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Lutfy K, Hamid A, Zaveri NT. Small molecule NOP agonists reverse locomotor sensitization induced by cocaine in male C57BL/6 mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 131:110941. [PMID: 38199489 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N), the endogenous ligand of the nociceptin opioid receptor (NOP) has been shown to block cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization in mice and rats, and also reverses this phenomenon when injected intracerebroventricularly in animals with an established sensitized response. In the present study, we determined whether small-molecule NOP agonists would recapitulate this effect after systemic administration. Male C57BL/6 mice treated with cocaine (15 mg/kg) on days 1-3 and showed locomotor sensitization to the same dose of cocaine on day 8 were injected with vehicle or one of the two NOP agonists (AT-202 and AT-524) (but not cocaine) on days 9-11. On day 15, locomotor sensitization was assessed after a cocaine challenge (15 mg/kg). Subchronic administration of the two NOP agonists to sensitized mice significantly decreased the sensitized response on day 15. In a separate experiment conducted in male and female mice lacking NOP and their wildtype littermates, AT-524 reversed sensitization in male wildtype but not in mice lacking NOP. Further, co-administration of the NOP agonist with cocaine for three days on days 16-18 prevented the development of locomotor sensitization from this cocaine treatment in wild-type but not in NOP knockout mice. However, none of these effects of the NOP agonist was observed in female mice. Together, these results suggest that subchronic repeated administration of small-molecule NOP agonists may reverse adaptive behavioral changes associated with repeated intermittent cocaine treatment in male but not female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kabirullah Lutfy
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, United States of America.
| | - Abdul Hamid
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, United States of America
| | - Nurulain T Zaveri
- Astraea Therapeutics, 320 Logue Avenue, Mountain View, CA, United States of America.
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Berezniuk I, Rodriguiz RM, Zee ML, Marcus DJ, Pintar J, Morgan DJ, Wetsel WC, Fricker LD. ProSAAS-derived peptides are regulated by cocaine and are required for sensitization to the locomotor effects of cocaine. J Neurochem 2017; 143:268-281. [PMID: 28881029 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
To identify neuropeptides that are regulated by cocaine, we used a quantitative peptidomic technique to examine the relative levels of neuropeptides in several regions of mouse brain following daily intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg cocaine or saline for 7 days. A total of 102 distinct peptides were identified in one or more of the following brain regions: nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, frontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area. None of the peptides detected in the caudate putamen or frontal cortex were altered by cocaine administration. Three peptides in the nucleus accumbens and seven peptides in the ventral tegmental area were significantly decreased in cocaine-treated mice. Five of these ten peptides are derived from proSAAS, a secretory pathway protein and neuropeptide precursor. To investigate whether proSAAS peptides contribute to the physiological effects of psychostimulants, we examined acute responses to cocaine and amphetamine in the open field with wild-type (WT) and proSAAS knockout (KO) mice. Locomotion was stimulated more robustly in the WT compared to mutant mice for both psychostimulants. Behavioral sensitization to amphetamine was not maintained in proSAAS KO mice and these mutants failed to sensitize to cocaine. To determine whether the rewarding effects of cocaine were altered, mice were tested in conditioned place preference (CPP). Both WT and proSAAS KO mice showed dose-dependent CPP to cocaine that was not distinguished by genotype. Taken together, these results suggest that proSAAS-derived peptides contribute differentially to the behavioral sensitization to psychostimulants, while the rewarding effects of cocaine appear intact in mice lacking proSAAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Berezniuk
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Ramona M Rodriguiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael L Zee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David J Marcus
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John Pintar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Daniel J Morgan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William C Wetsel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology and Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lloyd D Fricker
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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Carboni L, Romoli B, Romualdi P, Zoli M. Repeated nicotine exposure modulates prodynorphin and pronociceptin levels in the reward pathway. Drug Alcohol Depend 2016; 166:150-8. [PMID: 27430399 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nicotine dependence is maintained by neurobiological adaptations in the dopaminergic brain reward pathway with the contribution of opioidergic circuits. This study assessed the role of opioid peptides and receptors on the molecular changes associated with nicotine dependence. To this aim we analysed nicotine effects on opioid gene and receptor expression in the reward pathway in a nicotine sensitization model. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received nicotine administrations for five days and locomotor activity assessment showed the development of sensitization. The mRNA expression of prodynorphin (pdyn), pronociceptin (pnoc) and the respective receptors was measured by quantitative PCR in the ventral midbrain (VM), the nucleus accumbens (NAc), the caudate-putamen (CPu), the pre-frontal cortex (PFCx), and the hippocampus. RESULTS A significant positive effect of sensitization on pdyn mRNA levels was detected in the CPu. This effect was supported by a significant and selective correlation between the two parameters in this region. Moreover, chronic but not acute nicotine treatment significantly decreased pdyn mRNA levels in the NAc and increased expression in the PFCx. Pnoc mRNA was significantly increased in the VM and the PFCx after sub-chronic administration of nicotine, whereas no alterations were observed after acute treatment. No treatment associated changes were detected in κ-opioid receptor or nociceptin receptor mRNAs. CONCLUSIONS This experiment revealed an effect of nicotine administration that was distinguishable from the effect of nicotine sensitization. While several pnoc and pdyn changes were associated to nicotine administration, the only significant effect of sensitization was a significant increase in pdyn in the CPu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Carboni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Benedetto Romoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Zoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Lutfy K, Zaveri NT. The Nociceptin Receptor as an Emerging Molecular Target for Cocaine Addiction. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2015; 137:149-81. [PMID: 26810001 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine addiction is a global public health and socioeconomic issue that requires pharmacological and cognitive therapies. Currently there are no FDA-approved medications to treat cocaine addiction. However, in preclinical studies, interventions ranging from herbal medicine to deep-brain stimulation have shown promise for the therapy of cocaine addiction. Recent developments in molecular biology, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry have enabled scientists to identify novel molecular targets along the pathways involved in drug addiction. In 1994, a receptor that showed a great deal of homology to the traditional opioid receptors was characterized. However, endogenous and exogenous opioids failed to bind to this receptor, which led scientists to name it opioid receptor-like receptor, now referred to as the nociceptin receptor. The endogenous ligand of NOPr was identified a year later and named orphanin FQ/nociceptin. Nociceptin and NOPr are widely distributed throughout the CNS and are involved in many physiological responses, such as food intake, nociceptive processing, neurotransmitter release, etc. Furthermore, exogenous nociceptin has been shown to regulate the activity of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons, glutamate, and opioid systems, and the stress circuit. Importantly, exogenous nociceptin has been shown to reduce the rewarding and addictive actions of a number of drugs of abuse, such as psychostimulants, alcohol, and opioids. This paper reviews the existing literature on the role of endogenous nociceptin in the rewarding and addictive actions of cocaine. The effect of exogenous nociceptin on these processes is also reviewed. Furthermore, the effects of novel small-molecule NOPr ligands on these actions of cocaine are discussed. Overall, a review of the literature suggests that NOPr could be an emerging target for cocaine addiction pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kabirullah Lutfy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA.
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Marquez P, Hamid A, Lutfy K. The role of NOP receptors in psychomotor stimulation and locomotor sensitization induced by cocaine and amphetamine in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 707:41-5. [PMID: 23524092 PMCID: PMC3652801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2012] [Revised: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We have previously shown that orphanin FQ (also known as nociceptin; OFQ/N) attenuates the motor stimulatory effect of cocaine and blocks locomotor sensitization induced by cocaine. Furthermore, we have shown that cocaine treatment altered the level of endogenous OFQ/N, raising the possibility that endogenous OFQ/N and its receptor (NOP) may be crucial in these actions of cocaine. Accordingly, in the present study, we sought to determine the role of NOP receptors in psychomotor stimulation and locomotor sensitization induced by cocaine or amphetamine. Mice lacking the NOP receptor and their wild-type littermates were habituated to motor activity chambers for 1h, injected with cocaine (0, 15 or 30 mg/kg) or amphetamine (0, 1 or 3mg/kg), and motor activity was recorded for 1h. For sensitization induced by these drugs, mice were treated with saline or the highest dose of each drug once daily for three consecutive days and tested on day 8. On this day, mice were habituated to the chambers for 1h, then received a challenge dose of cocaine (15 mg/kg) or amphetamine (1mg/kg), and motor activity was recorded for 1h. Cocaine and amphetamine each induced hyperlocomotion but the extent of this response was not different between NOP receptor null mice and their controls. Sensitization developed to the motor stimulatory action of each drug, but the magnitude of cocaine-induced sensitization was only higher in null mice compared to their controls. Together, the present results suggest that the endogenous OFQ/N/NOP receptor system may modulate the development of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Marquez
- Dept. of Pharm. Sci., Coll of Pharmacy, Western Univ. of Health Sci., Pomona, CA 91766
- Dept. of Endocrinology/Medicine, Charles Drew University, Los Angeles, CA 90059
| | - Abdul Hamid
- Dept. of Endocrinology/Medicine, Charles Drew University, Los Angeles, CA 90059
| | - Kabirullah Lutfy
- Dept. of Pharm. Sci., Coll of Pharmacy, Western Univ. of Health Sci., Pomona, CA 91766
- Dept. of Endocrinology/Medicine, Charles Drew University, Los Angeles, CA 90059
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Nativio P, Pascale E, Maffei A, Scaccianoce S, Passarelli F. Effect of stress on hippocampal nociceptin expression in the rat. Stress 2012; 15:378-84. [PMID: 22074385 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2011.627071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide and its receptor are not only ubiquitously expressed in mammalian brain and spinal cord but are also abundant in limbic structures, particularly in the hippocampus. The widespread distribution of N/OFQ reflects the broad spectrum of its biological actions such as nociception, food intake, spontaneous locomotor activity, and learning and memory processes. Since the hippocampus is involved in the control of adrenocortical activity, its role in stress-related phenomena is well characterized. In male Wistar rats, we first examined the effects of acute restraint stress (120 min) on the brain immunohistochemical localization of N/OFQ. The analysis carried out on sections obtained at the onset of stress revealed enhanced expression of N/OFQ in CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus as well as increased plasma corticosterone concentrations. Next, we examined whether endogenous glucocorticoid hormone plays a role in the modulation of hippocampal N/OFQ expression in response to stress. To this end, rats were injected with corticosterone (1 mg/kg) or subjected to restraint stress 1 week after adrenalectomy. Two hours after corticosterone administration, plasma glucocorticoid concentrations were comparable to those observed after restraint stress, while N/OFQ expression had significantly increased in all the hippocampal subfields examined. By contrast, in adrenalectomized rats, stress did not modify protein expression. These results confirm that stress can affect N/OFQ expression and that glucocorticoids may constitute hormonal mediators of this complex interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Nativio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
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Bebawy D, Marquez P, Samboul S, Parikh D, Hamid A, Lutfy K. Orphanin FQ/nociceptin not only blocks but also reverses behavioral adaptive changes induced by repeated cocaine in mice. Biol Psychiatry 2010; 68:223-30. [PMID: 20359694 PMCID: PMC2896563 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2009] [Revised: 02/02/2010] [Accepted: 02/09/2010] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N), the endogenous ligand of the opioid receptor-like (ORL1) receptor, blocks cocaine sensitization in rats. In this study, we tested whether OFQ/N would block sensitization to the motor stimulatory and conditioned rewarding actions of cocaine in mice. We also examined whether OFQ/N, given to cocaine-sensitized mice, would reverse the sensitized response and whether it would prevent the amplified sensitized response induced by a second cocaine-sensitizing regimen in sensitized mice. METHODS ORL1 knockout and wild-type mice were treated with saline or OFQ/N before saline or cocaine on Days 1-3 and tested for sensitization on Day 8. Additionally, wild-type mice were treated similarly but tested for the conditioned rewarding action of cocaine, in which mice were tested for place preference before and after single conditioning with cocaine. Furthermore, mice were rendered sensitized, treated with saline or OFQ/N before saline or cocaine on Days 13-15, and received cocaine on Day 20 to test whether OFQ/N would reverse sensitization or block the amplified sensitized response induced by a second cocaine-sensitizing regimen in sensitized mice. RESULTS OFQ/N blocked cocaine-induced psychomotor sensitization in wild-type but not knockout mice. It also blocked sensitization to the conditioned rewarding action of cocaine and reversed a preexisting locomotor sensitized response. Furthermore, OFQ/N prevented the amplified sensitized response that developed following a second cocaine sensitizing regimen given to sensitized mice. CONCLUSIONS These results illustrate that OFQ/N not only blocks but also reverses maladaptive behavioral changes induced by repeated cocaine treatment in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bebawy
- Dept. of Pharm. Sci., Col of Pharmacy, Western Univ. of Health Sci., Pomona, CA 91766
| | - Paul Marquez
- Dept. of Pharm. Sci., Col of Pharmacy, Western Univ. of Health Sci., Pomona, CA 91766
| | - Seroje Samboul
- Dept. of Pharm. Sci., Col of Pharmacy, Western Univ. of Health Sci., Pomona, CA 91766
| | - Drupad Parikh
- Dept. of Pharm. Sci., Col of Pharmacy, Western Univ. of Health Sci., Pomona, CA 91766
| | - Abdul Hamid
- Dept. of Endocrinology, Charles Drew Univ. of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA
| | - Kabirullah Lutfy
- Dept. of Pharm. Sci., Col of Pharmacy, Western Univ. of Health Sci., Pomona, CA 91766
- Dept. of Endocrinology, Charles Drew Univ. of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA
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Martin-Fardon R, Zorrilla EP, Ciccocioppo R, Weiss F. Role of innate and drug-induced dysregulation of brain stress and arousal systems in addiction: Focus on corticotropin-releasing factor, nociceptin/orphanin FQ, and orexin/hypocretin. Brain Res 2010; 1314:145-61. [PMID: 20026088 PMCID: PMC2819635 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2009] [Revised: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 12/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Stress-like symptoms are an integral part of acute and protracted drug withdrawal, and several lines of evidence have shown that dysregulation of brain stress systems, including the extrahypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system, following long-term drug use is of major importance in maintaining drug and alcohol addiction. Recently, two other neuropeptide systems have attracted interest, the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and orexin/hypocretin (Orx/Hcrt) systems. N/OFQ participates in a wide range of physiological responses, and the hypothalamic Orx/Hcrt system helps regulate several physiological processes, including feeding, energy metabolism, and arousal. Moreover, these two systems have been suggested to participate in psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and drug addiction. Dysregulation of these systems by chronic drug exposure has been hypothesized to play a role in the maintenance of addiction and dependence. Recent evidence demonstrated that interactions between CRF-N/OFQ and CRF-Orx/Hcrt systems may be functionally relevant for the control of stress-related addictive behavior. The present review discusses recent findings that support the hypotheses of the participation and dysregulation of these systems in drug addiction and evaluates the current understanding of interactions among these stress-regulatory peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi Martin-Fardon
- The Scripps Research Institute, Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, SP30-2120, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Abstract
This paper is the 31st consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2008 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration and thermoregulation (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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