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Quintanilla ME, Morales P, Santapau D, Ávila A, Ponce C, Berrios-Cárcamo P, Olivares B, Gallardo J, Ezquer M, Herrera-Marschitz M, Israel Y, Ezquer F. Chronic Voluntary Morphine Intake Is Associated with Changes in Brain Structures Involved in Drug Dependence in a Rat Model of Polydrug Use. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17081. [PMID: 38069404 PMCID: PMC10707256 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242317081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic opioid intake leads to several brain changes involved in the development of dependence, whereby an early hedonistic effect (liking) extends to the need to self-administer the drug (wanting), the latter being mostly a prefrontal-striatal function. The development of animal models for voluntary oral opioid intake represents an important tool for identifying the cellular and molecular alterations induced by chronic opioid use. Studies mainly in humans have shown that polydrug use and drug dependence are shared across various substances. We hypothesize that an animal bred for its alcohol preference would develop opioid dependence and further that this would be associated with the overt cortical abnormalities clinically described for opioid addicts. We show that Wistar-derived outbred UChB rats selected for their high alcohol preference additionally develop: (i) a preference for oral ingestion of morphine over water, resulting in morphine intake of 15 mg/kg/day; (ii) marked opioid dependence, as evidenced by the generation of strong withdrawal signs upon naloxone administration; (iii) prefrontal cortex alterations known to be associated with the loss of control over drug intake, namely, demyelination, axonal degeneration, and a reduction in glutamate transporter GLT-1 levels; and (iv) glial striatal neuroinflammation and brain oxidative stress, as previously reported for chronic alcohol and chronic nicotine use. These findings underline the relevance of polydrug animal models and their potential in the study of the wide spectrum of brain alterations induced by chronic morphine intake. This study should be valuable for future evaluations of therapeutic approaches for this devastating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Elena Quintanilla
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (M.E.Q.); (P.M.); (M.H.-M.); (Y.I.)
| | - Paola Morales
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (M.E.Q.); (P.M.); (M.H.-M.); (Y.I.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7610658, Chile
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Daniela Santapau
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (D.S.); (A.Á.); (P.B.-C.); (J.G.); (M.E.)
| | - Alba Ávila
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (D.S.); (A.Á.); (P.B.-C.); (J.G.); (M.E.)
| | - Carolina Ponce
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Pablo Berrios-Cárcamo
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (D.S.); (A.Á.); (P.B.-C.); (J.G.); (M.E.)
| | - Belén Olivares
- Center for Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile;
| | - Javiera Gallardo
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (D.S.); (A.Á.); (P.B.-C.); (J.G.); (M.E.)
| | - Marcelo Ezquer
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (D.S.); (A.Á.); (P.B.-C.); (J.G.); (M.E.)
| | - Mario Herrera-Marschitz
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (M.E.Q.); (P.M.); (M.H.-M.); (Y.I.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7610658, Chile
| | - Yedy Israel
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (M.E.Q.); (P.M.); (M.H.-M.); (Y.I.)
| | - Fernando Ezquer
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago 7610658, Chile
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (D.S.); (A.Á.); (P.B.-C.); (J.G.); (M.E.)
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Vrettou M, Thalhammer SB, Svensson AL, Dumas S, Nilsson KW, Wallén-Mackenzie Å, Fredriksson R, Nylander I, Comasco E. Vesicular glutamate transporter 2 expression in the ventral tegmental area of outbred male rats following exposure to nicotine and alcohol. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep 2023; 8:100180. [PMID: 37533815 PMCID: PMC10391930 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Initiation of use/co-use of nicotine and alcohol, commonly occurring in an episodic manner during adolescence, can imprint vulnerability to the developing brain and lead to addiction. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a key heterogeneous region of the mesocorticolimbic circuit involved in the binge-drinking and intoxication step of the addiction circuit. Higher human post-mortem VTA expression of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2), a marker of the glutamatergic phenotype also expressed in dopaminergic [Tyrosine Hydroxylase (Th)-positive] neurons, has been associated with chronic nicotine use and co-use with alcohol. Methods The present study aimed to map and characterize the Vglut2- and Th-expressing neurons in the VTA of adolescent male rats exposed or not to prolonged (six-weeks) episodic (three consecutive days/week) nicotine and/or alcohol administration. Nicotine (0.35 mg/kg free base) was injected subcutaneously, whereas alcohol (2 g/kg 20%) was administrated via gavage. Vglut2 and Th mRNA was assessed in the anterior and posterior VTA by use of in situ hybridization. Results The profile of neurons varied with substance-exposure among VTA subregions. Th-only expressing neurons were more abundant in the posterior VTA of the group exposed to nicotine-only, compared to controls. The same neurons were, on the contrary, less present in the anterior VTA of animals exposed to alcohol-only, who also displayed a higher number of Vglut2-expressing neurons in the lateral anterior VTA. Conclusions VTA Vglut2- and Th-only neurons seem differentially involved in the effects of adolescent episodic nicotine and alcohol exposure in the anterior and posterior VTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vrettou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefan Bernhard Thalhammer
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anne-Lie Svensson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Kent W Nilsson
- Centre for Clinical Research Västerås, Uppsala University, Västmanland County Hospital Västerås, Sweden
| | | | - Robert Fredriksson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Nylander
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erika Comasco
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Gano A, Deak T, Pautassi RM. A review on the reciprocal interactions between neuroinflammatory processes and substance use and misuse, with a focus on alcohol misuse. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2023; 49:269-282. [PMID: 37148274 PMCID: PMC10524510 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2201944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Background: The last decade has witnessed a surge of findings implicating neuroinflammatory processes as pivotal players in substance use disorders. The directionality of effects began with the expectation that the neuroinflammation associated with prolonged substance misuse contributes to long-term neuropathological consequences. As the literature grew, however, it became evident that the interactions between neuroinflammatory processes and alcohol and drug intake were reciprocal and part of a pernicious cycle in which disease-relevant signaling pathways contributed to an escalation of drug intake, provoking further inflammation-signaling and thereby exacerbating the neuropathological effects of drug misuse.Objectives: The goal of this review and its associated special issue is to provide an overview of the emergent findings relevant to understanding these reciprocal interactions. The review highlights the importance of preclinical and clinical studies in testing and validation of immunotherapeutics as viable targets for curtailing substance use and misuse, with a focus on alcohol misuse.Methods: A narrative review of the literature on drug and neuroinflammation was conducted, as well as articles published in this Special Issue on Alcohol- and Drug-induced Neuroinflammation: Insights from Pre-clinical Models and Clinical Research.Results: We argue that (a) demographic variables and genetic background contribute unique sensitivity to drug-related neuroinflammation; (b) co-morbidities between substance use disorders and affect dysfunction may share common inflammation-related signatures that predict the efficacy of immunotherapeutic drugs; and (c) examination of polydrug interactions with neuroinflammation is a critical area where greater research emphasis is needed.Conclusions: This review provides an accessible and example-driven review of the relationship between drug misuse, neuroinflammatory processes, and their resultant neuropathological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anny Gano
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States of America
| | - Terrence Deak
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States of America
| | - Ricardo Marcos Pautassi
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC – CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba, 5000, Argentina
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Cruz B, Castañeda K, Aranda M, Hinojosa CA, Castro-Gutierrez R, Flores RJ, Spencer CT, Vozella V, Roberto M, Gadad BS, Roychowdhury S, O’Dell LE. Alcohol self-administration and nicotine withdrawal alter biomarkers of stress and inflammation and prefrontal cortex changes in Gβ subunits. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2023; 49:321-332. [PMID: 36206520 PMCID: PMC10348398 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2121656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Background: Although alcohol and nicotine are often used together, the biological consequences of these substances are not well understood. Identifying shared targets will inform cessation pharmacotherapies and provide a deeper understanding of how co-use of alcohol and nicotine impacts health, including biomarkers of stress and inflammation.Objective: We examined the effects of nicotine exposure and withdrawal on alcohol self-administration (SA), stress and inflammatory biomarkers, and a G-protein coupled receptor subunit (Gβ) in brain areas associated with drug use.Methods: Male rats were trained to SA alcohol and then received a nicotine pump (n = 7-8 per group). We assessed alcohol intake for 12 days during nicotine exposure and then following pump removal to elicit withdrawal. After the behavioral studies, we assessed plasma leptin, corticosterone, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and Gβ protein expression in the amygdala, nucleus accumbens (NAc), and prefrontal cortex (PFC).Results: Nicotine exposure or withdrawal did not alter alcohol intake (p > .05). Alcohol and nicotine withdrawal elevated corticosterone levels (p = .015) and decreased Gβ levels in the PFC (p = .004). In the absence of nicotine, alcohol SA suppressed IL-1β levels (p = .039). Chronic exposure to nicotine or withdrawal during alcohol SA did not alter leptin levels or Gβ expression in the amygdala or NAc (p's > .05).Conclusions: The combination of alcohol SA and nicotine withdrawal produced a persistent increase in stress biomarkers and a suppression in Gβ expression in the PFC, providing an important first step toward understanding the common biological mechanisms of alcohol/nicotine misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Cruz
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karen Castañeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Michelle Aranda
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Cecilia A. Hinojosa
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | | | - Rodolfo J. Flores
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Charles T. Spencer
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bharathi S. Gadad
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, USA
- Southwest Brain Bank, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Sukla Roychowdhury
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Laura E. O’Dell
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
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Randall CA, Sun D, Randall PA. Differential Effects of Nicotine, Alcohol, and Coexposure on Neuroimmune-Related Protein and Gene Expression in Corticolimbic Brain Regions of Rats. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:628-644. [PMID: 36705334 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotine and alcohol co-use is extremely common and their use constitutes two of the most common causes of preventable death, yet the underlying biological mechanisms are largely understudied. Activation of neuroimmune toll-like receptors (TLRs) promotes the induction of proinflammatory cascades and increases alcohol intake in rodents, which further promotes TLRs in the brain; nicotine may decrease central proinflammatory signaling. The current studies sought to determine the effects of nicotine ± alcohol (alone or in combination) on circulating blood plasma and TLR protein/gene expression in addiction-associated corticolimbic brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex-prelimbic (mPFC-PL) and nucleus accumbens core (AcbC). Adult rats were treated with alcohol (0 or 2 g/kg, IG) and exposed to nicotine vapor (0 or 30 mg/mL solution) daily for 2, 14, or 28 days. Plasma studies indicated no effects of independent exposure or coexposure in males. Coexposure decreased plasma nicotine levels versus nicotine-only treated females, yet alcohol and cotinine concentrations were unchanged. By 28 days, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-13 was decreased in alcohol-only females. Divergent changes in TLR3 (but not TLR4) protein occurred for independent-drug exposed males (but not coexposure), with reductions in the mPFC-PL after 14 days and increases in the AcbC by 28 days. Gene expression following chronic coexposure suggests nicotine may regionally counteract alcohol-induced inflammation, including increased AcbC-TLR3/4/7 and several downstream markers in females and increased mPFC-PL-TLR3 and -STAT3 (but not IRF3) evident in males with exposure to either drug alone. These findings give further insight into the role of sex and the neuroimmune system in independent exposure and coexposure to nicotine ± alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie A Randall
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Dongxiao Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033 United States
| | - Patrick A Randall
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033 United States
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Abstract
Nicotine has a unique profile among drugs of abuse. To the noninitiated user, nicotine has powerful aversive effects and its relatively weak euphorigenic effects undergo rapid tolerance. Despite this, nicotine is commonly abused despite negative heath consequences, and nicotine users have enormous difficulty quitting. Further, nicotine is one of the most commonly co-abused substances, in that it is often taken in combination with other drugs. One explanation of this polydrug use is that nicotine has multiple appetitive and consummatory conditioning effects. For example, nicotine is a reinforcement enhancer in that it can potently increase the incentive value of other stimuli, including those surrounding drugs of abuse such as alcohol. In addition, nicotine also has a unique profile of neurobiological effects that alter regulation of alcohol intake and interoception. This review discusses the psychological and biological mechanisms surrounding nicotine's appetitive conditioning and consummatory effects, particularly its interactions with alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P King
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States; Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Paul J Meyer
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.
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Moen JK, Lee AM. Sex Differences in the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor System of Rodents: Impacts on Nicotine and Alcohol Reward Behaviors. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:745783. [PMID: 34621155 PMCID: PMC8490611 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.745783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol and nicotine are the two most widely used and misused drugs around the world, and co-consumption of both substances is highly prevalent. Multiple lines of evidence show a profound effect of sex in many aspects of alcohol and nicotine reward, with women having more difficulty quitting smoking and showing a faster progression toward developing alcohol use disorder compared with men. Both alcohol and nicotine require neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) to elicit rewarding effects within the mesolimbic system, representing a shared molecular pathway that likely contributes to the frequent comorbidity of alcohol and nicotine dependence. However, the majority of preclinical studies on the mechanisms of alcohol and nicotine reward behaviors utilize only male rodents, and thus our understanding of alcohol and nicotine neuropharmacology relies heavily on male data. As preclinical research informs the development and refinement of therapies to help patients reduce drug consumption, it is critical to understand the way biological sex and sex hormones influence the rewarding properties of alcohol and nicotine. In this review, we summarize what is known about sex differences in rodent models of alcohol and nicotine reward behaviors with a focus on neuronal nAChRs, highlighting exciting areas for future research. Additionally, we discuss the way circulating sex hormones may interact with neuronal nAChRs to influence reward-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna K Moen
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Anna M Lee
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Abstract
This paper is the forty-second consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2019 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY, 11367, United States.
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Kazemi T, Huang S, Avci NG, Akay YM, Akay M. Investigating the effects of chronic perinatal alcohol and combined nicotine and alcohol exposure on dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons in the VTA. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8706. [PMID: 33888815 PMCID: PMC8062589 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88221-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is the origin of dopaminergic neurons and the dopamine (DA) reward pathway. This pathway has been widely studied in addiction and drug reinforcement studies and is believed to be the central processing component of the reward circuit. In this study, we used a well-established rat model to expose mother dams to alcohol, nicotine-alcohol, and saline perinatally. DA and non-DA neurons collected from the VTA of the rat pups were used to study expression profiles of miRNAs and mRNAs. miRNA pathway interactions, putative miRNA-mRNA target pairs, and downstream modulated biological pathways were analyzed. In the DA neurons, 4607 genes were differentially upregulated and 4682 were differentially downregulated following nicotine-alcohol exposure. However, in the non-DA neurons, only 543 genes were differentially upregulated and 506 were differentially downregulated. Cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival pathways were enriched after the treatments. Specifically, in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, there were 41 miRNAs and 136 mRNAs differentially expressed in the DA neurons while only 16 miRNAs and 20 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the non-DA neurons after the nicotine-alcohol exposure. These results depicted that chronic nicotine and alcohol exposures during pregnancy differentially affect both miRNA and gene expression profiles more in DA than the non-DA neurons in the VTA. Understanding how the expression signatures representing specific neuronal subpopulations become enriched in the VTA after addictive substance administration helps us to identify how neuronal functions may be altered in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Kazemi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Shuyan Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Naze G Avci
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Yasemin M Akay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Metin Akay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
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Domi A, Barbier E, Adermark L, Domi E. Targeting the Opioid Receptors: A Promising Therapeutic Avenue for Treatment in “Heavy Drinking Smokers”. Alcohol Alcohol 2021; 56:127-138. [DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aims
Despite a general decline in tobacco use in the last decades, the prevalence of tobacco smoking in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains substantial (45–50%). Importantly, the co-use of both substances potentiates the adverse effects, making it a significant public health problem. Substantial evidence suggests that AUD and Tobacco use disorder (TUD) may share common mechanisms. Targeting these mechanisms may therefore provide more effective therapy. Numerous studies describe a potential role of the endogenous opioid system in both AUD and TUD. Reviewing this literature, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of molecules that target the opioid system as promising therapeutic interventions for treating alcohol and tobacco co-use disorders.
Methods
We provide a synthesis of the current epidemiological knowledge of alcohol and tobacco co-use disorders. We evaluate clinical and preclinical research that focuses on the regulation of the endogenous opioid system in alcohol, nicotine, and their interactions.
Results
The epidemiological data confirm that smoking stimulates heavy drinking and facilitates alcohol craving. Pharmacological findings suggest that treatments that are efficacious in the dual addiction provide a beneficial treatment outcome in comorbid AUD and TUD. In this regard, MOP, DOP and NOP-receptor antagonists show promising results, while the findings prompt caution when considering KOP-receptor antagonists as a treatment option in alcohol and tobacco co-use disorders.
Conclusions
Existing literature suggests a role of the opioid system in sustaining the high comorbidity rates of AUD and TUD. Molecules targeting opioid receptors may therefore represent promising therapeutic interventions in ‘heavy drinking smokers.’
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Domi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Box 410, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Estelle Barbier
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Campus US, Entrance 65, Linköping 581 85, Sweden
| | - Louise Adermark
- Addiction Biology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Box 410, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Esi Domi
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Campus US, Entrance 65, Linköping 581 85, Sweden
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Chandler CM, Maggio SE, Peng H, Nixon K, Bardo MT. Effects of ethanol, naltrexone, nicotine and varenicline in an ethanol and nicotine co-use model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 212:107988. [PMID: 32387915 PMCID: PMC7293937 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As alcohol and nicotine use disorders are entwined, it may be possible to develop a single medication to treat both. We previously developed a model for ethanol (EtOH) and nicotine co-use in female selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) rats. To model co-use in a genetically diverse population, we adapted the model to outbred Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes and assessed the effect of drug pretreatments. METHODS In phase 1, rats were trained in a 2-bottle choice between water and a sweetened or unsweetened EtOH solution in operant chambers. In phase 2, rats were trained in nicotine self-administration under an increasing fixed ratio (FR) schedule with 2 bottles containing water or saccharin-sweetened EtOH also available. In phase 3, rats were pretreated with EtOH (0.5, 1.5 g/kg), naltrexone (0.3 mg/kg), nicotine (0.2, 0.6 mg/kg), varenicline (3.0 mg/kg) or vehicle before the session. RESULTS Sweetening the EtOH solution was required to obtain pharmacologically relevant levels of consumption in Phase 1, with males showing increased sweetened EtOH preference compared to females. In Phase 2, increasing the FR requirement for nicotine decreased nicotine infusions, but increased EtOH consumption. In Phase 3, EtOH, naltrexone, and nicotine failed to alter EtOH consumption; however, varenicline decreased both EtOH and nicotine intake. CONCLUSIONS The co-use model was successfully adapted to Sprague-Dawley rats by adding saccharin to the EtOH solution. In contrast to previous results in P rats, varenicline reduced both EtOH and nicotine intake, indicating it may be a useful monotherapy for co-use in a genetically diverse population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie M Chandler
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 106 B, Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Sarah E Maggio
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 106 B, Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Hui Peng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Kimberly Nixon
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 106 B, Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
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DeBaker MC, Moen JK, Robinson JM, Wickman K, Lee AM. Unequal interactions between alcohol and nicotine co-consumption: suppression and enhancement of concurrent drug intake. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:967-78. [PMID: 31858160 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05426-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol and nicotine addiction are prevalent conditions that co-occur. Despite the prevalence of co-use, factors that influence the suppression and enhancement of concurrent alcohol and nicotine intake are largely unknown. OBJECTIVES Our goals were to assess how nicotine abstinence and availability influenced concurrent alcohol consumption and to determine the impact of quinine adulteration of alcohol on aversion-resistant alcohol consumption and concurrent nicotine consumption. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice voluntarily consumed unsweetened alcohol, nicotine, and water in a chronic 3-bottle choice procedure. In experiment 1, nicotine access was removed for 1 week and re-introduced the following week, while the alcohol and water bottles remained available at all times. In experiment 2, quinine (100-1000 μM) was added to the 20% alcohol bottle, while the nicotine and water bottles remained unaltered. RESULTS In experiment 1, we found that alcohol consumption and preference were unaffected by the presence or absence of nicotine access in both male and female mice. In experiment 2a, we found that quinine temporarily suppressed alcohol intake and enhanced concurrent nicotine, but not water, preference in both male and female mice. In experiment 2b, chronic quinine suppression of alcohol intake increased nicotine consumption and preference in female mice without affecting water preference, whereas it increased water and nicotine preference in male mice. CONCLUSIONS Quinine suppression of alcohol consumption enhanced the preference for concurrent nicotine preference in male and female mice, suggesting that mice compensate for the quinine adulteration of alcohol by increasing their nicotine preference.
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Waeiss RA, Knight CP, Engleman EA, Hauser SR, Rodd ZA. Co-administration of ethanol and nicotine heightens sensitivity to ethanol reward within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and increasing NAc shell BDNF is sufficient to enhance ethanol reward in naïve Wistar rats. J Neurochem 2020; 152:556-569. [PMID: 31721205 PMCID: PMC10826843 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder most commonly presents as a polydrug disorder where greater than 85% are estimated to smoke. EtOH and nicotine (NIC) co-abuse or exposure results in unique neuroadaptations that are linked to behaviors that promote drug use. The current experiments aimed to identify neuroadaptations within the mesolimbic pathway produced by concurrent EtOH and NIC exposure. The experiments used four overall groups of male Wistar rats consisting of vehicle, EtOH or NIC alone, and EtOH+NIC. Drug exposure through direct infusion into the posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA) stimulated release of glutamate and dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, which was quantified through high-performance liquid chromatography. Additionally, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A second experiment investigated the effects of drug pretreatment within the pVTA on the reinforcing properties of EtOH within the NAc shell through intracranial self-administration (ICSA). The concluding experiment evaluated the effect of NAc shell pretreatment with BDNF on EtOH reward utilizing ICSA within that region. The data indicated that only EtOH+NIC administration into the pVTA simultaneously increased glutamate, dopamine, and BDNF in the NAc shell. Moreover, only pVTA pretreatment with EtOH+NIC enhanced the reinforcing properties of EtOH in the NAc shell. BDNF pretreatment in the NAc shell was also sufficient to enhance the reinforcing properties of EtOH in the NAc shell. The collected data suggest that concurrent EtOH+NIC exposure results in a distinct neurochemical response and neuroadaptations within the mesolimbic pathway that alter EtOH reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Waeiss
- Program in Medical Neuroscience, Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Christopher P Knight
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Eric A Engleman
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sheketha R Hauser
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Zachary A Rodd
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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14
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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: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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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
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