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Joushi S, Taherizadeh Z, Eghbalian M, Esmaeilpour K, Sheibani V. Boosting decision-making in rat models of early-life adversity with environmental enrichment and intranasal oxytocin. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107050. [PMID: 38677097 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Impaired decision-making constitutes a fundamental issue in numerous psychiatric disorders. Extensive research has established that early life adversity (ELA) increases vulnerability to psychiatric disorders later in life. ELA in human neonates is associated with changes in cognitive, emotional, as well as reward-related processing. Maternal separation (MS) is an established animal model of ELA and has been shown to be associated with decision-making deficits. On the other hand, enriched environment (EE) and intranasal oxytocin (OT) administration have been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on decision-making in humans or animals. Given these considerations, our investigation sought to explore the impact of brief exposure to EE and intranasal OT administration on the decision-making abilities of adolescent rats that had experienced MS during infancy. The experimental protocol involved subjecting rat pups to the MS regimen for 180 min per day from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND 21. Then, from PND 22 to PND 34, the rats were exposed to EE and/or received intranasal OT (2 μg/μl) for seven days. The assessment of decision-making abilities, using a rat gambling task (RGT), commenced during adolescence. Our findings revealed that MS led to impaired decision-making and a decreased percentage of advantageous choices. However, exposure to brief EE or intranasal OT administration mitigated the deficits induced by MS and improved the decision-making skills of maternally-separated rats. Furthermore, combination of these treatments did not yield additional benefits. These results suggest that EE and OT may hold promise as therapeutic interventions to enhance certain aspects of cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Joushi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Zahra Taherizadeh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mostafa Eghbalian
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Esmaeilpour
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Vahid Sheibani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
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2
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García-Cabrerizo R, Cryan JF. A gut (microbiome) feeling about addiction: Interactions with stress and social systems. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100629. [PMID: 38584880 PMCID: PMC10995916 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing attention has given to the intricate and diverse connection of microorganisms residing in our gut and their impact on brain health and central nervous system disease. There has been a shift in mindset to understand that drug addiction is not merely a condition that affects the brain, it is now being recognized as a disorder that also involves external factors such as the intestinal microbiota, which could influence vulnerability and the development of addictive behaviors. Furthermore, stress and social interactions, which are closely linked to the intestinal microbiota, are powerful modulators of addiction. This review delves into the mechanisms through which the microbiota-stress-immune axis may shape drug addiction and social behaviors. This work integrates preclinical and clinical evidence that demonstrate the bidirectional communication between stress, social behaviors, substance use disorders and the gut microbiota, suggesting that gut microbes might modulate social stress having a significance in drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén García-Cabrerizo
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - John F. Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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3
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Donovan A, Assari S, Grella C, Shaheen M, Richter L, Friedman TC. Neuroendocrine mechanisms in the links between early life stress, affect, and youth substance use: A conceptual model for the study of sex and gender differences. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 73:101121. [PMID: 38253240 PMCID: PMC11088508 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2024.101121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) is defined as an acute or chronic stressor that negatively impacts a child's development. ELS is associated with substance use and mental health problems. This narrative literature review focuses on sex and gender differences in the effects of ELS on 1) adolescent neuroendocrine development; 2) pubertal brain maturation; and 3) development of internalizing symptoms and subsequent substance use. We posit that ELS may generate larger hormonal dysregulation in females than males during puberty, increasing internalizing symptoms and substance use. Future research should consider sex and gender differences in neuroendocrine developmental processes when studying the link between ELS and negative health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Donovan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Shervin Assari
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA; Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Christine Grella
- Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 10911 Weyburn Ave, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90024-2886, USA.
| | - Magda Shaheen
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Linda Richter
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA; Partnership to End Addiction, 711 Third Ave, 5(th) Floor, Suite 500, New York City, NY 10017, USA.
| | - Theodore C Friedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
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Assari S, Sheikhattari P. Sex Differences in the Relationship Between Nucleus Accumbens Volume and Youth Tobacco or Marijuana Use Following Stressful Life Events. JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH & CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 8:1-13. [PMID: 38751734 PMCID: PMC11095827 DOI: 10.29245/2578-2959/2024/2.1305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Background Exposure to stressful life events (SLEs) can upset balance and affect the healthy brain development of children and youths. These events may influence substance use by altering brain reward systems, especially the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which plays a key role in motivated behaviors and reward processing. The interaction between sensitization to SLEs, depression, and substance use might vary between male and female youths, potentially due to differences in how each sex responds to SLEs. Aims This study aims to examine the effect of sex on the relationship between SLEs, Nucleus Accumbens activity, and substance use in a nationwide sample of young individuals. Methods We utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (ABCD), a longitudinal study of pre-adolescents aged 9-10 years, comprising 11,795 participants tracked over 36 months. Structured interviews measuring SLEs were conducted using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS). Initial linear regression analyses explored if SLEs could predict volumes of the right and left NAc. Subsequently, Cox regression models were used to investigate how SLEs and NAc volume might predict the initiation of tobacco and marijuana use, with the analysis stratified by sex to address potential sex differences. Results Our findings reveal that SLEs significantly predicted marijuana use in males but not in females, and tobacco use was influenced by SLEs in both sexes. A higher number of SLEs was linked with decreased left NAc volume in males, a trend not seen in females. The right NAc volume did not predict substance use in either sex. However, volumes of both the right and left NAc were significant predictors of future tobacco use, with varying relationships across sexes. In females, an inverse relationship was observed between both NAc volumes and the risk of tobacco use. In contrast, a positive correlation existed between the left NAc volume and tobacco and marijuana use in males, with no such relationship for females. Conclusion This study underscores that the associations between SLEs, NAc volume, and subsequent substance use are influenced by a nuanced interplay of sex, brain hemisphere, and substance type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Assari
- Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Urban Public Health, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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5
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Coelho A, Lima-Bastos S, Gobira P, Lisboa S. Endocannabinoid signaling and epigenetics modifications in the neurobiology of stress-related disorders. Neuronal Signal 2023; 7:NS20220034. [PMID: 37520658 PMCID: PMC10372471 DOI: 10.1042/ns20220034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress exposure is associated with psychiatric conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also a vulnerability factor to developing or reinstating substance use disorder. Stress causes several changes in the neuro-immune-endocrine axis, potentially resulting in prolonged dysfunction and diseases. Changes in several transmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glucocorticoids, and cytokines, are associated with psychiatric disorders or behavioral alterations in preclinical studies. Complex and interacting mechanisms make it very difficult to understand the physiopathology of psychiatry conditions; therefore, studying regulatory mechanisms that impact these alterations is a good approach. In the last decades, the impact of stress on biology through epigenetic markers, which directly impact gene expression, is under intense investigation; these mechanisms are associated with behavioral alterations in animal models after stress or drug exposure, for example. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system modulates stress response, reward circuits, and other physiological functions, including hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and immune response. eCBs, for example, act retrogradely at presynaptic neurons, limiting the release of neurotransmitters, a mechanism implicated in the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects after stress. Epigenetic mechanisms can impact the expression of eCB system molecules, which in turn can regulate epigenetic mechanisms. This review will present evidence of how the eCB system and epigenetic mechanisms interact and the consequences of this interaction in modulating behavioral changes after stress exposure in preclinical studies or psychiatric conditions. Moreover, evidence that correlates the involvement of the eCB system and epigenetic mechanisms in drug abuse contexts will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur A. Coelho
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sávio Lima-Bastos
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro H. Gobira
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sabrina F. Lisboa
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
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Bardo MT, Chandler CM, Denehy ED, Carper BA, Prendergast MA, Nolen TL. Effect of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist PT150 on acquisition and escalation of fentanyl self-administration following early-life stress. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2023; 31:362-369. [PMID: 35587421 PMCID: PMC10084834 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
There is comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder (OUD), perhaps because PTSD-like stressful experiences early in life alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress axis to increase the risk for OUD. The present study determined if the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist PT150 reduces the escalation of fentanyl intake in rats exposed to a "two-hit" model of early-life stress (isolation rearing and acute stress). Male and female rats were raised during adolescence in either isolated or social housing and then were given either a single acute stress (restraint and cold-water swim) or control treatment in young adulthood. Rats were then treated daily with PT150 (50 mg/kg, oral) or placebo and were tested for acquisition of fentanyl self-administration in 1-hr sessions, followed by escalation across 6-hr sessions. Regardless of PT150 treatment or sex, acquisition of fentanyl self-administration in 1-hr sessions was greater in isolate-housed rats compared to social-housed rats; the acute stress manipulation did not have an effect on self-administration even though it transiently increased plasma corticosterone levels. During the 6-hr sessions, escalation of fentanyl was observed across all treatment groups; however, there was a significant PT150 Treatment × Sex interaction. While males self-administered more than females overall, PT150 decreased intake in males and increased intake in females, thus negating the sex difference. Although PT150 may serve as an effective treatment for reducing the risk of OUD following early-life stress in males, further work is needed to determine the mechanism underlying the differential effects of PT150 in males and females. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emily D. Denehy
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 40536, USA
| | | | | | - Tracy L. Nolen
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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7
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Halladay LR, Herron SM. Lasting impact of postnatal maternal separation on the developing BNST: Lifelong socioemotional consequences. Neuropharmacology 2023; 225:109404. [PMID: 36572178 PMCID: PMC9926961 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nearly one percent of children in the US experience childhood neglect or abuse, which can incite lifelong emotional and behavioral disorders. Many studies investigating the neural underpinnings of maleffects inflicted by early life stress have largely focused on dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Newer veins of evidence suggest that exposure to early life stressors can interrupt neural development in extrahypothalamic areas as well, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). One widely used approach in this area is rodent maternal separation (MS), which typically consists of separating pups from the dam for extended periods of time, over several days during the first weeks of postnatal life - a time when pups are highly dependent on maternal care for survival. MS has been shown to incite myriad lasting effects not limited to increased anxiety-like behavior, hyper-responsiveness to stressors, and social behavior deficits. The behavioral effects of MS are widespread and thus unlikely to be limited to hypothalamic mechanisms. Recent work has highlighted the BNST as a critical arbiter of some of the consequences of MS, especially socioemotional behavioral deficits. The BNST is a well-documented modulator of anxiety, reward, and social behavior by way of its connections with hypothalamic and extra-hypothalamic systems. Moreover, during the postnatal period when MS is typically administered, the BNST undergoes critical neural developmental events. This review highlights evidence that MS interferes with neural development to permanently alter BNST circuitry, which may account for a variety of behavioral deficits seen following early life stress. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Fear, Anxiety and PTSD'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay R Halladay
- Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA, 95053, USA.
| | - Steven M Herron
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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8
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Hulme PA, Wegehaupt M, Kupzyk KA, French JA. An approach for studying the contributions of childhood sexual abuse and HPA axis dysregulation to substance use disorders. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2023; 42:9-17. [PMID: 36842834 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2022.12.003] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
An environmental risk factor for substance abuse and dependence is childhood sexual abuse (CSA). We piloted an approach we developed to test the hypothesis that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation from the stress of CSA is a biological mediator. We based our hypothesis on the allostasis model. New admissions to residential treatment for substance use disorders (N = 41) were evaluated for CSA history and two HPA axis regulation measures at baseline, one month, and two months. The two HPA axis regulation measures were morning cortisol level and the dexamethasone suppression test. Five potential covariates were also measured to increase reliability of the findings. Feasibility outcomes were mostly favorable, and included rates of participation (57 %), attrition (46 % at one month and 71 % at two months), and compliance with data collection procedures (87 % for morning cortisol level and 84 % for the dexamethasone suppression test). High attrition rates at one and two months were entirely attributable to high rates of leaving treatment, an important consideration for future studies. Baseline correlations among variables showed a significant negative correlation between dexamethasone suppression and perceived stress, a potential covariate (rho = -0.458). This finding suggests that individuals with lower stress levels have better negative feedback regulation of the HPA axis, which results in the benefit of lower cortisol exposure-a finding congruent with the allostasis model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polly A Hulme
- College of Nursing, South Dakota State University, 1060 Campanile Ave, Brookings, SD 57007, United States of America.
| | | | - Kevin A Kupzyk
- College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 4111 Dewey Ave., Omaha, NE 68198-5330, United States of America.
| | - Jeffrey A French
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182, United States of America.
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9
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Local CRF and oxytocin receptors correlate with female experience-driven avoidance change and hippocampal neuronal plasticity. Neurochem Int 2023; 163:105485. [PMID: 36623734 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how experiences affect females' behaviors and neuronal plasticity is essential for uncovering the mechanism of neurodevelopmental disorders. The study explored how neonatal maternal deprivation (MD) and post-weaning environmental enrichment (EE) impacted the CA1 and DG's neuronal plasticity in the dorsal hippocampus, and its relationships with passive avoidance, local corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) levels, and oxytocin receptor (OTR) levels in female BALB/c mice. The results showed that MD damaged passive avoidance induced by foot shock and hotness, and EE restored it partially. In the CA1, MD raised CRF levels and OTR levels. Parallelly, MD increased synaptic connection levels but reduced the branches' numbers of pyramidal neurons. Meanwhile, in the DG, MD increased OTR levels but lowered CRF levels, DNA levels, and spine densities. EE did not change the CA1 and DG's CRF and OTR levels. However, EE added DG's dendrites of granular cells. The additive of MD and EE raised CA1's synaptophysin and DG's postsynaptic density protein-95 and OTR levels, and meanwhile, shaped avoidance behaviors primarily similar to the control. The results suggest that experience-driven avoidance change and hippocampal neuronal plasticity are associated with local CRF and OTR levels in female mice.
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10
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Mantsch JR. Corticotropin releasing factor and drug seeking in substance use disorders: Preclinical evidence and translational limitations. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 4:100038. [PMID: 36531188 PMCID: PMC9757758 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), has been an enigmatic target for the development of medications aimed at treating stress-related disorders. Despite a large body of evidence from preclinical studies in rodents demonstrating that CRF receptor antagonists prevent stressor-induced drug seeking, medications targeting the CRF-R1 have failed in clinical trials. Here, we provide an overview of the abundant findings from preclinical rodent studies suggesting that CRF signaling is involved in stressor-induced relapse. The scientific literature that has defined the receptors, mechanisms and neurocircuits through which CRF contributes to stressor-induced reinstatement of drug seeking following self-administration and conditioned place preference in rodents is reviewed. Evidence that CRF signaling is recruited with repeated drug use in a manner that heightens susceptibility to stressor-induced drug seeking in rodents is presented. Factors that may determine the influence of CRF signaling in substance use disorders, including developmental windows, biological sex, and genetics are examined. Finally, we discuss the translational failure of medications targeting CRF signaling as interventions for substance use disorders and other stress-related conditions. We conclude that new perspectives and research directions are needed to unravel the mysterious role of CRF in substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Mantsch
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
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11
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Wei F, Xian D, He Y, Yan Z, Deng X, Chen Y, Zhao L, Zhang Y, Li W, Ma B, Zhang J, Jing Y. Effects of maternal deprivation and environmental enrichment on anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors correlate with oxytocin system and CRH level in the medial-lateral habenula. Peptides 2022; 158:170882. [PMID: 36150631 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2022.170882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The medial-lateral habenula (LHbM)'s role in anxiety and depression behaviors in female mice remains unclear. Here, we used neonatal maternal deprivation (MD) and post-weaning environmental enrichment (EE) to treat female BALB/c offspring and checked anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors as well as the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), oxytocin receptor (OTR), estrogen receptor-beta (ERβ) levels in their LHbM at adulthood. We found that MD enhanced state anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus-maze test, and EE caused trait anxiety-like behaviors in the open field test and depression-like behaviors in the tail suspension test. The immunochemistry showed that MD reduced OT immunoreactive neuron numbers in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus but increased OTR levels in the LHbM; EE increased CRH levels in the LHbM but decreased OTR levels in the LHbM. The additive effects of EE and MD maintained the behavioral parameters, OT-ir neuronal numbers, CRH levels, and OTR levels similar to the additive of non-MD and non-EE. The correlation analysis showed that CRH levels correlated with synaptic connection levels, OTR levels correlated with nucleus densities, and ERβ levels correlated with Nissl body levels and body weights in female mice. Neither MD nor EE affected ERβ levels in the LHbM. Together, the study revealed the relationships between behaviors and neuroendocrine and neuronal alterations in female LHbM and the effects of experiences including MD and EE on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengmei Wei
- Department of Physiology and Psychology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China; Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
| | - Donghua Xian
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Yunqing He
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Ziqing Yan
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Xiao Deng
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Yajie Chen
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University First Affiliated Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Yishu Zhang
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Wenhao Li
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Bo Ma
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shanxi, 710021, PR China.
| | - Yuhong Jing
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
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12
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Chandler CM, Shaykin JD, Peng H, Pauly JR, Nixon K, Bardo MT. Effects of voluntary adolescent intermittent alcohol exposure and social isolation on adult alcohol intake in male rats. Alcohol 2022; 104:13-21. [PMID: 35981637 PMCID: PMC10806401 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Initiating alcohol use in adolescence significantly increases the likelihood of developing adult alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, it has been difficult to replicate adolescent alcohol exposure leading to increased adult alcohol intake across differing preclinical models. In the present study, differentially housed male rats (group vs. single cages) were used to determine the effects of voluntary intermittent exposure of saccharin-sweetened ethanol during adolescence on adult intake of unsweetened 20% ethanol. Adolescent male rats were assigned to group- or isolated-housing conditions and underwent an intermittent 2-bottle choice in adolescence (water only or water vs. 0.2% saccharin/20% ethanol), and again in adulthood (water vs. 20% ethanol). Intermittent 2-bottle choice sessions lasted for 24 h, and occurred three days per week, for five weeks. Rats were moved from group or isolated housing to single-housing cages for 2-bottle choice tests and returned to their original housing condition on off days. During adolescence, rats raised in isolated-housing conditions consumed significantly more sweetened ethanol than rats raised in group-housing conditions, an effect that was enhanced across repeated exposures. In adulthood, rats raised in isolated-housing conditions and exposed to sweetened ethanol during adolescence also consumed significantly higher levels of unsweetened 20% ethanol compared to group-housed rats. The effect was most pronounced over the first five re-exposure sessions. Housing conditions alone had little effect on adult ethanol intake. These preclinical results suggest that social isolation stress, combined with adolescent ethanol exposure, may play a key role in adult AUD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie M Chandler
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
| | - Jakob D Shaykin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
| | - Hui Peng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
| | - James R Pauly
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
| | - Kimberly Nixon
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States.
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
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13
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Malone SG, Shaykin JD, Stairs DJ, Bardo MT. Neurobehavioral effects of environmental enrichment and drug abuse vulnerability: An updated review. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 221:173471. [PMID: 36228739 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment consisting of social peers and novel objects is known to alter neurobiological functioning and have an influence on the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse in preclinical rodent models. An earlier review from our laboratory (Stairs and Bardo, 2009) provided an overview of enrichment-specific changes in addiction-like behaviors and neurobiology. The current review updates the literature in this extensive field. Key findings from this updated review indicate that enrichment produces positive outcomes in drug abuse vulnerability beyond just psychostimulants. Additionally, recent studies indicate that enrichment activates key genes involved in cell proliferation and protein synthesis in nucleus accumbens and enhances growth factors in hippocampus and neurotransmitter signaling pathways in prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hypothalamus. Remaining gaps in the literature and future directions for environmental enrichment and drug abuse research are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha G Malone
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, BBSRB, 741 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jakob D Shaykin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, BBSRB, 741 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Dustin J Stairs
- Department of Psychological Science, Creighton University, Hixson-Lied Science Building, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, BBSRB, 741 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, USA.
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14
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Hamdan JN, Sierra-Fonseca JA, Flores RJ, Saucedo S, Miranda-Arango M, O’Dell LE, Gosselink KL. Early-life adversity increases anxiety-like behavior and modifies synaptic protein expression in a region-specific manner. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1008556. [PMID: 36338879 PMCID: PMC9626971 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1008556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity (ELA) can induce persistent neurological changes and increase the risk for developing affective or substance use disorders. Disruptions to the reward circuitry of the brain and pathways serving motivation and emotion have been implicated in the link between ELA and altered adult behavior. The molecular mechanisms that mediate the long-term effects of ELA, however, are not fully understood. We examined whether ELA in the form of neonatal maternal separation (MatSep) modifies behavior and synaptic protein expression in adults. We hypothesized that MatSep would affect dopaminergic and glutamatergic signaling and enhance sensitivity to methamphetamine (Meth) reward or increase anxiety. Male Wistar rats were subjected to MatSep for 180 min/d on postnatal days (PND) 2-14 and allowed to grow to adulthood (PND 60) with no further manipulation. The hippocampus (Hipp), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and caudate putamen (CPu) were isolated from one subgroup of animals and subjected to Western blot and protein quantitation for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), α-synuclein (ALPHA), NMDA receptor (NMDAR), dopamine receptor-1 (D1) and -2 (D2), dopamine transporter (DAT), and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95). Separate group of animals were tested for anxiety-like behavior and conditioned place preference (CPP) to Meth at 0.0, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/kg doses. MatSep rats displayed an increase in basal levels of anxiety-like behavior compared to control animals. MatSep rats also demonstrated CPP to Meth, but their responses did not differ significantly from controls at any drug dose. Increased NMDAR, D2, and ALPHA expression was observed in the NAc and CPu following MatSep; D2 and ALPHA levels were also elevated in the mPFC, along with DAT. MatSep rats had reduced D1 expression in the mPFC and Hipp, with the Hipp also showing a reduction in D2. Only the CPu showed elevated TH and decreased DAT expression levels. No significant changes were found in PSD95 expression in MatSep rats. In conclusion, ELA is associated with long-lasting and region-specific changes in synaptic protein expression that diminish dopamine neurotransmission and increase anxiety-like behavior in adults. These findings illustrate potential mechanisms through which ELA may increase vulnerability to stress-related illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameel N. Hamdan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- Antharis Therapeutics, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jorge A. Sierra-Fonseca
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- Department of Science, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Rodolfo J. Flores
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sigifredo Saucedo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Manuel Miranda-Arango
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Laura E. O’Dell
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Kristin L. Gosselink
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- Department of Physiology and Pathology, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM, United States
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15
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Experiences Shape Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and the Local Levels of CRHR1 and OTR. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2022:10.1007/s10571-022-01292-7. [PMID: 36239833 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01292-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal hippocampus is involved in behavioral avoidance regulation. It is unclear how experiences such as the neonatal stress of maternal deprivation (MD) and post-weaning environmental enrichment (EE) affect avoidance behavior and the dorsal hippocampal parameters, including neuronal morphology, corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) signaling, and oxytocin receptor (OTR) level. In male BALB/c mice, we found that MD impaired avoidance behavior in the step-on test compared to non-MD and EE rearing conditions could alleviate that partially. MD increased neuronal branches in the CA1 but decreased synaptic connection levels in the CA2, CA3, and DG. Meanwhile, MD increased the CA1's OTR levels, which negatively correlated with nucleus densities. MD also increased the CA1's and CA2's CRH levels, which positively correlated with CRHR1 levels. However, MD statistically elevated the CA3's CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) levels, which negatively correlated with nucleus densities and, probably, synaptic connection levels in the CA3. The additive effects of MD and EE maintained similar CRH levels and CRHR1 levels as well as OTR levels in the hippocampal areas as the additive of non-MD and non-EE. However, the presence of MD and EE still decreased the CA1's neuronal branches and the CA2's and DG's synaptic connection levels. The study illustrates how MD and EE affect avoidance behaviors, hippocampal neuron morphology, and CRH and OTR levels. The results indicate that the late-life environmental improvement partially restores the alterations in dorsal hippocampal areas induced by early life stress.
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Smith JA, Eikenberry SA, Scott KA, Baumer-Harrison C, de Lartigue G, de Kloet AD, Krause EG. Oxytocin and cardiometabolic interoception: Knowing oneself affects ingestive and social behaviors. Appetite 2022; 175:106054. [PMID: 35447163 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining homeostasis while navigating one's environment involves accurately assessing and interacting with external stimuli while remaining consciously in tune with internal signals such as hunger and thirst. Both atypical social interactions and unhealthy eating patterns emerge as a result of dysregulation in factors that mediate the prioritization and attention to salient stimuli. Oxytocin is an evolutionarily conserved peptide that regulates attention to exteroceptive and interoceptive stimuli in a social environment by functioning in the brain as a modulatory neuropeptide to control social behavior, but also in the periphery as a hormone acting at oxytocin receptors (Oxtr) expressed in the heart, gut, and peripheral ganglia. Specialized sensory afferent nerve endings of Oxtr-expressing nodose ganglia cells transmit cardiometabolic signals via the Vagus nerve to integrative regions in the brain that also express Oxtr(s). These brain regions are influenced by vagal sensory pathways and coordinate with external events such as those demanding attention to social stimuli, thus the sensations related to cardiometabolic function and social interactions are influenced by oxytocin signaling. This review investigates the literature supporting the idea that oxytocin mediates the interoception of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems, and that the modulation of this awareness likewise influences social cognition. These concepts are then considered in relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder, exploring how atypical social behavior is comorbid with cardiometabolic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Smith
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sophia A Eikenberry
- Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Karen A Scott
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Caitlin Baumer-Harrison
- Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Guillaume de Lartigue
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Annette D de Kloet
- Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Eric G Krause
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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17
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Takayanagi Y, Onaka T. Roles of Oxytocin in Stress Responses, Allostasis and Resilience. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010150. [PMID: 35008574 PMCID: PMC8745417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin has been revealed to work for anxiety suppression and anti-stress as well as for psychosocial behavior and reproductive functions. Oxytocin neurons are activated by various stressful stimuli. The oxytocin receptor is widely distributed within the brain, and oxytocin that is released or diffused affects behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses. On the other hand, there has been an increasing number of reports on the role of oxytocin in allostasis and resilience. It has been shown that oxytocin maintains homeostasis, shifts the set point for adaptation to a changing environment (allostasis) and contributes to recovery from the shifted set point by inducing active coping responses to stressful stimuli (resilience). Recent studies have suggested that oxytocin is also involved in stress-related disorders, and it has been shown in clinical trials that oxytocin provides therapeutic benefits for patients diagnosed with stress-related disorders. This review includes the latest information on the role of oxytocin in stress responses and adaptation.
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18
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O'Dell LE, Koob GF, Nazarian A. Vulnerability to substance abuse: A consideration of allostatic loading factors. Neuropharmacology 2021; 199:108767. [PMID: 34454910 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E O'Dell
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
| | - George F Koob
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Arbi Nazarian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA.
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19
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Onaka T, Takayanagi Y. The oxytocin system and early-life experience-dependent plastic changes. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e13049. [PMID: 34713517 PMCID: PMC9286573 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Early-life experience influences social and emotional behaviour in adulthood. Affiliative tactile stimuli in early life facilitate the development of social and emotional behaviour, whereas early-life adverse stimuli have been shown to increase the risk of various diseases in later life. On the other hand, oxytocin has been shown to have organizational actions during early-life stages. However, the detailed mechanisms of the effects of early-life experience and oxytocin remain unclear. Here, we review the effects of affiliative tactile stimuli during the neonatal period and neonatal oxytocin treatment on the activity of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system and social or emotional behaviour in adulthood. Both affiliative tactile stimuli and early-life adverse stimuli in the neonatal period acutely activate the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system in the brain but modulate social behaviour and anxiety-related behaviour apparently in an opposite direction in adulthood. Accumulating evidence suggests that affiliative tactile stimuli and exogenous application of oxytocin in early-life stages induce higher activity of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system in adulthood, although the effects are dependent on experimental procedures, sex, dosages and brain regions examined. On the other hand, early-life stressful stimuli appear to induce reduced activity of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system, possibly leading to adverse actions in adulthood. It is possible that activation of a specific oxytocin system can induce beneficial actions against early-life maltreatments and thus could be used for the treatment of developmental psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsushi Onaka
- Division of Brain and NeurophysiologyDepartment of PhysiologyJichi Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
| | - Yuki Takayanagi
- Division of Brain and NeurophysiologyDepartment of PhysiologyJichi Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
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