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Corley C, Craig A, Sadek S, Marusich JA, Chehimi SN, White AM, Holdiness LJ, Reiner BC, Gipson CD. Enhancing translation: A need to leverage complex preclinical models of addictive drugs to accelerate substance use treatment options. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 243:173836. [PMID: 39067531 PMCID: PMC11344688 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Preclinical models of addictive drugs have been developed for decades to model aspects of the clinical experience in substance use disorders (SUDs). These include passive exposure as well as volitional intake models across addictive drugs and have been utilized to also measure withdrawal symptomatology and potential neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying relapse to drug seeking or taking. There are a number of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for SUDs, however, many demonstrate low clinical efficacy as well as potential sex differences, and we also note gaps in the continuum of care for certain aspects of clinical experiences in individuals who use drugs. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update on both frequently utilized and novel behavioral models of addiction with a focus on translational value to the clinical experience and highlight the need for preclinical research to follow epidemiological trends in drug use patterns to stay abreast of clinical treatment needs. We then note areas in which models could be improved to enhance the medications development pipeline through efforts to enhance translation of preclinical models. Next, we describe neuroscience efforts that can be leveraged to identify novel biological mechanisms to enhance medications development efforts for SUDs, focusing specifically on advances in brain transcriptomics approaches that can provide comprehensive screening and identification of novel targets. Together, the confluence of this review demonstrates the need for careful selection of behavioral models and methodological parameters that better approximate the clinical experience combined with cutting edge neuroscience techniques to advance the medications development pipeline for SUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa Corley
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Ashley Craig
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Safiyah Sadek
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Samar N Chehimi
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ashley M White
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Lexi J Holdiness
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Benjamin C Reiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cassandra D Gipson
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
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Contreras KM, Buzzi B, Vaughn J, Caillaud M, Altarifi AA, Olszewski E, Walentiny DM, Beardsley PM, Damaj MI. Characterization and validation of a spontaneous acute and protracted oxycodone withdrawal model in male and female mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 242:173795. [PMID: 38834159 PMCID: PMC11283946 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious health problem that may lead to physical dependence, in addition to affective disorders. Preclinical models are essential for studying the neurobiology of and developing pharmacotherapies to treat these problems. Historically, chronic morphine injections have most often been used to produce opioid-dependent animals, and withdrawal signs indicative of dependence were precipitated by administering an opioid antagonist. In the present studies, we have developed and validated a model of dependence on oxycodone (a widely prescribed opioid) during spontaneous withdrawal in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Dependence was induced by chronically administering oxycodone through osmotic minipumps at different doses for 7 days. Somatic withdrawal signs were measured after 3, 6, 24, and 48 h following minipump removal. Additionally, sensitivity to mechanical, thermal, and cold stimuli, along with anxiety-like behavior, were also measured. Our results indicated that spontaneous withdrawal following discontinuation of oxycodone produced an increase in total withdrawal signs after 60 and 120 mg/kg/day regimens of oxycodone administration. These signs were reversed by the administration of clinically approved medications for OUD. In general, both female and male mice showed similar profiles of somatic signs of spontaneous withdrawal. Spontaneous withdrawal also resulted in mechanical and cold hypersensitivity lasting for 24 and 14 days, respectively, and produced anxiety-like behaviors after 2 and 3 weeks following oxycodone removal. These results help validate a new model of oxycodone dependence, including the temporally distinct emergence of somatic, hyperalgesic, and anxiety-like behaviors, potentially useful for mechanistic and translational studies of opioid dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Belle Buzzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Julian Vaughn
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Martial Caillaud
- Nantes Université, INSERM, UMR1235-TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, Nantes, France
| | - Ahmad A Altarifi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Emily Olszewski
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - D Matthew Walentiny
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA; Center for Biomarker Research & Precision Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA; Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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De Almeida SS, Drinkuth CR, Sartor GC. Comparing withdrawal- and anxiety-like behaviors following oral and subcutaneous oxycodone administration in C57BL/6 mice. Behav Pharmacol 2024; 35:269-279. [PMID: 38847447 PMCID: PMC11226370 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Excessive prescribing and misuse of prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, significantly contributed to the current opioid crisis. Although oxycodone is typically consumed orally by humans, parenteral routes of administration have primarily been used in preclinical models of oxycodone dependence. To address this issue, more recent studies have used oral self-administration procedures to study oxycodone seeking and withdrawal in rodents. Behavioral differences, however, following oral oxycodone intake versus parenteral oxycodone administration remain unclear. Thus, the goal of the current studies was to compare anxiety- and withdrawal-like behaviors using established opioid dependence models of either home cage oral intake of oxycodone (0.5 mg/ml) or repeated subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of oxycodone (10 mg/kg) in male and female mice. Here, mice received 10 days of oral or s.c. oxycodone administration, and following 72 h of forced abstinence, anxiety- and withdrawal-like behaviors were measured using elevated zero maze, open field, and naloxone-induced precipitated withdrawal procedures. Global withdrawal scores were increased to a similar degree following oral and s.c. oxycodone use, while both routes of oxycodone administration had minimal effects on anxiety-like behaviors. When examining individual withdrawal-like behaviors, mice receiving s.c. oxycodone exhibited more paw tremors and jumps during naloxone-induced precipitated withdrawal compared with oral oxycodone mice. These results indicate that both models of oxycodone administration are sufficient to elevate global withdrawal scores, but, when compared with oral consumption, s.c. oxycodone injections yielded more pronounced effects on some withdrawal-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gregory C. Sartor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
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Scicluna RL, Everett NA, Badolato CJ, Wilson BB, Bowen MT. Effects of CB1 receptor negative allosteric modulator Org27569 on oxycodone withdrawal symptoms in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1705-1717. [PMID: 38676755 PMCID: PMC11269377 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06591-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE/OBJECTIVES Targeting cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) has shown promise for treating opioid withdrawal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a specific CB1R negative allosteric modulator (NAM), Org27569, in reducing both naloxone-precipitated and protracted withdrawal symptoms in oxycodone-dependent mice. METHODS Mice received escalating doses of oxycodone (9-33 mg/kg IP) or saline twice daily for 9 days, followed by a final dose of oxycodone (33 mg/kg) or saline in the morning of day 9. In one cohort, the impact of Org27569 (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg) on naloxone (10 mg/kg IP) precipitated withdrawal symptoms was assessed. In another cohort, Org27569 (3 mg/kg) effects on the acquisition of conditioned place aversion to naloxone (0.6 mg/kg) precipitated opioid withdrawal, on behaviour following a 7-9-day abstinence period, and on naloxone (0.6 mg/kg) precipitated withdrawal-induced escape behaviour in a novel assay were assessed. RESULTS Although Org27569 decreased opioid withdrawal-induced jumping at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg, these effects were confounded by reduced locomotion. At all doses tested, Org27569 had a modest inhibitory effect on gastrointestinal motility. At the lower dose of 3 mg/kg, which was not confounded by locomotor effects, Org27569 did not impact naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced jumping, acquisition of oxycodone withdrawal-induced conditioned place aversion, or naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced escape behaviour in a novel assay. A clear protracted opioid withdrawal phenotype was not observed in assays of anxiety-like or social behaviour. CONCLUSIONS Org27569 effects on negative affective-like symptoms were confounded by locomotor effects and effects on gastrointestinal motility were not opioid withdrawal specific. Further studies are needed in a model that produces a more pronounced protracted withdrawal syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhianne L Scicluna
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallet Street, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Everett
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallet Street, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Connie J Badolato
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallet Street, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Bianca B Wilson
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallet Street, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Michael T Bowen
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallet Street, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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Downs AM, Kmiec G, McElligott ZA. Oral Fentanyl Consumption and Withdrawal Impairs Fear Extinction Learning and Enhances Basolateral Amygdala Principal Neuron Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance in Male and Female Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.28.569085. [PMID: 38076868 PMCID: PMC10705490 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.569085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The number of opioid overdose deaths has increased over the past several years, mainly driven by an increase in the availability of highly potent synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, in the un-regulated drug supply. Over the last few years, changes in the drug supply, and in particular the availability of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, have made oral use of opioids a more common route of administration. Here, we used a drinking in the dark (DiD) paradigm to model oral fentanyl self-administration using increasing fentanyl concentrations in male and female mice over 5 weeks. Fentanyl consumption peaked in both female and male mice at the 30 µg/mL dose, with female mice consuming significantly more fentanyl than male mice. Mice consumed sufficient fentanyl such that withdrawal was precipitated with naloxone, with males having more withdrawal symptoms, despite lower pharmacological exposure. We also performed behavioral assays to measure avoidance behavior and reward-seeking during fentanyl abstinence. Female mice displayed reduced avoidance behaviors in the open field assay, whereas male mice showed increased avoidance in the light/dark box assay. Female mice also exhibited increased reward-seeking in the sucrose preference test. Fentanyl-consuming mice of both sexes showed impaired cued fear extinction learning following fear conditioning and increased excitatory synaptic drive and increased excitability of BLA principal neurons. Our experiments demonstrate that long-term oral fentanyl consumption results in wide-ranging physiological and behavioral disruptions. This model could be useful to further study fentanyl withdrawal syndrome and behaviors and neuroplasticity associated with protracted fentanyl withdrawal.
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Sharp BM, Leng S, Huang J, Jones C, Chen H. Inbred rat heredity and sex affect oral oxycodone self-administration and augmented intake in long sessions: correlations with anxiety and novelty-seeking. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.26.568753. [PMID: 38076806 PMCID: PMC10705287 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.26.568753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Oxycodone abuse begins with prescription oral oxycodone, yet vulnerability factors determining abuse are largely undefined. We evaluated genetic vulnerability in a rat model of oral oxycodone self-administration (SA): increasing oxycodone concentration/session (0.025-0.1mg/ml; 1,4,16-h) followed by extinction and reinstatement. Active licks and oxycodone intake were greater in females than males during 4-h and 16-h sessions (p< 0.001). Each sex increased intake during 16-h vs 4-h sessions (p<2e-16), but a subset of strains dramatically augmented intake at 16-h (p=0.0005). Heritability (h 2) of active licks/4-h at increasing oxycodone dose ranged from 0.30-0.53. Under a progressive ratio schedule, breakpoints were strain-dependent (p<2e-16). Cued reinstatement was greater in females (p<0.001). Naive rats were assessed by elevated plus maze (EPM), open field (OF) and novel object interaction (NOI). We correlated these behaviors with 28 parameters of oxycodone SA. Anxiety-defining EPM traits were most associated with SA in both sexes, whereas more OF and NOI traits were SA-associated in males. Sex and heredity are major determinants of motivation to take and seek oxycodone; intake augments dramatically during extended access in specific strains; and pleiotropic genes affect anxiety and multiple SA parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burt M Sharp
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Shuangying Leng
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Caroline Jones
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
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Chen Y, Fu H, Korada A, Lange MA, Rayanki C, Montgomery JMF, Lu T, Lai D, Fang S, Guo C, Ma YY. Decoding the Role of Secondary Motor Cortex Neuronal Ensembles during Cocaine Self-Administration: Insights from Longitudinal in vivo Calcium Imaging via Miniscopes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.20.594996. [PMID: 38826399 PMCID: PMC11142101 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.20.594996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent findings in our lab demonstrated that the risk of cocaine relapse is closely linked to the hyperexcitability of cortical pyramidal neurons in the secondary motor cortex (M2), noticeable 45 days after cocaine intravenous self-administration (IVSA). The present study was designed to explore the underlying mechanisms of neuronal alterations in M2. Our hypothesis was that M2 neurons were affected directly by cocaine taking behaviors. This hypothesis was tested by monitoring individual neuronal activity in M2 using MiniScopes for in vivo Ca 2+ imaging in C57BL/6J mice when they had access to cocaine IVSA as a reinforcement (RNF) contingent to active lever press (ALP) but not to inactive lever press (ILP). With support of our established pipeline to processing Ca 2+ imaging data, the current study was designed to monitor M2 neuronal ensembles at the single-neuron level in real time with high temporal resolution and high throughput in each IVSA session and longitudinally among multiple IVSA sessions. Specifically, five consecutive 1-hr daily IVSA sessions were used to model the initial cocaine taking behaviors. Besides detailed analyses of IVSA events (ALP, ILP, and RNF), the data from Ca 2+ imaging recordings in M2 were analyzed by (1) comparing neuronal activation within a daily IVSA session (i.e., the first vs. the last 15 min) and between different daily sessions (i.e., the first vs. the last IVSA day), (2) associating Ca 2+ transients with individual IVSA events, and (3) correlating Ca 2+ transients with the cumulative effects of IVSA events. Our data demonstrated that M2 neurons are exquisitely sensitive to and significantly affected by concurrent operant behaviors and the history of drug exposure, which in turn sculpt the upcoming operant behaviors and the response to drugs. As critical nodes of the reward loop, M2 neurons appear to be the governing center orchestrating the establishment of addiction-like behaviors.
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LaRocco K, Villiamma P, Hill J, Russell MA, DiLeone RJ, Groman SM. Sex differences in oxycodone-taking behaviors are linked to disruptions in reward-guided, decision-making functions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.09.587443. [PMID: 38645212 PMCID: PMC11030399 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.587443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Problematic opioid use that emerges in a subset of individuals may be due to pre-existing disruptions in the biobehavioral mechanisms that regulate drug use. The identity of these mechanisms is not known, but emerging evidence suggests that suboptimal decision-making that is observable prior to drug use may contribute to the pathology of addiction and, notably, serve as a powerful phenotype for interrogating biologically based differences in opiate-taking behaviors. The current study investigated the relationship between decision-making phenotypes and opioid-taking behaviors in male and female Long Evans rats. Adaptive decision-making processes were assessed using a probabilistic reversal-learning task and oxycodone- (or vehicle, as a control) taking behaviors assessed for 32 days using a saccharin fading procedure that promoted dynamic intake of oxycodone. Tests of motivation, extinction, and reinstatement were also performed. Computational analyses of decision-making and opioid-taking behaviors revealed that attenuated reward-guided decision-making was associated with greater self-administration of oxycodone and addiction-relevant behaviors. Moreover, pre-existing impairments in reward-guided decision-making observed in female rats was associated with greater oxycodone use and addiction-relevant behaviors when compared to males. These results provide new insights into the biobehavioral mechanisms that regulate opiate-taking behaviors and offer a novel phenotypic approach for interrogating sex differences in addiction susceptibility and opioid use disorders.
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Scicluna RL, Wilson BB, Thelaus SH, Arnold JC, McGregor IS, Bowen MT. Cannabidiol Reduced the Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal in Male and Female Mice. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024; 9:547-560. [PMID: 36577048 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Opioid withdrawal is a powerful driver of drug-seeking behavior as relief from this aversive state through drug-taking is a strong negative reinforcer. There are currently limited treatment options available for opioid withdrawal and cannabidiol (CBD) has been identified as a potential novel therapeutic. This study explored the efficacy and dose dependency of CBD for reducing the severity of naloxone-precipitated and spontaneous oxycodone withdrawal (PW and SW, respectively) in male and female mice. Methods: Mice were administered saline or escalating doses of oxycodone, whereby 9, 17.8, 23.7, and 33 mg/kg oxycodone IP was administered twice daily on days 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8, respectively. On the 9th day, a single 33 mg/kg dose of oxycodone (or saline) was administered. To precipitate withdrawal, on day 9, mice in the withdrawal conditions were administered an IP injection of 10 mg/kg naloxone 2 h after the final oxycodone injection and immediately before withdrawal testing. To elicit SW, a separate group of mice underwent withdrawal testing 24 h after their final oxycodone injection. Mice were treated with an IP injection of 0, 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg of CBD 60 min before testing. Withdrawal symptoms examined included gastrointestinal symptoms (fecal boli, diarrhea, and body weight loss), somatic symptoms (paw tremors), and negative affect (jumping). Results: A robust PW syndrome was observed in both male and female mice, whereas only male mice displayed an SW syndrome. CBD dose dependently reduced gastrointestinal symptoms during both PW and SW in male mice and during PW in female mice. CBD had no effect on PW- or SW-induced jumping in male mice. However, in female mice, the PW-induced increase in jumps was less pronounced in CBD-treated mice. The highest dose of CBD inhibited paw tremors during PW, but not SW, in male mice. Neither PW- nor SW-induced paw tremors were observed in female mice. Conclusions: The magnitude of effects on the gastrointestinal symptoms, their consistency across PW and SW, and both sexes, alongside the availability of CBD for clinical use, suggest further exploration of the potential for CBD to treat these symptoms could be justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhianne L Scicluna
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bianca B Wilson
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samuel H Thelaus
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Pharmacy, Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael T Bowen
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Slivicki RA, Wang JG, Nhat VTT, Kravitz AV, Creed MC, Gereau RW. Impact of Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and oxycodone co-administration on measures of antinociception, dependence, circadian activity, and reward in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.04.569809. [PMID: 38105953 PMCID: PMC10723318 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.04.569809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Oxycodone is commonly prescribed for moderate to severe pain disorders. While efficacious, long-term use can result in tolerance, physical dependence, and the development of opioid use disorder. Cannabis and its derivatives such as Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) have been reported to enhance oxycodone analgesia in animal models and in humans. However, it remains unclear if Δ9-THC may facilitate unwanted aspects of oxycodone intake, such as tolerance, dependence, and reward at analgesic doses. This study sought to evaluate the impact of co-administration of Δ9-THC and oxycodone across behavioral measures related to antinociception, dependence, circadian activity, and reward in both male and female mice. Oxycodone and Δ9-THC produced dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in the hotplate assay that were similar between sexes. Repeated treatment (twice daily for 5 days) resulted in antinociceptive tolerance. Combination treatment of oxycodone and Δ9-THC produced a greater antinociceptive effect than either administered alone, and delayed the development of antinociceptive tolerance. Repeated treatment with oxycodone produced physical dependence and alterations in circadian activity, neither of which were exacerbated by co-treatment with Δ9-THC. Combination treatment of oxycodone and Δ9-THC produced CPP when co-administered at doses that did not produce preference when administered alone. These data indicate that Δ9-THC may facilitate oxycodone-induced antinociception without augmenting certain unwanted features of opioid intake (e.g. dependence, circadian rhythm alterations). However, our findings also indicate that Δ9-THC may facilitate rewarding properties of oxycodone at therapeutically relevant doses which warrant consideration when evaluating this combination for its potential therapeutic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A. Slivicki
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Justin G. Wang
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Vy Trinh Tran Nhat
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Alexxai V. Kravitz
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Meaghan C. Creed
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Robert W. Gereau
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
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11
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Blejewski RC, Van Heukelom JT, Langford JS, Hunt KH, Rinkert IR, Wagner TJ, Pitts RC, Hughes CE. Behavioral mechanisms of oxycodone's effects in female and male rats: Reinforcement delay and impulsive choice. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2023; 31:1050-1068. [PMID: 37199913 PMCID: PMC10656366 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
μ-Opioid agonists (e.g., morphine) typically increase impulsive choice, which has been interpreted as an opioid-induced increase in sensitivity to reinforcement delay. Relatively little research has been done with opioids other than morphine (e.g., oxycodone), or on sex differences in opioid effects, on impulsive choice. The present study investigated the effects of acute (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) and chronic (1.0 mg/kg twice/day) administration of oxycodone on choice controlled by reinforcement delay, a primary mechanism implicated in impulsive choice, in female and male rats. Rats responded under a concurrent-chains procedure designed to quantify the effects of reinforcement delay on choice within each session. For both sexes, choice was sensitive to delay under this procedure. Sensitivity to delay under baseline was slightly higher for males than females, suggesting more impulsive choice with males. When given acutely, intermediate and higher doses of oxycodone decreased sensitivity to delay; this effect was larger and more reliable in males than females. When given chronically, sex differences were also observed: tolerance developed to the sensitivity-decreasing effects in females, whereas sensitization developed in males. These data suggest that reinforcement delay may play an important role in sex differences in impulsive choice, as well as in the effects of acute and chronic administration of opioids in impulsive choice. However, drug-induced changes in impulsive choice could be related to at least two potential behavioral mechanisms: reinforcement delay and/or reinforcement magnitude. Effects of oxycodone on sensitivity to reinforcement magnitude remain to be fully characterized. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeremy S. Langford
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University
| | - Katelyn H. Hunt
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington
| | | | - Thomas J. Wagner
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington
| | - Raymond C. Pitts
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington
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12
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Drinkuth CR, Lehane MJ, Sartor GC. The effects of (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine on oxycodone withdrawal and reinstatement. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 253:110987. [PMID: 37864957 PMCID: PMC10842506 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite the thousands of lives lost during the ongoing opioid crisis, a scarcity of new and effective clinical treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) remains. To address this unmet need, some researchers have turned to dissociative and psychedelic drugs to treat multiple psychiatric conditions. In particular, low doses of ketamine have been shown to attenuate opioid withdrawal and drug use in clinical and preclinical studies. However, ketamine has misuse liability and dissociative side effects that may limit its widespread application as a treatment for OUD. More recently, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), a ketamine metabolite that lacks misuse potential, has gained attention for its effectiveness in depression and stress models. To uncover its role in OUD, we tested the time-dependent effects of (2R,6R)-HNK on oxycodone withdrawal and reinstatement of oxycodone conditioned place preference (CPP). In male and female oxycodone-dependent mice, we found that 24h pretreatment with (2R,6R)-HNK (10 or 30mg/kg, s.c.) reduced the frequency of withdrawal-like behaviors and global withdrawal scores during naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, whereas 1h pretreatment with (2R,6R)-HNK only reduced paw tremors and the sum of global withdrawal scores but not GWS Z-scores. In other experiments, both 1h and 24h pretreatment with (2R,6R)-HNK (30mg/kg, s.c.) blocked drug-induced reinstatement of oxycodone CPP. Finally, we found (2R,6R)-HNK (30mg/kg, sc) had no effect on locomotor activity and thigmotaxis. Together, these results indicate that acute (2R,6R)-HNK has efficacy in some preclinical models of OUD without producing locomotor or anxiety-like side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryssa R Drinkuth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Michael J Lehane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Gregory C Sartor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States.
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13
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Barrett JE, Shekarabi A, Inan S. Oxycodone: A Current Perspective on Its Pharmacology, Abuse, and Pharmacotherapeutic Developments. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:1062-1118. [PMID: 37321860 PMCID: PMC10595024 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxycodone, a semisynthetic derivative of naturally occurring thebaine, an opioid alkaloid, has been available for more than 100 years. Although thebaine cannot be used therapeutically due to the occurrence of convulsions at higher doses, it has been converted to a number of other widely used compounds that include naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, and oxycodone. Despite the early identification of oxycodone, it was not until the 1990s that clinical studies began to explore its analgesic efficacy. These studies were followed by the pursuit of several preclinical studies to examine the analgesic effects and abuse liability of oxycodone in laboratory animals and the subjective effects in human volunteers. For a number of years oxycodone was at the forefront of the opioid crisis, playing a significant role in contributing to opioid misuse and abuse, with suggestions that it led to transitioning to other opioids. Several concerns were expressed as early as the 1940s that oxycodone had significant abuse potential similar to heroin and morphine. Both animal and human abuse liability studies have confirmed, and in some cases amplified, these early warnings. Despite sharing a similar structure with morphine and pharmacological actions also mediated by the μ-opioid receptor, there are several differences in the pharmacology and neurobiology of oxycodone. The data that have emerged from the many efforts to analyze the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of oxycodone have generated considerable insight into its many actions, reviewed here, which, in turn, have provided new information on opioid receptor pharmacology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Oxycodone, a μ-opioid receptor agonist, was synthesized in 1916 and introduced into clinical use in Germany in 1917. It has been studied extensively as a therapeutic analgesic for acute and chronic neuropathic pain as an alternative to morphine. Oxycodone emerged as a drug with widespread abuse. This article brings together an integrated, detailed review of the pharmacology of oxycodone, preclinical and clinical studies of pain and abuse, and recent advances to identify potential opioid analgesics without abuse liability.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Barrett
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Aryan Shekarabi
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Saadet Inan
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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14
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Slivicki RA, Earnest T, Chang YH, Pareta R, Casey E, Li JN, Tooley J, Abiraman K, Vachez YM, Wolf DK, Sackey JT, Kumar Pitchai D, Moore T, Gereau RW, Copits BA, Kravitz AV, Creed MC. Oral oxycodone self-administration leads to features of opioid misuse in male and female mice. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13253. [PMID: 36577735 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Use of prescription opioids, particularly oxycodone, is an initiating factor driving the current opioid epidemic. There are several challenges with modelling oxycodone abuse. First, prescription opioids including oxycodone are orally self-administered and have different pharmacokinetics and dynamics than morphine or fentanyl, which have been more commonly used in rodent research. This oral route of administration determines the pharmacokinetic profile, which then influences the establishment of drug-reinforcement associations in animals. Moreover, the pattern of intake and the environment in which addictive drugs are self-administered are critical determinants of the levels of drug intake, of behavioural sensitization and of propensity to relapse behaviour. These are all important considerations when modelling prescription opioid use, which is characterized by continuous drug access in familiar environments. Thus, to model features of prescription opioid use and the transition to abuse, we designed an oral, homecage-based oxycodone self-administration paradigm. Mice voluntarily self-administer oxycodone in this paradigm without any taste modification such as sweeteners, and the majority exhibit preference for oxycodone, escalation of intake, physical signs of dependence and reinstatement of seeking after withdrawal. In addition, a subset of animals demonstrate drug taking that is resistant to aversive consequences. This model is therefore translationally relevant and useful for studying the neurobiological substrates of prescription opioid abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Slivicki
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tom Earnest
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yu-Hsuan Chang
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Rajesh Pareta
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Eric Casey
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jun-Nan Li
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jessica Tooley
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kavitha Abiraman
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yvan M Vachez
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Drew K Wolf
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jason T Sackey
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | | | - Robert W Gereau
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bryan A Copits
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Meaghan C Creed
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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15
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Berríos-Cárcamo P, Quezada M, Santapau D, Morales P, Olivares B, Ponce C, Ávila A, De Gregorio C, Ezquer M, Quintanilla ME, Herrera-Marschitz M, Israel Y, Ezquer F. A Novel Morphine Drinking Model of Opioid Dependence in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073874. [PMID: 35409269 PMCID: PMC8999131 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An animal model of voluntary oral morphine consumption would allow for a pre-clinical evaluation of new treatments aimed at reducing opioid intake in humans. However, the main limitation of oral morphine consumption in rodents is its bitter taste, which is strongly aversive. Taste aversion is often overcome by the use of adulterants, such as sweeteners, to conceal morphine taste or bitterants in the alternative bottle to equalize aversion. However, the adulterants’ presence is the cause for consumption choice and, upon removal, the preference for morphine is not preserved. Thus, current animal models are not suitable to study treatments aimed at reducing consumption elicited by morphine itself. Since taste preference is a learned behavior, just-weaned rats were trained to accept a bitter taste, adding the bitterant quinine to their drinking water for one week. The latter was followed by allowing the choice of quinine or morphine (0.15 mg/mL) solutions for two weeks. Then, quinine was removed, and the preference for morphine against water was evaluated. Using this paradigm, we show that rats highly preferred the consumption of morphine over water, reaching a voluntary morphine intake of 15 mg/kg/day. Morphine consumption led to significant analgesia and hyperlocomotion, and to a marked deprivation syndrome following the administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone. Voluntary morphine consumption was also shown to generate brain oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, signs associated with opioid dependence development. We present a robust two-bottle choice animal model of oral morphine self-administration for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions for the treatment of morphine dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Berríos-Cárcamo
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Mauricio Quezada
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Daniela Santapau
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Paola Morales
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago 8900000, Chile
| | - Belén Olivares
- Center for Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Carolina Ponce
- Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Alba Ávila
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Cristian De Gregorio
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Marcelo Ezquer
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - María Elena Quintanilla
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Mario Herrera-Marschitz
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Yedy Israel
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago 8900000, Chile
| | - Fernando Ezquer
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago 8900000, Chile
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16
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Dodu JC, Moncayo RK, Damaj MI, Schlosburg JE, Akbarali HI, O'Brien LD, Kendall DA, Wu Z, Lu D, Lichtman AH. The Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 Positive Allosteric Modulator ZCZ011 Attenuates Naloxone-Precipitated Diarrhea and Weight Loss in Oxycodone-Dependent Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 380:1-14. [PMID: 34625464 PMCID: PMC8969135 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder reflects a major public health crisis of morbidity and mortality in which opioid withdrawal often contributes to continued use. However, current medications that treat opioid withdrawal symptoms are limited by their abuse liability or lack of efficacy. Although cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor agonists, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, ameliorate opioid withdrawal in both clinical and preclinical studies of opioid dependence, this strategy elicits cannabimimetic side effects as well as tolerance and dependence after repeated administration. Alternatively, CB1 receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) enhance CB1 receptor signaling and show efficacy in rodent models of pain and cannabinoid dependence but lack cannabimimetic side effects. We hypothesize that the CB1 receptor PAM ZCZ011 attenuates naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs in opioid-dependent mice. Accordingly, male and female mice given an escalating dosing regimen of oxycodone, a widely prescribed opioid, and challenged with naloxone displayed withdrawal signs that included diarrhea, weight loss, jumping, paw flutters, and head shakes. ZCZ011 fully attenuated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced diarrhea and weight loss and reduced paw flutters by approximately half, but its effects on head shakes were unreliable, and it did not affect jumping behavior. The antidiarrheal and anti-weight loss effects of ZCZ0111 were reversed by a CB1 not a cannabinoid receptor type 2 receptor antagonist and were absent in CB1 (-/-) mice, suggesting a necessary role of CB1 receptors. Collectively, these results indicate that ZCZ011 completely blocked naloxone-precipitated diarrhea and weight loss in oxycodone-dependent mice and suggest that CB1 receptor PAMs may offer a novel strategy to treat opioid dependence. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Opioid use disorder represents a serious public health crisis in which current medications used to treat withdrawal symptoms are limited by abuse liability and side effects. The CB1 receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM) ZCZ011, which lacks overt cannabimimetic behavioral effects, ameliorated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs through a CB1 receptor mechanism of action in a mouse model of oxycodone dependence. These results suggest that CB1 receptor PAMs may represent a viable strategy to treat opioid withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien C Dodu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Rebecca K Moncayo
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Joel E Schlosburg
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Hamid I Akbarali
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Lesley D O'Brien
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Debra A Kendall
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Zhixing Wu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Dai Lu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
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17
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Iyer V, Woodward TJ, Pacheco R, Hohmann AG. A limited access oral oxycodone paradigm produces physical dependence and mesocorticolimbic region-dependent increases in DeltaFosB expression without preference. Neuropharmacology 2021; 205:108925. [PMID: 34921830 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The abuse of oral formulations of prescription opioids has precipitated the current opioid epidemic. We developed an oral oxycodone consumption model consisting of a limited access (4 h) two-bottle choice drinking in the dark (TBC-DID) paradigm and quantified dependence with naloxone challenge using mice of both sexes. We also assessed neurobiological correlates of withdrawal and dependence elicited via oral oxycodone consumption using immunohistochemistry for DeltaFosB (ΔFosB), a transcription factor described as a molecular marker for drug addiction. Neither sex developed a preference for the oxycodone bottle, irrespective of oxycodone concentration, bottle position or prior water restriction. Mice that volitionally consumed oxycodone exhibited hyperlocomotion in an open field test and supraspinal but not spinally-mediated antinociception. Both sexes also developed robust, dose-dependent levels of opioid withdrawal that was precipitated by the opioid antagonist naloxone. Oral oxycodone consumption followed by naloxone challenge led to mesocorticolimbic region-dependent increases in the number of ΔFosB expressing cells. Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumps, but not the oxycodone bottle % preference, was positively correlated with the number of ΔFosB expressing cells specifically in the nucleus accumbens shell. Thus, limited access oral consumption of oxycodone produced physical dependence and increased ΔFosB expression despite the absence of opioid preference. Our TBC-DID paradigm allows for the study of oral opioid consumption in a simple, high-throughput manner and elucidates the underlying neurobiological substrates that accompany opioid-induced physical dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishakh Iyer
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Taylor J Woodward
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Romario Pacheco
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Andrea G Hohmann
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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18
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Sharp BM, Fan X, Redei EE, Mulligan MK, Chen H. Sex and heredity are determinants of drug intake in a novel model of rat oral oxycodone self-administration. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:e12770. [PMID: 34459088 PMCID: PMC8815756 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The steady rise in prescription opioids such as oxycodone has led to a virulent epidemic of widespread abuse and deaths in the United States; approximately 80% of affected individuals initiate the habitual use of oxycodone by using prescription oral oxycodone. Given the importance of drug pharmacokinetics in determining abuse potential, we designed an oral operant oxycodone self-administration (SA) procedure in rats to model drug intake by most human users/abusers of oxycodone. Key aspects of the model include limited initial drug intake followed by increasing drug concentrations during extended 4-h sessions on alternating days. Sex and genetic predisposition are major determinants of human opiate abuse. Therefore, we studied females in seven inbred strains (WLI, WMI, LEW, DSS, F344, BN and SHR) and both sexes in three of these strains. All strains increased intake across serially increasing doses (0.025-0.2 mg/ml; p < 0.001): the range of intakes at the final concentration of oxycodone was 0.72 ± 0.17-4.84 ± 1.42 mg/kg (mean ± SEM) - a 6.7-fold difference across strains. In LEW, WLI and WMI strains, oxycodone intake increased significantly across all sessions in both sexes. However, in LEW and WMI male rats but not WLI, daily oxycodone intake was significantly lower across all 4-h sessions than females (p < 0.005). The estimated heritability in oxycodone intake was in the range of 0.21-0.41. In summary, our novel operant oral oxycodone SA model captures the strong abuse potential of oral oxycodone and shows dose, sex and strain-specific drug intake that is significantly dependent on heredity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burt M Sharp
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Xinyu Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Eva E Redei
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Megan K Mulligan
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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19
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Nguyen JD, Grant Y, Taffe MA. Paradoxical changes in brain reward status during oxycodone self-administration in a novel test of the negative reinforcement hypothesis. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:3797-3812. [PMID: 33948939 PMCID: PMC8387405 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The extra medical use of, and addiction to, prescription opioid analgesics is a growing health problem. To characterize how prescription opioid abuse develops, this study investigated the affective consequences of escalating prescription opioid use using intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) reward and oxycodone intravenous self-administration (IVSA) models. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Male Wistar rats were given access to oxycodone IVSA (0.15 mg·kg-1 per infusion, i.v.) in short-access (ShA; 1 h) or long-access (LgA; 12 h) sessions for five sessions per week followed by intermittent 60-h discontinuations from drug access, a novel explicit test of the negative reinforcement hypothesis. Separate groups were first trained in the ICSS procedure and then in oxycodone IVSA in 11-h LgA sessions. KEY RESULTS Rats given LgA to oxycodone escalated their responding more than ShA rats, with further significant increases observed following each 60-h discontinuation. Presession brain reward thresholds increased with sequential daily LgA IVSA sessions, consistent with a growing negative affective state consequent to successive daily intoxication/abstinence cycles. A 1-h oxycodone IVSA interval was sufficient to normalize these elevated reward thresholds, as was, paradoxically, a 60-h weekend abstinence. The increase in ICSS thresholds was attenuated in a group treated with the long-acting κ-opioid antagonist norbinaltorphimine prior to IVSA training. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Changes in brain reward function during escalation of oxycodone self-administration are driven by an interplay between κ-opioid receptor-mediated negative affective state associated with escalated oxycodone intake and dynamic restoration of brain reward status during longer periods of abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques D. Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Michael A. Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
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20
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Carper M, Contreras KM, Walentiny DM, Beardsley PM, Damaj MI. Validation and characterization of oxycodone physical dependence in C57BL/6J mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 903:174111. [PMID: 33901461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder is a growing concern in the United States. Mice were used to investigate the mechanisms involving opioid physical dependence and for evaluating medications for treating opioid use disorders. While there are many preclinical reports describing protocols for inducing physical dependence upon morphine, there are fewer preclinical reports describing more contemporary abused prescription opiates. The goal of this study was to characterize and validate a mouse model of oxycodone dependence. Male C57BL/6J mice were injected with saline or increasing doses of oxycodone (9-33 mg/kg) twice daily for 8 days. On the 9th day, mice were challenged with 1 mg/kg naloxone and observed for somatic signs. Mice were pretreated with oxycodone (17, 33, or 75 mg/kg) prior to withdrawal to determine if it could attenuate somatic withdrawal signs. Additional mouse groups were pretreated with 1 mg/kg clonidine. Lastly, we measured somatic signs for 6, 24, and 48 h post-withdrawal during spontaneous and precipitated withdrawal. Pretreating with oxycodone or clonidine dose-dependently prevented the emergence of withdrawal signs. Mice chronically treated with oxycodone exhibited more withdrawal signs than vehicle at 24 h after the final injection during spontaneous withdrawal. In contrast, mice that received repeated naloxone challenges showed peak withdrawal signs at 6 h, and withdrawal signs were significantly greater at all time points compared to vehicle. Reversal of withdrawal effects by positive controls, and establishing spontaneous and precipitated withdrawal paradigms, serve as validation of this model and provide a means to examine novel therapeutics to treat opioid withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriah Carper
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Katherine M Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - D Matthew Walentiny
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Center for Biomarker Research and Precision Medicine, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy at VCU, USA.
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21
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Reeves KC, Kube MJ, Grecco GG, Fritz BM, Muñoz B, Yin F, Gao Y, Haggerty DL, Hoffman HJ, Atwood BK. Mu opioid receptors on vGluT2-expressing glutamatergic neurons modulate opioid reward. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12942. [PMID: 32686251 PMCID: PMC7854952 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The role of Mu opioid receptor (MOR)‐mediated regulation of GABA transmission in opioid reward is well established. Much less is known about MOR‐mediated regulation of glutamate transmission in the brain and how this relates to drug reward. We previously found that MORs inhibit glutamate transmission at synapses that express the Type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter (vGluT2). We created a transgenic mouse that lacks MORs in vGluT2‐expressing neurons (MORflox‐vGluT2cre) to demonstrate that MORs on the vGluT2 neurons themselves mediate this synaptic inhibition. We then explored the role of MORs in vGluT2‐expressing neurons in opioid‐related behaviors. In tests of conditioned place preference, MORflox‐vGluT2cre mice did not acquire place preference for a low dose of the opioid, oxycodone, but displayed conditioned place aversion at a higher dose, whereas control mice displayed preference for both doses. In an oral consumption assessment, these mice consumed less oxycodone and had reduced preference for oxycodone compared with controls. MORflox‐vGluT2cre mice also failed to show oxycodone‐induced locomotor stimulation. These mice displayed baseline withdrawal‐like responses following the development of oxycodone dependence that were not seen in littermate controls. In addition, withdrawal‐like responses in these mice did not increase following treatment with the opioid antagonist, naloxone. However, other MOR‐mediated behaviors were unaffected, including oxycodone‐induced analgesia. These data reveal that MOR‐mediated regulation of glutamate transmission is a critical component of opioid reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin C. Reeves
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Megan J. Kube
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Gregory G. Grecco
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Brandon M. Fritz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Braulio Muñoz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Fuqin Yin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - David L. Haggerty
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Hunter J. Hoffman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Brady K. Atwood
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
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22
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Maternal Opioid Exposure Culminates in Perturbed Murine Neurodevelopment and Hyperactive Phenotype in Adolescence. Neuroscience 2021; 463:272-287. [PMID: 33811940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Opioid use by women during pregnancy has risen dramatically since 2004, accompanied by a striking increase in the prevalence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and other long-term neurological deficits. However, the mechanisms underlying the impact of prenatal opioid exposure on fetal neurodevelopment are largely unknown. To translate from the clinical presentation, we developed a novel mouse model to study the neurodevelopmental consequences of maternal opioid use and management. Female mice were treated with oxycodone (OXY) before mating to mimic opioid use disorder (OUD) in humans. Following pregnancy confirmation, dams were switched to buprenorphine (BUP) via oral administration, simulating medication management of OUD (MOUD) in pregnant women. Here, we document critical changes in fetal brain development including reduced cortical thickness, altered corticogenesis, and ventriculomegaly in embryos from dams that were treated with opioids before and throughout pregnancy. Maternal care giving behavior was slightly altered without affecting gross growth of offspring. However, adolescent offspring exposed to maternal opioid use during pregnancy exhibited hyperactivity in late adolescence. Remarkably, we also show increased generation of dopaminergic neurons within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of mice exposed to prenatal opioids. These data provide critical evidence of teratogenic effects of opioid use during pregnancy and suggest a causal relationship between maternal opioid use and neurodevelopmental/behavioral anomalies in adolescence.
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23
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Kumar M, Rainville JR, Williams K, Lile JA, Hodes GE, Vassoler FM, Turner JR. Sexually dimorphic neuroimmune response to chronic opioid treatment and withdrawal. Neuropharmacology 2021; 186:108469. [PMID: 33485944 PMCID: PMC7988821 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Increasing pre-clinical and clinical evidence demonstrates sex differences in opioid use and dependence. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to these effects, including neuroinflammation, are still obscure. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of oxycodone exposure and withdrawal on sex- and region-specific neuroimmune response. Real-time PCR and multiplex cytokine array analysis demonstrated elevated neuroinflammation with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and aberrant oligodendroglial response in reward neurocircuitry, following withdrawal from chronic oxycodone treatment. Chronic oxycodone and withdrawal treated male mice had lower mRNA expression of TMEM119 along with elevated protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and growth factors (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-7, IL-9, IL-12, IL-15, IL17, M-CSF, VEGF) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as compared to their female counterparts. In contrast, reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-9, IL-12, CCL11) was observed in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of oxycodone and withdrawal-treated males as compared to female mice. No treatment specific effects were observed on the mRNA expression of putative microglial activation markers (Iba1, CD68), but an overall sex specific decrease in the mRNA expression of Iba1 and CD68 was found in the PFC and NAc of male mice as compared to females. Moreover, a sex and region-specific increase in the mRNA levels of oligodendrocyte lineage markers (NG2, Sox10) was also observed in oxycodone and withdrawal treated animals. These findings may open a new avenue for the development of sex-specific precision therapeutics for opioid dependence by targeting region-specific neuroimmune signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar
- University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, KY, USA
| | - Jennifer R Rainville
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, School of Neuroscience, VA, USA
| | - Kori Williams
- University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, KY, USA
| | - Joshua A Lile
- University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, KY, USA
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, School of Neuroscience, VA, USA
| | - Fair M Vassoler
- Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, MA, USA
| | - Jill R Turner
- University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, KY, USA.
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24
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Monroe SC, Radke AK. Aversion-resistant fentanyl self-administration in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:699-710. [PMID: 33226446 PMCID: PMC7914171 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05722-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Animal models of compulsive drug use that continues despite negative consequences can be used to investigate the neural mechanisms of addiction. However, models of punished or aversion-resistant opioid self-administration are notably lacking. OBJECTIVES We sought to develop an aversion-resistant, oral fentanyl self-administration paradigm. METHODS In Experiment 1, C57BL/6J male and female, adult mice consumed fentanyl (10 μg/mL) in a two-bottle drinking in the dark task and escalating concentrations of quinine were added to the bottles. In Experiment 2, mice were trained to administer oral fentanyl (10 μg/mL) in an operant response task. Quinine was next added to the fentanyl solution in escalating concentrations. In Experiment 3, mice were trained to respond for oral fentanyl or fentanyl adulterated with 500 μM quinine on every session. In Experiment 4, mice were trained to respond for a 1% sucrose solution before introduction of quinine. RESULTS Quinine reduced two-bottle choice consumption in males but not in females. Both sexes demonstrated the ability to detect the selected concentrations of quinine in fentanyl. In the operant chamber, mice responded robustly for oral fentanyl but introduction of quinine at any stage of training was insufficient to reduce responding. In contrast, quinine reduced responding for sucrose at concentrations above 250 μM. CONCLUSIONS Mice will respond for and consume oral fentanyl in both a two-bottle choice and an operant response task. Quinine is detectable in fentanyl but mice will continue to respond for and consume fentanyl with quinine in both paradigms. These data support the use of these models in behavioral studies of compulsive-like opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna K. Radke
- Correspondence to: Anna K. Radke, PhD, 90 N Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH, USA 45056,
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25
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Minakova E, Sarafinovska S, Mikati MO, Barclay KM, McCullough KB, Dougherty JD, Al-Hasani R, Maloney SE. Ontogenetic Oxycodone Exposure Affects Early Life Communicative Behaviors, Sensorimotor Reflexes, and Weight Trajectory in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:615798. [PMID: 33692675 PMCID: PMC7937712 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.615798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nationwide, opioid misuse among pregnant women has risen four-fold from 1999 to 2014, with commensurate increase in neonates hospitalized for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS occurs when a fetus exposed to opioids in utero goes into rapid withdrawal after birth. NAS treatment via continued post-natal opioid exposure has been suggested to worsen neurodevelopmental outcomes. We developed a novel model to characterize the impact of in utero and prolonged post-natal oxycodone (Oxy) exposure on early behavior and development. Via subcutaneous pump implanted before breeding, C57BL/6J dams were infused with Oxy at 10 mg/kg/day from conception through pup-weaning. At birth, in utero oxy-exposed pups were either cross-fostered (paired with non-Oxy exposed dams) to model opioid abstinence (in utero Oxy) or reared by their biological dams still receiving Oxy to model continued post-natal opioid exposure (prolonged Oxy). Offspring from vehicle-exposed dams served as cross-fostered (in utero Veh) or biologically reared (prolonged Veh) controls. In utero Oxy exposure resulted in sex-dependent weight reductions and altered spectrotemporal features of isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalization (USV). Meanwhile, prolonged Oxy pups exhibited reduced weight and sex-differential delays in righting reflex. Specifically, prolonged Oxy female offspring exhibited increased latency to righting. Prolonged Oxy pups also showed decreases in number of USV calls and changes to spectrotemporal USV features. Overall, ontogenetic Oxy exposure was associated with impaired attainment of gross and sensorimotor milestones, as well as alterations in communication and affective behaviors, indicating a need for therapeutic interventions. The model developed here will enable studies of withdrawal physiology and opioid-mediated mechanisms underlying these neurodevelopmental deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Minakova
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Simona Sarafinovska
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Marwa O. Mikati
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kia M. Barclay
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Katherine B. McCullough
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Joseph D. Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University In St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Ream Al-Hasani
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Susan E. Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University In St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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26
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Phillips AG, McGovern DJ, Lee S, Ro K, Huynh DT, Elvig SK, Fegan KN, Root DH. Oral prescription opioid-seeking behavior in male and female mice. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12828. [PMID: 31489746 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
A significant portion of prescription opioid users self-administer orally rather than intravenously. Animal models of opioid addiction have demonstrated that intravenous cues are sufficient to cause drug seeking. However, intravenous models may not characterize oral users, and the preference to self-administer orally appears to be partially influenced by the user's sex. Our objectives were to determine whether oral opioid-associated cues are sufficient for relapse and whether sex differences exist in relapse susceptibility. Mice orally self-administered escalating doses of oxycodone under postprandial (prefed) or non-postprandial (no prefeeding) conditions. Both sexes demonstrated cue-induced reinstatement following abstinence. In separate mice, we found that oral oxycodone cues were sufficient to reinstate extinguished oral oxycodone-seeking behavior following abstinence without prior postprandial or water self-administration training. During self-administration, we incidentally found that female mice earned significantly more mg/kg oxycodone than male mice. Follow-up studies indicated sex differences in psychomotor stimulation and plasma oxycodone/oxymorphone following oral oxycodone administration. In addition, gonadal studies were performed in which we found divergent responses where ovariectomy-enhanced and orchiectomy-suppressed oral self-administration. While the suppressive effects of orchiectomy were identified across doses and postprandial conditions, the enhancing effects of ovariectomy were selective to non-postprandial conditions. These studies establish that (a) oral drug cues are sufficient to cause reinstatement that is independent of prandial conditions and water-seeking behavior, (b) earned oral oxycodone is larger in female mice compared with male mice potentially through differences in psychomotor stimulation and drug metabolism, and (c) gonadectomy produces divergent effects on oral oxycodone self-administration between sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alysabeth G. Phillips
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Dillon J. McGovern
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Soo Lee
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Kyu Ro
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
| | - David T. Huynh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Sophie K. Elvig
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Katelynn N. Fegan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
| | - David H. Root
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of Colorado Boulder Colorado USA
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27
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Fulenwider HD, Nennig SE, Hafeez H, Price ME, Baruffaldi F, Pravetoni M, Cheng K, Rice KC, Manvich DF, Schank JR. Sex differences in oral oxycodone self-administration and stress-primed reinstatement in rats. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12822. [PMID: 31830773 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has become a severe public health problem, with approximately 130 opioid-induced deaths occurring each day in the United States. Prescription opioids are responsible for approximately 40% of these deaths. Oxycodone is one of the most commonly abused prescription opioids, but despite its prevalent misuse, the number of preclinical studies investigating oxycodone-seeking behaviors is relatively limited. Furthermore, preclinical oxycodone studies that include female subjects are even more scarce, and it is critical that future work includes both sexes. Additionally, the oral route of administration is one of the most common routes for recreational users, especially in the early stages of drug experimentation. However, currently, only two studies have been published investigating operant oral oxycodone self-administration in rodents. Therefore, the primary goal of the present study was to establish an oral oxycodone operant self-administration model in adult male and female rats, as well as to examine a potential mechanism of stress-primed reinstatement. We found that females consumed significantly more oral oxycodone than males in operant self-administration sessions. We also found that active oxycodone self-administration was reduced by mu opioid receptor antagonism and by substitution of water for oxycodone solution. Lastly, we induced stress-primed reinstatement and found that this behavior was significantly attenuated by antagonism of the neurokinin-1 receptor, consistent with our prior work examining stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol- and cocaine-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah D. Fulenwider
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | - Sadie E. Nennig
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | - Hiba Hafeez
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | - Michaela E. Price
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | | | - Marco Pravetoni
- Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute Minneapolis Minnesota USA
- Department of Pharmacology University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis Minnesota USA
- Center for Immunology University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| | - Kejun Cheng
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section NIH/NIDA/NIAAA Rockville Maryland USA
| | - Kenner C. Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section NIH/NIDA/NIAAA Rockville Maryland USA
| | - Daniel F. Manvich
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine Stratford New Jersey USA
| | - Jesse R. Schank
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
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28
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Kimbrough A, Kononoff J, Simpson S, Kallupi M, Sedighim S, Palomino K, Conlisk D, Momper JD, de Guglielmo G, George O. Oxycodone self-administration and withdrawal behaviors in male and female Wistar rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1545-1555. [PMID: 32114633 PMCID: PMC7269712 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Over the last decade, oxycodone has become one of the most widely abused drugs in the USA. Oxycodone use disorder (OUD) is a serious health problem that has prompted a need to develop animal models of OUD that have both face and predictive validity. Oxycodone use in humans is more prevalent in women and leads to pronounced hyperalgesia and irritability during withdrawal. However, unclear is whether current animal models of oxycodone self-administration recapitulate these characteristics in humans. OBJECTIVES We assessed the face validity of a model of extended-access oxycodone self-administration in rats by examining the escalation of oxycodone intake and behavioral symptoms of withdrawal, including irritability-like behavior and mechanical nociception, in male and female Wistar rats. RESULTS Both male and female rats escalated their oxycodone intake over fourteen 12-h self-administration sessions. After escalation, female rats administered more drug than male rats. No differences in plasma oxycodone levels were identified, but males had a significantly higher level of oxycodone in the brain at 30 min. Extended access to oxycodone significantly decreased aggressive-like behavior and increased defensive-like behaviors when tested immediately after a 12-h self-administration session, followed by a rebound increase in aggressive-like behavior 12 h into withdrawal. Tests of mechanical nociception thresholds during withdrawal indicated pronounced hyperalgesia. No sex differences in irritability-like behavior or pain sensitivity were observed. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated the face validity of the extended access model of oxycodone self-administration by identifying sex differences in the escalation of oxycodone intake and pronounced changes in pain and affective states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Kimbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0714, La Jolla, CA 92093-0737, USA
| | - Jenni Kononoff
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sierra Simpson
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0714, La Jolla, CA 92093-0737, USA,Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Marsida Kallupi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0714, La Jolla, CA 92093-0737, USA
| | - Sharona Sedighim
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0714, La Jolla, CA 92093-0737, USA
| | - Kenia Palomino
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Dana Conlisk
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jeremiah D. Momper
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Giordano de Guglielmo
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0714, La Jolla, CA 92093-0737, USA
| | - Olivier George
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0714, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0737, USA.
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Female and male rats readily consume and prefer oxycodone to water in a chronic, continuous access, two-bottle oral voluntary paradigm. Neuropharmacology 2020; 167:107978. [PMID: 32001238 PMCID: PMC9748519 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.107978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The increasing abuse of opioids - such as oxycodone - poses major challenges for health and socioeconomic systems. Human prescription opioid abuse is marked by chronic, voluntary, oral intake and sex differences. To develop interventions, the field would benefit from a preclinical paradigm that similarly provides rodents with chronic, continuous, oral, voluntary and free-choice access to oxycodone. Here we show female and male rats voluntarily ingest and choose oxycodone over water and show both dependence and motivation to take oxycodone during a chronic oral voluntary, two-bottle choice, continuous access paradigm. Adult female and male Long-Evans rats were given unlimited, continuous homecage access to two bottles containing water (Control) or one bottle of water and one bottle of oxycodone dissolved in water (Experimental). Virtually all experimental rats voluntarily drank oxycodone (~10 mg/kg/day) and escalated their intake over 22 weeks. Females self-administered twice as much oxycodone by body weight (leading to higher blood levels of oxycodone) and engaged in more gnawing behavior of wooden blocks relative to males. Precipitated withdrawal revealed high levels of dependence in both sexes. Reflecting motivation to drink oxycodone, ascending concentrations of citric acid suppressed the intake of oxycodone (Experimental) and the intake of water (Control); however, Experimental rats returned to pre-citric acid preference levels whereas Controls rats did not. Pre-screening behaviors of rats on open field exploration predicted oxycodone intake. Thus, rats consumed and preferred oxycodone over time in this chronic two-bottle oral choice paradigm and both sexes displayed many features of human oxycodone abuse.
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Abstract
This paper is the fortieth consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2017 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY, 11367, United States.
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Nguyen JD, Grant Y, Creehan KM, Hwang CS, Vandewater SA, Janda KD, Cole M, Taffe MA. Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol attenuates oxycodone self-administration under extended access conditions. Neuropharmacology 2019; 151:127-135. [PMID: 30980837 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Growing nonmedical use of prescription opioids is a global problem, motivating research on ways to reduce use and combat addiction. Medical cannabis ("medical marijuana") legalization has been associated epidemiologically with reduced opioid harms and cannabinoids have been shown to modulate effects of opioids in animal models. This study was conducted to determine if Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) enhances the behavioral effects of oxycodone. Male rats were trained to intravenously self-administer (IVSA) oxycodone (0.15 mg/kg/infusion) during 1 h, 4 h or 8 h sessions. Following acquisition rats were exposed to THC by vapor inhalation (1 h and 8 h groups) or injection (0-10 mg/kg, i.p.; all groups) prior to IVSA sessions. Fewer oxycodone infusions were obtained by rats following vaporized or injected THC compared with vehicle treatment prior to the session. Follow-up studies demonstrated parallel dose-dependent effects of THC, i.p., on self-administration of different per-infusion doses of oxycodone and a preserved loading dose early in the session. These patterns are inconsistent with behavioral suppression. Additional groups of male and female Wistar rats were assessed for nociception following inhalation of vaporized THC (50 mg/mL), oxycodone (100 mg/mL) or the combination. Tail withdrawal latency was increased more by the THC/oxycodone combination compared to either drug alone. Similar additive antinociceptive effects were produced by injection of THC (5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and oxycodone (2.0 mg/kg, s.c.). Together these data demonstrate additive effects of THC and oxycodone and suggest the potential use of THC to enhance therapeutic efficacy, and to reduce the abuse, of opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques D Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kevin M Creehan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Candy S Hwang
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute for Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Chemistry, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sophia A Vandewater
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kim D Janda
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute for Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maury Cole
- La Jolla Alcohol Research, Inc, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Grim TW, Jinhong Park S, Schmid CL, Laprairie RB, Cameron M, Bohn LM. The effect of quinine in two bottle choice procedures in C57BL6 mice: Opioid preference, somatic withdrawal, and pharmacokinetic outcomes. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 191:195-202. [PMID: 30138791 PMCID: PMC6317844 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Previous reports assessing morphine effects in two bottle choice (TBC) paradigms often use taste adulterants such as sweeteners (e.g., saccharin) and/or bitterants (e.g., quinine) to demonstrate morphine preference with C57BL6 mice. The effect of these additional components on the morphine preference of C57BL6 remains poorly understood. Thus, we sought to elucidate the interrelationship of morphine and quinine in the TBC paradigm. As expected, when morphine was included in the opposite bottle from quinine, a preference for the morphine solution was observed. Conversely, when quinine was included in each bottle, or when fentanyl without quinine was used, no preference was observed. All opioid-drinking mice displayed withdrawal signs, and morphine was detectable in plasma and brain. When these results were compared to previous results via conversion to quinine preference scores, quinine was revealed to determine largely the measured morphine preference. Thus, quinine is effective to drive morphine consumption and engender dependence but may confound the ability to measure oral abuse liability of morphine. Together, these results suggest future TBC procedures should consider the effect of quinine upon measured preference for compounds in the opposite bottle, and that excessively high quinine concentrations appear to influence preference more so than the opposite solute when using C57BL6 mice. Alternative conditions to assess oral abuse liability may be necessary to complement and confirm results from TBC experiments utilizing morphine or other opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis W Grim
- The Scripps Research Institute, 110 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
| | | | - Cullen L. Schmid
- The Scripps Research Institute, 110 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458 USA
| | | | - Michael Cameron
- The Scripps Research Institute, 110 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
| | - Laura M. Bohn
- The Scripps Research Institute, 110 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458 USA
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Nguyen JD, Hwang CS, Grant Y, Janda KD, Taffe MA. Prophylactic vaccination protects against the development of oxycodone self-administration. Neuropharmacology 2018; 138:292-303. [PMID: 29936242 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Abuse of prescription opioids is a growing public health crisis in the United States, with drug overdose deaths increasing dramatically over the past 15 years. Few preclinical studies exist on the reinforcing effects of oxycodone or on the development of therapies for oxycodone abuse. This study was conducted to determine if immunopharmacotherapy directed against oxycodone would be capable of altering oxycodone-induced antinociception and intravenous self-administration. Male Wistar rats were administered a small-molecule immunoconjugate vaccine (Oxy-TT) or the control carrier protein, tetanus toxoid (TT), and trained to intravenously self-administer oxycodone (0.06 or 0.15 mg/kg/infusion). Brain oxycodone concentrations were 50% lower in Oxy-TT rats compared to TT rats 30 min after injection (1 mg/kg, s.c.) whereas plasma oxycodone was 15-fold higher from drug sequestration by circulating antibodies. Oxy-TT rats were also less sensitive to 1-2 mg/kg, s.c. oxycodone on a hot water nociception assay. Half of the Oxy-TT rats failed to acquire intravenous self-administration under the 0.06 mg/kg/infusion training dose. Oxycodone self-administration of Oxy-TT rats trained on 0.15 mg/kg/infusion was higher than controls; however under progressive ratio (PR) conditions the Oxy-TT rats decreased their oxycodone intake, unlike TT controls. These data demonstrate that active vaccination provides protection against the reinforcing effects of oxycodone. Anti-oxycodone vaccines may entirely prevent repeated use in some individuals who otherwise would become addicted. Vaccination may also reduce dependence in those who become addicted and therefore facilitate the effects of other therapeutic interventions which either increase the difficulty of drug use or incentivize other behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques D Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Candy S Hwang
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute for Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kim D Janda
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute for Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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35
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McLane VD, Bergquist I, Cormier J, Barlow DJ, Houseknecht KL, Bilsky EJ, Cao L. Long-term morphine delivery via slow release morphine pellets or osmotic pumps: Plasma concentration, analgesia, and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Life Sci 2017; 185:1-7. [PMID: 28723417 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Slow-release morphine sulfate pellets and osmotic pumps are common routes of chronic morphine delivery in mouse models, but direct comparisons of these drug delivery systems are lacking. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of slow-release pellets versus osmotic pumps in delivering morphine to adult mice. MAIN METHODS Male C57BL/6NCr mice (8weeksold) were implanted subcutaneously with slow-release pellets (25mg morphine sulfate) or osmotic pumps (64mg/mL, 1.0μL/h). Plasma morphine concentrations were quantified via LC-MS/MS, analgesic efficacy was determined by tail flick assay, and dependence was assessed with naloxone-precipitated withdrawal behaviors (jumping) and physiological effects (excretion, weight loss). KEY FINDINGS Morphine pellets delivered significantly higher plasma drug concentrations compared to osmotic pumps, which were limited by the solubility of the morphine sulfate and pump volume/flow rate. Within 96h post-implantation, plasma morphine concentrations were indistinguishable in pellet vs. pump-treated samples. While osmotic pump did not have an antinociceptive effect in the tail flick assay, pumps and pellets induced comparable dependence symptoms (naloxone-precipitated jumping behavior) from 24-72h post-implantation. SIGNIFICANCE In this study, we compared slow-release morphine pellets to osmotic minipumps for morphine delivery in mice. We found that osmotic pumps and subcutaneous morphine sulfate pellets yielded significantly different pharmacokinetics over a 7-day period, and as a result significantly different antinociceptive efficacy. Nonetheless, both delivery methods induced dependence as measured by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia D McLane
- University of Maine, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Orono, ME 04669, United States; University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States.
| | - Ivy Bergquist
- University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States
| | - James Cormier
- University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States
| | - Deborah J Barlow
- University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States
| | - Karen L Houseknecht
- University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States; University of New England, Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States
| | - Edward J Bilsky
- University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States; University of New England, Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States; Pacific Northwest University, Yakima, WA 98901, United States
| | - Ling Cao
- University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States; University of New England, Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States
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36
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Jimenez SM, Healy AF, Coelho MA, Brown CN, Kippin TE, Szumlinski KK. Variability in prescription opioid intake and reinforcement amongst 129 substrains. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2017; 16:709-724. [PMID: 28523735 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Opioid abuse in the United States has reached epidemic proportions, with treatment admissions and deaths associated with prescription opioid abuse quadrupling over the past 10 years. Although genetics are theorized to contribute substantially to inter-individual variability in the development, severity and treatment outcomes of opioid abuse/addiction, little direct preclinical study has focused on the behavioral genetics of prescription opioid reinforcement and drug-taking. Herein, we employed different 129 substrains of mice currently available from The Jackson Laboratory (129S1/SvlmJ, 129X1/SvJ, 129S4/SvJaeJ and 129P3/J) as a model system of genetic variation and assayed mice for oral opioid intake and reinforcement, as well as behavioral and somatic signs of dependence. All substrains exhibited a dose-dependent increase in oral oxycodone and heroin preference and intake under limited-access procedures and all, but 129S1/SvlmJ mice, exhibited oxycodone reinforcement. Relative to the other substrains, 129P3/J mice exhibited higher heroin and oxycodone intake. While 129X1/SvJ exhibited the highest anxiety-like behavior during natural opioid withdrawal, somatic and behavior signs of precipitated withdrawal were most robust in 129P3/J mice. These results demonstrate the feasibility and relative sensitivity of our oral opioid self-administration procedures for detecting substrain differences in drug reinforcement/intake among 129 mice, of relevance to the identification of genetic variants contributing to high vs. low oxycodone reinforcement and intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Jimenez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - A F Healy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - M A Coelho
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - C N Brown
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - T E Kippin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.,Institute for Collaborative Biotechnology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - K K Szumlinski
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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