Methamphetamine addiction: potential substitute treatment

The glutamatergic projections from the PVT to mPFC govern methamphetamine-induced conditional place preference behaviors in mice

BACKGROUND

Drug addiction is closely related to the dysregulation of complex neural circuits. However, the neural connections underlying the symptoms of methamphetamine (METH)-induced addiction have yet to be elucidated.

METHODS

We conducted ΔFosB (Delta FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) associated immunofluorescence and electrophysiological recording experiments to measure the neural activity of paraventricular thalamus (PVT) neurons in METH treated mice. Then, the METH-mediated conditional place preference (CPP) behaviors were evaluated after chemogenetic manipulation of PVT neurons. Additionally, the neural projection from PVT to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was verified through Adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediating neural tracing method, and its role on METH-mediated CPP behaviors was determined using chemogenetic and neural ablation strategies.

RESULTS

We found that glutamatergic neurons in PVT were activated by METH. Activating the glutamatergic neurons in PVT promoted the METH-mediated CPP behaviors, while inhibiting these neurons attenuated the CPP behaviors. Moreover, we observed PVT neurons showed robust neuronal projections to mPFC, activation of the mPFC→projecting neurons in PVT or the afferent terminals in mPFC derived from PVT enhanced METH-mediated CPP performance, and ablating the mPFC neurons receipting neural projection from PVT impeded these increased METH-mediated CPP phenotypes.

LIMITATIONS

The underlying molecular mechanism of the dysfunctional PVT neurons after METH treatment and the PVT neurons regulating the activity of mPFC target neurons remains unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

These results shed light on that PVT is a key METH addiction-controlling nucleus, and PVT → mPFC projection regulated METH-mediated CPP behaviors, which could serve as a vital pathway for morbidity and treatment for METH-mediated addiction.

Converging vulnerability factors for compulsive food and drug use

Highly palatable foods and substance of abuse have intersecting neurobiological, metabolic and behavioral effects relevant for understanding vulnerability to conditions related to food (e.g., obesity, binge eating disorder) and drug (e.g., substance use disorder) misuse. Here, we review data from animal models, clinical populations and epidemiological evidence in behavioral, genetic, pathophysiologic and therapeutic domains. Results suggest that consumption of highly palatable food and drugs of abuse both impact and conversely are regulated by metabolic hormones and metabolic status. Palatable foods high in fat and/or sugar can elicit adaptation in brain reward and withdrawal circuitry akin to substances of abuse. Intake of or withdrawal from palatable food can impact behavioral sensitivity to drugs of abuse and vice versa. A robust literature suggests common substrates and roles for negative reinforcement, negative affect, negative urgency, and impulse control deficits, with both highly palatable foods and substances of abuse. Candidate genetic risk loci shared by obesity and alcohol use disorders have been identified in molecules classically associated with both metabolic and motivational functions. Finally, certain drugs may have overlapping therapeutic potential to treat obesity, diabetes, binge-related eating disorders and substance use disorders. Taken together, data are consistent with the hypotheses that compulsive food and substance use share overlapping, interacting substrates at neurobiological and metabolic levels and that motivated behavior associated with feeding or substance use might constitute vulnerability factors for one another. This article is part of the special issue on 'Vulnerabilities to Substance Abuse'.