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Silva-Cardoso GK, N’Gouemo P. Inhibition of the Sodium-Calcium Exchanger Reverse Mode Activity Reduces Alcohol Consumption in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4132. [PMID: 38612942 PMCID: PMC11012417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074132] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Excessive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol can cause alcohol use disorder (AUD), but its pharmacological mechanisms are not fully understood. Inhibiting the reverse mode activity of the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) can reduce the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures, suggesting that NCX could play a role in controlling alcohol consumption. Here, we investigated how two potent inhibitors of NCX reverse mode activity, SN-6 (NCX1) and KB-R7943 (NCX3), affect voluntary alcohol consumption in adult male and female rats using the intermittent alcohol access two-bottle choice paradigm. Initially, animals were trained to drink 7.5% ethanol and water for four weeks before administering SN-6 and KB-R7934. Afterward, their alcohol intake, preference, and water intake were recorded 2 and 24 h after exposure to water and 7.5% ethanol. SN-6 significantly reduced alcohol consumption by 48% in male and 36% in female rats without affecting their water intake. Additionally, SN-6 significantly reduced alcohol preference in females by 27%. However, KB-R7943 reduced alcohol consumption by 42% in female rats and did not affect alcohol preference or water intake. These findings suggest that alcohol exposure increased NCX reverse activity, and targeting NCX1 could be an effective strategy for reducing alcohol consumption in subjects susceptible to withdrawal seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Prosper N’Gouemo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA;
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2
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Dahchour A, Ward RJ. Changes in serotonin neurotransmission as assayed by microdialysis after acute, intermittent or chronic ethanol administration and withdrawal. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2024; 38:42-59. [PMID: 37712258 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12949] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The serotonergic neurotransmitter system is involved in many ethanol-induced changes, including many behavioural alterations, as well as contributing to alcohol dependence and its withdrawal. AIMS This review has evaluated microdialysis studies where alterations in the serotonin system, that is, serotonin, 5-HT, or its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-HIAA, have been reported during different ethanol intoxication states, as well as in animals showing alcohol preference or not. Changes in 5-HT receptors and the 5-HT transporter are briefly reviewed to comprehend the significance of changes in microdialysate 5-HT concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Changes in 5-HT content following acute, chronic and during ethanol withdrawal states are evaluated. In addition, the serotoninergic system was assessed in animals that have been genetically selected for alcohol preference to ascertain whether changes in this monoamine microdialysate content may contribute to alcohol preference. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Changes occurred in 5-HT signalling in the limbic brain regions, increasing after acute ethanol administration in specific brain regions, particularly at higher doses, while chronic alcohol exposure essentially decreased serotonergic transmission. Such changes may play a pivotal role in emotion-driven craving and relapse. Depending on the dosage, mode of administration and consumption rate, ethanol affects specific brain regions in different ways, enhancing or reducing 5-HT microdialysate content, thereby inducing behavioural and cognitive functions and enhancing ethanol consumption. CONCLUSION Microdialysis studies demonstrated that ethanol induces several alterations in 5-HT content as well as its metabolites, 5-HIAA and 5-HTOL, not only in its release from a specific brain region but also in the modifications of its different receptor subtypes and its transporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelkader Dahchour
- Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
| | - Roberta J Ward
- Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
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Lachance GP, Gauvreau D, Boisselier É, Boukadoum M, Miled A. Breaking Barriers: Exploring Neurotransmitters through In Vivo vs. In Vitro Rivalry. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:647. [PMID: 38276338 PMCID: PMC11154401 DOI: 10.3390/s24020647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter analysis plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and managing neurodegenerative diseases, often characterized by disturbances in neurotransmitter systems. However, prevailing methods for quantifying neurotransmitters involve invasive procedures or require bulky imaging equipment, therefore restricting accessibility and posing potential risks to patients. The innovation of compact, in vivo instruments for neurotransmission analysis holds the potential to reshape disease management. This innovation can facilitate non-invasive and uninterrupted monitoring of neurotransmitter levels and their activity. Recent strides in microfabrication have led to the emergence of diminutive instruments that also find applicability in in vitro investigations. By harnessing the synergistic potential of microfluidics, micro-optics, and microelectronics, this nascent realm of research holds substantial promise. This review offers an overarching view of the current neurotransmitter sensing techniques, the advances towards in vitro microsensors tailored for monitoring neurotransmission, and the state-of-the-art fabrication techniques that can be used to fabricate those microsensors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominic Gauvreau
- Department Electrical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (G.P.L.); (D.G.)
| | - Élodie Boisselier
- Department Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Mounir Boukadoum
- Department Computer Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada;
| | - Amine Miled
- Department Electrical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (G.P.L.); (D.G.)
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4
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Kuiper LB, Roberts JB, Estave PM, Leo D, Gainetdinov RR, Jones SR. Patterns of ethanol intake in male rats with partial dopamine transporter deficiency. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023; 22:e12847. [PMID: 37461188 PMCID: PMC10733570 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Mesolimbic dopamine signaling plays a major role in alcohol and substance use disorders as well as comorbidities such as anxiety and depression. Growing evidence suggests that alcohol drinking is modulated by the function of the dopamine transporter (DAT), which tightly regulates extracellular dopamine concentrations. Adult male rats on a Wistar Han background (DAT+/+) and rats with a partial DAT deletion (DAT+/-) were used in this study. First, using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in brain slices containing the nucleus accumbens core from ethanol-naïve subjects, we measured greater evoked dopamine concentrations and slower dopamine reuptake in DAT+/- rats, consistent with increased dopamine signaling. Next, we measured ethanol drinking using the intermittent access two-bottle choice paradigm (20% v/v ethanol vs. water) across 5 weeks. DAT+/- rats voluntarily consumed less ethanol during its initial availability (the first 30 min), especially after longer periods of deprivation. In addition, DAT+/- males consumed less ethanol that was adulterated with the bitter tastant quinine. These findings suggest that partial DAT blockade and concomitant increase in brain dopamine levels has potential to reduce drinking and ameliorate alcohol use disorder (AUD).
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Affiliation(s)
- L. B. Kuiper
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - J. B. Roberts
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - P. M. Estave
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - D. Leo
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of MonsMonsBelgium
| | - R. R. Gainetdinov
- Institute of Translational BiomedicineSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
- St. Petersburg University HospitalSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
| | - S. R. Jones
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
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5
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Rungratanawanich W, Ballway JW, Wang X, Won KJ, Hardwick JP, Song BJ. Post-translational modifications of histone and non-histone proteins in epigenetic regulation and translational applications in alcohol-associated liver disease: Challenges and research opportunities. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 251:108547. [PMID: 37838219 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108547] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation is a process that takes place through adaptive cellular pathways influenced by environmental factors and metabolic changes to modulate gene activity with heritable phenotypic variations without altering the DNA sequences of many target genes. Epigenetic regulation can be facilitated by diverse mechanisms: many different types of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histone and non-histone nuclear proteins, DNA methylation, altered levels of noncoding RNAs, incorporation of histone variants, nucleosomal positioning, chromatin remodeling, etc. These factors modulate chromatin structure and stability with or without the involvement of metabolic products, depending on the cellular context of target cells or environmental stimuli, such as intake of alcohol (ethanol) or Western-style high-fat diets. Alterations of epigenetics have been actively studied, since they are frequently associated with multiple disease states. Consequently, explorations of epigenetic regulation have recently shed light on the pathogenesis and progression of alcohol-associated disorders. In this review, we highlight the roles of various types of PTMs, including less-characterized modifications of nuclear histone and non-histone proteins, in the epigenetic regulation of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and other disorders. We also describe challenges in characterizing specific PTMs and suggest future opportunities for basic and translational research to prevent or treat ALD and many other disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiramon Rungratanawanich
- Section of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jacob W Ballway
- Section of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kyoung-Jae Won
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, CA, 90069, USA
| | - James P Hardwick
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA.
| | - Byoung-Joon Song
- Section of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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6
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Airapetov MI, Eresko SO, Shamaeva SA, Matveev NM, Bychkov ER, Lebedev AA, Shabanov PD. Prolonged alcohol consumption influences microRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens of the rat brain. BIOMEDITSINSKAIA KHIMIIA 2023; 69:235-239. [PMID: 37705484 DOI: 10.18097/pbmc20236904235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The microRNA (miR) species analyzed in this study are involved in molecular mechanisms of TLR4 and TLR7 signaling, mediating the development of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. We have investigated the expression levels of miR-let7b, miR-96, miR-182, miR-155, and the mRNA content of HMGB1, TLR3, TLR4 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of the brain of rats exposed to long-term alcoholization. The long-term alcoholization caused a decrease in miR-let7b, miR-96, miR-182, and TLR7 mRNA levels; this was accompanied by an increase in miR-155, TLR4, and Hmgb1 mRNA levels in the NAc of rat brain. TLR7 is functionally linked to miR-let7b. The data of a simultaneous decrease in miR-let7b and TLR7 mRNA are of interest for further studies; they may indicate on the lack of functionally significant links between Hmgb1 and the miR-let7b-TLR7 system in NAc. The existing evidence of a functional relationship between TLR4 with miR-155 and miR-182 and our observations on their expression changes during chronic alcoholization are very interesting and require further investigation. The suggestion about the development of neuroinflammatory process in NAc under prolonged alcohol exposure are relevant for studying the level of TLR gene expression in NAc, as well as the expression of miR species, which may have a functional relationship with the TLR system.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Airapetov
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia; Military Medical Academy of S.M. Kirov, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - S O Eresko
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia; North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - S A Shamaeva
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - N M Matveev
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - E R Bychkov
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A A Lebedev
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - P D Shabanov
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Szulc M, Kujawski R, Pacholak A, Poprawska M, Czora-Poczwardowska K, Geppert B, Mikołajczak PŁ. Cannabidiol as a Modulator of the Development of Alcohol Tolerance in Rats. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15071702. [PMID: 37049542 PMCID: PMC10097131 DOI: 10.3390/nu15071702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to explore in vivo the influence of cannabidiol (CBD) on the development of alcohol tolerance in rats. Rats were treated with ethanol (3.0 g/kg, i.p.) and CBD (20 mg/kg, p.o.) for nine successive days, and rectal body temperature, sedation (sleeping time), and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) were measured. In the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, the cannabinoid (CB1R and CB2R) and dopaminergic (DRD1, DRD2, DRD4, DRD5) receptors’ mRNA level changes were analyzed using the quantitative RT-PCR method. CBD inhibited the development of tolerance to the hypothermic and sedative action of alcohol, coupled with BAC elevation. On a molecular level, the most pronounced effects of the CBD + ethanol interaction in the striatum were observed, where CBD reversed the downregulation of CB2R gene transcription caused by ethanol. For CB1R, DRD1, and DRD2 mRNAs, the CBD + ethanol interaction produced opposite effects than for CB2R ones. In turn, for the transcription of genes encoding dopaminergic receptors, the most potent effect of alcohol as CBD occurred in the hippocampus. However, the combined CBD and alcohol administration showed the same effect for each substance administered separately. Since tolerance is considered a prelude to drug addiction, obtained results allow us to emphasize the thesis that CBD can inhibit the development of alcohol dependence in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Szulc
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Radosław Kujawski
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Amanda Pacholak
- Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Poprawska
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Bogna Geppert
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zyty 28, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Przemysław Ł. Mikołajczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
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8
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Konar-Nié M, Guzman-Castillo A, Armijo-Weingart L, Aguayo LG. Aging in nucleus accumbens and its impact on alcohol use disorders. Alcohol 2023; 107:73-90. [PMID: 36087859 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ethanol is one of the most widely consumed drugs in the world and prolonged excessive ethanol intake might lead to alcohol use disorders (AUDs), which are characterized by neuroadaptations in different brain regions, such as in the reward circuitry. In addition, the global population is aging, and it appears that they are increasing their ethanol consumption. Although research involving the effects of alcohol in aging subjects is limited, differential effects have been described. For example, studies in human subjects show that older adults perform worse in tests assessing working memory, attention, and cognition as compared to younger adults. Interestingly, in the field of the neurobiological basis of ethanol actions, there is a significant dichotomy between what we know about the effects of ethanol on neurochemical targets in young animals and how it might affect them in the aging brain. To be able to understand the distinct effects of ethanol in the aging brain, the following questions need to be answered: (1) How does physiological aging impact the function of an ethanol-relevant region (e.g., the nucleus accumbens)? and (2) How does ethanol affect these neurobiological systems in the aged brain? This review discusses the available data to try to understand how aging affects the nucleus accumbens (nAc) and its neurochemical response to alcohol. The data show that there is little information on the effects of ethanol in aged mice and rats, and that many studies had considered 2-3-month-old mice as adults, which needs to be reconsidered since more recent literature defines 6 months as young adults and >18 months as an older mouse. Considering the actual relevance of an aged worldwide population and that this segment is drinking more frequently, it appears at least reasonable to explore how ethanol affects the brain in adult and aged models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena Konar-Nié
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile.
| | - Alejandra Guzman-Castillo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile; Programa en Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile.
| | - Lorena Armijo-Weingart
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile; Programa en Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile.
| | - Luis Gerardo Aguayo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile; Programa en Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile.
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Matthews DB, Rossmann G. Using animal models to identify clinical risk factors in the older population due to alcohol use and misuse. Alcohol 2023; 107:38-43. [PMID: 35659578 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The number of people over the age of 65 years old is increasing and understanding health risks associated with the aged population is important. Recent research has revealed that alcohol (ethanol) consumption levels in older demographics remains elevated and often occurs in a dangerous binge pattern. Given ethical constraints on investigating high level or binge pattern alcohol consumption in humans, animal models are often used to study the effects of ethanol. The current review highlights ongoing work revealing that aged rats are often more sensitive to the effects of acute ethanol compared to younger rats. Specifically, aged rats are more sensitive to the motor impairing, hypnotic, hypothermic, and often the cognitive effects of ethanol compared to younger rats. In addition, the development of ethanol tolerance following chronic exposure may have a different temporal pattern in aged rats compared to younger rats. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that cause the increased sensitivity to ethanol in aged animals have yet to be identified. Furthermore, the differential age effects of ethanol highlight clinical risk factors for alcohol misuse in the older human population. Future work is needed to determine underlying CNS mechanisms producing altered effects of ethanol in aged subjects and also the development of educational material concerning ethanol's effects across ages for health care providers working with the aged population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Matthews
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States.
| | - Gillian Rossmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States
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