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Szabó D, Franke V, Bianco S, Batiuk MY, Paul EJ, Kukalev A, Pfisterer UG, Irastorza-Azcarate I, Chiariello AM, Demharter S, Zea-Redondo L, Lopez-Atalaya JP, Nicodemi M, Akalin A, Khodosevich K, Ungless MA, Winick-Ng W, Pombo A. A single dose of cocaine rewires the 3D genome structure of midbrain dopamine neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.10.593308. [PMID: 38766140 PMCID: PMC11100777 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.10.593308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine neurons (DNs) respond to a first exposure to addictive drugs and play key roles in chronic drug usage1-3. As the synaptic and transcriptional changes that follow an acute cocaine exposure are mostly resolved within a few days4,5, the molecular changes that encode the long-term cellular memory of the exposure within DNs remain unknown. To investigate whether a single cocaine exposure induces long-term changes in the 3D genome structure of DNs, we applied Genome Architecture Mapping and single nucleus transcriptomic analyses in the mouse midbrain. We found extensive rewiring of 3D genome architecture at 24 hours past exposure which remains or worsens by 14 days, outlasting transcriptional responses. The cocaine-induced chromatin rewiring occurs at all genomic scales and affects genes with major roles in cocaine-induced synaptic changes. A single cocaine exposure triggers extensive long-lasting changes in chromatin condensation in post-synaptic and post-transcriptional regulatory genes, for example the unfolding of Rbfox1 which becomes most prominent 14 days post exposure. Finally, structurally remodeled genes are most expressed in a specific DN sub-type characterized by low expression of the dopamine auto-receptor Drd2, a key feature of highly cocaine-sensitive cells. These results reveal an important role for long-lasting 3D genome remodelling in the cellular memory of a single cocaine exposure, providing new hypotheses for understanding the inception of drug addiction and 3D genome plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Szabó
- Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Architecture Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vedran Franke
- Bioinformatics & Omics Data Science platform, Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simona Bianco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Mykhailo Y. Batiuk
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Eleanor J. Paul
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), London W12 0HS, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Alexander Kukalev
- Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Architecture Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich G. Pfisterer
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Ibai Irastorza-Azcarate
- Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Architecture Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea M. Chiariello
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Samuel Demharter
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Luna Zea-Redondo
- Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Architecture Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jose P. Lopez-Atalaya
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), 03550, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Mario Nicodemi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Berlin Institute of Health, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Altuna Akalin
- Bioinformatics & Omics Data Science platform, Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Konstantin Khodosevich
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Mark A. Ungless
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), London W12 0HS, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Warren Winick-Ng
- Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Architecture Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ana Pombo
- Max-Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Architecture Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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Mitra A, Deats SP, Dickson PE, Zhu J, Gardin J, Nieman BJ, Henkelman RM, Tsai NP, Chesler EJ, Zhang ZW, Kumar V. Tmod2 Is a Regulator of Cocaine Responses through Control of Striatal and Cortical Excitability and Drug-Induced Plasticity. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1389232024. [PMID: 38508714 PMCID: PMC11063827 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1389-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Drugs of abuse induce neuroadaptations, including synaptic plasticity, that are critical for transition to addiction, and genes and pathways that regulate these neuroadaptations are potential therapeutic targets. Tropomodulin 2 (Tmod2) is an actin-regulating gene that plays an important role in synapse maturation and dendritic arborization and has been implicated in substance abuse and intellectual disability in humans. Here, we mine the KOMP2 data and find that Tmod2 knock-out mice show emotionality phenotypes that are predictive of addiction vulnerability. Detailed addiction phenotyping shows that Tmod2 deletion does not affect the acute locomotor response to cocaine administration. However, sensitized locomotor responses are highly attenuated in these knock-outs, indicating perturbed drug-induced plasticity. In addition, Tmod2 mutant animals do not self-administer cocaine indicating lack of hedonic responses to cocaine. Whole-brain MR imaging shows differences in brain volume across multiple regions, although transcriptomic experiments did not reveal perturbations in gene coexpression networks. Detailed electrophysiological characterization of Tmod2 KO neurons showed increased spontaneous firing rate of early postnatal and adult cortical and striatal neurons. Cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity that is critical for sensitization is either missing or reciprocal in Tmod2 KO nucleus accumbens shell medium spiny neurons, providing a mechanistic explanation of the cocaine response phenotypes. Combined, these data, collected from both males and females, provide compelling evidence that Tmod2 is a major regulator of plasticity in the mesolimbic system and regulates the reinforcing and addictive properties of cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jiuhe Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | | | - Brian J Nieman
- Mouse Imaging Centre and Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - R Mark Henkelman
- Mouse Imaging Centre and Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Nien-Pei Tsai
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | | | | | - Vivek Kumar
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
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Hoisington ZW, Salvi A, Laguesse S, Ehinger Y, Shukla C, Phamluong K, Ron D. The small G-protein Rac1 in the dorsomedial striatum promotes alcohol-dependent structural plasticity and goal-directed learning in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.30.555562. [PMID: 37693512 PMCID: PMC10491244 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.555562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The small G-protein Rac1 promotes the formation of filamentous actin (F-Actin). Actin is a major component of dendritic spines, and we previously found that alcohol alters actin composition and dendritic spine structure in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). To examine if Rac1 contributes to these alcohol-mediated adaptations, we measured the level of GTP-bound active Rac1 in the striatum of mice following 7 weeks of intermittent access to 20% alcohol. We found that chronic alcohol intake activates Rac1 in the DMS of male mice. In contrast, Rac1 is not activated by alcohol in the NAc and DLS of male mice, or in the DMS of female mice. Similarly, closely related small G-proteins are not activated by alcohol in the DMS, and Rac1 activity is not increased in the DMS by moderate alcohol or natural reward. To determine the consequences of alcohol-dependent Rac1 activation in the DMS of male mice, we inhibited endogenous Rac1 by infecting the DMS of mice with an AAV expressing a dominant negative form of the small G-protein (Rac1-DN). We found that overexpression of AAV-Rac1-DN in the DMS inhibits alcohol-mediated Rac1 signaling and attenuates alcohol-mediated F-actin polymerization, which corresponded with a decrease in dendritic arborization and spine maturation. Finally, we provide evidence to suggest that Rac1 in the DMS plays a role in alcohol-associated goal-directed learning. Together, our data suggest that Rac1 in the DMS plays an important role in alcohol-dependent structural plasticity and aberrant learning. Significance Statement Addiction, including alcohol use disorder, is characterized by molecular and cellular adaptations that promote maladaptive behaviors. We found that Rac1 was activated by alcohol in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) of male mice. We show that alcohol-mediated Rac1 signaling is responsible for alterations in actin dynamics and neuronal morphology. We also present data to suggest that Rac1 is important for alcohol-associated learning processes. These results suggest that Rac1 in the DMS is an important contributor to adaptations that promote alcohol use disorder.
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Pandey S, Miller CA. Targeting the cytoskeleton as a therapeutic approach to substance use disorders. Pharmacol Res 2024; 202:107143. [PMID: 38499081 PMCID: PMC11034636 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUD) are chronic relapsing disorders governed by continually shifting cycles of positive drug reward experiences and drug withdrawal-induced negative experiences. A large body of research points to plasticity within systems regulating emotional, motivational, and cognitive processes as drivers of continued compulsive pursuit and consumption of substances despite negative consequences. This plasticity is observed at all levels of analysis from molecules to networks, providing multiple avenues for intervention in SUD. The cytoskeleton and its regulatory proteins within neurons and glia are fundamental to the structural and functional integrity of brain processes and are potentially the major drivers of the morphological and behavioral plasticity associated with substance use. In this review, we discuss preclinical studies that provide support for targeting the brain cytoskeleton as a therapeutic approach to SUD. We focus on the interplay between actin cytoskeleton dynamics and exposure to cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, opioids, and nicotine and highlight preclinical studies pointing to a wide range of potential therapeutic targets, such as nonmuscle myosin II, Rac1, cofilin, prosapip 1, and drebrin. These studies broaden our understanding of substance-induced plasticity driving behaviors associated with SUD and provide new research directions for the development of SUD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya Pandey
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, United States; Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, United States
| | - Courtney A Miller
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, United States; Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, United States.
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5
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Elhadi K, Daiwile AP, Cadet JL. Modeling methamphetamine use disorder and relapse in animals: short- and long-term epigenetic, transcriptional., and biochemical consequences in the rat brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105440. [PMID: 38707245 PMCID: PMC11068368 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by binge drug taking episodes, intervals of abstinence, and relapses to drug use even during treatment. MUD has been modeled in rodents and investigators are attempting to identify its molecular bases. Preclinical experiments have shown that different schedules of methamphetamine self-administration can cause diverse transcriptional changes in the dorsal striatum of Sprague-Dawley rats. In the present review, we present data on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in the rat striatum following methamphetamine intake. These include genes involved in transcription regulation, potassium channel function, and neuroinflammation. We then use the striatal data to discuss the potential significance of the molecular changes induced by methamphetamine by reviewing concordant or discordant data from the literature. This review identified potential molecular targets for pharmacological interventions. Nevertheless, there is a need for more research on methamphetamine-induced transcriptional consequences in various brain regions. These data should provide a more detailed neuroanatomical map of methamphetamine-induced changes and should better inform therapeutic interventions against MUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Elhadi
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224
| | - Atul P. Daiwile
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224
| | - Jean Lud Cadet
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224
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Zhou F, Ouyang L, Li Q, Yang S, Liu S, Yu H, Jia Q, Rao S, Xie J, Du G, Feng C, Fan G. Hippocampal LIMK1-mediated Structural Synaptic Plasticity in Neurobehavioral Deficits Induced by a Low-dose Heavy Metal Mixture. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6029-6042. [PMID: 37407880 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03458-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Humans are commonly exposed to the representative neurotoxic heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). These three substances can be detected simultaneously in the blood of the general population. We have previously shown that a low-dose mixture of these heavy metals induces rat learning and memory impairment at human exposure levels, but the pathogenic mechanism is still unclear. LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1) plays a critical role in orchestrating synaptic plasticity during brain function and dysfunction. Hence, we investigated the role of LIMK1 activity in low-dose heavy metal mixture-induced neurobehavioral deficits and structural synaptic plasticity disorders. Our results showed that heavy metal mixture exposure altered rat fear responses and spatial learning at general population exposure levels and that these alterations were accompanied by downregulation of LIMK1 phosphorylation and structural synaptic plasticity dysfunction in rat hippocampal tissues and cultured hippocampal neurons. In addition, upregulation of LIMK1 phosphorylation attenuated heavy metal mixture-induced structural synaptic plasticity, dendritic actin dynamics, and cofilin phosphorylation damage. The potent LIMK1 inhibitor BMS-5 yielded similar results induced by heavy metal mixture exposure and aggravated these impairments. Our findings demonstrate that LIMK1 plays a crucial role in neurobehavioral deficits induced by low-dose heavy metal mixture exposure by suppressing structural synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fankun Zhou
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Lu Ouyang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Sisi Liu
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Han Yu
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qiyue Jia
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Shaoqi Rao
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Jie Xie
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Guihua Du
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Chang Feng
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Guangqin Fan
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, BaYi Road 461, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China.
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China.
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7
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Zhou F, Ouyang L, Xie J, Liu S, Li Q, Yang S, Li J, Su R, Rao S, Yan L, Wan X, Cheng H, Liu P, Li L, Zhu Y, Du G, Feng C, Fan G. Co-exposure to low-dose lead, cadmium, and mercury promotes memory deficits in rats: Insights from the dynamics of dendritic spine pruning in brain development. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115425. [PMID: 37660527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) are environmentally toxic heavy metals that can be simultaneously detected at low levels in the blood of the general population. Although our previous studies have demonstrated neurodevelopmental toxicity upon co-exposure to these heavy metals at these low levels, the precise mechanisms remain largely unknown. Dendritic spines are the structural foundation of memory and undergo significant dynamic changes during development. This study focused on the dynamics of dendritic spines during brain development following Pb, Cd, and Hg co-exposure-induced memory impairment. First, the dynamic characteristics of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex were observed throughout the life cycle of normal rats. We observed that dendritic spines increased rapidly from birth to their peak value at weaning, followed by significant pruning and a decrease during adolescence. Dendritic spines tended to be stable until their loss in old age. Subsequently, a rat model of low-dose Pb, Cd, and Hg co-exposure from embryo to adolescence was established. The results showed that exposure to low doses of heavy metals equivalent to those detected in the blood of the general population impaired spatial memory and altered the dynamics of dendritic spine pruning from weaning to adolescence. Proteomic analysis of brain and blood samples suggested that differentially expressed proteins upon heavy metal exposure were enriched in dendritic spine-related cytoskeletal regulation and axon guidance signaling pathways and that cofilin was enriched in both of these pathways. Further experiments confirmed that heavy metal exposure altered actin cytoskeleton dynamics and disturbed the dendritic spine pruning-related LIM domain kinase 1-cofilin pathway in the rat prefrontal cortex. Our findings demonstrate that low-dose Pb, Cd, and Hg co-exposure may promote memory impairment by perturbing dendritic spine dynamics through dendritic spine pruning-related signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fankun Zhou
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Lu Ouyang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Jie Xie
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Sisi Liu
- Jiangxi Academy of Medical Science, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Jiajun Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Rui Su
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Shaoqi Rao
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Lingyu Yan
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Xin Wan
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Hui Cheng
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Peishan Liu
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Yanhui Zhu
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Guihua Du
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Chang Feng
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Guangqin Fan
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China.
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8
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Sequeira MK, Swanson AM, Kietzman HW, Gourley SL. Cocaine and habit training cause dendritic spine rearrangement in the prelimbic cortex. iScience 2023; 26:106240. [PMID: 37153443 PMCID: PMC10156587 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Successfully navigating dynamic environments requires organisms to learn the consequences of their actions. The prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PL) formulates action-consequence memories and is modulated by addictive drugs like cocaine. We trained mice to obtain food rewards and then unexpectedly withheld reinforcement, triggering new action-consequence memory. New memory was disrupted by cocaine when delivered immediately following non-reinforcement, but not when delayed, suggesting that cocaine disrupted memory consolidation. Cocaine also rapidly inactivated cofilin, a primary regulator of the neuronal actin cytoskeleton. This observation led to the discovery that cocaine also within the time of memory consolidation elevated dendritic spine elimination and blunted spine formation rates on excitatory PL neurons, culminating in thin-type spine attrition. Training drug-naive mice to utilize inflexible response strategies also eliminated thin-type dendritic spines. Thus, cocaine may disrupt action-consequence memory, at least in part, by recapitulating neurobiological sequalae occurring in the formation of inflexible habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle K. Sequeira
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Andrew M. Swanson
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Henry W. Kietzman
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Shannon L. Gourley
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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9
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A high-affinity cocaine binding site associated with the brain acid soluble protein 1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200545119. [PMID: 35412917 PMCID: PMC9169839 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200545119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine is a monoamine transport inhibitor. Current models attributing pharmacologic actions of cocaine to inhibiting the activity of the amine transporters alone failed to translate to the clinic. Cocaine inhibition of the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters is relatively weak, suggesting that blockade of the amine transporters alone cannot account for the actions of cocaine, especially at low doses. There is evidence for significantly more potent actions of cocaine, suggesting the existence of a high-affinity receptor(s) for the drug. Identifying and characterizing such receptors will deepen our understanding of cocaine pharmacologic actions and pave the way for therapeutic development. Here we identify a high-affinity cocaine binding site associated with BASP1 that is involved in mediating the drug’s psychotropic actions. Cocaine exerts its stimulant effect by inhibiting dopamine (DA) reuptake, leading to increased dopamine signaling. This action is thought to reflect the binding of cocaine to the dopamine transporter (DAT) to inhibit its function. However, cocaine is a relatively weak inhibitor of DAT, and many DAT inhibitors do not share cocaine’s behavioral actions. Further, recent reports show more potent actions of the drug, implying the existence of a high-affinity receptor for cocaine. We now report high-affinity binding of cocaine associated with the brain acid soluble protein 1 (BASP1) with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 7 nM. Knocking down BASP1 in the striatum inhibits [3H]cocaine binding to striatal synaptosomes. Depleting BASP1 in the nucleus accumbens but not the dorsal striatum diminishes locomotor stimulation in mice. Our findings imply that BASP1 is a pharmacologically relevant receptor for cocaine.
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10
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Discovery of a functionally selective ghrelin receptor (GHSR 1a) ligand for modulating brain dopamine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2112397119. [PMID: 35239443 PMCID: PMC8915830 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112397119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The modulation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor-1a (GHSR1a) signaling is a promising strategy for treating brain conditions of metabolism, aging, and addiction. GHSR1a activation results in pleiotropic physiological outcomes through distinct and pharmacologically separable G protein– and β-arrestin (βarr)–dependent signaling pathways. Thus, pathway-selective modulation can enable improved pharmacotherapeutics that can promote therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects. Here, we describe the discovery of a brain-penetrant small molecule, N8279 (NCATS-SM8864), that biases GHSR1a conformations toward Gαq activation and reduces aberrant dopaminergic behavior in mice. N8279 represents a promising chemical scaffold to advance the development of better treatments for GHSR1a-related brain disorders involving the pathological dysregulation of dopamine. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor-1a (GHSR1a) is the cognate G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) for the peptide hormone ghrelin. GHSR1a is a promising therapeutic target for a wide range of metabolic, age-related, and central nervous system (CNS)–based conditions. In addition, growing evidence supports that GHSR1a is a modulator of dopamine (DA) homeostasis and is neuroprotective within brain DA circuits. GHSR1a signaling originates from pharmacologically separable G protein– and β-arrestin (βarr)–dependent pathways, and consequently, GHSR1a-mediated physiological responses depend upon their distinctive signaling contributions. Thus, when treating disorders of disrupted DA homeostasis, a pharmacological strategy that modulates biased GHSR1a signaling may uncouple desired therapeutic outcomes from unwanted side effects. Here, we report the discovery of a small molecule GHSR1a agonist, N8279 (NCATS-SM8864), functionally selective for G protein signaling. Comprehensive pharmacological characterization reveals that N8279 elicits potent Gαq activity at the apo- and ghrelin-bound GHSR1a. Further biochemical analysis and molecular modeling demonstrate that N8279 signaling requires the extracellular domain of GHSR1a, especially extracellular loop 2. Collectively, these findings suggest that N8279 possesses an extended binding mode into the extracellular vestibule of the GHSR1a that preferentially favors Gαq signaling over alternative G proteins and βarr2-dependent cellular responses. Critically, N8279 is brain-penetrant in mice, exhibits CNS stability, and attenuates dysfunctional DA-mediated behaviors in both genetic and pharmacological mouse models of hyperdopaminergia. Our findings provide insight into the mechanisms governing GPCR functional selectivity and emphasize how biased ligand drug development can produce novel GHSR1a pharmacotherapeutics to treat pathological disruptions of brain DA homeostasis.
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11
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Becker-Krail DD, Parekh PK, Ketchesin KD, Yamaguchi S, Yoshino J, Hildebrand MA, Dunham B, Ganapathiraiu MK, Logan RW, McClung CA. Circadian transcription factor NPAS2 and the NAD + -dependent deacetylase SIRT1 interact in the mouse nucleus accumbens and regulate reward. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:675-693. [PMID: 35001440 PMCID: PMC9355311 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders are associated with disruptions to both circadian rhythms and cellular metabolic state. At the molecular level, the circadian molecular clock and cellular metabolic state may be interconnected through interactions with the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ )-dependent deacetylase, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). In the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a region important for reward, both SIRT1 and the circadian transcription factor neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) are highly enriched, and both are regulated by the metabolic cofactor NAD+ . Substances of abuse, like cocaine, greatly disrupt cellular metabolism and promote oxidative stress; however, their effects on NAD+ in the brain remain unclear. Interestingly, cocaine also induces NAc expression of both NPAS2 and SIRT1, and both have independently been shown to regulate cocaine reward in mice. However, whether NPAS2 and SIRT1 interact in the NAc and/or whether together they regulate reward is unknown. Here, we demonstrate diurnal expression of Npas2, Sirt1 and NAD+ in the NAc, which is altered by cocaine-induced upregulation. Additionally, co-immunoprecipitation reveals NPAS2 and SIRT1 interact in the NAc, and cross-analysis of NPAS2 and SIRT1 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing reveals several reward-relevant and metabolic-related pathways enriched among shared gene targets. Notably, NAc-specific Npas2 knock-down or a functional Npas2 mutation in mice attenuates SIRT1-mediated increases in cocaine preference. Together, our data reveal an interaction between NPAS2 and SIRT1 in the NAc, which may serve to integrate cocaine's effects on circadian and metabolic factors, leading to regulation of drug reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius D. Becker-Krail
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Puja K. Parekh
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kyle D. Ketchesin
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shintaro Yamaguchi
- Center for Human Nutrition, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jun Yoshino
- Center for Human Nutrition, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mariah A. Hildebrand
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Brandon Dunham
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Madhavi K. Ganapathiraiu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ryan W. Logan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Colleen A. McClung
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Correspondence: Colleen A. McClung,
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12
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Merve AO, Sobiecka P, Remeškevičius V, Taylor L, Saskoy L, Lawton S, Jones BP, Elwakeel A, Mackenzie FE, Polycarpou E, Bennett J, Rooney B. Metabolites of Cannabis Induce Cardiac Toxicity and Morphological Alterations in Cardiac Myocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031401. [PMID: 35163321 PMCID: PMC8835806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs worldwide. Rrecent epidemiology studies have linked increased cardiac complications to cannabis use. However, this literature is predominantly based on case incidents and post-mortem investigations. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and its primary metabolites 11-Hydroxy-Δ9-THC (THC-OH) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH). Treatment of cardiac myocytes with THC-OH and THC-COOH increased cell migration and proliferation (p < 0.05), with no effect on cell adhesion, with higher doses (250–100 ng/mL) resulting in increased cell death and significant deterioration in cellular architecture. Conversely, no changes in cell morphology or viability were observed in response to THC. Expression of key ECM proteins α-SMA and collagen were up-regulated in response to THC-OH and THC-COOH treatments with concomitant modulation of PI3K and MAPK signalling. Investigations in the planarian animal model Polycelis nigra demonstrated that treatments with cannabinoid metabolites resulted in increased protein deposition at transection sites while higher doses resulted in significant lethality and decline in regeneration. These results highlight that the key metabolites of cannabis elicit toxic effects independent of the parent and psychoactive compound, with implications for cardiotoxicity relating to hypertrophy and fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Orme Merve
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Pola Sobiecka
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Vytautas Remeškevičius
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Luke Taylor
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Lili Saskoy
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Scott Lawton
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Ben P. Jones
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Ahmed Elwakeel
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences (CSELS), Coventry University, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Alison Gingell Building, Whitefriars Street, Coventry CV1 2DS, UK; (A.E.); (J.B.)
| | - Francesca E. Mackenzie
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Elena Polycarpou
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Jason Bennett
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences (CSELS), Coventry University, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Alison Gingell Building, Whitefriars Street, Coventry CV1 2DS, UK; (A.E.); (J.B.)
| | - Brian Rooney
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.O.M.); (P.S.); (V.R.); (L.T.); (L.S.); (S.L.); (B.P.J.); (F.E.M.); (E.P.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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The interactions of alcohol and cocaine regulate the expression of genes involved in the GABAergic, glutamatergic and endocannabinoid systems of male and female rats. Neuropharmacology 2021; 206:108937. [PMID: 34965406 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Although the pharmacological and behavioural interactions between cocaine and alcohol are well established, less is known about how polyconsumption of these drugs affects the neurotransmitter systems involved in their psychoactive effects and in particular, in the process of addiction. Here, rats of both sexes at two stages of development were studied under a chronic regime of intravenous cocaine and/or alcohol administration. Brain samples from the medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus and amygdala were extracted to analyse the mRNA expression of genes encoding subunits of the GABA, NMDA and AMPA receptors, as well as the expression of the CB1 receptor, and that of enzymes related to the biosynthesis and degradation of endocannabinoids. Moreover, two synaptic scaffold proteins related to GABA and NMDA receptors, gephyrin and PSD-95, were quantified in Western blots. Significant interactions between cocaine and alcohol were common, affecting the GABAergic and endocannabinoid systems in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala of young adults, whereas such interactions were evident in the glutamatergic and endocannabinoid systems in adults, as well as a more pronounced sex effect. Significant interactions between these drugs affecting the scaffold proteins were evident in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of young adults, and in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala of adults, but not in the hippocampus. These results highlight the importance of considering the interactions between cocaine and alcohol on neurotransmitter systems in the context of polyconsumption, specifically when treating problems of abuse of these two substances.
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14
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Rigoni D, Avalos MP, Boezio MJ, Guzmán AS, Calfa GD, Perassi EM, Pierotti SM, Bisbal M, Garcia-Keller C, Cancela LM, Bollati F. Stress-induced vulnerability to develop cocaine addiction depends on cofilin modulation. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100349. [PMID: 34169122 PMCID: PMC8209265 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin dynamics in dendritic spines can be associated with the neurobiological mechanisms supporting the comorbidity between stress exposure and cocaine increase rewards. The actin cytoskeleton remodeling in the nucleus accumbens (NA) has been implicated in the expression of stress-induced cross-sensitization with cocaine. The present study evaluates the involvement of cofilin, a direct regulator of actin dynamics, in the impact of stress on vulnerability to cocaine addiction. We assess whether the neurobiological mechanisms that modulate repeated-cocaine administration also occur in a chronic restraint stress-induced cocaine self-administration model. We also determine if chronic stress induces alterations in dendritic spines through dysregulation of cofilin activity in the NA core. Here, we show that the inhibition of cofilin expression in the NA core using viral short-hairpin RNA is sufficient to prevent the cocaine sensitization induced by chronic stress. The reduced cofilin levels also impede a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor surface expression enhancement and promote the reduction of head diameter in animals pre-exposed to stress after a cocaine challenge in the NA core. Moreover, downregulation of cofilin expression prevents facilitation of the acquisition of cocaine self-administration (SA) in male rats pre-exposed to chronic stress without modifying performance in sucrose SA. These findings reveal a novel, crucial role for cofilin in the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning the comorbidity between stress exposure and addiction-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana Rigoni
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria P. Avalos
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria J. Boezio
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea S. Guzmán
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gaston D. Calfa
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eduardo M. Perassi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Fisicoquímica de Córdoba (INFIQC), Departamento de Química Teórica y Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Silvia M. Pierotti
- Cátedra de Bioestadística I y II (Departamento de Matemática), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Avenida Velez Sarfield 161, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Mariano Bisbal
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martin Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Friuli 2434, Colinas de Vélez Sarsfield (5016) Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Constanza Garcia-Keller
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Liliana M. Cancela
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Flavia Bollati
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
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15
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Whyte AJ, Trinoskey-Rice G, Davies RA, Woon EP, Foster SL, Shapiro LP, Li DC, Srikanth KD, Gil-Henn H, Gourley SL. Cell Adhesion Factors in the Orbitofrontal Cortex Control Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking and Amygdala-Dependent Goal Seeking. J Neurosci 2021; 41:5923-5936. [PMID: 34074735 PMCID: PMC8265806 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0781-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeated cocaine exposure causes dendritic spine loss in the orbitofrontal cortex, which might contribute to poor orbitofrontal cortical function following drug exposure. One challenge, however, has been verifying links between neuronal structural plasticity and behavior, if any. Here we report that cocaine self-administration triggers the loss of dendritic spines on excitatory neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex of male and female mice (as has been reported in rats). To understand functional consequences, we locally ablated neuronal β1-integrins, cell adhesion receptors that adhere cells to the extracellular matrix and thus support dendritic spine stability. Degradation of β1-integrin tone: (1) caused dendritic spine loss, (2) exaggerated cocaine-seeking responses in a cue-induced reinstatement test, and (3) impaired the ability of mice to integrate new learning into familiar routines, a key function of the orbitofrontal cortex. Stimulating Abl-related gene kinase, overexpressing Proline-rich tyrosine kinase, and inhibiting Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase corrected response strategies, uncovering a β1-integrin-mediated signaling axis that controls orbitofrontal cortical function. Finally, use of a combinatorial gene silencing/chemogenetic strategy revealed that β1-integrins support the ability of mice to integrate new information into established behaviors by sustaining orbitofrontal cortical connections with the basolateral amygdala.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cocaine degenerates dendritic spines in the orbitofrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in interlacing new information into established behaviors. One challenge has been verifying links between cellular structural stability and behavior, if any. In this second of two related investigations, we study integrin family receptors, which adhere cells to the extracellular matrix and thereby stabilize dendritic spines (see also DePoy et al., 2019). We reveal that β1-integrins in the orbitofrontal cortex control food- and cocaine-seeking behaviors. For instance, β1-integrin loss amplifies cocaine-seeking behavior and impairs the ability of mice to integrate new learning into familiar routines. We identify likely intracellular signaling partners by which β1-integrins support orbitofrontal cortical function and connectivity with the basolateral amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alonzo J Whyte
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Gracy Trinoskey-Rice
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Rachel A Davies
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Ellen P Woon
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Stephanie L Foster
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Dan C Li
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | | | - Hava Gil-Henn
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
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16
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Caffino L, Mottarlini F, Zita G, Gawliński D, Gawlińska K, Wydra K, Przegaliński E, Fumagalli F. The effects of cocaine exposure in adolescence: Behavioural effects and neuroplastic mechanisms in experimental models. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:4233-4253. [PMID: 33963539 PMCID: PMC9545182 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is a devastating disorder with a huge economic and social burden for modern society. Although an individual may slip into drug abuse throughout his/her life, adolescents are at higher risk, but, so far, only a few studies have attempted to elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular bases of such vulnerability. Indeed, preclinical evidence indicates that psychostimulants and adolescence interact and contribute to promoting a dysfunctional brain. In this review, we have focused our attention primarily on changes in neuroplasticity brought about by cocaine, taking into account that there is much less evidence from exposure to cocaine in adolescence, compared with that from adults. This review clearly shows that exposure to cocaine during adolescence, acute or chronic, as well as contingent or non‐contingent, confers a vulnerable endophenotype, primarily, by causing changes in neuroplasticity. Given the close relationship between drug abuse and psychiatric disorders, we also discuss the translational implications providing an interpretative framework for clinical studies involving addictive as well as affective or psychotic behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Zita
- Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Kinga Gawlińska
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Karolina Wydra
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Edmund Przegaliński
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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17
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Cocaine Induces Cytoskeletal Changes in Cardiac Myocytes: Implications for Cardiac Morphology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052263. [PMID: 33668403 PMCID: PMC7956613 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most widely abused illicit drugs worldwide and has long been recognised as an agent of cardiac dysfunction in numerous cases of drug overdose. Cocaine has previously been shown to up-regulate cytoskeletal rearrangements and morphological changes in numerous tissues; however, previous literature observes such changes primarily in clinical case reports and addiction studies. An investigation into the fundamental cytoskeletal parameters of migration, adhesion and proliferation were studied to determine the cytoskeletal and cytotoxic basis of cocaine in cardiac cells. Treatment of cardiac myocytes with cocaine increased cell migration and adhesion (p < 0.05), with no effect on cell proliferation, except with higher doses eliciting (1–10 μg/mL) its diminution and increase in cell death. Cocaine downregulated phosphorylation of cofilin, decreased expression of adhesion modulators (integrin-β3) and increased expression of ezirin within three hours of 1 μg/mL treatments. These functional responses were associated with changes in cellular morphology, including alterations in membrane stability and a stellate-like phenotype with less compaction between cells. Higher dose treatments of cocaine (5–10 μg/mL) were associated with significant cardiomyocyte cell death (p < 0.05) and loss of cellular architecture. These results highlight the importance of cocaine in mediating cardiomyocyte function and cytotoxicity associated with the possible loss of intercellular contacts required to maintain normal cell viability, with implications for cardiotoxicity relating to hypertrophy and fibrogenesis.
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18
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Yang X, Wen Y, Zhang Y, Gao F, Yang J, Yang Z, Yan C. Dynamic Changes of Cytoskeleton-Related Proteins Within Reward-Related Brain Regions in Morphine-Associated Memory. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:626348. [PMID: 33584180 PMCID: PMC7876246 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.626348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced memory engages complex and dynamic processes and is coordinated at multiple reward-related brain regions. The spatiotemporal molecular mechanisms underlying different addiction phases remain unknown. We investigated the role of β-actin, as well as its potential modulatory protein activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), in reward-related associative learning and memory using morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice. CPP was established by alternate morphine (10 mg/kg) injections and extinguished after a 10-day extinction training, while the withdrawal group failed to extinguish without training. In the nucleus accumbens (NAc), morphine enhanced the level of β-actin and Arc only during extinction, while p-ERK1/2 was increased during both CPP acquisition and extinction phases. In the dorsal hippocampus, morphine induced an upregulation of p-ERK only during extinction, while p-β-actin was elevated during both CPP establishment and extinction. In the dorsal hippocampus, Arc was elevated during CPP formation and suppressed during extinction. Compared with the NAc and dorsal hippocampus, dynamic changes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and caudate putamen (CPu) were not very significant. These results suggested region-specific changes of p-β-actin, Arc/Arg3.1, and p-ERK1/2 protein during establishment and extinction phases of morphine-induced CPP. These findings unveiled a spatiotemporal molecular regulation in opiate-induced plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Yang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Bio-Evidence Sciences Academy, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yichong Wen
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuxiang Zhang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Bio-Evidence Sciences Academy, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Feifei Gao
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Bio-Evidence Sciences Academy, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingsi Yang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Bio-Evidence Sciences Academy, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhuojin Yang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Bio-Evidence Sciences Academy, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chunxia Yan
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Bio-Evidence Sciences Academy, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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19
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Ben Zablah Y, Merovitch N, Jia Z. The Role of ADF/Cofilin in Synaptic Physiology and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:594998. [PMID: 33282872 PMCID: PMC7688896 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.594998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin-depolymerization factor (ADF)/cofilin, a family of actin-binding proteins, are critical for the regulation of actin reorganization in response to various signals. Accumulating evidence indicates that ADF/cofilin also play important roles in neuronal structure and function, including long-term potentiation and depression. These are the most extensively studied forms of long-lasting synaptic plasticity and are widely regarded as cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. ADF/cofilin regulate synaptic function through their effects on dendritic spines and the trafficking of glutamate receptors, the principal mediator of excitatory synaptic transmission in vertebrates. Regulation of ADF/cofilin involves various signaling pathways converging on LIM domain kinases and slingshot phosphatases, which phosphorylate/inactivate and dephosphorylate/activate ADF/cofilin, respectively. Actin-depolymerization factor/cofilin activity is also regulated by other actin-binding proteins, activity-dependent subcellular distribution and protein translation. Abnormalities in ADF/cofilin have been associated with several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, investigating the roles of ADF/cofilin in the brain is not only important for understanding the fundamental processes governing neuronal structure and function, but also may provide potential therapeutic strategies to treat brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssif Ben Zablah
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Neil Merovitch
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zhengping Jia
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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20
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Garcia-Keller C, Scofield MD, Neuhofer D, Varanasi S, Reeves MT, Hughes B, Anderson E, Richie CT, Mejias-Aponte C, Pickel J, Hope BT, Harvey BK, Cowan CW, Kalivas PW. Relapse-Associated Transient Synaptic Potentiation Requires Integrin-Mediated Activation of Focal Adhesion Kinase and Cofilin in D1-Expressing Neurons. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8463-8477. [PMID: 33051346 PMCID: PMC7605418 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2666-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Relapse to drug use can be initiated by drug-associated cues. The intensity of cue-induced drug seeking in rodent models correlates with the induction of transient synaptic potentiation (t-SP) at glutamatergic synapses in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are inducible endopeptidases that degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and reveal tripeptide Arginine-Glycine-Aspartate (RGD) domains that bind and signal through integrins. Integrins are heterodimeric receptors composed of αβ subunits, and a primary signaling kinase is focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We previously showed that MMP activation is necessary for and potentiates cued reinstatement of cocaine seeking, and MMP-induced catalysis stimulates β3-integrins to induce t-SP. Here, we determined whether β3-integrin signaling through FAK and cofilin (actin depolymerization factor) is necessary to promote synaptic growth during t-SP. Using a small molecule inhibitor to prevent FAK activation, we blocked cued-induced cocaine reinstatement and increased spine head diameter (dh). Immunohistochemistry on NAcore labeled spines with ChR2-EYFP virus, showed increased immunoreactivity of phosphorylation of FAK (p-FAK) and p-cofilin in dendrites of reinstated animals compared with extinguished and yoked saline, and the p-FAK and cofilin depended on β3-integrin signaling. Next, male and female transgenic rats were used to selectively label D1 or D2 neurons with ChR2-mCherry. We found that p-FAK was increased during drug seeking in both D1 and D2-medium spiny neurons (MSNs), but increased p-cofilin was observed only in D1-MSNs. These data indicate that β3-integrin, FAK and cofilin constitute a signaling pathway downstream of MMP activation that is involved in promoting the transient synaptic enlargement in D1-MSNs induced during reinstated cocaine by drug-paired cues.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Drug-associated cues precipitate relapse, which is correlated with transient synaptic enlargement in the accumbens core. We showed that cocaine cue-induced synaptic enlargement depends on matrix metalloprotease signaling in the extracellular matrix (ECM) through β3-integrin to activate focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylate the actin binding protein cofilin. The nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) contains two predominate neuronal subtypes selectively expressing either D1-dopamine or D2-dopamine receptors. We used transgenic rats to study each cell type and found that cue-induced signaling through cofilin phosphorylation occurred only in D1-expressing neurons. Thus, cocaine-paired cues initiate cocaine reinstatement and synaptic enlargement through a signaling cascade selectively in D1-expressing neurons requiring ECM stimulation of β3-integrin-mediated phosphorylation of FAK (p-FAK) and cofilin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanza Garcia-Keller
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Michael D Scofield
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Daniela Neuhofer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Swathi Varanasi
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Matthew T Reeves
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Brandon Hughes
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Ethan Anderson
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Christopher T Richie
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
| | - Carlos Mejias-Aponte
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
| | - James Pickel
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Bruce T Hope
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
| | - Brandon K Harvey
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
| | - Christopher W Cowan
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Peter W Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
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21
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Kruyer A, Ball LE, Townsend DM, Kalivas PW, Uys JD. Post-translational S-glutathionylation of cofilin increases actin cycling during cocaine seeking. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223037. [PMID: 31550273 PMCID: PMC6759170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal defense against oxidative damage is mediated primarily by the glutathione redox system. Traditionally considered a mechanism to protect proteins from irreversible oxidation, mounting evidence supports a role for protein S-glutathionylation in cell signaling in response to changes in intracellular redox status. Here we determined the specific sites on the actin binding protein cofilin that undergo S-glutathionylation. In addition, we show that S-glutathionylation of cofilin reduces its capacity to depolymerize F-actin. We further describe an assay to determine the S-glutathionylation of target proteins in brain tissue from behaving rodents. Using this technique, we show that cofilin in the rat nucleus accumbens undergoes S-glutathionylation during 15-minutes of cued cocaine seeking in the absence of cocaine. Our findings demonstrate that cofilin S-glutathionylation is increased in response to cocaine-associated cues and that increased cofilin S-glutathionylation reduces cofilin-dependent depolymerization of F-actin. Thus, S-glutathionylation of cofilin may serve to regulate actin cycling in response to drug-conditioned cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kruyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AK); (JU)
| | - Lauren E. Ball
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - Danyelle M. Townsend
- Department of Drug Discovery and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - Peter W. Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - Joachim D. Uys
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AK); (JU)
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22
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Siemsen BM, Reichel CM, Leong KC, Garcia-Keller C, Gipson CD, Spencer S, McFaddin JA, Hooker KN, Kalivas PW, Scofield MD. Effects of Methamphetamine Self-Administration and Extinction on Astrocyte Structure and Function in the Nucleus Accumbens Core. Neuroscience 2019; 406:528-541. [PMID: 30926546 PMCID: PMC6545487 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes provide support for neurons, regulate metabolic processes, and influence neuronal communication in a variety of ways, including through the homeostatic regulation of glutamate. Following 2-h cocaine or methamphetamine self-administration (SA) and extinction, rodents display decreased levels of basal glutamate in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore), which transitions to elevated glutamate levels during drug seeking. We hypothesized that, like cocaine, this glutamate 'overflow' during methamphetamine seeking arises via decreased expression of the astroglial glutamate transporter GLT-1, and withdrawal of perisynaptic astroglial processes (PAPs) from synapses. As expected, methamphetamine self-administration and extinction decreased the level of contact made by PAPs in the NAcore, yet did not impact glutamate uptake, GLT-1 expression, or the general structural characteristics of astrocytes. Interestingly, systemic administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a drug that both upregulates GLT-1 and promotes glial-glutamate release, reduced cued methamphetamine seeking. In order to test the impact of astrocyte activation and the induction of glial glutamate release within the NAcore, we employed astrocyte-specific expression of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). We show here that acute activation of Gq-coupled DREADDs in this region inhibited cued methamphetamine seeking. Taken together, these data indicate that cued methamphetamine seeking following two-hour SA is not mediated by deficient glutamate clearance in the NAcore, yet can be inhibited by engaging NAcore astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M Siemsen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - C M Reichel
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - K C Leong
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - C Garcia-Keller
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - C D Gipson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - S Spencer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J A McFaddin
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - K N Hooker
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - P W Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - M D Scofield
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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23
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Zhu W, Gu C, Dunevall J, Ren L, Zhou X, Ewing AG. Combined Amperometry and Electrochemical Cytometry Reveal Differential Effects of Cocaine and Methylphenidate on Exocytosis and the Fraction of Chemical Release. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201813717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Gothenburg Kemivägen 10 41296 Gothenburg Sweden
- School of PharmacyNanjing Medical University Longmian Avenue 101 Nanjing 210029 China
| | - Chaoyi Gu
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Gothenburg Kemivägen 10 41296 Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Johan Dunevall
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringChalmers University of Technology Kemivägen 10 41296 Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Lin Ren
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringChalmers University of Technology Kemivägen 10 41296 Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Xuemin Zhou
- School of PharmacyNanjing Medical University Longmian Avenue 101 Nanjing 210029 China
| | - Andrew G. Ewing
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Gothenburg Kemivägen 10 41296 Gothenburg Sweden
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24
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Zhu W, Gu C, Dunevall J, Ren L, Zhou X, Ewing AG. Combined Amperometry and Electrochemical Cytometry Reveal Differential Effects of Cocaine and Methylphenidate on Exocytosis and the Fraction of Chemical Release. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:4238-4242. [PMID: 30688389 PMCID: PMC6519382 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201813717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Amperometry with nanotip electrodes has been applied to show cocaine and methylphenidate not only trigger declines in vesicle content and exocytotic catecholamine release in a model cell line but also differentially change the fraction of transmitter released from each individual vesicle. In addition, cocaine accelerates exocytotic release dynamics while they remain unchanged after methylphenidate treatment. The parameters from pre‐spike feet for the two drugs are also in opposition, suggesting this aspect of release is affected differentially. As cocaine and methylphenidate are psychostimulants with similar pharmacologic action but have opposite effects on cognition, these results might provide a missing link between the regulation of exocytosis and vesicles and the effect of this regulation on cognition, learning, and memory. A speculative chemical mechanism of the effect of these drugs on vesicle content and exocytosis is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden.,School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Chaoyi Gu
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johan Dunevall
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lin Ren
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Xuemin Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Andrew G Ewing
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
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25
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Verma A, Bennett J, Örme AM, Polycarpou E, Rooney B. Cocaine addicted to cytoskeletal change and a fibrosis high. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2019; 76:177-185. [PMID: 30623590 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most widely abused illicit drugs due to its euphoric and addictive properties. Cocaine-mediated cognitive impairments are the result of dynamic cytoskeletal rearrangements involved in mediating structural and behavioural plasticity. Cytoskeletal changes initiated following cocaine abuse are regulated by the Rho family of GTPases with significant downstream activity in key actin binding proteins. Moreover, signalling via the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone protein, sigma-1 receptor has highlighted the possibility of cocaine regulated pathology in other organ systems. However, the question of whether upstream stimulation of such a high affinity binding receptor is directly involved in cocaine-mediated cytoskeletal changes at present remains unknown. In this review, we describe the functional role of key cytoskeletal regulators in response to cocaine-induced signalling cues. In addition, we ascertain the extent of whether global cytoskeletal modulators involved in cocaine-induced neurological stimulation can be used as a platform for future studies into elucidating its fibrotic potential within the hepatic microenvironment. A focus on aspects still poorly understood relating to the nonneuronal pathological impact of cocaine is discussed in the sphere of hepatic dysregulation. Lastly, we suggest that cocaine may mediate its pathological capacity via the sigma1 receptor in regulating hepatoxicity, hepatic stellate cells activity, cytoskeletal dynamics, and the transcriptional regulation of key hepato-fibrogenic modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avnish Verma
- Kingston University, Department of Applied and Human Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Bennett
- Centre for Cell Signalling and Inflammation, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ayşe Merve Örme
- Kingston University, Department of Applied and Human Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Polycarpou
- Kingston University, Department of Applied and Human Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Rooney
- Kingston University, Department of Applied and Human Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Surrey, United Kingdom
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26
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Zhang WH, Cao KX, Ding ZB, Yang JL, Pan BX, Xue YX. Role of prefrontal cortex in the extinction of drug memories. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:463-477. [PMID: 30392133 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5069-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
It has been recognized that drug addiction engages aberrant process of learning and memory, and substantial studies have focused on developing effective treatment to erase the enduring drug memories to reduce the propensity to relapse. Extinction, a behavioral intervention exposing the individuals to the drug-associated cues repeatedly, can weaken the craving and relapse induced by drug-associated cues, but its clinic efficacy is limited. A clear understanding of the neuronal circuitry and molecular mechanism underlying extinction of drug memory will facilitate the successful use of extinction therapy in clinic. As a key component of mesolimbic system, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has received particular attention largely in that PFC stands at the core of neural circuits for memory extinction and manipulating mPFC influences extinction of drug memories and subsequent relapse. Here, we review the recent advances in both animal models of drug abuse and human addicted patients toward the understanding of the mechanistic link between mPFC and drug memory, with particular emphasis on how mPFC contributes to the extinction of drug memory at levels ranging from neuronal architecture, synaptic plasticity to molecular signaling and epigenetic regulation, and discuss the clinic relevance of manipulating the extinction process of drug memory to prevent craving and relapse through enhancing mPFC function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hua Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ke-Xin Cao
- Tianjin General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.,National Institute on Drug Dependence, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zeng-Bo Ding
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jian-Li Yang
- Tianjin General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Yan-Xue Xue
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of Ministry of Education and Neuroscience, National Health and Family Planning Commision, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
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27
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Werner CT, Viswanathan R, Martin JA, Gobira PH, Mitra S, Thomas SA, Wang ZJ, Liu JF, Stewart AF, Neve RL, Li JX, Gancarz AM, Dietz DM. E3 Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase SMURF1 in the Nucleus Accumbens Mediates Cocaine Seeking. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:881-892. [PMID: 30158054 PMCID: PMC6260585 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substance use disorder is a neurobiological disease characterized by episodes of relapse despite periods of withdrawal. It is thought that neuroadaptations in discrete brain areas of the reward pathway, including the nucleus accumbens, underlie these aberrant behaviors. The ubiquitin-proteasome system degrades proteins and has been shown to be involved in cocaine-induced plasticity, but the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases, which conjugate ubiquitin to substrates, is unknown. Here, we examined E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase SMURF1 (SMURF1) in neuroadaptations and relapse behavior during withdrawal following cocaine self-administration. METHODS SMURF1 and downstream targets ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA), SMAD1/5, and Runt-related transcript factor 2 were examined using Western blotting (n = 9-11/group), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n = 6-9/group), co-immunoprecipitation (n = 9-11/group), tandem ubiquitin binding entities affinity purification (n = 5-6/group), and quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (n = 3-6/group) (2 rats/sample). Viral-mediated gene transfer (n = 7-12/group) and intra-accumbal microinjections (n = 9-10/group) were used to examine causal roles of SMURF1 and substrate RhoA, respectively, in cue-induced cocaine seeking. RESULTS SMURF1 protein expression was decreased, while SMURF1 substrates RhoA and SMAD1/5 were increased, in the nucleus accumbens on withdrawal day 7, but not on withdrawal day 1, following cocaine self-administration. Viral-mediated gene transfer of Smurf1 or constitutive activation of RhoA attenuated cue-induced cocaine seeking, while catalytically inactive Smurf1 enhanced cocaine seeking. Furthermore, SMURF1-regulated, SMAD1/5-associated transcription factor Runt-related transcript factor 2 displayed increased binding at promoter regions of genes previously associated with cocaine-induced plasticity. CONCLUSIONS SMURF1 is a key mediator of neuroadaptations in the nucleus accumbens following cocaine exposure and mediates cue-induced cocaine seeking during withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Rathipriya Viswanathan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jennifer A Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Pedro H Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Shruthi A Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jian-Feng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Andrew F Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, California
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Research Institute on Addictions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; Department of Psychology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
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28
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Capaldo A, Gay F, Lepretti M, Paolella G, Martucciello S, Lionetti L, Caputo I, Laforgia V. Effects of environmental cocaine concentrations on the skeletal muscle of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 640-641:862-873. [PMID: 29879672 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The presence of illicit drugs in the aquatic environment represents a new potential risk for aquatic organisms, due to their constant exposure to substances with strong pharmacological activity. Currently, little is known about the ecological effects of illicit drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of environmental concentrations of cocaine, an illicit drug widespread in surface waters, on the skeletal muscle of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The skeletal muscle of silver eels exposed to 20 ng L-1 of cocaine for 50 days were compared to control, vehicle control and two post-exposure recovery groups (3 and 10 days after interruption of cocaine). The eels general health, the morphology of the skeletal muscle and several parameters indicative of the skeletal muscle physiology were evaluated, namely the muscle whole protein profile, marker of the expression levels of the main muscle proteins; cytochrome oxidase activity, markers of oxidative metabolism; caspase-3, marker of apoptosis activation; serum levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase, markers of skeletal muscle damages. Cocaine-exposed eels appeared hyperactive but they showed the same general health status as the other groups. In contrast, their skeletal muscle showed evidence of serious injury, including muscle breakdown and swelling, similar to that typical of rhabdomyolysis. These changes were still present 10 days after the interruption of cocaine exposure. In fact, with the exception of the expression levels of the main muscle proteins, which remained unchanged, all the other parameters examined showed alterations that persisted for at least 10 days after the interruption of cocaine exposure. This study shows that even low environmental concentrations of cocaine cause severe damage to the morphology and physiology of the skeletal muscle of the silver eel, confirming the harmful impact of cocaine in the environment that potentially affects the survival of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Capaldo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, Edificio 7, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Flaminia Gay
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 - 84084 Fisciano - Salerno, Italy.
| | - Marilena Lepretti
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 - 84084 Fisciano - Salerno, Italy.
| | - Gaetana Paolella
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 - 84084 Fisciano - Salerno, Italy.
| | - Stefania Martucciello
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 - 84084 Fisciano - Salerno, Italy.
| | - Lillà Lionetti
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 - 84084 Fisciano - Salerno, Italy; ELFID (European Laboratory for Food-Induced Diseases), University of Naples Federico II, via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Ivana Caputo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 - 84084 Fisciano - Salerno, Italy; ELFID (European Laboratory for Food-Induced Diseases), University of Naples Federico II, via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Vincenza Laforgia
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, Edificio 7, 80126 Naples, Italy.
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29
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Dowd S, Mustroph ML, Romanova EV, Southey BR, Pinardo H, Rhodes JS, Sweedler JV. Exploring Exercise- and Context-Induced Peptide Changes in Mice by Quantitative Mass Spectrometry. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:13817-13827. [PMID: 30411050 PMCID: PMC6210063 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent research suggests that exercise may help facilitate abstinence from cocaine addiction, though the mechanisms are not well understood. In mice, wheel running accelerates the extinction of conditioned place preference (CPP) for cocaine, providing an animal model for evaluating potential neurological mechanisms. The objective of this study was to quantify dynamic changes in endogenous peptides in the amygdala and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in mice exposed to a context paired with the effects of cocaine, and in response to exercise. Male C57BL/6J mice conditioned to cocaine were housed with or without running wheels for 30 days. Following a CPP test and final exposure to either a cocaine- or saline-associated context, peptides were measured in brain tissue extracts using label-free matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MS) and stable isotopic labeling with liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization MS. CPP in mice was significantly reduced with running, which correlated to decreased myelin basic protein derivatives in the dentate gyrus extracts, possibly reflecting increased unmyelinated granule neuron density. Exposure to a cocaine-paired context increased hemoglobin-derived peptides in runners and decreased an actin-derived peptide in sedentary animals. These results allowed us to characterize a novel set of biomarkers that are responsive to exercise in the hippocampus and in a cocaine-paired context in the amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah
E. Dowd
- Department
of Chemistry, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute, Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of
Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, 63-5, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Martina L. Mustroph
- Department
of Chemistry, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute, Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of
Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, 63-5, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Elena V. Romanova
- Department
of Chemistry, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute, Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of
Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, 63-5, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Bruce R. Southey
- Department
of Chemistry, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute, Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of
Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, 63-5, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Heinrich Pinardo
- Department
of Chemistry, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute, Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of
Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, 63-5, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Justin S. Rhodes
- Department
of Chemistry, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute, Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of
Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, 63-5, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jonathan V. Sweedler
- Department
of Chemistry, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute, Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of
Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, 63-5, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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30
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Laguesse S, Morisot N, Phamluong K, Sakhai SA, Ron D. mTORC2 in the dorsomedial striatum of mice contributes to alcohol-dependent F-Actin polymerization, structural modifications, and consumption. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1539-1547. [PMID: 29497165 PMCID: PMC5983552 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0012-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Actin is highly enriched at dendritic spines, and actin remodeling plays an essential role in structural plasticity. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) is a regulator of actin polymerization. Here, we report that alcohol consumption increases F-actin content in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) of mice, thereby altering dendritic spine morphology in a mechanism that requires mTORC2. Specifically, we found that excessive alcohol consumption increases mTORC2 activity in the DMS, and that knockdown of Rictor, an essential component of mTORC2 signaling, reduces actin polymerization, and attenuates the alcohol-dependent alterations in spine head size and the number of mushroom spines. Finally, we show that knockdown of Rictor in the DMS reduces alcohol consumption, whereas intra-DMS infusion of the mTORC2 activator, A-443654, increases alcohol intake. Together, these results suggest that mTORC2 in the DMS facilitates the formation of F-actin, which in turn induces changes in spine structure to promote and/or maintain excessive alcohol intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Laguesse
- 0000 0001 2297 6811grid.266102.1Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA ,Present Address: N.M. Brains On-line LLC, South San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Nadege Morisot
- 0000 0001 2297 6811grid.266102.1Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA ,0000 0001 0805 7253grid.4861.bPresent Address: S.L. GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Khanhky Phamluong
- 0000 0001 2297 6811grid.266102.1Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Samuel A. Sakhai
- 0000 0001 2297 6811grid.266102.1Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Dorit Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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31
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Cahill ME, Walker DM, Gancarz AM, Wang ZJ, Lardner CK, Bagot RC, Neve RL, Dietz DM, Nestler EJ. The dendritic spine morphogenic effects of repeated cocaine use occur through the regulation of serum response factor signaling. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:1474-1486. [PMID: 28555077 PMCID: PMC5709273 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a primary brain reward region composed predominantly of medium spiny neurons (MSNs). In response to early withdrawal from repeated cocaine administration, de novo dendritic spine formation occurs in NAc MSNs. Much evidence indicates that this new spine formation facilitates the rewarding properties of cocaine. Early withdrawal from repeated cocaine also produces dramatic alterations in the transcriptome of NAc MSNs, but how such alterations influence cocaine's effects on dendritic spine formation remain unclear. Studies in non-neuronal cells indicate that actin cytoskeletal regulatory pathways in nuclei have a direct role in the regulation of gene transcription in part by controlling the access of co-activators to their transcription factor partners. In particular, actin state dictates the interaction between the serum response factor (SRF) transcription factor and one of its principal co-activators, MAL. Here we show that cocaine induces alterations in nuclear F-actin signaling pathways in the NAc with associated changes in the nuclear subcellular localization of SRF and MAL. Using in vivo optogenetics, the brain region-specific inputs to the NAc that mediate these nuclear changes are investigated. Finally, we demonstrate that regulated SRF expression, in turn, is critical for the effects of cocaine on dendritic spine formation and for cocaine-mediated behavioral sensitization. Collectively, these findings reveal a mechanism by which nuclear-based changes influence the structure of NAc MSNs in response to cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- ME Cahill
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - DM Walker
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - AM Gancarz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - ZJ Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - CK Lardner
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - RC Bagot
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - RL Neve
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - DM Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute on Addictions, Program in Neuroscience, State University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - EJ Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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32
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Gonzalez DA, Jia T, Pinzón JH, Acevedo SF, Ojelade SA, Xu B, Tay N, Desrivières S, Hernandez JL, Banaschewski T, Büchel C, Bokde AL, Conrod PJ, Flor H, Frouin V, Gallinat J, Garavan H, Gowland PA, Heinz A, Ittermann B, Lathrop M, Martinot JL, Paus T, Smolka MN, Rodan AR, Schumann G, Rothenfluh A. The Arf6 activator Efa6/PSD3 confers regional specificity and modulates ethanol consumption in Drosophila and humans. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:621-628. [PMID: 28607459 PMCID: PMC5729071 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitously expressed genes have been implicated in a variety of specific behaviors, including responses to ethanol. However, the mechanisms that confer this behavioral specificity have remained elusive. Previously, we showed that the ubiquitously expressed small GTPase Arf6 is required for normal ethanol-induced sedation in adult Drosophila. Here, we show that this behavioral response also requires Efa6, one of (at least) three Drosophila Arf6 guanine exchange factors. Ethanol-naive Arf6 and Efa6 mutants were sensitive to ethanol-induced sedation and lacked rapid tolerance upon re-exposure to ethanol, when compared with wild-type flies. In contrast to wild-type flies, both Arf6 and Efa6 mutants preferred alcohol-containing food without prior ethanol experience. An analysis of the human ortholog of Arf6 and orthologs of Efa6 (PSD1-4) revealed that the minor G allele of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs13265422 in PSD3, as well as a haplotype containing rs13265422, was associated with an increased frequency of drinking and binge drinking episodes in adolescents. The same haplotype was also associated with increased alcohol dependence in an independent European cohort. Unlike the ubiquitously expressed human Arf6 GTPase, PSD3 localization is restricted to the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the same PSD3 haplotype was also associated with a differential functional magnetic resonance imaging signal in the PFC during a Go/No-Go task, which engages PFC-mediated executive control. Our translational analysis, therefore, suggests that PSD3 confers regional specificity to ubiquitous Arf6 in the PFC to modulate human alcohol-drinking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante A. Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Program in Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Tianye Jia
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge H. Pinzón
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Summer F. Acevedo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Shamsideen A. Ojelade
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Program in Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Bing Xu
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole Tay
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvane Desrivières
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jeannie L. Hernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Arun L.W. Bokde
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patricia J. Conrod
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom,Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montreal, CHU Ste Justine Hospital, Canada
| | - Herta Flor
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vincent Frouin
- Neurospin, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jürgen Gallinat
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland,Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA
| | - Penny A. Gowland
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig und Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Ittermann
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig und Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark Lathrop
- McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Luc Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM CEA Unit 1000 “Imaging & Psychiatry”, University Paris Sud, Orsay, and AP-HP Department of Adolescent Psychopathology and Medicine, Maison de Solenn, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Tomás Paus
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom,Rotman Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada
| | - Michael N. Smolka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany,Neuroimaging Center, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Aylin R. Rodan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Rothenfluh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Program in Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Department of Psychiatry, Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
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33
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Swanson AM, DePoy LM, Gourley SL. Inhibiting Rho kinase promotes goal-directed decision making and blocks habitual responding for cocaine. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1861. [PMID: 29187752 PMCID: PMC5707361 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01915-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The prelimbic prefrontal cortex is necessary for associating actions with their consequences, enabling goal-directed decision making. We find that the strength of action–outcome conditioning correlates with dendritic spine density in prelimbic cortex, suggesting that new action–outcome learning involves dendritic spine plasticity. To test this, we inhibited the cytoskeletal regulatory factor Rho kinase. We find that the inhibitor fasudil enhances action–outcome memory, resulting in goal-directed behavior in mice that would otherwise express stimulus-response habits. Fasudil transiently reduces prelimbic cortical dendritic spine densities during a period of presumed memory consolidation, but only when paired with new learning. Fasudil also blocks habitual responding for cocaine, an effect that persists over time, across multiple contexts, and depends on actin polymerization. We suggest that Rho kinase inhibition promotes goal-oriented action selection by augmenting the plasticity of prelimbic cortical dendritic spines during the formation of new action–outcome memories. Action-outcome learning requires the prelimbic prefrontal cortex. Here the authors report that fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, reduces dendritic spine densities on prelimbic neurons in an activity-dependent manner, stimulating goal-directed actions, and reducing habitual responding for cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Swanson
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Lauren M DePoy
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. .,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
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34
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Scofield MD, Heinsbroek JA, Gipson CD, Kupchik YM, Spencer S, Smith ACW, Roberts-Wolfe D, Kalivas PW. The Nucleus Accumbens: Mechanisms of Addiction across Drug Classes Reflect the Importance of Glutamate Homeostasis. Pharmacol Rev 2017; 68:816-71. [PMID: 27363441 DOI: 10.1124/pr.116.012484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 356] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens is a major input structure of the basal ganglia and integrates information from cortical and limbic structures to mediate goal-directed behaviors. Chronic exposure to several classes of drugs of abuse disrupts plasticity in this region, allowing drug-associated cues to engender a pathologic motivation for drug seeking. A number of alterations in glutamatergic transmission occur within the nucleus accumbens after withdrawal from chronic drug exposure. These drug-induced neuroadaptations serve as the molecular basis for relapse vulnerability. In this review, we focus on the role that glutamate signal transduction in the nucleus accumbens plays in addiction-related behaviors. First, we explore the nucleus accumbens, including the cell types and neuronal populations present as well as afferent and efferent connections. Next we discuss rodent models of addiction and assess the viability of these models for testing candidate pharmacotherapies for the prevention of relapse. Then we provide a review of the literature describing how synaptic plasticity in the accumbens is altered after exposure to drugs of abuse and withdrawal and also how pharmacological manipulation of glutamate systems in the accumbens can inhibit drug seeking in the laboratory setting. Finally, we examine results from clinical trials in which pharmacotherapies designed to manipulate glutamate systems have been effective in treating relapse in human patients. Further elucidation of how drugs of abuse alter glutamatergic plasticity within the accumbens will be necessary for the development of new therapeutics for the treatment of addiction across all classes of addictive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Scofield
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - J A Heinsbroek
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - C D Gipson
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - Y M Kupchik
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - S Spencer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - A C W Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - D Roberts-Wolfe
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - P W Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
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A single cocaine exposure disrupts actin dynamics in the cortico-accumbal pathway of adolescent rats: modulation by a second cocaine injection. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:1217-1222. [PMID: 28204841 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4559-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Among the changes caused by repeated exposure to drugs of abuse, structural rearrangements play a critical role, setting the stage for maladaptive responses to environmental challenges and sustaining drug-taking and drug-seeking behaviors. Given that adolescents are more vulnerable to drug abuse than adults and based on our recent data showing that a single exposure to cocaine during adolescence is sufficient to change the adolescent brain, we decided to investigate whether acute cocaine exposure may alter actin remodeling in reward-related brain regions. METHODS Accordingly, we decided to evaluate if F-actin/G-actin ratio was altered by a single injection of cocaine (20 mg/kg) at postnatal day 35. We also evaluated whether the first administration of cocaine influences such a ratio in response to a second injection (10 mg/kg) provided 24 h or 7 days later. RESULTS Within the medial prefrontal cortex, a single cocaine injection increases the F-actin/G-actin ratio. This effect lasts 1 week, and it is not affected by the second injection of cocaine, indicating a persistent effect of the first exposure. In the nucleus accumbens, cocaine reduces the F-actin/G-actin ratio 24 h later. Seven days later, instead, such a ratio is markedly increased: notably, the additional exposure to the psychostimulant normalizes the F-actin/G-actin ratio. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that a single cocaine injection during adolescence causes possible changes in actin dynamics and influences the response to a second challenge of the psychostimulant, indicating that early cocaine priming might affect mechanisms regulating synaptic structural plasticity in specific brain regions.
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Cuesta S, Batuecas J, Severin MJ, Funes A, Rosso SB, Pacchioni AM. Role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the nucleus accumbens in long-term cocaine-induced neuroplasticity: a possible novel target for addiction treatment. J Neurochem 2016; 140:114-125. [PMID: 27718509 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by the loss of control over drug-seeking and taking, and continued drug use regardless of adverse consequences. Despite years of research, effective treatments for psycho-stimulant addiction have not been identified. Persistent vulnerability to relapse arises from a number of long-lasting adaptations in the reward circuitry that mediate the enduring response to the drug. Recently, we reported that the activity of the canonical or Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is very important in the early stages of cocaine-induced neuroadaptations. In the present work, our main goal was to elucidate the relevance of this pathway in cocaine-induced long-term neuroadaptations that may underlie relapse. We found that a cocaine challenge, after a period of abstinence, induced an increase in the activity of the pathway which is revealed as an increase in the total and nuclear levels of β-catenin (final effector of the pathway) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), together with a decrease in the activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Moreover, we found that the pharmacological modulation of the activity of the pathway has long-term effects on the cocaine-induced neuroplasticity at behavioral and molecular levels. All the results imply that changes in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway effectors are long-term neuroadaptations necessary for the behavioral response to cocaine. Even though more research is needed, the present results introduce the Wnt canonical pathway as a possible target to manage cocaine long-term neuroadaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Cuesta
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.,Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Jorgelina Batuecas
- Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Maria J Severin
- Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Alejandrina Funes
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.,Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Silvana B Rosso
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.,Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Alejandra M Pacchioni
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.,Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
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37
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Gipson CD, Olive MF. Structural and functional plasticity of dendritic spines - root or result of behavior? GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:101-117. [PMID: 27561549 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic spines are multifunctional integrative units of the nervous system and are highly diverse and dynamic in nature. Both internal and external stimuli influence dendritic spine density and morphology on the order of minutes. It is clear that the structural plasticity of dendritic spines is related to changes in synaptic efficacy, learning and memory and other cognitive processes. However, it is currently unclear whether structural changes in dendritic spines are primary instigators of changes in specific behaviors, a consequence of behavioral changes, or both. In this review, we first examine the basic structure and function of dendritic spines in the brain, as well as laboratory methods to characterize and quantify morphological changes in dendritic spines. We then discuss the existing literature on the temporal and functional relationship between changes in dendritic spines in specific brain regions and changes in specific behaviors mediated by those regions. Although technological advancements have allowed us to better understand the functional relevance of structural changes in dendritic spines that are influenced by environmental stimuli, the role of spine dynamics as an underlying driver or consequence of behavior still remains elusive. We conclude that while it is likely that structural changes in dendritic spines are both instigators and results of behavioral changes, improved research tools and methods are needed to experimentally and directly manipulate spine dynamics in order to more empirically delineate the relationship between spine structure and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Gipson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - M F Olive
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Abstract
Advances in neuroscience identified addiction as a chronic brain disease with strong genetic, neurodevelopmental, and sociocultural components. We here discuss the circuit- and cell-level mechanisms of this condition and its co-option of pathways regulating reward, self-control, and affect. Drugs of abuse exert their initial reinforcing effects by triggering supraphysiologic surges of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens that activate the direct striatal pathway via D1 receptors and inhibit the indirect striato-cortical pathway via D2 receptors. Repeated drug administration triggers neuroplastic changes in glutamatergic inputs to the striatum and midbrain dopamine neurons, enhancing the brain's reactivity to drug cues, reducing the sensitivity to non-drug rewards, weakening self-regulation, and increasing the sensitivity to stressful stimuli and dysphoria. Drug-induced impairments are long lasting; thus, interventions designed to mitigate or even reverse them would be beneficial for the treatment of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora D Volkow
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Marisela Morales
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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39
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Shen S, Jiang X, Li J, Straubinger RM, Suarez M, Tu C, Duan X, Thompson AC, Qu J. Large-Scale, Ion-Current-Based Proteomic Investigation of the Rat Striatal Proteome in a Model of Short- and Long-Term Cocaine Withdrawal. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:1702-16. [PMID: 27018876 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Given the tremendous detriments of cocaine dependence, effective diagnosis and patient stratification are critical for successful intervention yet difficult to achieve due to the largely unknown molecular mechanisms involved. To obtain new insights into cocaine dependence and withdrawal, we employed a reproducible, reliable, and large-scale proteomics approach to investigate the striatal proteomes of rats (n = 40, 10 per group) subjected to chronic cocaine exposure, followed by either short- (WD1) or long- (WD22) term withdrawal. By implementing a surfactant-aided precipitation/on-pellet digestion procedure, a reproducible and sensitive nanoLC-Orbitrap MS analysis, and an optimized ion-current-based MS1 quantification pipeline, >2000 nonredundant proteins were quantified confidently without missing data in any replicate. Although cocaine was cleared from the body, 129/37 altered proteins were observed in WD1/WD22 that are implicated in several biological processes related closely to drug-induced neuroplasticity. Although many of these changes recapitulate the findings from independent studies reported over the last two decades, some novel insights were obtained and further validated by immunoassays. For example, significantly elevated striatal protein kinase C activity persisted over the 22 day cocaine withdrawal. Cofilin-1 activity was up-regulated in WD1 and down-regulated in WD22. These discoveries suggest potentially distinct structural plasticity after short- and long-term cocaine withdrawal. In addition, this study provides compelling evidence that blood vessel narrowing, a long-known effect of cocaine use, occurred after long-term but not short-term withdrawal. In summary, this work developed a well-optimized paradigm for ion-current-based quantitative proteomics in brain tissues and obtained novel insights into molecular alterations in the striatum following cocaine exposure and withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichen Shen
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences , Buffalo, New York 14203, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14214, United States
| | - Xiaosheng Jiang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14214, United States.,New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences , Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14214, United States.,New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences , Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - Robert M Straubinger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14214, United States
| | - Mauricio Suarez
- Department of Psychology, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14260, United States.,Research Institute on Addictions, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - Chengjian Tu
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences , Buffalo, New York 14203, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14214, United States
| | - Xiaotao Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Beijing 100850, China
| | - Alexis C Thompson
- Department of Psychology, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14260, United States.,Research Institute on Addictions, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - Jun Qu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York 14214, United States.,New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences , Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
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40
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Presynaptic serotonin 2A receptors modulate thalamocortical plasticity and associative learning. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E1382-91. [PMID: 26903620 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1525586113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher-level cognitive processes strongly depend on a complex interplay between mediodorsal thalamus nuclei and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Alteration of thalamofrontal connectivity has been involved in cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Prefrontal serotonin (5-HT)2A receptors play an essential role in cortical network activity, but the mechanism underlying their modulation of glutamatergic transmission and plasticity at thalamocortical synapses remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that 5-HT2A receptor activation enhances NMDA transmission and gates the induction of temporal-dependent plasticity mediated by NMDA receptors at thalamocortical synapses in acute PFC slices. Expressing 5-HT2A receptors in the mediodorsal thalamus (presynaptic site) of 5-HT2A receptor-deficient mice, but not in the PFC (postsynaptic site), using a viral gene-delivery approach, rescued the otherwise absent potentiation of NMDA transmission, induction of temporal plasticity, and deficit in associative memory. These results provide, to our knowledge, the first physiological evidence of a role of presynaptic 5-HT2A receptors located at thalamocortical synapses in the control of thalamofrontal connectivity and the associated cognitive functions.
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41
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Hopf FW. Commentary: Alcohol Depletion of Magnesium: A New Mechanism for Tolerance to Alcohol Activation of BK Channels? Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 39:2095-6. [DOI: 10.1111/acer.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Woodward Hopf
- Department of Neurology; University of California at San Francisco; San Francisco California
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42
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Ojelade SA, Acevedo SF, Kalahasti G, Rodan AR, Rothenfluh A. RhoGAP18B Isoforms Act on Distinct Rho-Family GTPases and Regulate Behavioral Responses to Alcohol via Cofilin. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137465. [PMID: 26366560 PMCID: PMC4569326 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Responses to the effects of ethanol are highly conserved across organisms, with reduced responses to the sedating effects of ethanol being predictive of increased risk for human alcohol dependence. Previously, we described that regulators of actin dynamics, such as the Rho-family GTPases Rac1, Rho1, and Cdc42, alter Drosophila's sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation. The GTPase activating protein RhoGAP18B also affects sensitivity to ethanol. To better understand how different RhoGAP18B isoforms affect ethanol sedation, we examined them for their effects on cell shape, GTP-loading of Rho-family GTPase, activation of the actin-severing cofilin, and actin filamentation. Our results suggest that the RhoGAP18B-PA isoform acts on Cdc42, while PC and PD act via Rac1 and Rho1 to activate cofilin. In vivo, a loss-of-function mutation in the cofilin-encoding gene twinstar leads to reduced ethanol-sensitivity and acts in concert with RhoGAP18B. Different RhoGAP18B isoforms, therefore, act on distinct subsets of Rho-family GTPases to modulate cofilin activity, actin dynamics, and ethanol-induced behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamsideen A. Ojelade
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
- Program in Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Summer F. Acevedo
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Geetha Kalahasti
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Aylin R. Rodan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States of America
| | - Adrian Rothenfluh
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
- Program in Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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43
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DePoy LM, Gourley SL. Synaptic Cytoskeletal Plasticity in the Prefrontal Cortex Following Psychostimulant Exposure. Traffic 2015; 16:919-40. [PMID: 25951902 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is characterized by maladaptive decision-making, a loss of control over drug consumption and habit-like drug seeking despite adverse consequences. These cognitive changes may reflect the effects of drugs of abuse on prefrontal cortical neurobiology. Here, we review evidence that amphetamine and cocaine fundamentally remodel the structure of excitatory neurons in the prefrontal cortex. We summarize evidence in particular that these psychostimulants have opposing effects in the medial and orbital prefrontal cortices ('mPFC' and 'oPFC', respectively). For example, amphetamine and cocaine increase dendrite length and spine density in the mPFC, while dendrites are impoverished and dendritic spines are eliminated in the oPFC. We will discuss evidence that certain cytoskeletal regulatory proteins expressed in the oPFC and implicated in postnatal (adolescent) neural development also regulate behavioral sensitivity to cocaine. These findings potentially open a window of opportunity for the identification of novel pharmacotherapeutic targets in the treatment of drug abuse disorders in adults, as well as in drug-vulnerable adolescent populations. Finally, we will discuss the behavioral implications of drug-related dendritic spine elimination in the oPFC, with regard to reversal learning tasks and tasks that assess the development of reward-seeking habits, both used to model aspects of addiction in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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44
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Caffino L, Calabrese F, Giannotti G, Barbon A, Verheij MMM, Racagni G, Fumagalli F. Stress rapidly dysregulates the glutamatergic synapse in the prefrontal cortex of cocaine-withdrawn adolescent rats. Addict Biol 2015; 20:158-69. [PMID: 24102978 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Although several lines of evidence have shown that chronic cocaine use is associated with stress system dysregulation, the underlying neurochemical mechanisms are still elusive. To investigate whether the rapid stress-induced response of the glutamatergic synapse was influenced by a previous history of cocaine, rats were exposed to repeated cocaine injections during adolescence [from postnatal day (PND) 28-42], subjected to a single swim stress (5 minutes) three days later (PND 45) and sacrificed 15 minutes after the end of this stressor. Critical determinants of glutamatergic homeostasis were measured in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) whereas circulating corticosterone levels were measured in the plasma. Exposure to stress in saline-treated animals did not show changes in the crucial determinants of the glutamatergic synapse. Conversely, in cocaine-treated animals, stress dynamically altered the glutamatergic synapse by: (1) enhancing the presynaptic vesicular mediators of glutamate release; (2) reducing the transporters responsible for glutamate clearance; (3) increasing the postsynaptic responsiveness of the N-methyl-D-aspartate subunit GluN1; and (4) causing hyperresponsive spines as evidenced by increased activation of the postsynaptic cdc42-Pak pathway. These findings indicate that exposure to cocaine during adolescence sensitizes mPFC glutamatergic synapses to stress. It is suggested that changes in glutamatergic signaling may contribute to the increased sensitivity to stress observed in cocaine users. Moreover, glutamatergic processes may play an important role in stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Caffino
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannotti
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
| | - Alessandro Barbon
- Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, National Institute of Neuroscience; University of Brescia; Brescia Italy
| | - Michel M. M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Giorgio Racagni
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
- I.R.C.C.S. San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli; Brescia Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
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45
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Sharma P, Pienaar IS. Pharmacogenetic and optical dissection for mechanistic understanding of Parkinson's disease: Potential utilities revealed through behavioural assessment. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 47:87-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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46
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DePoy LM, Perszyk RE, Zimmermann KS, Koleske AJ, Gourley SL. Adolescent cocaine exposure simplifies orbitofrontal cortical dendritic arbors. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:228. [PMID: 25452728 PMCID: PMC4233985 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine and amphetamine remodel dendritic spines within discrete cortico-limbic brain structures including the orbitofrontal cortex (oPFC). Whether dendrite structure is similarly affected, and whether pre-existing cellular characteristics influence behavioral vulnerabilities to drugs of abuse, remain unclear. Animal models provide an ideal venue to address these issues because neurobehavioral phenotypes can be defined both before, and following, drug exposure. We exposed mice to cocaine from postnatal days 31–35, corresponding to early adolescence, using a dosing protocol that causes impairments in an instrumental reversal task in adulthood. We then imaged and reconstructed excitatory neurons in deep-layer oPFC. Prior cocaine exposure shortened and simplified arbors, particularly in the basal region. Next, we imaged and reconstructed orbital neurons in a developmental-genetic model of cocaine vulnerability—the p190rhogap+/– mouse. p190RhoGAP is an actin cytoskeleton regulatory protein that stabilizes dendrites and dendritic spines, and p190rhogap+/– mice develop rapid and robust locomotor activation in response to cocaine. Despite this, oPFC dendritic arbors were intact in drug-naïve p190rhogap+/– mice. Together, these findings provide evidence that adolescent cocaine exposure has long-term effects on dendrite structure in the oPFC, and they suggest that cocaine-induced modifications in dendrite structure may contribute to the behavioral effects of cocaine more so than pre-existing structural abnormalities in this cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Riley E Perszyk
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kelsey S Zimmermann
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anthony J Koleske
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University , New Haven, CT, USA ; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University , New Haven, CT, USA ; Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA ; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
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47
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Young EJ, Aceti M, Griggs EM, Fuchs RA, Zigmond Z, Rumbaugh G, Miller CA. Selective, retrieval-independent disruption of methamphetamine-associated memory by actin depolymerization. Biol Psychiatry 2014; 75:96-104. [PMID: 24012327 PMCID: PMC4023488 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Revised: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memories associated with drugs of abuse, such as methamphetamine (METH), increase relapse vulnerability to substance use disorder. There is a growing consensus that memory is supported by structural and functional plasticity driven by F-actin polymerization in postsynaptic dendritic spines at excitatory synapses. However, the mechanisms responsible for the long-term maintenance of memories, after consolidation has occurred, are largely unknown. METHODS Conditioned place preference (n = 112) and context-induced reinstatement of self-administration (n = 19) were used to assess the role of F-actin polymerization and myosin II, a molecular motor that drives memory-promoting dendritic spine actin polymerization, in the maintenance of METH-associated memories and related structural plasticity. RESULTS Memories formed through association with METH but not associations with foot shock or food reward were disrupted by a highly-specific actin cycling inhibitor when infused into the amygdala during the postconsolidation maintenance phase. This selective effect of depolymerization on METH-associated memory was immediate, persistent, and did not depend upon retrieval or strength of the association. Inhibition of non-muscle myosin II also resulted in a disruption of METH-associated memory. CONCLUSIONS Thus, drug-associated memories seem to be actively maintained by a unique form of cycling F-actin driven by myosin II. This finding provides a potential therapeutic approach for the selective treatment of unwanted memories associated with psychiatric disorders that is both selective and does not rely on retrieval of the memory. The results further suggest that memory maintenance depends upon the preservation of polymerized actin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica J. Young
- Department of Metabolism & Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida.,Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida
| | | | - Erica M. Griggs
- Department of Metabolism & Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida.,Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida
| | - Rita A. Fuchs
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | - Zachary Zigmond
- Department of Metabolism & Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida.,Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida
| | - Gavin Rumbaugh
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida
| | - Courtney A. Miller
- Department of Metabolism & Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida.,Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida.,Correspondence to:
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Gipson CD, Kupchik YM, Kalivas PW. Rapid, transient synaptic plasticity in addiction. Neuropharmacology 2014; 76 Pt B:276-86. [PMID: 23639436 PMCID: PMC3762905 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2013] [Revised: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chronic use of addictive drugs produces enduring neuroadaptations in the corticostriatal glutamatergic brain circuitry. The nucleus accumbens (NAc), which integrates cortical information and regulates goal-directed behavior, undergoes long-term morphological and electrophysiological changes that may underlie the increased susceptibility for relapse in drug-experienced individuals even after long periods of withdrawal. Additionally, it has recently been shown that exposure to cues associated with drug use elicits rapid and transient morphological and electrophysiological changes in glutamatergic synapses in the NAc. This review highlights these dynamic drug-induced changes in this pathway that are specific to a drug seeking neuropathology, as well as how these changes impair normal information processing and thereby contribute to the uncontrollable motivation to relapse. Future directions for relapse prevention and pharmacotherapeutic targeting of the rapid, transient synaptic plasticity in relapse are discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'NIDA 40th Anniversary Issue'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra D Gipson
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., BSB 403, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Kalirin-7 mediates cocaine-induced AMPA receptor and spine plasticity, enabling incentive sensitization. J Neurosci 2013; 33:11012-22. [PMID: 23825406 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1097-13.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that behavioral sensitization to cocaine is accompanied by increased spine density and AMPA receptor (AMPAR) transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), but two major questions remain unanswered. Are these adaptations mechanistically coupled? And, given that they can be dissociated from locomotor sensitization, what is their functional significance? We tested the hypothesis that the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor Kalirin-7 (Kal-7) couples cocaine-induced AMPAR and spine upregulation and that these adaptations underlie sensitization of cocaine's incentive-motivational properties-the properties that make it "wanted." Rats received eight daily injections of saline or cocaine. On withdrawal day 14, we found that Kal-7 levels and activation of its downstream effectors Rac-1 and PAK were increased in the NAc of cocaine-sensitized rats. Furthermore, AMPAR surface expression and spine density were increased, as expected. To determine whether these changes require Kal-7, a lentiviral vector expressing Kal-7 shRNA was injected into the NAc core before cocaine exposure. Knocking down Kal-7 abolished the AMPAR and spine upregulation normally seen during cocaine withdrawal. Despite the absence of these adaptations, rats with reduced Kal-7 levels developed locomotor sensitization. However, incentive sensitization, which was assessed by how rapidly rats learned to self-administer a threshold dose of cocaine, was severely impaired. These results identify a signaling pathway coordinating AMPAR and spine upregulation during cocaine withdrawal, demonstrate that locomotor and incentive sensitization involve divergent mechanisms, and link enhanced excitatory transmission in the NAc to incentive sensitization.
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Abstract
Both humans and rodents can learn to associate specific actions with their outcomes, but with repeated performance or exposure to pathological stimuli, such as drugs of abuse, behaviors assume stimulus-elicited, or "habitual," qualities. Psychostimulants remodel dorsal striatal neurons, critical determinants of decision-making strategies, but cytoskeletal mechanisms associated with drug-induced habit formation are largely unknown. We first show that cocaine can bias decision-making strategies toward stimulus-response habits by interfering with learning about the predictive relationship between a response and its outcome. In the dorsomedial, but not ventral, striatum, cocaine decreases PSD95 expression and phosphorylation of cortactin, a cytoskeletal regulator that interacts with, and is phophorylated by, the Abl2 (Arg) kinase. Based on this pattern, we inhibited Abl-family kinase signaling in the dorsomedial striatum, impairing new response-outcome learning. Consistent with evidence that the dorsomedial striatum promotes response-outcome decision-making while the dorsolateral compartment promotes stimulus-response habits, inhibition of Abl-family kinases in the dorsolateral striatum reinstates goal sensitivity in over-trained "habitual" mice. These findings provide a structural mechanism by which even acute exposure to drugs of abuse can reorganize behavioral response strategies and promote outcome-insensitive stimulus-response habits.
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