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Mancuso C. The brain heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase system as a target in drug research and development. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:361-374. [PMID: 35285395 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2052848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase (HO/BVR) system is involved in heme metabolism. The inducible isoform of HO (HO-1) and BVR both exert cytoprotective effects by enhancing cell stress response. In this context, some xenobiotics, which target HO-1, including herbal products, behave as neuroprotectants in several experimental models of neurodegeneration. Despite this, no drug having either HO-1 or BVR as a main target is currently available. AREAS COVERED After a description of the brain HO/BVR system, the paper analyzes the main classes of drugs acting on the nervous system, with HO as second-level target, and their neuroprotective potential. Finally, the difficulties that exist for the development of drugs acting on HO/BVR and the possible ways to overcome these hurdles are examined. EXPERT OPINION Although the limited clinical evidence has restricted the translational research on the HO/BVR system, mainly because of the dual nature of its by-products, there has been growing interest in the therapeutic potential of these enzymes. Scientists should boost the translational research on the HO/BVR system which could be supported by the significant evidence provided by preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Mancuso
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Pharmacology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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2
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Lyte JM, Keane J, Eckenberger J, Anthony N, Shrestha S, Marasini D, Daniels KM, Caputi V, Donoghue AM, Lyte M. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) as a novel model to study the relationship between the avian microbiome and microbial endocrinology-based host-microbe interactions. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:38. [PMID: 33531080 PMCID: PMC7856774 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00962-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbial endocrinology, which is the study of neuroendocrine-based interkingdom signaling, provides a causal mechanistic framework for understanding the bi-directional crosstalk between the host and microbiome, especially as regards the effect of stress on health and disease. The importance of the cecal microbiome in avian health is well-recognized, yet little is understood regarding the mechanisms underpinning the avian host-microbiome relationship. Neuroendocrine plasticity of avian tissues that are focal points of host-microbiome interaction, such as the gut and lung, has likewise received limited attention. Avian in vivo models that enable the study of the neuroendocrine dynamic between host and microbiome are needed. As such, we utilized Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) that diverge in corticosterone response to stress to examine the relationship between stress-related neurochemical concentrations at sites of host-microbe interaction, such as the gut, and the cecal microbiome. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that birds which contrast in corticosterone response to stress show profound separation in cecal microbial community structure as well as exhibit differences in tissue neurochemical concentrations and structural morphologies of the gut. Changes in neurochemicals known to be affected by the microbiome were also identified in tissues outside of the gut, suggesting a potential relationship in birds between the cecal microbiome and overall avian physiology. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides the first evidence that the structure of the avian cecal microbial community is shaped by selection pressure on the bird for neuroendocrine response to stress. Identification of unique region-dependent neurochemical changes in the intestinal tract following stress highlights environmental stressors as potential drivers of microbial endocrinology-based mechanisms of avian host-microbiome dialogue. Together, these results demonstrate that tissue neurochemical concentrations in the avian gut may be related to the cecal microbiome and reveal the Japanese quail as a novel avian model in which to further examine the mechanisms underpinning these relationships. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Lyte
- Poultry Production and Product Safety Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
| | - James Keane
- Department of Computer Science, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland
| | - Julia Eckenberger
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Nicholas Anthony
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
| | - Sandip Shrestha
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
| | - Daya Marasini
- Weems Design Studio Inc., Suwanee, Georgia, USA/ Contractor to Centers for Disease control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333 USA
| | - Karrie M. Daniels
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
| | | | - Annie M. Donoghue
- Poultry Production and Product Safety Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
| | - Mark Lyte
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
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Bendová Z, Pačesová D, Novotný J. The day-night differences in ERK1/2, GSK3β activity and c-Fos levels in the brain, and the responsiveness of various brain structures to morphine. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:2471-2495. [PMID: 32170720 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
As with other drugs or pharmaceuticals, opioids differ in their rewarding or analgesic effects depending on when they are applied. In the previous study, we have demonstrated the day/night difference in the sensitivity of the major circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus to a low dose of morphine, and showed the bidirectional effect of morphine on pERK1/2 and pGSK3β levels in the suprachiasmatic nucleus depending on the time of administration. The main aim of this study was to identify other brain structures that respond differently to morphine depending on the time of its administration. Using immunohistochemistry, we identified 44 structures that show time-of-day specific changes in c-Fos level and activity of ERK1/2 and GSK3β kinases in response to a single dose of 1 mg/kg morphine. Furthermore, comparison among control groups revealed the differences in the spontaneous levels of all markers with a generally higher level during the night, that is, in the active phase of the day. We thus provide further evidence for diurnal variations in the activity of brain regions outside the suprachiasmatic nucleus indicated by the temporal changes in the molecular substrate. We suggest that these changes are responsible for generating diurnal variation in the reward behavior or analgesic effect of opioid administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdeňka Bendová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Sleep Medicine and Chronobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Dominika Pačesová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Sleep Medicine and Chronobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Novotný
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Busceti CL, Ferese R, Bucci D, Ryskalin L, Gambardella S, Madonna M, Nicoletti F, Fornai F. Corticosterone Upregulates Gene and Protein Expression of Catecholamine Markers in Organotypic Brainstem Cultures. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20122901. [PMID: 31197099 PMCID: PMC6627138 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20122901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are produced by the adrenal cortex and regulate cell metabolism in a variety of organs. This occurs either directly, by acting on specific receptors in a variety of cells, or by stimulating catecholamine expression within neighbor cells of the adrenal medulla. In this way, the whole adrenal gland may support specific metabolic requirements to cope with stressful conditions from external environment or internal organs. In addition, glucocorticoid levels may increase significantly in the presence of inappropriate secretion from adrenal cortex or may be administered at high doses to treat inflammatory disorders. In these conditions, metabolic alterations and increased blood pressure may occur, although altered sleep-waking cycle, anxiety, and mood disorders are frequent. These latter symptoms remain unexplained at the molecular level, although they overlap remarkably with disorders affecting catecholamine nuclei of the brainstem reticular formation. In fact, the present study indicates that various doses of glucocorticoids alter the expression of genes and proteins, which are specific for reticular catecholamine neurons. In detail, corticosterone administration to organotypic mouse brainstem cultures significantly increases Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Dopamine transporter (DAT), while Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) is not affected. On the other hand, Dopamine Beta-Hydroxylase (DBH) increases only after very high doses of corticosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Larisa Ryskalin
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | | | | | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Francesco Fornai
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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Dunkley PR, Dickson PW. Tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation
in vivo. J Neurochem 2019; 149:706-728. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter R. Dunkley
- The School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy and The Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle University Drive Callaghan NSW Australia
| | - Phillip W. Dickson
- The School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy and The Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle University Drive Callaghan NSW Australia
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Distinct regulation pattern of Egr-1, BDNF and Arc during morphine-withdrawal conditioned place aversion paradigm: Role of glucocorticoids. Behav Brain Res 2018; 360:244-254. [PMID: 30550948 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Negative affective aspects of opiate abstinence contribute to the persistence of substance abuse. Importantly, interconnected brain areas involved in aversive motivational processes, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), become activated when animals are confined to withdrawal-paired environments. In the present study, place aversion was elicited in sham and adrenalectomized (ADX) animals by conditioned naloxone-precipitated drug withdrawal following exposure to chronic morphine. qPCR was employed to detect the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) and the immediate early genes (IEG) early growth response 1 (Egr-1) and activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) mRNAs in the VTA and mPFC at different time points of the conditioned place aversion (CPA) paradigm: after the conditioning phase and after the test phase. Sham + morphine rats exhibited robust CPA, which was impaired in ADX + morphine animals. Egr-1 and Arc were induced in the VTA and mPFC after morphine-withdrawal conditioning phase. Furthermore, Bdnf expression was enhanced in the VTA during the test phase. Bdnf induction seemed to be glucocorticoid-dependent, given that was correlated with HPA axis function and was not observed in morphine-dependent ADX animals. In addition, BDNF regulation and function was opposite in the VTA and mPFC during aversive-withdrawal memory retrieval. Our results suggest that IEGs and BDNF in these brain regions may play key roles in mediating the negative motivational component of opiate withdrawal.
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7
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The involvement of CRF1 receptor within the basolateral amygdala and dentate gyrus in the naloxone-induced conditioned place aversion in morphine-dependent mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:102-114. [PMID: 29407532 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Drug withdrawal-associated aversive memories trigger relapse to drug-seeking behavior. Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) is an important mediator of the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. However, the involvement of CRF1 receptor (CRF1R) in aversive memory induced by opiate withdrawal has yet to be elucidated. We used the conditioned-place aversion (CPA) paradigm to evaluate the role of CRF1R on opiate withdrawal memory acquisition, along with plasticity-related processes that occur after CPA within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and dentate gyrus (DG). Male mice were rendered dependent on morphine and injected acutely with naloxone before paired to confinement in a naloxone-associated compartment. The CPA scores as well as the number of TH-positive neurons (in the NTS-A2 noradrenergic cell group), and the expression of the transcription factors Arc and pCREB (in the BLA and DG) were measured with and without CRF1R blockade. Mice subjected to conditioned naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal robustly expressed CPA. Pre-treatment with the selective CRF1R antagonist CP-154,526 before naloxone conditioning session impaired morphine withdrawal-induced aversive memory acquisition. CP-154,526 also antagonized the enhanced number of TH-positive neurons in the NTS-A2 that was seen after CPA. Increased Arc expression and Arc-pCREB co-localization were seen in the BLA after CPA, which was not modified by CP-154,526. In the DG, CPA was accompanied by a decrease of Arc expression and no changes in Arc-pCREB co-localization, whereas pre-treatment with CP-154,526 induced an increase in both parameters. These results indicate that CRF-CRF1R pathway could be a critical factor governing opiate withdrawal memory storage and retrieval and might suggest a role for TH-NA pathway in the effects of withdrawal on memory. Our results might indicate that the blockade of CRF1R could represent a promising pharmacological treatment strategy approach for the attenuation of the relapse to drug-seeking/taking behavior triggered by opiate withdrawal-associated aversive memories.
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8
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Navarro-Zaragoza J, Laorden ML, Milanés MV. Glucocorticoid receptor but not mineralocorticoid receptor mediates the activation of ERK pathway and CREB during morphine withdrawal. Addict Biol 2017; 22:342-353. [PMID: 26598419 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent research suggests that glucocorticoids are involved in the development of addiction to drugs of abuse. They share this role with dopamine (DA), and with different signalling pathways and/or transcription factors such as extracellular-signal regulated kinases (ERK) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). However, the relation between them is not completely elucidated. In this report, we further characterize the role of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor (GR and MR) signalling in DA turnover at the Nacc, and in opiate withdrawal-induced tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression, ERK and CREB phosphorylation (activation) in the nucleus of tractus solitarius (NTS-A2 ). The role of GR and MR signalling was assessed with the selective GR antagonist, mifepristone or the MR antagonist, spironolactone (i.p.). Rats were implanted two morphine (or placebo) pellets. Six days later rats were pretreated with mifepristone, spironolactone or vehicle 30 min before naloxone, and DA turnover, TH expression, ERK and CREB phosphorylation, were measured using HPLC and immunoblotting. Glucocorticoid receptor blockade attenuated ERK and CREB phosphorylation and the TH expression induced by morphine withdrawal. In contrast, no changes were seen after MR blockade. Finally, GR and MR blockade did not alter the morphine withdrawal-induced increase seen both in DA turnover and DA metabolite production, in the NAcc. These results show that not only ERK and CREB phosphorylation but also TH expression in the NTS is modulated by GR signalling. The present results suggest that GR is a therapeutic target to improve aversive events associated with opiate withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Navarro-Zaragoza
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB); Murcia Spain
| | - M. Luisa Laorden
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB); Murcia Spain
| | - M. Victoria Milanés
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB); Murcia Spain
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Lee BH, Park TY, Lin E, Li H, Yang CH, Choi KH. Altered Acoustic Startle Reflex, Prepulse Inhibition, and Peripheral Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Morphine Self-Administered Rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 20:383-391. [PMID: 27927738 PMCID: PMC5417055 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies suggested that opiate withdrawal may increase anxiety and disrupt brain-derived neurotrophic factor function, but the effects of i.v. morphine self-administration on these measures remain unclear. METHODS Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with a catheter in the jugular vein. After 1 week of recovery, the animals were allowed to self-administer either i.v. morphine (0.5 mg/kg per infusion, 4 h/d) or saline in the operant conditioning chambers. The acoustic startle reflex and prepulse inhibition were measured at a baseline and on self-administration days 1, 3, 5, and 7 (1- and 3-hour withdrawal). Blood samples were collected on self-administration days 3, 5, and 7 from separate cohorts of animals, and the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and corticosterone were assayed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS Compared with the saline group, the morphine self-administration group showed hyper-locomotor activity and reduced defecation during the self-administration. The morphine self-administration increased acoustic startle reflex at 1-hour but not 3-hour withdrawal from morphine and disrupted prepulse inhibition at 3-hour but not 1-hour withdrawal. The blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were decreased in the morphine self-administration group at self-administration days 3 and 5, while the corticosterone levels remained unchanged throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS The current findings suggest that spontaneous withdrawal from i.v. morphine self-administration may have transient effects on acoustic startle, sensorimotor gating, and peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, and these changes may contribute to the adverse effects of opiate withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bong Hyo Lee
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Lee); Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Lee, Mr Park, Ms Lin, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Mr Park, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Yang); Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Choi)
| | - Thomas Y. Park
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Lee); Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Lee, Mr Park, Ms Lin, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Mr Park, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Yang); Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Choi)
| | - Erica Lin
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Lee); Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Lee, Mr Park, Ms Lin, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Mr Park, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Yang); Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Choi)
| | - He Li
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Lee); Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Lee, Mr Park, Ms Lin, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Mr Park, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Yang); Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Choi)
| | - Chae Ha Yang
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Lee); Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Lee, Mr Park, Ms Lin, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Mr Park, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Yang); Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Choi)
| | - Kwang H. Choi
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Lee); Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Lee, Mr Park, Ms Lin, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Mr Park, Dr Li, and Dr Choi); Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Dr Yang); Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Dr Choi)
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Zhu J, Zhu F, Zhao N, Mu X, Li P, Wang W, Liu J, Ma X. Methylation of glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter modulates morphine dependence and accompanied hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction. J Neurosci Res 2016; 95:1459-1473. [PMID: 27618384 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated that dysfunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis played an important role in morphine dependence. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanism underlying morphine-induced HPA axis dysfunction and morphine dependence remains unclear. In the current study, 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza), an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), was used to examine the effects of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) promoter 17 methylation on chronic morphine-induced HPA axis dysfunction and behavioral changes in rats and the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that chronic but not acute morphine downregulated the expression of nuclear GR protein and GR exon 17 variant mRNA, and upregulated the methylation of GR 17 exon promoter in the hippocampus of rats. Meanwhile, 5-aza per se had no effect on observed molecular and behavior change. In contrast, pretreatment of 5-aza into rat hippocampus reversed chronic morphine-induced hypermethylation of GR 17 promoter and decrease in GR expression. Moreover, pretreatment of 5-aza attenuated chronic morphine-enhanced HPA axis reactivity and the naloxone-precipitated somatic signs in morphine-dependent rats. Our results suggest that chronic morphine induced hypermethylation of GR 17 promoter, which then downregulated the expression of hippocampal GR, and was thus involved in chronic morphine-induced dysfunction of the HPA axis and the modulation of morphine dependence. Moreover, chronic morphine-induced hypermethylation of GR 17 promoter may be at least partially due to the increase in hippocampal DNMT 1 expression and its binding at GR 17 promoter in the rat hippocampus. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhu
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Center for Translational Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Zhao
- Northwest University of Politics and Law School of Police, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Mu
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.,Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Shaanxi Province & Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Pingping Li
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiancang Ma
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
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García-Pérez D, Núñez C, Laorden ML, Milanés MV. Regulation of dopaminergic markers expression in response to acute and chronic morphine and to morphine withdrawal. Addict Biol 2016; 21:374-86. [PMID: 25522207 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is thought to represent a teaching signal and has been implicated in the induction of addictive behaviours. Dysfunction of DA homeostasis leading to high or low DA levels is causally linked to addiction. Previously, it has been proposed that the transcription factors Nurr1 and Pitx3, which are critical for transcription of a set of genes involved in DA metabolism in the mesolimbic pathway, are associated with addiction pathology. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence and Western blotting, we studied the effects of single morphine administration, morphine dependence and withdrawal on the DA markers DA transporters (DAT), vesicular monoamine transporters (VMAT2) and DA 2 receptor subtype (DRD2), DA 1 receptor subtype as well as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and/or nucleus accumbens (NAc). In addition, Nurr1 and Pitx3 expression was also measured. Present data showed a high degree of colocalization of Nurr1 and Pitx3 with TH(+) neurons in the VTA. We found that the increased Nurr1 and/or Pitx3 levels during morphine dependence and in morphine-withdrawn rats were associated to an increase of DAT, VMAT2 and DRD2. Altogether, present data indicate that morphine dependence and withdrawal induced consistent alterations of most of the DA markers, which was correlated with transcription factors involved in the maintenance of DA neurons in drug-reward pathways, suggesting that Nurr1 and Pitx3 regulation might be associated with controlling adaptation to chronic morphine and to morphine withdrawal-induced alterations of DA neurons activity in the mesolimbic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel García-Pérez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Campus de Espinardo; University of Murcia; Spain
- IMIB, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria; Spain
| | - Cristina Núñez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Campus de Espinardo; University of Murcia; Spain
- IMIB, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria; Spain
| | - M. Luisa Laorden
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Campus de Espinardo; University of Murcia; Spain
- IMIB, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria; Spain
| | - M. Victoria Milanés
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Campus de Espinardo; University of Murcia; Spain
- IMIB, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria; Spain
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Abstract
In the face of chronic stress, some individuals can maintain normal function while others go on to develop mental illness. Addiction, affecting one in every twelve people in America, is a substance use disorder long associated with stressful life events and disruptions in the sleep/wake cycle. The circadian and stress response systems have evolved to afford adaptability to environmental changes and allow for maintenance of functional stability, or homeostasis. This mini-review will discuss how circadian rhythms and stress individually affect drug response, affect each other, and how their interactions may regulate reward-related behavior. In particular, we will focus on the interactions between the circadian clock and the regulation of glucocorticoids by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Determining how these two systems act on dopaminergic reward circuitry may not only reveal the basis for vulnerability to addiction, but may also illuminate potential therapeutic targets for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Becker-Krail
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Colleen McClung
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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García-Pérez D, Sáez-Belmonte F, Laorden ML, Núñez C, Milanés MV. Morphine administration modulates expression of Argonaute 2 and dopamine-related transcription factors involved in midbrain dopaminergic neurons function. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 168:1889-901. [PMID: 23215787 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Alterations in transcription factors that regulate the development and maintenance of dopamine (DA) neurons (such as Nurr1 and Pitx3) play an important role in the pathogenesis of addiction diseases. We have examined the effects of acute and chronic morphine and morphine withdrawal on TH expression and activity as well as expression of Nurr1, Pitx3 and Ago2 in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) of the rat. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Rats were injected acutely with morphine and decapitated 1 or 2 h later. Another set of rats were made dependent on morphine by implantation of two morphine pellets. Precipitated withdrawal was induced by injection of naloxone. Ago2, Pitx3, Nurr1, total TH (tTH), TH phosphorylated at Ser31 and at Ser40, and 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and DA determination in the VTA and/or NAc were measured using immunoblotting, HPLC and immunofluorescence. KEY RESULTS Acute morphine produced a marked increase in TH activity and DA turnover in the NAc, concomitantly with increased Nurr1 and Pitx3 expression in the VTA. In contrast, precipitated morphine withdrawal decreased TH activation, TH expression and did not increase DA turnover in the NAc. These effects paralleled decreases in Ago2 expression, which was accompanied by increased Nurr1 and Pitx3, TH activity and normalized TH protein levels in the VTA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The combined decrease in Ago2 and increases in Nurr1 and Pitx3 might represent some of the mechanisms that served to protect against accumbal TH regulation observed in morphine withdrawn rats, which may be critical for DA bioavailability to influence behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- D García-Pérez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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14
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García-Pérez D, López-Bellido R, Hidalgo JM, Rodríguez RE, Laorden ML, Núñez C, Milanés MV. Morphine regulates Argonaute 2 and TH expression and activity but not miR-133b in midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Addict Biol 2015; 20:104-19. [PMID: 23927484 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic changes such as microRNAs (miRs)/Ago2-induced gene silencing represent complex molecular signature that regulate cellular plasticity. Recent studies showed involvement of miRs and Ago2 in drug addiction. In this study, we show that changes in gene expression induced by morphine and morphine withdrawal occur with concomitant epigenetic modifications in the mesolimbic dopaminergic (DA) pathway [ventral tegmental area (VTA)/nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell], which is critically involved in drug-induced dependence. We found that acute or chronic morphine administration as well as morphine withdrawal did not modify miR-133b messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the VTA, whereas Ago2 protein levels were decreased and increased in morphine-dependent rats and after morphine withdrawal, respectively. These changes were paralleled with enhanced and decreased NAc tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein (an early DA marker) in morphine-dependent rats and after withdrawal, respectively. We also observed changes in TH mRNA expression in the VTA that could be related to Ago2-induced translational repression of TH mRNA during morphine withdrawal. However, the VTA number of TH-positive neurons suffered no alterations after the different treatment. Acute morphine administration produced a marked increase in TH activity and DA turnover in the NAc (shell). In contrast, precipitated morphine withdrawal decreased TH activation and did not change DA turnover. These findings provide new information into the possible correlation between Ago2/miRs complex regulation and DA neurons plasticity during opiate addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel García-Pérez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- IMIB (Murcia Institute of Biomedical Investigation); Murcia Spain
| | - Roger López-Bellido
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Institute of Neurosciences; University of Salamanca; Salamanca Spain
| | - Juana M. Hidalgo
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- IMIB (Murcia Institute of Biomedical Investigation); Murcia Spain
| | - Raquel E. Rodríguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Institute of Neurosciences; University of Salamanca; Salamanca Spain
| | - Maria Luisa Laorden
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- IMIB (Murcia Institute of Biomedical Investigation); Murcia Spain
| | - Cristina Núñez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- IMIB (Murcia Institute of Biomedical Investigation); Murcia Spain
| | - Maria Victoria Milanés
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- IMIB (Murcia Institute of Biomedical Investigation); Murcia Spain
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Lasheras MC, Laorden ML, Milanés MV, Núñez C. Corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor mediates the activity of the reward system evoked by morphine-induced conditioned place preference. Neuropharmacology 2014; 95:168-80. [PMID: 25556110 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Different neurotransmitter systems are involved in behavioural and molecular responses to morphine. The brain stress system is activated by acute administration of drugs of abuse, being CRF the main neuropeptide of this circuitry. In this study we have studied the role of CRF1R in the rewarding effects of morphine using the CPP paradigm. For that, animals were treated with a CRF1R antagonist (CP-154,526) or vehicle during 6 days. Thirty min after receiving the antagonist, mice were injected with morphine on the same days that CP-154,526 was administered; another group received saline on the same days that vehicle was administered, and both groups were immediately conditioned. Control animals received vehicle and saline every day. On day 7, animals were tested for morphine-induced CPP. c-Fos, TH and OXA immunohistochemistry, NA turnover (HPLC), and corticosterone plasma concentration (RIA) were evaluated. Administration of a CRF1R antagonist CP-154,526 blocked the morphine-induced CPP and the increased NA turnover in the NAc in morphine-paired mice. CP-154-526 antagonised the enhancement in c-Fos expression evoked by morphine-induced CPP in the VTA and NAc, and the activation of the orexinergic neurons in the LLH. Present work demonstrates that morphine-induced CPP activates different brain areas involved in reward, and points out a critical role of CRF1R in molecular changes involved in morphine-conducted behaviours. Thus, our study supports a therapeutic potential of CRF1R antagonists in addictive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Carmen Lasheras
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain; IMIB (Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Murcia)-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - M Luisa Laorden
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain; IMIB (Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Murcia)-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - M Victoria Milanés
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain; IMIB (Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Murcia)-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Núñez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain; IMIB (Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Murcia)-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.
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16
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Spironolactone decreases the somatic signs of opiate withdrawal by blocking the mineralocorticoid receptors (MR). Toxicology 2014; 326:36-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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17
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Daubert DL, Looney BM, Clifton RR, Cho JN, Scheuer DA. Elevated corticosterone in the dorsal hindbrain increases plasma norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y, and recruits a vasopressin response to stress. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2014; 307:R212-24. [PMID: 24829502 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00326.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Repeated stress and chronically elevated glucocorticoids cause exaggerated cardiovascular responses to novel stress, elevations in baseline blood pressure, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that elevated corticosterone (Cort) within the dorsal hindbrain (DHB) would: 1) enhance arterial pressure and neuroendocrine responses to novel and repeated restraint stress, 2) increase c-Fos expression in regions of the brain involved in sympathetic stimulation during stress, and 3) recruit a vasopressin-mediated blood pressure response to acute stress. Small pellets made of 10% Cort were implanted on the surface of the DHB in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood pressure was measured by radiotelemetry. Cort concentration was increased in the DHB in Cort-treated compared with Sham-treated rats (60 ± 15 vs. 14 ± 2 ng Cort/g of tissue, P < 0.05). DHB Cort significantly increased the integrated arterial pressure response to 60 min of restraint stress on days 6, 13, and 14 following pellet implantation (e.g., 731 ± 170 vs. 1,204 ± 68 mmHg/60 min in Sham- vs. Cort-treated rats, day 6, P < 0.05). Cort also increased baseline blood pressure by day 15 (99 ± 2 vs. 108 ± 3 mmHg for Sham- vs. Cort-treated rats, P < 0.05) and elevated baseline plasma norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y concentrations. Cort significantly enhanced stress-induced c-Fos expression in vasopressin-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and blockade of peripheral vasopressin V1 receptors attenuated the effect of DHB Cort to enhance the blood pressure response to restraint. These data indicate that glucocorticoids act within the DHB to produce some of the adverse cardiovascular consequences of chronic stress, in part, by a peripheral vasopressin-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy L Daubert
- University of Florida, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Benjamin M Looney
- University of Florida, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Rebekah R Clifton
- University of Florida, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Jake N Cho
- University of Florida, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Deborah A Scheuer
- University of Florida, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Gainesville, Florida
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18
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García-Pérez D, López-Bellido R, Rodríguez RE, Laorden ML, Núñez C, Milanés MV. Dysregulation of dopaminergic regulatory mechanisms in the mesolimbic pathway induced by morphine and morphine withdrawal. Brain Struct Funct 2014; 220:1901-19. [PMID: 24706046 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-014-0761-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is thought to represent a teaching signal and has been implicated in the induction of addictive behaviours. Previously, it has been proposed that the transcription factors Nurr1 and Pitx3, which are critical for transcription of a set of genes involved in DA metabolism in the mesolimbic pathway, are associated with addiction pathology. The aim of our study was to investigate abnormalities in the mesolimbic pathway associated with morphine dependence and withdrawal. Using quantitative real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, HPLC and Western blotting, here we studied the effects of single morphine administration, morphine dependence and morphine withdrawal on Nurr1 and Pitx3 expression as well as on the DA marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the turnover of DA in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and/or nucleus accumbens. We showed that the three experimental conditions caused induction of Nurr1 and Pitx3 in the VTA, which correlated with changes in TH expression during chronic morphine administration. Present data also confirmed the colocalization of Nurr1 and Pitx3 with TH-positive neurons in the posterior VTA. Furthermore, during morphine dependence, Nurr1 was detected in the nucleus compartment of VTA TH-positive neurons, whereas Pitx3 was strongly detected in the nucleus of TH-positive neurons after single morphine administration and during morphine withdrawal. The number of TH neurons, number of Nurr1 or Pitx3-positive cells, and the number of TH neurons expressing Nurr1 or Pitx3 were not modified in the subpopulations of DA neurons. Present data provide novel insight into the potential correlation between Nurr1 and Pitx3 and DA neurons plasticity during opiate addiction in the mesolimbic pathway.
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MESH Headings
- 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid/metabolism
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dopamine/genetics
- Dopamine/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Imaging, Three-Dimensional
- Male
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Morphine/pharmacology
- Morphine Dependence/pathology
- Naloxone/pharmacology
- Narcotic Antagonists/pharmacology
- Narcotics/pharmacology
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/genetics
- Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/metabolism
- Ventral Tegmental Area/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel García-Pérez
- Group of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Medical Faculty of Murcia, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
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19
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Acupuncture Stimulation Attenuates Impaired Emotional-Like Behaviors and Activation of the Noradrenergic System during Protracted Abstinence following Chronic Morphine Exposure in Rats. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2014; 2014:216503. [PMID: 24527041 PMCID: PMC3912640 DOI: 10.1155/2014/216503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture stimulation attenuates withdrawal-induced behaviors in the rats during protracted abstinence following chronic morphine exposure. To do this, male rats were first exposed to morphine gradually from 20 to 100 mg/kg for 5 days, and subsequently naloxone was injected once to extend despair-related withdrawal behaviors for 4 weeks. Acupuncture stimulation was performed once at the SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoint on rat's; hind leg for 5 min during protracted abstinence from morphine. The acupuncture stimulation significantly decreased despair-like behavior deficits in the forced swimming test and low sociability in the open-field test as well as increased open-arm exploration in the elevated plus maze test in the last week of 4-week withdrawal period. Also the acupuncture stimulation significantly suppressed the increase in the hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expression, the decrease in the tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the locus coeruleus, and the decrease in the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression, induced by repeated injection of morphine. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the acupuncture stimulation of SP6 significantly reduces withdrawal-induced behaviors, induced by repeated administration of morphine in rats, possibly through the modulation of hypothalamic CRF and the central noradrenergic system.
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20
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Bingham BC, Sheela Rani CS, Frazer A, Strong R, Morilak DA. Exogenous prenatal corticosterone exposure mimics the effects of prenatal stress on adult brain stress response systems and fear extinction behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013; 38:2746-57. [PMID: 23937971 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Revised: 06/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to early-life stress is a risk factor for the development of cognitive and emotional disorders later in life. We previously demonstrated that prenatal stress (PNS) in rats results in long-term, stable changes in central stress-response systems and impairs the ability to extinguish conditioned fear responding, a component of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Maternal corticosterone (CORT), released during prenatal stress, is a possible mediator of these effects. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether fetal exposure to CORT at levels induced by PNS is sufficient to alter the development of adult stress neurobiology and fear extinction behavior. Pregnant dams were subject to either PNS (60 min immobilization/day from ED 14-21) or a daily injection of CORT (10mg/kg), which approximated both fetal and maternal plasma CORT levels elicited during PNS. Control dams were given injections of oil vehicle. Male offspring were allowed to grow to adulthood undisturbed, at which point they were sacrificed and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, hypothalamus, and a section of the rostral pons containing the locus coeruleus (LC) were dissected. PNS and prenatal CORT treatment decreased glucocorticoid receptor protein levels in the mPFC, hippocampus, and hypothalamus when compared to control offspring. Both treatments also decreased tyrosine hydroxylase levels in the LC. Finally, the effect of prenatal CORT exposure on fear extinction behavior was examined following chronic stress. Prenatal CORT impaired both acquisition and recall of cue-conditioned fear extinction. This effect was additive to the impairment induced by previous chronic stress. Thus, these data suggest that fetal exposure to high levels of maternal CORT is responsible for many of the lasting neurobiological consequences of PNS as they relate to the processes underlying extinction of learned fear. The data further suggest that adverse prenatal environments constitute a risk factor for PTSD-like symptomatology, especially when combined with chronic stressors later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Bingham
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
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21
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GAVRILOVIC LJUBICA, STOJILJKOVIC VESNA, KASAPOVIC JELENA, POPOVIC NATASA, PAJOVIC SNEZANAB, DRONJAK SLADJANA. Treadmill exercise does not change gene expression of adrenal catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in chronically stressed rats. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2013; 85:999-1012. [DOI: 10.1590/s0001-37652013005000041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Chronic isolation of adult animals represents a form of psychological stress that produces sympatho-adrenomedullar activation. Exercise training acts as an important modulator of sympatho-adrenomedullary system. This study aimed to investigate physical exercise-related changes in gene expression of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-ß-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding (CREB) in the adrenal medulla, concentrations of catecholamines and corticosterone (CORT) in the plasma and the weight of adrenal glands of chronically psychosocially stressed adult rats exposed daily to 20 min treadmill running for 12 weeks. Also, we examined how additional acute immobilization stress changes the mentioned parameters. Treadmill running did not result in modulation of gene expression of catecholamine synthesizing enzymes and it decreased the level of CREB mRNA in the adrenal medulla of chronically psychosocially stressed adult rats. The potentially negative physiological adaptations after treadmill running were recorded as increased concentrations of catecholamines and decreased morning CORT concentration in the plasma, as well as the adrenal gland hypertrophy of chronically psychosocially stressed rats. The additional acute immobilization stress increases gene expression of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in the adrenal medulla, as well as catecholamines and CORT levels in the plasma. Treadmill exercise does not change the activity of sympatho-adrenomedullary system of chronically psychosocially stressed rats.
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22
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Lee B, Sur B, Yeom M, Shim I, Lee H, Hahm DH. Effect of berberine on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and activation of the noradrenergic system induced by development of morphine dependence in rats. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2012; 16:379-86. [PMID: 23269899 PMCID: PMC3526741 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2012.16.6.379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2012] [Revised: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether berberine (BER) administration could attenuate depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and increase corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression following chronic morphine withdrawal in rats. Male rats were exposed to chronic, intermittent, escalating morphine (10~50 mg/kg) for 10 days. After the last morphine injection, depression- and anxiety-like beahvior associated with morphine discontinuation persisted for at least three days during withdrawal without any change in ambulatory activity. Daily BER administration significantly decreased immobility in the forced swimming test and increased open-arm exploration in the elevated plus maze test. BER administration also significantly blocked the increase in hypothalamic CRF expression and TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and the decrease in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that BER administration significantly reduced morphine withdrawal-associated behaviors following discontinuation of repeated morphine administration in rats, possibly through modulation of hypothalamic CRF and the central noradrenergic system. BER may be a useful agent for treating or alleviating complex withdrawal symptoms and preventing morphine use relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bombi Lee
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
| | - Bongjun Sur
- The Graduate School of Basic Science of Oriental Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
| | - Mijung Yeom
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
| | - Insop Shim
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
- The Graduate School of Basic Science of Oriental Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
| | - Hyejung Lee
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
- The Graduate School of Basic Science of Oriental Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
| | - Dae-Hyun Hahm
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
- The Graduate School of Basic Science of Oriental Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
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Navarro-Zaragoza J, Hidalgo JM, Laorden ML, Milanés MV. Glucocorticoid receptors participate in the opiate withdrawal-induced stimulation of rats NTS noradrenergic activity and in the somatic signs of morphine withdrawal. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 166:2136-47. [PMID: 22364199 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.01918.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent evidence suggests that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a major molecular substrate of addictive properties of drugs of abuse. Hence, we performed a series of experiments to further characterize the role of GR signalling in opiate withdrawal-induced physical signs of dependence, enhanced noradrenaline (NA) turnover in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) phosphorylation (activation) as well as GR expression in the nucleus of the solitary tract noradrenergic cell group (NTS-A₂). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The role of GR signalling was assessed by i.p. pretreatment of the selective GR antagonist, mifepristone. Rats were implanted with two morphine (or placebo) pellets. Six days later, rats were pretreated with mifepristone or vehicle 30 min before naloxone and physical signs of abstinence, NA turnover, TH activation, GR expression and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity were measured using HPLC, immunoblotting and RIA. KEY RESULTS Mifepristone alleviated the somatic signs of naloxone-induced opiate withdrawal. Mifepristone attenuated the increase in the NA metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylen glycol (MHPG), in the PVN, and the enhanced NA turnover observed in morphine-withdrawn rats. Mifepristone antagonized the TH phosphorylation at Ser³¹ and the expression of c-Fos expression induced by morphine withdrawal. Finally, naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal induced up-regulation of GR in the NTS. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest that the physical signs of opiate withdrawal, TH activation and stimulation of noradrenergic pathways innervating the PVN are modulated by GR signalling. Overall, the present data suggest that drugs targeting the GR may ameliorate stress and aversive effects associated with opiate withdrawal.
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García-Pérez D, Laorden ML, Milanés MV, Núñez C. Glucocorticoids regulation of FosB/ΔFosB expression induced by chronic opiate exposure in the brain stress system. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50264. [PMID: 23185589 PMCID: PMC3503985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic use of drugs of abuse profoundly alters stress-responsive system. Repeated exposure to morphine leads to accumulation of the transcription factor ΔFosB, particularly in brain areas associated with reward and stress. The persistent effects of ΔFosB on target genes may play an important role in the plasticity induced by drugs of abuse. Recent evidence suggests that stress-related hormones (e.g., glucocorticoids, GC) may induce adaptations in the brain stress system that is likely to involve alteration in gene expression and transcription factors. This study examined the role of GC in regulation of FosB/ΔFosB in both hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic brain stress systems during morphine dependence. For that, expression of FosB/ΔFosB was measured in control (sham-operated) and adrenalectomized (ADX) rats that were made opiate dependent after ten days of morphine treatment. In sham-operated rats, FosB/ΔFosB was induced after chronic morphine administration in all the brain stress areas investigated: nucleus accumbens(shell) (NAc), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), central amygdala (CeA), hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and nucleus of the solitary tract noradrenergic cell group (NTS-A(2)). Adrenalectomy attenuated the increased production of FosB/ΔFosB observed after chronic morphine exposure in NAc, CeA, and NTS. Furthermore, ADX decreased expression of FosB/ΔFosB within CRH-positive neurons of the BNST, PVN and CeA. Similar results were obtained in NTS-A(2) TH-positive neurons and NAc pro-dynorphin-positive neurons. These data suggest that neuroadaptation (estimated as accumulation of FosB/ΔFosB) to opiates in brain areas associated with stress is modulated by GC, supporting the evidence of a link between brain stress hormones and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel García-Pérez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
| | - M. Luisa Laorden
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
| | - M. Victoria Milanés
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Núñez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
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Almela P, Navarro-Zaragoza J, García-Carmona JA, Mora L, Hidalgo J, Milanés MV, Laorden ML. Role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor-1 on the catecholaminergic response to morphine withdrawal in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). PLoS One 2012; 7:e47089. [PMID: 23071721 PMCID: PMC3468529 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress induces the release of the peptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and also increases dopamine (DA) levels in brain regions receiving dense VTA input. Since the role of stress in drug addiction is well established, the present study examined the possible involvement of CRF1 receptor in the interaction between morphine withdrawal and catecholaminergic pathways in the reward system. The effects of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal on signs of withdrawal, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity, dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) turnover in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and activation of VTA dopaminergic neurons, were investigated in rats pretreated with vehicle or CP-154,526 (selective CRF1R antagonist). CP-154,526 attenuated the increases in body weight loss and suppressed some of withdrawal signs. Pretreatment with CRF1 receptor antagonist resulted in no significant modification of the increased NA turnover at NAc or plasma corticosterone levels that were seen during morphine withdrawal. However, blockade of CRF1 receptor significantly reduced morphine withdrawal-induced increases in plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels, DA turnover and TH phosphorylation at Ser40 in the NAc. In addition, CP-154,526 reduced the number of TH containing neurons expressing c-Fos in the VTA after naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Altogether, these results support the idea that VTA dopaminergic neurons are activated in response to naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal and suggest that CRF1 receptors are involved in the activation of dopaminergic pathways which project to NAc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Almela
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | | | - Lucía Mora
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juana Hidalgo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - María-Victoria Milanés
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - María-Luisa Laorden
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Gómez-Milanés I, Almela P, García-Carmona JA, Salud García-Gutiérrez M, Aracil-Fernández A, Manzanares J, Victoria Milanés Maquilón M, Luisa Laorden M. Accumbal dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin activity after naloxone-conditioned place aversion in morphine-dependent mice. Neurochem Int 2012; 61:433-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2012.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2011] [Revised: 06/04/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Martínez-Laorden E, Hurle MA, Milanés MV, Laorden ML, Almela P. Morphine withdrawal activates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and heat shock protein 27 in the left ventricle: the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2012; 342:665-75. [PMID: 22647273 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.112.193581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The negative affective states of withdrawal involve the recruitment of brain and peripheral stress circuitry [e.g., noradrenergic activity, induction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, and the expression and activation of heat shock proteins (Hsps)]. The present study investigated the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and β-adrenoceptor on the response of stress systems to morphine withdrawal by the administration of [amino[(4-aminophenyl)thio]methylene]-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzeneacetonitrile (SL327), a selective inhibitor of ERK activation, or propranolol (a β-adrenoceptor antagonist). Dependence on morphine was induced by a 7-day subcutaneous implantation of morphine pellets. Morphine withdrawal was precipitated on day 8 by the injection of naloxone (2 mg/kg s.c.). Plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone were determined by radioimmunoassay; noradrenaline (NA) turnover in left ventricle was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography; and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) and Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation at Ser82 were determined by quantitative blot immunolabeling. Morphine-withdrawn rats showed an increase of NA turnover and COMT expression in parallel with an enhancement of adrenocorticotropin and plasma corticosterone concentrations. In addition, we observed an enhancement of Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation. Pretreatment with SL327 or propranolol significantly reduced morphine withdrawal-induced increases of plasma adrenocorticotropin and Hsp27 phosphorylation at Ser82 without any changes in plasma corticosterone levels. The present findings demonstrate that morphine withdrawal is capable of inducing the activation of HPA axis in parallel with an enhancement of Hsp27 expression and Hsp27 phosphorylation at Ser82 and suggest a role for β-adrenoceptors and ERK pathways in mediating morphine-withdrawal activation of the HPA axis and cellular stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Martínez-Laorden
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Laorden ML, Ferenczi S, Pintér-Kübler B, González-Martín LL, Lasheras MC, Kovács KJ, Milanés MV, Núñez C. Hypothalamic orexin--a neurons are involved in the response of the brain stress system to morphine withdrawal. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36871. [PMID: 22590628 PMCID: PMC3348891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the extrahypothalamic brain stress system are key elements of the neural circuitry that regulates the negative states during abstinence from chronic drug exposure. Orexins have recently been hypothesized to modulate the extended amygdala and to contribute to the negative emotional state associated with dependence. This study examined the impact of chronic morphine and withdrawal on the lateral hypothalamic (LH) orexin A (OXA) gene expression and activity as well as OXA involvement in the brain stress response to morphine abstinence. Male Wistar rats received chronic morphine followed by naloxone to precipitate withdrawal. The selective OX1R antagonist SB334867 was used to examine whether orexins' activity is related to somatic symptoms of opiate withdrawal and alterations in HPA axis and extended amygdala in rats dependent on morphine. OXA mRNA was induced in the hypothalamus during morphine withdrawal, which was accompanied by activation of OXA neurons in the LH. Importantly, SB334867 attenuated the somatic symptoms of withdrawal, and reduced morphine withdrawal-induced c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, central amygdala and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, but did not modify the HPA axis activity. These results highlight a critical role of OXA signalling, via OX1R, in activation of brain stress system to morphine withdrawal and suggest that all orexinergic subpopulations in the lateral hypothalamic area contribute in this response.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Luisa Laorden
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Szilamér Ferenczi
- Molecular Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bernadett Pintér-Kübler
- Molecular Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laura L. González-Martín
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - M. Carmen Lasheras
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Krisztina J. Kovács
- Molecular Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - M. Victoria Milanés
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Cristina Núñez
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
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Martín F, Núñez C, Marín MT, Laorden ML, Kovács KJ, Milanés MV. Involvement of noradrenergic transmission in the PVN on CREB activation, TORC1 levels, and pituitary-adrenal axis activity during morphine withdrawal. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31119. [PMID: 22355339 PMCID: PMC3280277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2011] [Accepted: 01/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental and clinical findings have shown that administration of adrenoceptor antagonists alleviated different aspects of drug withdrawal and dependence. The present study tested the hypothesis that changes in CREB activation and phosphorylated TORC1 levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) after naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal as well as the HPA axis activity arises from α1- and/or β-adrenoceptor activation. The effects of morphine dependence and withdrawal on CREB phosphorylation (pCREB), phosphorylated TORC1 (pTORC1), and HPA axis response were measured by Western-blot, immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay in rats pretreated with prazosin (α1-adrenoceptor antagonist) or propranolol (β-adrenoceptor antagonist). In addition, the effects of morphine withdrawal on MHPG (the main NA metabolite at the central nervous system) and NA content and turnover were evaluated by HPLC. We found an increase in MHPG and NA turnover in morphine-withdrawn rats, which were accompanied by increased pCREB immunoreactivity and plasma corticosterone concentrations. Levels of the inactive form of TORC1 (pTORC1) were decreased during withdrawal. Prazosin but not propranolol blocked the rise in pCREB level and the decrease in pTORC1 immunoreactivity. In addition, the HPA axis response to morphine withdrawal was attenuated in prazosin-pretreated rats. Present results suggest that, during acute morphine withdrawal, NA may control the HPA axis activity through CREB activation at the PVN level. We concluded that the combined increase in CREB phosphorylation and decrease in pTORC1 levels might represent, in part, two of the mechanisms of CREB activation at the PVN during morphine withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Martín
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Núñez
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - M. Teresa Marín
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - M. Luisa Laorden
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Krisztina J. Kovács
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - M. Victoria Milanés
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Stettner GM, Fenik VB, Kubin L. Effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia on noradrenergic activation of hypoglossal motoneurons. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2012; 112:305-12. [PMID: 22016369 PMCID: PMC3349609 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00697.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 10/17/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In obstructive sleep apnea patients, elevated activity of the lingual muscles during wakefulness protects the upper airway against occlusions. A possibly related form of respiratory neuroplasticity is present in rats exposed to acute and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Since rats exposed to CIH have increased density of noradrenergic terminals and increased α(1)-adrenoceptor immunoreactivity in the hypoglossal (XII) nucleus, we investigated whether these anatomic indexes of increased noradrenergic innervation translate to increased sensitivity of XII motoneurons to noradrenergic activation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to CIH for 35 days, with O(2) level varying between 24% and 7% with 180-s period for 10 h/day. They were then anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated. The dorsal medulla was exposed, and phenylephrine (2 mM, 10 nl) and then the α(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.2 mM, 3 × 40 nl) were microinjected into the XII nucleus while XII nerve activity (XIIa) was recorded. The area under integrated XIIa was measured before and at different times after microinjections. The excitatory effect of phenylephrine on XII motoneurons was similar in sham- and CIH-treated rats. In contrast, spontaneous XIIa was more profoundly reduced following prazosin injections in CIH- than sham-treated rats [to 21 ± 7% (SE) vs. 40 ± 8% of baseline, P < 0.05] without significant changes in central respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, or heart rate. Thus, consistent with increased neuroanatomic measures of noradrenergic innervation of XII motoneurons following exposure to CIH, prazosin injections revealed a stronger endogenous noradrenergic excitatory drive to XII motoneurons in CIH- than sham-treated anesthetized rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg M Stettner
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6046, USA.
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Martín F, Mora L, Laorden M, Milanés M. Protein kinase C phosphorylates the cAMP response element binding protein in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus during morphine withdrawal. Br J Pharmacol 2011; 163:857-75. [PMID: 21615389 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01287.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Exposure to drugs of abuse or stress results in adaptation in the brain involving changes in gene expression and transcription factors. Morphine withdrawal modulates gene expression through various second-messenger signal transduction systems. Here, we investigated changes in activation of the transcription factor, cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the kinases that may mediate the morphine withdrawal-triggered activation of CREB and the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis after naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of morphine dependence and withdrawal, phosphorylated CREB (pCREB), corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) expression in the PVN and HPA axis activity were measured using immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay in controls and in morphine-dependent rats, withdrawn with naloxone and pretreated with vehicle, calphostin C, chelerythrine (inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) or SL-327 [inhibitor of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) kinase]. In addition, changes in PKCα and PKCγ immunoreactivity were measured after 60 min of withdrawal. KEY RESULTS In morphine-withdrawn rats, pCREB immunoreactivity was increased within CRF immunoreactive neurons in the PVN and plasma corticosterone levels were raised. SL-327, at doses that reduced the augmented pERK levels in the PVN, did not attenuate the rise in pCREB immunoreactivity or plasma corticosterone secretion. In contrast, PKC inhibition reduced the withdrawal-triggered rise in pCREB, pERK1/2 and corticosterone secretion. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS PKC mediated, in part, both CREB activation and the HPA response to morphine withdrawal. The ERK kinase/ERK pathway might not be necessary for either activation of CREB or HPA axis hyperactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Martín
- Group of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain
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Das S, Kelschenbach J, Charboneau R, Barke RA, Roy S. Morphine withdrawal stress modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 12 p40 (IL-12p40) expression by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, which is further potentiated by glucocorticoids. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:29806-17. [PMID: 21730055 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.271460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Withdrawal stress is a common occurrence in opioid users, yet very few studies have examined the effects of morphine withdrawal (MW) on immune functioning or the role of glucocorticoids in MW-induced immunomodulation. This study investigated for the first time the role of glucocorticoids in MW modulation of LPS-induced IL-12p40, a key cytokine playing a pivotal role in immunoprotection. Using WT and μ-opioid receptor knock-out mice, we show that MW in vivo significantly attenuated LPS-induced IL-12p40 mRNA and protein expression. The role of glucocorticoids in MW modulation of IL-12p40 was investigated using a murine macrophage cell line, CRL2019, in an in vitro MW model. Interestingly, MW alone in the absence of glucocorticoids resulted in a significant reduction in IL-12p40 promoter activity and mRNA and protein expression. EMSA revealed a concurrent decrease in consensus binding to transcription factors NFκB, Activator Protein-1, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein and Western blot analysis demonstrated a significant activation of LPS-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Interestingly, although glucocorticoid treatment alone also modulated these transcription factors and ERK1/2 activation, the addition of glucocorticoids to MW samples resulted in a greater than additive reduction in the transcription factors and significant hyperactivation of LPS-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. ERK inhibitors reversed MW and MW plus corticosterone inhibition of LPS-induced IL-12p40. The potentiating effects of glucocorticoids were non-genomic because nuclear translocation of glucocorticoid receptor was not significantly different between MW and corticosterone treatment. This study demonstrates for the first time that MW and glucocorticoids independently modulate IL-12p40 production through a mechanism involving ERK1/2 hyperactivation and that glucocorticoids can significantly augment MW-induced inhibition of IL-12p40.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhas Das
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
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Navarro-Zaragoza J, Núñez C, Ruiz-Medina J, Laorden ML, Valverde O, Milanés MV. CRF₂ mediates the increased noradrenergic activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and the negative state of morphine withdrawal in rats. Br J Pharmacol 2011; 162:851-62. [PMID: 20973778 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01090.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent evidence suggests that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor signalling is involved in modulating the negative symptoms of opiate withdrawal. In this study, a series of experiments were performed to further characterize the role of CRF-type 2 receptor (CRF₂) signalling in opiate withdrawal-induced physical signs of dependence, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation, enhanced noradrenaline (NA) turnover in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) phosphorylation (activation), as well as CRF₂ expression in the nucleus of the solitary tract-A₂ noradrenergic cell group (NTS-A₂). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The contribution of CRF₂ signalling in opiate withdrawal was assessed by i.c.v. infusion of the selective CRF₂ antagonist, antisauvagine-30 (AS-30). Rats were implanted with two morphine (or placebo) pellets. Six days later, rats were pretreated with AS-30 or saline 10 min before naloxone and the physical signs of abstinence, the HPA axis activity, NA turnover, TH activation and CRF₂ expression were measured using immunoblotting, RIA, HPLC and immunohistochemistry. KEY RESULTS Rats pretreated with AS-30 showed decreased levels of somatic signs of naloxone-induced opiate withdrawal, but the corticosterone response was not modified. AS-30 attenuated the increased production of the NA metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, as well as the enhanced NA turnover observed in morphine-withdrawn rats. Finally, AS-30 antagonized the TH phosphorylation at Serine40 induced by morphine withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest that physical signs of opiate withdrawal, TH activation and stimulation of noradrenergic pathways innervating the PVN are modulated by CRF₂ signalling. Furthermore, they indicate a marginal role for the HPA axis in CRF₂-mediation of opiate withdrawal.
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Aumann TD, Egan K, Lim J, Boon WC, Bye CR, Chua HK, Baban N, Parish CL, Bobrovskaya L, Dickson P, Horne MK. Neuronal activity regulates expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in adult mouse substantia nigra pars compacta neurons. J Neurochem 2011; 116:646-58. [PMID: 21166807 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.07151.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Striatal delivery of dopamine (DA) by midbrain substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) neurons is vital for motor control and its depletion causes the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. While membrane potential changes or neuronal activity regulates tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, the rate limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis) expression in other catecholaminergic cells, it is not known whether the same occurs in adult SNc neurons. We administered drugs known to alter neuronal activity to mouse SNc DAergic neurons in various experimental preparations and measured changes in their TH expression. In cultured midbrain neurons, blockade of action potentials with 1 μM tetrodotoxin decreased TH expression beginning around 20 h later (as measured in real time by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression driven off TH promoter activity). By contrast, partial blockade of small-conductance, Ca(2+) -activated potassium channels with 300 nM apamin increased TH mRNA and protein between 12 and 24 h later in slices of adult midbrain. Two-week infusions of 300 nM apamin directly to the adult mouse midbrain in vivo also increased TH expression in SNc neurons, measured immunohistochemically. Paradoxically, the number of TH immunoreactive (TH+) SNc neurons decreased in these animals. Similar in vivo infusions of drugs affecting other ion-channels and receptors (L-type voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels, GABA(A) receptors, high K(+) , DA receptors) also increased or decreased cellular TH immunoreactivity but decreased or increased, respectively, the number of TH+ cells in SNc. We conclude that in adult SNc neurons: (i) TH expression is activity-dependent and begins to change ∼20 h following sustained changes in neuronal activity; (ii) ion-channels and receptors mediating cell-autonomous activity or synaptic input are equally potent in altering TH expression; and (iii) activity-dependent changes in TH expression are balanced by opposing changes in the number of TH+ SNc cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim D Aumann
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Rinaman L. Hindbrain noradrenergic A2 neurons: diverse roles in autonomic, endocrine, cognitive, and behavioral functions. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2010; 300:R222-35. [PMID: 20962208 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00556.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Central noradrenergic (NA) signaling is broadly implicated in behavioral and physiological processes related to attention, arousal, motivation, learning and memory, and homeostasis. This review focuses on the A2 cell group of NA neurons, located within the hindbrain dorsal vagal complex (DVC). The intra-DVC location of A2 neurons supports their role in vagal sensory-motor reflex arcs and visceral motor outflow. A2 neurons also are reciprocally connected with multiple brain stem, hypothalamic, and limbic forebrain regions. The extra-DVC connections of A2 neurons provide a route through which emotional and cognitive events can modulate visceral motor outflow and also a route through which interoceptive feedback from the body can impact hypothalamic functions as well as emotional and cognitive processing. This review considers some of the hallmark anatomical and chemical features of A2 neurons, followed by presentation of evidence supporting a role for A2 neurons in modulating food intake, affective behavior, behavioral and physiological stress responses, emotional learning, and drug dependence. Increased knowledge about the organization and function of the A2 cell group and the neural circuits in which A2 neurons participate should contribute to a better understanding of how the brain orchestrates adaptive responses to the various threats and opportunities of life and should further reveal the central underpinnings of stress-related physiological and emotional dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Rinaman
- Dept. of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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Núñez C, Martín F, Földes A, Luisa Laorden M, Kovács KJ, Victoria Milanés M. Induction of FosB/DeltaFosB in the brain stress system-related structures during morphine dependence and withdrawal. J Neurochem 2010; 114:475-87. [PMID: 20438612 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06765.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor DeltaFosB is induced in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) by drugs of abuse. This study was designed to evaluate the possible modifications in FosB/DeltaFosB expression in both hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic brain stress system during morphine dependence and withdrawal. Rats were made dependent on morphine and, on day 8, were injected with saline or naloxone. Using immunohistochemistry and western blot, the expression of FosB/DeltaFosB, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and pro-dynorphin (DYN) was measured in different nuclei from the brain stress system in morphine-dependent rats and after morphine withdrawal. Additionally, we studied the expression of FosB/DeltaFosB in CRF-, TH- and DYN-positive neurons. FosB/DeltaFosB was induced after chronic morphine administration in the parvocellular part of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), NAc-shell, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, central amygdala and A(2) noradrenergic part of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS-A(2)). Morphine dependence and withdrawal evoked an increase in FosB/DeltaFosB-TH and FosB/DeltaFosB-CRF double labelling in NTS-A(2) and PVN, respectively, besides an increase in TH levels in NTS-A(2) and CRF expression in PVN. These data indicate that neuroadaptation to addictive substances, observed as accumulation of FosB/DeltaFosB, is not limited to the reward circuits but may also manifest in other brain regions, such as the brain stress system, which have been proposed to be directly related to addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Núñez
- Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain.
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Navarro-Zaragoza J, Núñez C, Laorden ML, Milanés MV. Effects of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor-1 antagonists on the brain stress system responses to morphine withdrawal. Mol Pharmacol 2010; 77:864-73. [PMID: 20159948 DOI: 10.1124/mol.109.062463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of stress in drug addiction is well established. The negative affective states of withdrawal most probably involve recruitment of brain stress neurocircuitry [e.g., induction of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, noradrenergic activity, and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) activity]. The present study investigated t$he role of CRF receptor-1 subtype (CRF1R) on the response of brain stress system to morphine withdrawal. The effects of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal on noradrenaline (NA) turnover in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), HPA axis activity, signs of withdrawal, and c-Fos expression were measured in rats pretreated with vehicle, CP-154526 [N-butyl-N-ethyl-2,5-dimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)pyrrolo[3,2-e]pyrimidin-4-amine], or antalarmin (selective CRF1R antagonists). Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons expressing CRF1R were seen at the level of the nucleus tractus solitarius-A(2) cell group in both control and morphine-withdrawn rats. CP-154526 and antalarmin attenuated the increases in body weight loss and irritability that were seen during naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal. Pretreatment with CRF1R antagonists resulted in no significant modification of the increased NA turnover at PVN, plasma corticosterone levels, or c-Fos expression that was seen during naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal. However, blockade of CRF1R significantly reduced morphine withdrawal-induced increases in plasma adrenocorticotropin levels. These results suggest that the CRF1R subtype may be involved in the behavioral and somatic signs and in adrenocorticotropin release (partially) during morphine withdrawal. However, CRF1R activation may not contribute to the functional interaction between NA and CRF systems in mediating morphine withdrawal-activation of brain stress neurocircuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Navarro-Zaragoza
- Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Martín F, Laorden ML, Milanés MV. Morphine withdrawal regulates phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) through PKC in the nucleus tractus solitarius-A2 catecholaminergic neurons. J Neurochem 2009; 110:1422-32. [PMID: 19545278 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06234.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) has been implicated in the actions of drugs of abuse in several brain areas. However, little is known about CREB regulation in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS)-A(2) catecholaminergic cell group, one of the key regions of the brain stress system. Morphine withdrawal modulates gene expression in the NTS through various second-messenger signal transduction systems including activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK(1/2)) and protein kinase C (PKC). In the current study we used immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry to investigate changes in CREB phosphorylation in the NTS and kinases that may mediate the morphine withdrawal-triggered activation of CREB and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis (another stress system circuit) response after naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal. We found an increased phosphorylation of CREB (pCREB) selectively within tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons in the NTS from morphine-withdrawn rats, which parallel elevated corticosterone levels. We also measured expression levels of TH and phosphorylated ERK(1/2) (pERK(1/2)), and found that both are up-regulated following morphine withdrawal. SL327, an inhibitor of ERK activation, at doses which reduced the hyperactive pERK(1/2) levels, did not attenuated the rise in pCREB and TH immunoreactivity or plasma corticosterone secretion during morphine withdrawal, indicating that ERK kinase/ERK pathway was not directly needed for either activation of CREB and TH expression in the NTS or HPA axis hyperactivity. In contrast, PKC inhibitor calphostin C reduced the withdrawal-triggered rise in pCREB, pERK(1/2), TH expression and corticosterone secretion. The results indicate that PKC mediates both CREB activation and HPA response by morphine withdrawal and might suggest that CREB activation in the NTS is related to TH expression associated with morphine withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Martín
- Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia 30100, Spain
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