1
|
Hwang SB, Lee JG, Lee Y, Kook WA, Kim SK, Donio AL, Min HW, Kim YJ, Lee SY, Jang CG. Adinazolam, a Benzodiazepine-Type New Psychoactive Substance, Has Abuse Potential and Induces Withdrawal Symptoms in Rodents. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3487-3498. [PMID: 37695876 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Adinazolam (ADZ) is a benzodiazepine-type new psychoactive substance (NPS) with anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and antidepressant effects. High ADZ doses have been reported to impair psychomotor performance and memory; however, the abuse potential and drug dependence of ADZ have not yet been fully investigated. In this study, we evaluated whether ADZ has abuse potential and leads to drug dependence and withdrawal symptoms. The intravenous self-administration (IVSA) test revealed that ADZ (0.01, 0.03, and 0.1 mg/kg/infusion) was self-administered significantly above vehicle levels, suggesting the reinforcing effect of ADZ. Furthermore, we revealed that treatment discontinuation following chronic ADZ administration (3 and 6 mg/kg) caused several somatic withdrawal symptoms in mice, including body tremor. Moreover, it induced motivational withdrawal signs, such as anxiety-related behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and memory deficits in the Y-maze test. After the IVSA test, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that ADZ administration significantly increased the dopamine contents in the thalamus, nucleus accumbens (NAc), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). This finding was also supported by the results of the Western blot. Taken together, our results suggest that ADZ has abuse potential and can lead to drug dependence and withdrawal syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Su-Bin Hwang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Gyeong Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Youyoung Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Wun-A Kook
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Kyung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Audrey Lynn Donio
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Won Min
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Yong Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Choon-Gon Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Valeri J, Gisabella B, Pantazopoulos H. Dynamic regulation of the extracellular matrix in reward memory processes: a question of time. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1208974. [PMID: 37396928 PMCID: PMC10311570 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1208974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorders are a global health problem with increasing prevalence resulting in significant socioeconomic burden and increased mortality. Converging lines of evidence point to a critical role of brain extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules in the pathophysiology of substance use disorders. An increasing number of preclinical studies highlight the ECM as a promising target for development of novel cessation pharmacotherapies. The brain ECM is dynamically regulated during learning and memory processes, thus the time course of ECM alterations in substance use disorders is a critical factor that may impact interpretation of the current studies and development of pharmacological therapies. This review highlights the evidence for the involvement of ECM molecules in reward learning, including drug reward and natural reward such as food, as well as evidence regarding the pathophysiological state of the brain's ECM in substance use disorders and metabolic disorders. We focus on the information regarding time-course and substance specific changes in ECM molecules and how this information can be leveraged for the development of therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jake Valeri
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Barbara Gisabella
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Harry Pantazopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ma S, Zhong H, Liu X, Wang L. Spatial Distribution of Neurons Expressing Single, Double, and Triple Molecular Characteristics of Glutamatergic, Dopaminergic, or GABAergic Neurons in the Mouse Ventral Tegmental Area. J Mol Neurosci 2023; 73:345-362. [PMID: 37243808 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02121-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a heterogeneous midbrain area that plays a significant role in diverse neural processes such as reward, aversion, and motivation. The VTA contains three main neuronal populations, namely, dopamine (DA), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate neurons, but some neurons exhibit combinatorial molecular characteristics of dopaminergic, GABAergic, or glutamatergic neurons. However, little information is available regarding detailed distribution of neurons with single, double, and triple molecular characteristics of glutamatergic, dopaminergic, or GABAergic neurons in mice. We present a topographical distribution map of three main neuronal populations expressing a single molecular characteristic of dopaminergic, GABAergic, or glutamatergic neurons, and four neuronal populations co-expressing double or triple molecular characteristics in combinatorial manners, in the mouse VTA, following analysis of triple fluorescent in situ hybridization for the simultaneous detection of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, marker for dopaminergic neurons), vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2, marker for glutamatergic neurons), and glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 (GAD2, marker for GABAergic neurons) mRNA. We found that the vast majority of neurons expressed a single type of mRNA, and these neurons were intermingled with neurons co-expressing double or triple combinations of VGLUT2, TH, or GAD2 in the VTA. These seven neuronal populations were differentially distributed in the VTA sub-nuclei across the rostro-caudal and latero-medial axes. This histochemical study will lead to a deeper understanding of the complexity of neuronal molecular characteristics in different VTA sub-nuclei, and potentially facilitate clarification of diverse functions of the VTA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Hao Zhong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lepreux G, Shinn GE, Wei G, Suko A, Concepcion G, Sirohi S, Soon Go B, Bruchas MR, Walker BM. Recapitulating phenotypes of alcohol dependence via overexpression of Oprk1 in the ventral tegmental area of non-dependent TH::Cre rats. Neuropharmacology 2023; 228:109457. [PMID: 36764577 PMCID: PMC10034863 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109457] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The dynorphin (DYN)/kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) system is involved in dysphoria and negative emotional states. Dysregulation of KOR function promotes maladaptive behavioral regulation during withdrawal associated with alcohol dependence. Mesolimbic dopaminergic (DA) projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) innervate the extended amygdala circuitry and presynaptic KORs attenuate DA in these regions leading to an excessive alcohol consumption and negative affective-like behavior, whereas mesocortical KOR-regulated DA projections have been implicated in executive function and decision-making. Thus, the neuroadaptations occurring in DYN/KOR systems are important aspects to consider for the development of personalized therapeutic solutions. Herein, we study the contribution of the VTA DA neuron Oprk1 (KOR gene) in excessive alcohol consumption, negative emotional state, and executive function. To do so, Oprk1 mRNA expression and KOR function were characterized to confirm alcohol dependence-induced dysregulation in the VTA. Then, a transgenic Cre-Lox rat model (male and female TH::Cre rats) was used to allow for conditional and inducible overexpression of Oprk1 in VTA DA neurons. The effect of this overexpression was evaluated on operant alcohol self-administration, negative emotional states, and executive function. We found that VTA Oprk1 overexpression recapitulates some phenotypes of alcohol dependence including escalated alcohol self-administration and depressive-like behavior. However, working memory performance was not impacted following VTA Oprk1 overexpression in TH::Cre rats. This supports the hypothesis that dysregulated KOR signaling within the mesolimbic DA system is an important contributor to symptoms of alcohol dependence and shows that understanding Oprk1-mediated contributions to alcohol use disorder (AUD) should be an important future goal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaetan Lepreux
- Laboratory of Alcoholism and Addictions Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Grace E Shinn
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Gengze Wei
- Laboratory of Alcoholism and Addictions Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Azra Suko
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - George Concepcion
- Laboratory of Alcoholism and Addictions Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Sunil Sirohi
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Bok Soon Go
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Seattle, WA, USA; Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brendan M Walker
- Laboratory of Alcoholism and Addictions Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA; USF Health Neuroscience Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Nikbakhtzadeh M, Ashabi G, Saadatyar R, Doostmohammadi J, Nekoonam S, Keshavarz M, Riahi E. Restoring the firing activity of ventral tegmental area neurons by lateral hypothalamic deep brain stimulation following morphine administration in rats: LH DBS and the spiking activity of VTA neurons. Physiol Behav 2023; 267:114209. [PMID: 37105347 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
We have previously shown that high-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) compromises morphine-induced addiction-like behavior in rats. The exact mechanism underlying this effect is not known. Here, we investigated the assumption that DBS in the LH influences the firing activity of neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). To that end, male Wistar rats received morphine (5 mg/kg; s.c.) for three days and underwent extracellular single unit recording under general anesthesia one day later. During the recording, the rats received an intraoperative injection of morphine (5 mg/kg; s.c.) plus DBS in the LH (130 Hz pulse frequency, 150 μA amplitude, and 100 μs pulse width). One group of animals also received preoperative DBS after each morphine injection before the recording. The spiking frequency of VTA neurons was measured at three successive phases: (1) baseline (5-15 min); (2) DBS-on (morphine + DBS for 30 min); and (3) After-DBS (over 30 min after termination of DBS). Results showed that morphine suppressed the firing activity of a large population of non-DA neurons, whereas it activated most DA neurons. Intraoperative DBS reversed morphine suppression of non-DA firing, but did not alter the excitatory effect of morphine on DA neurons firing. With repeated preoperative application of DBS, non-DA neurons returned to the morphine-induced suppressive state, but DA neurons released from the excitatory effect of morphine. It is concluded that the development of morphine reward is associated with a hypoactivity of VTA non-DA neurons and a hyperactivity of DA neurons, and that DBS modulation of the spiking activity may contribute to the blockade of morphine addiction-like behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Nikbakhtzadeh
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghorbangol Ashabi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Saadatyar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jafar Doostmohammadi
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saied Nekoonam
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mansoor Keshavarz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esmail Riahi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yuen J, Goyal A, Rusheen AE, Kouzani AZ, Berk M, Kim JH, Tye SJ, Blaha CD, Bennet KE, Lee KH, Shin H, Oh Y. High frequency deep brain stimulation can mitigate the acute effects of cocaine administration on tonic dopamine levels in the rat nucleus accumbens. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1061578. [PMID: 36793536 PMCID: PMC9922701 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1061578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine's addictive properties stem from its capacity to increase tonic extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a principal source of NAc dopamine. To investigate how high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the rodent VTA or nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) modulates the acute effects of cocaine administration on NAcc tonic dopamine levels multiple-cyclic square wave voltammetry (M-CSWV) was used. VTA HFS alone decreased NAcc tonic dopamine levels by 42%. NAcc HFS alone resulted in an initial decrease in tonic dopamine levels followed by a return to baseline. VTA or NAcc HFS following cocaine administration prevented the cocaine-induced increase in NAcc tonic dopamine. The present results suggest a possible underlying mechanism of NAc deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and the possibility of treating SUD by abolishing dopamine release elicited by cocaine and other drugs of abuse by DBS in VTA, although further studies with chronic addiction models are required to confirm that. Furthermore, we demonstrated the use of M-CSWV can reliably measure tonic dopamine levels in vivo with both drug administration and DBS with minimal artifacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Yuen
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Abhinav Goyal
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Aaron E. Rusheen
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Abbas Z. Kouzani
- School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Berk
- The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Susannah J. Tye
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Charles D. Blaha
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Kevin E. Bennet
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Kendall H. Lee
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Hojin Shin
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Yoonbae Oh
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lowes DC, Harris AZ. Stressed and wired: The effects of stress on the VTA circuits underlying motivated behavior. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2022; 26:100388. [PMID: 36406203 PMCID: PMC9674332 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Stress affects many brain regions, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is critically involved in reward processing. Excessive stress can reduce reward-seeking behaviors but also exacerbate substance use disorders, two seemingly contradictory outcomes. Recent research has revealed that the VTA is a heterogenous structure with diverse populations of efferents and afferents serving different functions. Stress has correspondingly diverse effects on VTA neuron activity, tending to decrease lateral VTA dopamine (DA) neuron activity, while increasing medial VTA DA and GABA neuron activity. Here we review the differential effects of stress on the activity of these distinct VTA neuron populations and how they contribute to decreases in reward-seeking behavior or increases in drug self-administration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C. Lowes
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alexander Z. Harris
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA,Division of Systems Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Colon-Perez L, Montesinos J, Monsivais M. The Future of Neuroimaging and Gut-Brain Axis Research for Substance Use Disorders. Brain Res 2022; 1781:147835. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
9
|
Thomas CS, Mohammadkhani A, Rana M, Qiao M, Baimel C, Borgland SL. Optogenetic stimulation of lateral hypothalamic orexin/dynorphin inputs in the ventral tegmental area potentiates mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission and promotes reward-seeking behaviours. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:728-740. [PMID: 34663867 PMCID: PMC8782948 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01196-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Reward and reinforcement processes are critical for survival and propagation of genes. While numerous brain systems underlie these processes, a cardinal role is ascribed to mesolimbic dopamine. However, ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons receive complex innervation and various neuromodulatory factors, including input from lateral hypothalamic (LH) orexin/hypocretin neurons which also express and co-release the neuropeptide, dynorphin. Dynorphin in the VTA induces aversive conditioning through the Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and decreases dopamine when administered intra-VTA. Exogenous application of orexin or orexin 1 receptor (oxR1) antagonists in the VTA bidirectionally modulates dopamine-driven motivation and reward-seeking behaviours, including the attribution of motivational value to primary rewards and associated conditioned stimuli. However, the effect of endogenous stimulation of LH orexin/dynorphin-containing projections to the VTA and the potential contribution of co-released dynorphin on mesolimbic dopamine and reward related processes remains uncharacterised. We combined optogenetic, electrochemical, and behavioural approaches to examine this. We found that optical stimulation of LH orexin/dynorphin inputs in the VTA potentiates mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core, produces real time and conditioned place preference, and increases the food cue-directed orientation in a Pavlovian conditioning procedure. LH orexin/dynorphin potentiation of NAc dopamine release and real time place preference was blocked by an oxR1, but not KOR antagonist. Thus, rewarding effects associated with optical stimulation of LH orexin/dynorphin inputs in the VTA are predominantly driven by orexin rather than dynorphin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine S. Thomas
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Aida Mohammadkhani
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Madiha Rana
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Min Qiao
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Corey Baimel
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Stephanie L. Borgland
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Multi-Region Local Field Potential Signatures in Response to the Formalin-induced Inflammatory Stimulus in Male Rats. Brain Res 2022; 1778:147779. [PMID: 35007546 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pain can be ignited by noxious chemical (e.g., acid), mechanical (e.g., pressure), and thermal (e.g., heat) stimuli and generated by the activation of sensory neurons and their axonal terminals called nociceptors in the periphery. Nociceptive information transmitted from the periphery is projected to the central nervous system (thalamus, somatosensory cortex, insular, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, periaqueductal grey, prefrontal cortex, etc.) to generate a unified experience of pain. Local field potential (LFP) recording is one of the neurophysiological tools to investigate the combined neuronal activity, ranging from several hundred micrometers to a few millimeters (radius), located around the embedded electrode. The advantage of recording LFP is that it provides stable simultaneous activities in various brain regions in response to external stimuli. In this study, differential LFP activities from the contralateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and bilateral amygdala in response to peripheral noxious formalin injection were recorded in anesthetized male rats. The results indicated increased power of delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands in the ACC and amygdala but no change of gamma-band in the right amygdala. Within the VTA, intensities of the delta, theta, and beta bands were only enhanced significantly after formalin injection. It was found that the connectivity (i.t. the coherence) among these brain regions reduced significantly under the formalin-induced nociception, which suggests a significant interruption within the brain. With further study, it will sort out the key combination of structures that will serve as the signature for pain state.
Collapse
|
11
|
Paul AK, Smith CM, Rahmatullah M, Nissapatorn V, Wilairatana P, Spetea M, Gueven N, Dietis N. Opioid Analgesia and Opioid-Induced Adverse Effects: A Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1091. [PMID: 34832873 PMCID: PMC8620360 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioids are widely used as therapeutic agents against moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Still, these classes of analgesic drugs have many potential limitations as they induce analgesic tolerance, addiction and numerous behavioural adverse effects that often result in patient non-compliance. As opium and opioids have been traditionally used as painkillers, the exact mechanisms of their adverse reactions over repeated use are multifactorial and not fully understood. Older adults suffer from cancer and non-cancer chronic pain more than younger adults, due to the physiological changes related to ageing and their reduced metabolic capabilities and thus show an increased number of adverse reactions to opioid drugs. All clinically used opioids are μ-opioid receptor agonists, and the major adverse effects are directly or potentially connected to this receptor. Multifunctional opioid ligands or peripherally restricted opioids may elicit fewer adverse effects, as shown in preclinical studies, but these results need reproducibility from further extensive clinical trials. The current review aims to overview various mechanisms involved in the adverse effects induced by opioids, to provide a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and, ultimately, to help develop an effective therapeutic strategy to better manage pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alok K. Paul
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;
| | - Craig M. Smith
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia;
| | - Mohammed Rahmatullah
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh;
| | - Veeranoot Nissapatorn
- School of Allied Health Sciences, World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD) and Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand;
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Mariana Spetea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for Molecular Biosciences (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80–82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Nuri Gueven
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;
| | - Nikolas Dietis
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
P2X4 receptors are found throughout the central nervous system, and studies have shown that these purinergic receptors are important regulators of alcohol intake. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is an important region for the rewarding and reinforcing properties of alcohol, but the role of P2X4 receptors in this region is unknown. Using both immunohistochemical and electrophysiological methods, we examined the interaction between P2X4 receptors and alcohol on VTA neurons. Incubation of brain slices containing the VTA for 2 h with siRNA targeting P2X4 receptors resulted in about a 25% reduction in P2X4 immunoreactivity in tyrosine hydroxylase positive VTA neurons. In electrophysiological experiments, ATP (0.5-3 mM) produced a reduction in the spontaneous firing rate, and ethanol significantly reduced this inhibition. Exposure to siP2X4 for 2 h via the recording micropipette resulted in a suppression of the response of VTA neurons to ATP, but no significant reduction in the ethanol inhibition of the ATP response was observed after this P2X4 downregulation. These results support the idea that VTA neurons are inhibited by ATP, ethanol antagonizes this inhibition, and the ethanol-sensitive component of ATP inhibition is mediated by P2X4 receptors. This interaction of ethanol with P2X4 receptors may be an important regulator of the rewarding effects of ethanol, making P2X4 receptors an intriguing target for the development of agents to treat alcohol use disorders.
Collapse
|
13
|
Yuen J, Goyal A, Rusheen AE, Kouzani AZ, Berk M, Kim JH, Tye SJ, Blaha CD, Bennet KE, Jang DP, Lee KH, Shin H, Oh Y. Cocaine-Induced Changes in Tonic Dopamine Concentrations Measured Using Multiple-Cyclic Square Wave Voltammetry in vivo. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:705254. [PMID: 34295252 PMCID: PMC8290896 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.705254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
For over 40 years, in vivo microdialysis techniques have been at the forefront in measuring the effects of illicit substances on brain tonic extracellular levels of dopamine that underlie many aspects of drug addiction. However, the size of microdialysis probes and sampling rate may limit this technique’s ability to provide an accurate assessment of drug effects in microneural environments. A novel electrochemical method known as multiple-cyclic square wave voltammetry (M-CSWV), was recently developed to measure second-to-second changes in tonic dopamine levels at microelectrodes, providing spatiotemporal resolution superior to microdialysis. Here, we utilized M-CSWV and fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to measure changes in tonic or phasic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) after acute cocaine administration. Carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFM) and stimulating electrodes were implanted into the NAcc and medial forebrain bundle (MFB) of urethane anesthetized (1.5 g/kg i.p.) Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. Using FSCV, depths of each electrode were optimized by determining maximal MFB electrical stimulation-evoked phasic dopamine release. Changes in phasic responses were measured after a single dose of intravenous saline or cocaine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg; n = 4). In a separate group, changes in tonic dopamine levels were measured using M-CSWV after intravenous saline and after cocaine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg; n = 5). Both the phasic and tonic dopamine responses in the NAcc were augmented by the injection of cocaine compared to saline control. The phasic and tonic levels changed by approximately x2.4 and x1.9, respectively. These increases were largely consistent with previous studies using FSCV and microdialysis. However, the minimal disruption/disturbance of neuronal tissue by the CFM may explain why the baseline tonic dopamine values (134 ± 32 nM) measured by M-CSWV were found to be 10-fold higher when compared to conventional microdialysis. In this study, we demonstrated phasic dopamine dynamics in the NAcc with acute cocaine administration. M-CSWV was able to record rapid changes in tonic levels of dopamine, which cannot be achieved with other current voltammetric techniques. Taken together, M-CSWV has the potential to provide an unprecedented level of physiologic insight into dopamine signaling, both in vitro and in vivo, which will significantly enhance our understanding of neurochemical mechanisms underlying psychiatric conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Yuen
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Deakin University, IMPACT-the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Abhinav Goyal
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Aaron E Rusheen
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Abbas Z Kouzani
- School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Berk
- Deakin University, IMPACT-the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- Deakin University, IMPACT-the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Susannah J Tye
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Charles D Blaha
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Kevin E Bennet
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Dong-Pyo Jang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kendall H Lee
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Hojin Shin
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Yoonbae Oh
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Nall RW, Heinsbroek JA, Nentwig TB, Kalivas PW, Bobadilla AC. Circuit selectivity in drug versus natural reward seeking behaviors. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1450-1472. [PMID: 33420731 PMCID: PMC8178159 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is characterized, in part by behavior biased toward drug use and away from natural sources of reward (e.g., social interaction, food, sex). The neurobiological underpinnings of SUDs reveal distinct brain regions where neuronal activity is necessary for the manifestation of SUD-characteristic behaviors. Studies that specifically examine how these regions are involved in behaviors motivated by drug versus natural reward allow determinations of which regions are necessary for regulating seeking of both reward types, and appraisals of novel SUD therapies for off-target effects on behaviors motivated by natural reward. Here, we evaluate studies directly comparing regulatory roles for specific brain regions in drug versus natural reward. While it is clear that many regions drive behaviors motivated by all reward types, based on the literature reviewed we propose a set of interconnected regions that become necessary for behaviors motivated by drug, but not natural rewards. The circuitry is selectively necessary for drug seeking includes an Action/Reward subcircuit, comprising nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, and ventral tegmental area, a Prefrontal subcircuit comprising prelimbic, infralimbic, and insular cortices, a Stress subcircuit comprising the central nucleus of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and a Diencephalon circuit including lateral hypothalamus. Evidence was mixed for nucleus accumbens shell, insular cortex, and ventral pallidum. Studies for all other brain nuclei reviewed supported a necessary role in regulating both drug and natural reward seeking. Finally, we discuss emerging strategies to further disambiguate the necessity of brain regions in drug- versus natural reward-associated behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rusty W. Nall
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jasper A. Heinsbroek
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Todd B. Nentwig
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Peter W. Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- These authors share senior authorship
| | - Ana-Clara Bobadilla
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- These authors share senior authorship
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Neural Networks in Health and Disease. SYSTEMS MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.11470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
|
16
|
Distributed amylin receptor signaling and its influence on motivated behavior. Physiol Behav 2020; 222:112958. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
17
|
Balasubramanian N, Srivastava A, Pawar N, Sagarkar S, Sakharkar AJ. Repeated mild traumatic brain injury induces persistent variations in mitochondrial DNA copy number in mesocorticolimbic neurocircuitry of the rat. Neurosci Res 2020; 155:34-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
18
|
|
19
|
Pytka K, Dawson N, Tossell K, Ungless MA, Plevin R, Brett RR, Bushell TJ. Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-2 deletion modifies ventral tegmental area function and connectivity and alters reward processing. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:2838-2852. [PMID: 31989721 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate normal brain functioning, and their dysfunction is implicated in a number of brain disorders. Thus, there is great interest in understanding the signalling systems that control MAPK functioning. One family of proteins that contribute to this process, the mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatases (MKPs), directly inactivate MAPKs through dephosphorylation. Recent studies have identified novel functions of MKPs in foetal development, the immune system, cancer and synaptic plasticity and memory. In the present study, we performed an unbiased investigation using MKP-2-/- mice to assess whether MKP-2 plays a global role in modulating brain function. Local cerebral glucose utilization is significantly increased in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of MKP-2-/- mice, with connectivity analysis revealing alterations in VTA functional connectivity, including a significant reduction in connectivity to the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. In addition, spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current frequency, but not amplitude, onto putative dopamine neurons in the VTA is increased in MKP-2-/- mice, which indicates that increased excitatory drive may account for the increased VTA glucose utilization. Consistent with modified VTA function and connectivity, in behavioural tests MKP-2-/- mice exhibited increased sucrose preference and impaired amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion. Overall, these data reveal that MKP-2 plays a role in modulating VTA function and that its dysfunction may contribute to brain disorders in which altered reward processing is present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Pytka
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Neil Dawson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.,Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Kyoko Tossell
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), London, UK.,Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark A Ungless
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), London, UK.,Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Plevin
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ros R Brett
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Trevor J Bushell
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Waeiss RA, Knight CP, Carvajal GB, Bell RL, Engleman EA, McBride WJ, Hauser SR, Rodd ZA. Peri-adolescent alcohol consumption increases sensitivity and dopaminergic response to nicotine during adulthood in female alcohol-preferring (P) rats: Alterations to α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression. Behav Brain Res 2019; 376:112190. [PMID: 31473285 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent alcohol drinking has been linked to increased risk for drug abuse during adulthood. Nicotine microinjected directly into the posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA) stimulates dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a potent regulator of dopaminergic activity in the pVTA. The current experiments examined the effects of peri-adolescent ethanol (EtOH) drinking on the ability of intra-pVTA nicotine to stimulate DA release during adulthood and alterations in α7 nAChR expression within the pVTA. Alcohol-preferring (P) female rats consumed EtOH and/or water during adolescence (post-natal day [PND] 30-60) or adulthood (PND 90-120). Thirty days following removal of EtOH, subjects received microinjections of 1 μM, 10 μM, or 50 μM nicotine into the pVTA concurrently with microdialysis for extracellular DA in the NAc shell. Brains were harvested from an additional cohort after PND 90 for quantification of α7 nAChR within the pVTA. The results indicated that only adolescent EtOH consumption produced a leftward and upward shift in the dose response curve for nicotine to stimulate DA release in the NAc shell. Investigation of α7 nAChR expression within the pVTA revealed a significant increase in animals that consumed EtOH during adolescence compared to naïve animals. The data suggests that peri-adolescent EtOH consumption produced cross-sensitization to the effects of nicotine during adulthood. The interaction between adolescent EtOH consumption and inflated adult risk for drug dependency could be predicated, at least in part, upon alterations in α7 nAChR expression within the mesolimbic reward pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Waeiss
- Program in Medical Neuroscience, Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States.
| | - Christopher P Knight
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| | - Gustavo B Carvajal
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| | - Richard L Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States; Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| | - Eric A Engleman
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States; Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| | - William J McBride
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States; Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| | - Sheketha R Hauser
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| | - Zachary A Rodd
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States; Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hosp JA, Coenen VA, Rijntjes M, Egger K, Urbach H, Weiller C, Reisert M. Ventral tegmental area connections to motor and sensory cortical fields in humans. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:2839-2855. [PMID: 31440906 PMCID: PMC6778584 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01939-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In humans, sensorimotor cortical areas receive relevant dopaminergic innervation—although an anatomic description of the underlying fiber projections is lacking so far. In general, dopaminergic projections towards the cortex originate within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and are organized in a meso-cortico-limbic system. Using a DTI-based global tractography approach, we recently characterized the superolateral branch of the medial forebrain bundle (slMFB), a prominent pathway providing dopaminergic (and other transmitters) innervation for the pre-frontal cortex (Coenen et al., NeuroImage Clin 18:770–783, 2018). To define the connections between VTA and sensory–motor cortical fields that should contain dopaminergic fibers, we use the slMFB as a key structure to lead our fiber selection procedure: using a similar tracking-seed and tractography algorithm, we describe a dorsal extension of this slMFB that covers sensorimotor fields that are dorsally appended to pre-frontal cortical areas. This “motorMFB”, that connects the VTA to sensorimotor cortical fields, can be further segregated into three sub-bundles with a seed-based fiber-selection strategy: A PFC bundle that is attendant to the pre-frontal cortex, passes the lateral VTA, runs through the border zone between the posterior and lateral ventral thalamic nucleus, and involves the pre- and postcentral gyrus. An MB bundle that is attendant to the mammillary bodies runs directly through the medial VTA, passes the lateral ventral thalamic nucleus, and involves the pre- and postcentral gyrus as well as the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC). Finally, a BC bundle that is attendant to the brainstem and cerebellum runs through the lateral VTA, passes the anterior ventral thalamic nucleus, and covers the SMA, pre-SMA, and the dPMC. We, furthermore, included a fiber tracking of the well-defined dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRT) that is known to lie in close proximity with respect to fiber orientation and projection areas. As expected, the tract is characterized by a decussation at the ponto-mesencephal level and a projection covering the superior-frontal and precentral cortex. In addition to the physiological role of these particular bundles, the physiological and pathophysiological impact of dopaminergic signaling within sensorimotor cortical fields becomes discussed. However, some limitations have to be taken into account in consequence of the method: the transmitter content, the directionality, and the occurrence of interposed synaptic contacts cannot be specified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas A Hosp
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Freiburg University Medical Center, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany. .,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - V A Coenen
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Rijntjes
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Freiburg University Medical Center, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - K Egger
- Department of Neuroradiology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - H Urbach
- Department of Neuroradiology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - C Weiller
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Freiburg University Medical Center, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Reisert
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.,Department of Medical Physics, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Yohn SE, Galbraith J, Calipari ES, Conn PJ. Shared Behavioral and Neurocircuitry Disruptions in Drug Addiction, Obesity, and Binge Eating Disorder: Focus on Group I mGluRs in the Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2125-2143. [PMID: 30933466 PMCID: PMC7898461 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulated data from clinical and preclinical studies suggest that, in drug addiction and states of overeating, such as obesity and binge eating disorder (BED), there is an imbalance in circuits that are critical for motivation, reward saliency, executive function, and self-control. Central to these pathologies and the extensive topic of this Review are the aberrations in dopamine (DA) and glutamate (Glu) within the mesolimbic pathway. Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) are highly expressed in the mesolimbic pathway and are poised in key positions to modulate disruptions in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release observed in drug addiction, obesity, and BED. The use of allosteric modulators of group I mGlus has been studied in drug addiction, as they offer several advantages over traditional orthosteric agents. However, they have yet to be studied in obesity or BED. With the substantial overlap between the neurocircuitry involved in drug addiction and eating disorders, group I mGlus may also provide novel targets for obesity and BED.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E. Yohn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
| | - Jordan Galbraith
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
| | - Erin S. Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Operant Costs Modulate Dopamine Release to Self-Administered Cocaine. J Neurosci 2018; 39:1249-1260. [PMID: 30559149 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1721-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The costs associated with obtaining illicit drugs can fluctuate depending upon the relative drug availability. As a consequence of the changing costs, the effort that one must exert to obtain drugs is dynamic. Considerable evidence illustrates a critical role for dopamine in the ventral medial striatum in mediating drug reinforcement. However, little is known regarding how dopamine release is affected by changes in the costs associated with earning drugs. We used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to determine how changes in the operant requirement affected dopamine release to self-administered cocaine in male rats. Dopamine release to cocaine infusions increased across trials during self-administration sessions using a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule with a low operant requirement. However, increasing the operant requirement abolished the within-session elevation in dopamine release to drug rewards. This effect was not due to underlying changes in preinfusion dopamine levels and was not explained by cocaine levels in the brain. This within-session increase in dopamine release to cocaine infusions reemerged when the operant requirement was lowered. Under a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule, there was no increase in dopamine release to drug rewards across trials, which contrasts with prior studies demonstrating an increase in dopamine release to food rewards. Collectively, these findings illustrate that the influence of operant costs on reward-evoked dopamine release depends upon type of reward that can be earned (e.g., food or drug).SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The mesolimbic dopamine system is involved with mediating drug reinforcement. Although the costs associated with earning drugs are dynamic, no studies to date have examined how dopamine release to drug rewards is affected by changing costs. By performing fast-scan cyclic voltammetry recordings in rats self-administering cocaine, the present work demonstrates that changing the operant costs reversibly modulates the dopamine response to cocaine rewards. Furthermore, these findings highlight that the influence of costs on dopamine release to drug rewards differs from the established effect of costs on dopamine release to food rewards.
Collapse
|
24
|
Francis TC, Gantz SC, Moussawi K, Bonci A. Synaptic and intrinsic plasticity in the ventral tegmental area after chronic cocaine. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 54:66-72. [PMID: 30237117 PMCID: PMC10131346 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine exposure induces persistent changes in synaptic transmission and intrinsic properties of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons. Despite significant progress in understanding cocaine-induced plasticity, an effective treatment of cocaine addiction is lacking. Chronic cocaine potentiates excitatory and alters inhibitory transmission to dopamine neurons, induces dopamine neuron hyperexcitability, and reduces dopamine release in projection areas. Understanding how intrinsic and synaptic plasticity interact to control dopamine neuron firing and dopamine release could prove useful in the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we examine recent literature discussing cocaine-induced plasticity in the VTA and highlight potential therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Chase Francis
- Intramural Research Program, Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, US National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Stephanie C Gantz
- Intramural Research Program, Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, US National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Khaled Moussawi
- Intramural Research Program, Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, US National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Antonello Bonci
- Intramural Research Program, Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, US National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Keller RF, Dragomir A, Yantao F, Akay YM, Akay M. Investigating the genetic profile of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA in response to perinatal nicotine exposure using mRNA-miRNA analyses. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13769. [PMID: 30213973 PMCID: PMC6137108 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31882-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of developmental, behavioral, and cognitive deficits. Nicotine, the primary addictive component in tobacco, has been shown to modulate changes in gene expression when exposure occurs during neurodevelopment. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is believed to be central to the mechanism of addiction because of its involvement in the reward pathway. The purpose of this study was to build a genetic profile for dopamine (DA) neurons in the VTA and investigate the disruptions to the molecular pathways after perinatal nicotine exposure. Initially, we isolated the VTA from rat pups treated perinatally with either nicotine or saline (control) and collected DA neurons using fluorescent-activated cell sorting. Using microarray analysis, we profiled the differential expression of mRNAs and microRNAs from DA neurons in the VTA in order to explore potential points of regulation and enriched pathways following perinatal nicotine exposure. Furthermore, mechanisms of miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation were investigated using predicted and validated miRNA-gene targets in order to demonstrate the role of miRNAs in the mesocorticolimbic DA pathway. This study provides insight into the genetic profile as well as biological pathways of DA neurons in the VTA of rats following perinatal nicotine exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renee F Keller
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Andrei Dragomir
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Fan Yantao
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Yasemin M Akay
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Metin Akay
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zeldenrust F, Wadman WJ, Englitz B. Neural Coding With Bursts-Current State and Future Perspectives. Front Comput Neurosci 2018; 12:48. [PMID: 30034330 PMCID: PMC6043860 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2018.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal action potentials or spikes provide a long-range, noise-resistant means of communication between neurons. As point processes single spikes contain little information in themselves, i.e., outside the context of spikes from other neurons. Moreover, they may fail to cross a synapse. A burst, which consists of a short, high frequency train of spikes, will more reliably cross a synapse, increasing the likelihood of eliciting a postsynaptic spike, depending on the specific short-term plasticity at that synapse. Both the number and the temporal pattern of spikes in a burst provide a coding space that lies within the temporal integration realm of single neurons. Bursts have been observed in many species, including the non-mammalian, and in brain regions that range from subcortical to cortical. Despite their widespread presence and potential relevance, the uncertainties of how to classify bursts seems to have limited the research into the coding possibilities for bursts. The present series of research articles provides new insights into the relevance and interpretation of bursts across different neural circuits, and new methods for their analysis. Here, we provide a succinct introduction to the history of burst coding and an overview of recent work on this topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fleur Zeldenrust
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Wytse J Wadman
- Cellular and Systems Neurobiology Lab, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Englitz
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kelly EA, Fudge JL. The neuroanatomic complexity of the CRF and DA systems and their interface: What we still don't know. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 90:247-259. [PMID: 29704516 PMCID: PMC5993645 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a neuropeptide that mediates the stress response. Long known to contribute to regulation of the adrenal stress response initiated in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), a complex pattern of extrahypothalamic CRF expression is also described in rodents and primates. Cross-talk between the CRF and midbrain dopamine (DA) systems links the stress response to DA regulation. Classically CRF + cells in the extended amygdala and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are considered the main source of this input, principally targeting the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, the anatomic complexity of both the DA and CRF system has been increasingly elaborated in the last decade. The DA neurons are now recognized as having diverse molecular, connectional and physiologic properties, predicted by their anatomic location. At the same time, the broad distribution of CRF cells in the brain has been increasingly delineated using different species and techniques. Here, we review updated information on both CRF localization and newer conceptualizations of the DA system to reconsider the CRF-DA interface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E A Kelly
- University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The Ernest J Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - J L Fudge
- University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The Ernest J Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Rochester, NY, United States; University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The Ernest J Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Rochester, NY, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Dumont G, Maex R, Gutkin B. Dopaminergic Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area and Their Dysregulation in Nicotine Addiction. COMPUTATIONAL PSYCHIATRY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-809825-7.00003-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
29
|
Gao P, Groenewegen HJ, Vanderschuren LJMJ, Voorn P. Heterogeneous neuronal activity in the lateral habenula after short- and long-term cocaine self-administration in rats. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 47:83-94. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Gao
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences; VU University Medical Center; de Boelelaan 1108 1081 HZ Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Henk J. Groenewegen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences; VU University Medical Center; de Boelelaan 1108 1081 HZ Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Louk J. M. J. Vanderschuren
- Division of Behavioural Neuroscience; Department of Animals in Science and Society; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Utrecht University; Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Pieter Voorn
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences; VU University Medical Center; de Boelelaan 1108 1081 HZ Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
GABA Uptake Inhibition Reduces In Vivo Extraction Fraction in the Ventral Tegmental Area of Long Evans Rats Measured by Quantitative Microdialysis Under Transient Conditions. Neurochem Res 2017; 43:306-315. [PMID: 29127598 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-017-2424-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Inhibitory signaling in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is involved in the mechanism of action for many drugs of abuse. Although drugs of abuse have been shown to alter extracellular γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration in the VTA, knowledge on how uptake mechanisms are regulated in vivo is limited. Quantitative (no-net-flux) microdialysis is commonly used to examine the extracellular concentration and clearance of monoamine neurotransmitters, however it is unclear whether this method is sensitive to changes in clearance for amino acid neurotransmitters such as GABA. The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in GABA uptake are reflected by in vivo extraction fraction within the VTA. Using quantitative (no-net-flux) microdialysis adapted for transient conditions, we examined the effects of local perfusion with the GABA uptake inhibitor, nipecotic acid, in the VTA of Long Evans rats. Basal extracellular GABA concentration and in vivo extraction fraction were 44.4 ± 1.9 nM (x-intercepts from 4 baseline regressions using a total of 24 rats) and 0.19 ± 0.01 (slopes from 4 baseline regressions using a total of 24 rats), respectively. Nipecotic acid (50 μM) significantly increased extracellular GABA concentration to 170 ± 4 nM and reduced in vivo extraction fraction to 0.112 ± 0.003. Extraction fraction returned to baseline following removal of nipecotic acid from the perfusate. Conventional microdialysis substantially underestimated the increase of extracellular GABA concentration due to nipecotic acid perfusion compared with that obtained from the quantitative analysis. Together, these results show that inhibiting GABA uptake mechanisms within the VTA alters in vivo extraction fraction measured using microdialysis and that in vivo extraction fraction may be an indirect measure of GABA clearance.
Collapse
|
31
|
Vandegrift BJ, You C, Satta R, Brodie MS, Lasek AW. Estradiol increases the sensitivity of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons to dopamine and ethanol. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187698. [PMID: 29107956 PMCID: PMC5673180 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gender differences in psychiatric disorders such as addiction may be modulated by the steroid hormone estrogen. For instance, 17β-estradiol (E2), the predominant form of circulating estrogen in pre-menopausal females, increases ethanol consumption, suggesting that E2 may affect the rewarding properties of ethanol and thus the development of alcohol use disorder in females. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is critically involved in the rewarding and reinforcing effects of ethanol. In order to determine the role of E2 in VTA physiology, gonadally intact female mice were sacrificed during diestrus II (high E2) or estrus (low E2) for electrophysiology recordings. We measured the excitation by ethanol and inhibition by dopamine (DA) of VTA DA neurons and found that both excitation by ethanol and inhibition by dopamine were greater in diestrus II compared with estrus. Treatment of VTA slices from mice in diestrus II with an estrogen receptor antagonist (ICI 182,780) reduced ethanol-stimulated neuronal firing, but had no effect on ethanol-stimulated firing of neurons in slices from mice in estrus. Surprisingly, ICI 182,780 did not affect the inhibition by DA, indicating different mechanisms of action of estrogen receptors in altering ethanol and DA responses. We also examined the responses of VTA DA neurons to ethanol and DA in ovariectomized mice treated with E2 and found that E2 treatment enhanced the responses to ethanol and DA in a manner similar to what we observed in mice in diestrus II. Our data indicate that E2 modulates VTA neuron physiology, which may contribute to both the enhanced reinforcing and rewarding effects of alcohol and the development of other psychiatric disorders in females that involve alterations in DA neurotransmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bertha J. Vandegrift
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Chang You
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Rosalba Satta
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mark S. Brodie
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Amy W. Lasek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Han X, He Y, Bi GH, Zhang HY, Song R, Liu QR, Egan JM, Gardner EL, Li J, Xi ZX. CB1 Receptor Activation on VgluT2-Expressing Glutamatergic Neurons Underlies Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9-THC)-Induced Aversive Effects in Mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12315. [PMID: 28951549 PMCID: PMC5614984 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12399-z] [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: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis can be rewarding or aversive. Cannabis reward is believed to be mediated by activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) on GABAergic neurons that disinhibit dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying cannabis aversion in rodents. In the present study, CB1Rs are found not only on VTA GABAergic neurons, but also on VTA glutamatergic neurons that express vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VgluT2). We then used Cre-Loxp transgenic technology to selectively delete CB1Rs in VgluT2-expressing glutamatergic neurons (VgluT2-CB1−/−) and Cre-dependent viral vector to express light-sensitive channelrhodopsin-2 into VTA glutamatergic neurons. We found that photoactivation of VTA glutamatergic neurons produced robust intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) behavior, which was dose-dependently blocked by DA receptor antagonists, but enhanced by cocaine. In contrast, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the major psychoactive component of cannabis, produced dose-dependent conditioned place aversion and a reduction in the above optical ICSS in VgluT2-cre control mice, but not in VgluT2-CB1−/− mice. These findings suggest that activation of CB1Rs in VgluT2-expressing glutamate neurons produces aversive effects that might explain why cannabinoid is not rewarding in rodents and might also account for individual differences in the hedonic effects of cannabis in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.,Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yi He
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Hai-Ying Zhang
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Rui Song
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Qing-Rong Liu
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Josephine M Egan
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Eliot L Gardner
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Peterson AC, Zhang S, Hu S, Chao HH, Li CSR. The Effects of Age, from Young to Middle Adulthood, and Gender on Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Dopaminergic Midbrain. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:52. [PMID: 28223929 PMCID: PMC5293810 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the dopaminergic ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) is implicated in psychiatric disorders including attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), addiction, schizophrenia and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the prevalence of these disorders varies by age and sex, the underlying neural mechanism is not well understood. The objective of this study was to delineate the distinct resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the VTA and SNc and examine the effects of age, from young to middle-adulthood, and sex on the rsFC of these two dopaminergic structures in a data set of 250 healthy adults (18-49 years of age, 104 men). Using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals, we correlated the time course of the VTA and SNc to the time courses of all other brain voxels. At a corrected threshold, paired t-test showed stronger VTA connectivity to bilateral angular gyrus and superior/middle and orbital frontal regions and stronger SNc connectivity to the insula, thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) and amygdala. Compared to women, men showed a stronger VTA/SNc connectivity to the left posterior orbital gyrus. In linear regressions, men but not women showed age-related changes in VTA/SNc connectivity to a number of cortical and cerebellar regions. Supporting shared but also distinct cerebral rsFC of the VTA and SNc and gender differences in age-related changes from young and middle adulthood in VTA/SNc connectivity, these new findings help advance our understanding of the neural bases of many neuropsychiatric illnesses that implicate the dopaminergic systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Peterson
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University North Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sien Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Herta H Chao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA; Veterans Administration Medical CenterWest Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Pastor V, Antonelli MC, Pallarés ME. Unravelling the Link Between Prenatal Stress, Dopamine and Substance Use Disorder. Neurotox Res 2016; 31:169-186. [DOI: 10.1007/s12640-016-9674-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
35
|
Deehan GA, Knight CP, Waeiss RA, Engleman EA, Toalston JE, McBride WJ, Hauser SR, Rodd ZA. Peripheral Administration of Ethanol Results in a Correlated Increase in Dopamine and Serotonin Within the Posterior Ventral Tegmental Area. Alcohol Alcohol 2016; 51:535-40. [PMID: 27307055 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agw037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Two critical neurotransmitter systems regulating ethanol (EtOH) reward are serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA). Within the posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA), 5-HT receptors have been shown to regulate DA neuronal activity. Increased pVTA neuronal activity has been linked to drug reinforcement. The current experiment sought to determine the effect of EtOH on 5-HT and DA levels within the pVTA. METHODS Wistar rats were implanted with cannula aimed at the pVTA. Neurochemical levels were determined using standard microdialysis procedures with concentric probes. Rats were randomly assigned to one of the five groups (n = 41; 7-9 per group) that were treated with 0-3.0 g/kg EtOH (intraperitoneally). RESULTS Ethanol produced increased extracellular DA levels in the pVTA that resembled an inverted U-shape dose-response curve with peak levels (~200% of baseline) at the 2.25 g/kg dose. The increase in DA levels was observed for an extended period of time (~100 minutes). The effects of EtOH on extracellular 5-HT levels in the pVTA also resembled an inverted U-shape dose-response curve. However, increased 5-HT levels were only observed during the initial post-injection sample. The increases in extracellular DA and 5-HT levels were significantly correlated. CONCLUSION The data indicate intraperitoneal EtOH administration stimulated the release of both 5-HT and DA within the pVTA, the levels of which were significantly correlated. Overall, the current findings suggest that the ability of EtOH to stimulate DA activity within the mesolimbic system may be modulated by increases in 5-HT release within the pVTA. SHORT SUMMARY Two critical neurotransmitter systems regulating ethanol reward are serotonin and dopamine. The current experiment determined that intraperitoneal ethanol administration increased serotonin and dopamine levels within the pVTA (levels were significantly correlated). The current findings suggest the ability of EtOH to stimulate serotonin and dopamine activity within the mesolimbic system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerald A Deehan
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Christopher P Knight
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - R Aaron Waeiss
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Eric A Engleman
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Jamie E Toalston
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - William J McBride
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Sheketha R Hauser
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Zachary A Rodd
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| |
Collapse
|