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Bodnar RJ. Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2023. Peptides 2024; 179:171268. [PMID: 38943841 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171268] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
This paper is the forty-sixth consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2023 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug and alcohol abuse (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Psychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, USA.
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2
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Maitland AD, McGriff SA, Glatfelter GC, Schindler CW, Baumann MH. Reinforcing effects of fentanyl analogs found in illicit drug markets. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06641-6. [PMID: 38965085 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06641-6] [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: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The potent synthetic opioid fentanyl, and its analogs, continue to drive opioid-related overdoses. Although the pharmacology of fentanyl is well characterized, there is little information about the reinforcing effects of clandestine fentanyl analogs (FAs). OBJECTIVES Here, we compared the effects of fentanyl and the FAs acetylfentanyl, butyrylfentanyl, and cyclopropylfentanyl on drug self-administration in male and female rats. These FAs feature chemical modifications at the carbonyl moiety of the fentanyl scaffold. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats fitted with intravenous jugular catheters were placed in chambers containing two nose poke holes. Active nose poke responses resulted in drug delivery (0.2 mL) over 2 s on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule, followed by a 20 s timeout. Acquisition doses were 0.01 mg/kg/inj for fentanyl and cyclopropylfentanyl, and 0.03 mg/kg/inj for acetylfentanyl and butyrylfentanyl. After 10 days of acquisition, dose-effect testing was carried out, followed by 10 days of saline extinction. RESULTS Self-administration of fentanyl and FAs was acquired by both male and female rats, with no sex differences in acquisition rate. Fentanyl and FAs showed partial inverted-U dose-effect functions; cyclopropylfentanyl and fentanyl had similar potency, while acetylfentanyl and butyrylfentanyl were less potent. Maximal response rates were similar across drugs, with fentanyl and cyclopropylfentanyl showing maximum responding at 0.001 mg/kg/inj, acetylfentanyl at 0.01 mg/kg/inj, and butyrylfentanyl at 0.003 mg/kg/inj. No sex differences were detected for drug potency, efficacy, or rates of extinction. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides new evidence that FAs display significant abuse liability in male and female rats, which suggests the potential for compulsive use in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D Maitland
- Designer Drug Research Unit (DDRU), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), 333 Cassell Drive, Suite 4400, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Shelby A McGriff
- Designer Drug Research Unit (DDRU), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), 333 Cassell Drive, Suite 4400, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Grant C Glatfelter
- Designer Drug Research Unit (DDRU), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), 333 Cassell Drive, Suite 4400, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Charles W Schindler
- Designer Drug Research Unit (DDRU), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), 333 Cassell Drive, Suite 4400, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Michael H Baumann
- Designer Drug Research Unit (DDRU), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), 333 Cassell Drive, Suite 4400, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Paz-Ramos MI, Violante-Soria V, Browne T, Cruz SL. Effects of fentanyl and the adulterant levamisole on the rewarding and locomotor effects of methamphetamine in rats. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 256:111098. [PMID: 38266573 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who use psychostimulant substances can be exposed to unknown adulterants, such as the synthetic opioid fentanyl (FEN) and the anthelmintic cholinergic agent levamisole (LEV). This work explores the rewarding and locomotor effects of methamphetamine (METH) in combination with FEN or LEV. METHODS We used adult male Wistar rats in the conditioned-place preference (CPP) paradigm (conditioning, extinction, and reinstatement phases) and in the open field test to study effective doses of METH, FEN, or LEV, or ineffective doses of METH+FEN or METH+LEV in combination. RESULTS METH and LEV, at 1mg/kg METH each, and 30µg/kg FEN produced CPP. Extinction to METH- or LEV-induced CPP occurred after eight saline injections, but it took 8-26 sessions to extinguish FEN-induced CPP. A challenge dose of 0.5mg/kg METH reinstated CPP. The same occurred with 15µg/kg FEN but not with 0.5 or 1mg/kg LEV. Training animals with ineffective doses of METH (0.01mg/kg) combined with either FEN (0.3µg/kg) or LEV (0.01mg/kg) produced CPP. Sub-effective doses of METH or FEN alone did not induce reinstatement after extinction. However, animals challenged with LEV, METH+FEN, or METH+LEV mixtures did it. Combining FEN (3µg/kg) with 0.1mg/kg METH increased locomotor activity. CONCLUSION Ineffective FEN and LEV doses mixed with METH produce effects larger than would be expected based on the effects of either drug alone. This outcome suggests a supra-additive interaction, which could increase the risk of developing a METH use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thom Browne
- Colombo Plan Secretariat, Drug Advisory Program, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Silvia L Cruz
- Center for Research and Advanced Studies, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Acevedo-Canabal A, Grim TW, Schmid CL, McFague N, Stahl EL, Kennedy NM, Bannister TD, Bohn LM. Hyperactivity in Mice Induced by Opioid Agonists with Partial Intrinsic Efficacy and Biased Agonism Administered Alone and in Combination with Morphine. Biomolecules 2023; 13:935. [PMID: 37371516 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid analgesics such as morphine and fentanyl induce mu-opioid receptor (MOR)-mediated hyperactivity in mice. Herein, we show that morphine, fentanyl, SR-17018, and oliceridine have submaximal intrinsic efficacy in the mouse striatum using 35S-GTPγS binding assays. While all of the agonists act as partial agonists for stimulating G protein coupling in striatum, morphine, fentanyl, and oliceridine are fully efficacious in stimulating locomotor activity; meanwhile, the noncompetitive biased agonists SR-17018 and SR-15099 produce submaximal hyperactivity. Moreover, the combination of SR-17018 and morphine attenuates hyperactivity while antinociceptive efficacy is increased. The combination of oliceridine with morphine increases hyperactivity, which is maintained over time. These findings provide evidence that noncompetitive agonists at MOR can be used to suppress morphine-induced hyperactivity while enhancing antinociceptive efficacy; moreover, they demonstrate that intrinsic efficacy measured at the receptor level is not directly proportional to drug efficacy in the locomotor activity assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Acevedo-Canabal
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Travis W Grim
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Cullen L Schmid
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Nina McFague
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Edward L Stahl
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Nicole M Kennedy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Thomas D Bannister
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Laura M Bohn
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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Varshneya NB, Hassanien SH, Holt MC, Stevens DL, Layle NK, Bassman JR, Iula DM, Beardsley PM. Fentanyl analog structure-activity relationships demonstrate N-acyl chain length and aryl fluorine position as determinants of in vivo potency efficacy and safety. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023:173572. [PMID: 37236405 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Opioid overdoses, particularly those involving fentanyl-related substances (FRS), present a significant public health challenge in the United States. This structure-activity relationship (SAR) study evaluated the relationship between the chemical structure of seventeen FRS and their in vivo mu-opioid-receptor (MOR) mediated effects. SAR evaluations included fluorine substitutions on the aniline or phenethyl ring and variations in N-acyl chain length. Adult male Swiss Webster mice were administered fluorinated regioisomers of fentanyl, butyrylfentantyl and valerylfentanyl, and compared to MOR standards including morphine, buprenorphine, and fentanyl to determine if they would elicit prototypical opioid-like effects including hyperlocomotion (open field test), antinociception (warm-water tail-withdrawal test), and hypoventilation (whole-body plethysmography test). To determine if the MOR was the pharmacological mechanism responsible for these effects, naltrexone or naloxone pretreatments were administered to evaluate their actions on FRS-induced antinociception and hypoventilation. There were three main findings. First, FRS elicited hyperlocomotion, antinociception, and hypoventilation in mice to varying degrees, similar to prototypical MOR standards. Second, the rank order of potencies for hypoventilatory effects of FRS with increasing N-acyl chain length (i.e., acetylfentanyl, fentanyl, butyrylfentanyl, valerylfentanyl, hexanoylfentanyl), phenethyl-fluorinated regioisomers (e.g., 2'-fluorofentanyl, 3'-fluorofentanyl, 4'-fluorofentanyl), and aniline-fluorinated regioisomers (e.g., ortho-fluorofentanyl, meta-fluorofentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl) were different for each series. Third, the degree of separation in potencies observed for the antinociceptive and hypoventilatory effects of these drugs did not always follow that which was observed for their antinociceptive and hyperlocomotor effects. This study of FRS establishes a SAR for in vivo MOR-mediated effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Varshneya
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Sherif H Hassanien
- Forensic Chemistry Division, Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Melissa C Holt
- Forensic Chemistry Division, Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - David L Stevens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Nathan K Layle
- Forensic Chemistry Division, Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jonathon R Bassman
- Forensic Chemistry Division, Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Donna M Iula
- Forensic Chemistry Division, Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Center for Biomarker Research & Precision Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
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Bilel S, Murari M, Pesavento S, Arfè R, Tirri M, Torroni L, Marti M, Tagliaro F, Gottardo R. Toxicity and behavioural effects of ocfentanil and 2-furanylfentanyl in zebrafish larvae and mice. Neurotoxicology 2023; 95:83-93. [PMID: 36634872 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.01.003] [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: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of the so-called New Psychoactive Substances represents a problem of global concern due to several factors, including multiplicity of structures, poorly known activity, short half-life in the market, lack of pure standards etc. Among these problems, of the highest relevance is also the lack of information about metabolism and adverse effects, which must be faced using simple and low-cost animal models. On these grounds, the present work has been carried out on 5 days post fertilization zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae in comparison with adult mice (Mus musculus). Ocfentanil and 2-furanylfentanyl were administered at different concentrations to zebrafish larvae (1, 10 µM) and mice (0.1, 1, 6, 15 mg/kg). The behavioural assay showed a decrease in basal locomotor activity in zebrafish, whereas in mice this effect was evident only after the mechanical stimulus. Larva extracts and mice urine were analysed by using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry to identify the metabolic pathways of the fentanyl analogs. For 2-furanylfentanyl, the most common biotransformations observed were hydroxylation, hydration and oxidation in zebrafish larvae, whereas mice produced mainly the dihydrodiol metabolite. Hydroxylation was the major route of metabolism for ocfentanil in zebrafish larvae, while in mice the O-demethylated derivative was the main metabolite. In addition, a study was conducted to evaluate morphological effects of the two drugs on zebrafish larvae. Malformations were noticeable only at the highest concentration of 2-furanylfentanyl, whereas no significant damage was observed with ocfentanil. In conclusion, the two animal models show similarities in behavioral response and in metabolism, considering the different biological investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bilel
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Murari
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - S Pesavento
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - R Arfè
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - L Torroni
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy; Collaborative Center of the National Early Warning System, Department for Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy
| | - F Tagliaro
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; "World-Class Research Center "Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare", Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - R Gottardo
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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