1
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Lee P, Kim J, Choi IY, Pal R, Hui D, Marcario JK, Michaelis ML, Michaelis EK. Increases in anterograde axoplasmic transport in neurons of the hyper-glutamatergic, glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (Glud1) transgenic mouse: Effects of glutamate receptors on transport. J Neurochem 2024; 168:719-727. [PMID: 38124277 PMCID: PMC11102336 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16035] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate has a role in neuronal migration and process elongation in the central nervous system (CNS). The effects of chronic glutamate hyperactivity on vesicular and protein transport within CNS neurons, that is, processes necessary for neurite growth, have not been examined previously. In this study, we measured the effects of lifelong hyperactivity of glutamate neurotransmission on axoplasmic transport in CNS neurons. We compared wild-type (wt) to transgenic (Tg) mice over-expressing the glutamate dehydrogenase gene Glud1 in CNS neurons and exhibiting increases in glutamate transmitter formation, release, and synaptic activation in brain throughout the lifespan. We found that Glud1 Tg as compared with wt mice exhibited increases in the rate of anterograde axoplasmic transport in neurons of the hippocampus measured in brain slices ex vivo, and in olfactory neurons measured in vivo. We also showed that the in vitro pharmacologic activation of glutamate synapses in wt mice led to moderate increases in axoplasmic transport, while exposure to selective inhibitors of ion channel forming glutamate receptors very significantly suppressed anterograde transport, suggesting a link between synaptic glutamate receptor activation and axoplasmic transport. Finally, axoplasmic transport in olfactory neurons of Tg mice in vivo was partially inhibited following 14-day intake of ethanol, a known suppressor of axoplasmic transport and of glutamate neurotransmission. The same was true for transport in hippocampal neurons in slices from Glud1 Tg mice exposed to ethanol for 2 h ex vivo. In conclusion, endogenous activity at glutamate synapses regulates and glutamate synaptic hyperactivity increases intraneuronal transport rates in CNS neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil Lee
- Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 USA
| | - Jieun Kim
- Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 USA
| | - In-Young Choi
- Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 USA
| | - Ranu Pal
- Higuchi Biosciences Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Dongwei Hui
- Higuchi Biosciences Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Joanne K. Marcario
- Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 USA
| | - Mary L. Michaelis
- Higuchi Biosciences Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Elias K. Michaelis
- Higuchi Biosciences Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
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2
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de Oliveira IG, Queiroz LY, da Silva CCS, Cartágenes SC, Fernandes LMP, de Souza-Junior FJC, Bittencourt LO, Lima RR, Martins MD, Schmidt TR, Fontes-Junior EA, Maia CDSF. Ethanol binge drinking exposure during adolescence displays long-lasting motor dysfunction related to cerebellar neurostructural damage even after long-term withdrawal in female Wistar rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116316. [PMID: 38394853 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116316] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Ethanol is one of the psychoactive substances most used by young individuals, usually in an intermittent and episodic manner, also called binge drinking. In the adolescent period, brain structures undergo neuromaturation, which increases the vulnerability to psychotropic substances. Our previous studies have revealed that ethanol binge drinking during adolescence elicits neurobehavioral alterations associated with brain damage. Thus, we explored the persistence of motor function impairment and cerebellum damage in the context of ethanol withdrawal periods (emerging adulthood and adult life) in adolescent female rats. Female Wistar rats (35 days old) received orally 4 cycles of ethanol (3.0 g/kg/day) or distilled water in 3 days on-4 days off paradigm (35th until 58th day of life). Motor behavioral tests (open field, grip strength, beam walking, and rotarod tests) and histological assays (Purkinje's cell density and NeuN-positive cells) were assessed on the 1-, 30-, and 60-days of binge alcohol exposure withdrawal. Our findings demonstrate that the adolescent binge drinking exposure paradigm induced cerebellar cell loss in all stages evaluated, measured through the reduction of Purkinje's cell density and granular layer neurons. The cerebellar tissue alterations were accompanied by behavioral impairments. In the early withdrawal, the reduction of spontaneous movement, incoordination, and unbalance was seen. However, the grip strength reduction was found at long-term withdrawal (60 days of abstinence). The cerebellum morphological changes and the motor alterations persisted until adulthood. These data suggest that binge drinking exposure during adolescence causes motor function impairment associated with cerebellum damage, even following a prolonged withdrawal, in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Gonçalves de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | - Letícia Yoshitome Queiroz
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | - Carla Cristiane Soares da Silva
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Carvalho Cartágenes
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio José Coelho de Souza-Junior
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Oliveira Bittencourt
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rodrigues Lima
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | | | - Tuany Rafaeli Schmidt
- Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Enéas Andrade Fontes-Junior
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiane do Socorro Ferraz Maia
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-900, Brazil.
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3
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Chapp AD, Shan Z, Chen QH. Acetic Acid: An Underestimated Metabolite in Ethanol-Induced Changes in Regulating Cardiovascular Function. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:139. [PMID: 38397737 PMCID: PMC10886048 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13020139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Acetic acid is a bioactive short-chain fatty acid produced in large quantities from ethanol metabolism. In this review, we describe how acetic acid/acetate generates oxidative stress, alters the function of pre-sympathetic neurons, and can potentially influence cardiovascular function in both humans and rodents after ethanol consumption. Our recent findings from in vivo and in vitro studies support the notion that administration of acetic acid/acetate generates oxidative stress and increases sympathetic outflow, leading to alterations in arterial blood pressure. Real-time investigation of how ethanol and acetic acid/acetate modulate neural control of cardiovascular function can be conducted by microinjecting compounds into autonomic control centers of the brain and measuring changes in peripheral sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in response to these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Chapp
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Zhiying Shan
- Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA;
| | - Qing-Hui Chen
- Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA;
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4
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Dharavath RN, Pina-Leblanc C, Tang VM, Sloan ME, Nikolova YS, Pangarov P, Ruocco AC, Shield K, Voineskos D, Blumberger DM, Boileau I, Bozinoff N, Gerretsen P, Vieira E, Melamed OC, Sibille E, Quilty LC, Prevot TD. GABAergic signaling in alcohol use disorder and withdrawal: pathological involvement and therapeutic potential. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1218737. [PMID: 37929054 PMCID: PMC10623140 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1218737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances. Alcohol use accounts for 5.1% of the global disease burden, contributes substantially to societal and economic costs, and leads to approximately 3 million global deaths yearly. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) includes various drinking behavior patterns that lead to short-term or long-lasting effects on health. Ethanol, the main psychoactive molecule acting in alcoholic beverages, directly impacts the GABAergic system, contributing to GABAergic dysregulations that vary depending on the intensity and duration of alcohol consumption. A small number of interventions have been developed that target the GABAergic system, but there are promising future therapeutic avenues to explore. This review provides an overview of the impact of alcohol on the GABAergic system, the current interventions available for AUD that target the GABAergic system, and the novel interventions being explored that in the future could be included among first-line therapies for the treatment of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Celeste Pina-Leblanc
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Victor M. Tang
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Addiction Division, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosciences and Clinical Translation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Mental Health Policy Research, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew E. Sloan
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Addiction Division, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosciences and Clinical Translation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Mental Health Policy Research, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yuliya S. Nikolova
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Pangarov
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony C. Ruocco
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin Shield
- Institute of Mental Health Policy Research, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daphne Voineskos
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel M. Blumberger
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Isabelle Boileau
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Brain Health Imaging Centre, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nikki Bozinoff
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Philip Gerretsen
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Brain Health Imaging Centre, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Erica Vieira
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Osnat C. Melamed
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Etienne Sibille
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lena C. Quilty
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas D. Prevot
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute of CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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5
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Abstract
Alcohol is one of the oldest pharmacological agents used for its sedative/hypnotic effects, and alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder (AUD) continues to be major public health issue. AUD is strongly indicated to be a brain disorder, and the molecular and cellular mechanism/s by which alcohol produces its effects in the brain are only now beginning to be understood. In the brain, synaptic plasticity or strengthening or weakening of synapses, can be enhanced or reduced by a variety of stimulation paradigms. Synaptic plasticity is thought to be responsible for important processes involved in the cellular mechanisms of learning and memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity, and occurs via N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptor (NMDAR or GluN) dependent and independent mechanisms. In particular, NMDARs are a major target of alcohol, and are implicated in different types of learning and memory. Therefore, understanding the effect of alcohol on synaptic plasticity and transmission mediated by glutamatergic signaling is becoming important, and this will help us understand the significant contribution of the glutamatergic system in AUD. In the first part of this review, we will briefly discuss the mechanisms underlying long term synaptic plasticity in the dorsal striatum, neocortex and the hippocampus. In the second part we will discuss how alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) can modulate long term synaptic plasticity in these three brain regions, mainly from neurophysiological and electrophysiological studies. Taken together, understanding the mechanism(s) underlying alcohol induced changes in brain function may lead to the development of more effective therapeutic agents to reduce AUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chitra D Mandyam
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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6
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De Pirro S, Lush P, Parkinson J, Duka T, Critchley HD, Badiani A. Effect of alcohol on the sense of agency in healthy humans. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12796. [PMID: 31222868 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Even at low to moderate doses, ingestion of the widely used recreational drug alcohol (ethanol) can impact cognitive and emotional processing. Recent studies show that the sense of agency (SoA; ie, the subjective experience of voluntary control over actions) can be modulated by specific pharmacological manipulations. The SoA, as quantified by the intentional binding (IB) paradigm, is enhanced by direct or indirect dopaminergic agonists in patients with Parkinson's disease and by ketamine (an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist) in healthy individuals. These findings implicate dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in mechanisms underlying SoA. Alcohol has a complex set of actions, including disinhibition of dopaminergic neurotransmission and allosteric antagonism at NMDA receptors. Here, we tested the hypothesis that low to moderate doses of alcohol would enhance SoA, and impact impulsivity and subjective emotional state. We conducted two experiments in 59 healthy male and female social drinkers, who ingested either a placebo "vehicle," or one of two doses of ethanol: 0.4 and 0.6 g/kg. In both experiments, we observed increased SoA/IB at both doses of alcohol exposure, relative to the placebo condition. We found no correlation between the effects of alcohol on IB and on impulsivity or subjective emotional state. Our findings might have implications for social and legal responsibility related to alcohol use, particularly in states prior to overt intoxication. Further studies are necessary to investigate the effects of alcohol and other addictive substances on the SoA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana De Pirro
- Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre (SARIC), School of Psychology University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Sussex Neuroscience University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
| | - Peter Lush
- Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre (SARIC), School of Psychology University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science University of Sussex Brighton UK
| | - Jim Parkinson
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science University of Sussex Brighton UK
| | - Theodora Duka
- Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre (SARIC), School of Psychology University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Sussex Neuroscience University of Sussex Brighton UK
| | - Hugo D. Critchley
- Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre (SARIC), School of Psychology University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Sussex Neuroscience University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science University of Sussex Brighton UK
| | - Aldo Badiani
- Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre (SARIC), School of Psychology University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Sussex Neuroscience University of Sussex Brighton UK
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
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7
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Jamal M, Ito A, Tanaka N, Miki T, Ameno K, Kinoshita H. High Ethanol and Acetaldehyde Inhibit Glutamatergic Transmission in the Hippocampus of Aldh2-Knockout and C57BL/6N Mice: an In Vivo and Ex Vivo Analysis. Neurotox Res 2020; 37:702-713. [PMID: 32062779 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-020-00180-6] [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: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to investigate whether ethanol (EtOH) and acetaldehyde (AcH) can affect glutamate and its receptors GluN1 and GluA1 in the hippocampus of Aldh2-knockout (Aldh2-KO) and C57BL/6N (wild-type (WT)) mice. To do this, we first examined the effect of local administration of EtOH (100 mM, 200 mM, and 500 mM) and AcH (100 μM, 200 μM, and 500 μM) on extracellular glutamate levels in freely moving mice. Retrodialysis of 200 mM and 500 mM EtOH into the hippocampus of WT and Aldh2-KO mice produced significant decreases in extracellular glutamate levels (p < 0.05). A dose of 500 mM EtOH induced a greater decrease in Aldh2-KO mice (p < 0.05) than in WT mice, indicating the action of AcH. Similarly, perfusion of 200 μM and 500 μM AcH decreased glutamate in Aldh2-KO mice (p < 0.05), but this decrease was not seen in WT mice at any AcH dose. Second, we tested whether the EtOH- and AcH-induced decrease in glutamate was associated with decreases in GluN1 and GluA1 expression, as measured by real-time PCR and Western blot. We found a significant decrease in GluN1 (p < 0.05) and GluA1 (p < 0.05) subunits after a high dose of EtOH (4.0 g/kg) and AcH (200 mg/kg) in WT mice. However, a 2.0 g/kg dose of EtOH did not produce a consistent decrease in GluN1 or GluA1 between messenger RNA and protein. In Aldh2-KO mice, all three doses of EtOH (1.0 g/kg, 2.0 g/kg, and 4.0 g/kg) and AcH (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg) decreased GluN1 expression (p < 0.05), while moderate-to-high doses of EtOH (2.0 g/kg and 4.0 g/kg) and AcH (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) decreased GluA1 expression (p < 0.05). Together, these in vivo and ex vivo data suggest that EtOH and AcH decrease extracellular glutamate in the hippocampus of mice with a concomitant decrease in GluN1 and GluA1 subunits, but these effects require relatively high concentrations and may, therefore, explain the consequences of EtOH intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostofa Jamal
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan.
| | - Asuka Ito
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Naoko Tanaka
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Takanori Miki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Ameno
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kinoshita
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
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8
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Bird CW, Barber MJ, Post HR, Jacquez B, Chavez GJ, Faturos NG, Valenzuela CF. Neonatal ethanol exposure triggers apoptosis in the murine retrosplenial cortex: Role of inhibition of NMDA receptor-driven action potential firing. Neuropharmacology 2019; 162:107837. [PMID: 31689422 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ethanol during the last trimester equivalent of human pregnancy causes apoptotic neurodegeneration in the developing brain, an effect that is thought to be mediated, in part, by inhibition of NMDA receptors. However, NMDA receptors can rapidly adapt to the acute effects of ethanol and are ethanol resistant in some populations of developing neurons. Here, we characterized the effect of ethanol on NMDA and non-NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), a brain region involved in the integration of different modalities of spatial information that is among the most sensitive regions to ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. A single 4-h exposure to ethanol vapor of 7-day-old transgenic mice that express the Venus fluorescent protein in interneurons triggered extensive apoptosis in the RSC. Slice electrophysiological recordings showed that bath-applied ethanol inhibits NMDA and non-NMDA receptor excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in pyramidal neurons and interneurons; however, we found no evidence of acute tolerance development to this effect after the 4-h in-vivo ethanol vapor exposure. Acute bath application of ethanol reduced action potential firing evoked by synaptic stimulation to a greater extent in pyramidal neurons than interneurons. Submaximal inhibition of NMDA EPSCs, but not non-NMDA EPSCs, mimicked the acute effect of ethanol on synaptically-evoked action potential firing. These findings indicate that partial inhibition of NMDA receptors by ethanol has sizable effects on the excitability of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the developing RSC, and suggest that positive allosteric modulators of these receptors could ameliorate ethanol intoxication-induced neurodegeneration during late stages of fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Megan J Barber
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Hilary R Post
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Belkis Jacquez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Glenna J Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Nicholas G Faturos
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
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9
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Quadir SG, Cottone P, Sabino V. Role of Sigma Receptors in Alcohol Addiction. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:687. [PMID: 31258483 PMCID: PMC6586921 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) are few in number and often ineffective, despite the significant research carried out so far to better comprehend the neurochemical underpinnings of the disease. Hence, research has been directed towards the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of AUD. In the last decade, the sigma receptor system has been proposed as a potential mediator of alcohol reward and reinforcement. Preclinical studies have shown that the motivational effects of alcohol and excessive ethanol consumption involve the recruitment of the sigma receptor system. Furthermore, sigma receptor antagonism has been shown to be sufficient to inhibit many behaviors related to AUDs. This paper will review the most current evidence in support of this receptor system as a potential target for the development of pharmacological agents for the treatment of alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sema G Quadir
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Pietro Cottone
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Valentina Sabino
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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10
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Cuzon Carlson VC, Ford MM, Carlson TL, Lomniczi A, Grant KA, Ferguson B, Cervera-Juanes RP. Modulation of Gpr39, a G-protein coupled receptor associated with alcohol use in non-human primates, curbs ethanol intake in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1103-1113. [PMID: 30610192 PMCID: PMC6461847 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0308-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic condition with devastating health and socioeconomic effects. Still, pharmacotherapies to treat AUD are scarce. In a prior study aimed at identifying novel AUD therapeutic targets, we investigated the DNA methylome of the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) of rhesus macaques after chronic alcohol use. The G-protein coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) gene was hypermethylated and its expression downregulated in heavy alcohol drinking macaques. GPR39 encodes a Zn2+-binding metabotropic receptor known to modulate excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, the balance of which is altered in AUD. These prior findings suggest that a GPR39 agonist would reduce alcohol intake. Using a drinking-in-the-dark two bottle choice (DID-2BC) model, we showed that an acute 7.5 mg/kg dose of the GPR39 agonist, TC-G 1008, reduced ethanol intake in mice without affecting total fluid intake, locomotor activity or saccharin preference. Furthermore, repeated doses of the agonist prevented ethanol escalation in an intermittent access 2BC paradigm (IA-2BC). This effect was reversible, as ethanol escalation followed agonist "wash out". As observed during the DID-2BC study, a subsequent acute agonist challenge during the IA-2BC procedure reduced ethanol intake by ~47%. Finally, Gpr39 activation was associated with changes in Gpr39 and Bdnf expression, and in glutamate release in the NAcc. Together, our findings suggest that GPR39 is a promising target for the development of prevention and treatment therapies for AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verginia C Cuzon Carlson
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Matthew M Ford
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Timothy L Carlson
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Alejandro Lomniczi
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Kathleen A Grant
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Betsy Ferguson
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Rita P Cervera-Juanes
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA.
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA.
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11
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Williams SB, Yorgason JT, Nelson AC, Lewis N, Nufer TM, Edwards JG, Steffensen SC. Glutamate Transmission to Ventral Tegmental Area GABA Neurons Is Altered by Acute and Chronic Ethanol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:2186-2195. [PMID: 30204234 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ventral tegmental area (VTA) GABA neurons have been heavily implicated in alcohol reinforcement and reward. In animals that self-administer alcohol, VTA GABA neurons exhibit increased excitability that may contribute to alcohol's rewarding effects. The present study investigated the effects of acute and chronic ethanol exposure on glutamate (GLU) synaptic transmission to VTA GABA neurons. METHODS Whole-cell recordings of evoked, spontaneous, and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs, sEPSCs, and mEPSCs, respectively) were performed on identified GABA neurons in the VTA of GAD67-GFP+ transgenic mice. Three ethanol exposure paradigms were used: acute ethanol superfusion; a single ethanol injection; and chronic vapor exposure. RESULTS Acute ethanol superfusion increased the frequency of EPSCs but inhibited mEPSC frequency and amplitude. During withdrawal from a single injection of ethanol, the frequency of sEPSCs was lower than saline controls. There was no difference in α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)/N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) ratio between neurons following withdrawal from a single exposure to ethanol. However, following withdrawal from chronic ethanol, sEPSCs and mEPSCs had a greater frequency than air controls. There was no difference in AMPA/NMDA ratio following chronic ethanol. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that presynaptic mechanisms involving local circuit GLU neurons, and not GLU receptors, contribute to adaptations in VTA GABA neuron excitability that accrue to ethanol exposure, which may contribute to the rewarding properties of alcohol via their regulation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B Williams
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Jordan T Yorgason
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Ashley C Nelson
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Natalie Lewis
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Teresa M Nufer
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Jeff G Edwards
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Scott C Steffensen
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
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12
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Fernandes LMP, Lopes KS, Santana LNS, Fontes-Júnior EA, Ribeiro CHMA, Silva MCF, de Oliveira Paraense RS, Crespo-López ME, Gomes ARQ, Lima RR, Monteiro MC, Maia CSF. Repeated Cycles of Binge-Like Ethanol Intake in Adolescent Female Rats Induce Motor Function Impairment and Oxidative Damage in Motor Cortex and Liver, but Not in Blood. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2018; 2018:3467531. [PMID: 30327712 PMCID: PMC6169231 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3467531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Moderate ethanol consumption (MEC) is increasing among women. Alcohol exposure usually starts in adolescence and tends to continue until adulthood. We aimed to investigate MEC impacts during adolescence until young adulthood of female rats. Adolescent female Wistar rats received distilled water or ethanol (3 g/kg/day), in a 3 days on-4 days off paradigm (binge drinking) for 1 and 4 consecutive weeks. We evaluate liver and brain oxidative damage, peripheral oxidative parameters by SOD, catalase, thiol contents, and MDA, and behavioral motor function by open-field, pole, beam-walking, and rotarod tests. Our results revealed that repeated episodes of binge drinking during adolescence displayed lipid peroxidation in the liver and brain. Surprisingly, such oxidative damage was not detectable on blood. Besides, harmful histological effects were observed in the liver, associated to steatosis and loss of parenchymal architecture. In addition, ethanol intake elicited motor incoordination, bradykinesia, and reduced spontaneous exploratory behavior in female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luanna Melo Pereira Fernandes
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Klaylton Sousa Lopes
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Luana Nazaré Silva Santana
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Enéas Andrade Fontes-Júnior
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Maria Elena Crespo-López
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém PA, Brazil
| | - Antônio Rafael Quadros Gomes
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology of Teaching and Research, Pharmacy Faculty, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém PA, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rodrigues Lima
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Marta Chagas Monteiro
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology of Teaching and Research, Pharmacy Faculty, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém PA, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Socorro Ferraz Maia
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
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13
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Jakaria M, Park SY, Haque ME, Karthivashan G, Kim IS, Ganesan P, Choi DK. Neurotoxic Agent-Induced Injury in Neurodegenerative Disease Model: Focus on Involvement of Glutamate Receptors. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:307. [PMID: 30210294 PMCID: PMC6123546 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate receptors play a crucial role in the central nervous system and are implicated in different brain disorders. They play a significant role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Although many studies on NDDs have been conducted, their exact pathophysiological characteristics are still not fully understood. In in vivo and in vitro models of neurotoxic-induced NDDs, neurotoxic agents are used to induce several neuronal injuries for the purpose of correlating them with the pathological characteristics of NDDs. Moreover, therapeutic drugs might be discovered based on the studies employing these models. In NDD models, different neurotoxic agents, namely, kainic acid, domoic acid, glutamate, β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine, amyloid beta, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, rotenone, 3-Nitropropionic acid and methamphetamine can potently impair both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors, leading to the progression of toxicity. Many other neurotoxic agents mainly affect the functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors. We discuss particular neurotoxic agents that can act upon glutamate receptors so as to effectively mimic NDDs. The correlation of neurotoxic agent-induced disease characteristics with glutamate receptors would aid the discovery and development of therapeutic drugs for NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Jakaria
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Shin-Young Park
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Md. Ezazul Haque
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Govindarajan Karthivashan
- Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Research Institute of Inflammatory Diseases (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - In-Su Kim
- Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Research Institute of Inflammatory Diseases (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Palanivel Ganesan
- Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Research Institute of Inflammatory Diseases (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Dong-Kug Choi
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
- Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Research Institute of Inflammatory Diseases (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
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14
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Hughes V, Richardson MJE, Wall MJ. Acute ethanol exposure has bidirectional actions on the endogenous neuromodulator adenosine in rat hippocampus. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:1471-1485. [PMID: 29361192 PMCID: PMC5901169 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Ethanol is a widely used recreational drug with complex effects on physiological and pathological brain function. In epileptic patients, the use of ethanol can modify seizure initiation and subsequent seizure activity with reports of ethanol being both pro‐ and anticonvulsant. One proposed target of ethanol's actions is the neuromodulator adenosine, which is released during epileptic seizures to feedback and inhibit the occurrence of subsequent seizures. Here, we investigated the actions of acute ethanol exposure on adenosine signalling in rat hippocampus. Experimental Approach We have combined electrophysiology with direct measurements of extracellular adenosine using microelectrode biosensors in rat hippocampal slices. Key Results We found that ethanol has bidirectional actions on adenosine signalling: depressant concentrations of ethanol (50 mM) increased the basal extracellular concentration of adenosine under baseline conditions, leading to the inhibition of synaptic transmission, but it inhibited adenosine release during evoked seizure activity in brain slices. The reduction in activity‐dependent adenosine release was in part produced by effects on NMDA receptors, although other mechanisms also appeared to be involved. Low concentrations of ethanol (10–15 mM) enhanced pathological network activity by selectively blocking activity‐dependent adenosine release. Conclusions and Implications The complex dose‐dependent actions of ethanol on adenosine signalling could in part explain the mixture of pro‐convulsant and anticonvulsant actions of ethanol that have previously been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Hughes
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Mark J Wall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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15
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Lindsay JH, Prosser RA. The Mammalian Circadian Clock Exhibits Chronic Ethanol Tolerance and Withdrawal-Induced Glutamate Hypersensitivity, Accompanied by Changes in Glutamate and TrkB Receptor Proteins. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 42:315-328. [PMID: 29139560 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol tolerance and withdrawal-induced effects are criteria for alcohol use disorders listed by the DSM-V. Although tolerance and withdrawal have been studied over many decades, there is still uncertainty regarding mechanistic distinctions that characterize these different forms of ethanol (EtOH)-induced plasticity. Previously, we demonstrated that the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) circadian clock develops both acute and rapid tolerance to EtOH inhibition of glutamate-induced circadian phase shifts. Here, we demonstrate that chronic EtOH tolerance and withdrawal-induced glutamate hypersensitivity occur in vitro and that rapid tolerance, chronic tolerance, and glutamate hypersensitivity have distinct cellular changes. METHODS We use single-unit extracellular electrophysiological recordings to determine whether chronic tolerance to EtOH inhibition of glutamatergic phase shifts and withdrawal-induced glutamate hypersensitivity develop in the SCN. We use Western blotting to compare phosphorylation state and total expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits and associated proteins in the SCN after mice were exposed to varying EtOH consumption paradigms. RESULTS Chronic tolerance developed after a minimum of 8 days of 4 h/d EtOH access, as indicated by a decreased sensitivity to EtOH inhibition of glutamate-induced phase shifts. We also observed an increased sensitivity to glutamate-induced phase shifts in SCN tissue following withdrawal. We demonstrated an increase in the ratio of NR2B:NR2A NMDA receptor subunit expression after 21 days, but not after 10 days of EtOH drinking. This increase persisted during EtOH withdrawal, along with an increase in NR2B Y1472 phosphorylation, mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and phosphorylated TrkB. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that multiple tolerance forms and withdrawal-induced glutamate hypersensitivity occur in the SCN and that these different forms of EtOH-induced plasticity are accompanied by distinct changes in cellular physiology. Importantly, this study further demonstrates the power of using the SCN as a model system to investigate EtOH-induced plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan H Lindsay
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology (JHL, RAP), University of Tennessee Knoxville, NeuroNET Research Center, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Rebecca A Prosser
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology (JHL, RAP), University of Tennessee Knoxville, NeuroNET Research Center, Knoxville, Tennessee
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16
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Abrahao KP, Salinas AG, Lovinger DM. Alcohol and the Brain: Neuronal Molecular Targets, Synapses, and Circuits. Neuron 2017; 96:1223-1238. [PMID: 29268093 PMCID: PMC6566861 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol is one of the most commonly abused drugs. Although environmental and genetic factors contribute to the etiology of alcohol use disorders, it is ethanol's actions in the brain that explain (1) acute ethanol-related behavioral changes, such as stimulant followed by depressant effects, and (2) chronic changes in behavior, including escalated use, tolerance, compulsive seeking, and dependence. Our knowledge of ethanol use and abuse thus relies on understanding its effects on the brain. Scientists have employed both bottom-up and top-down approaches, building from molecular targets to behavioral analyses and vice versa, respectively. This review highlights current progress in the field, focusing on recent and emerging molecular, cellular, and circuit effects of the drug that impact ethanol-related behaviors. The focus of the field is now on pinpointing which molecular effects in specific neurons within a brain region contribute to behavioral changes across the course of acute and chronic ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina P Abrahao
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Armando G Salinas
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David M Lovinger
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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17
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Yardley MM, Ray LA. Medications development for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: insights into the predictive value of animal and human laboratory models. Addict Biol 2017; 22:581-615. [PMID: 26833803 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Development of effective treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents an important public health goal. This review provides a summary of completed preclinical and clinical studies testing pharmacotherapies for the treatment of AUD. We discuss opportunities for improving the translation from preclinical findings to clinical trial outcomes, focusing on the validity and predictive value of animal and human laboratory models of AUD. Specifically, while preclinical studies of medications development have offered important insights into the neurobiology of the disorder and alcohol's molecular targets, limitations include the lack of standardized methods and streamlined processes whereby animal studies can readily inform human studies. Behavioral pharmacology studies provide a less expensive and valuable opportunity to assess the feasibility of a pharmacotherapy prior to initiating larger scale clinical trials by providing insights into the mechanism of the drug, which can then inform recruitment, analyses, and assessments. Summary tables are provided to illustrate the wide range of preclinical, human laboratory, and clinical studies of medications development for alcoholism. Taken together, this review highlights the challenges associated with animal paradigms, human laboratory studies, and clinical trials with the overarching goal of advancing treatment development and highlighting opportunities to bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M. Yardley
- Department of Psychology; University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Lara A. Ray
- Department of Psychology; University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles CA USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences; University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles CA USA
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18
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Wang J, Zhao J, Liu Z, Guo F, Wang Y, Wang X, Zhang R, Vreugdenhil M, Lu C. Acute Ethanol Inhibition of γ Oscillations Is Mediated by Akt and GSK3β. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:189. [PMID: 27582689 PMCID: PMC4987361 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal network oscillations at gamma band frequency (γ, 30-80 Hz) are closely associated with higher brain functions such as learning and memory. Acute ethanol exposure at intoxicating concentrations (≥50 mM) impairs cognitive function. This study aimed to determine the effects and the mechanisms of acute ethanol exposure on γ oscillations in an in vitro model. Ethanol (25-100 mM) suppressed kainate-induced γ oscillations in CA3 area of the rat hippocampal slices, in a concentration-dependent, reversible manner. The ethanol-induced suppression was reduced by the D1R antagonist SCH23390 or the PKA inhibitor H89, was prevented by the Akt inhibitor triciribine or the GSk3β inhibitor SB415286, was enhanced by the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5, but was not affected by the MAPK inhibitor U0126 or PI3K inhibitor wortmanin. Our results indicate that the intracellular kinases Akt and GSk3β play a critical role in the ethanol-induced suppression of γ oscillations and reveal new cellular pathways involved in the ethanol-induced cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- JianGang Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China; Department of Pathophysiology, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China
| | - JingXi Zhao
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China; Psychiatric Hospital of Henan ProvinceXinxiang, China
| | - ZhiHua Liu
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China; Psychiatric Hospital of Henan ProvinceXinxiang, China
| | - FangLi Guo
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China; Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China; Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang, China
| | - RuiLing Zhang
- Psychiatric Hospital of Henan Province Xinxiang, China
| | - Martin Vreugdenhil
- Department of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical UniversityHenan, China; Department of Health Sciences, Birmingham City UniversityBirmingham, UK
| | - Chengbiao Lu
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China; Psychiatric Hospital of Henan ProvinceXinxiang, China
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19
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Smith ML, Li J, Cote DM, Ryabinin AE. Effects of isoflurane and ethanol administration on c-Fos immunoreactivity in mice. Neuroscience 2015; 316:337-43. [PMID: 26742790 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.12.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Noninvasive functional imaging holds great promise for the future of translational research, due to the ability to directly compare between preclinical and clinical models of psychiatric disorders. Despite this potential, concerns have been raised regarding the necessity to anesthetize rodent and monkey subjects during these procedures, because anesthetics may alter neuronal activity. For example, in studies on drugs of abuse and alcohol, it is not clear to what extent anesthesia can interfere with drug-induced neural activity. Therefore, the current study investigated whole-brain c-Fos activation following isoflurane anesthesia as well as ethanol-induced activation of c-Fos in anesthetized mice. In the first experiment, we examined effects of one or three sessions of gaseous isoflurane on c-Fos activation across the brain in male C57BL/6J mice. Isoflurane administration led to c-Fos activation in several areas, including the piriform cortex and lateral septum. Lower or similar levels of activation in these areas were detected after three sessions of isoflurane, suggesting that multiple exposures may eliminate some of the enhanced neuronal activation caused by acute isoflurane. In the second experiment, we investigated the ability of ethanol injection (1.5 or 2.5g/kgi.p.) to induce c-Fos activation under anesthesia. Following three sessions of isoflurane, 1.5g/kg of ethanol induced c-Fos in the central nucleus of amygdala and the centrally-projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EWcp). This induction was lower after 2.5g/kg of ethanol. These results demonstrate that ethanol-induced neural activation can be detected in the presence of isoflurane anesthesia. They also suggest, that while habituation to isoflurane helps reduce neuronal activation, interaction between effects of anesthesia and alcohol can occur. Studies using fMRI imaging could benefit from using habituated animals and dose-response analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Smith
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L470, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - J Li
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L470, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - D M Cote
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L470, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - A E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L470, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Portland Alcohol Research Center, Portland, OR, USA.
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20
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Silberman Y, Fetterly TL, Awad EK, Milano EJ, Usdin TB, Winder DG. Ethanol produces corticotropin-releasing factor receptor-dependent enhancement of spontaneous glutamatergic transmission in the mouse central amygdala. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 39:2154-62. [PMID: 26503065 PMCID: PMC4624256 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ethanol (EtOH) modulation of central amygdala (CeA) neurocircuitry plays a key role in the development of alcoholism via activation of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor (CRFR) system. Previous work has predominantly focused on EtOH × CRF interactions on the CeA GABA circuitry; however, our laboratory recently showed that CRF enhances CeA glutamatergic transmission. Therefore, this study sought to determine whether EtOH modulates CeA glutamate transmission via activation of CRF signaling. METHODS The effects of EtOH on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and basal resting membrane potentials were examined via standard electrophysiology methods in adult male C57BL/6J mice. Local ablation of CeA CRF neurons (CRF(CeAhDTR) ) was achieved by targeting the human diphtheria toxin receptor (hDTR) to CeA CRF neurons with an adeno-associated virus. Ablation was quantified post hoc with confocal microscopy. Genetic targeting of the diphtheria toxin active subunit to CRF neurons (CRF(DTA) mice) ablated CRF neurons throughout the central nervous system, as assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction quantification of CRF mRNA. RESULTS Acute bath application of EtOH significantly increased sEPSC frequency in a concentration-dependent manner in CeA neurons, and this effect was blocked by pretreatment of co-applied CRFR1 and CRFR2 antagonists. In experiments utilizing a CRF-tomato reporter mouse, EtOH did not significantly alter the basal membrane potential of CeA CRF neurons. The ability of EtOH to enhance CeA sEPSC frequency was not altered in CRF(CeAhDTR) mice despite a ~78% reduction in CeA CRF cell counts. The ability of EtOH to enhance CeA sEPSC frequency was also not altered in the CRF(DTA) mice despite a 3-fold reduction in CRF mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that EtOH enhances spontaneous glutamatergic transmission in the CeA via a CRFR-dependent mechanism. Surprisingly, our data suggest that this action may not require endogenous CRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Silberman
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Tracy L. Fetterly
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Elias K. Awad
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Elana J. Milano
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| | - Ted B. Usdin
- Section Fundamental Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health
| | - Danny G. Winder
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
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21
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Silvestre de Ferron B, Bennouar KE, Kervern M, Alaux-Cantin S, Robert A, Rabiant K, Antol J, Naassila M, Pierrefiche O. Two Binges of Ethanol a Day Keep the Memory Away in Adolescent Rats: Key Role for GLUN2B Subunit. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 19:pyv087. [PMID: 26254123 PMCID: PMC4772273 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Binge drinking is common in adolescents, but the impact of only a few binges on learning and memory appears underestimated. Many studies have tested the effects of long and intermittent ethanol exposure on long-term synaptic potentiation, and whether long-term synaptic depression is affected remains unknown. METHODS We studied the effects of one (3 g/kg, i.p.; blood ethanol content of 197.5±19 mg/dL) or 2 alcohol intoxications (given 9 hours apart) on adolescent rat's memory and synaptic plasticity in hippocampus slice after different delay. RESULTS Animals treated with 2 ethanol intoxications 48 hours before training phase in the novel object recognition task failed during test phase. As learning is related to NMDA-dependent mechanisms, we tested ketamine and found the same effect as ethanol, whereas D-serine prevented learning deficit. In hippocampus slice, NMDA-dependent long-term synaptic depression was abolished 48 hours after ethanol or ketamine but prevented after D-serine or in a low-Mg(2+) recording medium. Long-term synaptic depression abolition was not observed 8 days after treatment. An i.p. treatment with MK-801, tetrahydroisoxazolopyridine, or muscimol was ineffective, and long-term synaptic potentiation, intrinsic excitability, and glutamate release remained unaffected. The input/ouput curve for NMDA-fEPSPs was shifted to the left 48 hours after the binges with a stronger contribution of GluN2B subunit, leading to a leftward shift of the Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro relationship. Interestingly, there were no cellular effects after only one ethanol injection. CONCLUSION Two ethanol "binges" in adolescent rats are sufficient to reversibly abolish long-term synaptic depression and to evoke cognitive deficits via a short-lasting, repeated blockade of NMDA receptors only, inducing a change in the receptor subunit composition. Furthermore, ethanol effects developed over a 48-hour period of abstinence, indicating an important role of intermittence during a repeated long-duration binge behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Olivier Pierrefiche
- INSERM ERI-24, GRAP, Groupe de Recherche sur l'Alcool et les Pharmacodépendances, Université Picardie Jules Verne, Bât. CURS, CHU-Sud, Amiens, France (Mr Silvestre de Ferron, Bennouar PhD, Kervern PhD, Alaux-Cantin PhD, Mr Robert, Mr Rabiant, Mr Antol, Naassila PhD, and Pierrefiche PhD).
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22
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Ethanol attenuates peripheral NMDAR-mediated vascular oxidative stress and pressor response. Alcohol 2015; 49:499-506. [PMID: 25986731 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 03/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There are no studies on the acute effect of ethanol on peripheral N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and blood pressure (BP). We tested the hypothesis that ethanol antagonism of peripheral NMDAR dampens systemic NMDA-evoked increases in vascular ROS and BP. We investigated the effect of ethanol (1 g/kg) on BP and heart rate (HR) responses elicited by systemic bolus (125-1000 μg/kg, intra-venous [i.v.]) or infused (180 μg/kg/min) NMDA in conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats. We also hypothesized that peripheral NMDAR blockade with DL-2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5; 5 mg/kg, i.v.) uncovers an ethanol- (1 or 1.5 g/kg) evoked hypotensive response. Ethanol attenuated the peripheral NMDAR-mediated pressor and bradycardic responses caused by NMDA infusion, and ex vivo studies revealed parallel ethanol attenuation of peripheral NMDAR-mediated increases in vascular ROS. While ethanol (1 or 1.5 g/kg) alone had no effect on BP, the higher dose caused a hypotensive response in the presence of NMDAR blockade (AP-5). Blood ethanol concentrations were not statistically different in the groups that received ethanol alone or along with NMDA or AP-5. These findings are the first to demonstrate ethanol attenuation of peripheral NMDAR-mediated pressor response, and the uncovering of ethanol-evoked hypotension in the presence of peripheral NMDAR blockade.
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23
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Pohanka M. Toxicology and the biological role of methanol and ethanol: Current view. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2015; 160:54-63. [PMID: 26006090 DOI: 10.5507/bp.2015.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol variants such as ethanol and methanol are simple organic compounds widely used in foods, pharmaceuticals, chemical synthesis, etc. Both are becoming an emerging health problem; abuse of ethanol containing beverages can lead to disparate health problems and methanol is highly toxic and unfit for consumption. METHODS AND RESULTS This review summarizes the basic knowledge about ethanol and methanol toxicity, the effect mechanism on the body, the current care of poisoned individuals and the implication of alcohols in the development of diseases. Alcohol related dementia, stroke, metabolic syndrome and hepatitis are discussed as well. Besides ethanol, methanol toxicity and its biodegradation pathways are addressed. CONCLUSIONS The impact of ethanol and methanol on the body is shown as case reports, along with a discussion on the possible implication of alcohol in Alzheimer's disease and antidotal therapy for methanol poisoning. The role of ethanol in cancer and degenerative disorders seems to be underestimated given the current knowledge. Treatment in case of poisoning is another issue that remains unresolved even though effective protocols and drugs exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Pohanka
- Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense, Trebesska 1575, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
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24
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Liyanage VRB, Zachariah RM, Davie JR, Rastegar M. Ethanol deregulates Mecp2/MeCP2 in differentiating neural stem cells via interplay between 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at the Mecp2 regulatory elements. Exp Neurol 2015; 265:102-17. [PMID: 25620416 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Methyl CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) is an important epigenetic factor in the brain. MeCP2 expression is affected by different environmental insults including alcohol exposure. Accumulating evidence supports the role of aberrant MeCP2 expression in ethanol exposure-induced neurological symptoms. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of ethanol-induced MeCP2 deregulation remain elusive. To study the effect of ethanol on Mecp2/MeCP2 expression during neurodifferentiation, we established an in vitro model of ethanol exposure, using differentiating embryonic brain-derived neural stem cells (NSC). Previously, we demonstrated the impact of DNA methylation at the Mecp2 regulatory elements (REs) on Mecp2/MeCP2 expression in vitro and in vivo. Here, we studied whether altered DNA methylation at these REs is associated with the Mecp2/MeCP2 misexpression induced by ethanol. Binge-like and continuous ethanol exposure upregulated Mecp2/MeCP2, while ethanol withdrawal downregulated its expression. DNA methylation analysis by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation indicated that increased 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and decreased 5-methylcytosine (5mC) enrichment at specific REs were associated with upregulated Mecp2/MeCP2 following continuous ethanol exposure. The reduced Mecp2/MeCP2 expression upon ethanol withdrawal was associated with reduced 5hmC and increased 5mC enrichment at these REs. Moreover, ethanol altered global DNA methylation (5mC and 5hmC). Under the tested conditions, ethanol had minimal effects on NSC cell fate commitment, but caused changes in neuronal morphology and glial cell size. Taken together, our data represent an epigenetic mechanism for ethanol-mediated misexpression of Mecp2/MeCP2 in differentiating embryonic brain cells. We also show the potential role of DNA methylation and MeCP2 in alcohol-related neurological disorders, specifically Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vichithra Rasangi Batuwita Liyanage
- Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Robby Mathew Zachariah
- Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - James Ronald Davie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Mojgan Rastegar
- Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada.
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25
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Varlinskaya EI, Truxell EM, Spear LP. Sex differences in sensitivity to the social consequences of acute ethanol and social drinking during adolescence. Behav Brain Res 2014; 282:6-13. [PMID: 25557799 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.12.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Revised: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In human adolescents, sociable males frequently drink to enhance positive emotional states, whereas anxious females often drink to avoid negative affective states. This study used a rat model of adolescence to provide information regarding possible sex differences in contributors to social drinking. The effects of ethanol (0, 0.5, and 0.75g/kg) on play fighting and social preference were assessed on P30, P32, and P34 using a within-subject design. Then animals were tested in a social drinking paradigm (P37-P40), with this testing revealing high drinkers and low drinkers. Sex differences in sensitivity to ethanol emerged among high and low drinkers. High socially drinking males, but not females, when tested prior to drinking sessions, showed significant increases in play fighting at both doses. In low drinking males, play fighting was increased by 0.5g/kg ethanol, whereas the higher dose of 0.75g/kg produced significant decreases in play fighting. High drinking females initially showed low levels of social preference than high drinking males and low drinking females and were extremely sensitive to ethanol-induced enhancement of this social measure. Low social drinkers, both males and females, were more sensitive to the suppressing effects of ethanol on social preference following 0.75g/kg ethanol. These findings indicate that during adolescence enhanced sensitivity to the facilitating effects of ethanol on play fighting is associated with heavy drinking among males, whereas low social preference together with high sensitivity to ethanol-induced enhancement of social preference is related to high social drinking in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena I Varlinskaya
- Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, USA.
| | - Eric M Truxell
- Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, USA
| | - Linda P Spear
- Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, USA
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26
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Bhandage AK, Jin Z, Bazov I, Kononenko O, Bakalkin G, Korpi ER, Birnir B. GABA-A and NMDA receptor subunit mRNA expression is altered in the caudate but not the putamen of the postmortem brains of alcoholics. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:415. [PMID: 25538565 PMCID: PMC4257153 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 11/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic consumption of alcohol by humans has been shown to lead to impairment of executive and cognitive functions. Here, we have studied the mRNA expression of ion channel receptors for glutamate and GABA in the dorsal striatum of post-mortem brains from alcoholics (n = 29) and normal controls (n = 29), with the focus on the caudate nucleus that is associated with the frontal cortex executive functions and automatic thinking and on the putamen area that is linked to motor cortices and automatic movements. The results obtained by qPCR assay revealed significant changes in the expression of specific excitatory ionotropic glutamate and inhibitory GABA-A receptor subunit genes in the caudate but not the putamen. Thus, in the caudate we found reduced levels of mRNAs encoding the GluN2A glutamate receptor and the δ, ε, and ρ2 GABA-A receptor subunits, and increased levels of the mRNAs encoding GluD1, GluD2, and GABA-A γ1 subunits in the alcoholics as compared to controls. Interestingly in the controls, 11 glutamate and 5 GABA-A receptor genes were more prominently expressed in the caudate than the putamen (fold-increase varied from 1.24 to 2.91). Differences in gene expression patterns between the striatal regions may underlie differences in associated behavioral outputs. Our results suggest an altered balance between caudate-mediated voluntarily controlled and automatic behaviors in alcoholics, including diminished executive control on goal-directed alcohol-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amol K Bhandage
- Molecular Physiology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Zhe Jin
- Molecular Physiology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Igor Bazov
- Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olga Kononenko
- Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
| | - Georgy Bakalkin
- Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
| | - Esa R Korpi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Bioscience (Biological Research on Drug Dependence), Biomedical Center, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bryndis Birnir
- Molecular Physiology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
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27
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Abstract
Intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) is a behavioral procedure in which operant responding is maintained by pulses of electrical brain stimulation. In research to study abuse-related drug effects, ICSS relies on electrode placements that target the medial forebrain bundle at the level of the lateral hypothalamus, and experimental sessions manipulate frequency or amplitude of stimulation to engender a wide range of baseline response rates or response probabilities. Under these conditions, drug-induced increases in low rates/probabilities of responding maintained by low frequencies/amplitudes of stimulation are interpreted as an abuse-related effect. Conversely, drug-induced decreases in high rates/probabilities of responding maintained by high frequencies/amplitudes of stimulation can be interpreted as an abuse-limiting effect. Overall abuse potential can be inferred from the relative expression of abuse-related and abuse-limiting effects. The sensitivity and selectivity of ICSS to detect abuse potential of many classes of abused drugs is similar to the sensitivity and selectivity of drug self-administration procedures. Moreover, similar to progressive-ratio drug self-administration procedures, ICSS data can be used to rank the relative abuse potential of different drugs. Strengths of ICSS in comparison with drug self-administration include 1) potential for simultaneous evaluation of both abuse-related and abuse-limiting effects, 2) flexibility for use with various routes of drug administration or drug vehicles, 3) utility for studies in drug-naive subjects as well as in subjects with controlled levels of prior drug exposure, and 4) utility for studies of drug time course. Taken together, these considerations suggest that ICSS can make significant contributions to the practice of abuse potential testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Laurence L Miller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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28
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Jin Z, Bhandage AK, Bazov I, Kononenko O, Bakalkin G, Korpi ER, Birnir B. Selective increases of AMPA, NMDA, and kainate receptor subunit mRNAs in the hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex but not in prefrontal cortex of human alcoholics. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:11. [PMID: 24523671 PMCID: PMC3905203 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is the main excitatory transmitter in the human brain. Drugs that affect the glutamatergic signaling will alter neuronal excitability. Ethanol inhibits glutamate receptors. We examined the expression level of glutamate receptor subunit mRNAs in human post-mortem samples from alcoholics and compared the results to brain samples from control subjects. RNA from hippocampal dentate gyrus (HP-DG), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (DL-PFC) samples from 21 controls and 19 individuals with chronic alcohol dependence were included in the study. Total RNA was assayed using quantitative RT-PCR. Out of the 16 glutamate receptor subunits, mRNAs encoding two AMPA [2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid] receptor subunits GluA2 and GluA3; three kainate receptor subunits GluK2, GluK3 and GluK5 and five NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor subunits GluN1, GluN2A, GluN2C, GluN2D, and GluN3A were significantly increased in the HP-DG region in alcoholics. In the OFC, mRNA encoding the NMDA receptor subunit GluN3A was increased, whereas in the DL-PFC, no differences in mRNA levels were observed. Our laboratory has previously shown that the expression of genes encoding inhibitory GABA-A receptors is altered in the HP-DG and OFC of alcoholics (Jin et al., 2011). Whether the changes in one neurotransmitter system drives changes in the other or if they change independently is currently not known. The results demonstrate that excessive long-term alcohol consumption is associated with altered expression of genes encoding glutamate receptors in a brain region-specific manner. It is an intriguing possibility that genetic predisposition to alcoholism may contribute to these gene expression changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Jin
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amol K Bhandage
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Igor Bazov
- Division of Biological Research on Drug Dependence, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Olga Kononenko
- Division of Biological Research on Drug Dependence, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Georgy Bakalkin
- Division of Biological Research on Drug Dependence, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Esa R Korpi
- Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bryndis Birnir
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
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29
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Ignacio C, Mooney SM, Middleton FA. Effects of Acute Prenatal Exposure to Ethanol on microRNA Expression are Ameliorated by Social Enrichment. Front Pediatr 2014; 2:103. [PMID: 25309888 PMCID: PMC4173670 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2014.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are associated with abnormal social behavior. These behavioral changes may resemble those seen in autism. Rats acutely exposed to ethanol on gestational day 12 show decreased social motivation at postnatal day 42. We previously showed that housing these ethanol-exposed rats with non-exposed controls normalized this deficit. The amygdala is critical for social behavior and regulates it, in part, through connections with the basal ganglia, particularly the ventral striatum. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, hairpin-derived RNAs that repress mRNA expression. Many brain disorders, including FASD, show dysregulation of miRNAs. In this study, we tested if miRNA and mRNA networks are altered in the amygdala and ventral striatum as a consequence of prenatal ethanol exposure and show any evidence of reversal as a result of social enrichment. RNA samples from two different brain regions in 72 male and female adolescent rats were analyzed by RNA-Seq and microarray analysis. Several miRNAs showed significant changes due to prenatal ethanol exposure and/or social enrichment in one or both brain regions. The top predicted gene targets of these miRNAs were mapped and subjected to pathway enrichment analysis. Several miRNA changes caused by ethanol were reversed by social enrichment, including mir-204, mir-299a, miR-384-5p, miR-222-3p, miR-301b-3p, and mir-6239. Moreover, enriched gene networks incorporating the targets of these miRNAs also showed reversal. We also extended our previously published mRNA expression analysis by directly examining all annotated brain-related canonical pathways. The additional pathways that were most strongly affected at the mRNA level included p53, CREB, glutamate, and GABA signaling. Together, our data suggest a number of novel epigenetic mechanisms for social enrichment to reverse the effects of ethanol exposure through widespread influences on gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherry Ignacio
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University , Syracuse, NY , USA ; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University , Syracuse, NY , USA ; Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center (DEARC), Binghamton University , Binghamton, NY , USA
| | - Sandra M Mooney
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center (DEARC), Binghamton University , Binghamton, NY , USA ; Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Frank A Middleton
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University , Syracuse, NY , USA ; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University , Syracuse, NY , USA ; Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center (DEARC), Binghamton University , Binghamton, NY , USA
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30
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Chandrasekar R. Alcohol and NMDA receptor: current research and future direction. Front Mol Neurosci 2013; 6:14. [PMID: 23754976 PMCID: PMC3664776 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2013.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is one of the major targets of alcohol actions. Most of the excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system is mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. However, one of the most devastating effects of alcohol leads to brain shrinkage, loss of nerve cells at specific regions through a mechanism involving excitotoxicity, oxidative stress. Earlier studies have indicated that chronic exposure to ethanol both in vivo and in vitro, increases NR1 and NR2B gene expression and their polypeptide levels. The effect of alcohol and molecular changes on the regulatory process, which modulates NMDAR functions including factors altering transcription, translation, post-translational modifications, and protein expression, as well as those influencing their interactions with different regulatory proteins (downstream effectors) are incessantly increasing at the cellular level. Further, I discuss the various genetically altered mice approaches that have been used to study NMDA receptor subunits and their functional implication. In a recent countable review, epigenetic dimension (i.e., histone modification-induced chromatin remodeling and DNA methylation, in the process of alcohol related neuroadaptation) is one of the key molecular mechanisms in alcohol mediated NMDAR alteration. Here, I provide a recount on what has already been achieved, current trends and how the future research/studies of the NMDA receptor might lead to even greater engagement with many possible new insights into the neurobiology and treatment of alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman Chandrasekar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Core Facility, Kansas State University Manhattan, KS, USA
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