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Morales-Silva RJ, Perez-Perez Y, Alvarado-Torres J, Rivera-Aviles N, Rodriguez-Torres G, Gelpi-Dominguez U, Dominguez-Padovani B, Amador-Maldonado A, Sepulveda-Orengo MT. Sex-specific effects of chronic stress prior to cocaine exposure on cue- vs drug-induced relapse after prolonged abstinence. Behav Brain Res 2024; 474:115197. [PMID: 39128627 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
The comorbidity between cocaine use disorder (CUD) and trauma/stressor-related disorders suggests a connection between neurophysiological changes induced by stress and those that lead to cocaine use. Due to the unexpected and sometimes uncontrollable nature and timing of stressful life events, their capacity to induce drug use poses a significant challenge for the administration of cocaine relapse therapy. This study aims to investigate the impact of chronic stress applied prior to cocaine acquisition on the development of cocaine-seeking behavior after different periods of drug abstinence in male and female rats. Rats were exposed to five days of inescapable footshocks (chronic stress) before undergoing extended access cocaine self-administration. Different groups then underwent forced abstinence periods of 1, 15, or 30 days before cue- and cocaine-induced seeking tests. Results showed that, after 30 days of abstinence, stressed females exhibited higher cue-induced, but not cocaine-induced seeking, compared to female controls and to males. In contrast, at 30 days, stressed males showed higher cocaine-, but not cue-induced seeking, versus controls. Such sex-dependent alterations in motivation and drug effects following prolonged abstinence highlight the importance of considering sex-specific differences in stress-related addiction research. Ongoing work should evaluate other stressors and self-administration models to elucidate neurophysiological and hormonal mechanisms underlying the incubation of cocaine craving. Identifying shared pathways between chronic stress and addiction could offer novel strategies for treating trauma/stress-related substance use disorders in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto J Morales-Silva
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Yobet Perez-Perez
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - John Alvarado-Torres
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Nilenid Rivera-Aviles
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Genesis Rodriguez-Torres
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Ursula Gelpi-Dominguez
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Benjamin Dominguez-Padovani
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Alexandra Amador-Maldonado
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Marian T Sepulveda-Orengo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA.
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2
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Looschen K, Khatri SN, Maulik M, Salisbury C, Carman AF, Corriveau K, Smith C, Manetti D, Romanelli MN, Arias HR, Gipson CD, Mitra S. Novel psychoplastogen DM506 reduces cue-induced heroin-seeking and inhibits tonic GABA currents in the Prelimbic Cortex. Neurochem Int 2024; 178:105785. [PMID: 38838988 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder is a major public health crisis that is manifested by persistent drug-seeking behavior and high relapse frequency. Most of the available treatments rely on targeting opioid receptors using small molecules that do not provide sustained symptom alleviation. Psychoplastogens are a novel class of non-opioid drugs that produce rapid and sustained effects on neuronal plasticity, intended to produce therapeutic benefits. Ibogalogs are synthetic derivatives of iboga alkaloids that lack hallucinogenic or adverse side effects. In the current study, we examine the therapeutic potential of DM506, a novel ibogalog lacking any cardiotoxic or hallucinogenic effects, in cue-induced seeking behavior following heroin self-administration. At a single systemic dose of 40 mg/kg, DM506 significantly decreased cue-induced seeking in both male and female rats at abstinence day 1 (AD1) following heroin self-administration. Upon re-testing for cue-induced seeking at AD14, we found that males receiving DM506 continued to show decreased cue-induced seeking, an effect not observed in females. Since there is evidence of psychedelics influencing tonic GABA currents, and opioid and psychoplastogen-mediated neuroadaptations in the medial prefrontal cortex (PrL) underlying its functional effects, we performed patch-clamp recordings on PrL slices of drug-naïve rats with an acute application or chronic incubation with DM506. Tonic GABA current was decreased in slices incubated with DM506 for 2 h. qPCR analysis did not reveal any differences in the mRNA levels of GABAA receptor α and δ subunits at AD14 in heroin and saline self-administered animals that received vehicle or DM506 at AD1. Overall, our data indicate that DM506 attenuates cue-induced heroin seeking and inhibits tonic GABA current in the prelimbic cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassandra Looschen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Shailesh Narayan Khatri
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Malabika Maulik
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Colin Salisbury
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Alaina F Carman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Katilyn Corriveau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Colton Smith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Dina Manetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Novella Romanelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Hugo R Arias
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tahlequah, USA
| | - Cassandra D Gipson
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Swarup Mitra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, USA.
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3
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Zhu J, Hou Y, Li W, Wang X, Li F, Li N, Hu Y, Wang X, Ge SN. miR-181a expressed in the dorsal hippocampus regulates the reinstatement of cocaine CPP by targeting PRKAA1. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115097. [PMID: 38878971 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115097] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Neuroadaptive changes in the hippocampus underlie addictive-like behaviors in humans or animals chronically exposed to cocaine. miR-181a, which is widely expressed in the hippocampus, acts as a regulator for synaptic plasticity, while its role in drug reinstatement is unclear. In this study, we found that miR-181a regulates the reinstatement of cocaine conditioned place preference(CPP), and altered miR-181a expression changes the complexity of hippocampal neurons and the density and morphology of dendritic spines. By using a luciferase gene reporter, we found that miR-181a targets PRKAA1, an upstream molecule in the mTOR pathway. High miR-181a expression reduced the expression of the PRKAA1 mRNA and promoted mTOR activity and the reinstatement of cocaine CPP. These results indicate that miR-181a is involved in neuronal structural plasticity induced by reinstatement of cocaine CPP, possibly through the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. This study provides new microRNA targets and a theoretical foundation for the prevention of cocaine-induced reinstatement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China; Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, Shaanxi 712046, China
| | - Yueru Hou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China; Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, Shaanxi 712046, China
| | - Wan Li
- Xi'an Technological University, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Yan Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Xuelian Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China.
| | - Shun-Nan Ge
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China.
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Bensing PC, Moye C, Leong KC. Oxytocin attenuates cocaine-associated place preference via the dorsal hippocampus in male and female rats. Physiol Behav 2024; 282:114599. [PMID: 38823754 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114599] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Cocaine addiction is the third largest cause of overdose-related deaths in the United States. Research investigating therapeutic targets for cocaine reward processes is key to combating this issue. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been shown to reduce cocaine reward processes, though specific mechanisms are not understood. This study examines the effect of intra-dorsal hippocampal (DH) OXT on the expression of cocaine context associations using a conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. In this paradigm, one of two visually distinct chambers is paired with a drug. With repeated pairings, control animals display preference for the drug-associated context by spending more time in that context at test. In the present study, four conditioning days took place where male and female rats were injected with either cocaine or saline and placed into the corresponding chamber. On test day, rats received infusions of OXT or saline (VEH) into the DH and were allowed access to both chambers. The results show that while VEH-infused rats displayed cocaine CPP, OXT-infused rats did not prefer the cocaine-paired chamber. These findings implicate the DH as necessary in the mechanism by which OXT acts to block the expression of cocaine-context associations, providing insight into how OXT may exert its therapeutic effect in cocaine reward processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige C Bensing
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Chase Moye
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kah-Chung Leong
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.
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5
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Mitra S, Werner CT, Shwani T, Lopez AG, Federico D, Higdon K, Li X, Gobira PH, Thomas SA, Martin JA, An C, Chandra R, Maze I, Neve R, Lobo MK, Gancarz AM, Dietz DM. A Novel Role for the Histone Demethylase JMJD3 in Mediating Heroin-Induced Relapse-Like Behaviors. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01452-5. [PMID: 39019389 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic changes that lead to long-term neuroadaptations following opioid exposure are not well understood. We examined how histone demethylase JMJD3 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) influences heroin seeking after abstinence from self-administration. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats were trained to self-administer heroin. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to quantify JMJD3 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway expression in the NAc (n = 7-11/group). Pharmacological inhibitors or viral expression vectors were microinfused into the NAc to manipulate JMJD3 or the BMP pathway member SMAD1 (n = 9-11/group). The RiboTag capture method (n = 3-5/group) and viral vectors (n = 7-8/group) were used in male transgenic rats to identify the contributions of D1- and D2-expressing medium spiny neurons in the NAc. Drug seeking was tested by cue-induced response previously paired with drug infusion. RESULTS Levels of JMJD3 and phosphorylated SMAD1/5 in the NAc were increased after 14 days of abstinence from heroin self-administration. Pharmacological and virus-mediated inhibition of JMJD3 or the BMP pathway attenuated cue-induced seeking. Pharmacological inhibition of BMP signaling reduced JMJD3 expression and H3K27me3 levels. JMJD3 bidirectionally affected seeking: expression of the wild-type increased cue-induced seeking whereas expression of a catalytic dead mutant decreased it. JMJD3 expression was increased in D2+ but not D1+ medium spiny neurons. Expression of the mutant JMJD3 in D2+ neurons was sufficient to decrease cue-induced heroin seeking. CONCLUSIONS JMJD3 mediates persistent cellular and behavioral adaptations that underlie heroin relapse, and this activity is regulated by the BMP pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Treefa Shwani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ana Garcia Lopez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Dale Federico
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Kate Higdon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Pedro H Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Shruthi A Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jennifer A Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Chunna An
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Rachel Neve
- Gene Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, California
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
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6
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Asim M, Wang H, Chen X. Shedding light on cholecystokinin's role in hippocampal neuroplasticity and memory formation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105615. [PMID: 38437975 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105615] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus is a crucial brain region involved in the process of forming and consolidating memories. Memories are consolidated in the brain through synaptic plasticity, and a key mechanism underlying this process is called long-term potentiation (LTP). Recent research has shown that cholecystokinin (CCK) plays a role in facilitating the formation of LTP, as well as learning and memory consolidation. However, the specific mechanisms by which CCK is involved in hippocampal neuroplasticity and memory formation are complicated or poorly understood. This literature review aims to explore the role of LTP in memory formation, particularly in relation to hippocampal memory, and to discuss the implications of CCK and its receptors in the formation of hippocampal memories. Additionally, we will examine the circuitry of CCK in the hippocampus and propose potential CCK-dependent mechanisms of synaptic plasticity that contribute to memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asim
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong; Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong.
| | - Huajie Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong; Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong
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7
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Rossi R, Bærentzen SL, Thomsen MB, Real CC, Wegener G, Grassi-Oliveira R, Gjedde A, Landau AM. A single dose of cocaine raises SV2A density in hippocampus of adolescent rats. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2024; 36:109-117. [PMID: 36847240 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2023.14] [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] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cocaine is a highly addictive psychostimulant that affects synaptic activity with structural and functional adaptations of neurons. The transmembrane synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) of pre-synaptic vesicles is commonly used to measure synaptic density, as a novel approach to the detection of synaptic changes. We do not know if a single dose of cocaine suffices to affect pre-synaptic SV2A density, especially during adolescence when synapses undergo intense maturation. Here, we explored potential changes of pre-synaptic SV2A density in target brain areas associated with the cocaine-induced boost of dopaminergic neurotransmission, specifically testing if the effects would last after the return of dopamine levels to baseline. METHODS We administered cocaine (20 mg/kg i.p.) or saline to rats in early adolescence, tested their activity levels and removed the brains 1 hour and 7 days after injection. To evaluate immediate and lasting effects, we did autoradiography with [3H]UCB-J, a specific tracer for SV2A, in medial prefrontal cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and dorsal and ventral areas of hippocampus. We also measured the striatal binding of [3H]GBR-12935 to test cocaine's occupancy of the dopamine transporter at both times of study. RESULTS We found a significant increase of [3H]UCB-J binding in the dorsal and ventral sections of hippocampus 7 days after the cocaine administration compared to saline-injected rats, but no differences 1 hour after the injection. The [3H]GBR-12935 binding remained unchanged at both times. CONCLUSION Cocaine provoked lasting changes of hippocampal synaptic SV2A density after a single exposure during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Rossi
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Simone Larsen Bærentzen
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Majken B Thomsen
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Caroline C Real
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Albert Gjedde
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Anne M Landau
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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8
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Pintori N, Piva A, Mottarlini F, Díaz FC, Maggi C, Caffino L, Fumagalli F, Chiamulera C. Brief exposure to enriched environment rapidly shapes the glutamate synapses in the rat brain: A metaplastic fingerprint. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:982-995. [PMID: 38378276 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown to produce beneficial effects in addiction disorders; however, due to its configurational complexity, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. Recent evidence suggests that EE, acting as a metaplastic agent, may affect glutamatergic mechanisms underlying appetitive memory and, in turn, modulate reward-seeking behaviours: here, we have investigated such a possibility following a brief EE exposure. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to EE for 22 h and the expression of critical elements of the glutamate synapse was measured 2 h after the end of EE in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus (Hipp) brain areas, which are critical for reward and memory. We focused our investigation on the expression of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits, their scaffolding proteins SAP102 and SAP97, vesicular and membrane glutamate transporters vGluT1 and GLT-1, and critical structural components such as proteins involved in morphology and function of glutamatergic synapses, PSD95 and Arc/Arg3.1. Our findings demonstrate that a brief EE exposure induces metaplastic changes in glutamatergic mPFC, NAc and Hipp. Such changes are area-specific and involve postsynaptic NMDA/AMPA receptor subunit composition, as well as changes in the expression of their main scaffolding proteins, thus influencing the retention of such receptors at synaptic sites. Our data indicate that brief EE exposure is sufficient to dynamically modulate the glutamatergic synapses in mPFC-NAc-Hipp circuits, which may modulate rewarding and memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Pintori
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Current Affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piva
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Fernando Castillo Díaz
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Coralie Maggi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiano Chiamulera
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostic & Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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9
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Hsu LM, Cerri DH, Lee SH, Shnitko TA, Carelli RM, Shih YYI. Intrinsic Functional Connectivity between the Anterior Insular and Retrosplenial Cortex as a Moderator and Consequence of Cocaine Self-Administration in Rats. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1452232023. [PMID: 38233216 PMCID: PMC10869158 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1452-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
While functional brain imaging studies in humans suggest that chronic cocaine use alters functional connectivity (FC) within and between key large-scale brain networks, including the default mode network (DMN), the salience network (SN), and the central executive network (CEN), cross-sectional studies in humans are challenging to obtain brain FC prior to cocaine use. Such information is critical to reveal the relationship between individual's brain FC and the subsequent development of cocaine dependence and brain changes during abstinence. Here, we performed a longitudinal study examining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data in male rats (n = 7), acquired before cocaine self-administration (baseline), on 1 d of abstinence following 10 d of cocaine self-administration, and again after 30 d of experimenter-imposed abstinence. Using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with network-based statistics (NBS), significant connectivity changes were found between anterior insular cortex (AI) of the SN, retrosplenial cortex (RSC) of the DMN, somatosensory cortex, and caudate-putamen (CPu), with AI-RSC FC showing the most robust changes between baseline and 1 d of abstinence. Additionally, the level of escalated cocaine intake is associated with AI-RSC and AI-CPu FC changes between 1 d and 30 d of abstinence; further, the subjects' AI-RSC FC prior to cocaine intake is a significant moderator for the AI-RSC changes during abstinence. These results provide novel insights into the roles of AI-RSC FC before and after cocaine intake and suggest this circuit to be a potential target to modulate large-scale network and associated behavioral changes in cocaine use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ming Hsu
- Center for Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Departments of Neurology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
| | - Domenic H Cerri
- Center for Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Departments of Neurology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Center for Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Departments of Neurology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
| | - Tatiana A Shnitko
- Center for Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Departments of Neurology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
| | - Regina M Carelli
- Psychology and Neuroscience, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
| | - Yen-Yu Ian Shih
- Center for Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
- Departments of Neurology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina
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10
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Briânis RC, Iglesias LP, Bedeschi LG, Moreira FA. Effects of cannabidiol on reward contextual memories induced by cocaine in male and female mice. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37968964 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2023.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Preclinical studies suggest that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid, may reduce addiction-related behaviours for various drug classes in rodents, including ethanol, opiates, and psychostimulants. CBD modulates contextual memories and responses to reward stimuli. Nonetheless, research on the impact of CBD on cocaine addiction-like behaviors is limited and requires further clarification. This study tested the hypothesis that CBD administration inhibits the acquisition and retrieval of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in adult male and female C57BL6/J mice. We also ought to characterise a 5-day CPP protocol in these animals. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice were administered CBD (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg) 30 minutes before cocaine (15 mg/kg) acquisition of expression of CPP. RESULTS Cocaine induces a CPP in both female and male mice in the 5-day CPP protocol. CBD failed to prevent the acquisition or retrieval of place preference induced by cocaine. CBD did not decrease the time spent on the side paired with cocaine at any of the doses tested in male and female mice, in either acquisition or expression of contextual memory. CONCLUSION This study found no support for the hypothesis that CBD decreases reward memory involved in the formation of cocaine addiction. Further research is necessary to investigate the involvement of CBD in other behavioural responses to cocaine and other psychostimulant drugs. This study, however, characterised a 5-day CPP protocol for both female and male C57BL/6J mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayssa C Briânis
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lia P Iglesias
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lucas G Bedeschi
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fabrício A Moreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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11
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Zhou JL, de Guglielmo G, Ho AJ, Kallupi M, Pokhrel N, Li HR, Chitre AS, Munro D, Mohammadi P, Carrette LLG, George O, Palmer AA, McVicker G, Telese F. Single-nucleus genomics in outbred rats with divergent cocaine addiction-like behaviors reveals changes in amygdala GABAergic inhibition. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1868-1879. [PMID: 37798411 PMCID: PMC10620093 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01452-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala processes positive and negative valence and contributes to addiction, but the cell-type-specific gene regulatory programs involved are unknown. We generated an atlas of single-nucleus gene expression and chromatin accessibility in the amygdala of outbred rats with high and low cocaine addiction-like behaviors following prolonged abstinence. Differentially expressed genes between the high and low groups were enriched for energy metabolism across cell types. Rats with high addiction index (AI) showed increased relapse-like behaviors and GABAergic transmission in the amygdala. Both phenotypes were reversed by pharmacological inhibition of the glyoxalase 1 enzyme, which metabolizes methylglyoxal-a GABAA receptor agonist produced by glycolysis. Differences in chromatin accessibility between high and low AI rats implicated pioneer transcription factors in the basic helix-loop-helix, FOX, SOX and activator protein 1 families. We observed opposite regulation of chromatin accessibility across many cell types. Most notably, excitatory neurons had greater accessibility in high AI rats and inhibitory neurons had greater accessibility in low AI rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Zhou
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Aaron J Ho
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marsida Kallupi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Narayan Pokhrel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hai-Ri Li
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Apurva S Chitre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Munro
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pejman Mohammadi
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Olivier George
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Abraham A Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Graham McVicker
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Francesca Telese
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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12
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Nalberczak-Skóra M, Beroun A, Skonieczna E, Cały A, Ziółkowska M, Pagano R, Taheri P, Kalita K, Salamian A, Radwanska K. Impaired synaptic transmission in dorsal dentate gyrus increases impulsive alcohol seeking. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:436-447. [PMID: 36182989 PMCID: PMC9852589 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01464-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Both human and animal studies indicate that the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is highly exploited by drug and alcohol abuse. Yet, it is poorly understood how DG dysfunction affects addiction-related behaviors. Here, we used an animal model of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in automated IntelliCages and performed local genetic manipulation to investigate how synaptic transmission in the dorsal DG (dDG) affects alcohol-related behaviors. We show that a cue light induces potentiation-like plasticity of dDG synapses in alcohol-naive mice. This process is impaired in mice trained to drink alcohol. Acamprosate (ACA), a drug that reduces alcohol relapse, rescues the impairment of dDG synaptic transmission in alcohol mice. A molecular manipulation that reduces dDG synaptic AMPAR and NMDAR levels increases impulsive alcohol seeking during cue relapse (CR) in alcohol mice but does not affect alcohol reward, motivation or craving. These findings suggest that hindered dDG synaptic transmission specifically underlies impulsive alcohol seeking induced by alcohol cues, a core symptom of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Nalberczak-Skóra
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland ,grid.460447.50000 0001 2161 9572Experimental Psychopathology Lab, Institute of Psychology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Beroun
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Edyta Skonieczna
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Cały
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Ziółkowska
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Roberto Pagano
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pegah Taheri
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kalita
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kasia Radwanska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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13
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Dahlmanns M, Dahlmanns JK, Schmidt CC, Valero-Aracama MJ, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Environmental enrichment recruits activin A to recalibrate neural activity in mouse hippocampus. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:663-675. [PMID: 35257169 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The TGF-β family member activin A modulates neural underpinnings of cognitive and affective functions in an activity-dependent fashion. We have previously shown that exploration of a novel and enriched environment (EE) strongly enhanced activin signaling. Whereas the many beneficial effects of EE are amply documented, the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we examined the hypothesis that EE recruits activin to regulate synaptic plasticity in a coordinated, cognition-promoting manner. Elevated activin levels after EE enhanced CA1 pyramidal cell excitability, facilitated synaptic transmission, and promoted long-term potentiation. These EE-induced changes were largely absent in mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB. We then interrogated the impact of activin on network oscillations and functional connectivity, using high-speed Ca 2+ imaging to study spike routing within networks formed by dissociated primary hippocampal cultures. Activin facilitated Ca2+ signaling, enhanced the network strength, and shortened the weighted characteristic path length. In the slice preparation, activin promoted theta oscillations during cholinergic stimulation. Thus, we advance activin as an activity-dependent and very early molecular effector that translates behavioral stimuli experienced during EE exposure into a set of synchronized changes in neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and network activity that are all tuned to improve cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Dahlmanns
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jana Katharina Dahlmanns
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carla C Schmidt
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria Jesus Valero-Aracama
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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14
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Li J, Wu Y, Xue T, He J, Zhang L, Liu Y, Zhao J, Chen Z, Xie M, Xiao B, Ye Y, Qin S, Tang Q, Huang M, Zhu H, Liu N, Guo F, Zhang L, Zhang L. Cdc42 signaling regulated by dopamine D2 receptor correlatively links specific brain regions of hippocampus to cocaine addiction. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166569. [PMID: 36243293 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166569] [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: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hippocampus plays critical roles in drug addiction. Cocaine-induced modifications in dopamine receptor function and the downstream signaling are important regulation mechanisms in cocaine addiction. Rac regulates actin filament accumulation while Cdc42 stimulates the formation of filopodia and neurite outgrowth. Based on the region specific roles of small GTPases in brain, we focused on the hippocampal subregions to detect the regulation of Cdc42 signaling in long-term morphological and behavioral adaptations to cocaine. METHODS Genetically modified mouse models of Cdc42, dopamine receptor D1 (D1R) and D2 (D2R) and expressed Cdc42 point mutants that are defective in binding to and activation of its downstream effector molecules PAK and N-WASP were generated, respectively, in CA1 or dentate gyrus (DG) subregion. RESULTS Cocaine induced upregulation of Cdc42 signaling activity. Cdc42 knockout or mutants blocked cocaine-induced increase in spine plasticity in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, leading to a decreased conditional place preference (CPP)-associated memories and spatial learning and memory in water maze. Cdc42 knockout or mutants promoted cocaine-induced loss of neurogenesis in DG, leading to a decreased CPP-associated memories and spatial learning and memory in water maze. Furthermore, by using D1R knockout, D2R knockout, and D2R/Cdc42 double knockout mice, we found that D2R, but not D1R, regulated Cdc42 signaling in cocaine-induced neural plasticity and behavioral changes. CONCLUSIONS Cdc42 acts downstream of D2R in the hippocampus and plays an important role in cocaine-induced neural plasticity through N-WASP and PAK-LIMK-Cofilin, and Cdc42 signaling pathway correlatively links specific brain regions (CA1, dentate gyrus) to cocaine-induced CPP behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jing He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yutong Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinlan Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhenzhong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Minjuan Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yingshan Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Sifei Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qingqiu Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mengfan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hangfei Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - N Liu
- Institute of Comparative Medicine & Laboratory Animal Center, Elderly Health Services Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fukun Guo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Lu Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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15
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Machado da Silva MC, Iglesias LP, Candelario-Jalil E, Khoshbouei H, Moreira FA, de Oliveira ACP. Role of Microglia in Psychostimulant Addiction. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:235-259. [PMID: 36503452 PMCID: PMC10190137 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221208142151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of psychostimulant drugs can modify brain function by inducing changes in the reward system, mainly due to alterations in dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmissions in the mesocorticolimbic pathway. However, the etiopathogenesis of addiction is a much more complex process. Previous data have suggested that microglia and other immune cells are involved in events associated with neuroplasticity and memory, which are phenomena that also occur in addiction. Nevertheless, how dependent is the development of addiction on the activity of these cells? Although the mechanisms are not known, some pathways may be involved. Recent data have shown psychoactive substances may act directly on immune cells, alter their functions and induce various inflammatory mediators that modulate synaptic activity. These could, in turn, be involved in the pathological alterations that occur in substance use disorder. Here, we extensively review the studies demonstrating how cocaine and amphetamines modulate microglial number, morphology, and function. We also describe the effect of these substances in the production of inflammatory mediators and a possible involvement of some molecular signaling pathways, such as the toll-like receptor 4. Although the literature in this field is scarce, this review compiles the knowledge on the neuroimmune axis that is involved in the pathogenesis of addiction, and suggests some pharmacological targets for the development of pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carolina Machado da Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil;
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lia Parada Iglesias
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Habibeh Khoshbouei
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fabrício Araujo Moreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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16
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Chen Y, Dhingra I, Chaudhary S, Fucito L, Li CSR. Overnight Abstinence Is Associated With Smaller Secondary Somatosensory Cortical Volumes and Higher Somatosensory-Motor Cortical Functional Connectivity in Cigarette Smokers. Nicotine Tob Res 2022; 24:1889-1897. [PMID: 35796689 PMCID: PMC9653081 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Abstinence symptoms present challenges to successful cessation of cigarette smoking. Chronic exposure to nicotine and long-term nicotine abstinence are associated with alterations in cortical and subcortical gray matter volumes (GMVs). AIMS AND METHODS We aimed at examining changes in regional GMVs following overnight abstinence and how these regional functions relate to abstinence symptoms. Here, in a sample of 31 regular smokers scanned both in a satiety state and after overnight abstinence, we employed voxel-wise morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) to investigate these issues. We processed imaging data with published routines and evaluated the results with a corrected threshold. RESULTS Smokers showed smaller GMVs of the left ventral hippocampus and right secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) after overnight abstinence as compared to satiety. The GMV alterations in right SII were positively correlated with changes in withdrawal symptom severity between states. Furthermore, right SII rsFC with the precentral gyrus was stronger in abstinence as compared to satiety. The inter-regional rsFC was positively correlated with motor impulsivity and withdrawal symptom severity during abstinence and negatively with craving to smoke during satiety. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight for the first time the effects of overnight abstinence on cerebral volumetrics and changes in functional connectivity of a higher-order sensory cortex. These changes may dispose smokers to impulsive behaviors and aggravate the urge to smoke at the earliest stage of withdrawal from nicotine. IMPLICATIONS Overnight abstinence leads to changes in gray matter volumes and functional connectivity of the second somatosensory cortex in cigarette smokers. Higher somatosensory and motor cortical connectivity in abstinence is significantly correlated with trait motor impulsivity and withdrawal symptom severity. The findings add to the literature of neural markers of nicotine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Corresponding Author: Dr. Yu Chen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center S110A, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Telephone: +1 (347) 819-2969; E-mail:
| | - Isha Dhingra
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Shefali Chaudhary
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Lisa Fucito
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Inter-department Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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17
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Floris G, Asuni GP, Talani G, Biggio F, Pisu MG, Zanda MT, Contu L, Maciocco E, Serra M, Follesa P. Increased Voluntary Alcohol Consumption in Mice Lacking GABA B(1) Is Associated With Functional Changes in Hippocampal GABA A Receptors. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:893835. [PMID: 35755407 PMCID: PMC9218813 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.893835] [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: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor (GABABR) has been extensively involved in alcohol use disorders; however, the mechanisms by which this receptor modulates alcohol drinking behavior remain murky. In this study, we investigate alcohol consumption and preference in mice lacking functional GABABR using the 2-bottle choice paradigm. We found that GABAB(1), knockout (KO), and heterozygous (HZ) mice drank higher amounts of an alcoholic solution, preferred alcohol to water, and reached higher blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. The GABABR agonist GHB significantly reduced alcohol consumption in the GABAB(1) HZ and WT but not in the KO mice. Next, because of a functional crosstalk between GABABR and δ-containing GABAA receptor (δ-GABAAR), we profiled δ subunit mRNA expression levels in brain regions in which the crosstalk was characterized. We found a loss of the alcohol-sensitive GABAAR δ subunit in the hippocampus of the GABAB(1) KO alcohol-naïve mice that was associated with increased ɣ2 subunit abundance. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that these molecular changes were associated with increased phasic inhibition, suggesting a potential gain of synaptic GABAAR responsiveness to alcohol that has been previously described in an animal model of excessive alcohol drinking. Interestingly, voluntary alcohol consumption did not revert the dramatic loss of hippocampal δ-GABAAR occurring in the GABAB(1) KO mice but rather exacerbated this condition. Finally, we profiled hippocampal neuroactive steroids levels following acute alcohols administration in the GABAB(1) KO and WT mice because of previous involvement of GABABR in the regulation of cerebral levels of these compounds. We found that systemic administration of alcohol (1.5 g/kg) did not produce alcohol-induced neurosteroid response in the GABAB(1) KO mice but elicited an expected increase in the hippocampal level of progesterone and 3α,5α-THP in the WT controls. In conclusion, we show that genetic ablation of the GABAB(1) subunit results in increased alcohol consumption and preference that were associated with functional changes in hippocampal GABAAR, suggesting a potential mechanism by which preference for alcohol consumption is maintained in the GABAB(1) KO mice. In addition, we documented that GABAB(1) deficiency results in lack of alcohol-induced neurosteroids, and we discussed the potential implications of this finding in the context of alcohol drinking and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Floris
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gino Paolo Asuni
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Talani
- Institute of Neuroscience-Cagliari, National Research Council, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesca Biggio
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Mary Tresa Zanda
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Liliana Contu
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Maciocco
- Institute of Neuroscience-Cagliari, National Research Council, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mariangela Serra
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paolo Follesa
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Zheng F, Valero-Aracama MJ, Schaefer N, Alzheimer C. Activin A Reduces GIRK Current to Excite Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:920388. [PMID: 35711474 PMCID: PMC9197229 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.920388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the TGF-β family, is recognized as a multifunctional protein in the adult brain with a particular impact on neuronal circuits associated with cognitive and affective functions. Activin receptor signaling in mouse hippocampus is strongly enhanced by the exploration of an enriched environment (EE), a behavioral paradigm known to improve performance in learning and memory tasks and to ameliorate depression-like behaviors. To interrogate the relationship between EE, activin signaling, and cellular excitability in the hippocampus, we performed ex vivo whole-cell recordings from dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells (GCs) of wild type mice and transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB (dnActRIB), which disrupts activin signaling in a forebrain-specific fashion. We found that, after overnight EE housing, GC excitability was strongly enhanced in an activin-dependent fashion. Moreover, the effect of EE on GC firing was mimicked by pre-treatment of hippocampal slices from control mice with recombinant activin A for several hours. The excitatory effect of activin A was preserved when canonical SMAD-dependent signaling was pharmacologically suppressed but was blocked by inhibitors of ERK-MAPK and PKA signaling. The involvement of a non-genomic signaling cascade was supported by the fact that the excitatory effect of activin A was already achieved within minutes of application. With respect to the ionic mechanism underlying the increase in intrinsic excitability, voltage-clamp recordings revealed that activin A induced an apparent inward current, which resulted from the suppression of a standing G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) current. The link between EE, enhanced activin signaling, and inhibition of GIRK current was strengthened by the following findings: (i) The specific GIRK channel blocker tertiapin Q (TQ) occluded the characteristic electrophysiological effects of activin A in both current- and voltage-clamp recordings. (ii) The outward current evoked by the GIRK channel activator adenosine was significantly reduced by preceding EE exploration as well as by recombinant activin A in control slices. In conclusion, our study identifies GIRK current suppression via non-canonical activin signaling as a mechanism that might at least in part contribute to the beneficial effects of EE on cognitive performance and affective behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christian Alzheimer Fang Zheng
| | - Maria Jesus Valero-Aracama
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Natascha Schaefer
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christian Alzheimer Fang Zheng
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Merve AO, Sobiecka P, Remeškevičius V, Taylor L, Saskoy L, Lawton S, Jones BP, Elwakeel A, Mackenzie FE, Polycarpou E, Bennett J, Rooney B. Metabolites of Cannabis Induce Cardiac Toxicity and Morphological Alterations in Cardiac Myocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031401. [PMID: 35163321 PMCID: PMC8835806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs worldwide. Rrecent epidemiology studies have linked increased cardiac complications to cannabis use. However, this literature is predominantly based on case incidents and post-mortem investigations. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and its primary metabolites 11-Hydroxy-Δ9-THC (THC-OH) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH). Treatment of cardiac myocytes with THC-OH and THC-COOH increased cell migration and proliferation (p < 0.05), with no effect on cell adhesion, with higher doses (250–100 ng/mL) resulting in increased cell death and significant deterioration in cellular architecture. Conversely, no changes in cell morphology or viability were observed in response to THC. Expression of key ECM proteins α-SMA and collagen were up-regulated in response to THC-OH and THC-COOH treatments with concomitant modulation of PI3K and MAPK signalling. Investigations in the planarian animal model Polycelis nigra demonstrated that treatments with cannabinoid metabolites resulted in increased protein deposition at transection sites while higher doses resulted in significant lethality and decline in regeneration. These results highlight that the key metabolites of cannabis elicit toxic effects independent of the parent and psychoactive compound, with implications for cardiotoxicity relating to hypertrophy and fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Orme Merve
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Pola Sobiecka
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Vytautas Remeškevičius
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Luke Taylor
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Lili Saskoy
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Scott Lawton
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Ben P. Jones
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Ahmed Elwakeel
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences (CSELS), Coventry University, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Alison Gingell Building, Whitefriars Street, Coventry CV1 2DS, UK; (A.E.); (J.B.)
| | - Francesca E. Mackenzie
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Elena Polycarpou
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Jason Bennett
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences (CSELS), Coventry University, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Alison Gingell Building, Whitefriars Street, Coventry CV1 2DS, UK; (A.E.); (J.B.)
| | - Brian Rooney
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
- Correspondence:
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Neuroadaptations and TGF-β signaling: emerging role in models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:296-306. [PMID: 34131268 PMCID: PMC8671568 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01186-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric diseases are manifested by maladaptive behavioral plasticity. Despite the greater understanding of the neuroplasticity underlying behavioral adaptations, pinpointing precise cellular mediators has remained elusive. This has stymied the development of pharmacological interventions to combat these disorders both at the level of progression and relapse. With increased knowledge on the putative role of the transforming growth factor (TGF- β) family of proteins in mediating diverse neuroadaptations, the influence of TGF-β signaling in regulating maladaptive cellular and behavioral plasticity underlying neuropsychiatric disorders is being increasingly elucidated. The current review is focused on what is currently known about the TGF-β signaling in the central nervous system in mediating cellular and behavioral plasticity related to neuropsychiatric manifestations.
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21
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Putting Together Pieces of the Lateral Septum: Multifaceted Functions and Its Neural Pathways. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0315-21.2021. [PMID: 34764187 PMCID: PMC8647703 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0315-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The lateral septum (LS) is implicated as a hub that regulates a variety of affects, such as reward, feeding, anxiety, fear, sociability, and memory. However, it remains unclear how the LS, previously treated as a structure of homogeneity, exhibits such multifaceted functions. Emerging evidence suggests that different functions of the LS are mediated largely by its diverse input and output connections. It has also become clear that the LS is a heterogeneous region, where its dorsal and ventral poles play dissociable and often opposing roles. This functional heterogeneity can often be explained by distinct dorsal and ventral hippocampal inputs along the LS dorsoventral axis, as well as antagonizing connections between LS subregions. Similarly, outputs from LS subregions to respective downstream targets, such as hypothalamic, preoptic, and tegmental areas, also account for this functional heterogeneity. In this review, we provide an updated perspective on LS subregion classification, connectivity, and functions. We also identify key questions that have yet to be addressed in the field.
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Mitra S, Gobira PH, Werner CT, Martin JA, Iida M, Thomas SA, Erias K, Miracle S, Lafargue C, An C, Dietz DM. A role for the endocannabinoid enzymes monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol lipases in cue-induced cocaine craving following prolonged abstinence. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e13007. [PMID: 33496035 PMCID: PMC11000690 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Following exposure to drugs of abuse, long-term neuroadaptations underlie persistent risk to relapse. Endocannabinoid signaling has been associated with drug-induced neuroadaptations, but the role of lipases that mediate endocannabinoid biosynthesis and metabolism in regulating relapse behaviors following prolonged periods of drug abstinence has not been examined. Here, we investigated how pharmacological manipulation of lipases involved in regulating the expression of the endocannabinoid 2-AG in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) influence cocaine relapse via discrete neuroadaptations. At prolonged abstinence (30 days) from cocaine self-administration, there is an increase in the NAc levels of diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the endocannabinoid 2-AG, along with decreased levels of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), which hydrolyzes 2-AG. Since endocannabinoid-mediated behavioral plasticity involves phosphatase dysregulation, we examined the phosphatase calcineurin after 30 days of abstinence and found decreased expression in the NAc, which we demonstrate is regulated through the transcription factor EGR1. Intra-NAc pharmacological manipulation of DAGL and MAGL with inhibitors DO-34 and URB-602, respectively, bidirectionally regulated cue-induced cocaine seeking and altered the phosphostatus of translational initiation factor, eIF2α. Finally, we found that cocaine seeking 30 days after abstinence leads to decreased phosphorylation of eIF2α and reduced expression of its downstream target NPAS4, a protein involved in experience-dependent neuronal plasticity. Together, our findings demonstrate that lipases that regulate 2-AG expression influence transcriptional and translational changes in the NAc related to drug relapse vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Pedro H. Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Craig T. Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Madoka Iida
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Shruthi A. Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kyra Erias
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Sophia Miracle
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Charles Lafargue
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Chunna An
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - David M. Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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RGS14 Regulation of Post-Synaptic Signaling and Spine Plasticity in Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136823. [PMID: 34201943 PMCID: PMC8268017 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulator of G-protein signaling 14 (RGS14) is a multifunctional signaling protein that regulates post synaptic plasticity in neurons. RGS14 is expressed in the brain regions essential for learning, memory, emotion, and stimulus-induced behaviors, including the basal ganglia, limbic system, and cortex. Behaviorally, RGS14 regulates spatial and object memory, female-specific responses to cued fear conditioning, and environmental- and psychostimulant-induced locomotion. At the cellular level, RGS14 acts as a scaffolding protein that integrates G protein, Ras/ERK, and calcium/calmodulin signaling pathways essential for spine plasticity and cell signaling, allowing RGS14 to naturally suppress long-term potentiation (LTP) and structural plasticity in hippocampal area CA2 pyramidal cells. Recent proteomics findings indicate that RGS14 also engages the actomyosin system in the brain, perhaps to impact spine morphogenesis. Of note, RGS14 is also a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, where its role in the nucleus remains uncertain. Balanced nuclear import/export and dendritic spine localization are likely essential for RGS14 neuronal functions as a regulator of synaptic plasticity. Supporting this idea, human genetic variants disrupting RGS14 localization also disrupt RGS14’s effects on plasticity. This review will focus on the known and unexplored roles of RGS14 in cell signaling, physiology, disease and behavior.
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Cocaine Induces Cytoskeletal Changes in Cardiac Myocytes: Implications for Cardiac Morphology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052263. [PMID: 33668403 PMCID: PMC7956613 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most widely abused illicit drugs worldwide and has long been recognised as an agent of cardiac dysfunction in numerous cases of drug overdose. Cocaine has previously been shown to up-regulate cytoskeletal rearrangements and morphological changes in numerous tissues; however, previous literature observes such changes primarily in clinical case reports and addiction studies. An investigation into the fundamental cytoskeletal parameters of migration, adhesion and proliferation were studied to determine the cytoskeletal and cytotoxic basis of cocaine in cardiac cells. Treatment of cardiac myocytes with cocaine increased cell migration and adhesion (p < 0.05), with no effect on cell proliferation, except with higher doses eliciting (1–10 μg/mL) its diminution and increase in cell death. Cocaine downregulated phosphorylation of cofilin, decreased expression of adhesion modulators (integrin-β3) and increased expression of ezirin within three hours of 1 μg/mL treatments. These functional responses were associated with changes in cellular morphology, including alterations in membrane stability and a stellate-like phenotype with less compaction between cells. Higher dose treatments of cocaine (5–10 μg/mL) were associated with significant cardiomyocyte cell death (p < 0.05) and loss of cellular architecture. These results highlight the importance of cocaine in mediating cardiomyocyte function and cytotoxicity associated with the possible loss of intercellular contacts required to maintain normal cell viability, with implications for cardiotoxicity relating to hypertrophy and fibrogenesis.
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Colvin KJ, Killen HS, Kanter MJ, Halperin MC, Engel L, Currie PJ. Brain Site-Specific Inhibitory Effects of the GLP-1 Analogue Exendin-4 on Alcohol Intake and Operant Responding for Palatable Food. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249710. [PMID: 33352692 PMCID: PMC7766977 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 14.4 million Americans are experiencing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and about two-thirds of people who experience drug addiction will relapse, highlighting the need to develop novel and effective treatments. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a peptide hormone implicated in the mesocorticolimbic reward system and has become a peptide of interest with respect to its putative inhibitory effects on drug reward. In order to further develop treatments for those diagnosed with AUD, the interplay between GLP-1 receptor signaling and ethanol consumption must be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the ability of the GLP-1 analogue, exendin-4 (Ex-4), to alter alcohol intake and operant responding for sucrose pellets in order to further understand the role of this compound in mediating reward. We selected multiple sites throughout the prosencephalic and mesencephalic regions of the brain, where we directly administered various doses of Ex-4 to male Sprague Dawley rats. In alcohol investigations, we utilized a two-bottle choice intermittent access protocol. In separate groups of rats, we adopted an operant paradigm in order to examine the effect of Ex-4 on motivated responding for palatable food. Results indicated that GLP-1 receptor signaling effectively suppressed voluntary alcohol intake when injected into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the accumbens core (NAcC) and shell (NAcS), the dorsomedial hippocampus (DMHipp), and the lateral hypothalamus (LH), which are all structures linked to brain reward mechanisms. The arcuate nucleus (ARcN) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus were unresponsive, as was the basolateral amygdala (BLA). However, Ex-4 treatment into the ArcN and PVN suppressed operant responding for sucrose pellets. In fact, the VTA, NAcC, NAcS, LH, and the DMHipp all showed comparable suppression of sucrose responding. Overall, our findings suggest that these central structures are implicated in brain reward circuitry, including alcohol and appetitive motivation, which may be mediated by GLP-1 receptor mechanisms. GLP-1, therefore, may play a critical role in modifying addictive behaviors via activation of multiple GLP-1 systems throughout the brain.
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