance involves waiting for the conflict phase to end and drinking during the neutral phase. We discuss the background and implementation of the task, its relation to existing models, and its relevance to the field of translational alcohol research. Importantly, we also present evidence of its efficacy. Both male and female Long-Evans rats are capable of performing the maladaptive alcohol self-administration task for both sweetened and unsweetened alcohol solutions. Finally, we show that acute injection of a pharmacological stressor (yohimbine) significantly disrupted performance of the task in both sexes and reinforcers. We suggest the maladaptive alcohol self-administration task may prove particularly useful in models of alcohol use disorder or vulnerability to this disorder where its application may reveal maladaptive neural circuit adaptations responsible for motivational perturbations associated with loss of control over alcohol seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah N. Carlson
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Jeffrey L. Weiner
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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Arnold ME, Butts AN, Erlenbach TR, Amico KN, Schank JR. Sex differences in neuronal activation during aversion-resistant alcohol consumption. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:240-250. [PMID: 36575056 PMCID: PMC9992309 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the DSM-5 criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder is continued alcohol consumption despite negative consequences. This has been modeled in mice using adulteration of alcohol solution with the bitter tastant quinine. Mice that continue to consume alcohol despite this adulteration are considered aversion resistant. The limited number of studies dissecting the underlying neuronal mechanisms of aversion-resistant drinking behaviors used only male subjects. We have previously shown that female mice are more resistant to quinine adulteration of alcohol than males. Our aim here is to identify potential sex differences in neuronal activation that may underlie this behavior. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice were allowed continuous access to 20% alcohol in a two-bottle choice procedure. To test aversion-resistance, the alcohol was adulterated with increasing concentrations (0.03, 0.1, and 0.2 mM) of quinine hydrochloride. After consumption rates were calculated, brains were extracted to examine neuronal activation using Fos immunohistochemistry. RESULTS We found that female mice suppressed their intake to a lesser extent than males when the alcohol solution was adulterated with quinine. Our Fos staining revealed three regions of interest that exhibit a sex difference during quinine-adulterated alcohol drinking: the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), the posterior insular cortex (PIC), and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Both the vmPFC and the PIC exhibited higher neuronal activation in males during quinine-adulterated alcohol consumption. However, females showed higher Fos activation in the VTA during quinine-adulterated alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS Females more readily exhibit aversion-resistant alcohol intake than their male counterparts and exhibit some differences in neuronal activation patterns. We conclude that there are sex differences in neurocircuitry that may underlie compulsive drinking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda E Arnold
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Arielle N Butts
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Theresa R Erlenbach
- Department of Genetics, Franklin College of Arts and Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Kristen N Amico
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jesse R Schank
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Perry TW, Sneddon EA, Reichert AN, Schuh KM, Shand NA, Quinn JJ, Radke AK. Sex, but not early life stress, effects on two-bottle choice alcohol drinking behaviors in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.21.524642. [PMID: 36711856 PMCID: PMC9882357 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.21.524642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In humans, early life stress (ELS) is associated with an increased risk for developing both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We have previously used an infant footshock model to explore this shared predisposition. Infant footshock produces stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) in rats and mice and increases aversion-resistant alcohol drinking in rats. The goal of the current study was to extend this model of comorbid PTSD and AUD to male and female C57BL/6J mice. Acute ELS was induced using 15 foot-shocks on postnatal day 17. In adulthood, after PND 90, ethanol drinking behavior was tested in one of three two-bottle choice drinking paradigms: continuous access, limited access drinking in the dark, or intermittent access. In continuous access, mice were given 24 h access to 5% or 10% ethanol and water. Each ethanol concentration was provided for five consecutive drinking sessions. In limited access drinking in the dark, mice were given 2 h of access to 15% ethanol and water across 15 sessions. Ethanol was provided 3 h into the dark cycle to maximize task engagement when mice are most active. In intermittent access, mice were presented with 20% ethanol and water Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for four consecutive weeks. In a fifth week of intermittent access drinking, increasing concentrations of quinine (10 mg/L, 100 mg/L, and 200 mg/L) were added to the ethanol to test aversion-resistant drinking. Our results indicate that infant footshock does not influence adult ethanol consumption in mice. Infant footshock did not affect ethanol-only consumption or preference in any of the three drinking paradigms. Further, and in contrast to our previous results in rats, infant footshock did not appear to influence consumption of quinine-adulterated ethanol. The biological sex of the mice did affect ethanol-only consumption in all three drinking paradigms, with females consuming more ethanol than males. Preference for ethanol vs. water was higher in females only under continuous access conditions. Our results suggest that infant footshock alone may not be sufficient to increase drinking levels in mice. We hypothesize that infant footshock may require a secondary, adolescent stress exposure to influence ethanol drinking behavior. Further research is needed to create a valid model of PTSD-AUD comorbidity in male and female mice.
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Bauer MR, McVey MM, Boehm SL. Drinking history dependent functionality of the dorsolateral striatum on gating alcohol and quinine-adulterated alcohol front-loading and binge drinking. Alcohol 2022; 105:43-51. [PMID: 36240946 PMCID: PMC9835618 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.09.005] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
After an extended alcohol-drinking history, alcohol use can transition from controlled to compulsive, causing deleterious consequences. Alcohol use can be segregated into two distinct behaviors, alcohol seeking and alcohol taking. Expression of habitual and compulsive alcohol seeking depends on the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), a brain region thought to engage after extended alcohol access. However, it is unknown whether the DLS is also involved in compulsive-like alcohol taking. The purpose of this experiment was to identify whether the DLS gates compulsive-like binge alcohol drinking. To ask this question, we gave adult male and female C57BL/6J mice a binge-like alcohol-drinking history, which we have previously demonstrated to produce compulsive-like alcohol drinking (Bauer, McVey, & Boehm, 2021), or a water-drinking history. We then tested the involvement of the DLS on gating binge-like alcohol drinking and compulsive-like quinine-adulterated alcohol drinking via intra-DLS AMPA receptor antagonism. We hypothesized that pharmacological lesioning of the DLS would reduce compulsive-like quinine-adulterated alcohol (QuA) drinking, but not non-adulterated alcohol drinking, in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Three important findings were made. First, compulsive-like alcohol drinking is significantly blunted in cannulated mice. Because of this, we conclude that we were not able to adequately assess the effect of intra-DLS lesioning on compulsive-like alcohol drinking. Second, we found that the DLS gates binge-like alcohol drinking initially, which replicates findings in our previous work (Bauer, McVey, Germano, Zhang, & Boehm, 2022). However, following an extended alcohol history, the DLS no longer drives this behavior. Finally, alcohol and QuA front-loading is DLS-dependent in alcohol-history mice. Intra-DLS NBQX altered these drinking behaviors without altering ambulatory locomotor activity. These data demonstrate the necessity of the DLS in binge-like alcohol drinking before, but not following, an extended binge-like alcohol-drinking history and in alcohol front-loading in alcohol-history mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith R Bauer
- Indiana Alcohol Research Center and Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Megan M McVey
- Indiana Alcohol Research Center and Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Stephen L Boehm
- Indiana Alcohol Research Center and Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
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Wolstenholme JT, Saunders JM, Smith M, Kang JD, Hylemon PB, González-Maeso J, Fagan A, Zhao D, Sikaroodi M, Herzog J, Shamsaddini A, Peña-Rodríguez M, Su L, Tai YL, Zheng J, Cheng PC, Sartor RB, Gillevet PM, Zhou H, Bajaj JS. Reduced alcohol preference and intake after fecal transplant in patients with alcohol use disorder is transmissible to germ-free mice. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6198. [PMID: 36261423 PMCID: PMC9581985 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is a major cause of morbidity, which requires newer treatment approaches. We previously showed in a randomized clinical trial that alcohol craving and consumption reduces after fecal transplantation. Here, to determine if this could be transmitted through microbial transfer, germ-free male C57BL/6 mice received stool or sterile supernatants collected from the trial participants pre-/post-fecal transplant. We found that mice colonized with post-fecal transplant stool but not supernatants reduced ethanol acceptance, intake and preference versus pre-fecal transplant colonized mice. Microbial taxa that were higher in post-fecal transplant humans were also associated with lower murine alcohol intake and preference. A majority of the differentially expressed genes (immune response, inflammation, oxidative stress response, and epithelial cell proliferation) occurred in the intestine rather than the liver and prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest a potential for therapeutically targeting gut microbiota and the microbial-intestinal interface to alter gut-liver-brain axis and reduce alcohol consumption in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer T Wolstenholme
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Justin M Saunders
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Maren Smith
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jason D Kang
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Phillip B Hylemon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Andrew Fagan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Richmond VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Derrick Zhao
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Jeremy Herzog
- National Gnotobiotic Rodent Research Center, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Marcela Peña-Rodríguez
- University Center for Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Lianyong Su
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Yun-Ling Tai
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jing Zheng
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Po-Cheng Cheng
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - R Balfour Sartor
- National Gnotobiotic Rodent Research Center, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Huiping Zhou
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Richmond VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA.
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McCarthy W, Huq SN, Allen K, Scally L, Petri A, Wujek M, Sachs BD. Chronic, but not sub-chronic, stress increases binge-like alcohol consumption in male and female c57BL6 mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:958342. [PMID: 36204485 PMCID: PMC9530781 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.958342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is known to contribute to mental illness and alcohol use disorders, which are highly prevalent and lead to considerable disability. These stress-related disorders are characterized by significant sex differences, which remain poorly understood. Preclinical research comparing the effects of stress in males and females has the potential to provide new insights into the neurobiology of these conditions. The current study compared the effects of chronic and sub-chronic exposure to variable environmental stressors on binge-like alcohol consumption using the drinking-in-the-dark model in male and female c57BL6 mice. The results reveal that chronic, but not sub-chronic, exposure to variable stress increases alcohol intake in both sexes. Stress-induced alterations in gene expression were also compared in the nucleus accumbens, a brain region widely known to play a key role in stress susceptibility and reward processing. Real-time PCR data indicate that chronic, but not sub-chronic, environmental stress leads to downregulation of adenosine 2A (A2A) receptor mRNA. By contrast, sub-chronic stress increased CREB expression, while chronic stress did not. Several sex differences in the effects of stress on gene expression were also noted. Our results demonstrate that reductions in A2A receptor mRNA in the nucleus accumbens are associated with the increased binge drinking of chronically stressed animals, but future work will be required to determine the functional importance of this gene expression change. Continuing to define the molecular alterations associated with stress-induced increases in alcohol intake has the potential to provide insights into the development and progression of stress-related disorders.
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Pohóczky K, Kun J, Szentes N, Aczél T, Urbán P, Gyenesei A, Bölcskei K, Szőke É, Sensi S, Dénes Á, Goebel A, Tékus V, Helyes Z. Discovery of novel targets in a complex regional pain syndrome mouse model by transcriptomics: TNF and JAK-STAT pathways. Pharmacol Res 2022; 182:106347. [PMID: 35820612 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) represents severe chronic pain, hypersensitivity, and inflammation induced by sensory-immune-vascular interactions after a small injury. Since the therapy is unsatisfactory, there is a great need to identify novel drug targets. Unbiased transcriptomic analysis of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was performed in a passive transfer-trauma mouse model, and the predicted pathways were confirmed by pharmacological interventions. In the unilateral L3-5 DRGs 125 genes were differentially expressed in response to plantar incision and injecting IgG of CRPS patients. These are related to inflammatory and immune responses, cytokines, chemokines and neuropeptides. Pathway analysis revealed the involvement of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) and Janus kinase (JAK-STAT) signaling. The relevance of these pathways was proven by abolished CRPS IgG-induced hyperalgesia and reduced microglia and astrocyte markers in pain-associated central nervous system regions after treatment with the soluble TNF alpha receptor etanercept or JAK inhibitor tofacitinib. These results provide the first evidence for CRPS-related neuroinflammation and abnormal cytokine signaling at the level of the primary sensory neurons in a translational mouse model and suggest that etanercept and tofacitinib might have drug repositioning potentials for CRPS-related pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Pohóczky
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - József Kun
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Bioinformatic Research Group, Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Szentes
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Chronic Pain Research Group, Eötvös Lorand Research Network, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tímea Aczél
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Urbán
- Bioinformatic Research Group, Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Attila Gyenesei
- Bioinformatic Research Group, Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kata Bölcskei
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Éva Szőke
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Chronic Pain Research Group, Eötvös Lorand Research Network, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Serena Sensi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L9 7AL, United Kingdom; Department of Pain Medicine, The Walton Centre National Health Service Foundation Trust, Liverpool L9 7LJ, United Kingdom
| | - Ádám Dénes
- Momentum Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andreas Goebel
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L9 7AL, United Kingdom; Department of Pain Medicine, The Walton Centre National Health Service Foundation Trust, Liverpool L9 7LJ, United Kingdom
| | - Valéria Tékus
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Zsuzsanna Helyes
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; PharmInVivo Ltd., H-7629 Pécs, Hungary; Chronic Pain Research Group, Eötvös Lorand Research Network, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
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Mineur YS, Garcia-Rivas V, Thomas MA, Soares AR, McKee SA, Picciotto MR. Sex differences in stress-induced alcohol intake: a review of preclinical studies focused on amygdala and inflammatory pathways. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2041-2061. [PMID: 35359158 PMCID: PMC9704113 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06120-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies suggest that women are more likely than men to relapse to alcohol drinking in response to stress; however, the mechanisms underlying this sex difference are not well understood. A number of preclinical behavioral models have been used to study stress-induced alcohol intake. Here, we review paradigms used to study effects of stress on alcohol intake in rodents, focusing on findings relevant to sex differences. To date, studies of sex differences in stress-induced alcohol drinking have been somewhat limited; however, there is evidence that amygdala-centered circuits contribute to effects of stress on alcohol seeking. In addition, we present an overview of inflammatory pathways leading to microglial activation that may contribute to alcohol-dependent behaviors. We propose that sex differences in neuronal function and inflammatory signaling in circuits centered on the amygdala are involved in sex-dependent effects on stress-induced alcohol seeking and suggest that this is an important area for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann S Mineur
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Vernon Garcia-Rivas
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Merrilee A Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Alexa R Soares
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
- Yale Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sherry A McKee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA
| | - Marina R Picciotto
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 3Rd Floor Research, New Haven, CT, 06508, USA.
- Yale Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, New Haven, CT, USA.
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14
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Alavi M, Ryabinin AE, Helms ML, Nipper MA, Devaud LL, Finn DA. Sensitivity and Resilience to Predator Stress-Enhanced Ethanol Drinking Is Associated With Sex-Dependent Differences in Stress-Regulating Systems. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:834880. [PMID: 35645747 PMCID: PMC9132579 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.834880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress can increase ethanol drinking, and evidence confirms an association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Exposure to predator odor is considered a traumatic stressor, and predator stress (PS) has been used extensively as an animal model of PTSD. Our prior work determined that repeated exposure to intermittent PS significantly increased anxiety-related behavior, corticosterone levels, and neuronal activation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in naïve male and female C57BL/6J mice. Intermittent PS exposure also increased subsequent ethanol drinking in a subgroup of animals, with heterogeneity of responses as seen with comorbid PTSD and AUD. The present studies built upon this prior work and began to characterize “sensitivity” and “resilience” to PS-enhanced drinking. Ethanol drinking was measured during baseline, intermittent PS exposure, and post-stress; mice were euthanized after 24-h abstinence. Calculation of median and interquartile ranges identified “sensitive” (>20% increase in drinking over baseline) and “resilient” (no change or decrease in drinking from baseline) subgroups. Intermittent PS significantly increased subsequent ethanol intake in 24% of male (↑60%) and in 20% of female (↑71%) C57BL/6J mice in the “sensitive” subgroup. Plasma corticosterone levels were increased significantly after PS in both sexes, but levels were lower in the “sensitive” vs. “resilient” subgroups. In representative mice from “sensitive” and “resilient” subgroups, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were analyzed by Western Blotting for levels of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptor 1, CRF receptor 2, CRF binding protein, and glucocorticoid receptor, vs. separate naïve age-matched mice. In prefrontal cortex, CRF receptor 1, CRF receptor 2, CRF binding protein, and glucocorticoid receptor levels were significantly higher in “sensitive” vs. naïve and “resilient” mice only in females. In hippocampus, CRF receptor 1, CRF receptor 2 and glucocorticoid receptor levels were significantly lower in “resilient” vs. naïve and “sensitive” mice across both sexes. These results indicate that sex strongly influences the effects of ethanol drinking and stress on proteins regulating stress and anxiety responses. They further suggest that targeting the CRF system and glucocorticoid receptors in AUD needs to consider the comorbidity of PTSD with AUD and sex of treated individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Alavi
- School of Pharmacy, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR, United States
| | - Andrey E. Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Melinda L. Helms
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Michelle A. Nipper
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Leslie L. Devaud
- School of Pharmacy, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR, United States
| | - Deborah A. Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
- *Correspondence: Deborah A. Finn,
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15
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Piantadosi PT, Halladay LR, Radke AK, Holmes A. Advances in understanding meso-cortico-limbic-striatal systems mediating risky reward seeking. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1547-1571. [PMID: 33704784 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The risk of an aversive consequence occurring as the result of a reward-seeking action can have a profound effect on subsequent behavior. Such aversive events can be described as punishers, as they decrease the probability that the same action will be produced again in the future and increase the exploration of less risky alternatives. Punishment can involve the omission of an expected rewarding event ("negative" punishment) or the addition of an unpleasant event ("positive" punishment). Although many individuals adaptively navigate situations associated with the risk of negative or positive punishment, those suffering from substance use disorders or behavioral addictions tend to be less able to curtail addictive behaviors despite the aversive consequences associated with them. Here, we discuss the psychological processes underpinning reward seeking despite the risk of negative and positive punishment and consider how behavioral assays in animals have been employed to provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying addictive disorders. We then review the critical contributions of dopamine signaling to punishment learning and risky reward seeking, and address the roles of interconnected ventral striatal, cortical, and amygdala regions to these processes. We conclude by discussing the ample opportunities for future study to clarify critical gaps in the literature, particularly as related to delineating neural contributions to distinct phases of the risky decision-making process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Piantadosi
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Anna K Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Stadtler H, Shaw G, Neigh GN. Mini-review: Elucidating the psychological, physical, and sex-based interactions between HIV infection and stress. Neurosci Lett 2021; 747:135698. [PMID: 33540057 PMCID: PMC9258904 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Stress is generally classified as any mental or emotional strain resulting from difficult circumstances, and can manifest in the form of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other neurocognitive disorders. Neurocognitive disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD are large contributors to disability worldwide, and continue to affect individuals and communities. Although these disorders affect men and women, women are disproportionately represented among those diagnosed with affective disorders, a result of both societal gender roles and physical differences. Furthermore, the incidence of these neurocognitive disorders is augmented among People Living with HIV (PLWH); the physical ramifications of stress increase the likelihood of HIV acquisition, pathogenesis, and treatment, as both stress and HIV infection are characterized by chronic inflammation, which creates a more opportunistic environment for HIV. Although the stress response is facilitated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, when the response involves a psychological component, additional brain regions are engaged. The impact of chronic stress exposure and the origin of individual variation in stress responses and resilience are at least in part attributable to regions outside the primary stress circuity, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. This review aims to elucidate the relationship between stress and HIV, how these interact with sex, and to understand the physical ramifications of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Stadtler
- Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gladys Shaw
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gretchen N Neigh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Bauer MR, McVey MM, Boehm SL. Three Weeks of Binge Alcohol Drinking Generates Increased Alcohol Front-Loading and Robust Compulsive-Like Alcohol Drinking in Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:650-660. [PMID: 33496972 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current models of compulsive-like quinine-adulterated alcohol (QuA) drinking in mice, if improved, could be more useful for uncovering the neural mechanisms of compulsive-like alcohol drinking. The purpose of these experiments was to further characterize and improve the validity of a model of compulsive-like QuA drinking in C57BL/6J mice. We sought to determine whether compulsive-like alcohol drinking could be achieved following 2 or 3 weeks of Drinking-in-the-Dark (DID), whether it provides evidence for a robust model of compulsive-like alcohol drinking by inclusion of a water control group and use of a highly concentrated QuA solution, whether repeated QuA exposures alter compulsive-like drinking, and whether there are sex differences in compulsive-like alcohol drinking. METHODS Male and Female C57BL/6J mice were allowed free access to either 20% alcohol or tap water for 2 hours each day for approximately 3 weeks. After 2 or 3 weeks, the mice were given QuA (500 μM) and the effect of repeated QuA drinking sessions on compulsive-like alcohol drinking was assessed. 3-minute front-loading, 2 hour binge-drinking, and blood alcohol concentrations were determined. RESULTS Compulsive-like QuA drinking was achieved after 3 weeks, but not 2 weeks, of daily alcohol access as determined by alcohol history mice consuming significantly more QuA than water history mice and drinking statistically nondifferent amounts of QuA than nonadulterated alcohol at baseline. Thirty-minute front-loading of QuA revealed that alcohol history mice front-loaded significantly more QuA than water history mice, but still found the QuA solution aversive. Repeated QuA exposures did not alter these patterns, compulsive-like drinking did not differ by sex, and BACs for QuA drinking were at the level of a binge. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that compulsive-like QuA drinking can be robustly achieved following 3 weeks of DID and male and female C57BL/6J mice do not differ in compulsive-like alcohol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith R Bauer
- Department of Psychology, Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Megan M McVey
- Department of Psychology, Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stephen L Boehm
- Department of Psychology, Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Moench KM, Logrip ML. Housing Condition Differentially Impacts Escalation of Alcohol Intake, Relapse-Like Drinking, Anxiety-Like Behavior, and Stress History Effects by Sex. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:480-489. [PMID: 33351976 PMCID: PMC7890766 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress triggers alcohol use and relapse to drinking, with different effects by sex. Women are more susceptible to stress-related alcohol misuse, and most stressors in rodents produce sexually divergent effects. Female rodents are particularly sensitive to the stress produced by solitary housing, yet the impact of housing conditions on the establishment, escalation, and post-abstinence potentiation of intermittent access alcohol drinking in male and female rats, and the interaction of these factors with stress history are not well described. METHODS Male (n = 62) and female (n = 64) Wistar rats were housed individually or in pairs separated by a perforated divider. Rats were exposed to light-cued footshock stress (stress history), or cues alone (control), once daily for 3 days, followed by 8 weeks' drinking under intermittent access to a 2-bottle choice (IA2BC), with 20% alcohol (v/v in water) available in addition to water for 24 hours on alternate days. After a 2-week forced abstinence, anxiety-like behavior was assessed via defensive withdrawal testing; then, IA2BC alcohol access was renewed for 2 weeks to model relapse-like behavior. RESULTS Pair-housed female rats did not increase their alcohol intake across the 8-week drinking period, unlike all other groups, and stress history did not significantly change alcohol consumption. After abstinence, anxiety-like behavior was greatest in pair-housed stress history males, whereas alcohol intake was significantly elevated only in female rats, particularly those in solitary housing. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings suggest that paired housing differentially contributes to behavior in male and female rats, blunting alcohol intake in females, and unmasking stress history effects on anxiety-like behavior in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M. Moench
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Marian L. Logrip
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Traumatic stress history interacts with sex and chronic peripheral inflammation to alter mitochondrial function of synaptosomes. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 88:203-219. [PMID: 32389700 PMCID: PMC9380700 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repeated exposures to chronic stress can lead to long lasting negative behavioral and metabolic outcomes. Here, we aim to determine the impact of chronic stress and chronic low-level inflammation on behavior and synaptosomal metabolism. METHODS Male (n = 31) and female (n = 32) C57Bl/6 mice underwent chronic repeated predation stress or daily handling for two rounds of 15 consecutive days of exposure during the adolescent and early adult timeframes. Subsequently, mice were exposed to repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 7.5 × 105 EU/kg) or saline injections every third day for eight weeks. Exploratory and social behaviors were assessed in the open field and social interaction tests prior to examination of learning and memory with the Barnes Maze. Mitochondrial function and morphology were assessed in synaptosomes post-mortem using the Cell Mito Stress test and Seahorse XFe24 analyzer, TEM, and western analysis, respectively. In addition, expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and ROMO1 were examined in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex with Taqman qPCR. Circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the periphery were assessed using the MSD V-plex Proinflammatory Panel 1 following the first and last LPS injection as well as at the time of tissue collection. Circulating ROMO1 was assessed in terminal samples via ELISA. RESULTS Exposure to repeated predatory stress increased time spent in the corners of the open field, suggestive of anxiety-like behavior, in both males and females. There were no significant group differences in the social interaction test and minimal effects were evident in the Barnes maze. A history of chronic stress interacted with chronic LPS in male mice to lead to a deficit in synaptosomal respiration. Female mice were more sensitive to both chronic stress and chronic LPS such that either a history of chronic stress or chronic LPS exposure was sufficient to disrupt synaptosomal respiration in females. Both stress and chronic LPS were sufficient to increase inflammation and reactive oxygen in males centrally and peripherally. Females had increased markers of peripheral inflammation following acute LPS but no evidence of peripheral or central increases in inflammatory factors or reactive oxygen following chronic exposures. CONCLUSION Collectively, these data suggest that while metrics of inflammation and reactive oxygen are disrupted in males following chronic stress and chronic LPS, only the combined condition is sufficient to alter synaptosomal respiration. Conversely, although evidence of chronic inflammation or chronic elevation in reactive oxygen is absent, females demonstrate profound shifts in synaptosomal mitochondrial function with either a history of chronic stress or a history of chronic inflammation. These data highlight that different mechanisms are likely in play between the sexes and that sex differences in neural outcomes may be precipitated by sex-specific effects of life experiences on mitochondrial function in the synapse.
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