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Ge F, Wang Z, Yu W, Yuan X, Cai Q, Wang G, Li X, Xu X, Yang P, Fan Y, Chang J, Guan X. Activating Lobule VI PC TH+-Med Pathway in Cerebellum Blocks the Acquisition of Methamphetamine Conditioned Place Preference in Mice. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1312232024. [PMID: 38331582 PMCID: PMC10941241 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1312-23.2024] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebellum has been implicated in drug addiction; however, its underlying cellular populations and neuronal circuitry remain largely unknown. In the current study, we identified a neural pathway from tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive Purkinje cells (PCTH+) in cerebellar lobule VI to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-positive glutamatergic neurons in the medial cerebellar nucleus (MedCaMKII), forming the lobule VI PCTH+-MedCaMKII pathway in male mice. In naive male mice, inhibition of PCTH+ neurons activated Med neurons. During conditioned place preference (CPP) training, exposure to methamphetamine (METH) inhibited lobule VI PCTH+ neurons while excited MedCaMKII neurons in mice. Silencing MedCaMKII using a tetanus toxin light chain (tettox) suppressed the acquisition of METH CPP in mice but resulted in motor coordination deficits in naive mice. In contrast, activating lobule VI PCTH+ terminals within Med inhibited the activity of Med neurons and subsequently blocked the acquisition of METH CPP in mice without affecting motor coordination, locomotor activity, and sucrose reinforcements in naive mice. Our findings identified a novel lobule VI PCTH+-MedCaMKII pathway within the cerebellum and explored its role in mediating the acquisition of METH-preferred behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Ge
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zilin Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wen Yu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiya Yuan
- The first Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Qinglong Cai
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Guanxiong Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xing Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu Fan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiasong Chang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaowei Guan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
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Saavedra MS, Thota P, Peresuodei TS, Gill A, Orji C, Reghefaoui M, Khan S. Neurocognitive Impact of Exposure to Cannabis Concentrates and Cannabinoids Including Vaping in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2024; 16:e52362. [PMID: 38361722 PMCID: PMC10867711 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
During adolescence, significant changes unfold in the brain's maturation process. The density of white matter increases, accompanied by the pruning back of gray matter. This critical and vulnerable period becomes especially noteworthy in the context of drug use, as adolescents are extensively exposed to substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis. The concern is heightened now that cannabis has been legalized for recreational use in many places, leading to increased exposure levels. Additionally, knowledge about the impact of cannabis on neurocognitive development during this stage is limited. This knowledge gap compounds the issue, making it even more concerning. Therefore, a systematic review was carried out based on the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, using medical databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), Medline, Cochrane Library, Internet Archive Scholar, and Embase-Elsevier for relevant medical literature. The identified articles were reviewed, eligibility criteria were applied, and 19 research articles were identified. The final papers explored the correlation between children's and adolescents' exposure to cannabis-containing compounds and subsequent changes in the central nervous system (CNS). Findings revealed a considerable impact, ranging from transient alterations in mood to permanent cognitive function and sensory processing changes, affecting the deterioration of the quality of life of these individuals in adulthood. Presently, most studies were conducted on animals, and the few studies on humans have considerable limitations, such as the type of study, age of the population, and small samples, among others. For this reason, it is essential for the scientific community and public health organizations, in general, to conduct more studies that demonstrate the true neurobiological impact of this drug and its accessibility to young people and, based on the results, consider its legalization or propose regulations for its use and commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michell S Saavedra
- Medicine, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, ECU
- Pediatrics, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Priyanka Thota
- Medicine, Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, IND
- Pediatrics, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Tariladei S Peresuodei
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Abhishek Gill
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Chijioke Orji
- Trauma and Orthopedics, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham, GBR
- Trauma and Orthopedics, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Maiss Reghefaoui
- Internal Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HUN
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Safeera Khan
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA
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Wang Y, Ma L, Chen R, Liu N, Zhang H, Li Y, Wang J, Hu M, Zhao G, Men W, Tan S, Gao J, Qin S, He Y, Dong Q, Tao S. Emotional and behavioral problems change the development of cerebellar gray matter volume, thickness, and surface area from childhood to adolescence: A longitudinal cohort study. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:3528-3548. [PMID: 37287420 PMCID: PMC10580368 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14286] [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: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Increasing evidence indicates that major neurodevelopmental disorders have potential links to abnormal cerebellar development. However, the developmental trajectories of cerebellar subregions from childhood to adolescence are lacking, and it is not clear how emotional and behavioral problems affect them. We aim to map the developmental trajectories of gray matter volume (GMV), cortical thickness (CT), and surface area (SA) in cerebellar subregions from childhood to adolescence and examine how emotional and behavioral problems change the cerebellar development trajectory in a longitudinal cohort study. METHOD This population-based longitudinal cohort study used data on a representative sample of 695 children. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed at baseline and at three annual follow-ups with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS Using an innovative automated image segmentation technique, we quantified the GMV, CT, and SA of the whole cerebellum and 24 subdivisions (lobules I-VI, VIIB, VIIIA&B, and IX-X plus crus I-II) with 1319 MRI scans from a large longitudinal sample of 695 subjects aged 6-15 years and mapped their developmental trajectories. We also examined sex differences and found that boys showed more linear growth, while girls showed more nonlinear growth. Boys and girls showed nonlinear growth in the cerebellar subregions; however, girls reached the peak earlier than boys. Further analysis found that emotional and behavioral problems modulated cerebellar development. Specifically, emotional symptoms impede the expansion of the SA of the cerebellar cortex, and no gender differences; conduct problems lead to inadequate cerebellar GMV development only in girls, but not boys; hyperactivity/inattention delays the development of cerebellar GMV and SA, with left cerebellar GMV, right VIIIA GMV and SA in boys and left V GMV and SA in girls; peer problems disrupt CT growth and SA expansion, resulting in delayed GMV development, with bilateral IV, right X CT in boys and right Crus I GMV, left V SA in girls; and prosocial behavior problems impede the expansion of the SA and lead to excessive CT growth, with bilateral IV, V, right VI CT, left cerebellum SA in boys and right Crus I GMV in girls. CONCLUSIONS This study maps the developmental trajectories of GMV, CT, and SA in cerebellar subregions from childhood to adolescence. In addition, we provide the first evidence for how emotional and behavioral problems affect the dynamic development of GMV, CT, and SA in the cerebellum, which provides an important basis and guidance for the prevention and intervention of cognitive and emotional behavioral problems in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanpei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Leilei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Rui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ningyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Haibo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jiali Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Mingming Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Gai Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Weiwei Men
- Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Shuping Tan
- Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing HuiLongGuan HospitalPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jia‐Hong Gao
- Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Shaozheng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Sha Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
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4
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Taylor A, Nweke A, Vincent V, Oke M, Kulkarni P, Ferris CF. Chronic exposure to inhaled vaporized cannabis high in Δ9-THC alters brain structure in adult female mice. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1139309. [PMID: 36950131 PMCID: PMC10025305 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1139309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The medical and recreational use of cannabis has increased in the United States. Its chronic use can have detrimental effects on the neurobiology of the brain-effects that are age-dependent. This was an exploratory study looking at the effects of chronically inhaled vaporized cannabis on brain structure in adult female mice. Methods Adult mice were exposed daily to vaporized cannabis (10.3% THC and 0.05% CBD) or placebo for 21 days. Following cessation of treatment mice were examined for changes in brain structure using voxel-based morphometry and diffusion weighted imaging MRI. Data from each imaging modality were registered to a 3D mouse MRI atlas with 139 brain areas. Results Mice showed volumetric changes in the forebrain particularly the prefrontal cortex, accumbens, ventral pallidum, and limbic cortex. Many of these same brain areas showed changes in water diffusivity suggesting alterations in gray matter microarchitecture. Discussion These data are consistent with much of the clinical findings on cannabis use disorder. The sensitivity of the dopaminergic system to the daily exposure of vaporized cannabis raises concerns for abuse liability in drug naïve adult females that initiate chronic cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Autumn Taylor
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amanda Nweke
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Veniesha Vincent
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marvellous Oke
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Praveen Kulkarni
- Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Craig F. Ferris
- Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Craig F. Ferris,
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5
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D'Souza DC, DiForti M, Ganesh S, George TP, Hall W, Hjorthøj C, Howes O, Keshavan M, Murray RM, Nguyen TB, Pearlson GD, Ranganathan M, Selloni A, Solowij N, Spinazzola E. Consensus paper of the WFSBP task force on cannabis, cannabinoids and psychosis. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:719-742. [PMID: 35315315 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2038797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The liberalisation of cannabis laws, the increasing availability and potency of cannabis has renewed concern about the risk of psychosis with cannabis. METHODS The objective of the WFSBP task force was to review the literature about this relationship. RESULTS Converging lines of evidence suggest that exposure to cannabis increases the risk for psychoses ranging from transient psychotic states to chronic recurrent psychosis. The greater the dose, and the earlier the age of exposure, the greater the risk. For some psychosis outcomes, the evidence supports some of the criteria of causality. However, alternate explanations including reverse causality and confounders cannot be conclusively excluded. Furthermore, cannabis is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause psychosis. More likely it is one of the multiple causal components. In those with established psychosis, cannabis has a negative impact on the course and expression of the illness. Emerging evidence also suggests alterations in the endocannabinoid system in psychotic disorders. CONCLUSIONS Given that exposure to cannabis and cannabinoids is modifiable, delaying or eliminating exposure to cannabis or cannabinoids, could potentially impact the rates of psychosis related to cannabis, especially in those who are at high risk for developing the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Cyril D'Souza
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.,Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marta DiForti
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Suhas Ganesh
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.,Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tony P George
- Addictions Division and Centre for Complex Interventions, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wayne Hall
- The National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Carsten Hjorthøj
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health - CORE, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oliver Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Institute for Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Matcheri Keshavan
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robin M Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Timothy B Nguyen
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,Institute for Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Godfrey D Pearlson
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Olin Neuropsychiatry Ctr. Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Mohini Ranganathan
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.,Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alex Selloni
- Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nadia Solowij
- School of Psychology and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence (ACRE), New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Edoardo Spinazzola
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Substance use disorders account for a tremendous burden to society, yet despite substantial progress in basic studies, our understanding of the brain-basis of these disorders is still emerging. This review summarizes the recent findings of neuroimaging studies with substance use disorder individuals. RECENT FINDINGS Resting-state functional connectivity studies support for some but not all substances of abuse and disruption in executive control. Structural neuroimaging findings point towards reduced subcortical volumes, which may emerge as an interaction between preexisting factors and recent substance use. Longitudinal studies implicate some of the same core brain structures and their functional role that have also been identified via case-control studies. Finally, meta-analyses support the idea of dysregulation of cortical control over subcortical salience processing. SUMMARY Although progress has been made and there is both structural and functional imaging evidence of an imbalance between brain structures involved in executive control and salience processing, there is emerging evidence that brain-behaviour relationships, which are core to discovering the neural processes that lead to and maintain substance use, are small and require larger consortia that prospectively examine individuals with substance use disorder.
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7
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Hirjak D, Schmitgen MM, Werler F, Wittemann M, Kubera KM, Wolf ND, Sambataro F, Calhoun VD, Reith W, Wolf RC. Multimodal MRI data fusion reveals distinct structural, functional and neurochemical correlates of heavy cannabis use. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13113. [PMID: 34808703 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Heavy cannabis use (HCU) is frequently associated with a plethora of cognitive, psychopathological and sensorimotor phenomena. Although HCU is frequent, specific patterns of abnormal brain structure and function underlying HCU in individuals presenting without cannabis-use disorder or other current and life-time major mental disorders are unclear at present. This multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study examined resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and structural MRI (sMRI) data from 24 persons with HCU and 16 controls. Parallel independent component analysis (p-ICA) was used to examine covarying components among grey matter volume (GMV) maps computed from sMRI and intrinsic neural activity (INA), as derived from amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) maps computed from rs-fMRI data. Further, we used JuSpace toolbox for cross-modal correlations between MRI-based modalities with nuclear imaging derived estimates, to examine specific neurotransmitter system changes underlying HCU. We identified two transmodal components, which significantly differed between the HCU and controls (GMV: p = 0.01, ALFF p = 0.03, respectively). The GMV component comprised predominantly cerebello-temporo-thalamic regions, whereas the INA component included fronto-parietal regions. Across HCU, loading parameters of both components were significantly associated with distinct HCU behavior. Finally, significant associations between GMV and the serotonergic system as well as between INA and the serotonergic, dopaminergic and μ-opioid receptor system were detected. This study provides novel multimodal neuromechanistic insights into HCU suggesting co-altered structure/function-interactions in neural systems subserving cognitive and sensorimotor functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusan Hirjak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim Heidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Mike M. Schmitgen
- Department of General Psychiatry at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine Heidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Florian Werler
- Department of General Psychiatry at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine Heidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Miriam Wittemann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Katharina M. Kubera
- Department of General Psychiatry at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine Heidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Nadine D. Wolf
- Department of General Psychiatry at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine Heidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neurosciences, Padua Neuroscience Center University of Padua Padua Italy
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri‐institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology Emory University Atlanta Georgia USA
| | - Wolfgang Reith
- Department of Neuroradiology Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Robert Christian Wolf
- Department of General Psychiatry at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine Heidelberg University Mannheim Germany
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8
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Association between age of cannabis initiation and gray matter covariance networks in recent onset psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1484-1493. [PMID: 33658653 PMCID: PMC8209059 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-00977-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis use during adolescence is associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis. According to a current hypothesis, this results from detrimental effects of early cannabis use on brain maturation during this vulnerable period. However, studies investigating the interaction between early cannabis use and brain structural alterations hitherto reported inconclusive findings. We investigated effects of age of cannabis initiation on psychosis using data from the multicentric Personalized Prognostic Tools for Early Psychosis Management (PRONIA) and the Cannabis Induced Psychosis (CIP) studies, yielding a total sample of 102 clinically-relevant cannabis users with recent onset psychosis. GM covariance underlies shared maturational processes. Therefore, we performed source-based morphometry analysis with spatial constraints on structural brain networks showing significant alterations in schizophrenia in a previous multisite study, thus testing associations of these networks with the age of cannabis initiation and with confounding factors. Earlier cannabis initiation was associated with more severe positive symptoms in our cohort. Greater gray matter volume (GMV) in the previously identified cerebellar schizophrenia-related network had a significant association with early cannabis use, independent of several possibly confounding factors. Moreover, GMV in the cerebellar network was associated with lower volume in another network previously associated with schizophrenia, comprising the insula, superior temporal, and inferior frontal gyrus. These findings are in line with previous investigations in healthy cannabis users, and suggest that early initiation of cannabis perturbs the developmental trajectory of certain structural brain networks in a manner imparting risk for psychosis later in life.
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9
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McPherson KL, Tomasi DG, Wang GJ, Manza P, Volkow ND. Cannabis Affects Cerebellar Volume and Sleep Differently in Men and Women. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:643193. [PMID: 34054601 PMCID: PMC8155508 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There are known sex differences in behavioral and clinical outcomes associated with drugs of abuse, including cannabis. However, little is known about how chronic cannabis use and sex interact to affect brain structure, particularly in regions with high cannabinoid receptor expression, such as the cerebellum, amygdala, and hippocampus. Based on behavioral data suggesting that females may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of chronic cannabis use, we hypothesized lower volumes in these regions in female cannabis users. We also hypothesized poorer sleep quality among female cannabis users, given recent findings highlighting the importance of sleep for many outcomes related to cannabis use disorder. Methods: Using data from the Human Connectome Project, we examined 170 chronic cannabis users (>100 lifetime uses and/or a lifetime diagnosis of cannabis dependence) and 170 controls that we attempted to match on age, sex, BMI, race, tobacco use, and alcohol use. We performed group-by-sex ANOVAs, testing for an interaction in subcortical volumes, and in self-reported sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Inventory). Results: After controlling for total intracranial volume and past/current tobacco usage, we found that cannabis users relative to controls had smaller cerebellum volume and poorer sleep quality, and these effects were driven by the female cannabis users (i.e., a group-by-sex interaction). Among cannabis users, there was an age of first use-by-sex interaction in sleep quality, such that females with earlier age of first cannabis use tended to have more self-reported sleep issues, whereas this trend was not present among male cannabis users. The amygdala volume was smaller in cannabis users than in non-users but the group by sex interaction was not significant. Conclusions: These data corroborate prior findings that females may be more sensitive to the neural and behavioral effects of chronic cannabis use than males. Further work is needed to determine if reduced cerebellar and amygdala volumes contribute to sleep impairments in cannabis users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L. McPherson
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Dardo G. Tomasi
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Gene-Jack Wang
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Peter Manza
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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