Muscarinic receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell play different roles in context-induced or morphine-challenged expression of behavioral sensitization in rats

5-HT2A receptor- and M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated activation of Gαq/11 in postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of opiate addicts

BACKGROUND

Chronic exposure to opiates causes the development of tolerance and physical dependence as well as persistent brain neuroplasticity. Despite a wealth of postmortem human studies for opiate addicts, little direct information regarding the functional status of serotonergic and cholinergic receptor-mediated signaling pathways in the human brain of opiate addicts is yet available.

METHODS

Functional activation of Gα_q/11 proteins coupled to 5-HT_2A and M₁ type muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) was assessed by using the method named [³⁵S]GTPγS binding/immunoprecipitation in frontal cortical membrane preparations from postmortem human brains obtained from opiate addicts and matched controls.

RESULTS

Concentration-response curves for 5-HT and carbachol in individual subjects were analyzed according to a nonlinear regression model, which generated the values of maximum percent increase (%E_max), negative logarithm of the half-maximal effect (pEC₅₀) and slope factor. As for 5-HT_2A receptor-mediated Gα_q/11 activation, the %E_max values were reduced significantly and the pEC₅₀ values were decreased significantly in opiate addicts as compared to the control group. Regarding carbachol-induced Gα_q/11 activation, no significant difference in %E_max or pEC₅₀ values was detected between the both groups, whereas the slope factor was increased significantly in opiate addicts as compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that the signaling pathways mediated by Gα_q/11 proteins coupled with 5-HT_2A receptors and M₁ mAChRs in prefrontal cortex are functionally altered in opiate addicts in comparison with control subjects. These alterations may underpin some aspects of addictive behavior to opiate as well as neuropsychological consequences or comorbid mental disorders associated with opioid use.

Cholinergic Dysfunction Involvement in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion-Induced Impairment of Medial Septum-dCA1 Neurocircuit in Rats

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is considered a preclinical condition of mild cognitive impairment and thought to precede dementia. However, as the principal cholinergic source of hippocampus, whether the septo-hippocampal neurocircuit was impaired after CCH is still unknown. In this study, we established the CCH rat model by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO). Under anesthesia, the medial septum (MS) of rats was stimulated to evoke the field excitatory post-synaptic potential (fEPSP) in the pyramidal cell layer of dCA1. Consequently, we observed decreased amplitude of fEPSP and increased paired-pulse ratio (PPR) after 8-week CCH. After tail pinch, we also found decreased peak frequency and shortened duration of hippocampal theta rhythm in 2VO rats, indicating the dysfunction of septo-hippocampal neurocircuit. Besides, by intracerebroventricularly injecting GABAergic inhibitor (bicuculline) and cholinergic inhibitors (scopolamine and mecamylamine), we found that CCH impaired both the pre-synaptic cholinergic release and the post-synaptic nAChR function in MS-dCA1 circuits. These results gave an insight into the role of CCH in the impairment of cholinergic MS-dCA1 neurocircuits. These findings may provide a new idea about the CCH-induced neurodegenerative changes.

M3 but not M4 muscarinic receptors in the rostromedial tegmental nucleus are involved in the acquisition of morphine-induced conditioned place preference

Opioids strongly inhibit GABAergic neurons in the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) that expresses μ-opioid receptors to induce rewarding and psychomotor effects. M₃ and M₄ muscarinic receptors are co-localized with μ-opioid receptors at these GABAergic neurons. This study explored whether RMTg M₃ and M₄ muscarinic receptors are involved in regulating opioid-induced reward and locomotion via a conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Selective muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists were both singly and combinatorically injected into the RMTg to examine their effects on the acquisition of systemic morphine-induced CPP and locomotor activity. The M₃ muscarinic receptor agonist, pilocarpine, inhibited the acquisition of morphine-induced CPP, whereas its antagonist, 1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium iodide (4-DAMP, 1 μg/side), reversed the inhibitory effect of pilocarpine (30 μg/side). Additionally, 4-DAMP increased locomotor activity while pilocarpine (30 μg/side) partially decreased locomotor activity when combined with morphine. In contrast, the M₄ muscarinic receptor agonist, LY2033298 (0.1 and 0.2 μg/side), and antagonist, tropicamide (20 and 40 μM/side), did not affect the acquisition of morphine-induced CPP or locomotor activity. Taken together, our findings suggest that RMTg M₃ muscarinic receptors are involved in opioid-induced rewarding and psychomotor effects. Therefore, RMTg M₃ muscarinic receptors may represent a promising target for the treatment of opioid addiction.