1
|
Wunsch AM, Hwang EK, Funke JR, Baker R, Moutier A, Milovanovic M, Green TA, Wolf ME. Retinoic acid-mediated homeostatic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens core contributes to incubation of cocaine craving. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06612-x. [PMID: 38935096 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06612-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Incubation of cocaine craving refers to the progressive intensification of cue-induced craving during abstinence from cocaine self-administration. We showed previously that homomeric GluA1 Ca2+-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPAR) accumulate in excitatory synapses of nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) medium spiny neurons (MSN) after ∼1 month of abstinence and thereafter their activation is required for expression of incubation. Therefore, it is important to understand mechanisms underlying CP-AMPAR plasticity. OBJECTIVES We hypothesize that CP-AMPAR upregulation represents a retinoic acid (RA)-dependent form of homeostatic plasticity, previously described in other brain regions, in which a reduction in neuronal activity disinhibits RA synthesis, leading to GluA1 translation and CP-AMPAR synaptic insertion. We tested this using viral vectors to bidirectionally manipulate RA signaling in NAcc during abstinence following extended-access cocaine self-administration. RESULTS We used shRNA targeted to the RA degradative enzyme Cyp26b1 to increase RA signaling. This treatment accelerated incubation; rats expressed incubation on abstinence day (AD) 15, when it is not yet detected in control rats. It also accelerated CP-AMPAR synaptic insertion measured with slice physiology. CP-AMPARs were detected in Cyp26b1 shRNA-expressing MSN, but not control MSN, on AD15-18. Next, we used shRNA targeted to the major RA synthetic enzyme Aldh1a1 to reduce RA signaling. In MSN expressing Aldh1a1 shRNA, synaptic CP-AMPARs were reduced in late withdrawal (AD42-60) compared to controls. However, we did not detect an effect of this manipulation on incubated cocaine seeking (AD40). CONCLUSIONS These findings support the hypothesis that increased RA signaling during abstinence contributes to CP-AMPAR accumulation and incubation of cocaine craving.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Wunsch
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97212, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Eun-Kyung Hwang
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97212, USA
| | - Jonathan R Funke
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97212, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Raines Baker
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97212, USA
- College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Alana Moutier
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97212, USA
- Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, OR, 97062, USA
| | - Mike Milovanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Thomas A Green
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Marina E Wolf
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97212, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Karin KN, Mustafa MA, Poklis JL, Buzzi B, Schlosburg JE, Parker L, Damaj MI, Lichtman AH. N-oleoyl alanine attenuates nicotine reward and spontaneous nicotine withdrawal in mice. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 259:111276. [PMID: 38676968 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111276] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As nicotine dependence represents a longstanding major public health issue, new nicotine cessation pharmacotherapies are needed. Administration of N-oleoyl glycine (OlGly), an endogenous lipid signaling molecule, prevents nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) through a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) dependent mechanism, and also ameliorated withdrawal signs in nicotine-dependent mice. Pharmacological evidence suggests that the methylated analog of OlGly, N-oleoyl alanine (OlAla), has an increased duration of action and may offer translational benefit. Accordingly, OlAla was assessed in nicotine CPP and dependence assays as well as its pharmacokinetics compared to OlGly. METHODS ICR female and male mice were tested in nicotine-induced CPP with and without the PPARα antagonist GW6471. OlAla was also assessed in nicotine-dependent mice following removal of nicotine minipumps: somatic withdrawal signs, thermal hyper-nociception and altered affective behavior (i.e., light/dark box). Finally, plasma and brain were collected after administration of OlGly or OlAla and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS OlAla prevented nicotine-induced CPP, but this effect was not blocked by GW6471. OlAla attenuated somatic and affective nicotine withdrawal signs, but not thermal hyper-nociception in nicotine-dependent mice undergoing withdrawal. OlAla and OlGly showed similar time-courses in plasma and brain. CONCLUSIONS The observation that both molecules showed similar pharmacokinetics argues against the notion that OlAla offers increased metabolic stability. Moreover, while these structurally similar lipids show efficacy in mouse models of reward and dependence, they reduce nicotine reward through distinct mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly N Karin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Mohammed A Mustafa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Justin L Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Belle Buzzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Joel E Schlosburg
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Linda Parker
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Smiley KO, Munley KM, Aghi K, Lipshutz SE, Patton TM, Pradhan DS, Solomon-Lane TK, Sun SED. Sex diversity in the 21st century: Concepts, frameworks, and approaches for the future of neuroendocrinology. Horm Behav 2024; 157:105445. [PMID: 37979209 PMCID: PMC10842816 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105445] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Sex is ubiquitous and variable throughout the animal kingdom. Historically, scientists have used reductionist methodologies that rely on a priori sex categorizations, in which two discrete sexes are inextricably linked with gamete type. However, this binarized operationalization does not adequately reflect the diversity of sex observed in nature. This is due, in part, to the fact that sex exists across many levels of biological analysis, including genetic, molecular, cellular, morphological, behavioral, and population levels. Furthermore, the biological mechanisms governing sex are embedded in complex networks that dynamically interact with other systems. To produce the most accurate and scientifically rigorous work examining sex in neuroendocrinology and to capture the full range of sex variability and diversity present in animal systems, we must critically assess the frameworks, experimental designs, and analytical methods used in our research. In this perspective piece, we first propose a new conceptual framework to guide the integrative study of sex. Then, we provide practical guidance on research approaches for studying sex-associated variables, including factors to consider in study design, selection of model organisms, experimental methodologies, and statistical analyses. We invite fellow scientists to conscientiously apply these modernized approaches to advance our biological understanding of sex and to encourage academically and socially responsible outcomes of our work. By expanding our conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches to the study of sex, we will gain insight into the unique ways that sex exists across levels of biological organization to produce the vast array of variability and diversity observed in nature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina O Smiley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 639 North Pleasant Street, Morrill IVN Neuroscience, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Munley
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| | - Krisha Aghi
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Sara E Lipshutz
- Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Tessa M Patton
- Bioinformatics Program, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, LSB 317, Chicago, IL 60660, USA.
| | - Devaleena S Pradhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Mail Stop 8007, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
| | - Tessa K Solomon-Lane
- Scripps, Pitzer, Claremont McKenna Colleges, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711, USA.
| | - Simón E D Sun
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Partridge KJ, Olson R, Hillhouse TM. Methodological approach: using a within-subjects design in the marble burying assay. Behav Pharmacol 2023; 34:494-499. [PMID: 37668149 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
In 2016, the National Institutes of Health mandated the use of both male and female mice in funded research. The use of both sexes is an important variable to consider; however, it comes with negative consequences such as increased animal expenses. One way to combat these negatives is to explore the option of using a within-subjects design (repeated measures) in behavioral assays that historically use a between-subjects design. Our study aimed to determine if a within-subjects design can be utilized in the marble burying assay. The marble burying assay is used as a tool for screening putative anxiolytic compounds as the assay is thought to measure obsessive-compulsive disorder- or anxiety-like behaviors. First, we compared the effects of sex and digging medium (corn cob or Sani Chip) on the number of marbles buried using CD-1 mice. Second, we determined if mice would continue to bury marbles after repeated exposures to the test arena. Lastly, we tested three positive controls (buspirone, ketamine, and fluoxetine). We found that mice buried significantly more marbles within Sani Chip digging medium, and no sex differences were observed. Next, the number of marbles buried and locomotor activity remained consistent across four test sessions. The positive controls buspirone (3.2-10 mg/kg) ketamine (32 mg/kg), and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) decreased the number of marbles buried using the within-subjects design. These data suggest that a within-subjects design is optimal for the marble burying assay as it will reduce the number of animals and increase statistical power.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn J Partridge
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lail H, Mabb AM, Parent MB, Pinheiro F, Wanders D. Effects of Dietary Methionine Restriction on Cognition in Mice. Nutrients 2023; 15:4950. [PMID: 38068808 PMCID: PMC10707861 DOI: 10.3390/nu15234950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dietary restriction of the essential amino acid, methionine, has been shown to induce unique metabolic protection. The peripheral benefits of methionine restriction (MR) are well established and include improvements in metabolic, energy, inflammatory, and lifespan parameters in preclinical models. These benefits all occur despite MR increasing energy intake, making MR an attractive dietary intervention for the prevention or reversal of many metabolic and chronic conditions. New and emerging evidence suggests that MR also benefits the brain and promotes cognitive health. Despite widespread interest in MR over the past few decades, many findings are limited in scope, and gaps remain in our understanding of its comprehensive effects on the brain and cognition. This review details the current literature investigating the impact of MR on cognition in various mouse models, highlights some of the key mechanisms responsible for its cognitive benefits, and identifies gaps that should be addressed in MR research moving forward. Overall findings indicate that in animal models, MR is associated with protection against obesity-, age-, and Alzheimer's disease-induced impairments in learning and memory that depend on different brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. These benefits are likely mediated by increases in fibroblast growth factor 21, alterations in methionine metabolism pathways, reductions in neuroinflammation and central oxidative stress, and potentially alterations in the gut microbiome, mitochondrial function, and synaptic plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Lail
- Department of Nutrition, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; (H.L.); (F.P.)
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Angela M. Mabb
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30302, USA; (A.M.M.); (M.B.P.)
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
| | - Marise B. Parent
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30302, USA; (A.M.M.); (M.B.P.)
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Filipe Pinheiro
- Department of Nutrition, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; (H.L.); (F.P.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Desiree Wanders
- Department of Nutrition, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; (H.L.); (F.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Negus SS, Akbarali HI, Kang M, Lee YK, Marsh SA, Santos EJ, Zhang Y. Role of mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonist efficacy as a determinant of opioid antinociception in a novel assay of pain-depressed behavior in female and male mice. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1281698. [PMID: 37886350 PMCID: PMC10598607 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1281698] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intermediate efficacy mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists have potential to retain analgesic effectiveness while improving safety, but the optimal MOR efficacy for effective and safe opioid analgesia is unknown. Preclinical assays of pain-depressed behavior can assess effects of opioids and other candidate analgesics on pain-related behavioral depression, which is a common manifestation of clinically relevant pain and target of pain treatment. Accordingly, the present study goal was to validate a novel assay of pain-depressed locomotor behavior in mice and evaluate the role of MOR efficacy as a determinant of opioid analgesic effects and related safety measures. Methods Male and female ICR mice were tested in a locomotor chamber consisting of 2 compartments connected by a doorway that contained a 1-inch-tall barrier. Dependent measures during 15-min behavioral sessions included crosses between compartments (which required vertical activity to surmount the barrier) and total movement counts (which required horizontal activity to break photobeams in each compartment). Results and Discussion Intraperitoneal injection of lactic acid (IP acid) produced a concentration- and time-dependent depression of both endpoints. Optimal blockade of IP acid-induced behavioral depression with minimal motor impairment was achieved with intermediate-efficacy MOR treatments that also produced less gastrointestinal-transit inhibition and respiratory depression than the high-efficacy MOR agonist fentanyl. Sex differences in treatment effects were rare. Overall, these findings validate a novel procedure for evaluating opioids and other candidate analgesic effects on pain-related behavioral depression in mice and support continued research with intermediate-efficacy MOR agonists as a strategy to retain opioid analgesic effectiveness with improved safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S. Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Hamid I. Akbarali
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Minho Kang
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Young K. Lee
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Samuel A. Marsh
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Edna J. Santos
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Frankot M, Mueller PM, Young ME, Vonder Haar C. Statistical power and false positive rates for interdependent outcomes are strongly influenced by test type: Implications for behavioral neuroscience. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1612-1622. [PMID: 37142665 PMCID: PMC10516944 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01592-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Statistical errors in preclinical science are a barrier to reproducibility and translation. For instance, linear models (e.g., ANOVA, linear regression) may be misapplied to data that violate assumptions. In behavioral neuroscience and psychopharmacology, linear models are frequently applied to interdependent or compositional data, which includes behavioral assessments where animals concurrently choose between chambers, objects, outcomes, or types of behavior (e.g., forced swim, novel object, place/social preference). The current study simulated behavioral data for a task with four interdependent choices (i.e., increased choice of a given outcome decreases others) using Monte Carlo methods. 16,000 datasets were simulated (1000 each of 4 effect sizes by 4 sample sizes) and statistical approaches evaluated for accuracy. Linear regression and linear mixed effects regression (LMER) with a single random intercept resulted in high false positives (>60%). Elevated false positives were attenuated in an LMER with random effects for all choice-levels and a binomial logistic mixed effects regression. However, these models were underpowered to reliably detect effects at common preclinical sample sizes. A Bayesian method using prior knowledge for control subjects increased power by up to 30%. These results were confirmed in a second simulation (8000 datasets). These data suggest that statistical analyses may often be misapplied in preclinical paradigms, with common linear methods increasing false positives, but potential alternatives lacking power. Ultimately, using informed priors may balance statistical requirements with ethical imperatives to minimize the number of animals used. These findings highlight the importance of considering statistical assumptions and limitations when designing research studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Frankot
- Injury and Recovery Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Peyton M Mueller
- Injury and Recovery Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michael E Young
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Cole Vonder Haar
- Injury and Recovery Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Black EM, Samels SB, Xu W, Barson JR, Bass CE, Kortagere S, España RA. Hypocretin / Orexin Receptor 1 Knockdown in GABA or Dopamine Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area Differentially Impact Mesolimbic Dopamine and Motivation for Cocaine. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 7:100104. [PMID: 37854172 PMCID: PMC10583964 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The hypocretins/orexins (HCRT) have been demonstrated to influence motivation for cocaine through actions on dopamine (DA) transmission. Pharmacological or genetic disruption of the hypocretin receptor 1 (Hcrtr1) reduces cocaine self-administration, blocks reinstatement of cocaine seeking, and decreases conditioned place preference for cocaine. These effects are likely mediated through actions in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and resulting alterations in DA transmission. For example, HCRT drives VTA DA neuron activity and enhances the effects of cocaine on DA transmission, while disrupting Hcrtr1 attenuates DA responses to cocaine. These findings have led to the perspective that HCRT exerts its effects through Hcrtr1 actions in VTA DA neurons. However, this assumption is complicated by the observation that Hcrtr1 are present on both DA and GABA neurons in the VTA and HCRT drives the activity of both neuronal populations. To address this issue, we selectively knocked down Hcrtr1 on either DA or GABA neurons in the VTA and examined alterations in DA transmission and cocaine self-administration in female and male rats. We found that Hcrtr1 knockdown in DA neurons decreased DA responses to cocaine, increased days to acquire cocaine self-administration, and reduced motivation for cocaine. Although, Hcrtr1 knockdown in GABA neurons enhanced DA responses to cocaine, this manipulation did not affect cocaine self-administration. These observations indicate that while Hcrtr1 on DA versus GABA neurons exert opposing effects on DA transmission, only Hcrtr1 on DA neurons affected acquisition or motivation for cocaine - suggesting a complex interplay between DA transmission and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily M. Black
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Shanna B. Samels
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Jessica R. Barson
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Caroline E. Bass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14214
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Rodrigo A. España
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Göttgens I, Sleutjes JAM, Boerner KE, Sialino LD, Valdrighi N. A genderful research world: rapid review, design, and pilot study of an interactive platform for curated sex and gender health research resources. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:118. [PMID: 37340399 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01899-2] [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: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Integration of sex and gender into health research is best practice for designing and conducting equitable, rigorous scientific research. Many evidence-based resources exist to support researchers in this endeavour, but such resources often remain underutilized as they are difficult to find, are not publicly accessible, or are specific to a particular research phase, context, or population. The development and evaluation of a repository of resources was deemed important to create an accessible platform for promoting sex- and gender-integration in health research. METHODS A rapid review was conducted of critical resources for conducting sex and gender health research. These were integrated into a prototype website design (the Genderful Research World; GRW) that provided an interactive digital landscape for researchers to access these resources. A pilot study evaluated the GRW website for applicability, desirability, and usability with an international sample of 31 health researchers from various disciplines and career stages. Quantitative data from the pilot study was summarized with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was summarized narratively and used to identify concrete elements for improvement in a second design iteration. RESULTS Results of the pilot study revealed that the GRW was considered user friendly and desirable by health researchers and helped them access relevant information. Feedback suggested that providing these resources in a playful way may enhance the experience of the user, particularly given the high 'desirability' scores and that users emphasized the interactive layout as being key to their intention to integrate it into their teaching endeavors. Key feedback from the pilot study (e.g., addition of resources specific to research with transgender populations, revision of website layout) was integrated into the current version of the website: www.genderfulresearchworld.com . CONCLUSIONS The present research suggests a utility for a repository of resources for integrating sex and gender considerations into research, and that providing a logical, intuitive means of cataloguing and navigating such resources is critical for usability. The results of this study may inform the development of other novel researcher-directed resource curation efforts to address health equity issues and encourage and support health researchers to integrate a sex and gender perspective in their work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Göttgens
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jasmijn A M Sleutjes
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Katelynn E Boerner
- Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Lena D Sialino
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natália Valdrighi
- Department of Experimental Rheumatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Santos EJ, Giddings AN, Kandil FA, Negus SS. Climbing behavior by mice as an endpoint for preclinical assessment of drug effects in the absence and presence of pain. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1150236. [PMID: 37139343 PMCID: PMC10149664 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1150236] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated climbing in mice as a tool to assess the expression and treatment of pain-related behavioral depression in male and female ICR mice. Mice were videotaped during 10-min sessions in a vertical plexiglass cylinder with wire mesh walls, and "Time Climbing" was scored by observers blind to treatments. Initial validation studies demonstrated that baseline climbing was stable across repeated days of testing and depressed by intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP acid) as an acute pain stimulus. Additionally, IP acid-induced depression of climbing was blocked by the positive-control non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketoprofen but not by the negative control kappa opioid receptor agonist U69593. Subsequent studies examined effects of single-molecule opioids (fentanyl, buprenorphine, naltrexone) and of fixed-proportion fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures (10:1, 3.2:1, and 1:1) that vary in their efficacy at the mu opioid receptor (MOR). Opioids administered alone produced a dose- and efficacy-dependent decrease in climbing, and fentanyl/naltrexone-mixture data indicated that climbing in mice is especially sensitive to disruption by even low-efficacy MOR activation. Opioids administered as a pretreatment to IP acid failed to block IP acid-induced depression of climbing. Taken together, these findings support the utility of climbing in mice as an endpoint to evaluate candidate-analgesic effectiveness both to (a) produce undesirable behavioral disruption when the test drug is administered alone, and (b) produce a therapeutic blockade of pain-related behavioral depression. The failure of MOR agonists to block IP acid-induced depression of climbing likely reflects the high sensitivity of climbing to disruption by MOR agonists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - S. Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Butelman ER, Huang Y, Epstein DH, Shaham Y, Goldstein RZ, Volkow ND, Alia-Klein N. Overdose mortality rates for opioids or stimulants are higher in males than females, controlling for rates of drug misuse: State-level data. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.01.20.23284833. [PMID: 36711659 PMCID: PMC9882660 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.23284833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Importance Drug overdoses from opioids like fentanyl and heroin and stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine are a major cause of mortality in the United States, with potential sex differences across the lifespan. Objective To determine overdose mortality for specific drug categories across the lifespan of males and females, using a nationally representative state-level sample. Design State-level analyses of nationally representative epidemiological data on overdose mortality for specific drug categories, across 10-year age bins (age range: 15-74). Setting Population-based study of Multiple Cause of Death 2020-2021 data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC WONDER platform). Participants Decedents in the United States in 2020-2021. Main outcome measures The main outcome measure was sex-specific rates of overdose death (per 100,000) for: synthetic opioids excluding methadone (ICD-10 code: T40.4; predominantly fentanyl), heroin (T40.1), psychostimulants with potential for misuse, excluding cocaine (T43.6, predominantly methamphetamine; labeled "psychostimulants" hereafter), and cocaine (T40.5). Multiple regression analyses were used to control for ethnic-cultural background, household net worth, and sex-specific rate of misuse of the relevant substances (from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2018-2019). Results For each of the drug categories assessed, males had greater overall overdose mortality than females, after controlling for rates of drug misuse. The mean male/female sex ratio of mortality rate for the separate drug categories was relatively stable across jurisdictions: synthetic opioids (2.5 [95%CI, 2.4-2.7]), heroin, (2.9 [95%CI, 2.7-3.1], psychostimulants (2.4 [95%CI, 2.3-2.5]), and cocaine (2.8 [95%CI, 2.6-2.9]). With data stratified in 10-year age bins, the sex difference generally survived adjustment for state-level ethnic-cultural and economic variables, and for sex-specific misuse of each drug type (especially for bins in the 25-64 age range). For synthetic opioids, the sex difference survived adjustment across the lifespan (i.e., 10-year age bins ranging from 15-74), including adolescence, adulthood and late adulthood. Conclusions and Relevance The robustly greater overdose mortality in males versus females for synthetic opioids (predominantly fentanyl), heroin, and stimulant drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine indicate that males who misuse these drugs are significantly more vulnerable to overdose deaths. These results call for research into diverse biological, behavioral, and social factors that underlie sex differences in human vulnerability to drug overdose.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R Butelman
- Neuropsychoimaging of Addiction and Related Conditions Research Program, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Yuefeng Huang
- Neuropsychoimaging of Addiction and Related Conditions Research Program, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Yavin Shaham
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Baltimore, MD
| | - Rita Z Goldstein
- Neuropsychoimaging of Addiction and Related Conditions Research Program, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Nora D Volkow
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Baltimore, MD
| | - Nelly Alia-Klein
- Neuropsychoimaging of Addiction and Related Conditions Research Program, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Casquero-Veiga M, Lamanna-Rama N, Romero-Miguel D, Rojas-Marquez H, Alcaide J, Beltran M, Nacher J, Desco M, Soto-Montenegro ML. The Poly I:C maternal immune stimulation model shows unique patterns of brain metabolism, morphometry, and plasticity in female rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:1022622. [PMID: 36733452 PMCID: PMC9888250 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1022622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Prenatal infections are associated with an increased risk of the onset of schizophrenia. Rodent models of maternal immune stimulation (MIS) have been extensively used in preclinical studies. However, many of these studies only include males, omitting pathophysiological features unique to females. The aim of this study is to characterize the MIS model in female rats using positron emission tomography (PET), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MR), and neuroplasticiy studies. Methods: In gestational day 15, Poly I:C (or Saline) was injected into pregnant Wistar rats to induce the MIS model. Imaging studies: [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-PET scans of female-offspring were acquired at post-natal day (PND) 35 and PND100. Furthermore, T2-MR brain images were acquired in adulthood. Differences in FDG uptake and morphometry between groups were assessed with SPM12 and Regions of Interest (ROI) analyses. Ex vivo study: The density of parvalbumin expressing interneurons (PV), perineuronal nets (PNN), and parvalbumin expressing interneurons surrounded by perineuronal nets (PV-PNN) were evaluated in the prelimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala using confocal microscopy. ROIs and neuroplasticity data were analyzed by 2-sample T-test and 2-way-ANOVA analyses, respectively. Results: A significant increase in brain metabolism was found in all animals at adulthood compared to adolescence. MIS hardly modified brain glucose metabolism in females, highlighting a significant hypometabolism in the thalamus at adulthood. In addition, MIS induced gray matter (GM) enlargements in the pituitary, hippocampus, substantia nigra, and cingulate cortex, and GM shrinkages in some thalamic nuclei, cerebelar areas, and brainstem. Moreover, MIS induced white matter shrinkages in the cerebellum, brainstem and corpus callosum, along with cerebrospinal fluid enlargements in the lateral and 4th ventricles. Finally, MIS reduced the density of PV, PNN, and PV-PNN in the basolateral amygdala. Conclusion: Our work showed in vivo the differential pattern of functional and morphometric affectation in the MIS model in females, as well as the deficits caused at the synaptic level according to sex. The differences obtained highlight the relevance of including both sexes in psychiatric research in order to consider their pathophysiological particularities and successfully extend the benefits obtained to the entire patient population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Casquero-Veiga
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Cardiovascular Imaging and Population Studies, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicolás Lamanna-Rama
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Romero-Miguel
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Henar Rojas-Marquez
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Julia Alcaide
- Neurobiology Unit, Cell Biology Departament, BIOTECMED Institute, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marc Beltran
- Neurobiology Unit, Cell Biology Departament, BIOTECMED Institute, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Juan Nacher
- Neurobiology Unit, Cell Biology Departament, BIOTECMED Institute, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Desco
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,Advanced Imaging Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Campus de Getafe, Madrid, Spain,*Correspondence: Manuel Desco Maria Luisa Soto-Montenegro
| | - Maria Luisa Soto-Montenegro
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,High Performance Research Group in Physiopathology and Pharmacology of the Digestive System (NeuGut), University Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Alcorcón, Spain,*Correspondence: Manuel Desco Maria Luisa Soto-Montenegro
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Alonso IP, O'Connor BM, Bryant KG, Mandalaywala RK, España RA. Incubation of cocaine craving coincides with changes in dopamine terminal neurotransmission. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 3. [PMID: 36081573 PMCID: PMC9451023 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Relapse to drug use is one of the major challenges in treating substance use disorders. Exposure to drug-related cues and contexts triggers drug craving, which drives cocaine seeking, and increases the probability of relapse. Clinical and animal studies have shown a progressive intensification of cocaine seeking and craving that develops over the course of abstinence, a phenomenon commonly referred to as incubation of cocaine craving. Although the neurobiology underlying incubation of cocaine craving has been examined – particularly within the context of glutamate plasticity– the extent to which increased cocaine craving engenders mesolimbic dopamine (DA) changes has received relatively little attention. To assess whether incubation of cocaine craving is associated with alterations in DA terminal neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens core (NAc), we used ex vivo fast scan cyclic voltammetry in female and male rats to assess DA dynamics following short access, long access, or intermittent access to cocaine self-administration followed by 28 days of abstinence. Results indicated that both long access and intermittent access to cocaine produced robust incubation of cocaine craving, which was associated with increases in cocaine potency. In addition, intermittent access self-administration also produced a robust increase in DA uptake rate at baseline. In contrast, short access to cocaine did not engender incubation of cocaine craving, nor produce changes in DA neurotransmission. Together these observations indicate that incubation of cocaine craving coincides with changes in DA transmission, suggesting that underlying changes in mesolimbic DA signaling may contribute to the progressive intensification of drug craving that occurs across periods of abstinence.
Collapse
|
14
|
Santos EJ, Banks ML, Negus SS. Role of Efficacy as a Determinant of Locomotor Activation by Mu Opioid Receptor Ligands in Female and Male Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 382:44-53. [PMID: 35489781 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.001045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists produce locomotor hyperactivity in mice as one sign of opioid-induced motor disruption. The goal of this study was to evaluate the degree of MOR efficacy required to produce this hyperactivity. Full dose-effect curves were determined for locomotor activation produced in male and female ICR mice by (1) eight different single-molecule opioids with high to low MOR efficacy, and (2) a series of fixed-proportion fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures with high to low fentanyl proportions. Data from the mixtures were used to quantify the efficacy requirement for MOR agonist-induced hyperactivity relative to efficacy requirements determined previously for other MOR agonist effects. Specifically, efficacy requirement was quantified as the EP50 value, which is the "Effective Proportion" of fentanyl in a fentanyl/naltrexone mixture that produces a maximal effect equal to 50% of the maximal effect of fentanyl alone. Maximal hyperactivity produced by each drug and mixture in the present study correlated with previously published data for maximal stimulation of GTPɣS binding in MOR-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells as an in vitro measure of relative efficacy. Additionally, the EP50 value for hyperactivity induced by fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures indicated that opioid-induced hyperactivity in mice has a relatively high efficacy requirement in comparison to some other MOR agonist effects, and in particular is higher than the efficacy requirement for thermal antinociception in mice or fentanyl discrimination in rats. Taken together, these data show that MOR agonist-induced hyperactivity in mice is efficacy dependent and requires relatively high levels of MOR agonist efficacy for its full expression. Significance Statement Mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonist-induced hyperlocomotion in mice is dependent on the MOR efficacy of the agonist and requires a relatively high degree of efficacy for its full expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edna J Santos
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
| | - Matthew L Banks
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
| | - S Stevens Negus
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Pesarico AP, Carceller H, Guirado R, Coviello S, Nacher J. Long term effects of 24-h-restraint stress on the connectivity and structure of interneurons in the basolateral amygdala. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 115:110512. [PMID: 35066055 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The effects of intense stressors can last a long time and may lead to the development of psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) plays a critical role in these diseases and is extremely sensitive to stress. Here, we explored in male and female mice the long-term (35 days) impact of a 24-h restraint stress on BLA circuitry. We used Thy1-YFP mice to discriminate 2 subpopulations of excitatory neurons, which participate in "Fear-On" (Thy1-) and "Fear-Off" (Thy1+) circuits. The stress decreased the density of parvalbumin (PV) + inhibitory neurons in both sexes but did not alter their dendritic complexity. We also analyzed the perisomatic input of basket interneurons on Thy1+ and Thy1- neurons, finding sex dependent effects. In males, we did not find alterations in the density of PV+ puncta or in that of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) + puncta from cholecystokinin+ basket cells. By contrast, in females we found increased the density of PV+ puncta on Thy1+ neurons and reduced on the Thy1- neurons. This adverse experience also reduced in the long term the density of CB1R+ puncta both on Thy1+ and Thy1- cells in females. The expression of the activity marker FosB was not altered in PV+ interneurons and in Thy1+ neurons of stressed animals. The density of perineuronal nets, a specialized region of the extracellular matrix, which covers particularly PV+ interneurons and regulates their connectivity, was increased by stress in male mice. Our findings indicate that a single stressful event can produce long-term alterations in the inhibitory circuits of the BLA, especially on PV+ neurons and their plasticity, and that there is a differential impact depending on the sex and the fear-related circuits involved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Pesarico
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Hector Carceller
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ramón Guirado
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Simona Coviello
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Juan Nacher
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sierra S, Muchhala KH, Jessup DK, Contreras KM, Shah UH, Stevens DL, Jimenez J, Cuno Lavilla XK, de la Fuente Revenga M, Lippold KM, Shen S, Poklis JL, Qiao LY, Dewey WL, Akbarali HI, Damaj MI, González-Maeso J. Sex-specific role for serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor in modulation of opioid-induced antinociception and reward in mice. Neuropharmacology 2022; 209:108988. [PMID: 35183539 PMCID: PMC8934299 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.108988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Opioids are among the most effective analgesics and the mainstay of pain management. However, concerns about safety and abuse liability have challenged their widespread use by the medical community. Opioid-sparing therapies include drugs that in combination with opioids have the ability to enhance analgesia while decreasing opioid requirement as well as their side effects. Sex differences in antinociceptive responses to opioids have received increasing attention in recent years. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences related to opioid-sparing adjuncts remain largely unexplored. Using warm water tail-withdrawal as a mouse model of acute thermal nociception, our data suggest that adjunctive administration of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) antagonist volinanserin dose-dependently enhanced potency of the opioid analgesic oxycodone in male, but not female, mice. This antinociceptive-like response induced by oxycodone was also augmented in 5-HT2AR knockout (5-HT2AR-/-) male, but not female mice; an effect that was reversed by Cre-loxP-mediated selective expression of 5-HT2AR in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of 5-HT2AR-/- littermates. Pharmacological inhibition with volinanserin or genetic deletion in 5-HT2AR-/- animals potentiated the ability of oxycodone to reduce DRG excitability in male mice. Adjunctive volinanserin did not affect oxycodone-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), whereas it reduced oxycodone-induced locomotor sensitization in male and female mice. Together, these results suggest that adjunctive volinanserin augments opioid-induced antinociception, but not abuse-related behavior, through a sex-specific signaling crosstalk mechanism that requires 5-HT2AR expression in mouse DRG neurons. Ultimately, our results may pave the way for the clinical evaluation of volinanserin as a potential sex-specific opioid adjuvant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Sierra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Karan H Muchhala
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Donald K Jessup
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Katherine M Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Urjita H Shah
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - David L Stevens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Jennifer Jimenez
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Xiomara K Cuno Lavilla
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Kumiko M Lippold
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Shanwei Shen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Justin L Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Liya Y Qiao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - William L Dewey
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Hamid I Akbarali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Butelman ER, Chen CY, Lake KJ, Brown KG, Kreek MJ. Bidirectional influence of heroin and cocaine escalation in persons with dual opioid and cocaine dependence diagnoses. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2022; 30:31-38. [PMID: 33119382 PMCID: PMC8388238 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000401] [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] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Persons with dual severe opioid and cocaine use disorders are at risk of considerable morbidity, and the bidirectional relationship of escalation of mu-opioid agonists and cocaine use is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the bidirectional relationship between escalation of heroin and cocaine use in volunteers dually diagnosed with opioid and cocaine dependence (OD + CD). Volunteers from New York with OD + CD (total n = 295; male = 182, female = 113; age ≥ 18 years) were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and Kreek-McHugh-Schluger-Kellogg scales for dimensional measures of drug exposure, which also collect ages of 1st use and onset of heaviest use. Time of escalation was defined as age of onset of heaviest use minus age of 1st use in whole years. Times of escalation of heroin and cocaine were positively correlated in both men (Spearman r = .34, 95% confidence interval [CI: .17, .48], p < .0001) and women (Spearman r = .51, [.27, .50], p < .0001) volunteers. After we adjusted for demographic variables, a Cox regression showed that time of cocaine escalation was a predictor of time of heroin escalation (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.97, 95% CI [0.95, 0.99], p = .003). Another Cox regression showed that this relationship is bidirectional, because time of heroin escalation was also a predictor of time of cocaine escalation (HR = 0.98, [0.96-0.99], p = .016). In these adjusted models, gender was not a significant predictor of time of escalation of either heroin or cocaine. Therefore, escalation did not differ robustly by gender when adjusting for demographics and other major variables. Overall, rapid escalation of cocaine use was a predictor of rapid escalation of heroin use, and vice versa, in persons with dual severe opioid and cocaine use disorders. These findings suggest a shared vulnerability to rapid escalation of these 2 drugs in persons with dual severe opioid and cocaine use disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
|
18
|
Gramuntell Y, Klimczak P, Coviello S, Perez-Rando M, Nacher J. Effects of Aging on the Structure and Expression of NMDA Receptors of Somatostatin Expressing Neurons in the Mouse Hippocampus. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:782737. [PMID: 35002680 PMCID: PMC8733323 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.782737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in the physiology, neurochemistry and structure of neurons, particularly of their dendritic spines, are thought to be crucial players in age-related cognitive decline. One of the most studied brain structures affected by aging is the hippocampus, known to be involved in different essential cognitive processes. While the aging-associated quantitative changes in dendritic spines of hippocampal pyramidal cells have already been studied, the relationship between aging and the structural dynamics of hippocampal interneurons remains relatively unknown. Spines are not a frequent feature in cortical inhibitory neurons, but these postsynaptic structures are abundant in a subpopulation of somatostatin expressing interneurons, particularly in oriens-lacunosum moleculare (O-LM) cells in the hippocampal CA1. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that the spines of these interneurons are highly plastic and influenced by NMDA receptor manipulation. Thus, in the present study, we have investigated the impact of aging on this interneuronal subpopulation. The analyses were performed in 3−, 9−, and 16-month-old GIN mice, a strain in which somatostatin positive interneurons express GFP. We studied the changes in the density of dendritic spines, en passant boutons, and the expression of NMDA receptors (GluN1 and GluN2B) using confocal microscopy and image analysis. We observed a significant decrease in dendritic spine density in 9-month-old animals when compared with 3-month-old animals. We also observed a decrease in the expression of the GluN2B subunit in O-LM cells, but not of that of GluN1, during aging. These results will constitute the basis for more advanced studies of the structure and connectivity of interneurons during aging and their contribution to cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaiza Gramuntell
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Patrycja Klimczak
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain.,Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Simona Coviello
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Marta Perez-Rando
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain.,Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Nacher
- Neurobiology Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain.,Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Baynard C, Prisinzano TE, Butelman ER. Rapid-Onset Anti-Stress Effects of a Kappa-Opioid Receptor Antagonist, LY2795050, Against Immobility in an Open Space Swim Paradigm in Male and Female Mice. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:775317. [PMID: 34880762 PMCID: PMC8645979 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.775317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) / dynorphin system is implicated with behavioral and neurobiological effects of stress exposure (including heavy exposure to drugs of abuse) in translational animal models. Thus some KOR-antagonists can decrease the aversive, depressant-like and anxiety-like effects caused by stress exposure. The first generation of selective KOR-antagonists have slow onsets (hours) and extremely long durations of action (days-weeks), in vivo. A new generation of KOR antagonists with rapid onset and shorter duration of action can potentially decrease the effects of stress exposure in translational models, and may be of interest for medication development. This study examined the rapid onset anti-stress effects of one of the shorter acting novel KOR-antagonists (LY2795050, (3-chloro-4-(4-(((2S)-2-pyridin-3-ylpyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl) phenoxy)benzamide)) in a single-session open space swim (OSS) stress paradigm (15 min duration), in adult male and female C57BL/6 J mice. LY2795050 (0.32 mg/kg, i.p.) had rapid onset (within 15 min) and short duration (<3 h) of KOR-antagonist effects, based on its blockade of the locomotor depressant effects of the KOR-agonist U50,488 (10 mg/kg). LY2795050 (0.32 mg/kg), when administered only 1 min prior to the OSS stress paradigm, decreased immobility in males, but not females. With a slightly longer pretreatment time (15 min), this dose of LY2795050 decreased immobility in both males and females. A 10-fold smaller dose of LY2795050 (0.032 mg/kg) was inactive in the OSS, showing dose-dependence of this anti-stress effect. Overall, these studies show that a novel KOR-antagonist can produce very rapid onset anti-immobility effects in this model of acute stress exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Baynard
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Eduardo R Butelman
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Garcia-Sifuentes Y, Maney DL. Reporting and misreporting of sex differences in the biological sciences. eLife 2021; 10:70817. [PMID: 34726154 PMCID: PMC8562995 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of an initiative to improve rigor and reproducibility in biomedical research, the U.S. National Institutes of Health now requires the consideration of sex as a biological variable in preclinical studies. This new policy has been interpreted by some as a call to compare males and females with each other. Researchers testing for sex differences may not be trained to do so, however, increasing risk for misinterpretation of results. Using a list of recently published articles curated by Woitowich et al. (eLife, 2020; 9:e56344), we examined reports of sex differences and non-differences across nine biological disciplines. Sex differences were claimed in the majority of the 147 articles we analyzed; however, statistical evidence supporting those differences was often missing. For example, when a sex-specific effect of a manipulation was claimed, authors usually had not tested statistically whether females and males responded differently. Thus, sex-specific effects may be over-reported. In contrast, we also encountered practices that could mask sex differences, such as pooling the sexes without first testing for a difference. Our findings support the need for continuing efforts to train researchers how to test for and report sex differences in order to promote rigor and reproducibility in biomedical research. Biomedical research has a long history of including only men or male laboratory animals in studies. To address this disparity, the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) rolled out a policy in 2016 called Sex as a Biological Variable (or SABV). The policy requires researchers funded by the NIH to include males and females in every experiment unless there is a strong justification not to, such as studies of ovarian cancer. Since then, the number of research papers including both sexes has continued to grow. Although the NIH does not require investigators to compare males and females, many researchers have interpreted the SABV policy as a call to do so. This has led to reports of sex differences that would otherwise have been unrecognized or ignored. However, researchers may not be trained on how best to test for sex differences in their data, and if the data are not analyzed appropriately this may lead to misleading interpretations. Here, Garcia-Sifuentes and Maney have examined the methods of 147 papers published in 2019 that included both males and females. They discovered that more than half of these studies had reported sex differences, but these claims were not always backed by statistical evidence. Indeed, in a large majority (more than 70%) of the papers describing differences in how males and females responded to a treatment, the impact of the treatment was not actually statistically compared between the sexes. This suggests that sex-specific effects may be over-reported. In contrast, Garcia-Sifuentes and Maney also encountered instances where an effect may have been masked due to data from males and females being pooled together without testing for a difference first. These findings reveal how easy it is to draw misleading conclusions from sex-based data. Garcia-Sifuentes and Maney hope their work raises awareness of this issue and encourages the development of more training materials for researchers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Donna L Maney
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, United States.,Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Mei X, Wang L, Yang B, Li X. Sex differences in noradrenergic modulation of attention and impulsivity in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2167-2177. [PMID: 33834255 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05841-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Noradrenaline (NE) is closely related to attentive performance and impulsive control. However, the potential sex differences regarding attention and impulsivity under the noradrenergic modulation have been largely neglected. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate whether male and female rats exhibit differential responses to NE-related drugs during the five-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRT). METHODS Male and female rats were trained in 5CSRT and administered with different NE drugs after obtaining stable baseline performance: atipamezole, a highly selective α2 receptor antagonist; prazosin, an α1 receptor antagonist; and atomoxetine, a selective NE reuptake inhibitor. Later, prazosin was selected to co-administration with atomoxetine. RESULTS Male and female rats exhibited equal learning speed, and no significant baseline differences were found as measured by the 5CSRT. Atomoxetine decreased premature responses in both sexes, but the extent of this reduction was different, with the reduction greater in males. Besides, atomoxetine (1.8 mg/kg) increased the error of omissions in females. The high dose of prazosin (0.5 mg/kg) decreased the accuracy only in male rats, but this was ameliorated by the co-administration with atomoxetine. CONCLUSIONS Atomoxetine showed significant improvement in impulsivity, but atomoxetine had less beneficial effects on impulsive control in females than in males, and it even impaired attentional performance in female rats. The α1 receptors were mainly responsible for NE drug-related sex differences in attention rather than impulsivity. The results obtained in this study indicate that the sex differences exist in both attention and impulsivity by the modulation of noradrenaline and raise the concern to improve sex-specific treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Mei
- College of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Lutong Wang
- College of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xinwang Li
- College of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Butelman ER, Baynard C, McElroy BD, Prisinzano TE, Kreek MJ. Profile of a short-acting κ-antagonist, LY2795050, on self-grooming behaviors, forced swim test and locomotor activity: sex comparison in mice. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:579-590. [PMID: 33769112 DOI: 10.1177/0269881121996883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel short-acting κ(kappa)-opioid receptor selective antagonists are translational tools to examine the impact of the κ-receptor/dynorphin system in assays related to central nervous system dysfunction (e.g., substance use disorders, anhedonia and depression). The effects of such compounds have been compared in males and females under very limited conditions. AIMS The goal of this study was to examine potential sex differences in the effects of a κ-agonist and a short-acting κ-antagonist in an ethologically relevant test of anhedonia, the "splash test" of self-grooming, and also in the forced swim test and in locomotor activity. METHODS We examined the dose-dependence of grooming deficits caused by the κ-agonist U50,488 (0.1-3.2 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.)) in gonadally intact adult male and female C57BL/6J mice. We then compared the effects of the short-acting κ-antagonist LY2795050 ((3-chloro-4-(4-(((2S)-2-pyridin-3-ylpyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl) phenoxy)benzamide)); 0.032-0.1 mg/kg i.p.) in blocking grooming deficits caused by U50,488 (3.2 mg/kg). The effects of LY2795050 were also studied in the forced swim test (FST). The effects of LY2795050 in blocking the locomotor depressant effects of U50,488 (10 mg/kg) were also studied. RESULTS U50,488 produced dose-dependent grooming deficits in male and female mice, and LY2795050 prevented these effects. In contrast, LY2795050 decreased immobility in the FST in males at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, but not in females, up to a dose of 0.32 mg/kg. Also, LY2795050 (0.32 mg/kg) prevented and also reversed the locomotor-depressant effects of U50,488 (10 mg/kg), in males and females. CONCLUSIONS This study further implicates the κ-receptor system in ethologically relevant aspects of anhedonia, and confirms sexual dimorphism in some behavioral effects of novel κ-antagonists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R Butelman
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA
| | - Caroline Baynard
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA
| | - Bryan D McElroy
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA
| | | | - Mary Jeanne Kreek
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Diester CM, Lichtman AH, Negus SS. Behavioral Battery for Testing Candidate Analgesics in Mice. II. Effects of Endocannabinoid Catabolic Enzyme Inhibitors and ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 377:242-253. [PMID: 33622769 PMCID: PMC8058502 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhanced signaling of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system through inhibition of the catabolic enzymes monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) has received increasing interest for development of candidate analgesics. This study compared effects of MAGL and FAAH inhibitors with effects of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) using a battery of pain-stimulated, pain-depressed, and pain-independent behaviors in male and female mice. Intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP acid) served as an acute visceral noxious stimulus to stimulate two behaviors (stretching, facial grimace) and depress two behaviors (rearing, nesting). Nesting and locomotion were also assessed in the absence of IP acid as pain-independent behaviors. THC and a spectrum of six eCB catabolic enzyme inhibitors ranging from MAGL- to FAAH-selective were assessed for effectiveness to alleviate pain-related behaviors at doses that did not alter pain-independent behaviors. The MAGL-selective inhibitor MJN110 produced the most effective antinociceptive profile, with 1.0 mg/kg alleviating IP acid effects on stretching, grimace, and nesting without altering pain-independent behaviors. MJN110 effects on IP acid-depressed nesting had a slow onset and long duration (40 minutes to 6 hours), were blocked by rimonabant, and tended to be greater in females. As inhibitors increased in FAAH selectivity, antinociceptive effectiveness decreased. PF3845, the most FAAH-selective inhibitor, produced no antinociception up to doses that disrupted locomotion. THC decreased IP acid-stimulated stretching and grimace at doses that did not alter pain-independent behaviors; however, it did not alleviate IP acid-induced depression of rearing or nesting. These results support further consideration of MAGL-selective inhibitors as candidate analgesics for acute inflammatory pain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study characterized a spectrum of endocannabinoid catabolic enzyme inhibitors ranging in selectivity from monoacylglycerol lipase-selective to fatty acid amide hydrolase-selective in a battery of pain-stimulated, pain-depressed, and pain-independent behaviors previously pharmacologically characterized in a companion paper. This battery provides a method for prioritizing candidate analgesics by effectiveness to alleviate pain-related behaviors at doses that do not alter pain-independent behaviors, with inclusion of pain-depressed behaviors increasing translational validity and decreasing susceptibility to motor-depressant false positives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C M Diester
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., A.H.L., S.S.N.), School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - A H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., A.H.L., S.S.N.), School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - S S Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.M.D., A.H.L., S.S.N.), School of Pharmacy (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Bueno-Fernandez C, Perez-Rando M, Alcaide J, Coviello S, Sandi C, Castillo-Gómez E, Nacher J. Long term effects of peripubertal stress on excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the prefrontal cortex of male and female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100322. [PMID: 33869684 PMCID: PMC8045050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of stressful events is especially important during early life, because certain cortical regions, especially the prefrontal cortex (PFC), are still developing. Consequently, aversive experiences that occur during the peripubertal period can cause long-term alterations in neural connectivity, physiology and related behaviors. Although sex influences the stress response and women are more likely to develop stress-related psychiatric disorders, knowledge about the effects of stress on females is still limited. In order to analyze the long-term effects of peripubertal stress (PPS) on the excitatory and inhibitory circuitry of the adult PFC, and whether these effects are sex-dependent, we applied an unpredictable chronic PPS protocol based on psychogenic stressors. Using two strains of transgenic mice with specific fluorescent cell reporters, we studied male and diestrus females to know how PPS affects the structure and connectivity of parvalbumin expressing (PV+) interneurons and pyramidal neurons. We also studied the expression of molecules related to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, as well as alterations in the expression of plasticity-related molecules. The structure of pyramidal neurons was differentially affected by PPS in male and female mice: while the former had a decreased dendritic spine density, the latter displayed an increase in this parameter. PPS affected the density of puncta expressing excitatory and inhibitory synaptic markers exclusively in the female mPFC. Similarly, only in female mice we observed an increased complexity of the dendritic tree of PV+ neurons. Regarding the perisomatic innervation on pyramidal and PV + neurons by basket cells, we found a significant increase in the density of puncta in stressed animals, with interesting differences between the sexes and the type of basket cell analyzed. Finally, the PPS protocol also altered the total number of somata expressing the polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) when we analyzed both sexes together. These results highlight the strong programming effects of aversive experiences during early life for the establishment of cortical circuitry and the special impact of these stressful events on females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bueno-Fernandez
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Marta Perez-Rando
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Julia Alcaide
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Simona Coviello
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Esther Castillo-Gómez
- Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Valencia, Spain.,Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain
| | - Juan Nacher
- Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100, Spain.,Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health CIBERSAM, 28029, Spain.,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Diester CM, Santos EJ, Moerke MJ, Negus SS. Behavioral Battery for Testing Candidate Analgesics in Mice. I. Validation with Positive and Negative Controls. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 377:232-241. [PMID: 33622770 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.120.000464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated a battery of pain-stimulated, pain-depressed, and pain-independent behaviors for preclinical pharmacological assessment of candidate analgesics in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP acid) served as an acute visceral noxious stimulus to produce four pain-related behaviors in male and female ICR mice: stimulation of 1) stretching, 2) facial grimace, 3) depression of rearing, and 4) depression of nesting. Additionally, nesting and locomotion in the absence of the noxious stimulus were used to assess pain-independent drug effects. These six behaviors were used to compare effects of two mechanistically distinct but clinically effective positive controls (ketoprofen and oxycodone) and two negative controls that are not clinically approved as analgesics but produce either general motor depression (diazepam) or motor stimulation (amphetamine). We predicted that analgesics would alleviate all IP acid effects at doses that did not alter pain-independent behaviors, whereas negative controls would not. Consistent with this prediction, ketoprofen (0.1-32 mg/kg) produced the expected analgesic profile, whereas oxycodone (0.32-3.2 mg/kg) alleviated all IP acid effects except depression of rearing at doses lower than those that altered pain-independent behaviors. For the negative controls, diazepam (1-10 mg/kg) failed to block IP acid-induced depression of either rearing or nesting and only decreased IP acid-stimulated behaviors at doses that also decreased pain-independent behaviors. Amphetamine (0.32-3.2 mg/kg) alleviated all IP acid effects but only at doses that also stimulated locomotion. These results support utility of this model as a framework to evaluate candidate-analgesic effects in a battery of complementary pain-stimulated, pain-depressed, and pain-independent behavioral endpoints. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Preclinical assays of pain and analgesia often yield false-positive effects with candidate analgesics. This study used two positive-control analgesics (ketoprofen, oxycodone) and two active negative controls (diazepam, amphetamine) to validate a strategy for distinguishing analgesics from nonanalgesics by profiling drug effects in a battery of complementary pain-stimulated, pain-depressed, and pain-independent behaviors in male and female mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C M Diester
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - E J Santos
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - M J Moerke
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - S S Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Legakis LP, Karim-Nejad L, Negus SS. Effects of repeated treatment with monoamine-transporter-inhibitor antidepressants on pain-related depression of intracranial self-stimulation in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2201-2212. [PMID: 32382785 PMCID: PMC7308219 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05530-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Synaptic neurotransmission with dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) is terminated primarily by reuptake into presynaptic terminals via the DA, NE, and 5-HT transporters (DAT/NET/SERT, respectively). Monoamine transporter inhibitors constitute one class of drugs used to treat both depression and pain, and therapeutic effects by these compounds often require repeated treatment for days or weeks. OBJECTIVES The present study compared antinociceptive effects produced by repeated treatment with monoamine transporter inhibitors in a preclinical assay of pain-related depression of positively reinforced operant responding. METHODS Adult Sprague-Dawley rats equipped with microelectrodes targeting a brain-reward area responded for pulses of electrical brain stimulation in an intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedure. Intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid served as a noxious stimulus that repeatedly depressed ICSS and also produced weight loss during 7 days of repeated acid administration. RESULTS Acid-induced depression of both ICSS and body weight were completely blocked by repeated pretreatment with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketorolac. The DAT-selective inhibitor bupropion also fully blocked acid-induced ICSS depression and weight loss throughout all 7 days of treatment. The NET-selective inhibitor nortriptyline and the SERT-selective inhibitor citalopram were generally less effective, but both drugs blocked acid-induced ICSS depression by the end of the 7-day treatment. Acid-induced depression of ICSS and body weight were not blocked by the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist U69593 or the KOR antagonist norbinaltorphimine. CONCLUSIONS These results support effectiveness of bupropion to alleviate signs of pain-related behavioral depression in rats and further suggest that nortriptyline and citalopram produce significant but less reliable effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L P Legakis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - L Karim-Nejad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - S S Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
| |
Collapse
|