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Oliva HNP, Prudente TP, Nunes EJ, Cosgrove KP, Radhakrishnan R, Potenza MN, Angarita GA. Substance use and spine density: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:2873-2885. [PMID: 38561468 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02519-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The elucidation of synaptic density changes provides valuable insights into the underlying brain mechanisms of substance use. In preclinical studies, synaptic density markers, like spine density, are altered by substances of abuse (e.g., alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, nicotine). These changes could be linked to phenomena including behavioral sensitization and drug self-administration in rodents. However, studies have produced heterogeneous results for spine density across substances and brain regions. Identifying patterns will inform translational studies given tools that now exist to measure in vivo synaptic density in humans. We performed a meta-analysis of preclinical studies to identify consistent findings across studies. PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and EBSCO were searched between September 2022 and September 2023, based on a protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022354006). We screened 6083 publications and included 70 for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed drug-specific patterns in spine density changes. Hippocampal spine density increased after amphetamine. Amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine increased spine density in the nucleus accumbens. Alcohol and amphetamine increased, and cannabis reduced, spine density in the prefrontal cortex. There was no convergence of findings for morphine's effects. The effects of cocaine on the prefrontal cortex presented contrasting results compared to human studies, warranting further investigation. Publication bias was small for alcohol or morphine and substantial for the other substances. Heterogeneity was moderate-to-high across all substances. Nonetheless, these findings inform current translational efforts examining spine density in humans with substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Nunes Pereira Oliva
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tiago Paiva Prudente
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Eric J Nunes
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kelly P Cosgrove
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rajiv Radhakrishnan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gustavo A Angarita
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
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2
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Li J, Wu Y, Xue T, He J, Zhang L, Liu Y, Zhao J, Chen Z, Xie M, Xiao B, Ye Y, Qin S, Tang Q, Huang M, Zhu H, Liu N, Guo F, Zhang L, Zhang L. Cdc42 signaling regulated by dopamine D2 receptor correlatively links specific brain regions of hippocampus to cocaine addiction. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166569. [PMID: 36243293 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hippocampus plays critical roles in drug addiction. Cocaine-induced modifications in dopamine receptor function and the downstream signaling are important regulation mechanisms in cocaine addiction. Rac regulates actin filament accumulation while Cdc42 stimulates the formation of filopodia and neurite outgrowth. Based on the region specific roles of small GTPases in brain, we focused on the hippocampal subregions to detect the regulation of Cdc42 signaling in long-term morphological and behavioral adaptations to cocaine. METHODS Genetically modified mouse models of Cdc42, dopamine receptor D1 (D1R) and D2 (D2R) and expressed Cdc42 point mutants that are defective in binding to and activation of its downstream effector molecules PAK and N-WASP were generated, respectively, in CA1 or dentate gyrus (DG) subregion. RESULTS Cocaine induced upregulation of Cdc42 signaling activity. Cdc42 knockout or mutants blocked cocaine-induced increase in spine plasticity in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, leading to a decreased conditional place preference (CPP)-associated memories and spatial learning and memory in water maze. Cdc42 knockout or mutants promoted cocaine-induced loss of neurogenesis in DG, leading to a decreased CPP-associated memories and spatial learning and memory in water maze. Furthermore, by using D1R knockout, D2R knockout, and D2R/Cdc42 double knockout mice, we found that D2R, but not D1R, regulated Cdc42 signaling in cocaine-induced neural plasticity and behavioral changes. CONCLUSIONS Cdc42 acts downstream of D2R in the hippocampus and plays an important role in cocaine-induced neural plasticity through N-WASP and PAK-LIMK-Cofilin, and Cdc42 signaling pathway correlatively links specific brain regions (CA1, dentate gyrus) to cocaine-induced CPP behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jing He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yutong Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinlan Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhenzhong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Minjuan Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yingshan Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Sifei Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qingqiu Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mengfan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hangfei Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - N Liu
- Institute of Comparative Medicine & Laboratory Animal Center, Elderly Health Services Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fukun Guo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Lu Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Pediatric Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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3
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Zhao J, Ying L, Liu Y, Liu N, Tu G, Zhu M, Wu Y, Xiao B, Ye L, Li J, Guo F, Zhang L, Wang H, Zhang L. Different roles of Rac1 in the acquisition and extinction of methamphetamine-associated contextual memory in the nucleus accumbens. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:7051-7071. [PMID: 31660086 PMCID: PMC6815963 DOI: 10.7150/thno.34655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Repeated methamphetamine (METH) exposure induces long-term cognitive deficits and pathological drug-associated memory that can be disrupted by manipulating memory reconsolidation and extinction. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is the key region of the brain reward system and predominantly consists of two subtypes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) based on the expression of D1 or D2 dopamine receptors (D1-MSNs or D2-MSNs). Spine structural plasticity in the NAc is critical for the acquisition, reconsolidation and extinction of drug-associated memory. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying METH-associated memory and spine remodelling in each type of MSNs in the NAc remain unknown. Here, we explored whether Rac1 in the NAc mediates METH-associated contextual memory and spine remodelling. Methods: Pharmacological and genetic manipulations of Rac1 were used to investigate its role during the acquisition, reconsolidation and extinction of METH-associated contextual memory. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses expressing mCherry under the control of the dopamine D1 receptor gene promoter (Drd1-mCherry) or dopamine D2 receptor gene promoter (Drd2-mCherry) were used to specifically label D1-MSNs or D2-MSNs. Results: Using viral-mediated gene transfer, we demonstrated that decreased Rac1 activity was required for the acquisition of METH-associated contextual memory and the METH-induced increase in thin spine density, whereas increased Rac1 signalling was important for the extinction of METH-associated contextual memory and the related elimination of thin spines. Moreover, the increase of dendritic spines was both found in D1-MSNs and D2-MSNs during the acquisition process, but extinction training selectively decreased the spine density in D1-MSNs. Interestingly, Rac1 was responsible for METH-induced spine plasticity in D1-MSNs but not in D2-MSNs. Additionally, we found that microinjection of a Rac1 inhibitor or activator into the NAc was not sufficient to disrupt reconsolidation, and the pharmacological activation of Rac1 in the NAc facilitated the extinction of METH-associated contextual memory. Regarding cognitive memory, decreased Rac1 activity improved the METH-induced impairment in object recognition memory. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Rac1 plays opposing roles in the acquisition and extinction of METH-associated contextual memory and reveal the cell-specific role of Rac1 in METH-associated spine remodelling, suggesting that Rac1 is a potential therapeutic target for reducing relapse in METH addiction and remediating METH-induced recognition memory impairment.
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4
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Solinas M, Belujon P, Fernagut PO, Jaber M, Thiriet N. Dopamine and addiction: what have we learned from 40 years of research. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2018; 126:481-516. [PMID: 30569209 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-018-1957-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Among the neurotransmitters involved in addiction, dopamine (DA) is clearly the best known. The critical role of DA in addiction is supported by converging evidence that has been accumulated in the last 40 years. In the present review, first we describe the dopaminergic system in terms of connectivity, functioning and involvement in reward processes. Second, we describe the functional, structural, and molecular changes induced by drugs within the DA system in terms of neuronal activity, synaptic plasticity and transcriptional and molecular adaptations. Third, we describe how genetic mouse models have helped characterizing the role of DA in addiction. Fourth, we describe the involvement of the DA system in the vulnerability to addiction and the interesting case of addiction DA replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease. Finally, we describe how the DA system has been targeted to treat patients suffering from addiction and the result obtained in clinical settings and we discuss how these different lines of evidence have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of the physiopathology of drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Solinas
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France.
| | - Pauline Belujon
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Pierre Olivier Fernagut
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Mohamed Jaber
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
- CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Nathalie Thiriet
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
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5
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Zhang L, Huang L, Lu K, Liu Y, Tu G, Zhu M, Ying L, Zhao J, Liu N, Guo F, Zhang L, Zhang L. Cocaine-induced synaptic structural modification is differentially regulated by dopamine D1 and D3 receptors-mediated signaling pathways. Addict Biol 2017; 22:1842-1855. [PMID: 27734601 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity plays a critical role in cocaine addiction. The dopamine D1 and D3 receptors differentially regulate the cocaine-induced gene expression, structural remodeling and behavioral response. However, how these two receptors coordinately mediate the ultra-structural changes of synapses after cocaine exposure and whether these changes are behaviorally relevant are still not clear. Here, using quantitative electron microscopy, we show that D1 and D3 receptors have distinct roles in regulating cocaine-induced ultra-structural changes of synapses in the nucleus accumbens and caudoputamen. Pre-treatment of cocaine-treated mice with D3 receptor antagonist NGB2904 resulted in an increase in the ratio of total and asymmetric synapse to neuron and in the length of postsynaptic densities, compared with cocaine treatment alone. In contrast, pre-treatment of cocaine-treated mice with D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 caused a reduction in synapse-to-neuron ratio and in postsynaptic densities length. Similarly, NGB2904 and SCH23390 showed opposite/differential effects on cocaine-induced structural plasticity, conditioned place preference and locomotor activity and signaling activation, including the activation of ERK, CREB and NR1 and the expression of c-fos and Cdk5. Therefore, we provide direct electron microscopy evidence that dopamine D1 and D3 receptors reciprocally regulate the ultra-structural changes of synapses following chronic exposure to cocaine. In addition, our data suggest that D1 and D3 receptors may regulate cocaine-induced ultra-structural changes and behavior responses by impact on structural plasticity and signaling transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
- Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Lu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Kangrong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Yutong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Genghong Tu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Mengjuan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Li Ying
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Jinlan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - N. Liu
- Elderly Health Services Research Center; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Fukun Guo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology; Children's Hospital Research Foundation; Cincinnati OH USA
| | - Lin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering of Guangdong Province, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Southern Medical University; China
- Elderly Health Services Research Center; Southern Medical University; China
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Anderson EM, Self DW. It's only a matter of time: longevity of cocaine-induced changes in dendritic spine density in the nucleus accumbens. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2016; 13:117-123. [PMID: 28607946 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2016.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Many reports show that repeated cocaine administration increases dendritic spine density in medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens, but there is less agreement regarding the persistence of these changes. In this review we examine these discrepancies by systematically categorizing papers that measured cocaine-induced changes in accumbal spine density. We compare published reports based on withdrawal time, short versus long duration of cocaine administration, environmental pairing with cocaine, and core/shell subregion specificity. Together, these studies suggest that cocaine exposure induces rapid and dose-dependent increases in spine density in accumbens neurons that may play a role in the maintenance of cocaine use and vulnerability to early relapse, but are not a factor in behavioral changes associated with longer abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan M Anderson
- Department of Psychiatry, The Seay Center for Basic and Applied Research in Psychiatric Illness, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, USA 75390-9070
| | - David W Self
- Department of Psychiatry, The Seay Center for Basic and Applied Research in Psychiatric Illness, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, USA 75390-9070
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7
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García-Pardo MP, Roger-Sanchez C, Rodríguez-Arias M, Miñarro J, Aguilar MA. Pharmacological modulation of protein kinases as a new approach to treat addiction to cocaine and opiates. Eur J Pharmacol 2016; 781:10-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.03.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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8
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Sun WL, Quizon PM, Zhu J. Molecular Mechanism: ERK Signaling, Drug Addiction, and Behavioral Effects. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2015; 137:1-40. [PMID: 26809997 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Addiction to psychostimulants has been considered as a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by craving and compulsive drug seeking and use. Over the past two decades, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that repeated drug exposure causes long-lasting neurochemical and cellular changes that result in enduring neuroadaptation in brain circuitry and underlie compulsive drug consumption and relapse. Through intercellular signaling cascades, drugs of abuse induce remodeling in the rewarding circuitry that contributes to the neuroplasticity of learning and memory associated with addiction. Here, we review the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, and its related intracellular signaling pathways in drug-induced neuroadaptive changes that are associated with drug-mediated psychomotor activity, rewarding properties and relapse of drug seeking behaviors. We also discuss the neurobiological and behavioral effects of pharmacological and genetic interferences with ERK-associated molecular cascades in response to abused substances. Understanding the dynamic modulation of ERK signaling in response to drugs may provide novel molecular targets for therapeutic strategies to drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lun Sun
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Pamela M Quizon
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jun Zhu
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
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9
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Korpi ER, den Hollander B, Farooq U, Vashchinkina E, Rajkumar R, Nutt DJ, Hyytiä P, Dawe GS. Mechanisms of Action and Persistent Neuroplasticity by Drugs of Abuse. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:872-1004. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.115.010967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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10
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Ponce G, Quiñones-Lombraña A, Martín-Palanco NG, Rubio-Solsona E, Jiménez-Arriero MÁ, Palomo T, Hoenicka J. The Addiction-Related Gene Ankk1 is Oppositely Regulated by D1R- and D2R-Like Dopamine Receptors. Neurotox Res 2015; 29:345-50. [PMID: 26194616 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-015-9545-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) TaqIA polymorphism has been extensively studied as a marker of the gene for dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) in addictions and other dopamine-associated traits. In vitro mRNA and protein studies have shown a potential connection between ANKK1 and the dopaminergic system functioning. Here, we have investigated whether Ankk1 expression in the brain is regulated by treatment with dopaminergic agonists. We used quantitative RT-PCR of total brain and Western blots of specific brain areas to study Ankk1 in murine brain after dopaminergic treatments. We found that Ankk1 mRNA was upregulated after activation of D1R-like dopamine receptors with SKF38393 (2.660 ± 1.035-fold; t: 4.066, df: 11, P = 0.002) and apomorphine (2.043 ± 0.595-fold; t: 3.782, df: 8, P = 0.005). The D2R-like agonist quinelorane has no effect upon Ankk1 mRNA (1.004 ± 0.580-fold; t: 0.015, df: 10, P = 0.9885). In contrast, mice treatment with the D2R-like agonists 7-OH-DPAT and aripiprazole caused a significant Ankk1 mRNA downregulation (0.606 ± 0.057-fold; t: 2.786, df: 10, P = 0.02 and 0.588 ± 0.130-fold; t: 2.394, df: 11, P = 0.036, respectively). With respect the Ankk1 proteins profile, no effects were found after SKF38393 (t: 0.54, df: 2, P = 0.643) and Quinelorane (t: 0.286, df: 8, P = 0.782) treatments. In contrast, the D2R-like agonist 7-OH-DPAT (±) caused a significant increment of Ankk1 in the striatum (t: 2.718, df: 7; P = 0.03) when compared to the prefrontal cortex. The activation of D1R-like and D2-R-like leads to opposite transcriptional regulation of Ankk1 by specific pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Ponce
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Psychiatry Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.,Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Adolfo Quiñones-Lombraña
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Psychiatry Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Noelia Guerra Martín-Palanco
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Psychiatry Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Estrella Rubio-Solsona
- Program of Rare and Genetic Diseases, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Arriero
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Psychiatry Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Tomás Palomo
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Psychiatry Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Janet Hoenicka
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Psychiatry Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain. .,Program of Rare and Genetic Diseases, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
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11
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Li J, Zhang L, Chen Z, Xie M, Huang L, Xue J, Liu Y, Liu N, Guo F, Zheng Y, Kong J, Zhang L, Zhang L. Cocaine activates Rac1 to control structural and behavioral plasticity in caudate putamen. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 75:159-76. [PMID: 25595128 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeated exposure to cocaine was previously found to cause sensitized behavioral responses and structural remodeling on medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and caudate putamen (CPu). Rac1 has emerged as a key integrator of environmental cues that regulates dendritic cytoskeletons. In this study, we investigated the role of Rac1 in cocaine-induced dendritic and behavioral plasticity in the CPu. We found that Rac1 activation was reduced in the NAc but increased in the CPu following repeated cocaine treatment. Inhibition of Rac1 activity by a Rac1-specific inhibitor NSC23766, overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of Rac1 (T17N-Rac1) or local knockout of Rac1 attenuated the cocaine-induced increase in dendrites and spine density in the CPu, whereas overexpression of a constitutively active Rac1 exert the opposite effect. Moreover, NSC23766 reversed the increased number of asymmetric spine synapses in the CPu following chronic cocaine exposure. Downregulation of Rac1 activity likewise attenuates behavioral reward responses to cocaine exposure, with activation of Rac1 producing the opposite effect. Thus, Rac1 signaling is differentially regulated in the NAc and CPu after repeated cocaine treatment, and induction of Rac1 activation in the CPu is important for cocaine exposure-induced dendritic remodeling and behavioral plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Histology and Embryology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhenzhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Minjuan Xie
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinhua Xue
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yutong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Nuyun Liu
- Elderly Health Services Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fukun Guo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jiming Kong
- Southern Medical University-University of Manitoba Geriatric Medicine Joint Laboratory, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Elderly Health Services Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Southern Medical University-University of Manitoba Geriatric Medicine Joint Laboratory, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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12
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Pascoli V, Cahill E, Bellivier F, Caboche J, Vanhoutte P. Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 activation by addictive drugs: a signal toward pathological adaptation. Biol Psychiatry 2014; 76:917-26. [PMID: 24844603 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is a chronic and relapsing psychiatric disorder that is thought to occur in vulnerable individuals. Synaptic plasticity evoked by drugs of abuse in the so-called neuronal circuits of reward has been proposed to underlie behavioral adaptations that characterize addiction. By increasing dopamine in the striatum, addictive drugs alter the balance of dopamine and glutamate signals converging onto striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) and activate intracellular events involved in long-term behavioral alterations. Our laboratory contributed to the identification of salient molecular changes induced by administration of addictive drugs to rodents. We pioneered the observation that a common feature of addictive drugs is to activate, by a double tyrosine/threonine phosphorylation, the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in the striatum, which control a plethora of substrates, some of them being critically involved in cocaine-mediated molecular and behavioral adaptations. Herein, we review how the interplay between dopamine and glutamate signaling controls cocaine-induced ERK1/2 activation in MSNs. We emphasize the key role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor potentiation by D1 receptor to trigger ERK1/2 activation and its subsequent nuclear translocation where it modulates both epigenetic and genetic processes engaged by cocaine. We discuss how cocaine-induced long-term synaptic and structural plasticity of MSNs, as well as behavioral adaptations, are influenced by ERK1/2-controlled targets. We conclude that a better knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying ERK1/2 activation by drugs of abuse and/or its role in long-term neuronal plasticity in the striatum may provide a new route for therapeutic treatment in addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Pascoli
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University Medical Center, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emma Cahill
- Institut de Biologie Paris, Seine, CNRS/UMR8246-INSERM/UMR-S1130, Université Pierre et Marie Curie
| | - Frank Bellivier
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, L׳Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Louis, Lariboisière, Fernand-Widal Sites; Unité de Formation et de Recherche de Médecine, Université Denis Diderot; Variability of the Response to Psychotropic Drugs, Institut National de la Santé et de la; Recherche Médicale, Paris; and Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Jocelyne Caboche
- Institut de Biologie Paris, Seine, CNRS/UMR8246-INSERM/UMR-S1130, Université Pierre et Marie Curie
| | - Peter Vanhoutte
- Institut de Biologie Paris, Seine, CNRS/UMR8246-INSERM/UMR-S1130, Université Pierre et Marie Curie.
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13
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Chiang YC, Hung TW, Ho IK. Development of sensitization to methamphetamine in offspring prenatally exposed to morphine, methadone and buprenorphine. Addict Biol 2014; 19:676-86. [PMID: 23551991 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Heroin use among young women of reproductive age has drawn much attention around the world. However, there is lack of information on the long-term effects of prenatal exposure to opioids on their offspring. Our previous study demonstrated that prenatally buprenorphine-exposed offspring showed a marked change in the cross-tolerance to morphine compared with other groups. In the current study, this animal model was used to study effects of methamphetamine (METH)-induced behavioral sensitization in the offspring at their adulthood. The results showed no differences in either basal or acute METH-induced locomotor activity in any of the groups of animals tested. When male offspring received METH injections of 2 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 5 days, behavioral sensitization was induced, as determined by motor activity. Furthermore, the distance and rate of development (slope) of locomotor activity and conditioned place preference induced by METH were significantly increased in the prenatally buprenorphine-exposed animals compared with those in other groups. The dopamine D1 R in the nucleus accumbens of the prenatally buprenorphine-exposed offspring had lower mRNA expression; but no significant changes in the μ-, κ-opioid, nociceptin, D2 R and D3 R receptors were noted. Furthermore, significant alterations were observed in the basal level of cAMP and the D1 R agonist enhanced adenylyl cyclase activity in the prenatally buprenorphine-exposed group. Overall, the study demonstrates that D1 R and its downregulated cAMP signals are involved in enhancing METH-induced behavioral sensitization in prenatally buprenorphine-exposed offspring. The study reveals that prenatal exposure to buprenorphine caused long-term effects on offspring and affected the dopaminergic system-related reward mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Chang Chiang
- Center for Drug Abuse and Addiction; China Medical University Hospital; Taiwan
- China Medical University; Taiwan
| | | | - Ing-Kang Ho
- Center for Drug Abuse and Addiction; China Medical University Hospital; Taiwan
- National Health Research Institutes; Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science; China Medical University; Taiwan
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14
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Li J, Gu J, Wang B, Xie M, Huang L, Liu Y, Zhang L, Xue J, Guo F, Zhang L, Zhang L. Activation of Dopamine D1 Receptors Regulates Dendritic Morphogenesis Through Rac1 and RhoA in Prefrontal Cortex Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 51:1024-37. [PMID: 24915967 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-8762-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is an important regulator of neuronal plasticity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and plays a critical role in addiction-related neuroadaptation. The Rho GTPases, including Rac1, RhoA and Cdc42, are key regulators of actin cytoskeleton rearrangement that play important roles in dendritic morphogenesis. The goal of the current study was to use cultures of primary PFC neurons to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying DA-induced dendritic morphogenesis, a phenomenon that mimics the increase in DA synaptic transmission observed in the PFC of in vivo cocaine administration. We investigated the effects of repeated DA treatments on dendritic morphology changes in PFC neurons, and identified Rac1 and RhoA as downstream effectors of D1 receptors during the regulation of dendritic morphogenesis. Importantly, we found that D1 receptor-regulated Rac1 and RhoA have distinct roles in the regulation of dendritic morphogenesis after repeated DA treatments. Our data provide the first evidence that Rac1 and RhoA are effectors of D1 receptor signaling during dendritic morphogenesis and represent new signaling molecules involved in long-lasting neuroadaptation in the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
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15
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Smith LN, Jedynak JP, Fontenot MR, Hale CF, Dietz KC, Taniguchi M, Thomas FS, Zirlin BC, Birnbaum SG, Huber KM, Thomas MJ, Cowan CW. Fragile X mental retardation protein regulates synaptic and behavioral plasticity to repeated cocaine administration. Neuron 2014; 82:645-58. [PMID: 24811383 PMCID: PMC4052976 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Repeated cocaine exposure causes persistent, maladaptive alterations in brain and behavior, and hope for effective therapeutics lies in understanding these processes. We describe here an essential role for fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein and regulator of dendritic protein synthesis, in cocaine conditioned place preference, behavioral sensitization, and motor stereotypy. Cocaine reward deficits in FMRP-deficient mice stem from elevated mGluR5 (or GRM5) function, similar to a subset of fragile X symptoms, and do not extend to natural reward. We find that FMRP functions in the adult nucleus accumbens (NAc), a critical addiction-related brain region, to mediate behavioral sensitization but not cocaine reward. FMRP-deficient mice also exhibit several abnormalities in NAc medium spiny neurons, including reduced presynaptic function and premature changes in dendritic morphology and glutamatergic neurotransmission following repeated cocaine treatment. Together, our findings reveal FMRP as a critical mediator of cocaine-induced behavioral and synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N. Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Jakub P. Jedynak
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Miles R. Fontenot
- Medical Science Training Program, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Carly F. Hale
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Karen C. Dietz
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Makoto Taniguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Feba S. Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Benjamin C. Zirlin
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Shari G. Birnbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
| | - Kimberly M. Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Mark J. Thomas
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building, 2101 Sixth Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christopher W. Cowan
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
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16
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Bobzean SAM, DeNobrega AK, Perrotti LI. Sex differences in the neurobiology of drug addiction. Exp Neurol 2014; 259:64-74. [PMID: 24508560 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Revised: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological data demonstrate that while women report lower rates of drug use than men, the number of current drug users and abusers who are women continues to increase. In addition women progress through the phases of addiction differently than men; women transition from casual drug use to addiction faster, are more reactive to stimuli that trigger relapse, and have higher rates of relapse then men. Sex differences in physiological and psychological responses to drugs of abuse are well documented and it is well established that estrogen effects on dopamine (DA) systems are largely responsible for these sex differences. However, the downstream mechanisms that result from interactions between estrogen and the effects of drugs of abuse on the DA system are just beginning to be explored. Here we review the basic neurocircuitry which underlies reward and addiction; highlighting the neuroadaptive changes that occur in the mesolimbic dopamine reward and anti-reward/stress pathways. We propose that sex differences in addiction are due to sex differences in the neural systems which mediate positive and negative reinforcement and that these differences are modulated by ovarian hormones. This forms a neurobehavioral basis for the search for the molecular and cellular underpinnings that uniquely guide motivational behaviors and make women more vulnerable to developing and sustaining addiction than men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samara A M Bobzean
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Aliza K DeNobrega
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Linda I Perrotti
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
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17
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Kalirin-7 mediates cocaine-induced AMPA receptor and spine plasticity, enabling incentive sensitization. J Neurosci 2013; 33:11012-22. [PMID: 23825406 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1097-13.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that behavioral sensitization to cocaine is accompanied by increased spine density and AMPA receptor (AMPAR) transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), but two major questions remain unanswered. Are these adaptations mechanistically coupled? And, given that they can be dissociated from locomotor sensitization, what is their functional significance? We tested the hypothesis that the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor Kalirin-7 (Kal-7) couples cocaine-induced AMPAR and spine upregulation and that these adaptations underlie sensitization of cocaine's incentive-motivational properties-the properties that make it "wanted." Rats received eight daily injections of saline or cocaine. On withdrawal day 14, we found that Kal-7 levels and activation of its downstream effectors Rac-1 and PAK were increased in the NAc of cocaine-sensitized rats. Furthermore, AMPAR surface expression and spine density were increased, as expected. To determine whether these changes require Kal-7, a lentiviral vector expressing Kal-7 shRNA was injected into the NAc core before cocaine exposure. Knocking down Kal-7 abolished the AMPAR and spine upregulation normally seen during cocaine withdrawal. Despite the absence of these adaptations, rats with reduced Kal-7 levels developed locomotor sensitization. However, incentive sensitization, which was assessed by how rapidly rats learned to self-administer a threshold dose of cocaine, was severely impaired. These results identify a signaling pathway coordinating AMPAR and spine upregulation during cocaine withdrawal, demonstrate that locomotor and incentive sensitization involve divergent mechanisms, and link enhanced excitatory transmission in the NAc to incentive sensitization.
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18
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Villalba RM, Smith Y. Differential striatal spine pathology in Parkinson's disease and cocaine addiction: a key role of dopamine? Neuroscience 2013; 251:2-20. [PMID: 23867772 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In the striatum, the dendritic tree of the two main populations of projection neurons, called "medium spiny neurons (MSNs)", are covered with spines that receive glutamatergic inputs from the cerebral cortex and thalamus. In Parkinson's disease (PD), striatal MSNs undergo an important loss of dendritic spines, whereas aberrant overgrowth of striatal spines occurs following chronic cocaine exposure. This review examines the possibility that opposite dopamine dysregulation is one of the key factors that underlies these structural changes. In PD, nigrostriatal dopamine degeneration results in a significant loss of dendritic spines in the dorsal striatum, while rodents chronically exposed to cocaine and other psychostimulants, display an increase in the density of "thin and immature" spines in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In rodent models of PD, there is evidence that D2 dopamine receptor-containing MSNs are preferentially affected, while D1-positive cells are the main targets of increased spine density in models of addiction. However, such specificity remains to be established in primates. Although the link between the extent of striatal spine changes and the behavioral deficits associated with these disorders remains controversial, there is unequivocal evidence that glutamatergic synaptic transmission is significantly altered in both diseased conditions. Recent studies have suggested that opposite calcium-mediated regulation of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) function induces these structural defects. In conclusion, there is strong evidence that dopamine is a major, but not the sole, regulator of striatal spine pathology in PD and addiction to psychostimulants. Further studies of the role of glutamate and other genes associated with spine plasticity in mediating these effects are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Villalba
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954, Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; UDALL Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Emory University, 954, Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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19
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Job MO, Shen LL, Kuhar MJ. The inhibition of cocaine-induced locomotor activity by CART 55-102 is lost after repeated cocaine administration. Neurosci Lett 2013; 550:179-83. [PMID: 23819981 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Revised: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
CART peptide is known for having an inhibitory effect on cocaine- and dopamine-mediated actions after acute administration of cocaine and dopamine. In this regard, it is postulated to be a homeostatic, regulatory factor on dopaminergic activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, there is no data on the effect of CART peptide after chronic administration of cocaine, and this study addresses this. It was found that CART peptide blunted cocaine-induced locomotion (LMA) after acute administration of cocaine, as expected, but it did not affect cocaine-mediated LMA after chronic administration of cocaine. The loss of CART peptide's inhibitory effect did not return for up to 9 weeks after stopping the repeated cocaine administration. It may not be surprising that homeostatic regulatory mechanisms in the NAc are lost after repeated cocaine administration, and that this may be a mechanism in the development of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin O Job
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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20
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Gross G, Drescher K. The role of dopamine D(3) receptors in antipsychotic activity and cognitive functions. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2013:167-210. [PMID: 23027416 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-25758-2_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine D(3) receptors have a pre- and postsynaptic localization in brain stem nuclei, limbic parts of the striatum, and cortex. Their widespread influence on dopamine release, on dopaminergic function, and on several other neurotransmitters makes them attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. The signaling pathways of D(3) receptors are distinct from those of other members of the D(2)-like receptor family. There is increasing evidence that D(3) receptors can form heteromers with dopamine D(1), D(2), and probably other G-protein-coupled receptors. The functional consequences remain to be characterized in more detail but might open new interesting pharmacological insight and opportunities. In terms of behavioral function, D(3) receptors are involved in cognitive, social, and motor functions, as well as in filtering and sensitization processes. Although the role of D(3) receptor blockade for alleviating positive symptoms is still unsettled, selective D(3) receptor antagonism has therapeutic features for schizophrenia and beyond as demonstrated by several animal models: improved cognitive function, emotional processing, executive function, flexibility, and social behavior. D(3) receptor antagonism seems to contribute to atypicality of clinically used antipsychotics by reducing extrapyramidal motor symptoms; has no direct influence on prolactin release; and does not cause anhedonia, weight gain, or metabolic dysfunctions. Unfortunately, clinical data with new, selective D(3) antagonists are still incomplete; their cognitive effects have only been communicated in part. In vitro, virtually all clinically used antipsychotics are not D(2)-selective but also have affinity for D(3) receptors. The exact D(3) receptor occupancies achieved in patients, particularly in cortical areas, are largely unknown, mainly because only nonselective or agonist PET tracers are currently available. It is unlikely that a degree of D(3) receptor antagonism optimal for antipsychotic and cognitive function can be achieved with existing antipsychotics. Therefore, selective D(3) antagonism represents a promising mechanism still to be fully exploited for the treatment of schizophrenia, cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, and comorbid conditions such as substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Gross
- Abbott, Neuroscience Research, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
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21
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Li F, Ohtani A, Senzaki K, Shiga T. Receptor-dependent regulation of dendrite formation of noradrenaline and dopamine in non-GABAergic cerebral cortical neurons. Dev Neurobiol 2012; 73:370-83. [PMID: 23135899 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2012] [Revised: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The present study characterized the receptor-dependent regulation of dendrite formation of noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) in cultured neurons obtained from embryonic day 16 rat cerebral cortex. Morphological diversity of cortical dendrites was analyzed on various features: dendrite initiation, dendrite outgrowth, and dendrite branching. Using a combination of immunocytochemical markers of dendrites and GABAergic neurons, we focused on the dendrite morphology of non-GABAergic neurons. Our results showed that (1) NA inhibited the dendrite branching, (2) β adrenergic receptor (β-AR) agonist inhibited the dendrite initiation, while promoted the dendrite outgrowth, (3) β1-AR and β2-AR were present in all the cultured neurons, and both agonists inhibited the dendrite initiation, while only β1-AR agonist induced the dendrite branching; (4) DA inhibited the dendrite outgrowth, (5) D1 receptor agonist inhibited the dendrite initiation, while promoted the dendrite branching. In conclusion, this study compared the effects of NA, DA and their receptors and showed that NA and DA regulate different features on the dendrite formation of non-GABAergic cortical neurons, depending on the receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
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Li J, Liu N, Lu K, Zhang L, Gu J, Guo F, An S, Zhang L, Zhang L. Cocaine-induced dendritic remodeling occurs in both D1 and D2 dopamine receptor-expressing neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Neurosci Lett 2012; 517:118-22. [PMID: 22561554 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2012.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2011] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Repeated exposure to cocaine can induce persistent alterations in the brain's reward system, including increases in the number of dendrites and spine density on medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The structural remodeling of dendrites and spines in the NAc is thought to play a critical role in cocaine addiction. MSNs in the NAc can be classified by expression of either D1 or D2 dopamine receptors, which are localized to the direct and indirect pathway, respectively. It is unknown whether the dendritic changes induced by repeated cocaine treatment occur in MSNs of the direct or indirect pathway. Because the traditional Golgi-Cox impregnation of neurons precludes identifying particular subpopulations of MSNs, we performed dendritic morphology analysis after biocytin-labeling and Golgi-Cox impregnation. We found that the biocytin staining MSNs showed higher dendritic spine density and higher number of dendrites than that in Golgi impregnation group. In addition, we found that the increasing spine density induced by repeated cocaine treatment in female mice was higher than that in male mice. Next we used biocytin staining and dynorphin/D2 receptor colocalization to determine which cell type(s) displayed dendritic changes after repeated cocaine treatment. We found that cocaine-induced changes in dendritic parameters occurred in MSNs of both the direct (D1-expressing) and indirect (D2-expressing) pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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