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Choudhary AG, Awathale SN, Dudhabhate BB, Pawar N, Jadhav G, Upadhya MA, Khedkar T, Gadhikar YA, Sakharkar AJ, Subhedar NK, Kokare DM. Response of nitrergic system in the brain of rat conditioned to intracranial self-stimulation. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38445395 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16090] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The role of nitrergic system in modulating the action of psychostimulants on reward processing is well established. However, the relevant anatomical underpinnings and scope of the involved interactions with mesolimbic dopaminergic system have not been clarified. Using immunohistochemistry, we track the changes in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) containing cell groups in the animals conditioned to intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) via an electrode implanted in the lateral hypothalamus-medial forebrain bundle (LH-MFB) area. An increase in the nNOS immunoreactivity was noticed in the cells and fibers in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh), the primary loci of the reward system. In addition, nNOS was up-regulated in the nucleus accumbens core (AcbC), vertical limb of diagonal band (VDB), locus coeruleus (LC), lateral hypothalamus (LH), superficial gray layer (SuG) of the superior colliculus, and periaqueductal gray (PAG). The brain tissue fragments drawn from these areas showed a change in nNOS mRNA expression, but in opposite direction. Intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of nNOS inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) showed decreased lever press activity in a dose-dependent manner in ICSS task. While an increase in the dopamine (DA) and 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) efflux was noted in the microdialysates collected from the AcbSh of ICSS rats, pre-administration of 7-NI (icv route) attenuated the response. The study identifies nitrergic centers that probably mediate sensory, cognitive, and motor components of the goal-directed behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Choudhary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
| | - Sanjay N Awathale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
| | - Biru B Dudhabhate
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
| | - Namrata Pawar
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Gouri Jadhav
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Manoj A Upadhya
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India
| | - Trupti Khedkar
- Department of Zoology, Nabira Mahavidyalay, Katol, India
| | - Yashashree A Gadhikar
- Department of Zoology, Government Vidarbha Institute of Science and Humanities, Amravati, India
| | - Amul J Sakharkar
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | | | - Dadasaheb M Kokare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
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Engel JA, Pålsson E, Vallöf D, Jerlhag E. Ghrelin activates the mesolimbic dopamine system via nitric oxide associated mechanisms in the ventral tegmental area. Nitric Oxide 2023; 131:1-7. [PMID: 36513266 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2022.12.001] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Besides enhanced feeding, the orexigenic peptide ghrelin activates the mesolimbic dopamine system to cause reward as measured by locomotor stimulation, dopamine release in nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS), and conditioned place preference. Although the ventral tegmental area (VTA) appears to be a central brain region for this ghrelin-reward, the underlying mechanisms within this area are unknown. The findings that the gaseous neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) modulate the ghrelin enhanced feeding, led us to hypothesize that ghrelin increases NO levels in the VTA, and thereby stimulates reward-related behaviors. We initially demonstrated that inhibition of NO synthesis blocked the ghrelin-induced activation of the mesolimbic dopamine system. We then established that antagonism of downstream signaling of NO in the VTA, namely sGC, prevents the ability of ghrelin to stimulate the mesolimbic dopamine system. The association of ghrelin to NO was further strengthened by in vivo electrochemical recordings showing that ghrelin enhances the NO release in the VTA. Besides a GABAB -receptor agonist, known to reduce NO and cGMP, blocks the stimulatory properties of ghrelin. The present series of experiments reveal that ablated NO signaling, through pharmacologically inhibiting the production of NO and/or cGMP, prevents the ability of ghrelin to induced reward-related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörgen A Engel
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Erik Pålsson
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Neurochemistry and Psychiatry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Daniel Vallöf
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Jerlhag
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Harris Bozer AL, Li AL, Sibi JE, Bobzean SAM, Peng YB, Perrotti LI. Local field potentials in the ventral tegmental area during cocaine-induced locomotor activation: Measurements in freely moving rats. Brain Res Bull 2016; 121:186-91. [PMID: 26855325 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been established as a critical nucleus for processing behavioral changes that occur during psychostimulant use. Although it is known that cocaine induced locomotor activity is initiated in the VTA, not much is known about the electrical activity in real time. The use of our custom-designed wireless module for recording local field potential (LFP) activity provides an opportunity to confirm and identify changes in neuronal activity within the VTA of freely moving rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in VTA LFP activity in real time that underlie cocaine induced changes in locomotor behavior. Recording electrodes were implanted in the VTA of rats. Locomotor behavior and LFP activity were simultaneously recorded at baseline, and after saline and cocaine injections. Results indicate that cocaine treatment caused increases in both locomotor behavior and LFP activity in the VTA. Specifically, LFP activity was highest during the first 30 min following the cocaine injection and was most robust in Delta and Theta frequency bands; indicating the role of low frequency VTA activity in the initiation of acute stimulant-induced locomotor behavior. Our results suggest that LFP recording in freely moving animals can be used in the future to provide valuable information pertaining to drug induced changes in neural activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber L Harris Bozer
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Ai-Ling Li
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Jiny E Sibi
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Samara A M Bobzean
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Yuan B Peng
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
| | - Linda I Perrotti
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
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Tolerance to cocaine in brain stimulation reward following continuous cocaine infusions. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2014; 122:246-52. [PMID: 24768900 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study examined tolerance to cocaine's threshold-lowering effect in brain stimulation reward (BSR) following continuous cocaine infusions and secondly, used the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to determine NO's involvement in the development of cocaine tolerance. Animals were continuously infused with saline or cocaine (30 mg/kg per day) via osmotic minipump for 14 days and injected daily with saline or L-NAME (30 mg/kg, i.p.) following BSR testing. Saline-treated animals continuously infused with saline showed stable BSR thresholds across the 14-day infusion period. Saline-treated animals continuously infused with cocaine showed markedly lowered BSR thresholds on Day 1 followed by a progressive increase in BSR thresholds across the infusion period - indicating the development of tolerance. L-NAME-treated animals continuously infused with cocaine showed stimulation thresholds that were not significantly different from saline-treated animals continuously infused with cocaine. A cocaine challenge injection (10 mg/kg, i.p.) administered 3 and again at 10 days following minipump removal revealed that saline-treated animals continuously infused with saline showed lowered BSR thresholds. Saline-treated animals continuously infused with cocaine displayed lowered BSR thresholds that were not significantly different from saline-infused animals. L-NAME treated animals continuously infused with cocaine showed higher BSR thresholds to a challenge 3 days following pump removal. However, stimulation thresholds for this group failed to reach statistical significance on both days (i.e., Days 3 and 10) following pump removal. Results showed that animals continuously infused with cocaine develop robust tolerance to cocaine's threshold-lowering effect during the 14-day infusion period. Tolerance to cocaine's threshold-lowering effect was short-lived and dissipated soon after minipump removal. L-NAME treatment failed to significantly alter the development of tolerance to cocaine's threshold-lowering suggesting that NO does not have a primary role in the development of cocaine tolerance.
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Interactions between N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor and GluR2 in the nucleus accumbens contribute to the expression of locomotor sensitization to cocaine. J Neurosci 2014; 34:3493-508. [PMID: 24599450 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2594-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have reported a withdrawal-dependent increase in synaptic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of cocaine-sensitized rats; however, the exact relationship between the expression of sensitization and altered AMPAR surface expression in the NAc has not yet been investigated. We demonstrated that the expression of behavioral sensitization was negatively controlled by N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF)-GluR2 interactions in the NAc. The upregulation of NSF-GluR2 interactions, which may be resulted by the increase in NSF S-nitrosylation after withdrawal from cocaine, was associated with the changes in the expression of behavioral sensitization. Disruption of NSF-GluR2 interactions in the NAc with a specific peptide, TAT-pep-R845A, increased the locomotor response of rats to cocaine by decreasing GluR2 surface insertion. In contrast, prevention of GluR2-containing AMPARs removal from synapses with Pep2-EVKI attenuated the expression of behavioral sensitization. Similarly, treatment with the nitric oxide donor, S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), attenuated the expression of locomotor sensitization by promoting GluR2 surface expression. This effect was mediated by the binding of S-nitrosylated NSF to GluR2, which promoted the surface expression of AMPARs. Noticeably, exogenous injection of SNAP into NAc also attenuated the expression of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference. Thus, these results indicate that increased NSF-GluR2 interactions in the NAc after withdrawal from cocaine attenuated the expression of behavioral sensitization and serves as a negative regulatory mechanism in drug-exposed individuals.
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Selvakumar B, Campbell PW, Milovanovic M, Park DJ, West AR, Snyder SH, Wolf ME. AMPA receptor upregulation in the nucleus accumbens shell of cocaine-sensitized rats depends upon S-nitrosylation of stargazin. Neuropharmacology 2013; 77:28-38. [PMID: 24035918 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Revised: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral sensitization to cocaine is associated with increased AMPA receptor (AMPAR) surface expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). This upregulation is withdrawal-dependent, as it is not detected on withdrawal day (WD) 1, but is observed on WD7-21. Its underlying mechanisms have not been clearly established. Nitric oxide (NO) regulates AMPAR trafficking in the brain by S-nitrosylation of the AMPAR auxiliary subunit, stargazin, leading to increased AMPAR surface expression. Our goal was to determine if stargazin S-nitrosylation contributes to AMPAR upregulation during sensitization. First, we measured stargazin S-nitrosylation in NAc core and shell subregions on WD14 after 8 daily injections of saline or 15 mg/kg cocaine. Stargazin S-nitrosylation was markedly increased in NAc shell but not core. To determine if this is associated with AMPAR upregulation, rats received 8 cocaine or saline injections followed by twice-daily treatments with vehicle or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-NAME (50 mg/kg) on WD1-6, the time when AMPAR upregulation is developing in cocaine-exposed rats. Cocaine/vehicle rats showed elevated stargazin and GluA1 surface expression on WD7 compared to saline/vehicle rats; the GluA1 increase was more robust in core, while stargazin increased more robustly in shell. These effects of cocaine were attenuated in shell but not core when cocaine injections were followed by l-NAME treatment on WD1-6. Together, these results indicate that elevated S-nitrosylation of stargazin contributes to AMPAR upregulation during sensitization selectively in the NAc shell. It is possible that AMPAR upregulation in core involves a different TARP, γ4, which also upregulates in the NAc of sensitized rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balakrishnan Selvakumar
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience and Departments of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Peter W Campbell
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL
| | - Mike Milovanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL
| | - Diana J Park
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL
| | - Anthony R West
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL
| | - Solomon H Snyder
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience and Departments of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Marina E Wolf
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL
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Pudiak CM, Bozarth MA. Effect of post-trial L-NAME administration on cocaine sensitization. Int J Neurosci 2013; 123:663-9. [PMID: 23550797 DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2013.791291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
This study determined if Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) administered after the cocaine-conditioning trial attenuated the development of sensitization to cocaine's locomotor-stimulating effect and secondly, determined if L-NAME blocked conditioned-locomotor activity (LMA) elicited by a saline-challenge injection. Results revealed that cocaine-injected animals (10 mg/kg, i.p.) showed enhanced locomotor activity across the three conditioning trials (all p's < .05). Cocaine-injected animals administered L-NAME (30 mg/kg, i.p.) after each conditioning trial showed a slight increase in cocaine-stimulated LMA from the first to the second conditioning trial (all p's < .05) and no further increases in LMA thereafter. A saline-challenge injection administered 72 hr after the last conditioning trial revealed that cocaine-injected animals displayed as much locomotor stimulation to a saline injection as they did during their initial exposure to cocaine on the first conditioning trial - indicating the development of cocaine-conditioned LMA. The present findings show that L-NAME administered after the cocaine-conditioning trial attenuates the development of sensitization to cocaine's locomotor-stimulating effect. The failure of L-NAME to block cocaine-conditioned LMA suggests that the pharmacological and conditioning mechanisms of sensitization can be dissociated. It is unlikely that L-NAME's effect is due to a sedative action produced by residual L-NAME since animals administered L-NAME (30 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days exhibited a similar responsiveness to a cocaine challenge administered 3 and 10 days following the termination of L-NAME administration. These data support a role for nitric oxide's involvement in the neuroadaptive responses that result from continued stimulant administration and demonstrate the importance of conditioned drug effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy M Pudiak
- Addiction Research Unit, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Ghanizadeh A. Oxidative stress may mediate association of stereotypy and immunity in autism, a novel explanation with clinical and research implications. J Neuroimmunol 2010; 232:194-5. [PMID: 21075458 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Ghanizadeh
- Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Hafez Hospital, Shiraz, Iran.
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Lee DK, Koh WCA, Shim YB, Shim I, Choe ES. Repeated cocaine administration increases nitric oxide efflux in the rat dorsal striatum. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2010; 208:245-56. [PMID: 19936712 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-009-1724-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2009] [Accepted: 11/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Repeated injections of cocaine alter extracellular nitric oxide (NO) efflux via interactions between dopamine and glutamate receptor-coupled signaling cascades. OBJECTIVES Putative cellular mechanisms underlying changes in NO efflux following repeated cocaine administration were investigated. METHODS Real-time detection of NO efflux using a NO biosensor was mainly performed in the rat dorsal striatum in vivo. RESULTS Repeated exposure to cocaine (20 mg/kg), once a day for seven consecutive days, increased NO levels. Repeated injections of cocaine also increased the phosphorylation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and inhibition of nNOS decreased the repeated cocaine-evoked increases in NO levels. Inhibition of protein kinase A, but not protein phosphatases, synergistically increased NO levels elevated by repeated cocaine injections. Blockade of dopamine D1 (D1) receptors or stimulation of dopamine D2 (D2) receptors decreased the repeated cocaine-evoked increases in NO levels. Similarly, blockade of N-methyl-D: -aspartate (NMDA) receptors and group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) or stimulation of group III mGluRs also decreased the repeated cocaine-evoked increases in NO levels. CONCLUSION Stimulation of D1 receptors or group I mGluRs following repeated cocaine administration upregulates NO efflux via an NMDA receptor-evoked Ca2+ influx, while stimulation of D2 receptors or group III mGluRs downregulates NO efflux. Dephosphorylation of phosphorylated nNOS by protein phosphatases is necessary for upregulating NO efflux in the dorsal striatum after repeated cocaine administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Kun Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, 30 Jangjeon-dong, Kumjeong-gu, Pusan, 609-735, South Korea
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Succu S, Sanna F, Cocco C, Melis T, Boi A, Ferri GL, Argiolas A, Melis MR. Oxytocin induces penile erection when injected into the ventral tegmental area of male rats: role of nitric oxide and cyclic GMP. Eur J Neurosci 2008; 28:813-21. [PMID: 18671741 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2008.06385.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (80 ng) injected into the caudal mesencephalic ventral tegmental area (VTA) of male rats induces penile erection. Such an effect occurs together with an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production, as measured by the augmented concentration of NO(2)(-) and NO(3)(-) found in the dialysate obtained from this brain area by means of intracerebral microdialysis. Both effects are abolished by d(CH(2))(5)Tyr(Me)(2)-Orn(8)-vasotocin (1 microg), an oxytocin receptor antagonist, by S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline acetate (20 microg), a neuronal NO synthase inhibitor, or by omega-conotoxin GVIA (50 ng), a N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, all injected into the VTA 15 min before oxytocin. In contrast, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazole[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (40 microg), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, given into the VTA 15 min before oxytocin, abolishes penile erection, but not the increase in NO production, while haemoglobin (40 microg), a NO scavenger, injected immediately before oxytocin reduces the increase in NO production, but not penile erection. 8-Bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (0.5-10 microg) microinjected into the VTA induces penile erection with an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve; the maximal effective dose being 3 microg. Immunohistochemistry reveals that in the caudal VTA oxytocin-containing axons/fibres (originating from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus) contact cell bodies of mesolimbic dopaminergic (tyrosine hydroxylase-positive) neurons containing both NO synthase and guanylate cyclase. These results suggest that oxytocin injected into the VTA induces penile erection by activating NO synthase in the cell bodies of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons. NO in turn activates guanylate cyclase present in these neurons, thereby increasing cyclic GMP concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatora Succu
- Bernard B Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
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Rawls SM, Rodriguez T, Baron DA, Raffa RB. A nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) attenuates abstinence-induced withdrawal from both cocaine and a cannabinoid agonist (WIN 55212-2) in Planaria. Brain Res 2006; 1099:82-7. [PMID: 16782070 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.04.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2006] [Revised: 04/26/2006] [Accepted: 04/28/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that planarians (Dugesia dorotocephala) that have been exposed to cocaine for 1 h undergo abstinence-induced withdrawal when placed into cocaine-free, but not cocaine-containing, water. We now report that planarians also display dose-related abstinence-induced withdrawal following exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN 55212-2, but not its inactive enantiomer (WIN 55212-3). The withdrawal from WIN 55212-2 was manifested as a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the rate of planarian spontaneous locomotor activity over a 5-min observation period, using a recently designed metric (pLMV). We also report that withdrawal from cocaine (80 microM) or WIN 55212-2 (10 microM) was attenuated by the selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis L-NAME (L-nitro-arginine methyl ester), which had no effect of its own on pLMV. These results suggest a common NO-dependent pathway of withdrawal from cocaine and WIN 55212-2 in Planaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Rawls
- Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
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Liu X, Weiss F. Nitric Oxide Synthesis Inhibition Attenuates Conditioned Reinstatement of Ethanol-Seeking, but Not the Primary Reinforcing Effects of Ethanol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2004; 28:1194-9. [PMID: 15318118 DOI: 10.1097/01.alc.0000134219.93192.00] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nitric oxide (NO) signaling has been implicated in regulating aspects of the reinforcing and addictive actions of cocaine. These experiments were designed to examine whether NO-dependent neurotransmission also participates in mediating the addictive actions of another drug of abuse, ethanol, with emphasis on both the primary reinforcing effects of ethanol and the incentive motivational effects of ethanol-related contextual stimuli. METHODS Male Wistar rats were operantly trained to orally self-administer 10% (w/v) ethanol in daily 30-min sessions and to associate distinct discriminative stimuli with the availability of ethanol (S+) versus nonreward (S-). Rats were treated with the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 0, 10, or 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally) 30 min before self-administration tests that were conducted after establishment of stable levels of daily ethanol intake and conditioned reinstatement tests that were performed after extinction of ethanol-maintained operant responding. RESULTS L-NAME did not alter the primary reinforcing effects of ethanol in self-administration tests. In contrast, L-NAME dose-dependently attenuated the recovery of extinguished responding induced by the ethanol S in the absence of ethanol availability during reinstatement tests. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the NO system does not play a role in behavior reinforced directly by ethanol. However, the results implicate NO-dependent neurotransmission in alcohol-seeking responses elicited by drug-related contextual stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Liu
- Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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Munhoz CD, Glezer I, Kawamoto EM, Araújo APN, Lepscha LB, Planeta CS, DeLucia R, Scavone C. Changes in sodium, potassium-ATPase induced by repeated fencamfamine: the roles of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway. Neuropharmacology 2004; 45:1151-9. [PMID: 14614957 DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(03)00278-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fencamfamine (FCF) is an indirect dopamine agent with effects similar to amphetamine and cocaine. In the present study, we investigate changes in Na,K-ATPase, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and cyclic GMP levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and striatum (ST) of animals acutely or repeatedly treated with FCF (3.5 mg/kg). Na,K-ATPase had a similar activity in control and repeatedly treated animals, but was reduced in the NAc of the acute group. This enzyme was reduced in the ST in acute and repeatedly treated animals, compared to the control group. Expression of the alpha(1,2,3)-Na,K-ATPase isoforms in the NAc and the ST was not altered in all groups studied. Acute FCF induced a significant increase in PKA activity in both the ST and the NAc. Repeatedly treated animals showed a higher increase in PKA activity in the NAc, but not in the ST, when compared to the acute group. There was also an increase in both NOS activity and cyclic GMP levels only in the NAc of FCF repeatedly treated animals compared to the acute and control groups. We suggest that chronic FCF treatment is linked to a modification in Na,K-ATPase activity through the PKA and NO-cyclic GMP pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Demarchi Munhoz
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Avenida Prof Lineu Prestes, 1524 Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil
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Schilström B, Mameli-Engvall M, Rawal N, Grillner P, Jardemark K, Svensson TH. Nitric oxide is involved in nicotine-induced burst firing of rat ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons. Neuroscience 2004; 125:957-64. [PMID: 15120855 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2003.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2003] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, using single cell recordings in vivo and intracellular recordings in vitro from midbrain slices, the role of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor signaling on firing activity in ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons elicited by nicotine was investigated in the rat. In accordance with previous studies, systemic nicotine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) increased both firing rate and burst firing of dopamine neurons in vivo, and bath-applied nicotine (10 microM) increased firing rate in vitro. The competitive NMDA receptor antagonist CGP39551 (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited nicotine's effects on burst firing and also attenuated the nicotine-induced increase in firing rate. Moreover, although the nitric oxide (NO)-synthase inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-ester (l-NAME; 5.0 mg/kg i.p.) had no effect on cell firing by itself, it prevented the response to nicotine in vivo. In contrast, l-NAME (100 microM) did not influence nicotine's effect on dopamine cell firing in vitro, suggesting that the effect of l-NAME seen in vivo is dependent on presynaptic afferent input. The present study confirms previous results suggesting that the effect of systemically administered nicotine is in part presynaptic and mediated via NMDA receptors. The data also indicate that NO plays an important role in the previously demonstrated, indirect, glutamate-mediated excitation of these neurons by nicotine. By inference, our results provide additional support for the involvement of NO in nicotine dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Schilström
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, Nanna Svartz väg 2, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract
There have been many studies aimed at understanding the role that the dopamine transporter plays in cocaine abuse. Most studies suggest that inhibition of dopamine uptake by cocaine is the primary mechanism by which its behavioral effects are produced. Because of the strong relationship between binding to the dopamine transporter and the behavioral effects of cocaine, the dopamine transporter has on occasion been referred to as the cocaine binding site. Chronic studies using cocaine or selective inhibitors of dopamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin uptake suggest that while a selective dopamine uptake inhibitor can produce sensitization to cocaine, the long-lasting sensitized response to a cocaine challenge observed in cocaine-pretreated rats is due to cocaine's action on a system other than, or in addition to, dopamine. Thus, while dopamine appears to be important for the behavioral effects of cocaine, it appears that neurochemical systems other than dopamine likely play a role in the behavioral effects of chronic cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari Izenwasser
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1695 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 300 (D-21), Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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Gholami A, Zarrindast MR, Sahraei H, Haerri-Rohani A. Nitric oxide within the ventral tegmental area is involved in mediating morphine reward. Eur J Pharmacol 2003; 458:119-28. [PMID: 12498915 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(02)02696-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, the effects of intra-ventral tegmental area injection of L-arginine, a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, on morphine-induced conditioned place preference in male Wistar rats were investigated. Our data showed that subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of morphine sulphate (0.5-10 mg/kg) significantly increased the time spent in the drug-paired compartment in a dose-dependent manner. Intra-ventral tegmental area administration of a low dose of L-arginine (0.05 microg/rat) with an ineffective dose of morphine (0.5 mg/kg) elicited significant conditioned place preference; however, a higher dose of L-arginine (0.1 microg/rat) reduced the morphine response. Intra-ventral tegmental area administration of L-NAME (0.03 and 0.1 microg/rat) decreased the acquisition of morphine (7.5 mg/kg)-induced place preference. The response to different doses of L-arginine was decreased by L-NAME (0.03 microg/rat). L-Arginine and L-NAME by themselves did not elicit any effect on place conditioning; however, intra-ventral tegmental area administration of L-arginine (0.01-0.1 microg/rat) and a higher dose of L-NAME (0.1 microg/rat) significantly decreased the expression of morphine (7.5 mg/kg)-induced place preference. The attenuation of already established morphine-induced place preference on the test day by L-arginine was inhibited by L-NAME (0.03 microg/rat). The results indicate that NO may be involved in the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced place preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Gholami
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
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Li SM, Yin LL, Shi J, Lin ZB, Zheng JW. The effect of 7-nitroindazole on the acquisition and expression of D-methamphetamine-induced place preference in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2002; 435:217-23. [PMID: 11821029 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(01)01610-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the rewarding effects of D-methamphetamine using 7-nitroindazole, a potent inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), as determined by the conditioned place preference paradigm. Male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with D-methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) or saline every other day for 8 days (four drug and four saline sessions) developed marked place preference for the drug-paired side. The administration of 7-nitroindazole (12.5-50 mg/kg) 30 min prior to the exposure to D-methamphetamine dose-dependently attenuated the acquisition of D-methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference. In addition, when it was acutely administered 30 min prior to the testing session of an already established D-methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference, 7-nitroindazole (12.5-50 mg/kg) attenuated the expression of this conditioned response in a dose-dependent manner, while 7-nitroindazole (25 and 50 mg/kg) alone showed no place preference effects. These findings indicate that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the rewarding properties of methamphetamine and suggest that selective nNOS inhibitors maybe useful in the management of methamphetamine abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Min Li
- Department of Neuropharmacology, National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100083, Beijing, PR China
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