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Nipper MA, Helms ML, Finn DA, Ryabinin AE. Stress-enhanced ethanol drinking does not increase sensitivity to the effects of a CRF-R1 antagonist on ethanol intake in male and female mice. Alcohol 2024:S0741-8329(24)00001-6. [PMID: 38185336 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Research confirms that stress is associated with alcohol drinking and relapse in males and females and that there are sex differences in the alcohol-related adaptations of stress pathways. The predator stress (PS) model of traumatic stress produces an increase in alcohol drinking or self-administration in a subpopulation of rodents, so it is utilized as an animal model of comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous work determined that sensitivity to PS-enhanced drinking produced sex differences in proteins related to stress-regulating systems in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The present studies examined whether male and female C57BL/6J mice differ in sensitivity to the ability of the corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist CP-376395 to decrease PS-enhanced drinking. In control studies, CP-376395 doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg dose-dependently decreased 4-hour ethanol drinking. Next, CP-376395 doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg were tested for effects on ethanol drinking in mice with differential sensitivity to PS-enhanced drinking. Subgroups of "Sensitive" and "Resilient" male and female mice were identified based on changes in ethanol intake in an unrestricted access ethanol drinking procedure following four exposures to PS (dirty rat bedding). During the first 2 hours post-injection of CP-376395, both doses significantly decreased ethanol licks versus vehicle in the females, with no significant interaction between subgroups, whereas the 10 mg/kg dose significantly decreased ethanol licks versus vehicle in the "Resilient" males. Thus, sensitivity to the suppressive effect of CP-376395 on stress-induced ethanol intake was greater in females versus males, whereas sensitivity and resilience to PS-enhanced drinking produced differential sensitivity to the ability of CP-376395 to decrease ethanol drinking only in male mice. Our results argue against greater efficacy of CRF-R1's ability to decrease ethanol intake in subjects with traumatic stress-enhanced ethanol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Nipper
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Melinda L Helms
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Deborah A Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239; Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Andrey E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239.
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2
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Finn DA. Stress and gonadal steroid influences on alcohol drinking and withdrawal, with focus on animal models in females. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 71:101094. [PMID: 37558184 PMCID: PMC10840953 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101094] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic effects of alcohol, following binge drinking, chronic intoxication, and withdrawal, are documented at the level of the transcriptome and in behavioral and physiological responses. The purpose of the current review is to update and to expand upon contributions of the endocrine system to alcohol drinking and withdrawal in females, with a focus on animal models. Steroids important in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes, the reciprocal interactions between these axes, the effects of chronic alcohol use on steroid levels, and the genomic and rapid membrane-associated effects of steroids and neurosteroids in models of alcohol drinking and withdrawal are described. Importantly, comparison between males and females highlight some divergent effects of sex- and stress-steroids on alcohol drinking- and withdrawal-related behaviors, and the distinct differences in response emphasize the importance of considering sex in the development of novel pharmacotherapies for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States.
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3
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Becker HC, Lopez MF, King CE, Griffin WC. Oxytocin Reduces Sensitized Stress-Induced Alcohol Relapse in a Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder Comorbidity. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:215-225. [PMID: 36822933 PMCID: PMC10247903 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is high comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder with few effective treatment options. Animal models of PTSD have shown increases in alcohol drinking, but effects of stress history on subsequent vulnerability to alcohol relapse have not been examined. Here we present a mouse model of PTSD involving chronic multimodal stress exposure that resulted in long-lasting sensitization to stress-induced alcohol relapse, and this sensitized stress response was blocked by oxytocin (OT) administration. METHODS Male and female mice trained to self-administer alcohol were exposed to predator odor (TMT) + yohimbine over 5 consecutive days or left undisturbed. After reestablishing stable alcohol responding/intake, mice were tested under extinction conditions, and then all mice were exposed to TMT or context cues previously associated with TMT before a reinstatement test session. Separate studies examined messenger RNA expression of Oxt and Oxtr in hypothalamus following chronic stress exposure. A final study examined the effects of systemic administration of OT on stress-induced alcohol relapse in mice with and without a history of chronic stress experience. RESULTS Chronic stress exposure produced long-lasting sensitization to subsequent stress-induced alcohol relapse that also generalized to stress-related context cues and transcriptional changes in hypothalamic OT system. OT injected before the reinstatement test session completely blocked the sensitized stress-induced alcohol relapse effect. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these results provide support for the therapeutic potential of OT, along with highlighting the value of utilizing this model in evaluating other pharmacological interventions for treatment of PTSD/alcohol use disorder comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard C Becker
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina.
| | - Marcelo F Lopez
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Courtney E King
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - William C Griffin
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
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Bach EC, Ewin SE, Heaney CF, Carlson HN, Ortelli OA, Almonte AG, Chappell AM, Raab-Graham KF, Weiner JL. Chemogenetic inhibition of a monosynaptic projection from the basolateral amygdala to the ventral hippocampus selectively reduces appetitive, but not consummatory, alcohol drinking-related behaviours. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:1241-1259. [PMID: 36840503 PMCID: PMC10931538 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15944] [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: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and anxiety/stressor disorders frequently co-occur and this dual diagnosis represents a major health and economic problem worldwide. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a key brain region that is known to contribute to the aetiology of both disorders. Although many studies have implicated BLA hyperexcitability in the pathogenesis of AUD and comorbid conditions, relatively little is known about the specific efferent projections from this brain region that contribute to these disorders. Recent optogenetic studies have shown that the BLA sends a strong monosynaptic excitatory projection to the ventral hippocampus (vHC) and that this circuit modulates anxiety- and fear-related behaviours. However, it is not known if this pathway influences alcohol drinking-related behaviours. Here, we employed a rodent operant self-administration regimen that procedurally separates appetitive (e.g. seeking) and consummatory (e.g., drinking) behaviours, chemogenetics and brain region-specific microinjections, to determine if BLA-vHC circuitry influences alcohol and sucrose drinking-related measures. We first confirmed prior optogenetic findings that silencing this circuit reduced anxiety-like behaviours on the elevated plus maze. We then demonstrated that inhibiting the BLA-vHC pathway significantly reduced appetitive drinking-related behaviours for both alcohol and sucrose while having no effect on consummatory measures. Taken together, these findings provide the first indication that the BLA-vHC circuit may regulate appetitive reward seeking directed at alcohol and natural rewards and add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that dysregulation of this pathway may contribute to the pathophysiology of AUD and anxiety/stressor-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Bach
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah E Ewin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chelcie F Heaney
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hannah N Carlson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Olivia A Ortelli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Antoine G Almonte
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ann M Chappell
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kimberly F Raab-Graham
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Weiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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Zhan B, Zhu Y, Xia J, Li W, Tang Y, Beesetty A, Ye JH, Fu R. Comorbidity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder: Animal Models and Associated Neurocircuitry. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010388. [PMID: 36613829 PMCID: PMC9820348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders and frequently co-occur concomitantly. Individuals suffering from this dual diagnosis often exhibit increased symptom severity and poorer treatment outcomes than those with only one of these diseases. Lacking standard preclinical models limited the exploration of neurobiological mechanisms underlying PTSD and AUD comorbidity. In this review, we summarize well-accepted preclinical model paradigms and criteria for developing successful models of comorbidity. We also outline how PTSD and AUD affect each other bidirectionally in the nervous nuclei have been heatedly discussed recently. We hope to provide potential recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhan
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Yingxin Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Jianxun Xia
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunkang School of Medicine and Health, Nanfang College, Guangzhou 510970, China
| | - Wenfu Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Anju Beesetty
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Jiang-Hong Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Correspondence: (J.-H.Y.); (R.F.)
| | - Rao Fu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
- Correspondence: (J.-H.Y.); (R.F.)
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Hinckley JD, Danielson CK. Elucidating the Neurobiologic Etiology of Comorbid PTSD and Substance Use Disorders. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091166. [PMID: 36138902 PMCID: PMC9496654 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Early childhood maltreatment and other traumatic event experiences ("trauma") are common among youth, including those with substance use problems including substance use disorders (SUD). Particularly, interpersonal violence is associated with high rates of comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and SUD, and these comorbid disorders exhibit high levels of overlapping symptomatology. Theoretical models proposed to explain the bidirectional relationship between PTSD and SUD include the self-medication hypothesis and susceptibility hypothesis. In this article, we explore neurobiologic changes associated with trauma, PTSD, and SUD that underly dysregulated stress response. Examining lessons learned from recent translational and clinical research, we propose that further elucidating the neurobiologic etiology of comorbid PTSD and SUD will require a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach, including the integration of preclinical and clinical studies, exploration of biologic markers in clinical studies, and accumulation of larger studies and longitudinal studies with the power to study PTSD and SUD. Such research can transform the field and ultimately reduce high rates and costly impairment of co-occurring PTSD and SUD across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D. Hinckley
- Division of Addiction Science, Treatment & Prevention, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 1890 N Revere Court, MS-F570, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Carla Kmett Danielson
- National Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, MSC 861, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Cincotta C, Ruesch E, Senne R, Ramirez S. Hippocampal fear engrams modulate ethanol-induced maladaptive contextual generalization in mice. Hippocampus 2022; 32:707-715. [PMID: 35950345 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23463] [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: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The compounding symptomatology of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and co-occurring mental health disorders gives rise to interactions of maladaptive neurobiological processes, the etiology of which are elusive. Here, we devised an optogenetic strategy aimed at rescuing maladaptive fear processing in male c57BL/6 mice that underwent a chronic ethanol administration and forced abstinence paradigm. In the first experiment, we confirmed that fear acquisition and maladaptive contextual generalization was potentiated in ethanol-exposed mice during fear conditioning and exposure to a novel environment, respectively. In the second experiment, using an activity-dependent tet-tag system, we labeled the neural ensemble selectively activated by contextual fear conditioning in the dorsal hippocampus with an inhibitory opsin to attenuate behavioral dysfunctions resulting from ethanol exposure. We found that acute optogenetic perturbations during exposure to a novel environment suppressed maladaptive generalization in ethanol-exposed mice. These results provide further evidence for a crucial link between ethanol exposure and impaired fear memory processing by providing cellular and behavioral insights into the neural circuitry underlying AUD and maladaptive fear processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Cincotta
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evan Ruesch
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ryan Senne
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steve Ramirez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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