Co-occurrence of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Traits in Young and Middle-Aged Japanese Alcohol-Dependent Men

Preconception ethanol exposure changes anxiety, depressive and checking-like behavior and alter the expression levels of MAO-B in male offspring

Alcohol use, which alters the epigenome, increases the probability that it could affect subsequent generations, even if they were never directly exposed to ethanol or even in utero. We explored the effects of parental ethanol exposure before conception on behavioral changes in the offspring. Considering the role of Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) in dopamine turnover in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its influence on behavior, and taking into account that ethanol exposure could alter MAO-B, we assessed the protein levels in the offspring. Male and female rats were exposed to ethanol for 30 days and then allowed ten days of abstinence. Afterward, they were mated with either control or ethanol-exposed rats. The F1 and F2 male offspring underwent tests to assess behavioral changes. Additionally, the levels of MAO-B in the PFC were evaluated. Results revealed that in the F1, anxiety increased only in the bi-parental ethanol-exposed male offspring in the elevated plus maze test (p < 0.05), while depressive-like behavior rose only in maternal and bi-parental ethanol-exposed offspring (p < 0.01). However, compulsive-like behavior increased in all ethanol-exposed offspring (p < 0.01). No significant phenotypic changes were observed in the F2. The levels of MAO-B in the PFC increased in the maternal (p < 0.05) and bi-parental ethanol-exposed offspring (p < 0.01). Our study demonstrates that parental ethanol exposure, even in the days preceding mating, adversely affects behaviors and induces molecular changes in the brain. Given these findings, it becomes imperative to monitor children exposed to parental (especially maternal) ethanol for the prevention of mental disorders.

Inhibition of NMDA receptors by agmatine is followed by GABA/glutamate balance in benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome

Background

Drug withdrawal syndrome occurs due to abrupt cessation of an addictive substance. Dependence to diazepam can be manifested by withdrawal syndrome which may include symptoms such as irritability, psychosis, sleep disturbance, seizures, mood disturbance, and anxiety. Studies have described the therapeutic role of agmatine in various neurological disorders such as depressive mood, learning deficits, anxiety, memory impairment, and psychosis. Various studies have also validated agmatine as a putant neuromodulator and revealed its mechanism of action with other neurotransmitters. The study was designed to reveal the potentials of agmatine in benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome by maintaining GABA/glutamate balance. The study aimed to determine the underlying mechanism of action of agmatine at synaptic level using behavioral and biochemical evaluations.

Results

Agmatine significantly enhanced locomotion in open filed test and decreased anxiety as observed in elevated plus maze test (p < 0.01). Agmatine also reduced withdrawal symptoms scores along with compulsive behaviors in marble burying test and improved muscular strength by decreasing latency to fall in inverted screen test (p < 0.01). Moreover, agmatine established GABA/glutamate balance by increasing GABA levels and decreased glutamate concentration significantly (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The present study reveals the possible mechanism of action of agmatine on NMDA receptor at GABA interneurons and glutamate post synaptic neuron that may lead to GABA/glutamate balance during withdrawal syndrome.

Neonatal alcohol exposure augments voluntary ethanol intake in the absence of potentiated anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure

Individuals fetally exposed to alcohol have a disproportionate risk for developing lifetime alcohol dependence, an association that may be confounded by the presence of comorbid conditions, such as anxiety. Anxiety is also observed following fetal alcohol exposure and is known to exacerbate ethanol consumption, highlighting the utility of animal models to assess this relationship. The present study evaluated the impact of third-trimester equivalent ethanol exposure on ethanol consumption and anxiety-like, marble burying behavior in adult, male C57BL/6 mice following exposure to chronic intermittent ethanol vapor, proposed to model dependence. Neonatal mice (P5-6, 2.5-3.0 g) were administered one injection of saline or ethanol (2.5 g/kg, subcutaneously [s.c.]). Pre-vapor marble burying and limited-access two-bottle choice ethanol intake (15% v/v, 2 h) were comparable in adults (8 weeks of age) across neonatal treatment groups. Five consecutive drinking sessions were repeated 72 h after each weekly ethanol vapor exposure procedure for a total of five vapor/drinking cycles. Consistent with prior research, an increase in voluntary ethanol drinking was observed in vapor-exposed, neonatal saline-treated mice throughout the study starting after the second vapor cycle compared to both air-exposed control groups. In neonatal ethanol-treated mice, this increase in ethanol intake and preference following vapor exposure was accelerated, being observed after the first vapor cycle, and observed at an augmented level compared to vapor-exposed, neonatal saline-treated mice and air controls for both neonatal conditions. Conversely, marble burying was enhanced equivalently in vapor-exposed mice from either neonatal treatment group relative to their respective air-exposed controls. These data recapitulate clinical observations of enhanced sensitivity for alcohol dependence following developmental alcohol exposure, which may reflect enhanced motivational drive rather than potentiated negative affect. The present model will facilitate the future exploration of mechanisms that underlie increased risk for alcohol use after early developmental exposure.

Supersensitive Kappa Opioid Receptors Promotes Ethanol Withdrawal-Related Behaviors and Reduce Dopamine Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens

BACKGROUND

Chronic ethanol exposure reduces dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens, which may contribute to the negative affective symptoms associated with ethanol withdrawal. Kappa opioid receptors have been implicated in withdrawal-induced excessive drinking and anxiety-like behaviors and are known to inhibit dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. The effects of chronic ethanol exposure on kappa opioid receptor-mediated changes in dopamine transmission at the level of the dopamine terminal and withdrawal-related behaviors were examined.

METHODS

Five weeks of chronic intermittent ethanol exposure in male C57BL/6 mice were used to examine the role of kappa opioid receptors in chronic ethanol-induced increases in ethanol intake and marble burying, a measure of anxiety/compulsive-like behavior. Drinking and marble burying were evaluated before and after chronic intermittent ethanol exposure, with and without kappa opioid receptor blockade by nor-binaltorphimine (10mg/kg i.p.). Functional alterations in kappa opioid receptors were assessed using fast scan cyclic voltammetry in brain slices containing the nucleus accumbens.

RESULTS

Chronic intermittent ethanol-exposed mice showed increased ethanol drinking and marble burying compared with controls, which was attenuated with kappa opioid receptor blockade. Chronic intermittent ethanol-induced increases in behavior were replicated with kappa opioid receptor activation in naïve mice. Fast scan cyclic voltammetry revealed that chronic intermittent ethanol reduced accumbal dopamine release and increased uptake rates, promoting a hypodopaminergic state of this region. Kappa opioid receptor activation with U50,488H concentration-dependently decreased dopamine release in both groups; however, this effect was greater in chronic intermittent ethanol-treated mice, indicating kappa opioid receptor supersensitivity in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that the chronic intermittent ethanol-induced increase in ethanol intake and anxiety/compulsive-like behaviors may be driven by greater kappa opioid receptor sensitivity and a hypodopaminergic state of the nucleus accumbens.

Assessment of affective and somatic signs of ethanol withdrawal in C57BL/6J mice using a short-term ethanol treatment

Alcohol is one of the most prevalent addictive substances in the world. Withdrawal symptoms result from abrupt cessation of alcohol consumption in habitual drinkers. The emergence of both affective and physical symptoms produces a state that promotes relapse. Mice provide a preclinical model that could be used to study alcohol dependence and withdrawal while controlling for both genetic and environmental variables. The use of a liquid ethanol diet offers a reliable method for the induction of alcohol dependence in mice, but this approach is impractical when conducting high-throughput pharmacological screens or when comparing multiple strains of genetically engineered mice. The goal of this study was to compare withdrawal-associated behaviors in mice chronically treated with a liquid ethanol diet vs. mice treated with a short-term ethanol treatment that consisted of daily ethanol injections containing the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, 4-methylpyrazole. Twenty-four hours after ethanol treatment, mice were tested in the open field arena, the elevated plus maze, the marble burying test, or for changes in somatic signs during spontaneous ethanol withdrawal. Anxiety-like and compulsive-like behaviors, as well as physical signs, were all significantly elevated in mice undergoing withdrawal, regardless of the route of ethanol administration. Therefore, a short-term ethanol treatment can be utilized as a screening tool for testing genetic and pharmacological agents before investing in a more time-consuming ethanol treatment.

Differential effects of acute morphine, and chronic morphine-withdrawal on obsessive-compulsive behavior: inhibitory influence of CRF receptor antagonists on chronic morphine-withdrawal

Recent studies have provided convincing evidences for co-morbidity between opioid addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and the involvement of the corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the effects of morphine-withdrawal. Some scanty evidences also point towards the role of CRF in OCD and related disorders. But, no evidence indicated the role of CRF in morphine withdrawal associated obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB). Therefore, the present study investigated the role of CRF in morphine-withdrawal induced OCB in mice. Marble-burying behavior in mice was used to assess OCB as this model has good predictive and face validity. The results revealed that acute morphine dose dependently attenuated the marble burying behavior, whereas withdrawal of chronic morphine was associated with significant rise in marble burying behavior. This indicates the differential effect of acute morphine and chronic morphine-withdrawal on OCB. Further, acute treatment with CRF receptor antagonists like antalarmin (2 and 4 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) or astressin-2B (3 and 10 nmol/mouse, i.c.v.) dose dependently attenuated the peak morphine-withdrawal induced increase in marble burying behavior. Moreover, concomitant treatment with antalarmin (4 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) or astressin-2B (10 nmol/mouse, i.c.v.) along with morphine blocked the morphine-withdrawal associated exacerbation of OCB. These results indicate that OCB associated with morphine withdrawal state is partly mediated by the activation of central CRF receptors.

Alcohol use disorders in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: the importance of appropriate dual-diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence and clinical associated factors of alcohol use disorders (AUD) comorbidity in a large clinical sample of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including 630 DSM-IV OCD patients from seven Brazilian university services, comparing patients with and without AUD comorbidity. The instruments of assessment used were a demographic and clinical questionnaire including evaluation of suicidal thoughts and acts and psychiatric treatment, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I), the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale, the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories and the Clinical Global Impression Scale. Current or past alcohol and other psychoactive substances use, abuse and dependence were assessed using the SCID-I (section E) and corroborated by medical and familial history questionnaires.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients (7.5%) presented AUD comorbidity. Compared to OCD patients without this comorbidity they were more likely to be men, to have received previous psychiatric treatment, to present lifetime suicidal thoughts and attempts and to have higher scores in the hoarding dimension. They also presented higher comorbidity with generalized anxiety and somatization disorders, and compulsive sexual behavior. Substance use was related to the appearance of the first O.C. symptoms and symptom amelioration.

CONCLUSIONS

Although uncommon among OCD treatment seeking samples, AUD comorbidity has specific clinical features, such as increased risk for suicidality, which deserve special attention from mental health professionals. Future studies focused on the development of specific interventions for these patients are warranted.

The relationship between anxiety disorders and substance use among adolescents in the community: specificity and gender differences

Using a sample of 781 adolescents (ages 13-17, 52.8% male) from a community survey, this study examined gender differences in the co-occurrence of specific anxiety disorders with substance use in adolescents. The associations between anxiety disorders and substance use differed according to the particular anxiety disorders and forms of substance use being examined, as well as by gender. Social phobia was associated with cigarette smoking among boys only. For girls, social phobia appeared to be negatively associated with drug use. For the other anxiety disorders, the associations with substance use tended to be stronger among girls. These findings highlight the need to improve clinical recognition of the anxiety disorders and to improve treatment access for afflicted adolescents. Future studies based on longitudinal data could further elucidate the relationships among anxiety disorders, gender, and substance use.

Naltrexone augmentation in OCD: a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study

Current treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) rely primarily on serotonergic mechanisms. However, approximately 30% of patients do not respond to serotonin reuptake inhibitors and remain chronically ill. Given the behavioral similarities between some of the compulsive behaviors in OCD and addiction, we hypothesized that the opioid antagonist naltrexone might attenuate compulsions in OCD as well. The effect of naltrexone augmentation to SRI was compared to placebo in 10 OCD outpatients who had not responded to an adequate dose of SSRI or clomipramine for at least 2 months. Participants underwent 5 weeks of treatment with naltrexone or placebo (and 1 week of tapering) in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design. Patients were evaluated weekly using the Y-BOCS, CGI, HAM-A, and MADRS scales. A two-way repeated measures MANOVA revealed no significant effect for Y-BOCS. However, while receiving naltrexone, patients had significantly higher scores on CGI, MADRS and HAM-A as compared to placebo. The lack of significant findings on OC symptoms could be due to either ceiling effect or alternatively, due to a non-specific exacerbation on anxiety and depression but not on OC symptoms.

Iron accumulation in alcoholic liver diseases

Increased hepatic iron is one of the important key factors which contribute alcohol toxicity of liver due to the production of reactive oxygen species. In patients with alcoholic liver diseases (ALD), liver iron is increased and the resulted lipid metabolite 4-hydroxynonenal-protein adduct was also increased. In general, iron is deposited in both parenchymal cells and and Kupffer cells in ALD. However, in patients with mild ALD, the parenchymal iron deposition is dominant rather than reticuloendothelial iron deposition, while the latter iron deposition is domimant in severe ALD, possibly due to endotoxemia and overproduction of inflammatory cytokines. We speculated that a parenchymal iron deposition in mild ALD is an important factor to trigger hepatocytes injury by ethanol, and the possible cause of parencynal iron deposition may be an increase of cellular iron uptake via serum transferrin in hepatocytes after ethanol exposure. By immuno-histochemical study of biopsied liver samples, the expression of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), which mediates cellular iron uptake by serum transferrin was increased. This increase of TfR1 by ethanol is confirmed by in vitro experiment using HepG2 cells and primary rat hepatocytes culture. Fe-labeled transferrin incorporation (but not transferrin non-bound iron (NTBI)) into the cells is also increased, suggesting that the increased TfR1 is functional. The increase of TfR1 expression is partially due to the increased activity of iron regulatory protein (IRP) by oxidative stress of ethanol metabolism. Thus, the post-transcriptional regulation of iron uptake by ethanol is involved in the hepatocyte iron accumulation. Another possibility is an increase of intestinal iron absorption. Our recent finding regarding the increase of pro-hepcidin serum in alcoholic patients with high serum ferritin support this assumption.

Induction of transferrin receptor by ethanol in rat primary hepatocyte culture

BACKGROUND

It is not uncommon for alcoholics to have iron accumulation in the liver, a condition that may contribute to the development of alcoholic liver disease. Recently, we reported that the expression of transferrin receptor, which mediates cellular iron uptake, was increased in hepatocytes in patients with alcoholic liver disease. To elucidate the mechanism of the iron accumulation in hepatocytes in such disease, we examined whether ethanol exposure induced the transferrin receptor expression and increased the cellular iron uptake.

METHODS

Rat primary hepatocytes were isolated and cultured in the presence of 20 micromol/liter of iron and 25 mmol/liter of ethanol.

RESULTS

Ethanol exposure to the hepatocytes demonstrated an ~2-fold increase in transferrin receptor expression for 24 hr, shown by Western blot analysis and S-methionine metabolic labeling, 19% increase in Fe-transferrin uptake by hepatocytes, and 20% increase in activity of iron regulatory protein examined by band shift assay.

CONCLUSION

Ethanol exposure induced the transferrin receptor expression, partially through the activation of iron regulatory protein, and increased the transferrin-bound iron uptake in rat hepatocyte cultures. The induction of transferrin receptor by ethanol might be one of the mechanisms of iron accumulation in the hepatocytes in alcoholic liver disease.