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Terry AV, Jones K, Bertrand D. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Pharmacol Res 2023; 191:106764. [PMID: 37044234 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels that are widely distributed both pre- and post-synaptically in the mammalian brain. By modulating cation flux across cell membranes, neuronal nAChRs regulate neuronal excitability and the release of a variety of neurotransmitters to influence multiple physiologic and behavioral processes including synaptic plasticity, motor function, attention, learning and memory. Abnormalities of neuronal nAChRs have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurologic disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and Tourette´s syndrome, as well as psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. The potential role of nAChRs in a particular illness may be indicated by alterations in the expression of nAChRs in relevant brain regions, genetic variability in the genes encoding for nAChR subunit proteins, and/or clinical or preclinical observations where specific ligands showed a therapeutic effect. Over the past 25 years, extensive preclinical and some early clinical evidence suggested that ligands at nAChRs might have therapeutic potential for neurologic and psychiatric disorders. However, to date the only approved indications for nAChR ligands are smoking cessation and the treatment of dry eye disease. It has been argued that progress in nAChR drug discovery has been limited by translational gaps between the preclinical models and the human disease as well as unresolved questions regarding the pharmacological goal (i.e., agonism, antagonism or receptor desensitization) depending on the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912.
| | - Keri Jones
- Educational Innovation Institute, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912
| | - Daniel Bertrand
- HiQScreen Sàrl, 6, rte de Compois, 1222 Vésenaz, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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D'Souza MS, Seeley SL, Emerson N, Rose-Malkamaki MJ, Ho SP, Tsai YC, Kuo H, Huan CY, Rorabaugh BR. Attenuation of nicotine-induced rewarding and antidepressant-like effects in male and female mice lacking regulator of G-protein signaling 2. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 213:173338. [PMID: 35038444 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine-induced rewarding and mood altering effects contribute to the continued use of nicotine and the subsequent development of nicotine dependence. The goal of this study was to assess the role of two specific regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins namely RGS2 and RGS4 in the above described effects of nicotine. Male and female mice lacking either RGS2 (RGS2 KO) or RGS4 (RGS4 KO), and their respective wildtype (WT) littermates were used in this study. The rewarding effects of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg, base; s.c.) were assessed using the conditioned place preference model. Nicotine-induced anxiolytic-like (0.1 mg/kg, base; i.p.) and antidepressant-like (1 mg/kg, base; i.p.) effects were assessed using the elevated plus maze and tail suspension test, respectively. We also assessed effects of nicotine (0, 0.05, 0.1 & 0.5 mg/kg, base; s.c.) on spontaneous locomotor activity. Nicotine-induced rewarding and antidepressant-like effects were observed in both male and female RGS2 WT mice, but not in mice lacking RGS2 compared to respective controls. In contrast, nicotine-induced rewarding and antidepressant-like effects were observed in both male and female mice lacking RGS4 and their WT littermates. Interestingly, deletion of RGS4 facilitated antidepressant-like effect of nicotine in male, but not female mice compared to respective WT littermates. Nicotine-induced anxiolytic-like effect was not influenced by deletion of either RGS2 or RGS4, irrespective of sex. Nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) decreased locomotor activity in both WT and KO mice compared to respective saline, irrespective of genotype and sex. Taken together, these data provide evidence that RGS2, but not RGS4, plays a role in mediating the rewarding and antidepressant-like effects of nicotine. Further research is required to explore the role of RGS2 after chronic exposure to nicotine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoranjan S D'Souza
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States.
| | - Sarah L Seeley
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States
| | - Nate Emerson
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States
| | - Madison J Rose-Malkamaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States
| | - Sheng-Ping Ho
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States
| | - Yi-Chih Tsai
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States
| | - Henry Kuo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States
| | - Ching-Yu Huan
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, 525 S Main Street, Ada, OH 45810, United States
| | - Boyd R Rorabaugh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Marshall University, 1 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755, United States
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3
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Vlachou S. A Brief History and the Significance of the GABA B Receptor. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2021; 52:1-17. [PMID: 34595739 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA type B (GABAB) receptors (GABABRs) are the only metabotropic G protein-coupled receptors for GABA and can be found distributed not only in the central nervous system, but also in the periphery. This chapter introduces important, fundamental knowledge related to GABABR function and the various potential therapeutic applications of the development of novel GABABR-active compounds, as documented through extensive studies presented in subsequent chapters of this Current Topic in Behavioral Neurosciences volume on the role of the neurobiology of GABABR function. The compounds that have received increased attention in the last few years compared to GABABR agonists and antagonists - the positive allosteric modulators - exhibit better pharmacological profiles and fewer side effects. As we continue to unveil the mystery of GABABRs at the molecular and cellular levels, we further understand the significance of these receptors. Future directions should aim for developing highly selective GABABR compounds for treating neuropsychiatric disorders and their symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Vlachou
- Neuropsychopharmacology Division, Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
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Simpson S, Shankar K, Kimbrough A, George O. Role of corticotropin-releasing factor in alcohol and nicotine addiction. Brain Res 2020; 1740:146850. [PMID: 32330519 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The two most prevalent substance use disorders involve alcohol and nicotine, which are often co-abused. Robust preclinical and translational evidence indicates that individuals initiate drug use for the acute rewarding effects of the substance. The development of negative emotional states is key for the transition from recreational use to substance use disorders as subjects seek the substance to obtain relief from the negative emotional states of acute withdrawal and protracted abstinence. The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a major regulator of the brain stress system and key in the development of negative affective states. The present review examines the role of CRF in preclinical models of alcohol and nicotine abuse and explores links between CRF and anxiety-like, dysphoria-like, and other negative affective states. Finally, the present review discusses preclinical models of nicotine and alcohol use with regard to the CRF system, advances in molecular and genetic manipulations of CRF, and the importance of examining both males and females in this field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra Simpson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Kokila Shankar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Adam Kimbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Olivier George
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
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Li X, Slesinger PA. GABA B Receptors and Drug Addiction: Psychostimulants and Other Drugs of Abuse. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 52:119-155. [PMID: 33442842 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic GABAB receptors (GABABRs) mediate slow inhibition and modulate synaptic plasticity throughout the brain. Dysfunction of GABABRs has been associated with psychiatric illnesses and addiction. Drugs of abuse alter GABAB receptor (GABABR) signaling in multiple brain regions, which partly contributes to the development of drug addiction. Recently, GABABR ligands and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have been shown to attenuate the initial rewarding effect of addictive substances, inhibit seeking and taking of these drugs, and in some cases, ameliorate drug withdrawal symptoms. The majority of the anti-addiction effects seen with GABABR modulation can be localized to ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons, which receive complex inhibitory and excitatory inputs that are modified by drugs of abuse. Preclinical research suggests that GABABR PAMs are emerging as promising candidates for the treatment of drug addiction. Clinical studies on drug dependence have shown positive results with GABABR ligands but more are needed, and compounds with better pharmacokinetics and fewer side effects are critically needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Li
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Paul A Slesinger
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Jacobson LH, Vlachou S, Slattery DA, Li X, Cryan JF. The Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid B Receptor in Depression and Reward. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:963-976. [PMID: 29759132 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The metabotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor was the first described obligate G protein-coupled receptor heterodimer and continues to set the stage for discoveries in G protein-coupled receptor signaling complexity. In this review, dedicated to the life and work of Athina Markou, we explore the role of GABAB receptors in depression, reward, and the convergence of these domains in anhedonia, a shared symptom of major depressive disorder and withdrawal from drugs of abuse. GABAB receptor expression and function are enhanced by antidepressants and reduced in animal models of depression. Generally, GABAB receptor antagonists are antidepressant-like and agonists are pro-depressive. Exceptions to this rule likely reflect the differential influence of GABAB1 isoforms in depression-related behavior and neurobiology, including the anhedonic effects of social stress. A wealth of data implicate GABAB receptors in the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. We focus on nicotine as an example. GABAB receptor activation attenuates, and deactivation enhances, nicotine reward and associated neurobiological changes. In nicotine withdrawal, however, GABAB receptor agonists, antagonists, and positive allosteric modulators enhance anhedonia, perhaps owing to differential effects of GABAB1 isoforms on the dopaminergic system. Nicotine cue-induced reinstatement is more reliably attenuated by GABAB receptor activation. Separation of desirable and undesirable side effects of agonists is achievable with positive allosteric modulators, which are poised to enter clinical studies for drug abuse. GABAB1 isoforms are key to understanding the neurobiology of anhedonia, whereas allosteric modulators may offer a mechanism for targeting specific brain regions and processes associated with reward and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura H Jacobson
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Styliani Vlachou
- School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin
| | - David A Slattery
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - John F Cryan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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7
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Varani AP, Pedrón VT, Aon AJ, Höcht C, Acosta GB, Bettler B, Balerio GN. Nicotine-induced molecular alterations are modulated by GABA B receptor activity. Addict Biol 2018; 23:230-246. [PMID: 28419642 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that GABAB receptors modulate nicotine (NIC) reward effect; nevertheless, the mechanism implicated is not well known. In this regard, we evaluated the involvement of GABAB receptors on the behavioral, neurochemical, biochemical and molecular alterations associated with the rewarding effects induced by NIC in mice, from a pharmacological and genetic approach. NIC-induced rewarding properties (0.5 mg/kg, subcutaneously, sc) were evaluated by conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. CPP has three phases: preconditioning, conditioning and postconditioning. GABAB receptor antagonist 2-hydroxysaclofen (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg; intraperitoneally, ip) or the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (3 mg/kg; ip) was injected before NIC during the conditioning phase. GABAB1 knockout (GABAB1 KO) mice received NIC during the conditioning phase. Vehicle and wild-type controls were employed. Neurochemical (dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites), biochemical (nicotinic receptor α4β2, α4β2nAChRs) and molecular (c-Fos) alterations induced by NIC were analyzed after the postconditioning phase by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), receptor-ligand binding assays and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in nucleus accumbens (Acb), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). NIC induced rewarding effects in the CPP paradigm and increased dopamine levels in Acb and PFC, α4β2nAChRs density in VTA and c-Fos expression in Acb shell (AcbSh), VTA and PFC. We showed that behavioral, neurochemical, biochemical and molecular alterations induced by NIC were prevented by baclofen. However, in 2-hydroxysaclofen pretreated and GABAB1 KO mice, these alterations were potentiated, suggesting that GABAB receptor activity is necessary to control alterations induced by NIC-induced rewarding effects. Therefore, the present findings provided important contributions to the mechanisms implicated in NIC-induced rewarding effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres P Varani
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria T Pedrón
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Amira J Aon
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Christian Höcht
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela B Acosta
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bernhard Bettler
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Graciela N Balerio
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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8
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Bruijnzeel AW. Neuropeptide systems and new treatments for nicotine addiction. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:1419-1437. [PMID: 28028605 PMCID: PMC5420481 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4513-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The mildly euphoric and cognitive enhancing effects of nicotine play a role in the initiation of smoking, while dysphoria and anxiety associated with smoking cessation contribute to relapse. After the acute withdrawal phase, smoking cues, a few cigarettes (i.e., lapse), and stressors can cause relapse. Human and animal studies have shown that neuropeptides play a critical role in nicotine addiction. OBJECTIVES The goal of this paper is to describe the role of neuropeptide systems in the initiation of nicotine intake, nicotine withdrawal, and the reinstatement of extinguished nicotine seeking. RESULTS The reviewed studies indicate that several drugs that target neuropeptide systems diminish the rewarding effects of nicotine by preventing the activation of dopaminergic systems. Other peptide-based drugs diminish the hyperactivity of brain stress systems and diminish withdrawal-associated symptom severity. Blockade of hypocretin-1 and nociceptin receptors and stimulation of galanin and neurotensin receptors diminishes the rewarding effects of nicotine. Both corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 and kappa-opioid receptor antagonists diminish dysphoria and anxiety-like behavior associated with nicotine withdrawal and inhibit stress-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. Furthermore, blockade of vasopressin 1b receptors diminishes dysphoria during nicotine withdrawal, and melanocortin 4 receptor blockade prevents stress-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. The role of neuropeptide systems in nicotine-primed and cue-induced reinstatement is largely unexplored, but there is evidence for a role of hypocretin-1 receptors in cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. CONCLUSION Drugs that target neuropeptide systems might decrease the euphoric effects of smoking and improve relapse rates by diminishing withdrawal symptoms and improving stress resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriaan W. Bruijnzeel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA,Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Kitamura Y, Kanemoto E, Sugimoto M, Machida A, Nakamura Y, Naito N, Kanzaki H, Miyazaki I, Asanuma M, Sendo T. Influence of nicotine on doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide combination treatment-induced spatial cognitive impairment and anxiety-like behavior in rats. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2017; 390:369-378. [PMID: 28064347 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-016-1338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we examined the effects of nicotine on cognitive impairment, anxiety-like behavior, and hippocampal cell proliferation in rats treated with a combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Combined treatment with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide produced cognitive impairment and anxiety-like behavior in rats. Nicotine treatment reversed the inhibition of novel location recognition induced by the combination treatment. This effect of nicotine was blocked by methyllycaconitine, a selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist, and dihydro-β-erythroidine, a selective α4β2 nAChR antagonist. In addition, nicotine normalized the amount of spontaneous alternation seen during the Y-maze task, which had been reduced by the combination treatment. This effect of nicotine was inhibited by dihydro-β-erythroidine. In comparison, nicotine did not affect the anxiety-like behavior induced by the combination treatment. Furthermore, the combination treatment reduced the number of proliferating cells in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and this was also prevented by nicotine. Finally, the combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide significantly reduced hippocampal α7 nAChR mRNA expression. These results suggest that nicotine inhibits doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide-induced cognitive impairment via α7 nAChR and α4β2 nAChR, and also enhances hippocampal neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihisa Kitamura
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.
| | - Erika Kanemoto
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Misaki Sugimoto
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Ayumi Machida
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yuka Nakamura
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Nanami Naito
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kanzaki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Ikuko Miyazaki
- Department of Medical Neurobiology; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Masato Asanuma
- Department of Medical Neurobiology; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Sendo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho; Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
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Wang L, Almeida LEF, Nettleton M, Khaibullina A, Albani S, Kamimura S, Nouraie M, Quezado ZMN. Altered nocifensive behavior in animal models of autism spectrum disorder: The role of the nicotinic cholinergic system. Neuropharmacology 2016; 111:323-334. [PMID: 27638450 PMCID: PMC5075237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 08/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Caretakers and clinicians alike have long recognized that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can have altered sensory processing, which can contribute to its core symptoms. However, the pathobiology of sensory alterations in ASD is poorly understood. Here we examined nocifensive behavior in ASD mouse models, the BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) and the fragile-X mental retardation-1 knockout (Fmr1-KO) mice. We also examined the effects of nicotine on nocifensive behavior given that nicotine, a nicotinic cholinergic receptor (nAChR) agonist that has antinociceptive effects, was shown to improve social deficits and decrease repetitive behaviors in BTBR mice. Compared to respective controls, both BTBR and Fmr1-KO had hyporesponsiveness to noxious thermal stimuli and electrical stimulation of C-sensory fibers, normal responsiveness to electrical stimulation of Aβ- and Aδ-fiber, and hyperresponsiveness to visceral pain after acetic acid intraperitoneal injection. In BTBR, nicotine at lower doses increased, whereas at higher doses, it decreased hotplate latency compared to vehicle. In a significantly different effect pattern, in control mice, nicotine had antinociceptive effects to noxious heat only at the high dose. Interestingly, these nocifensive behavior alterations and differential responses to nicotine antinociceptive effects in BTBR mice were associated with significant downregulation of α3, α4, α5, α7, β2, β3, and β4 nAChR subunits in several cerebral regions both, during embryonic development and adulthood. Taken together, these findings further implicate nAChRs in behaviors alterations in the BTBR model and lend support to the hypothesis that nAChRs may be a target for treatment of behavior deficits and sensory dysfunction in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's Research Institute, Division of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Luis E F Almeida
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's Research Institute, Division of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Margaret Nettleton
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's Research Institute, Division of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Alfia Khaibullina
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's Research Institute, Division of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Sarah Albani
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's Research Institute, Division of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Sayuri Kamimura
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's Research Institute, Division of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Mehdi Nouraie
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Zenaide M N Quezado
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's Research Institute, Division of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA; Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
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11
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Besson M, Forget B. Cognitive Dysfunction, Affective States, and Vulnerability to Nicotine Addiction: A Multifactorial Perspective. Front Psychiatry 2016; 7:160. [PMID: 27708591 PMCID: PMC5030478 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although smoking prevalence has declined in recent years, certain subpopulations continue to smoke at disproportionately high rates and show resistance to cessation treatments. Individuals showing cognitive and affective impairments, including emotional distress and deficits in attention, memory, and inhibitory control, particularly in the context of psychiatric conditions, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and mood disorders, are at higher risk for tobacco addiction. Nicotine has been shown to improve cognitive and emotional processing in some conditions, including during tobacco abstinence. Self-medication of cognitive deficits or negative affect has been proposed to underlie high rates of tobacco smoking among people with psychiatric disorders. However, pre-existing cognitive and mood disorders may also influence the development and maintenance of nicotine dependence, by biasing nicotine-induced alterations in information processing and associative learning, decision-making, and inhibitory control. Here, we discuss the potential forms of contribution of cognitive and affective deficits to nicotine addiction-related processes, by reviewing major clinical and preclinical studies investigating either the procognitive and therapeutic action of nicotine or the putative primary role of cognitive and emotional impairments in addiction-like features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Besson
- Unité de Neurobiologie Intégrative des Systèmes Cholinergiques, Department of Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 3571, Institut Pasteur , Paris , France
| | - Benoît Forget
- Unité de Neurobiologie Intégrative des Systèmes Cholinergiques, Department of Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 3571, Institut Pasteur , Paris , France
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12
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Ponzoni L, Moretti M, Sala M, Fasoli F, Mucchietto V, Lucini V, Cannazza G, Gallesi G, Castellana CN, Clementi F, Zoli M, Gotti C, Braida D. Different physiological and behavioural effects of e-cigarette vapour and cigarette smoke in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 25:1775-86. [PMID: 26141510 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Nicotine is the primary addictive substance in tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette (e-cig) vapour. Methodological limitations have made it difficult to compare the role of the nicotine and non-nicotine constituents of tobacco smoke. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of traditional cigarette smoke and e-cig vapour containing the same amount of nicotine in male BALB/c mice exposed to the smoke of 21 cigarettes or e-cig vapour containing 16.8 mg of nicotine delivered by means of a mechanical ventilator for three 30-min sessions/day for seven weeks. One hour after the last session, half of the animals were sacrificed for neurochemical analysis, and the others underwent mecamylamine-precipitated or spontaneous withdrawal for the purposes of behavioural analysis. Chronic intermittent non-contingent, second-hand exposure to cigarette smoke or e-cig vapour led to similar brain cotinine and nicotine levels, similar urine cotinine levels and the similar up-regulation of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in different brain areas, but had different effects on body weight, food intake, and the signs of mecamylamine-precipitated and spontaneous withdrawal episodic memory and emotional responses. The findings of this study demonstrate for the first time that e-cig vapour induces addiction-related neurochemical, physiological and behavioural alterations. The fact that inhaled cigarette smoke and e-cig vapour have partially different dependence-related effects indicates that compounds other than nicotine contribute to tobacco dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ponzoni
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M Moretti
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Neuroscienze, Milan, Italy
| | - M Sala
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Neuroscienze, Milan, Italy
| | - F Fasoli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Neuroscienze, Milan, Italy
| | - V Mucchietto
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Neuroscienze, Milan, Italy
| | - V Lucini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - G Cannazza
- Dipartimenti di Scienze della Vita, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - G Gallesi
- Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - C N Castellana
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Laboratorio e Anatomia Patologica, A.O.U. Policlinico, Modena, Italy
| | - F Clementi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Neuroscienze, Milan, Italy
| | - M Zoli
- Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - C Gotti
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Neuroscienze, Milan, Italy.
| | - D Braida
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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13
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Forcelli PA, Turner JR, Lee BG, Olson TT, Xie T, Xiao Y, Blendy JA, Kellar KJ. Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of the methadone metabolite 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-pyrroline (EMDP). Neuropharmacology 2015; 101:46-56. [PMID: 26365569 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The enhancement of GABAergic and monoaminergic neurotransmission has been the mainstay of pharmacotherapy and the focus of drug-discovery for anxiety and depressive disorders for several decades. However, the significant limitations of drugs used for these disorders underscores the need for novel therapeutic targets. Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) may represent one such target. For example, mecamylamine, a non-competitive antagonist of nAChRs, displays positive effects in preclinical tests for anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in rodents. In addition, nicotine elicits similar effects in rodent models, possibly by receptor desensitization. Previous studies (Xiao et al., 2001) have identified two metabolites of methadone, EMDP (2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-pyrroline) and EDDP (2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine), which are considered to be inactive at opiate receptors, as relatively potent noncompetitive channel blockers of rat α3β4 nAChRs. Here, we show that these compounds are likewise highly effective blockers of human α3β4 and α4β2 nAChRs. Moreover, we show that they display relatively low affinity for opiate binding sites labeled by [(3)H]-naloxone. We then evaluated these compounds in rats and mice in preclinical behavioral models predictive of potential anxiolytic and antidepressant efficacy. We found that EMDP, but not EDDP, displayed robust effects predictive of anxiolytic and antidepressant efficacy without significant effects on locomotor activity. Moreover, EMDP at behaviorally active doses, unlike mecamylamine, did not produce eyelid ptosis, suggesting it may produce fewer autonomic side effects than mecamylamine. Thus, the methadone metabolite EMDP may represent a novel therapeutic avenue for the treatment of some affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Jill R Turner
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Bridgin G Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Thao T Olson
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Teresa Xie
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Yingxian Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Julie A Blendy
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kenneth J Kellar
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
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Cambiaghi M, Grosso A, Renna A, Concina G, Sacchetti B. Acute administration of nicotine into the higher order auditory Te2 cortex specifically decreases the fear-related charge of remote emotional memories. Neuropharmacology 2015; 99:577-88. [PMID: 26319210 PMCID: PMC4710760 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Nicotine elicits several behavioural effects on mood as well as on stress and anxiety processes. Recently, it was found that the higher order components of the sensory cortex, such as the secondary auditory cortex Te2, are essential for the long-term storage of remote fear memories. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the effects of acute nicotine injection into the higher order auditory cortex Te2, on the remote emotional memories of either threat or incentive experiences in rats. We found that intra-Te2 nicotine injection decreased the fear-evoked responses to a tone previously paired with footshock. This effect was cue- and dose-specific and was not due to any interference with auditory stimuli processing, innate anxiety and fear processes, or with motor responses. Nicotine acts acutely in the presence of threat stimuli but it did not determine the permanent degradation of the fear-memory trace, since memories tested one week after nicotine injection were unaffected. Remarkably, nicotine did not affect the memory of a similar tone that was paired to incentive stimuli. We conclude from our results that nicotine, when acting acutely in the auditory cortex, relieves the fear charge embedded by learned stimuli. Nicotine reliefs fear memories. Nicotine acts on long-term memories. Nicotine modulates memory in auditory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cambiaghi
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
| | - Anna Grosso
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
| | - Annamaria Renna
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
| | - Giulia Concina
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
| | - Benedetto Sacchetti
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience, Italy.
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15
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Casarrubea M, Davies C, Faulisi F, Pierucci M, Colangeli R, Partridge L, Chambers S, Cassar D, Valentino M, Muscat R, Benigno A, Crescimanno G, Di Giovanni G. Acute nicotine induces anxiety and disrupts temporal pattern organization of rat exploratory behavior in hole-board: a potential role for the lateral habenula. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:197. [PMID: 26082682 PMCID: PMC4450172 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs of abuse. Tobacco smoking is a major cause of many health problems, and is the first preventable cause of death worldwide. Several findings show that nicotine exerts significant aversive as well as the well-known rewarding motivational effects. Less certain is the anatomical substrate that mediates or enables nicotine aversion. Here, we show that acute nicotine induces anxiogenic-like effects in rats at the doses investigated (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), as measured by the hole-board apparatus and manifested in behaviors such as decreased rearing and head-dipping and increased grooming. No changes in locomotor behavior were observed at any of the nicotine doses given. T-pattern analysis of the behavioral outcomes revealed a drastic reduction and disruption of complex behavioral patterns induced by all three nicotine doses, with the maximum effect for 1 mg/kg. Lesion of the lateral habenula (LHb) induced hyperlocomotion and, strikingly, reversed the nicotine-induced anxiety obtained at 1 mg/kg to an anxiolytic-like effect, as shown by T-pattern analysis. We suggest that the LHb is critically involved in emotional behavior states and in nicotine-induced anxiety, most likely through modulation of monoaminergic nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Casarrubea
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo Palermo, Italy
| | - Caitlin Davies
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta ; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK
| | - Fabiana Faulisi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimo Pierucci
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta
| | - Roberto Colangeli
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta
| | - Lucy Partridge
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta ; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK
| | - Stephanie Chambers
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta
| | - Daniel Cassar
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta
| | - Mario Valentino
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta
| | - Richard Muscat
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta
| | - Arcangelo Benigno
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Crescimanno
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta Msida, Malta ; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK
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16
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Anderson SM, Brunzell DH. Anxiolytic-like and anxiogenic-like effects of nicotine are regulated via diverse action at β2*nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:2864-77. [PMID: 25625469 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Nicotine dose-dependently activates or preferentially desensitizes β2 subunit containing nicotinic ACh receptors (β2*nAChRs). Genetic and pharmacological manipulations assessed effects of stimulation versus inhibition of β2*nAChRs on nicotine-associated anxiety-like phenotype. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Using a range of doses of nicotine in β2*nAChR subunit null mutant mice (β2KO; backcrossed to C57BL/6J) and their wild-type (WT) littermates, administration of the selective β2*nAChR agonist, 5I-A85380, and the selective β2*nAChR antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE), we determined the behavioural effects of stimulation and inhibition of β2*nAChRs in the light-dark and elevated plus maze (EPM) assays. KEY RESULTS Low-dose i.p. nicotine (0.05 mg·kg(-) 1) supported anxiolysis-like behaviour independent of genotype whereas the highest dose (0.5 mg·kg(-1) ) promoted anxiogenic-like phenotype in WT mice, but was blunted in β2KO mice for the measure of latency. Administration of 5I-A85380 had similar dose-dependent effects in C57BL/6J WT mice; 0.001 mg·kg(-1) 5I-A85380 reduced anxiety on an EPM, whereas 0.032 mg·kg(-1) 5I-A85380 promoted anxiogenic-like behaviour in both the light-dark and EPM assays. DHβE pretreatment blocked anxiogenic-like effects of 0.5 mg·kg(-1) nicotine. Similarly to DHβE, pretreatment with low-dose 0.05 mg·kg(-1) nicotine did not accumulate with 0.5 mg·kg(-1) nicotine, but rather blocked anxiogenic-like effects of high-dose nicotine in the light-dark and EPM assays. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These studies provide direct evidence that low-dose nicotine inhibits nAChRs and demonstrate that inhibition or stimulation of β2*nAChRs supports the corresponding anxiolytic-like or anxiogenic-like effects of nicotine. Inhibition of β2*nAChRs may relieve anxiety in smokers and non-smokers alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - D H Brunzell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
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17
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Le Foll B, Ng E, Di Ciano P, Trigo JM. Psychiatric disorders as vulnerability factors for nicotine addiction: what have we learned from animal models? Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2015; 24:155-170. [PMID: 25638337 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-13482-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies indicate a high prevalence of tobacco smoking in subjects with psychiatric disorders. Notably, there is a high prevalence of smoking among those with dependence to other substances, schizophrenia, mood, or anxiety disorders. It has been difficult to understand how these phenomena interact with clinical populations as it is unclear what preceded what in most of the studies. These comorbidities may be best understood by using experimental approaches in well-controlled conditions. Notably, animal models represent advantageous approaches as the parameters under study can be controlled perfectly. This review will focus on evidence collected so far exploring how behavioral effects of nicotine are modified in animal models of psychiatric conditions. Notably, we will focus on behavioral responses induced by nicotine that are relevant for its addictive potential. Despite the clinical relevance and frequency of the comorbidity between psychiatric issues and tobacco smoking, very few studies have been done to explore this issue in animals. The available data suggest that the behavioral and reinforcing effects of nicotine are enhanced in animal models of these comorbidities, although much more experimental work would be required to provide certainty in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada,
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18
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Varani AP, Pedrón VT, Machado LM, Antonelli MC, Bettler B, Balerio GN. Lack of GABAB receptors modifies behavioural and biochemical alterations induced by precipitated nicotine withdrawal. Neuropharmacology 2014; 90:90-101. [PMID: 25479464 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The nicotine (NIC) withdrawal syndrome is considered to be a major cause of the high relapse rate among individuals undergoing smoking cessation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible role of GABAB receptors in NIC withdrawal, by comparing GABAB1 knockout mice and their wild-type littermates. We analysed the time course of the global withdrawal score, the anxiety-like effects, monoamine concentrations, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, the corticosterone plasmatic levels and [(3)H]epibatidine binding sites during NIC withdrawal precipitated by mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist (MEC). In NIC withdrawn wild-type mice, we observed a global withdrawal score, an anxiety-like effect in the elevated plus maze, a decrease of the striatal dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid concentrations, an increase of corticosterone plasma levels, a reduction of BDNF expression in several brain areas and an increase of [(3)H]epibatidine binding sites in specific brain regions. Interestingly, the effects found in NIC withdrawn wild-type mice were absent in GABAB1 knockout mice, suggesting that GABAB1 subunit of the GABAB receptor is involved in the regulation of the behavioural and biochemical alterations induced by NIC withdrawal in mice. These results reveal an interaction between the GABAB receptors and the neurochemical systems through which NIC exerts its long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés P Varani
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Valeria T Pedrón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Lirane Moutinho Machado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Marta C Antonelli
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bernhard Bettler
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Graciela N Balerio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina; Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 5° Piso, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina.
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19
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Jackson KJ, Muldoon PP, De Biasi M, Damaj MI. New mechanisms and perspectives in nicotine withdrawal. Neuropharmacology 2014; 96:223-34. [PMID: 25433149 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Diseases associated with tobacco use constitute a major health problem worldwide. Upon cessation of tobacco use, an unpleasant withdrawal syndrome occurs in dependent individuals. Avoidance of the negative state produced by nicotine withdrawal represents a motivational component that promotes continued tobacco use and relapse after smoking cessation. With the modest success rate of currently available smoking cessation therapies, understanding mechanisms involved in the nicotine withdrawal syndrome are crucial for developing successful treatments. Animal models provide a useful tool for examining neuroadaptative mechanisms and factors influencing nicotine withdrawal, including sex, age, and genetic factors. Such research has also identified an important role for nicotinic receptor subtypes in different aspects of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome (e.g., physical vs. affective signs). In addition to nicotinic receptors, the opioid and endocannabinoid systems, various signal transduction pathways, neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides have been implicated in the nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Animal studies have informed human studies of genetic variants and potential targets for smoking cessation therapies. Overall, the available literature indicates that the nicotine withdrawal syndrome is complex, and involves a range of neurobiological mechanisms. As research in nicotine withdrawal progresses, new pharmacological options for smokers attempting to quit can be identified, and treatments with fewer side effects that are better tailored to the unique characteristics of patients may become available. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: From Molecular Biology to Cognition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Jackson
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 E. Leigh St., Richmond, VA 23219, USA
| | - P P Muldoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 E. Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23219, USA
| | - M De Biasi
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - M I Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 E. Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23219, USA.
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Varani AP, Aso E, Maldonado R, Balerio GN. Baclofen and 2-hydroxysaclofen modify acute hypolocomotive and antinociceptive effects of nicotine. Eur J Pharmacol 2014; 738:200-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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21
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Varani AP, Moutinho Machado L, Balerio GN. Baclofen prevented the changes in c-Fos and brain-derived neutrophic factor expressions during mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal in mice. Synapse 2014; 68:508-17. [DOI: 10.1002/syn.21763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés P. Varani
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (UBA-CONICET); Junín 956, 5° piso, (C1113AAD) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Lirane Moutinho Machado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (UBA-CONICET); Junín 956, 5° piso, (C1113AAD) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Graciela N. Balerio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (UBA-CONICET); Junín 956, 5° piso, (C1113AAD) Buenos Aires Argentina
- Cátedra de Farmacología; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Junín 956 5° Piso, (C1113AAD) Buenos Aires Argentina
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22
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Varani AP, Aso E, Moutinho LM, Maldonado R, Balerio GN. Attenuation by baclofen of nicotine rewarding properties and nicotine withdrawal manifestations. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:3031-40. [PMID: 24553576 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3469-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Nicotine is a major active ingredient in tobacco and plays a major role in tobacco addiction. In rodents, repeated nicotine administration produces behavioral responses related to its addictive properties, such as reinforcing effects and physical dependence. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible role of GABAB receptor in responses induced by repeated nicotine administration in Swiss Webster mice. RESULTS Nicotine hydrogen tartrate salt (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) administration induced rewarding properties in the conditioning place preference test. The GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen (3 mg/kg, i.p.) abolished the rewarding properties induced by nicotine hydrogen tartrate salt (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.). In addition, naloxone-precipitated nicotine withdrawal induced somatic manifestations, anxiety-like effects in the elevated plus maze test and dysphoric manifestations in the conditioned place aversion paradigm. Baclofen (2 and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented the somatic manifestations and the anxiety-like effects associated with naloxone-precipitated nicotine withdrawal but not the dysphoric manifestations. CONCLUSIONS These results showed that nicotine rewarding properties and negative aspects of nicotine withdrawal, such as anxiety-like effects and somatic manifestations, can be modulated by the GABAB receptor activity. This study now reveals a novel possible application of baclofen to develop new therapeutic strategies to achieve smoking cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés P Varani
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Junín 956 5° Piso, Buenos Aires, C1113AAD, Argentina
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Involvement of GABAB receptors in biochemical alterations induced by anxiety-related responses to nicotine in mice: Genetic and pharmacological approaches. Neuropharmacology 2014; 81:31-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 01/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Hussmann GP, DeDominicis KE, Turner JR, Yasuda RP, Klehm J, Forcelli PA, Xiao Y, Richardson JR, Sahibzada N, Wolfe BB, Lindstrom J, Blendy JA, Kellar KJ. Chronic sazetidine-A maintains anxiolytic effects and slower weight gain following chronic nicotine without maintaining increased density of nicotinic receptors in rodent brain. J Neurochem 2014; 129:721-31. [PMID: 24422997 PMCID: PMC3999245 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic nicotine administration increases the density of brain α4β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which may contribute to nicotine addiction by exacerbating withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. Varenicline, a smoking cessation drug, also increases these receptors in rodent brain. The maintenance of this increase by varenicline as well as nicotine replacement may contribute to the high rate of relapse during the first year after smoking cessation. Recently, we found that sazetidine-A (saz-A), a potent partial agonist that desensitizes α4β2* nAChRs, does not increase the density of these receptors in brain at doses that decrease nicotine self-administration, increase attention in rats, and produce anxiolytic effects in mice. Here, we investigated whether chronic saz-A and varenicline maintain the density of nAChRs after their up-regulation by nicotine. In addition, we examined the effects of these drugs on a measure of anxiety in mice and weight gain in rats. After increasing nAChRs in the rodent brain with chronic nicotine, replacing nicotine with chronic varenicline maintained the increased nAChR binding, as well as the α4β2 subunit proteins measured by western blots. In contrast, replacing nicotine treatments with chronic saz-A resulted in the return of the density of nAChRs to the levels seen in saline controls. Nicotine, saz-A and varenicline each demonstrated anxiolytic effects in mice, but only saz-A and nicotine attenuated the gain of weight over a 6-week period in rats. These findings suggest that apart from its modest anxiolytic and weight control effects, saz-A, or drugs like it, may be useful in achieving long-term abstinence from smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Patrick Hussmann
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Kristen E. DeDominicis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jill R. Turner
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Robert P. Yasuda
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Klehm
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Patrick A. Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Yingxian Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Janell R. Richardson
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Niaz Sahibzada
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Barry B. Wolfe
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jon Lindstrom
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Julie A. Blendy
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Kenneth J. Kellar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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Li X, Semenova S, D'Souza MS, Stoker AK, Markou A. Involvement of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems in nicotine dependence: Implications for novel pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation. Neuropharmacology 2014; 76 Pt B:554-65. [PMID: 23752091 PMCID: PMC3830589 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking continues to be a major global health hazard despite significant public awareness of its harmful consequences. Although several treatment options are currently available for smoking cessation, these medications are effective in only a small subset of smokers, and relapse rates continue to be high. Therefore, a better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate tobacco dependence is essential for the development of effective smoking cessation medications. Nicotine is the primary psychoactive component of tobacco that drives the harmful tobacco smoking habit. Nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain, resulting in the release of a wide range of neurotransmitters, including glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This review article focuses on the role of the excitatory glutamate system and inhibitory GABA system in nicotine dependence. Accumulating evidence suggests that blockade of glutamatergic transmission or facilitation of GABAergic transmission attenuates the positive reinforcing and incentive motivational aspects of nicotine, inhibits the reward-enhancing and conditioned rewarding effects of nicotine, and blocks nicotine-seeking behavior. Chronic nicotine exposure produced long-term neuroadaptations that contribute to nicotine withdrawal, but the role of GABA and glutamate transmission in nicotine withdrawal is less understood. Overall, the findings presented in this review provide strong converging evidence for the potential effectiveness of glutamatergic and GABAergic medications in nicotine dependence. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'NIDA 40th Anniversary Issue'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Astrid K. Stoker
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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26
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Varani AP, Antonelli MC, Balerio GN. Mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal syndrome and its prevention with baclofen: an autoradiographic study of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2013; 44:217-25. [PMID: 23500668 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A previous study from our laboratory showed that baclofen (BAC, GABAB receptor agonist) was able to prevent the behavioral expression of nicotine (NIC) withdrawal syndrome. To further investigate the mechanisms underlying this effect, we conducted this study, with the aims of analyzing α4β2 nicotinic receptor density during NIC withdrawal and, in case we found any changes, of determining whether they could be prevented by pretreatment with BAC. Swiss Webster albino mice received NIC (2.5 mg/kg, s.c.) 4 times daily, for 7 days. On the 8th day, NIC-treated mice received the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (MEC; 2 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h after the last dose of NIC. A second group of NIC-treated mice received BAC (2 mg/kg, i.p.) prior to MEC administration. Thirty minutes after MEC, mice were sacrificed and brain autoradiography with [(3)H]epibatidine was carried out at five different anatomical levels. Autoradiographic mapping showed a significant increase of α4β2 nicotinic receptor labeling during NIC withdrawal in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh), medial habenular nucleus (HbM), thalamic nuclei, dorsal lateral geniculate (DLG) nucleus, fasciculus retroflexus (fr), ventral tegmental area, interpeduncular nucleus and superior colliculus. BAC pretreatment prevented the increased α4β2 nicotinic receptor binding sites in the AcbSh, MHb, thalamic nuclei, DLG nucleus and fr. The present results suggest a relationship between BAC's preventive effect of the expression of NIC withdrawal signs, and its ability to restore the changes in α4β2 nicotinic receptor labeling, evidenced in specific brain areas in NIC withdrawn animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés P Varani
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (UBA-CONICET), Junín 956, 5° Piso, C1113AAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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27
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Stoker AK, Markou A. Unraveling the neurobiology of nicotine dependence using genetically engineered mice. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2013; 23:493-9. [PMID: 23545467 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2013.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Revised: 02/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This review article provides an overview of recent studies of nicotine dependence and withdrawal that used genetically engineered mice. Major progress has been made in recent years with mutant mice that have knockout and gain-of-function of specific neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit genes. Nicotine exerts its actions by binding to neuronal nAChRs that consist of five subunits. The different nAChR subunits that combine to compose a receptor determine the distinct pharmacological and kinetic properties of the specific nAChR. Recent findings in genetically engineered mice have indicated that while α4-containing and β2-containing nAChRs are involved in the acquisition of nicotine self-administration and initial stages of nicotine dependence, α7 homomeric nAChRs appear to be involved in the later stages of nicotine dependence. In the medial habenula, α5-containing, α3-containing, and β4-containing nAChRs were shown to be crucially important in the regulation of the aversive aspects of nicotine. Studies of the involvement of α6 nAChR subunits in nicotine dependence have only recently emerged. The use of genetically engineered mice continues to vastly improve our understanding of the neurobiology of nicotine dependence and withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid K Stoker
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603, USA
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Anderson SM, Brunzell DH. Low dose nicotine and antagonism of β2 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have similar effects on affective behavior in mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48665. [PMID: 23144922 PMCID: PMC3492489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine leads to both activation and desensitization (inactivation) of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). This study tested the hypothesis that nicotine and a selective antagonist of β2*nAChRs would have similar effects on affective behavior. Adult C57BL/6J male mice were tested in a conditioned emotional response (CER) assay which evaluates the ability of an aversive stimulus to inhibit goal-directed behavior. Mice lever-pressed for a saccharin reinforcer according to a variable schedule of reinforcement during sessions in which two presentations of a compound light/tone conditioned stimulus (CS) co-terminated with a 0.1 or 0.3 mA, 0.5 s footshock unconditioned stimulus (US). During testing in the absence of the US, mice received doses of i.p. nicotine (0, 0.0032, 0.01, 0.032, 0.1 mg/kg) or a selective β2 subunit containing nAChR (β2*nAChR) antagonist dihydro-beta-erythroidine (0, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 mg/kg DHβE). There was a dose-dependent effect of nicotine revealing that only low doses (0.01, 0.032 mg/kg) increased CER suppression ratios (SR) in these mice. DHβE also dose-dependently increased SR at the 3 mg/kg dose. In ethological measures of fear-/anxiety-like behavior, these doses of nicotine and DHβE significantly reduced digging behavior in a marble burying task and 0.3 mg/kg DHβE promoted open-arm activity in the elevated plus maze. Doses of nicotine and DHβE that altered affective behavior had no effect on locomotor activity. Similar to previous reports with anxiolytic drugs, low dose nicotine and DHβE reversed SR in a CER assay, decreased digging in a marble burying assay and increased open arm activity in the elevated plus maze. This study provides evidence that inactivation of β2*nAChRs reduces fear-like and anxiety-like behavior in rodents and suggests that smokers may be motivated to smoke in part to desensitize their β2*nAChRs. These data further identify β2*nAChR antagonism as a potential therapeutic strategy for relief of negative affect and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn M. Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Darlene H. Brunzell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Graduate Program, and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
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