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Xiao S, Sun H, Zhu Y, Shen Z, Zhu X, Yao PA, Wang Y, Zhang C, Yu W, Wu Z, Sun J, Xu C, Du J, He X, Fang J, Shao X. Electroacupuncture alleviates the relapse of pain-related aversive memory by activating KOR and inhibiting GABAergic neurons in the insular cortex. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10711-10721. [PMID: 37679857 PMCID: PMC10560575 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain-related aversive memory is common in chronic pain patients. Electroacupuncture has been demonstrated to block pain-related aversive memory. The insular cortex is a key region closely related to aversive behaviors. In our study, a potential mechanism underlying the effect of electroacupuncture treatment on pain-related aversive memory behaviors relative to the insular cortex was investigated. Our study used the chemogenetic method, pharmacological method, electroacupuncture intervention, and behavioral detection. Our study showed that both inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons and activation of the kappa opioid receptor in the insular cortex blocked the pain-related aversive memory behaviors induced by 2 crossover injections of carrageenan in mice; conversely, both the activation of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons and inhibition of kappa opioid receptor in the insular cortex play similar roles in inducing pain-related aversive memory behaviors following 2 crossover injections of carrageenan. In addition, activation of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons in the insular cortex reversed the effect of kappa opioid receptor activation in the insular cortex. Moreover, electroacupuncture effectively blocked pain-related aversive memory behaviors in model mice, which was reversed by both activation of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons and inhibition of kappa opioid receptor in the insular cortex. The effect of electroacupuncture on blocking pain-related aversive memory behaviors may be related to the activation of the kappa opioid receptor and inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons in the insular cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Haiju Sun
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Zui Shen
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xixiao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Ping-an Yao
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yifang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Zemin Wu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310060, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Chi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Junying Du
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xiaofen He
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Jianqiao Fang
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xiaomei Shao
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
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Melugin PR, Wu F, Munoz C, Phensy A, Pradhan G, Luo Y, Nofal A, Manepalli R, Kroener S. The effects of acamprosate on prefrontal cortical function are mimicked by CaCl2 and they are influenced by the history of alcohol exposure. Neuropharmacology 2022; 212:109062. [PMID: 35430241 PMCID: PMC10804777 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109062] [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: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is associated with functional changes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which include altered glutamatergic transmission and deficits in executive functions that contribute to relapse. Acamprosate (calcium-bis N-acetylhomotaurinate) reduces alcohol craving and relapse, effects that are thought to be mediated by acamprosate's ability to ameliorate alcohol-induced dysregulation of glutamatergic signaling. Treatment with acamprosate and its active moiety calcium (CaCl2) both improve deficits in cognitive flexibility in postdependent mice following chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure. Here, we show that mice that self-administered alcohol under goal-directed conditions (i.e., operant responding on a fixed-ratio schedule) also display similar deficits in cognitive flexibility and altered glutamatergic signaling in the mPFC, both of which were improved with acamprosate or CaCl2. However, under conditions shown to bias behavior towards habitual responding (operant self-administration after CIE exposure, or on a variable interval schedule), alcohol-induced changes to glutamatergic transmission were unaffected by either acamprosate or CaCl2 treatment. Together, these findings suggest that the variable effects of acamprosate on synaptic signaling may reflect a shift in mPFC networks related to the loss of behavioral control in habitual alcohol-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick R Melugin
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Fei Wu
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA; Institute of Neurobiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Crystal Munoz
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Aarron Phensy
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Grishma Pradhan
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yi Luo
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Abraham Nofal
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rohan Manepalli
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sven Kroener
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA.
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3
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Marino RAM, Girven KS, Figueiredo A, Navarrete J, Doty C, Sparta DR. Binge ethanol drinking associated with sex-dependent plasticity of neurons in the insula that project to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Neuropharmacology 2021; 196:108695. [PMID: 34233202 PMCID: PMC8928450 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Modifications in brain regions that govern reward-seeking are thought to contribute to persistent behaviors that are heavily associated with alcohol-use disorder (AUD) including binge ethanol drinking. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a critical node linked to both alcohol consumption and the onset, maintenance and progression of adaptive anxiety and stress-related disorders. Differences in anatomy, connectivity and receptor subpopulations, make the BNST a sexually dimorphic region. Previous work indicates that the ventral BNST (vBNST) receives input from the insular cortex (IC), a brain region involved in processing the body's internal state. This IC-vBNST projection has also been implicated in emotional and reward-seeking processes. Therefore, we examined the functional properties of vBNST-projecting, IC neurons in male and female mice that have undergone short-term ethanol exposure and abstinence using a voluntary Drinking in the Dark paradigm (DID) paired with whole-cell slice electrophysiology. First we show that IC neurons projected predominantly to the vBNST. Next, our data show that short-term ethanol exposure and abstinence enhanced excitatory synaptic strength onto vBNST-projecting, IC neurons in both sexes. However, we observed diametrically opposing modifications in excitability across sexes. In particular, short-term ethanol exposure resulted in increased intrinsic excitability of vBNST-projecting, IC neurons in females but not in males. Furthermore, in females, abstinence decreased the excitability of these same neurons. Taken together these findings show that short-term ethanol exposure, as well as the abstinence cause sex-related adaptations in BNST-projecting, IC neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A M Marino
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Kasey S Girven
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Antonio Figueiredo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jovana Navarrete
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Carolyn Doty
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Dennis R Sparta
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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McCool BA. Ethanol modulation of cortico-basolateral amygdala circuits: Neurophysiology and behavior. Neuropharmacology 2021; 197:108750. [PMID: 34371080 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This review highlights literature relating the anatomy, physiology, and behavioral contributions by projections between rodent prefrontal cortical areas and the basolateral amygdala. These projections are robustly modulated by both environmental experience and exposure to drugs of abuse including ethanol. Recent literature relating optogenetic and chemogenetic dissection of these circuits within behavior both compliments and occasionally challenges roles defined by more traditional pharmacological or lesion-based approaches. In particular, cortico-amygdala circuits help control both aversive and reward-seeking. Exposure to pathology-producing environments or abused drugs dysregulates the relative 'balance' of these outcomes. Modern circuit-based approaches have also shown that overlapping populations of neurons within a given brain region frequently govern both aversion and reward-seeking. In addition, these circuits often dramatically influence 'local' cortical or basolateral amygdala excitatory or inhibitory circuits. Our understanding of these neurobiological processes, particularly in relation to ethanol research, has just begun and represents a significant opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A McCool
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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5
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HATTORI K, KURAKAKE H, IMAI J, HASHIMOTO T, ISHIDA M, SATO K, TAKAHASHI H, OGUMA S, YAMAMOTO H, HIRANO-IWATA A, TANII T. Selective Stimulation of a Target Neuron in Micropatterned Neuronal Circuits Using a Pair of Needle Electrodes. ELECTROCHEMISTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.5796/electrochemistry.21-00032] [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
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Junko IMAI
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
| | | | - Mihoko ISHIDA
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
| | - Koki SATO
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
| | | | | | - Hideaki YAMAMOTO
- Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University
| | | | - Takashi TANII
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
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6
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Campbell EJ, Lawrence AJ. It's more than just interoception: The insular cortex involvement in alcohol use disorder. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1644-1651. [PMID: 33486788 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Understanding brain structures and circuits impacted by alcohol use disorder is critical for improving our future prevention techniques and treatment options. A brain region that has recently gained traction for its involvement in substance use disorder is the insular cortex. This brain region is multi-functional and spatially complex, resulting in a relative lack of understanding of the involvement of the insular cortex in alcohol use disorder. Here we discuss the role of the insular cortex in alcohol use disorder, particularly during periods of abstinence and in response to alcohol and alcohol-related cues and contexts. We also discuss a broader role of the insular in alcohol-associated risky decision making and impulse control. Finally, we canvas potential challenges associated with targeting the insular cortex to treat individuals with alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin J Campbell
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
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7
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Luo YX, Huang D, Guo C, Ma YY. Limited versus extended cocaine intravenous self-administration: Behavioral effects and electrophysiological changes in insular cortex. CNS Neurosci Ther 2020; 27:196-205. [PMID: 33118700 PMCID: PMC7816201 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Limited vs extended drug exposure has been proposed as one of the key factors in determining the risk of relapse, which is the primary characteristic of addiction behaviors. The current studies were designed to explore the related behavioral effects and neuronal alterations in the insular cortex (IC), an important brain region involved in addiction. Methods Experiments started with rats at the age of 35 days, a typical adolescent stage when initial drug exposure occurs often in humans. The drug‐seeking/taking behaviors, and membrane properties and intrinsic excitability of IC pyramidal neurons were measured on withdrawal day (WD) 1 and WD 45‐48 after limited vs extended cocaine intravenous self‐administration (IVSA). Results We found higher cocaine‐taking behaviors at the late withdrawal period after limited vs extended cocaine IVSA. We also found minor but significant effects of limited but not extended cocaine exposure on the kinetics and amplitude of action potentials on WD 45, in IC pyramidal neurons. Conclusion Our results indicate potential high risks of relapse in young rats with limited but not extended drug exposure, although the adaptations detected in the IC may not be sufficient to explain the neural changes of higher drug‐taking behaviors induced by limited cocaine IVSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xiao Luo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Donald Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Changyong Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Yao-Ying Ma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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8
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Luo YX, Galaj E, Ma YY. Differential alterations of insular cortex excitability after adolescent or adult chronic intermittent ethanol administration in male rats. J Neurosci Res 2020; 99:649-661. [PMID: 33094531 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent alcohol drinking, primarily in the form of binge-drinking episodes, is a serious public health concern. Binge drinking in laboratory animals has been modeled by a procedure involving chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) administration, as compared with chronic intermittent water (CIW). The prolonged effects of adolescent binge alcohol exposure in adults, such as high risk of developing alcohol use disorder, are severe but available treatments in the clinic are limited. One reason is the lack of sufficient understanding about the associated neuronal alterations. The involvement of the insular cortex, particularly the anterior agranular insula (AAI), has emerged as a critical region to explain neuronal mechanisms of substance abuse. This study was designed to evaluate the functional output of the AAI by measuring the intrinsic excitability of pyramidal neurons from male rats 2 or 21 days after adolescent or adult CIE treatment. Decreases in intrinsic excitability in AAI pyramidal neurons were detected 21 days, relative to 2 days, after adolescent CIE. Interestingly, the decreased intrinsic excitability in the AAI pyramidal neurons was observed 2 days after adult CIE, compared to adult CIW, but no difference was found between 2 versus 21 days after adult CIE. These data indicate that, although the AAI is influenced within a limited period after adult but not adolescent CIE, neuronal alterations in AAI are affected during the prolonged period of withdrawal from adolescent but not adult CIE. This may explain the prolonged vulnerability to mental disorders of subjects with an alcohol binge history during their adolescent stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xiao Luo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Ewa Galaj
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Yao-Ying Ma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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9
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Alhaddad H, Alasmari F, Alhamadani B, Wong W, Bell RL, Sari Y. Effects of chronic ethanol consumption on the expression of GLT-1 and neuroplasticity-related proteins in the nucleus accumbens of alcohol-preferring rats. Brain Res Bull 2020; 165:272-280. [PMID: 33075417 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Chronic ethanol exposure induces impairments in CNS excitatory and inhibitory activity. These impairments are associated with glutamatergic dysfunction, including altered neuroplasticity. This study examined the effects of 6-week ethanol (15% and 30% v/v) consumption, by male alcohol-preferring P rats, on protein expression associated with neuroplasticity and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) function. The latter regulates intra- and extra-synaptic glutamate levels. We focused on the shell and core subregions of the nucleus accumbens (Acb); i.e., shell (AcbSh) and core (AcbCo), for these measures. Chronic ethanol exposure increased the expression of BDNF, Arc and phosphorylated (p)-post-synaptic density protein-95 (p-PSD-95) in the AcbSh of P rats. Moreover, the ratio of phospho-neuronal nitric oxide synthase (p-nNOS) to total nNOS was also increased in the AcbSh. These changes in BDNF, Arc and p-nNOS/nNOS ratio were not observed in the AcbCo. Furthermore, chronic ethanol consumption reduced GLT-1 expression in the AcbSh. Alternatively, treatment with ceftriaxone (CEF), a known GLT-1 upregulator, abolished the effect of chronic ethanol consumption on BDNF expression in the AcbSh. Overall, the present findings confirm that chronic ethanol consumption modulates activity-associated synaptic proteins, including BDNF, Arc and nNOS in a subregion-specific (i.e., in the AcbSh but not AcbCo) manner. Thus, alterations in mesocorticolimbic glutamatergic homeostasis and neuroplasticity are possible functional targets for the treatment of alcohol use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Alhaddad
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Balsam Alhamadani
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Woonyen Wong
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Richard L Bell
- Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Youssef Sari
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
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10
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McGinnis MM, Parrish BC, McCool BA. Withdrawal from chronic ethanol exposure increases postsynaptic glutamate function of insular cortex projections to the rat basolateral amygdala. Neuropharmacology 2020; 172:108129. [PMID: 32418906 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A key feature of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is negative affect during withdrawal, which often contributes to relapse and is thought to be caused by altered brain function, especially in circuits that are important mediators of emotional behaviors. Both the agranular insular cortex (AIC) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) regulate emotions and are sensitive to ethanol-induced changes in synaptic plasticity. The AIC and BLA are reciprocally connected; and the effects of chronic ethanol exposure on this circuit have yet to be explored. Here, we use a combination of optogenetics and electrophysiology to examine the pre- and postsynaptic changes that occur to AIC-BLA synapses following withdrawal from 7- or 10-days of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure. While CIE/withdrawal did not alter presynaptic glutamate release probability from AIC inputs, withdrawal from 10, but not 7, days of CIE increased AMPA receptor-mediated postsynaptic function at these synapses. Additionally, NMDA receptor-mediated currents evoked by electrical stimulation of the external capsule, which contains AIC afferents, were also increased during withdrawal. Notably, a single subanesthetic dose of ketamine administered at the onset of withdrawal prevented the withdrawal-induced increases in both AMPAR and NMDAR postsynaptic function. Ketamine also prevented the withdrawal-induced increases in anxiety-like behavior measured using the elevated zero maze. Together, these findings suggest that chronic ethanol exposure increases postsynaptic function within the AIC-BLA circuit and that ketamine can prevent ethanol withdrawal-induced alterations in synaptic plasticity and negative affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly M McGinnis
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Brian C Parrish
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Brian A McCool
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
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11
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Jacob A, Wang P. Alcohol Intoxication and Cognition: Implications on Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:102. [PMID: 32116535 PMCID: PMC7029710 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Binge alcohol drinking is highly prevalent in young adults and results in 30% deaths per year in young males. Binge alcohol drinking or acute alcohol intoxication is a risk factor for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Three FDA approved drugs are currently in use as therapy for AUD; however, all of them have contra-indications and limitations. Structural brain imaging studies in alcoholics have shown defects in the brain regions involved in memory, cognition and emotional processing. Positron emission tomography (PET) using radiotracers (e.g., 18FDG) and measuring brain glucose metabolism have demonstrated diagnostic and prognostic utility in evaluating patients with cognitive impairment. Using PET imaging, only a few exclusive human studies have addressed the relationship between alcohol intoxication and cognition. Those studies indicate that alcohol intoxication causes reduction in brain activity. Consistent with prior findings, a recent study by us showed that acute alcohol intoxication reduced brain activity in the cortical and subcortical regions including the temporal lobe consisting the hippocampus. Additionally, we have observed a strong correlation between reduction in metabolic activity and spatial cognition impairment in the hippocampus after binge alcohol exposure. We have also demonstrated the involvement of a stress response protein, cold inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP), as a potential mechanistic mediator in acute alcohol intoxication. In this review, we will first discuss in detail prior human PET imaging studies on alcohol intoxication as well as our recent study on acute alcohol intoxication, and review the existing literature on potential mechanisms of acute alcohol intoxication-induced cognitive impairment and therapeutic strategies to mitigate these impairments. Finally, we will highlight the importance of studying brain regions as part of a brain network in delineating the mechanism of acute alcohol intoxication-induced cognitive impairment to aid in the development of therapeutics for such indication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha Jacob
- Center for Immunology and Inflammation, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Ping Wang
- Center for Immunology and Inflammation, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
- Department of Surgery, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
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12
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Lai CC, Hsu JW, Cheng YS, Lin HH. Involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in ethanol regulation of NMDA receptor activity in rat substantia gelatinosa neurons. Life Sci 2019; 233:116729. [PMID: 31386876 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116729] [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] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Glutamatergic receptors are important targets of ethanol. Intake of ethanol may produce analgesic effects. The present study examined the effects of ethanol on the activity of ionotropic glutamate receptors in spinal cord substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons, critical neurons involved in nociceptive transmission. MAIN METHODS Whole-cell recordings were made from SG neurons of the lumbar spinal cord slices from 15 to 20-day-old rats. Ethanol and glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists were applied by superfusion. KEY FINDING Ethanol (50 and 100 mM) applied by superfusion for 5 min dose-dependently decreased the amplitude of evoked excitatory postsynaptic potential in SG neurons. Superfusion of ethanol (100 mM) for 15 min consistently inhibited NMDA- or AMPA-induced depolarizations in SG neurons. Ethanol (100 mM) also inhibited the depolarizations induced by glutamate. However, ethanol inhibition of glutamate-induced responses significantly decreased at 10-15 min following continuous superfusion, suggesting the development of acute tolerance to the inhibition during prolonged exposure. Application of MPEP hydrochloride (an antagonist of metabotropic glutamate receptor [mGluR] 5) or GF109203X (a protein kinase C [PKC] inhibitor), together with ethanol significantly blocked the tolerance. The inhibition by ethanol of the NMDA-induced, but not AMPA-induced, depolarizations significantly decreased at 15 min during continuous superfusion while ACPD (a mGluR agonist) was co-applied with ethanol. SIGNIFICANCE The results suggest that (1) ethanol exposure may inhibit ionotropic glutamate receptor-mediated neurotransmission; (2) regulation of NMDA receptor function by mGluR5/PKC pathways may be involved in the development of the tolerance to ethanol inhibition of glutamate-induced responses during prolonged exposure in SG neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chia Lai
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan 970; Master and Ph.D. Programs in Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan 970
| | - Jhih-Wei Hsu
- Master Program in Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan 970
| | - Yi-Shan Cheng
- Master and Ph.D. Programs in Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan 970
| | - Hsun-Hsun Lin
- Master Program in Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan 970; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan 970.
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Ibrahim C, Rubin-Kahana DS, Pushparaj A, Musiol M, Blumberger DM, Daskalakis ZJ, Zangen A, Le Foll B. The Insula: A Brain Stimulation Target for the Treatment of Addiction. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:720. [PMID: 31312138 PMCID: PMC6614510 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a growing public health concern with only a limited number of approved treatments. However, even approved treatments are subject to limited efficacy with high long-term relapse rates. Current treatment approaches are typically a combination of pharmacotherapies and behavioral counselling. Growing evidence and technological advances suggest the potential of brain stimulation techniques for the treatment of SUDs. There are three main brain stimulation techniques that are outlined in this review: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). The insula, a region of the cerebral cortex, is known to be involved in critical aspects underlying SUDs, such as interoception, decision making, anxiety, pain perception, cognition, mood, threat recognition, and conscious urges. This review focuses on both the preclinical and clinical evidence demonstrating the role of the insula in addiction, thereby demonstrating its promise as a target for brain stimulation. Future research should evaluate the optimal parameters for brain stimulation of the insula, through the use of relevant biomarkers and clinical outcomes for SUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Ibrahim
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dafna S. Rubin-Kahana
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Abhiram Pushparaj
- Qunuba Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ironstone Product Development, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Daniel M. Blumberger
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zafiris J. Daskalakis
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Abraham Zangen
- Department of Life Sciences and the Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Addictions Division, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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