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Deng J, Chen L, Liu CC, Liu M, Guo GQ, Wei JY, Zhang JB, Fan HT, Zheng ZK, Yan P, Zhang XZ, Zhou F, Huang SX, Zhang JF, Xu T, Xie JD, Xin WJ. Distinct Thalamo-Subcortical Circuits Underlie Painful Behavior and Depression-Like Behavior Following Nerve Injury. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2401855. [PMID: 38973158 PMCID: PMC11425852 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401855] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Clinically, chronic pain and depression often coexist in multiple diseases and reciprocally reinforce each other, which greatly escalates the difficulty of treatment. The neural circuit mechanism underlying the chronic pain/depression comorbidity remains unclear. The present study reports that two distinct subregions in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) play different roles in this pathological process. In the first subregion PVT posterior (PVP), glutamatergic neurons (PVPGlu) send signals to GABAergic neurons (VLPAGGABA) in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (VLPAG), which mediates painful behavior in comorbidity. Meanwhile, in another subregion PVT anterior (PVA), glutamatergic neurons (PVAGlu) send signals to the nucleus accumbens D1-positive neurons and D2-positive neurons (NAcD1→D2), which is involved in depression-like behavior in comorbidity. This study demonstrates that the distinct thalamo-subcortical circuits PVPGlu→VLPAGGABA and PVAGlu→NAcD1→D2 mediated painful behavior and depression-like behavior following spared nerve injury (SNI), respectively, which provides the circuit-based potential targets for preventing and treating comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Deng
- Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Cui-Cui Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Guo-Qing Guo
- Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jia-You Wei
- Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jian-Bo Zhang
- Department of Pain Medicine, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Hai-Ting Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zi-Kun Zheng
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Pu Yan
- Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xiang-Zhong Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Department of Neurology, First people's hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong, 510168, China
| | - Sui-Xiang Huang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Ji-Feng Zhang
- Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jing-Dun Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Collaborative Innovation for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Wen-Jun Xin
- Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
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Mah A, Golden C, Constantinople C. Dopamine transients encode reward prediction errors independent of learning rates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.18.590090. [PMID: 38659861 PMCID: PMC11042285 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.18.590090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Biological accounts of reinforcement learning posit that dopamine encodes reward prediction errors (RPEs), which are multiplied by a learning rate to update state or action values. These values are thought to be represented in synaptic weights in the striatum, and updated by dopamine-dependent plasticity, suggesting that dopamine release might reflect the product of the learning rate and RPE. Here, we leveraged the fact that animals learn faster in volatile environments to characterize dopamine encoding of learning rates in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc). We trained rats on a task with semi-observable states offering different rewards, and rats adjusted how quickly they initiated trials across states using RPEs. Computational modeling and behavioral analyses showed that learning rates were higher following state transitions, and scaled with trial-by-trial changes in beliefs about hidden states, approximating normative Bayesian strategies. Notably, dopamine release in the NAcc encoded RPEs independent of learning rates, suggesting that dopamine-independent mechanisms instantiate dynamic learning rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mah
- Center for Neural Science, New York University
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Xu Y, Lin Y, Yu M, Zhou K. The nucleus accumbens in reward and aversion processing: insights and implications. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1420028. [PMID: 39184934 PMCID: PMC11341389 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1420028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens (NAc), a central component of the brain's reward circuitry, has been implicated in a wide range of behaviors and emotional states. Emerging evidence, primarily drawing from recent rodent studies, suggests that the function of the NAc in reward and aversion processing is multifaceted. Prolonged stress or drug use induces maladaptive neuronal function in the NAc circuitry, which results in pathological conditions. This review aims to provide comprehensive and up-to-date insights on the role of the NAc in motivated behavior regulation and highlights areas that demand further in-depth analysis. It synthesizes the latest findings on how distinct NAc neuronal populations and pathways contribute to the processing of opposite valences. The review examines how a range of neuromodulators, especially monoamines, influence the NAc's control over various motivational states. Furthermore, it delves into the complex underlying mechanisms of psychiatric disorders such as addiction and depression and evaluates prospective interventions to restore NAc functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kuikui Zhou
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China
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Hughes BW, Huebschman JL, Tsvetkov E, Siemsen BM, Snyder KK, Akiki RM, Wood DJ, Penrod RD, Scofield MD, Berto S, Taniguchi M, Cowan CW. NPAS4 supports cocaine-conditioned cues in rodents by controlling the cell type-specific activation balance in the nucleus accumbens. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5971. [PMID: 39117647 PMCID: PMC11310321 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50099-1] [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: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Powerful associations that link drugs of abuse with cues in the drug-paired environment often serve as prepotent relapse triggers. Drug-associated contexts and cues activate ensembles of nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons, including D1-class medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that typically promote, and D2-class MSNs that typically oppose, drug seeking. We found that in mice, cocaine conditioning upregulated transiently the activity-regulated transcription factor, Neuronal PAS Domain Protein 4 (NPAS4), in a small subset of NAc neurons. The NPAS4+ NAc ensemble was required for cocaine conditioned place preference. We also observed that NPAS4 functions within NAc D2-, but not D1-, MSNs to support cocaine-context associations and cue-induced cocaine, but not sucrose, seeking. Together, our data show that the NPAS4+ ensemble of NAc neurons is essential for cocaine-context associations in mice, and that NPAS4 itself functions in NAc D2-MSNs to support cocaine-context associations by suppressing drug-induced counteradaptations that oppose relapse-related behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon W Hughes
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jessica L Huebschman
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Evgeny Tsvetkov
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Benjamin M Siemsen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Kirsten K Snyder
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Rose Marie Akiki
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Daniel J Wood
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Rachel D Penrod
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Michael D Scofield
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Stefano Berto
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Makoto Taniguchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Christopher W Cowan
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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Poniatowski ŁA, Joniec-Maciejak I, Wawer A, Sznejder-Pachołek A, Machaj E, Ziętal K, Mirowska-Guzel D. Dose-Ranging Effects of the Intracerebral Administration of Atsttrin in Experimental Model of Parkinson's Disease Induced by 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04161-0. [PMID: 38642286 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04161-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders characterized by a multitude of motor and non-motor clinical symptoms resulting from the progressive and long-lasting abnormal loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Currently, the available treatments for patients with Parkinson's disease are limited and exert only symptomatic effects, without adequate signs of delaying or stopping the progression of the disease. Atsttrin constitutes the bioengineered protein which ultrastructure is based on the polypeptide chain frame of the progranulin (PGRN), which exerts anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of TNFα. The conducted preclinical studies suggest that the therapeutic implementation of Atsttrin may be potentially effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases that are associated with the occurrence of neuroinflammatory processes. The aim of the proposed study was to investigate the effect of direct bilateral intracerebral administration of Atsttrin using stereotactic methods in the preclinical C57BL/6 mouse model of Parkinson's disease inducted by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intoxication. The analysis of the dose dependency effects of the increasing doses of Atsttrin has covered a number of parameters and markers regarding neurodegenerative processes and inflammatory responses including IL-1α, TNFα, IL-6, TH, and TG2 mRNA expressions. Accordingly, the evaluation of the changes in the neurochemical profile included DA, DOPAC, 3-MT, HVA, NA, MHPG, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA concentration levels. The intracerebral administration of Atsttrin into the striatum effectively attenuated the neuroinflammatory reaction in evaluated neuroanatomical structures. Furthermore, the partial restoration of monoamine content and its metabolic turnover were observed. In this case, taking into account the previously described pharmacokinetic profile and extrapolated bioavailability as well as the stability characteristics of Atsttrin, an attempt was made to describe as precisely as possible the quantitative and qualitative effects of increasing doses of the compound within the brain tissue microenvironment in the presented preclinical model of the disease. Collectively, this findings demonstrated that the intracerebral administration of Atsttrin may represent a potential novel therapeutic method for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz A Poniatowski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Klinikum, Salvador-Allende-Straße 30, 17036, Neubrandenburg, Germany
| | - Ilona Joniec-Maciejak
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Adriana Wawer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Sznejder-Pachołek
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Machaj
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ziętal
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dagmara Mirowska-Guzel
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
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Molinari M, Lieberman OJ, Sulzer D, Santini E, Borgkvist A. 5-HT1B receptors mediate dopaminergic inhibition of vesicular fusion and GABA release from striatonigral synapses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.14.584991. [PMID: 38559006 PMCID: PMC10980074 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.14.584991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), a crucial basal ganglia output nucleus, contains a dense expression of dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs), along with dendrites belonging to dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra pars compacta. These D1Rs are primarily located on the terminals of striatonigral medium spiny neurons, suggesting their involvement in the regulation of neurotransmitter release from the direct pathway in response to somatodendritic dopamine release. To explore the hypothesis that D1Rs modulate GABA release from striatonigral synapses, we conducted optical recordings of striatonigral activity and postsynaptic patch-clamp recordings from SNr neurons in the presence of dopamine and D1R agonists. We found that dopamine inhibits optogenetically triggered striatonigral GABA release by modulating vesicle fusion and Ca 2+ influx in striatonigral boutons. Notably, the effect of DA was independent of D1R activity but required activation of 5-HT1B receptors. Our results suggest a serotonergic mechanism involved in the therapeutic actions of dopaminergic medications for Parkinson's disease and psychostimulant-related disorders.
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Frost Nylén J, Hjorth JJJ, Kozlov A, Carannante I, Hellgren Kotaleski J, Grillner S. The roles of surround inhibition for the intrinsic function of the striatum, analyzed in silico. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2313058120. [PMID: 37922329 PMCID: PMC10636308 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313058120] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The basal ganglia are important for action initiation, selection, and motor learning. The input level, the striatum, receives input preferentially from the cortex and thalamus and is to 95% composed of striatal projection neurons (SPNs) with sparse GABAergic collaterals targeting distal dendrites of neighboring SPNs, in a distance-dependent manner. The remaining 5% are GABAergic and cholinergic interneurons. Our aim here is to investigate the role of surround inhibition for the intrinsic function of the striatum. Large-scale striatal networks of 20 to 40 thousand neurons were simulated with detailed multicompartmental models of different cell types, corresponding to the size of a module of the dorsolateral striatum, like the forelimb area (mouse). The effect of surround inhibition on dendritic computation and network activity was investigated, while groups of SPNs were activated. The SPN-induced surround inhibition in distal dendrites shunted effectively the corticostriatal EPSPs. The size of dendritic plateau-like potentials within the specific dendritic segment was both reduced and enhanced by inhibition, due to the hyperpolarized membrane potential of SPNs and the reversal-potential of GABA. On a population level, the competition between two subpopulations of SPNs was found to depend on the distance between the two units, the size of each unit, the activity level in each subgroup and the dopaminergic modulation of the dSPNs and iSPNs. The SPNs provided the dominating source of inhibition within the striatum, while the fast-spiking interneuron mainly had an initial effect due to short-term synaptic plasticity as shown in with ablation of the synaptic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J. J. Johannes Hjorth
- Department of Computer Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, StockholmSE17177, Sweden
| | - Alexander Kozlov
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, StockholmSE17177, Sweden
- Department of Computer Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, StockholmSE17177, Sweden
| | - Ilaria Carannante
- Department of Computer Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, StockholmSE17177, Sweden
| | - Jeanette Hellgren Kotaleski
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, StockholmSE17177, Sweden
- Department of Computer Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, StockholmSE17177, Sweden
| | - Sten Grillner
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, StockholmSE17177, Sweden
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Guerri L, Dobbs LK, da Silva e Silva DA, Meyers A, Ge A, Lecaj L, Djakuduel C, Islek D, Hipolito D, Martinez AB, Shen PH, Marietta CA, Garamszegi SP, Capobianco E, Jiang Z, Schwandt M, Mash DC, Alvarez VA, Goldman D. Low Dopamine D2 Receptor Expression Drives Gene Networks Related to GABA, cAMP, Growth and Neuroinflammation in Striatal Indirect Pathway Neurons. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:1104-1115. [PMID: 37881572 PMCID: PMC10593893 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.08.010] [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: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A salient effect of addictive drugs is to hijack the dopamine reward system, an evolutionarily conserved driver of goal-directed behavior and learning. Reduced dopamine type 2 receptor availability in the striatum is an important pathophysiological mechanism for addiction that is both consequential and causal for other molecular, cellular, and neuronal network differences etiologic for this disorder. Here, we sought to identify gene expression changes attributable to innate low expression of the Drd2 gene in the striatum and specific to striatal indirect medium spiny neurons (iMSNs). Methods Cre-conditional, translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) was used to purify and analyze the translatome (ribosome-bound messenger RNA) of iMSNs from mice with low/heterozygous or wild-type Drd2 expression in iMSNs. Complementary electrophysiological recordings and gene expression analysis of postmortem brain tissue from human cocaine users were performed. Results Innate low expression of Drd2 in iMSNs led to differential expression of genes involved in GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) signaling, neural growth, lipid metabolism, neural excitability, and inflammation. Creb1 was identified as a likely upstream regulator, among others. In human brain, expression of FXYD2, a modulatory subunit of the Na/K pump, was negatively correlated with DRD2 messenger RNA expression. In iMSN-TRAP-Drd2HET mice, increased Cartpt and reduced S100a10 (p11) expression recapitulated previous observations in cocaine paradigms. Electrophysiology experiments supported a higher GABA tone in iMSN-Drd2HET mice. Conclusions This study provides strong molecular evidence that, in addiction, inhibition by the indirect pathway is constitutively enhanced through neural growth and increased GABA signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Guerri
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lauren K. Dobbs
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, NIAAA, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Daniel A. da Silva e Silva
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, NIAAA, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Allen Meyers
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Aaron Ge
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Lea Lecaj
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Caroline Djakuduel
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Damien Islek
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Dionisio Hipolito
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Abdiel Badillo Martinez
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Pei-Hong Shen
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Cheryl A. Marietta
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Susanna P. Garamszegi
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Enrico Capobianco
- Institute for Data Science and Computing, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Zhijie Jiang
- Institute for Data Science and Computing, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Melanie Schwandt
- Office of the Clinical Director, NIAAA, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Deborah C. Mash
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Institute for Data Science and Computing, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Veronica A. Alvarez
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, NIAAA, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- Office of the Clinical Director, NIAAA, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Jaster AM, González-Maeso J. Mechanisms and molecular targets surrounding the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3595-3612. [PMID: 37759040 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02274-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelics, also known as classical hallucinogens, have been investigated for decades due to their potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders. The results from clinical trials have shown promise for the use of psychedelics to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as to promote substantial decreases in the use of nicotine and alcohol. While these studies provide compelling evidence for the powerful subjective experience and prolonged therapeutic adaptations, the underlying molecular reasons for these robust and clinically meaningful improvements are still poorly understood. Preclinical studies assessing the targets and circuitry of the post-acute effects of classical psychedelics are ongoing. Current literature is split between a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR)-dependent or -independent signaling pathway, as researchers are attempting to harness the mechanisms behind the sustained post-acute therapeutically relevant effects. A combination of molecular, behavioral, and genetic techniques in neuropharmacology has begun to show promise for elucidating these mechanisms. As the field progresses, increasing evidence points towards the importance of the subjective experience induced by psychedelic-assisted therapy, but without further cross validation between clinical and preclinical research, the why behind the experience and its translational validity may be lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaina M Jaster
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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