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Diester CM, Balint H, Gillespie JC, Lichtman AH, Sim-Selley LJ, Selley DE, Negus SS. Effects of Repeated Treatment with the Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitor MJN110 on Pain-Related Depression of Nesting and Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Function in Male and Female Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 390:291-301. [PMID: 38262742 PMCID: PMC11338278 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
MJN110 inhibits the enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) to increase levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol , an endogenous high-efficacy agonist of cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors (CB1/2R). MAGL inhibitors are under consideration as candidate analgesics, and we reported previously that acute MJN110 produced partial antinociception in an assay of pain-related behavioral depression in mice. Given the need for repeated analgesic administration in many pain patients and the potential for analgesic tolerance during repeated treatment, this study examined antinociceptive effects of repeated MJN110 on pain-related behavioral depression and CB1R-mediated G-protein function. Male and female ICR mice were treated daily for 7 days in a 2 × 2 design with (a) 1.0 mg/kg/d MJN110 or its vehicle followed by (b) intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP acid) or its vehicle as a visceral noxious stimulus to depress nesting behavior. After behavioral testing, G-protein activity was assessed in lumbar spinal cord (LSC) and five brain regions using an assay of CP55,940-stimulated [35S]GTPɣS activation. As reported previously, acute MJN110 produced partial but significant relief of IP acid-induced nesting depression on day 1. After 7 days, MJN110 continued to produce significant but partial antinociception in males, while antinociceptive tolerance developed in females. Repeated MJN110 also produced modest decreases in maximum levels of CP55,940-induced [35S]GTPɣS binding in spinal cord and most brain regions. These results indicate that repeated treatment with a relatively low antinociceptive MJN110 dose produces only partial and sex-dependent transient antinociception associated with the emergence of CB1R desensitization in this model of IP acid-induced nesting depression. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The drug MJN110 inhibits monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) to increase levels of the endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol and produce potentially useful therapeutic effects including analgesia. This study used an assay of pain-related behavioral depression in mice to show that repeated MJN110 treatment produced (1) weak but sustained antinociception in male mice, (2) antinociceptive tolerance in females, and (3) modest cannabinoid-receptor desensitization that varied by region and sex. Antinociceptive tolerance may limit the utility of MJN110 for treatment of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M Diester
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., H.B., J.C.G., A.H.L., L.J.S.-S., D.E.S., S.S.N.) and School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Hallie Balint
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., H.B., J.C.G., A.H.L., L.J.S.-S., D.E.S., S.S.N.) and School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - James C Gillespie
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., H.B., J.C.G., A.H.L., L.J.S.-S., D.E.S., S.S.N.) and School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., H.B., J.C.G., A.H.L., L.J.S.-S., D.E.S., S.S.N.) and School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Laura J Sim-Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., H.B., J.C.G., A.H.L., L.J.S.-S., D.E.S., S.S.N.) and School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Dana E Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., H.B., J.C.G., A.H.L., L.J.S.-S., D.E.S., S.S.N.) and School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - S Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., H.B., J.C.G., A.H.L., L.J.S.-S., D.E.S., S.S.N.) and School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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Kouchaeknejad A, Van Der Walt G, De Donato MH, Puighermanal E. Imaging and Genetic Tools for the Investigation of the Endocannabinoid System in the CNS. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15829. [PMID: 37958825 PMCID: PMC10648052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
As central nervous system (CNS)-related disorders present an increasing cause of global morbidity, mortality, and high pressure on our healthcare system, there is an urgent need for new insights and treatment options. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a critical network of endogenous compounds, receptors, and enzymes that contribute to CNS development and regulation. Given its multifaceted involvement in neurobiology and its significance in various CNS disorders, the ECS as a whole is considered a promising therapeutic target. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the ECS's role in the CNS, its complex architecture and extensive crosstalk with other biological systems present challenges for research and clinical advancements. To bridge these knowledge gaps and unlock the full therapeutic potential of ECS interventions in CNS-related disorders, a plethora of molecular-genetic tools have been developed in recent years. Here, we review some of the most impactful tools for investigating the neurological aspects of the ECS. We first provide a brief introduction to the ECS components, including cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids, and metabolic enzymes, emphasizing their complexity. This is followed by an exploration of cutting-edge imaging tools and genetic models aimed at elucidating the roles of these principal ECS components. Special emphasis is placed on their relevance in the context of CNS and its associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emma Puighermanal
- Neuroscience Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (A.K.); (G.V.D.W.); (M.H.D.D.)
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Garcia-Keller C, Hohmeister M, Seidling K, Beloate L, Chioma V, Spencer S, Kalivas P, Neuhofer D. Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol self-administration induces cell type-specific adaptations in the nucleus accumbens core. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13286. [PMID: 37500492 PMCID: PMC10924663 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Drugs of abuse induce cell type-specific adaptations in D1- and D2-medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) that can bias signalling towards D1-MSNs and enhance relapse vulnerability. Whether Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use initiates similar neuroadaptations is unknown. D1- and D2-Cre transgenic rats were transfected with Cre-dependent reporters and trained to self-administer THC + cannabidiol (THC + CBD). After extinction training spine morphology, glutamate transmission, CB1R function and cFOS expression were quantified. We found that extinction from THC + CBD induced a loss of large spine heads in D1- but not D2-MSNs and commensurate reductions in glutamate synaptic transmission. Also, presynaptic CB1R function was impaired selectively at glutamatergic synapses on D1-MSNs, which augmented the capacity to potentiate glutamate transmission. Using cFOS expression as an activity marker, we found no change after extinction but increased cFOS expression in D1-MSNs after cue-induced drug seeking. Contrasting D1-MSNs, CB1R function and glutamate synaptic transmission on D2-MSN synapses were unaffected by THC + CBD use. However, cFOS expression was decreased in D2-MSNs of THC + CBD-extinguished rats and was restored after drug seeking. Thus, CB1R adaptations in D1-MSNs partially predicted neuronal activity changes, posing pathway specific modulation of eCB signalling in D1-MSNs as a potential treatment avenue for cannabis use disorder (CUD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanza Garcia-Keller
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 403-MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Madeline Hohmeister
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 403-MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Kailyn Seidling
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 403-MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Lauren Beloate
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 403-MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Vivian Chioma
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 403-MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Sade Spencer
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MN 55455
| | - Peter Kalivas
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 403-MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Daniela Neuhofer
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 403-MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425
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Alarcon TA, Areal LB, Herlinger AL, Paiva KK, Cicilini MA, Martins-Silva C, Pires RGW. The cannabinoid agonist WIN-2 affects acquisition but not consolidation of a spatial information in training and retraining processes: Relation with transcriptional regulation of the endocannabinoid system? Behav Brain Res 2020; 377:112231. [PMID: 31526770 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is capable of modulating multiple physiological brain functions including learning and memory. Moreover, there is evidence that the processes of acquisition and consolidation have distinct biological basis. We used the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN-2) to investigate whether chronic CB1 activation affects acquisition and consolidation differently by evaluating gene expression in the hippocampus (HIP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Swiss mice were treated with WIN-2 (2 mg/kg) and submitted to the Morris water maze to evaluate different aspects of memory. We observed short-term memory impairment in acquisition of the spatial task while consolidation remained unchanged. In the PFC, animals that received WIN-2 prior to the task exhibited increased expression of the 2-AG synthesis enzyme diacylglycerol lipase and decreased levels of the degradation enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase, while mice that were treated after the task for the evaluation of consolidation exhibited the opposite profile. With respect to genes related to AEA metabolism, no correlation between the molecular and behavioral data could be established. In this sense, the cognitive impairment in the acquisition promoted by WIN-2 treatment may be related to a possible increase in the concentration of 2-AG in the PFC. Overall, this study confirms the relevance of the endocannabinoid system in the modulation of cognitive processes. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying endocannabinoids roles in cognition could provide guidance for the development of treatments to reduce the cognitive deficits caused by drug abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Alarcon
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil
| | - L B Areal
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
| | - A L Herlinger
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil; Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil
| | - K K Paiva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil
| | - M A Cicilini
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil
| | - C Martins-Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil
| | - R G W Pires
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria-ES, Brazil.
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Kruse LC, Cao JK, Viray K, Stella N, Clark JJ. Voluntary oral consumption of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol by adolescent rats impairs reward-predictive cue behaviors in adulthood. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1406-1414. [PMID: 30965351 PMCID: PMC6785709 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0387-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Few preclinical approaches are available to study the health impact of voluntary consumption of edibles containing the psychoactive drug Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We developed and validated such approach by measuring voluntary oral consumption of THC-containing gelatin by rats and used it to study if and how THC consumption during adolescence impacts adult behavior. We found that adolescent rats of both sexes consumed enough THC to trigger acute hypothermia, analgesic, and locomotor responses, and that 15 days of access to THC-gelatin in adolescence resulted in the down-regulation of cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1Rs) in adulthood in a sex and brain area specific manner. Remarkably, THC consumption by adolescent male rats and not female rats led to impaired Pavlovian reward-predictive cue behaviors in adulthood consistent with a male-specific loss of CB1R-expressing vGlut-1 synaptic terminals in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Thus, voluntary oral consumption of THC during adolescence is associated with sex-dependent behavioral impairment in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C. Kruse
- 0000000122986657grid.34477.33Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Jessica K. Cao
- 0000000122986657grid.34477.33Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Katie Viray
- 0000000122986657grid.34477.33Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Nephi Stella
- 0000000122986657grid.34477.33Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA ,0000000122986657grid.34477.33Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Jeremy J. Clark
- 0000000122986657grid.34477.33Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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Ponzoni L, Moretti M, Braida D, Zoli M, Clementi F, Viani P, Sala M, Gotti C. Increased sensitivity to Δ 9-THC-induced rewarding effects after seven-week exposure to electronic and tobacco cigarettes in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:566-576. [PMID: 30773388 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cigarette (CIG) smoking often precedes the use of illegal drugs. Electronic-cigarettes (e-CIGs) have been promoted as a means of stopping smoking and reducing the harmful effects of CIGs on the population. However, although e-CIGs eliminate some of the morbidity associated with combustible tobacco, they are still nicotine-delivery devices. In order to study whether the nicotine delivered via e-CIG acts as "a gateway drug" to the use of cannabis, we analysed the behavioural and molecular effects of 7 weeks' pre-exposure to air (AIR), e-CIGs or CIGs on addiction-related conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice using a sub-threshold (0.01 mg/kg) dose of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. After 8 and 66 days of withdrawal, this Δ9-THC dose was ineffective in inducing CPP in mice pre-exposed to pump-driven AIR, but very effective in mice pre-exposed to e-CIGs or CIGs. Exposure to e-CIGs or CIGs increases the expression of ΔFosB in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which remains high during short-term e-CIG or CIG withdrawal and long-term CIG withdrawal and is not influenced by treatment with Δ9-THC. At the end of e-CIG or CIG exposure and during withdrawal, the mice also had a higher AMPA receptors GluA1/GluA2-3 ratio in the NAc. Chronic nicotine exposure increases sensitivity to rewarding effects of Δ9-THC in mice and produces long-lasting neurobiological changes regardless of the delivery method (CIG vs. e-CIG). The exposure to passive tobacco smoke or e-CIG vapours can similarly increase vulnerability to the effects of cannabis and possibly other drugs of abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Milena Moretti
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Braida
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Zoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Clementi
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Viani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariaelvina Sala
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Gotti
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Lazenka MF, Kang M, De DD, Selley DE, Sim-Selley LJ. Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Experience Influences ΔFosB and Downstream Gene Expression in Prefrontal Cortex. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2017; 2:224-234. [PMID: 29082320 PMCID: PMC5628572 DOI: 10.1089/can.2017.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Repeated administration of abused drugs, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), induces the stable transcription factor ΔFosB in dopaminergic terminal field regions of the mesolimbic system. These studies investigated the effect of prior repeated THC treatment on THC-induced ΔFosB expression and regulation of downstream targets in the forebrain. Methods: Mice received THC (10 mg/kg) or vehicle twice daily for 13 days, and then half of each group received a single injection of THC or vehicle 45 min before brain collection. ΔFosB messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were measured by polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting, respectively. Potential downstream targets of ΔFosB induction were measured by immunoblot. Results: THC injection in mice with a history of repeated THC treatment enhanced ΔFosB expression as compared with vehicle in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and amygdala. This change occurred concomitantly with an increase in ΔFosB mRNA in the PFC and NAc. THC injection in mice with a history of repeated THC treatment increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and its regulatory protein p35 only in the PFC. This increase in Cdk5 and p35 expression in PFC was also found in mice that had only received repeated THC administration, suggesting that this effect might be due to induction of ΔFosB. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was increased in PFC after THC injection in repeated THC-treated mice. Phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), a Cdk5 target, was reduced in PFC after repeated THC treatment regardless of THC history, and phosphorylation of dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32) at the Cdk5-regulated threonine 75 site was unchanged. Conclusion: These results suggest that a history of repeated THC administration primes THC-mediated induction of ΔFosB in the NAc and PFC, and that expression of both downstream targets of ΔFosB (e.g., Cdk5 and p35) and upstream activators (e.g., pERK) in the PFC is dependent on THC history, which might have functional implications in addiction and neuropsychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew F Lazenka
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Minho Kang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Dipanjana Datta De
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Dana E Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Laura J Sim-Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
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8
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Todd SM, Zhou C, Clarke DJ, Chohan TW, Bahceci D, Arnold JC. Interactions between cannabidiol and Δ 9-THC following acute and repeated dosing: Rebound hyperactivity, sensorimotor gating and epigenetic and neuroadaptive changes in the mesolimbic pathway. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 27:132-145. [PMID: 28043732 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The evidence base for the use of medical cannabis preparations containing specific ratios of cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is limited. While there is abundant data on acute interactions between CBD and THC, few studies have assessed the impact of their repeated co-administration. We previously reported that CBD inhibited or potentiated the acute effects of THC dependent on the measure being examined at a 1:1 CBD:THC dose ratio. Further, CBD decreased THC effects on brain regions involved in memory, anxiety and body temperature regulation. Here we extend on these finding by examining over 15 days of treatment whether CBD modulated the repeated effects of THC on behaviour and neuroadaption markers in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. After acute locomotor suppression, repeated THC caused rebound locomotor hyperactivity that was modestly inhibited by CBD. CBD also slightly reduced the acute effects of THC on sensorimotor gating. These subtle effects were found at a 1:1 CBD:THC dose ratio but were not accentuated by a 5:1 dose ratio. CBD did not alter the trajectory of enduring THC-induced anxiety nor tolerance to the pharmacological effects of THC. There was no evidence of CBD potentiating the behavioural effects of THC. However we demonstrated for the first time that repeated co-administration of CBD and THC increased histone 3 acetylation (H3K9/14ac) in the VTA and ΔFosB expression in the nucleus accumbens. These changes suggest that while CBD may have protective effects acutely, its long-term molecular actions on the brain are more complex and may be supradditive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Todd
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Cilla Zhou
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - David J Clarke
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tariq W Chohan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dilara Bahceci
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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Knox D, Stanfield BR, Staib JM, David NP, Keller SM, DePietro T. Neural circuits via which single prolonged stress exposure leads to fear extinction retention deficits. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 23:689-698. [PMID: 27918273 PMCID: PMC5110987 DOI: 10.1101/lm.043141.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Single prolonged stress (SPS) has been used to examine mechanisms via which stress exposure leads to post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. SPS induces fear extinction retention deficits, but neural circuits critical for mediating these deficits are unknown. To address this gap, we examined the effect of SPS on neural activity in brain regions critical for extinction retention (i.e., fear extinction circuit). These were the ventral hippocampus (vHipp), dorsal hippocampus (dHipp), basolateral amygdala (BLA), prelimbic cortex (PL), and infralimbic cortex (IL). SPS or control rats were fear conditioned then subjected to extinction training and testing. Subsets of rats were euthanized after extinction training, extinction testing, or immediate removal from the housing colony (baseline condition) to assay c-Fos levels (measure of neural activity) in respective brain region. SPS induced extinction retention deficits. During extinction training SPS disrupted enhanced IL neural activity and inhibited BLA neural activity. SPS also disrupted inhibited BLA and vHipp neural activity during extinction testing. Statistical analyses suggested that SPS disrupted functional connectivity within the dHipp during extinction training and increased functional connectivity between the BLA and vHipp during extinction testing. Our findings suggest that SPS induces extinction retention deficits by disrupting both excitatory and inhibitory changes in neural activity within the fear extinction circuit and inducing changes in functional connectivity within the Hipp and BLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayan Knox
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Briana R Stanfield
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA
| | - Jennifer M Staib
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Nina P David
- School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Samantha M Keller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Thomas DePietro
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
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Beloate LN, Omrani A, Adan RA, Webb IC, Coolen LM. Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Cell Activation during Male Rat Sexual Behavior Regulates Neuroplasticity and d-Amphetamine Cross-Sensitization following Sex Abstinence. J Neurosci 2016; 36:9949-61. [PMID: 27656032 PMCID: PMC6705564 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0937-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Experience with sexual behavior causes cross-sensitization of amphetamine reward, an effect dependent on a period of sexual reward abstinence. We previously showed that ΔFosB in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key mediator of this cross-sensitization, potentially via dopamine receptor activation. However, the role of mesolimbic dopamine for sexual behavior or cross-sensitization between natural and drug reward is unknown. This was tested using inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine cells. rAAV5/hSvn-DIO-hm4D-mCherry was injected into the VTA of TH::Cre adult male rats. Males received clozapine N-oxide (CNO) or vehicle injections before each of 5 consecutive days of mating or handling. Following an abstinence period of 7 d, males were tested for amphetamine conditioned place preference (CPP). Next, males were injected with CNO or vehicle before mating or handling for analysis of mating-induced cFos, sex experience-induced ΔFosB, and reduction of VTA dopamine soma size. Results showed that CNO did not affect mating behavior. Instead, CNO prevented sexual experience-induced cross-sensitization of amphetamine CPP, ΔFosB in the NAc and medial prefrontal cortex, and decreases in VTA dopamine soma size. Expression of hm4D-mCherry was specific to VTA dopamine cells and CNO blocked excitation and mating-induced cFos expression in VTA dopamine cells. These findings provide direct evidence that VTA dopamine activation is not required for initiation or performance of sexual behavior. Instead, VTA dopamine directly contributes to increased vulnerability for drug use following loss of natural reward by causing neuroplasticity in the mesolimbic pathway during the natural reward experience. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Drugs of abuse act on the neural pathways that mediate natural reward learning and memory. Exposure to natural reward behaviors can alter subsequent drug-related reward. Specifically, experience with sexual behavior, followed by a period of abstinence from sexual behavior, causes increased reward for amphetamine in male rats. This study demonstrates that activation of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons during sexual experience regulates cross-sensitization of amphetamine reward. Finally, ventral tegmental area dopamine cell activation is essential for experience-induced neural adaptations in the nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area. These findings demonstrate a role of mesolimbic dopamine in the interaction between natural and drug rewards, and identify mesolimbic dopamine as a key mediator of changes in vulnerability for drug use after loss of natural reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren N Beloate
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, and
| | - Azar Omrani
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roger A Adan
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ian C Webb
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences
| | - Lique M Coolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, and
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11
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Marcus DJ, Zee ML, Davis BJ, Haskins CP, Andrews MJ, Amin R, Henderson-Redmond AN, Mackie K, Czyzyk TA, Morgan DJ. Mice Expressing a "Hyper-Sensitive" Form of the Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) Are Neither Obese Nor Diabetic. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160462. [PMID: 27501235 PMCID: PMC4976987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence implicate the endocannabinoid signaling system in the modulation of metabolic disease. Genetic or pharmacological inactivation of CB1 in rodents leads to reduced body weight, resistance to diet-induced obesity, decreased intake of highly palatable food, and increased energy expenditure. Cannabinoid agonists stimulate feeding in rodents and increased levels of endocannabinoids can disrupt lipid metabolism. Therefore, the hypothesis that sustained endocannabinoid signaling can lead to obesity and diabetes was examined in this study using S426A/S430A mutant mice expressing a desensitization-resistant CB1 receptor. These mice display exaggerated and prolonged responses to acute administration of phytocannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, and endocannabinoids. As a consequence these mice represent a novel model for determining the effect of enhanced endocannabinoid signaling on metabolic disease. S426A/S430A mutants consumed equivalent amounts of both high fat (45%) and low fat (10%) chow control diet compared to wild-type littermate controls. S426A/S430A mutants and wild-type mice fed either high or low fat control diet displayed similar fasting blood glucose levels and normal glucose clearance following a 2 g/kg glucose challenge. Furthermore, S426A/S430A mutants and wild-type mice consumed similar amounts of chow following an overnight fast. While both THC and JZL195 significantly increased food intake two hours after injection, this increase was similar between the S426A/S430A mutant and wildtype control mice Our results indicate that S426A/S430A mutant mice expressing the desensitization-resistant form of CB1 do not exhibit differences in body weight, food intake, glucose homeostasis, or re-feeding following a fast.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Marcus
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405,United States of America
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States of America
| | - Michael L. Zee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States of America
| | - Brian J. Davis
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405,United States of America
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
| | - Chris P. Haskins
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405,United States of America
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States of America
| | - Mary-Jeanette Andrews
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405,United States of America
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
| | - Randa Amin
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405,United States of America
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
| | - Angela N. Henderson-Redmond
- Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States of America
| | - Ken Mackie
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405,United States of America
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
| | - Traci A. Czyzyk
- Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Morgan
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405,United States of America
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States of America
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States of America
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12
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Alajaji M, Lazenka MF, Kota D, Wise LE, Younis RM, Carroll FI, Levine A, Selley DE, Sim-Selley LJ, Damaj MI. Early adolescent nicotine exposure affects later-life cocaine reward in mice. Neuropharmacology 2016; 105:308-317. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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13
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Hahn YK, Paris JJ, Lichtman AH, Hauser KF, Sim-Selley LJ, Selley DE, Knapp PE. Central HIV-1 Tat exposure elevates anxiety and fear conditioned responses of male mice concurrent with altered mu-opioid receptor-mediated G-protein activation and β-arrestin 2 activity in the forebrain. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 92:124-36. [PMID: 26845176 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-exposure to opiates and HIV/HIV proteins results in enhanced CNS morphological and behavioral deficits in HIV(+) individuals and in animal models. Opiates with abuse liability, such as heroin and morphine, bind preferentially to and have pharmacological actions through μ-opioid-receptors (MORs). The mechanisms underlying opiate-HIV interactions are not understood. Exposure to the HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein causes neurodegenerative outcomes that parallel many aspects of the human disease. We have also observed that in vivo exposure to Tat results in apparent changes in morphine efficacy, and thus have hypothesized that HIV proteins might alter MOR activation. To test our hypothesis, MOR-mediated G-protein activation was determined in neuroAIDS-relevant forebrain regions of transgenic mice with inducible CNS expression of HIV-1 Tat. G-protein activation was assessed by MOR agonist-stimulated [(35)S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate ([(35)S]GTPγS) autoradiography in brain sections, and in concentration-effect curves of MOR agonist-stimulated [(35)S]GTPγS binding in membranes isolated from specific brain regions. Comparative studies were done using the MOR-selective agonist DAMGO ([D-Ala(2), N-MePhe(4), Gly-ol]-enkephalin) and a more clinically relevant agonist, morphine. Tat exposure reduced MOR-mediated G-protein activation in an agonist, time, and regionally dependent manner. Levels of the GPCR regulatory protein β-arrestin-2, which is involved in MOR desensitization, were found to be elevated in only one affected brain region, the amygdala; amygdalar β-arrestin-2 also showed a significantly increased association with MOR by co-immunoprecipitation, suggesting decreased availability of MOR. Interestingly, this correlated with changes in anxiety and fear-conditioned extinction, behaviors that have substantial amygdalar input. We propose that HIV-1 Tat alters the intrinsic capacity of MOR to signal in response to agonist binding, possibly via a mechanism involving altered expression and/or function of β-arrestin-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun K Hahn
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USA
| | - Jason J Paris
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0059, USA
| | - Kurt F Hauser
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0059, USA
| | - Laura J Sim-Selley
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0059, USA
| | - Dana E Selley
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0059, USA
| | - Pamela E Knapp
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0059, USA.
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14
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Korpi ER, den Hollander B, Farooq U, Vashchinkina E, Rajkumar R, Nutt DJ, Hyytiä P, Dawe GS. Mechanisms of Action and Persistent Neuroplasticity by Drugs of Abuse. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:872-1004. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.115.010967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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15
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Silva L, Harte-Hargrove L, Izenwasser S, Frank A, Wade D, Dow-Edwards D. Sex-specific alterations in hippocampal cannabinoid 1 receptor expression following adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol treatment in the rat. Neurosci Lett 2015; 602:89-94. [PMID: 26118897 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2015] [Revised: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Marijuana use by adolescents has been on the rise since the early 1990s. With recent legalization and decriminalization acts passed, cannabinoid exposure in adolescents will undoubtedly increase. Human studies are limited in their ability to examine underlying changes in brain biochemistry making rodent models valuable. Studies in adult and adolescent animals show region and sex specific downregulation of the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor following chronic cannabinoid treatment. However, although sex-dependent changes in behavior have been observed during the drug abstinence period following adolescent cannabinoid exposure, little is known about CB1 receptor expression during this critical time. In order to characterize CB1 receptor expression following chronic adolescent Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure, we used [(3)H] CP55,940 binding to assess CB1 receptor expression in the dentate gyrus and areas CA1, CA2, and CA3 of the hippocampus in both male and female adolescent rats at both 24h and 2 weeks post chronic THC treatment. Consistent with other reported findings, we found downregulation of the CB1 receptor in the hippocampal formation at 24h post treatment. While this downregulation persisted in both sexes following two weeks of abstinence in the CA2 region, in females, this downregulation also persisted in areas CA1 and CA3. Expression in the dentate gyrus returned to the normal range by two weeks. These data suggest that selective regions of the hippocampus show persistent reductions in CB1 receptor expression and that these reductions are more widespread in female compared to male adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Silva
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450Clarkson Ave, Mail Stop 29, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Lauren Harte-Hargrove
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450Clarkson Ave, Mail Stop 29, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Sari Izenwasser
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Avenue, Room 4113A (D-80), Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Ashley Frank
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Avenue, Room 4113A (D-80), Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Dean Wade
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Avenue, Room 4113A (D-80), Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Diana Dow-Edwards
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450Clarkson Ave, Mail Stop 29, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.
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16
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Lazenka MF, Tomarchio AJ, Lichtman AH, Greengard P, Flajolet M, Selley DE, Sim-Selley LJ. Role of Dopamine Type 1 Receptors and Dopamine- and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein Mr 32 kDa in Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Mediated Induction of ΔFosB in the Mouse Forebrain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2015; 354:316-27. [PMID: 26099530 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.115.224428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Δ(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of marijuana, produces motor and motivational effects via interactions with the dopaminergic system in the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens. However, the molecular events that underlie these interactions after THC treatment are not well understood. Our study shows that pretreatment with dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) antagonists before repeated administration of THC attenuated induction of Δ FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (ΔFosB) in the nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. Anatomical studies showed that repeated THC administration induced ΔFosB in D1R-containing striatal neurons. Dopamine signaling in the striatum involves phosphorylation-specific effects of the dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein Mr 32 kDa (DARPP-32), which regulates protein kinase A signaling. Genetic deletion of DARPP-32 attenuated ΔFosB expression measured after acute, but not repeated, THC administration in both the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens. THC was then acutely or repeatedly administered to wild-type (WT) and DARPP-32 knockout (KO) mice, and in vivo responses were measured. DARPP-32 KO mice exhibited enhanced acute THC-mediated hypolocomotion and developed greater tolerance to this response relative to the WT mice. Agonist-stimulated guanosine 5'-O-(3-[(35)S]thio)triphosphate ([(35)S]GTPγS) binding showed that cannabinoid-stimulated G-protein activity did not differ between DARPP-32 KO and WT mice treated with vehicle or repeated THC. These results indicate that D1Rs play a major role in THC-mediated ΔFosB induction in the forebrain, whereas the role of DARPP-32 in THC-mediated ΔFosB induction and modulation of motor activity appears to be more complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew F Lazenka
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (M.F.L., A.J.T., A.H.L., D.E.S., L.J.S.-S.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York (P.G., M.F.)
| | - Aaron J Tomarchio
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (M.F.L., A.J.T., A.H.L., D.E.S., L.J.S.-S.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York (P.G., M.F.)
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (M.F.L., A.J.T., A.H.L., D.E.S., L.J.S.-S.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York (P.G., M.F.)
| | - Paul Greengard
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (M.F.L., A.J.T., A.H.L., D.E.S., L.J.S.-S.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York (P.G., M.F.)
| | - Marc Flajolet
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (M.F.L., A.J.T., A.H.L., D.E.S., L.J.S.-S.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York (P.G., M.F.)
| | - Dana E Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (M.F.L., A.J.T., A.H.L., D.E.S., L.J.S.-S.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York (P.G., M.F.)
| | - Laura J Sim-Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (M.F.L., A.J.T., A.H.L., D.E.S., L.J.S.-S.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York (P.G., M.F.)
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17
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Abstract
The physiological and pathophysiological functions of the endocannabinoid system have been studied extensively using transgenic and targeted knockout mouse models. The first gene deletions of the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor were described in the late 1990s, soon followed by CB(2) and FAAH mutations in early 2000. These mouse models helped to elucidate the fundamental role of endocannabinoids as retrograde transmitters in the CNS and in the discovery of many unexpected endocannabinoid functions, for example, in the skin, bone and liver. We now have knockout mouse models for almost every receptor and enzyme of the endocannabinoid system. Conditional mutant mice were mostly developed for the CB(1) receptor, which is widely expressed on many different neurons, astrocytes and microglia, as well as on many cells outside the CNS. These mouse strains include "floxed" CB(1) alleles and mice with a conditional re-expression of CB(1). The availability of these mice made it possible to decipher the function of CB(1) in specific neuronal circuits and cell populations or to discriminate between central and peripheral effects. Many of the genetic mouse models were also used in combination with viral expression systems. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing genetic models and to summarize some of the most important discoveries that were made with these animals.
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MESH Headings
- Amidohydrolases/genetics
- Amidohydrolases/metabolism
- Animals
- Endocannabinoids/genetics
- Endocannabinoids/metabolism
- Gene Deletion
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Genotype
- Humans
- Hydrolysis
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Monoacylglycerol Lipases/genetics
- Monoacylglycerol Lipases/metabolism
- Mutation
- Phenotype
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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18
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Wiebelhaus JM, Grim TW, Owens RA, Lazenka MF, Sim-Selley LJ, Abdullah RA, Niphakis MJ, Vann RE, Cravatt BF, Wiley JL, Negus SS, Lichtman AH. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and endocannabinoid degradative enzyme inhibitors attenuate intracranial self-stimulation in mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2014; 352:195-207. [PMID: 25398241 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.218677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence implicates endogenous cannabinoids as modulators of the mesolimbic dopamine system and motivated behavior. Paradoxically, the reinforcing effects of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis, have been difficult to detect in preclinical rodent models. In this study, we investigated the impact of THC and inhibitors of the endocannabinoid hydrolytic enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) on operant responding for electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle [intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS)], which is known to activate the mesolimbic dopamine system. These drugs were also tested in assays of operant responding for food reinforcement and spontaneous locomotor activity. THC and the MAGL inhibitor JZL184 (4-[bis(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)hydroxymethyl]-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid 4-nitrophenyl ester) attenuated operant responding for ICSS and food, and also reduced spontaneous locomotor activity. In contrast, the FAAH inhibitor PF-3845 (N-3-pyridinyl-4-[[3-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenyl]methyl]-1-piperidinecarboxamide) was largely without effect in these assays. Consistent with previous studies showing that combined inhibition of FAAH and MAGL produces a substantially greater cannabimimetic profile than single enzyme inhibition, the dual FAAH-MAGL inhibitor SA-57 (4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid 2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl ester) produced a similar magnitude of ICSS depression as that produced by THC. ICSS attenuation by JZL184 was associated with increased brain levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), whereas peak effects of SA-57 were associated with increased levels of both N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) and 2-AG. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 receptor antagonist rimonabant, but not the cannabinoid receptor type 2 receptor antagonist SR144528, blocked the attenuating effects of THC, JZL184, and SA-57 on ICSS. Thus, THC, MAGL inhibition, and dual FAAH-MAGL inhibition not only reduce ICSS, but also decrease other reinforced and nonreinforced behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Wiebelhaus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Travis W Grim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Robert A Owens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Matthew F Lazenka
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Laura J Sim-Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Rehab A Abdullah
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Micah J Niphakis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Robert E Vann
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Benjamin F Cravatt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Jenny L Wiley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - S Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (J.M.W., T.W.G., R.A.O., M.F.L., L.J.S.-S., R.A.A., R.E.V., S.S.N., A.H.L.); Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California (M.J.N., B.F.C.); and RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (J.L.W.)
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Lazenka MF, David BG, Lichtman AH, Nestler EJ, Selley DE, Sim-Selley LJ. Delta FosB and AP-1-mediated transcription modulate cannabinoid CB₁ receptor signaling and desensitization in striatal and limbic brain regions. Biochem Pharmacol 2014; 91:380-9. [PMID: 25093286 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2014.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Repeated Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration produces cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB₁R) desensitization and downregulation, as well as tolerance to its in vivo pharmacological effects. However, the magnitude of CB₁R desensitization varies by brain region, with CB₁Rs in the striatum and its output nuclei undergoing less desensitization than other regions. A growing body of data indicates that regional differences in CB₁R desensitization are produced, in part, by THC-mediated induction of the stable transcription factor, ΔFosB, and subsequent regulation of CB₁Rs. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether THC-mediated induction of ΔFosB in the striatum inhibits CB₁R desensitization in the striatum and output nuclei. This hypothesis was tested using bitransgenic mice with inducible expression of ΔFosB or ΔcJun, a dominant negative inhibitor of AP-1-mediated transcription, in specific forebrain regions. Mice were treated repeatedly with escalating doses of THC or vehicle for 6.5 days, and CB₁R-mediated G-protein activation was assessed using CP55,940-stimulated [(35)S]GTPγS autoradiography. Overexpression of ΔFosB in striatal dopamine type 1 receptor-containing (D1R) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) attenuated CB₁R desensitization in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area (VTA) and amygdala. Expression of ΔcJun in striatal D1R- and dopamine type 2 receptor (D2R)-containing MSNs enhanced CB₁R desensitization in the caudate-putamen and attenuated desensitization in the hippocampus and VTA. THC-mediated in vivo pharmacological effects were then assessed in ΔcJun-expressing mice. Tolerance to THC-mediated hypomotility was enhanced in ΔcJun-expressing mice. These data reveal that ΔFosB and possibly other AP-1 binding proteins regulate CB₁R signaling and adaptation in the striatum and limbic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew F Lazenka
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Bethany G David
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dana E Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Laura J Sim-Selley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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20
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Active, phosphorylated fingolimod inhibits histone deacetylases and facilitates fear extinction memory. Nat Neurosci 2014; 17:971-80. [PMID: 24859201 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
FTY720 (fingolimod), an FDA-approved drug for treatment of multiple sclerosis, has beneficial effects in the CNS that are not yet well understood, independent of its effects on immune cell trafficking. We show that FTY720 enters the nucleus, where it is phosphorylated by sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2), and that nuclear FTY720-P binds and inhibits class I histone deacetylases (HDACs), enhancing specific histone acetylations. FTY720 is also phosphorylated in mice and accumulates in the brain, including the hippocampus, inhibits HDACs and enhances histone acetylation and gene expression programs associated with memory and learning, and rescues memory deficits independently of its immunosuppressive actions. Sphk2(-/-) mice have lower levels of hippocampal sphingosine-1-phosphate, an endogenous HDAC inhibitor, and reduced histone acetylation, and display deficits in spatial memory and impaired contextual fear extinction. Thus, sphingosine-1-phosphate and SphK2 play specific roles in memory functions and FTY720 may be a useful adjuvant therapy to facilitate extinction of aversive memories.
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