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Maccioni P, Kaczanowska K, Lobina C, Regonini Somenzi L, Bassareo V, Gessa GL, Lawrence HR, McDonald P, Colombo G. Delving into the reducing effects of the GABA B positive allosteric modulator, KK-92A, on alcohol-related behaviors in rats. Alcohol 2023; 112:61-70. [PMID: 37495087 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.07.004] [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] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAM), KK-92A, to suppress operant alcohol self-administration and reinstatement of alcohol seeking in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The present study was designed to scrutinize the suppressing effects of KK-92A on alcohol-related behaviors; to this end, four separate experiments were conducted to address just as many new research questions, some of which bear translational value. Experiment 1 found that 7-day treatment with KK-92A (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) effectively reduced alcohol intake in male sP rats exposed to the home-cage 2-bottle "alcohol (10% v/v) vs. water" choice regimen with 1 hour/day limited access, extending to excessive alcohol drinking the ability of KK-92A to suppress operant alcohol self-administration. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the ability of KK-92A to reduce lever-responding for alcohol was maintained also after acute, intragastric treatment (0, 20, and 40 mg/kg) in female sP rats trained to lever-respond for 15% (v/v) alcohol under the fixed ratio 5 schedule of reinforcement. In Experiment 3, acutely administered KK-92A (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) dampened alcohol-seeking behavior in female sP rats exposed to a single session under the extinction responding schedule. Experiment 4 used a taste reactivity test to demonstrate that acute treatment with KK-92A (0 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) did not alter either hedonic or aversive reactions to a 15% (v/v) alcohol solution in male sP rats, ruling out that KK-92A-induced reduction of alcohol drinking and self-administration could be due to alterations in alcohol palatability. Together, these results enhance the behavioral pharmacological profile of KK-92A and further strengthen the notion that GABAB PAMs may represent a novel class of ligands with therapeutic potential for treating alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | | | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Laura Regonini Somenzi
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Valentina Bassareo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | | | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy.
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Maccioni P, Chin YW, Corelli F, Kwon HC, Colombo G. Reducing effect of intragastrically administered saikosaponin A on alcohol and sucrose self-administration in rats. Nat Prod Res 2023; 37:4256-4260. [PMID: 36787176 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2177848] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Saikosaponin A (SSA) is an active ingredient of the Asian medicinal herb, Bupleurum falcatum L. When administered via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route, SSA suppressed multiple addictive-like behaviours, including operant alcohol self-administration, in rodents. It is unknown whether these effects are retained after intragastric (i.g.) administration, a desirable prerequisite for a compound with therapeutic potential. To fill this gap, i.g. SSA (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was tested in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats trained to lever-respond for oral alcohol. SSA reduced lever-responding and amount of self-administered alcohol. However, when compared to i.p. SSA, i.g. SSA resulted to be markedly less potent and effective, suggestive of reduced bioavailability after i.g. treatment. Finally, and in agreement with previous data on the suppressing effect of i.p. SSA on behaviours motivated by highly palatable foods, i.g. SSA (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg) reduced oral sucrose self-administration in a separate set of sP rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Young-Won Chin
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Hak Cheol Kwon
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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Maccioni P, Mugnaini C, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Corelli F, Colombo G. Anorectic effect of COR659 in a rat model of overeating. Behav Pharmacol 2023; 34:437-442. [PMID: 37712580 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
COR659 is a new compound, the action of which is exerted via a dual mechanism: positive allosteric modulation of the GABAB receptor; antagonism or inverse agonism at the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Recent lines of experimental evidence have indicated that COR659 potently and effectively reduced operant self-administration of and reinstatement of seeking behaviour for a chocolate-flavoured beverage. The present study was designed to assess whether the ability of COR659 to diminish these addictive-like, food-motivated behaviours extended to a rat model of overeating palatable food. To this end, rats were habituated to feed on a standard rat chow for 3 h/day; every 4 days, the 3-hour chow-feeding session was followed by a 1-hour feeding session with highly palatable, calorie-rich Danish butter cookies. Even though satiated, rats overconsumed cookies. COR659 (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered before the start of the cookie-feeding session. Treatment with all 3 doses of COR659 produced a substantial decrease in intake of cookies and calories from cookies. These results extend the anorectic profile of COR659 to overconsumption of a highly palatable food and intake of large amounts of unnecessary calories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA)
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena (SI)
| | | | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA)
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena (SI)
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA)
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Lobina C, Maccioni P, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Exposure to an enriched environment exerts anxiolytic effects in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114557. [PMID: 37390968 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114557] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to an enriched environment (EE) has been reported to generate multiple beneficial effects in rodents, including - among the many - amelioration of anxiety-related behaviors. The present study investigated whether living in an EE produced anxiolytic effects also in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The relevance of this research question relied on two factors: sP rats displayed an inherent, high anxiety-like state under different experimental conditions; exposure to EE reduced operant, oral alcohol self-administration in sP rats. Starting from weaning, male sP rats were kept under 3 different housing conditions: impoverished environment (IE; single housing with no environmental enrichment); standard environment (SE; 3 rats/cage with no environmental enrichment); EE (6 rats/cage with various elements of environmental enrichment). At the age of approximately 80 days, rats were exposed to an elevated plus maze test for assessment of anxiety-related behaviors. Compared to IE and SE rats, EE rats displayed higher basal levels of exploratory activity (i.e., increased number of entries into closed arms). Compared to IE and SE rats, EE rats also displayed a less "anxious" profile, as suggested by the increase in percent number of entries into open arms (OAs), percent time spent in OAs, number of head dips, and number of end-arm explorations in OAs. These data extend the protective (anxiolytic) effects of EE to a proposed animal model of comorbid alcohol use disorder and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Lorrai I, Shankula C, Marquez Gaytan J, Maccioni R, Lobina C, Maccioni P, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Gessa GL, Sanna PP, Corelli F, Colombo G. Development of tolerance upon repeated administration with the GABA B receptor positive allosteric modulator, COR659, on alcohol drinking in rodents. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2022; 48:662-672. [PMID: 36095322 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2116713] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Background: Recent work has demonstrated that acute administration of the novel positive allosteric modulator of the GABAB receptor, COR659, reduces several alcohol-related behaviors in rodents.Objective: To assess whether COR659 continues to lessen alcohol intake after repeated administration, a fundamental feature of drugs with therapeutic potential.Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice (n = 40) were exposed to daily 2-hour drinking sessions (20% (v/v) alcohol) under the 1-bottle "drinking in the dark" protocol and male Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats (n = 40) were exposed to daily 1-hour drinking sessions under the 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs water" choice regimen. COR659 (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg in the mouse experiment; 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg in the rat experiment) was administered intraperitoneally before 7 consecutive drinking sessions.Results: Alcohol intake in vehicle-treated mice and rats averaged 2.5-3.0 and 1.5-1.6 g/kg/session, respectively, indicative of high basal levels. In both experiments, treatment with COR659 resulted in an initial, dose-related suppression of alcohol intake (up to 70-80% compared to vehicle treatment; P < .0005 and P < .0001 in mouse and rat experiments, respectively). The magnitude of the reducing effect of COR659 on alcohol drinking diminished progressively, until vanishing over the subsequent 2-4 drinking sessions.Conclusion: COR659 effectively reduced alcohol intake in two different rodent models of excessive alcohol drinking. However, tolerance to the anti-alcohol effects of COR659 developed rapidly. If theoretically transposed to humans, these data would represent a possible limitation to the clinical use of COR659.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lorrai
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chase Shankula
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jorge Marquez Gaytan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Riccardo Maccioni
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Pietro Paolo Sanna
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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Maccioni P, Kaczanowska K, McDonald P, Colombo G. Development of Partial Tolerance to the Suppressing Effect of the Positive Allosteric Modulator of the GABAB Receptor, KK-92A, on Alcohol Self-Administration in Rats. Alcohol Alcohol 2022; 57:706-711. [PMID: 35589119 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS A recent study reported how acute treatment with KK-92A, a newly synthesized positive allosteric modulator (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs), suppressed a series of alcohol-related behaviors, including operant oral alcohol self-administration, in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. These findings lead to the addition of KK-92A to the long list of GABAB PAMs capable of reducing, after acute treatment, alcohol self-administration in rats. As a further step toward a more complete characterization of the anti-addictive properties of KK-92A, the present study was designed to assess the effect of repeated treatment with the compound on alcohol self-administration. METHODS sP rats were trained to lever-respond for oral alcohol (15%, v/v) under the fixed ratio 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding behavior had stabilized, KK-92A (0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 30 min prior to 10 consecutive daily self-administration sessions (likewise occurring under the FR5 schedule). RESULTS The first injection of KK-92A produced a dose-related suppression in number of lever-responses for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. Magnitude of the suppressing effect of KK-92A decreased over the following two self-administration sessions and then tended to stabilize on continuation of treatment. Statistical significance at post hoc analysis was maintained only by the highest dose tested (20 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest the development of partial tolerance to the reducing effect of repeatedly administered KK-92A on alcohol self-administration. The agonistic component of the ago-allosteric profile of KK-92A is discussed as the likely key element underlying the observed tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | | | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, Italy
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Maccioni P, Bratzu J, Lobina C, Acciaro C, Corrias G, Capra A, Carai MAM, Agabio R, Muntoni AL, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Exposure to an enriched environment reduces alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Physiol Behav 2022; 249:113771. [PMID: 35247441 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Living in an enriched environment (EE) produces a notable impact on several rodent behaviors, including those motivated by drugs of abuse. This picture is somewhat less clear when referring to alcohol-motivated behaviors. With the intent of contributing to this research field with data from one of the few rat lines selectively bred for excessive alcohol consumption, the present study investigated the effect of EE on operant oral alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Starting from Postnatal Day (PND) 21, male sP rats were kept under 3 different housing conditions: impoverished environment (IE; single housing in shoebox-like cages with no environmental enrichment); standard environment (SE; small colony cages with 3 rats and no environmental enrichment); EE (large colony cages with 6 rats and multiple elements of environmental enrichment, including 2 floors, ladders, maze, running wheels, and shelter). From PND 60, rats were exposed to different phases of shaping and training of alcohol self-administration. IE, SE, and EE rats were then compared under (i) fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of alcohol reinforcement for 20 daily sessions and (ii) progressive ratio (PR) schedule of alcohol reinforcement in a final single session. Acquisition of the lever-responding task (shaping) was slower in EE than IE and SE rats, as the likely consequence of a "devaluation" of the novel stimuli provided by the operant chamber in comparison to those to which EE rats were continuously exposed in their homecage or an alteration, induced by EE, of the rat "emotionality" state when facing the novel environment represented by the operant chamber. Training of alcohol self-administration was slower in EE than IE rats, with SE rats displaying intermediate values. A similar ranking order (IE>SE>EE) was also observed in number of lever-responses for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol under FR4 and PR schedules of reinforcement. These data suggest that living in a complex environment reduced the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol in sP rats. These results are interpreted in terms of the reinforcing and motivational properties of the main components of EE (i.e., social interactions, physical activities, exploration, novelty) substituting, at least partially, for those of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Acciaro
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gianluigi Corrias
- Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Alessandro Capra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research, I-09127 Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Roberta Agabio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Anna Lisa Muntoni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy.
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Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Blockade of the GABAB receptor suppressed alcohol self-administration in rats: an effect similar to that produced by GABAB receptor activation. Behav Pharmacol 2022; 33:51-60. [PMID: 34954712 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Literature data suggest that activation and blockade of the GABAB receptor may produce similar effects on several reward-related behaviours. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate whether treatment with the GABAB receptor antagonist, SCH 50911, reproduced the suppressing effect of the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, and several positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor on operant oral alcohol self-administration in rats. To this end, Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats were trained to lever-respond for alcohol (15% v/v) under the fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding had stabilized, rats were exposed to test sessions preceded by treatment with SCH 50911 (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg; i.p.). Two independent experiments were conducted, differing solely in the set of rats used. Selectivity of SCH 50911 effect on alcohol self-administration was assessed by evaluating the effect of SCH 50911 (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg; i.p.) on self-administration of a sucrose solution (0.7% w/v) in sP rats exposed to the FR4 schedule. In both 'alcohol' experiments, treatment with SCH 50911 reduced lever-responding for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. SCH 50911 effect was characterized by large interindividual variability, with several instances of dose-unrelated reductions, and frequent occurrence of complete suppression of lever-responding for alcohol. Similar data were collected in the 'sucrose' experiment. These results extend to alcohol self-administration with the notion that activation and blockade of GABAB receptor may produce unidirectional effects on reward-related behaviours; these similarities are discussed in terms of differential contribution of pre- and postsynaptic GABAB receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato
| | | | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato
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Maccioni P, Kaczanowska K, Lawrence H, Yun S, Bratzu J, Gessa GL, McDonald P, Colombo G. The Novel Positive Allosteric Modulator of the GABA B Receptor, KK-92A, Suppresses Alcohol Self-Administration and Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Alcohol Seeking in Rats. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:727576. [PMID: 34778249 PMCID: PMC8585307 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.727576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs) are of interest in the addiction field due to their ability to suppress several behaviors motivated by drugs of abuse. KK-92A is a novel GABAB PAM found to attenuate intravenous self-administration of nicotine and reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats. This present study was aimed at extending to alcohol the anti-addictive properties of KK-92A. To this end, Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats were trained to lever-respond for oral alcohol (15% v/v) or sucrose (0.7% w/v) under the fixed ratio (FR) 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding behavior had stabilized, rats were exposed to tests with acutely administered KK-92A under FR5 and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement and cue-induced reinstatement of previously extinguished alcohol seeking. KK-92A effect on spontaneous locomotor activity was also evaluated. Treatment with 10 and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed lever-responding for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol. Treatment with 20 mg/kg KK-92A reduced sucrose self-administration. Combination of per se ineffective doses of KK-92A (2.5 mg/kg) and the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen (1 mg/kg), reduced alcohol self-administration. Treatment with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Only treatment with 80 mg/kg KK-92A affected spontaneous locomotor activity. These results demonstrate the ability of KK-92A to inhibit alcohol-motivated behaviors in rodents and confirm that these effects are common to the entire class of GABAB PAMs. The remarkable efficacy of KK-92A is discussed in terms of its ago-allosteric properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Kaczanowska
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Harshani Lawrence
- Chemical Biology Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Sang Yun
- Chemical Biology Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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Maccioni P, Colombo G, Lorrai I, Lee JH, Pel P, Chin YW, Kwon HC. Suppressing effect of a saikosaponin-enriched extract of Bupleurum falcatum on alcohol and chocolate self-administration in rats. Nat Prod Res 2021; 36:4502-4505. [PMID: 34652253 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2021.1986816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrated that saikosaponin (SS) A and other SSs extracted from Bupleurum falcatum L. (Apiaceae) roots abolished different behaviours motivated by drugs of abuse and palatable foods in rats. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of an SS-enriched extract fraction of B. falcatum roots on operant, oral self-administration of alcohol and chocolate in rats. To this end, female Sardinian alcohol-preferring and Wistar rats were trained to lever-respond for alcohol (15% v/v) and chocolate (5% w/v powdered Nesquik in water), respectively. Acute treatment with B. falcatum extract (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced, in a dose-related manner, both alcohol and chocolate self-administration. These data confirm the notion that B. falcatum extracts may be a valuable source of pharmacological agents with anti-addictive and anorectic potential. The use of experimental procedures with predictive validity for the human disease adds strength to the translational potential of these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy.,Present address: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jung Hwan Lee
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Pisey Pel
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Gwanak, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Won Chin
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Gwanak, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hak Cheol Kwon
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung-si, Republic of Korea
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11
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Lobina C, Sau R, Fara F, Maccioni P, Carai MAM, Colombo G. Analgesic properties of a food grade lecithin delivery system of Zingiber officinale and Acmella oleracea standardized extracts in rats. Nat Prod Res 2021; 35:3078-3082. [PMID: 31651194 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1680667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated whether (i) the 5:1 combination of standardized extracts of Zingiber officinale and Acmella oleracea is endowed with analgesic effects and (ii) the phospholipid-based formulation of Zingiber officinale and Acmella oleracea extracts (ZAP) potentiated the analgesic effects of the plain extract combination (PEC). To this end, rats were exposed to acute pain (Tail Flick test) and chronic, inflammatory pain [Von Frey monofilament test and Randall-Selitto paw pressure test in rats treated intraplantarily with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)]. The plain combination of per se ineffective doses of the two extracts produced analgesic effects in healthy rats. ZAP was more potent and effective than the corresponding doses of PEC. ZAP also produced analgesic effects in CFA-treated rats. Studies are now warranted to assess whether the analgesic properties of ZAP may generalize to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Roberta Sau
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Federica Fara
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | | | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, Italy
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12
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Lanquetin A, Leclercq S, de Timary P, Segobin S, Naveau M, Coulbault L, Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Colombo G, Vivien D, Rubio M, Pitel AL. Role of inflammation in alcohol-related brain abnormalities: a translational study. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab154. [PMID: 34396111 PMCID: PMC8361421 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain abnormalities observed in alcohol use disorder are highly heterogeneous in nature and severity, possibly because chronic alcohol consumption also affects peripheral organs leading to comorbidities that can result in exacerbated brain alterations. Despite numerous studies focussing on the effects of alcohol on the brain or liver, few studies have simultaneously examined liver function and brain damage in alcohol use disorder, and even fewer investigated the relationship between them except in hepatic encephalopathy. And yet, liver dysfunction may be a risk factor for the development of alcohol-related neuropsychological deficits and brain damage well before the development of liver cirrhosis, and potentially through inflammatory responses. The use of animal models enables a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying liver–brain relationships in alcohol use disorder, and more particularly of the inflammatory response at the tissue, cerebral and hepatic levels. The objective of this translational study was to investigate, both in alcohol use disorder patients and in a validated animal model of alcohol use disorder, the links between peripheral inflammation, liver damage and brain alterations. To do this, we conducted an in vivo neuroimaging examination and biological measures to evaluate brain volumes, liver fibrosis and peripheral cytokines in alcohol use disorder patients. In selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, we carried out ex vivo neuroimaging examination and immunohistochemistry to evaluate brain and liver inflammatory responses after chronic (50 consecutive weeks) alcohol drinking. In recently abstinent and non-cirrhotic alcohol use disorder patients, the score of liver fibrosis positively correlated with subcortical regions volumes (especially in right and left putamen) and level of circulating proinflammatory cytokines. In Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, we found macrostructural brain damage and microstructural white matter abnormalities similar to those found in alcohol use disorder patients. In addition, in agreement with the results of peripheral inflammation observed in the patients, we revealed, in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, inflammatory responses in the brain and liver were caused by chronic alcohol consumption. Since the liver is the main source of cytokines in the human body, these results suggest a relationship between liver dysfunction and brain damage in alcohol use disorder patients, even in the absence of major liver disease. These findings encourage considering new therapeutic strategies aiming at treating peripheral organs to limit alcohol-related brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Lanquetin
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Sophie Leclercq
- Institute of Neuroscience and Louvain Drug Research Institute, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe de Timary
- Institute of Neuroscience and Louvain Drug Research Institute, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Shailendra Segobin
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Mikaël Naveau
- Normandie Univ UNICAEN, CNRS, UMS 3408, GIP Cyceron, Caen, France
| | - Laurent Coulbault
- Caen University Hospital, Biochemistry Department, Normandie University, UNICAEN, EA 4650, Caen, France
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Denis Vivien
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, 14000 Caen, France.,Department of Clinical Research, CHU Côte de Nacre, Caen 14000, France
| | - Marina Rubio
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Anne-Lise Pitel
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris 75231, France
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13
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Maccioni P, Bratzu J, Carai MAM, Colombo G, Gessa GL. Reducing Effect of Cannabidiol on Alcohol Self-Administration in Sardinian Alcohol-Preferring Rats. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2021; 7:161-169. [PMID: 33998889 PMCID: PMC9070735 DOI: 10.1089/can.2020.0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major cannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa with no abuse potential. Data from recent rodent studies suggest that amelioration of alcohol-motivated behaviors may be one of the numerous pharmacological effects of CBD. This study was designed to contribute to this research, assessing the effect of CBD on operant oral alcohol self-administration in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats, a validated animal model of excessive alcohol consumption. In addition, this study investigated the effect of CBD on operant self-administration of a highly palatable chocolate solution in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Male sP rats were trained to lever respond for alcohol (15% v/v) under the fixed ratio 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever responding had stabilized, rats were exposed to test sessions under the FR4 and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. Test sessions were preceded by acute treatment with CBD (0, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg or 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.; each dose range was tested in an independent experiment). Male Wistar rats were trained to lever respond for a chocolate solution (5% w/v chocolate powder) under the FR10 schedule of reinforcement. Once lever responding had stabilized, rats were exposed to test sessions under the same schedule. Test sessions were preceded by acute treatment with CBD (0, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg or 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p., in two independent experiments). Results: Under the FR schedule, treatment with doses of CBD ≥12.5 mg/kg markedly reduced lever responding for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. Under the PR schedule, treatment with CBD produced a slight tendency toward a decrease in lever responding and breakpoint for alcohol. Finally, no dose of CBD affected lever responding for the chocolate solution and amount of self-administered chocolate solution. Discussion: These results extend previous data on CBD ability to affect alcohol-motivated behaviors to an animal model of genetically-determined proclivity to high alcohol consumption. Because of the predictive validity of sP rats, these results may be of relevance in view of possible future studies testing CBD in patients affected by alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | | | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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14
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Lobina C, Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Zaru A, Collu M, Carai MAM, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Gessa GL, Corelli F, Colombo G. Suppressing effect of the novel positive allosteric modulator of the GABA B receptor, COR659, on locomotor hyperactivity induced by different drugs of abuse. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113045. [PMID: 33309750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
COR659 is a recently synthesized positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABAB receptor. Similarly to all GABAB PAMs tested to date, COR659 has been reported to suppress different alcohol-related behaviors in rodents. The present study was designed to assess whether the anti-addictive properties of COR659 extend to drugs of abuse other than alcohol. Specifically, it investigated the effect of COR659 on cocaine-, amphetamine-, nicotine-, and morphine-induced locomotor hyperactivity in mice. To this aim, independent groups of CD1 mice were acutely pretreated with COR659 (0, 10, and 20 mg/kg; i.p.), then acutely treated with cocaine (0 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.), amphetamine (0 and 5 mg/kg; s.c.), nicotine (0 and 0.05 mg/kg; s.c.), or morphine (0 and 20 mg/kg; s.c.), and finally exposed for 60 min to a photocell-equipped motility cage. When given alone, both doses of COR659 were ineffective on spontaneous locomotor activity. Pretreatment with COR659 reduced, or even suppressed, the increase in motility counts induced by cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine, and morphine. Since locomotor hyperactivity is an attribute common to drugs of abuse, the results of the present study constitute the first line of evidence on the extension of the preclinical, anti-addictive profile of COR659 to cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine, and morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaru
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Maria Collu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research, Cagliari, CA, I-09127, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy.
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15
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Ferlenghi F, Maccioni P, Mugnaini C, Brizzi A, Fara F, Mostallino R, Castelli MP, Colombo G, Mor M, Vacondio F, Corelli F. The GABAB receptor positive allosteric modulator COR659: In vitro metabolism, in vivo pharmacokinetics in rats, synthesis and pharmacological characterization of metabolically protected derivatives. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 155:105544. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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16
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Mugnaini C, Kostrzewa M, Bryk M, Mahmoud AM, Brizzi A, Lamponi S, Giorgi G, Ferlenghi F, Vacondio F, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Mor M, Starowicz K, Di Marzo V, Ligresti A, Corelli F. Correction to Design, Synthesis, and Physicochemical and Pharmacological Profiling of 7-Hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Derivatives with Antiosteoarthritic Activity In Vivo. J Med Chem 2020; 63:11303. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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17
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Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Fara F, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Chin YW, Lee JH, Kwon HC, Corelli F, Colombo G. Differential Effects of Saikosaponins A, B2, B4, C and D on Alcohol and Chocolate Self-Administration in Rats. Alcohol Alcohol 2020; 55:367-373. [PMID: 32441305 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Treatment with saikosaponin A (SSA)-an ingredient of the medicinal herb, Bupleurum falcatum-has been reported to suppress several addictive-like behaviors, including morphine, cocaine, alcohol and chocolate self-administration in male rats. The aim of this investigation was to investigate whether saikosaponins of B. falcatum other than SSA affect alcohol and chocolate self-administration in rats. METHODS Ovariectomized female Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and Wistar rats were trained to self-administer alcohol (15%, v/v) and a chocolate solution [5% (w/v) Nesquik® in water], respectively, under fixed ratio schedules of reinforcement. The following saikosaponins were compared to SSA: saikosaponin D (SSD; epimer of SSA), saikosaponin C (SSC), saikosaponin B2 (SSB2) and saikosaponin B4 (SSB4). All saikosaponins were tested acutely at the doses of 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg (i.p.). RESULTS Treatment with SSA and SSD resulted in highly similar, marked reductions in alcohol self-administration; SSC failed to alter lever-responding for alcohol, while SSB2 and SSB4 produced intermediate reductions. Only SSA and SSD reduced chocolate self-administration, with SSC, SSB2 and SSB4 being ineffective. CONCLUSIONS The wide spectrum of efficacy of saikosaponins in reducing alcohol and chocolate self-administration suggests that even relatively small structural differences are sufficient to produce remarkable changes in their in vivo pharmacological profile. Together, these results confirm that roots of B. falcatum may be an interesting source of compounds with anti-addictive potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (CA), Italy.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Federica Fara
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research s.r.l., Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Young-Won Chin
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Gwanak, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Lee
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hak Cheol Kwon
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena (SI), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
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18
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Mugnaini C, Kostrzewa M, Bryk M, Mahmoud AM, Brizzi A, Lamponi S, Giorgi G, Ferlenghi F, Vacondio F, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Mor M, Starowicz K, Di Marzo V, Ligresti A, Corelli F. Design, Synthesis, and Physicochemical and Pharmacological Profiling of 7-Hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Derivatives with Antiosteoarthritic Activity In Vivo. J Med Chem 2020; 63:7369-7391. [PMID: 32515588 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The hallmark of joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA), is pain, originating from both inflammatory and neuropathic components, and compounds able to modulate the signal transduction pathways of the cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2R) can represent a helpful option in the treatment of OA. In this perspective, a set of 18 cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2R) ligands was developed based on an unprecedented structure. With the aim of improving the physicochemical properties of previously reported 4-hydroxy-2-quinolone-3-carboxamides, a structural optimization program led to the discovery of isosteric 7-hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-6-carboxamide derivatives. These new compounds are endowed with high affinity for the CB2R and moderate to good selectivity over the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R), associated with good physicochemical characteristics. As to the functional activity at the CB2R, compounds able to act either as agonists or as inverse agonists/antagonists were discovered. Among them, compound 51 emerged as a potent CB2R agonist able to reduce pain in rats carrying OA induced by injection of monoiodoacetic acid (MIA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy.,Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Marta Bryk
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Ali Mokhtar Mahmoud
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Giorgi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferlenghi
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Starowicz
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Smetna 12, 31-343 Cracow, Poland
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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19
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Kalafateli AL, Vallöf D, Colombo G, Lorrai I, Maccioni P, Jerlhag E. An amylin analogue attenuates alcohol-related behaviours in various animal models of alcohol use disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1093-1102. [PMID: 30710109 PMCID: PMC6461824 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0323-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recent findings have identified salmon calcitonin (sCT), an amylin receptor agonist and analogue of endogenous amylin, as a potential regulator of alcohol-induced activation of the mesolimbic dopamine system and alcohol consumption. Providing that the role of amylin signalling in alcohol-related behaviours remains unknown, the present experiments investigate the effect of sCT on these behaviours and the mechanisms involved. We showed that repeated sCT administration decreased alcohol and food intake in outbred rats. Moreover, single administration of the potent amylin receptor antagonist, AC187, increased short-term alcohol intake in outbred alcohol-consuming rats, but did not affect food intake. Acute administration of sCT prevented relapse-like drinking in the "alcohol deprivation effect" model in outbred alcohol-experienced rats. Additionally, acute sCT administration reduced operant oral alcohol self-administration (under the fixed ratio 4 schedule of reinforcement) in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, while it did not alter operant self-administration (under the progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement) of a highly palatable chocolate-flavoured beverage in outbred rats. Lastly, we identified differential amylin receptor expression in high compared to low alcohol-consuming rats, as reflected by decreased calcitonin receptor and increased receptor activity modifying protein 1 expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of high consumers. Collectively, our data suggest that amylin signalling, especially in the NAc, may contribute to reduction of various alcohol-related behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimilia Lydia Kalafateli
- 0000 0000 9919 9582grid.8761.8Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Daniel Vallöf
- 0000 0000 9919 9582grid.8761.8Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- 0000 0001 1940 4177grid.5326.2Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- 0000 0001 1940 4177grid.5326.2Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- 0000 0001 1940 4177grid.5326.2Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA Italy
| | - Elisabet Jerlhag
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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20
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Rossetti I, Zambusi L, Maccioni P, Sau R, Provini L, Castelli MP, Gonciarz K, Colombo G, Morara S. Predisposition to Alcohol Drinking and Alcohol Consumption Alter Expression of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, Neuropeptide Y, and Microglia in Bed Nucleus of Stria Terminalis in a Subnucleus-Specific Manner. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:158. [PMID: 31114482 PMCID: PMC6502997 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive alcohol consumption is often linked to anxiety states and has a major relay center in the anterior part of bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST). We analyzed the impact of (i) genetic predisposition to high alcohol preference and consumption, and (ii) alcohol intake on anterior BNST, namely anterolateral (AL), anteromedial (AM), and anteroventral (lateral + medial subdivisions: AVl, AVm) subnuclei. We used two rat lines selectively bred for low- and high-alcohol preference and consumption, named Sardinian alcohol-non preferring (sNP) and -preferring (sP), respectively, the latter showing also inherent anxiety-related behaviors. We analyzed the modulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; exerting anxiogenic effects in BNST), neuropeptide Y (NPY; exerting mainly anxiolytic effects), and microglia activation (neuroinflammation marker, thought to increase anxiety). Calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunofluorescent fibers/terminals did not differ between alcohol-naive sP and sNP rats. Fiber/terminal NPY-immunofluorescent intensity was lower in BNST-AM and BNST-AVm of alcohol-naive sP rats. Activation of microglia (revealed by morphological analysis) was decreased in BNST-AM and increased in BNST-AVm of alcohol-naive sP rats. Prolonged (30 consecutive days), voluntary alcohol intake under the homecage 2-bottle “alcohol vs. water” regimen strongly increased CGRP intensity in BNST of sP rats in a subnucleus-specific manner: in BNST-AL, BNST-AVm, and BNST-AM. CGRP area sum, however, decreased in BNST-AM, without changes in other subnuclei. Alcohol consumption increased NPY expression, in a subnucleus-specific manner, in BNST-AL, BNST-AVl, and BNST-AVm. Alcohol consumption increased many size/shapes parameters in microglial cells, indicative of microglia de-activation. Finally, microglia density was increased in ventral anterior BNST (BNST-AVl, BNST-AVm) by alcohol consumption. In conclusion, genetic predisposition of sP rats to high alcohol intake could be in part mediated by anterior BNST subnuclei showing lower NPY expression and differential microglia activation. Alcohol intake in sP rats produced complex subnucleus-specific changes in BNST, affecting CGRP/NPY expression and microglia and leading to hypothesize that these changes might contribute to the anxiolytic effects of voluntarily consumed alcohol repeatedly observed in sP rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Rossetti
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Zambusi
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Sau
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciano Provini
- Department of Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Krzysztof Gonciarz
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Morara
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Maccioni P, Colombo G, Lorrai I, Fara F, Carai MA, Gessa GL, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Corelli F. Anti-addictive properties of COR659 - Additional pharmacological evidence and comparison with a series of novel analogues. Alcohol 2019; 75:55-66. [PMID: 30445248 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A recent study found that COR659 (methyl 2-[(4-chlorophenyl)carboxamido]-4-ethyl-5-methylthiophene-3-carboxylate) reduced operant alcohol and chocolate self-administration in rats; COR659 also suppressed cue-induced reinstatement of chocolate seeking in rats. COR659 apparently exerts its effects via a composite mechanism, including positive allosteric modulation of the GABAB receptor and an action at the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. The present study investigated whether the reducing effect of COR659 on alcohol and chocolate self-administration was maintained after repeated treatment and if COR659 affected cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking; additionally, it evaluated the ability of 9 structural analogues of COR659 - designed modifying the substituents on the phenylcarboxamido moiety and replacing the thiophene with the pyridine ring - to affect alcohol and chocolate self-administration. Alcohol self-administration experiments employed Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats trained to lever-respond for alcohol (15% v/v). Chocolate self-administration experiments employed Wistar rats trained to lever-respond for a chocolate solution (5% w/v Nesquik®). In the reinstatement experiment, previously extinguished lever-responding for alcohol in sP rats was reinstated by the non-contingent presentation of an alcohol-associated complex of cues. All drugs were tested at the doses of 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg (i.p.). 10-Day treatment with COR659 produced a dose-related reduction of both alcohol and chocolate self-administration, with limited loss of efficacy on continuing treatment. Acute COR659 suppressed reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Among the 9 tested analogues, only COR657 (methyl 2-(benzoylamino)-4-ethyl-5-methylthiophene-3-carboxylate) decreased alcohol self-administration similarly to COR659; all other compounds produced modest, or even no, effect on alcohol self-administration. COR659 excluded, no compound altered chocolate self-administration. These results confirm and extend the ability of COR659 to reduce several behaviors motivated by alcohol and palatable food in rats. Comparison of COR659 to its analogues provided disparate results that do not currently allow any conclusive structure-activity relationship to be hypothesized, as their diverse pharmacological profile apparently does not depend on physicochemical properties.
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Maccioni P, Fara F, Lorrai I, Acciaro C, Mugnaini C, Corelli F, Colombo G. Suppressing effect of CMPPE, a new positive allosteric modulator of the GABA B receptor, on alcohol self-administration and reinstatement of alcohol seeking in rats. Alcohol 2019; 75:79-87. [PMID: 30468987 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor constitute a class of pharmacological agents gaining increasing attention in the alcohol research field because of their ability to suppress several alcohol-related behaviors in rodents. CMPPE is a novel GABAB PAM, still limitedly characterized in vivo. It was therefore of interest to test its ability to affect operant, oral self-administration of alcohol and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking in alcohol-preferring rats. To this end, female Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats were trained to lever-respond for alcohol (15% v/v) under the fixed ratio (FR) 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding had stabilized, rats were exposed to test sessions (under the FR5 [Experiment 1] and progressive ratio [PR; Experiment 2] schedules of reinforcement) preceded by treatment with CMPPE (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg; intraperitoneally [i.p.]). In Experiment 3, once lever-responding had stabilized, rats underwent an extinction responding phase and then a single reinstatement session during which lever-responding was resumed by the non-contingent presentation of a complex of alcohol-associated cues; CMPPE (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg; i.p.) was administered before the reinstatement session. Selectivity of CMPPE action was assessed by evaluating the effect of CMPPE (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg; i.p.) on self-administration of a chocolate solution in male Wistar rats (Experiment 4). In Experiments 1 and 2, treatment with 5 and 10 mg/kg CMPPE reduced lever-responding and breakpoint for alcohol. In Experiment 3, treatment with 5 and 10 mg/kg CMPPE suppressed reinstatement of alcohol seeking. In Experiment 4, no dose of CMPPE affected lever-responding for the chocolate solution. These results extend to CMPPE the ability of all previously tested GABAB PAMs to affect alcohol-motivated behaviors in rodents and confirm that these effects are a shared feature of the entire class of GABAB PAMs. This conclusion is of relevance in view of the forthcoming transition of GABAB PAMs to clinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Federica Fara
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Carla Acciaro
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Posteraro B, Paroni Sterbini F, Petito V, Rocca S, Cubeddu T, Graziani C, Arena V, Vassallo GA, Mosoni C, Lopetuso L, Lorrai I, Maccioni P, Masucci L, Martini C, Gasbarrini A, Sanguinetti M, Colombo G, Addolorato G. Liver Injury, Endotoxemia, and Their Relationship to Intestinal Microbiota Composition in Alcohol-Preferring Rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:2313-2325. [PMID: 30320890 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is strong evidence that alcoholism leads to dysbiosis in both humans and animals. However, it is unclear how changes in the intestinal microbiota (IM) relate to ethanol (EtOH)-induced disruption of gut-liver homeostasis. We investigated this issue using selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats, a validated animal model of excessive EtOH consumption. METHODS Independent groups of male adult sP rats were exposed to the standard, home-cage 2-bottle "EtOH (10% v/v) versus water" choice regimen with unlimited access for 24 h/d (Group Et) for 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) consecutive months. Control groups (Group Ct) were composed of matched-age EtOH-naïve sP rats. We obtained samples from each rat at the end of each experimental time, and we used blood and colon tissues for intestinal barrier integrity and/or liver pathology assessments and used stool samples for IM analysis with 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. RESULTS Rats in Group Et developed hepatic steatosis and elevated serum transaminases and endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels but no other liver pathological changes (i.e., necrosis/inflammation) or systemic inflammation. While we did not find any apparent alteration of the intestinal colonic mucosa, we found that rats in Group Et exhibited significant changes in IM composition compared to the rats in Group Ct. These changes were sustained throughout T1, T2, and T3. In particular, Ruminococcus, Coprococcus, and Streptococcus were the differentially abundant microbial genera at T3. The KEGG Ortholog profile revealed that IM functional modules, such as biosynthesis, transport, and export of LPS, were also enriched in Group Et rats at T3. CONCLUSIONS We showed that chronic, voluntary EtOH consumption induced liver injury and endotoxemia together with dysbiotic changes in sP rats. This work sets the stage for improving our knowledge of the prevention and treatment of EtOH-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brunella Posteraro
- Institute of Medical Pathology and Semeiotics , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Paroni Sterbini
- Institute of Microbiology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Petito
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Rocca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine , Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Tiziana Cubeddu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine , Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Cristina Graziani
- Alcohol Use Disorder Unit , Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pathology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Arena
- Department of Pathology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele A Vassallo
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Alcohol Use Disorder Unit , Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Carolina Mosoni
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Loris Lopetuso
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute , Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute , Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luca Masucci
- Institute of Microbiology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Martini
- Institute of Microbiology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Sanguinetti
- Institute of Microbiology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute , Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Addolorato
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Alcohol Use Disorder Unit , Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Contini A, Sanna F, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Argiolas A. Comparison between male and female rats in a model of self-administration of a chocolate-flavored beverage: Behavioral and neurochemical studies. Behav Brain Res 2018; 344:28-41. [PMID: 29427608 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The existence of sex differences was studied in a rat model of operant self-administration of a chocolate-flavored beverage (CFB), which possesses strong reinforcing properties and is avidly consumed by rats. Whether these differences occurred concomitantly to changes in extracellular dopamine in the dialysate obtained from the nucleus accumbens, was assessed by intracerebral microdialysis. Male, ovariectomized and intact female rats showed similar self-administration profiles, with minor differences in both acquisition and maintenance phases. Intact females self-administered larger amounts of CFB, when expressed per body weight, than males and ovariectomized females, in spite of similar values of lever-responding, latency to the first lever-response and consumption efficiency (a measure of rat's licking effectiveness) in males, ovariectomized and intact females and no difference in breakpoint value and number of lever-responses emerged when males, ovariectomized and intact females were exposed to a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. Intracerebral microdialysis revealed a slight but significant increase in dopamine activity in the shell of the nucleus accumbens of male rats when compared to intact female rats during CFB self-administration. The above differences may be caused by the hormonal (mainly estradiol) fluctuations that occur during the estrus cycle in intact females. Accordingly, in intact females CFB self-administration and dopamine activity were found to fluctuate across the estrus cycle, with lower parameters of CFB self-administration and lower dopamine activity in the Proestrus and Estrus phases vs. the Metestrus and Diestrus phases of the cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Contini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Argiolas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy; Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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Maccioni P, Fara F, Gessa GL, Carai MAM, Chin YW, Lee JH, Kwon HC, Colombo G. Reducing Effect of Saikosaponin A, an Active Ingredient of Bupleurum falcatum, on Intake of Highly Palatable Food in a Rat Model of Overeating. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:369. [PMID: 30150945 PMCID: PMC6099156 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent lines of experimental evidence have indicated that saikosaponin A (SSA)-a bioactive ingredient of the medicinal plant, Bupleurum falcatum L.-potently and effectively reduced operant self-administration of chocolate and reinstatement of chocolate-seeking behavior in rats. The present study was designed to assess whether the protective properties of SSA on addictive-like, food-related behaviors generalize to a rat model of overeating of palatable food. To this end, rats were habituated to feed on a standard rat chow for 3 h/day; every 4 days, the 3-h chow-feeding session was followed by a 1-h availability of highly palatable, calorie-rich Danish butter cookies or Oreo chocolate cookies. Even though fed, rats consumed large amounts of cookies; intake of calories from cookies (consumed in 1 h) was even larger than that of calories from chow (consumed in 3 h). SSA (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 10 min before cookie presentation. Treatment with SSA resulted in a dose-related decrease in intake of both butter and chocolate cookies. Administration of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, rimonabant (0, 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg, i.p.; tested as reference compound), produced a similar reduction in intake of butter cookies. These results (a) contribute to the set-up and validation of a rat model of overeating, characterized by the intake of large amounts of unnecessary calories and (b) provide an additional piece of evidence to the anorectic profile of SSA in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Federica Fara
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | | | - Young-Won Chin
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Lee
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung-si, South Korea
| | - Hak Cheol Kwon
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung-si, South Korea
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Contini A, Leite-Morris K, Colombo G. Microinjection of baclofen and CGP7930 into the ventral tegmental area suppresses alcohol self-administration in alcohol-preferring rats. Neuropharmacology 2017; 136:146-158. [PMID: 29050951 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Systemic administration of the orthosteric agonist, baclofen, and several positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor has repeatedly been reported to decrease operant oral alcohol self-administration in rats. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of the mesolimbic dopamine system to the reducing effect of baclofen and GABAB PAMs on the reinforcing properties of alcohol. To this end, baclofen or the GABAB PAM CGP7930 were microinjected into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of selectively bred, Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats trained to self-administer alcohol. Baclofen (0, 0.03, 0.1, and 0.3 μg) or CGP7930 (0, 5, 10, and 20 μg) were microinjected via indwelling unilateral guide cannula aiming at the left hemisphere of the VTA. Treatment with baclofen resulted in a dose-related suppression of the number of lever-responses for alcohol and the amount of self-administered alcohol. No dose of baclofen altered rat motor-performance, evaluated by the inverted screen test immediately before the self-administration session. Treatment with CGP7930 halved the number of lever-responses for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol, with no effect on rat motor-performance. Site-specificity was investigated testing the effect of microinjection of baclofen and CGP7930 into the left hemisphere of deep mesencephalic nucleus: compared to vehicle, neither 0.3 μg baclofen nor 20 μg CGP7930 altered lever-responding for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest the involvement of GABAB receptors located in the VTA in the mediation of alcohol reinforcing properties in sP rats. This article is part of the "Special Issue Dedicated to Norman G. Bowery".
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA I-09042, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA I-09042, Italy
| | - Andrea Contini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, SS I-07100, Italy
| | - Kimberly Leite-Morris
- Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Research Service, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA I-09042, Italy.
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Colombo G, Lobina C, Lorrai I, Acciaro C, Maccioni P, Gessa GL. Binge drinking and anxiety at the end of the nocturnal period in alcohol-preferring sP rats. Alcohol 2017; 63:27-32. [PMID: 28847379 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies suggested that exposure of Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats to daily drinking sessions of 1 h, during the dark phase of the light/dark cycle, with multiple alcohol concentrations, and unpredictable access to alcohol, resulted in exceptionally high intakes of alcohol when the drinking session occurred over the last hours of the dark phase. Additionally, higher levels of anxiety-related behaviors were observed at the 12th, rather than 1st, hour of the dark phase, suggesting that uncertainty of time of alcohol access and expectation of alcohol availability produced an emotional "distress". The present study was designed to provide pharmacological support to the hypothesis that high alcohol intake under this drinking procedure is secondary to exacerbation of the anxiety-like state of sP rats. To this end, sP rats were initially exposed to daily 1-h drinking sessions during the dark phase and with multiple alcohol concentrations (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%; v/v); time of alcohol exposure was changed each day and was unpredictable to rats. Rats were then treated acutely with non-sedative doses of diazepam (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg; intraperitoneally [i.p.]) before two drinking sessions occurring at the 1st and 12th hour of the dark phase, respectively. Treatment with diazepam was ineffective at the 1st hour; conversely, it selectively reduced alcohol intake (up to 50% at the dose of 3 mg/kg) at the 12th hour. The preferential effectiveness of diazepam in reducing alcohol intake when the drinking session occurred at the 12th hour of the dark phase is consistent with the hypothesis that uncertainty of time of alcohol access and expectation of alcohol availability generated an emotional "distress" that rats counterbalanced with high alcohol drinking; the results of the present study are interpreted as the anxiolytic effects of diazepam substituting for those of alcohol, resulting in the observed reduction in alcohol intake.
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28
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Maccioni P, Colombo G, Lorrai I, Zaru A, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Corelli F. Suppressing effect of COR659 on alcohol, sucrose, and chocolate self-administration in rats: involvement of the GABA B and cannabinoid CB 1 receptors. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:2525-2543. [PMID: 28536867 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4644-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES COR659 [methyl2-(4-chlorophenylcarboxamido)-4-ethyl-5-methylthiophene-3-carboxylate] is a new, positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABAB receptor. This study evaluated whether COR659 shared with previously tested GABAB PAMs the capacity to reduce alcohol self-administration in rats. RESULTS Treatment with non-sedative doses of COR659 (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg; i.p.) suppressed lever-responding for alcohol (15% v/v) in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats under the fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement; COR659 was more potent and effective than the reference GABAB PAM, GS39783. Treatment with COR659, but not GS39783, suppressed (a) lever-responding for a sucrose solution (1-3% w/v) in sP rats under the FR4 and PR schedules, (b) lever-responding for a chocolate solution [5% (w/v) Nesquik®] in Wistar rats under the FR10 and PR schedules, and (c) cue-induced reinstatement of chocolate seeking in Wistar rats. Treatment with COR659 was completely ineffective on lever-responding (FR10) for regular food pellets in food-deprived Wistar rats. Pretreatment with the GABAB receptor antagonist, SCH50911, partially blocked COR659-induced reduction of alcohol self-administration, being ineffective on reduction of chocolate self-administration. Pretreatment with the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, AM4113, fully blocked COR659-induced reduction of chocolate self-administration, being ineffective on reduction of alcohol self-administration. CONCLUSIONS COR659 might exert its behavioral effects via a composite mechanism: (i) positive allosteric modulation of the GABAB receptor, responsible for a large proportion of reduction of alcohol self-administration; (ii) an action at other receptor system(s), including the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, through which COR659 affects seeking and consumption of highly palatable foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy.
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaru
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research, 09127, Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100, Siena (SI), Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100, Siena (SI), Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100, Siena (SI), Italy
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Colombo G, Lobina C, Lorrai I, Maccioni P, Gessa GL. Exacerbation of the inherent “anxiety” state by unpredictability of alcohol access in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Alcohol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.02.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Lorrai I, Maccioni P, Carai MAM, Capra A, Castelli MP, Riva A, Morazzoni P, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Suppressing effect of saikosaponin A, an active ingredient of Bupleurum falcatum, on chocolate self-administration and reinstatement of chocolate seeking in rats. Neurosci Lett 2017; 638:211-217. [PMID: 28007642 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent lines of experimental evidence have indicated that saikosaponin A (SSA) - a bioactive ingredient of the medicinal plant, Bupleurum falcatum L. - suppressed alcohol, morphine, and cocaine self-administration in rats. The present paper was designed to assess whether the protective properties of SSA on addiction-related behaviors generalize to a hyperpalatable food such as a chocolate-flavored beverage (CFB). To this end, rats were initially trained to lever-respond for CFB [5% (w/v) Nesquik® powder in water] under fixed ratio (FR) 10 (FR10) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding reached stable levels, rats were treated acutely with two different dose ranges of SSA (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1mg/kg; 0, 1, 2.5, and 5mg/kg; i.p.) and exposed to the FR10 and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement in four independent experiments. The effect of acutely administered SSA (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1mg/kg; i.p.) on cue-induced reinstatement of seeking behavior for CFB was also assessed. Under the FR and PR schedules of reinforcement, treatment with SSA diminished lever-responding for CFB, amount of self-administered CFB, and breakpoint for CFB. All variables were virtually completely suppressed after treatment with 5mg/kg SSA. Treatment with SSA also suppressed reinstatement of CFB-seeking behavior. No dose of SSA altered rat motor-performance, evaluated exposing all rats to an inverted screen test immediately after the self-administration session. These results demonstrate that acute treatment with SSA potently suppressed several addictive-like behaviors motivated by highly hedonic nourishment. These data extend to a highly rewarding natural stimulus the anti-addictive properties of SSA recently disclosed in rats self-administering alcohol, morphine, and cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research s.r.l., I-09127 Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Alessandro Capra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - M Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | | | | | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Lorrai I, Piga V, Carai MAM, Riva A, Morazzoni P, Gessa GL, Colombo G, Maccioni P. A Phaseolus vulgaris Extract Reduces Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Chocolate Seeking in Rats. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:109. [PMID: 27199752 PMCID: PMC4845070 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous evidence has suggested that treatment with a standardized dry extract of Phaseolus vulgaris reduced intake and operant self-administration of highly palatable foods and fluids in rats and mice. The present study was designed to assess whether such extract was also effective in reducing seeking behavior for a highly hedonic chocolate-flavored beverage, using a "reinstatement" procedure adopted from the drug addiction research field and modeling relapse behavior. Rats were initially trained to lever-respond for the chocolate-flavored beverage under the Fixed Ratio (FR) 10 schedule of reinforcement. Subsequently, rats were exposed to an extinction responding phase, during which lever-responding - being unreinforced - diminished progressively up to extinction. Lever-responding was then powerfully reinstated by the non-contingent presentation of a complex of gustatory, olfactory, auditory, and visual stimuli previously associated to the availability of the chocolate-flavored beverage. Acute, intragastric administration of P. vulgaris dry extract (100 and 500 mg/kg) reduced lever-responding by 40-45%, in comparison to vehicle condition. These results indicate the ability of P. vulgaris dry extract to reduce seeking behavior for a highly palatable nourishment in an experimental model of relapse into disordered eating of palatable foods. The unavailability of the chocolate-flavored beverage in the reinstatement session tends to exclude that the observed effect of the P. vulgaris dry extract was secondary to any inhibition of carbohydrate metabolism; conversely, it is the likely consequence on a central action on the rewarding and hedonic properties of food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valentina Piga
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari Cagliari, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari Cagliari, Italy
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Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Carai MAM, Riva A, Morazzoni P, Mugnaini C, Corelli F, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Reducing effect of saikosaponin A, an active ingredient of Bupleurum falcatum, on alcohol self-administration in rats: Possible involvement of the GABAB receptor. Neurosci Lett 2016; 621:62-67. [PMID: 27080427 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrated that treatment with saikosaponin A (SSA) - an active ingredient of the medicinal herb, Bupleurum falcatum L. - selectively suppressed, likely via a GABAB receptor-mediated mechanism, intravenous self-administration of morphine and cocaine in rats [Yoon et al., 2012; 2013]. The present study was designed to investigate whether the capacity of SSA to suppress morphine and cocaine self-administration extends to oral alcohol self-administration. To this end, selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats were trained to lever-respond on a Fixed Ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement for alcohol (15%, v/v) in daily 30-min sessions. Once responding had stabilized, rats were tested under the FR4 (measure of alcohol reinforcing properties) and Progressive Ratio (PR; measure of alcohol motivational properties) schedules of reinforcement. The possible involvement of the GABAB receptor system was investigated testing the effect of (a) pretreatment with the GABAB receptor antagonist, SCH50911, and (b) combined treatment with the positive allosteric modulator of the GABAB receptor, GS39783. Treatment with SSA (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1mg/kg, i.p.) markedly reduced lever-responding for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol (defined as the lowest response requirement not achieved in the PR experiment). Pretreatment with 2mg/kg SCH50911 (i.p.) resulted in a partial blockade of the reducing effect of 0.5mg/kg SSA on lever-responding for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. Combination of per se ineffective doses of GS39783 (5mg/kg, i.g.) and SSA (0.1mg/kg, i.p.) reduced lever-responding for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. These results (a) extend to alcohol self-administration the capacity of SSA to suppress morphine and cocaine self-administration in rats and (b) suggest that the GABAB receptor system is likely part of the neural substrate underlying the reducing effect of SSA on alcohol self-administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research s.r.l., I-09127 Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnologies, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnologies, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Vallöf D, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Mandrapa M, Jörnulf JW, Egecioglu E, Engel JA, Jerlhag E. The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist liraglutide attenuates the reinforcing properties of alcohol in rodents. Addict Biol 2016; 21:422-37. [PMID: 26303264 PMCID: PMC5049632 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), regulates gastric emptying, glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion and glucagon release, and GLP-1 analogs are therefore approved for treatment of type II diabetes. GLP-1 receptors are expressed in reward-related areas such as the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens, and GLP-1 was recently shown to regulate several alcohol-mediated behaviors as well as amphetamine-induced, cocaine-induced and nicotine-induced reward. The present series of experiments were undertaken to investigate the effect of the GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, on several alcohol-related behaviors in rats that model different aspects of alcohol use disorder in humans. Acute liraglutide treatment suppressed the well-documented effects of alcohol on the mesolimbic dopamine system, namely alcohol-induced accumbal dopamine release and conditioned place preference in mice. In addition, acute administration of liraglutide prevented the alcohol deprivation effect and reduced alcohol intake in outbred rats, while repeated treatment of liraglutide decreased alcohol intake in outbred rats as well as reduced operant self-administration of alcohol in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Collectively, these data suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists could be tested for treatment of alcohol dependence in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Vallöf
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of PharmacologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgSweden
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of CagliariNational Research Council of ItalyItaly
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of CagliariNational Research Council of ItalyItaly
| | - Minja Mandrapa
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of PharmacologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgSweden
| | - Julia Winsa Jörnulf
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of PharmacologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgSweden
| | - Emil Egecioglu
- Institute of Experimental Medical Sciences, Section of Diabetes and MetabolismLund UniversitySweden
| | - Jörgen A. Engel
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of PharmacologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgSweden
| | - Elisabet Jerlhag
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of PharmacologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgSweden
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Lorrai I, Maccioni P, Gessa GL, Colombo G. R(+)-Baclofen, but Not S(-)-Baclofen, Alters Alcohol Self-Administration in Alcohol-Preferring Rats. Front Psychiatry 2016; 7:68. [PMID: 27148096 PMCID: PMC4834306 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Racemic baclofen [(±)-baclofen] has repeatedly been reported to suppress several -alcohol-motivated behaviors, including alcohol drinking and alcohol -self-administration, in rats and mice. Recent data suggested that baclofen may have bidirectional, stereospecific effects, with the more active enantiomer, R(+)-baclofen, suppressing alcohol intake and the less active enantiomer, S(-)-baclofen, stimulating alcohol intake in mice. The present study was designed to investigate whether this enantioselectivity of baclofen effects may also extend to the reinforcing properties of alcohol in rats. To this end, selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats were initially trained to lever respond on a fixed ratio 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement for alcohol (15%, v/v) in daily 30-min sessions. Once responding had stabilized, rats were tested with vehicle, (±)-baclofen (3 mg/kg), R(+)-baclofen (0.75, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg), and S(-)-baclofen (6, 12, and 24 mg/kg) under the FR4 schedule of reinforcement. Treatment with 3 mg/kg (±)-baclofen reduced the number of lever responses for alcohol and estimated amount of self-administered alcohol by approximately 60% in comparison to vehicle treatment. R(+)-baclofen was approximately twice as active as (±)-baclofen: treatment with 1.5 mg/kg R(+)-baclofen decreased both variables to an extent similar to that of the decreasing effect of 3 mg/kg (±)-baclofen. Conversely, treatment with all doses of S(-)-baclofen failed to affect alcohol self administration. These results (a) confirm that non-sedative doses of (±)-baclofen effectively suppressed the reinforcing properties of alcohol in sP rats and (b) apparently do not extend to operant alcohol self-administration in sP rats the capability of S(-)-baclofen to stimulate alcohol drinking in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy - Cagliari Section , Monserrato , Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy - Cagliari Section , Monserrato , Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy - Cagliari Section , Monserrato , Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy - Cagliari Section , Monserrato , Italy
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Colombo G, Lobina C, Maccioni P, Carai MAM, Lorrai I, Zaru A, Contini A, Mugnaini C, Corelli F, Gessa GL. Anxiety-like behaviors at the end of the nocturnal period in sP rats with a "history" of unpredictable, limited access to alcohol. Alcohol 2015; 49:707-12. [PMID: 26254964 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2015.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent research found that exposure of selectively bred, Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats to multiple alcohol concentrations (10%, 20%, and 30%, v/v), under the 4-bottle "alcohol vs. water" choice regimen, in daily 1-h drinking sessions with an unpredictable time schedule, promoted high intakes of alcohol (≥2 g/kg) when the drinking session occurred over the final hours of the dark phase of the light/dark cycle. The present study investigated whether these high intakes of alcohol (a) were associated with alterations in rats' emotional state (Experiment 1) and (b) were pharmacologically manipulable (Experiment 2). In both experiments, over a period of 12 days, sP rats were initially exposed daily to a 1-h drinking session during the dark phase; time of alcohol exposure was changed each day and was unpredictable to rats. The day after this 12-day drinking phase, rats were (a) exposed to the Social Interaction (SI) test at the 1st or 12th hour of the dark phase with no alcohol available (Experiment 1) or (b) treated with the positive allosteric modulator of the GABAB receptor, GS39783 (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intragastrically [i.g.]), and exposed to a drinking session at the 12th hour of the dark phase (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, rats exposed to the SI test during the 12th hour spent approximately 35% less time in "social" behaviors than rats exposed to the SI test during the 1st hour. No difference in "social" behaviors was observed between alcohol-naive sP rats exposed to the SI test at the 1st and 12th hour. In Experiment 2, all doses of GS39783 selectively reduced alcohol intake. These results suggest that (a) expectation of alcohol availability likely exacerbated the anxiety-like state of sP rats and (b) the GABAB receptor is part of the neural substrate underlying these exceptionally high intakes of alcohol in sP rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaru
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Andrea Contini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23, I-07100 Sassari, SS, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnologies, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnologies, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
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Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Marras MF, Contini A, Capra A, Piras G, Caboni P, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Elevated reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol at the end of the nocturnal period in sP rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:3585-95. [PMID: 26146016 PMCID: PMC4561583 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-4010-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats displayed high sensitivity to time schedule and consumed intoxicating amounts of alcohol during the last portion of the dark phase of the light/dark cycle when exposed to daily drinking sessions of 1 h, with concurrent availability of multiple alcohol concentrations and unpredictability of time of alcohol access. OBJECTIVES The present study investigated whether sensitivity of sP rats to time schedule extended to operant procedures of alcohol self-administration. METHODS In experiment 1, three different alcohol solutions (10, 20, and 30%, v/v) were concurrently available under a fixed ratio 4 schedule of reinforcement and with unpredictable time schedule; water was available uncontingently. Experiments 2 and 3 assessed the sensitivity of the motivational properties of alcohol to time schedule; rats were exposed to (a) self-administration sessions under the progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement and (b) sessions of alcohol seeking under the extinction responding (ER) schedule. RESULTS In experiment 1, number of lever responses and amount of self-administered alcohol were positively correlated with time of alcohol access during the dark phase. When the self-administration session occurred at the first and latest hours of the dark phase, the amount of self-administered alcohol averaged 0.95-1.0 and 1.55-1.65 g/kg, respectively. In experiments 2 and 3, values of breakpoint and ER for alcohol were approximately 50% higher when the sessions occurred at the last than first hour of the dark phase. CONCLUSIONS The reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol were sensitive to time schedule and stronger at the end of the dark phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Maria Francesca Marras
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Andrea Contini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, I-07100 Sassari (SS), Italy
| | - Alessandro Capra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, I-09124 Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Gessica Piras
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, I-09124 Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Pierluigi Caboni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, I-09124 Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, I-09124 Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
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Colombo G, Maccioni P, Lobina C, Lorrai I, Acciaro C, Loi B, Zaru A, Contini A, Carai MAM, Gessa GL. SY17AN INTERNATIONAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO CHARACTERIZE NEW MODELS OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION IN RODENTS AND NOVEL THERAPIES FOR AUDSY17-1BINGE-LIKE DRINKING IN SARDINIAN ALCOHOL-PREFERRING RATS. Alcohol Alcohol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agv076.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Vallöf D, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Mandrapa M, Jörnulf JW, Egecioglu E, Engel JA, Jerlhag E. P-48THE GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE 1 ANALOGUE LIRAGLUTIDE ATTENUATES ALCOHOL-INDUCED REWARD, DECREASES ALCOHOL INTAKE AND PREVENTS RELAPSE-LIKE DRINKING TO ALCOHOL IN OUTBRED RODENTS AS WELL AS REDUCES OPERANT ALCOHOL SELF-ADMINISTRATION IN SARDINIAN ALCOHOL-PREFERRING RATS. Alcohol Alcohol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agv080.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Colombo G, Maccioni P, Vargiolu D, Loi B, Lobina C, Zaru A, Carai MAM, Gessa GL. The dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitor, nepicastat, reduces different alcohol-related behaviors in rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 38:2345-53. [PMID: 25257286 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent experimental data indicate that treatment with the selective dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitor, nepicastat, suppressed different reward-related behaviors, including self-administration of chocolate and reinstatement of cocaine and chocolate seeking, in rats. This study was designed to extend to different alcohol-related behaviors the investigation on the "anti-addictive" properties of nepicastat. METHODS Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats, selectively bred for excessive alcohol consumption, were exposed to different procedures of alcohol drinking and self-administration. RESULTS Repeated treatment with nepicastat (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.], once daily for 10 consecutive days) produced a stable and dose-related reduction in daily alcohol intake in sP rats exposed to the homecage 2-bottle "alcohol (10% v/v) versus water" choice regimen with unlimited access. Acute treatment with nepicastat (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) completely suppressed the "alcohol deprivation effect" (i.e., the temporary increase in alcohol intake occurring after a period of abstinence; model of alcohol relapse episodes) in sP rats exposed to the 2-bottle choice regimen. Acute treatment with nepicastat (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) dose dependently and selectively reduced oral alcohol self-administration in sP rats trained to lever respond for alcohol (15% v/v) on a fixed ratio 4 schedule of reinforcement. Finally, combination of nepicastat (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) and alcohol (2 g/kg, intragastrically) did not alter spontaneous locomotor activity in sP rats. CONCLUSIONS Together, these data extend to alcohol the capacity of nepicastat to suppress different behaviors motivated by natural stimuli and drugs of abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Colombo
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
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Maccioni P, Vargiolu D, Falchi M, Morazzoni P, Riva A, Cabri W, Carai MA, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Reducing effect of the Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza, on alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Alcohol 2014; 48:587-93. [PMID: 24998034 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2014.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza are highly valued in Chinese folk medicine for use in the prevention and treatment of a series of ailments. Previous studies have demonstrated that administration of standardized extracts of S. miltiorrhiza selectively reduced excessive alcohol drinking and relapse-like drinking in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The present study was designed to extend these findings on the "anti-alcohol" properties of S. miltiorrhiza extracts to operant procedures of oral alcohol self-administration. Two independent groups of sP rats were trained to lever-respond on an FR4 schedule of reinforcement for alcohol (15%, v/v) or sucrose (1-3%, w/v) in daily 30 min sessions. Once responding had stabilized, rats were tested under the fixed ratio 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement (index of alcohol reinforcing properties) and the progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement (index of alcohol motivational properties). Treatment with S. miltiorrhiza extract (0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, intragastrically [i.g.]) markedly reduced lever responding for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol (defined as the lowest response requirement not achieved in the PR experiment). No dose of S. miltiorrhiza extract altered any parameter of sucrose self-administration. These results a) demonstrate that treatment with S. miltiorrhiza extract selectively reduced the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol in sP rats and b) extend to operant procedures of alcohol self-administration previous data on the "anti-alcohol" effects of S. miltiorrhiza extracts. These data strengthen the notion that novel pharmacological approaches for treatment of alcohol use disorders may stem from natural substances.
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Loi B, Colombo G, Maccioni P, Carai MAM, Franconi F, Gessa GL. High alcohol intake in female Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Alcohol 2014; 48:345-51. [PMID: 24555906 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2014.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats have been selectively bred for high alcohol preference and consumption. When exposed to the standard, home cage 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs. water" choice regimen with continuous access, male sP rats consume daily approximately 6 g/kg alcohol. Conversely, when exposed to the intermittent (once every other day) access to 2 bottles containing alcohol (20%, v/v) and water, respectively, male sP rats display marked increases in daily alcohol intake and signs of alcohol intoxication and "behavioral" dependence. The present study was designed to assess alcohol intake in female sP rats exposed, under the 2-bottle choice regimen, to (a) 10% (v/v) alcohol with continuous access (CA10%), (b) 10% (v/v) alcohol with intermittent access (IA10%), (c) 20% (v/v) alcohol with continuous access (CA20%), and (d) 20% (v/v) alcohol with intermittent access (IA20%). Male sP rats (exposed to CA10% and IA20% conditions) were included for comparison. Over 20 daily drinking sessions, daily alcohol intake in female CA10% and IA20% rats averaged 7.0 and 9.6 g/kg, respectively. The rank of alcohol intake was IA20% > IA10% = CA20% > CA10%. Conversely, daily alcohol intake in male CA10% and IA20% rats averaged 6.0 and 8.2 g/kg, respectively. Comparison of female and male rats yielded the following rank of alcohol intake: female IA20% > male IA20% > female CA10% ≥ male CA10%. An additional experiment found that alcohol drinking during the first hour of the drinking session produced mean blood alcohol levels of 35-40 mg% and 85-100 mg% in the CA10% and IA20% rats, respectively. These results (a) extend to female sP rats previous data demonstrating the capacity of the IA20% condition to markedly escalate alcohol drinking, and (b) demonstrate that female sP rats consume more alcohol than male sP rats. This sex difference is more evident under the IA20% condition, suggesting that female sP rats are highly sensitive to the promoting effect of the IA20% condition on alcohol drinking. These data contribute to the characterization of sP rats as a model of excessive alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Loi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy.
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Flavia Franconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, I-07100, Sassari (SS), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
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Colombo G, Maccioni P, Acciaro C, Lobina C, Loi B, Zaru A, Carai MAM, Gessa GL. Binge drinking in alcohol-preferring sP rats at the end of the nocturnal period. Alcohol 2014; 48:301-11. [PMID: 24680256 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2014.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 05/10/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats have been selectively bred for high alcohol preference and consumption using the standard 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs. water" choice regimen with unlimited access; under this regimen, sP rats daily consume 6-7 g/kg alcohol. The present study assessed a new paradigm of alcohol intake in which sP rats were exposed to the 4-bottle "alcohol (10%, 20%, and 30%, v/v) vs. water" choice regimen during one of the 12 h of the dark phase of the daily light/dark cycle; the time of alcohol exposure was changed daily in a semi-random order and was unpredictable to rats. Alcohol intake was highly positively correlated with the time of the drinking session and averaged approximately 2 g/kg when the drinking session occurred during the 12th hour of the dark phase. Alcohol drinking during the 12th hour of the dark phase resulted in (a) blood alcohol levels averaging approximately 100 mg% and (b) severe signs of alcohol intoxication (e.g., impaired performance at a Rota-Rod task). The results of a series of additional experiments indicate that (a) both singular aspects of this paradigm (i.e., unpredictability of alcohol exposure and concurrent availability of multiple alcohol concentrations) contributed to this high alcohol intake, (b) alcohol intake followed a circadian rhythm, as it decreased progressively over the first 3 h of the light phase and then maintained constant levels until the beginning of the dark phase, and (c) sensitivity to time schedule was specific to alcohol, as it did not generalize to a highly palatable chocolate-flavored beverage. These results demonstrate that unpredictable, limited access to multiple alcohol concentrations may result in exceptionally high intakes of alcohol in sP rats, modeling - to some extent - human binge drinking. A progressively increasing emotional "distress" associated to rats' expectation of alcohol might be the neurobehavioral basis of this drinking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy.
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Acciaro
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Barbara Loi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaru
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Cagliari, S.S. 554, km. 4,500, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
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Pietrzykowski A, Mead E, Wang Y, Thekkumthala A, Hot A, Tejeda L, Collins M, Tajuddin N, Moon KH, Neafsey E, Nixon K, Colombo G, Maccioni P, Lobina C, Loi B, Acciaro C, Zaru A, Carai M, Gessa GL, Klintsova A. O1 * FREE ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 1: BASIC NEUROBIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION. Alcohol Alcohol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agt095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Razvodovsky Y, Borodinsky A, Pascual-Mora M, Pla A, Renau-Piqueras J, Guerri C, Haass-Koffler C, Kenna G, Henry A, Bartlett S, Dudek M, Abo-Ramadan U, Hyytia P, Maccioni P, Gessa GL, Thomas A, Malherbe P, Mugnaini C, Corelli F, Colombo G, Maccioni P, Vargiolu D, Loi B, Lobina C, Zaru A, Carai M, Gessa GL, Colombo G, Maccioni P, Vargiolu D, Carai M, Gessa GL, Riva A, Bombardelli E, Morazzoni P, Colombo G, Osna N, Kharbanda K, McVicker B, Casey C, Mercer D, Naassila M, Legastelois R, Alaux-Cantin S, Houchi H, Botia B, Pronko PS, Khomich TI, Satanovskaya VI, Karaedova LM, Borodinsky AN, Lis RE, Feltmann K, Steensland P, Ledesma JC, Bali P, Bali P, Ledesma JC, Gonzalez C, Bali P, Ledesma JC, Aragon C, Etelalahti T, Eriksson P, Todkar A, Granholm L, Comasco E, Oreland L, Hodgins S, Nilsson K, Nylander I, Phedina K, Zimatkin S, Smutek M, Parkitna JR, Przewlocki R, Janeczek P, Van Steenwyk G, Lewohl J, Napper R, Hopping M, Stragier E, Massart R, Hamon M, Lanfumey L. BASIC RESEARCH. Alcohol Alcohol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agt113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Mugnaini C, Pedani V, Casu A, Lobina C, Casti A, Maccioni P, Porcu A, Giunta D, Lamponi S, Solinas M, Dragoni S, Valoti M, Colombo G, Castelli MP, Gessa GL, Corelli F. Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of 2-(acylamino)thiophene derivatives as metabolically stable, orally effective, positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor. J Med Chem 2013; 56:3620-35. [PMID: 23544432 DOI: 10.1021/jm400144w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Two recently reported hit compounds, COR627 and COR628, underpinned the development of a series of 2-(acylamino)thiophene derivatives. Some of these compounds displayed significant activity in vitro as positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor by potentiating GTPγS stimulation induced by GABA at 2.5 and 25 μM while failing to exhibit intrinsic agonist activity. Compounds were also found to be effective in vivo, potentiating baclofen-induced sedation/hypnosis in DBA mice when administered either intraperitoneally or intragastrically. Although displaying a lower potency in vitro than the reference compound GS39783, the new compounds 6, 10, and 11 exhibited a higher efficacy in vivo: combination of these compounds with a per se nonsedative dose of baclofen resulted in shorter onset and longer duration of the loss of righting reflex in mice. Test compounds showed cytotoxic effects at concentrations comparable to or higher than those of GS39783 or BHF177.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro, Siena, Italy
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Loi B, Maccioni P, Lobina C, Carai MA, Gessa GL, Thomas AW, Malherbe P, Colombo G. Reduction of alcohol intake by the positive allosteric modulator of the GABA(B) receptor, rac-BHFF, in alcohol-preferring rats. Alcohol 2013; 47:69-73. [PMID: 23218664 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2012.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated that treatment with the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABA(B) receptor (GABA(B) PAM), rac-BHFF, suppressed lever-responding for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The present study was designed to extend the investigation on the anti-alcohol effects of rac-BHFF to alcohol drinking behavior. To this end, sP rats were exposed to the homecage, 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs water" choice regimen, with unlimited access for 24 h/day. rac-BHFF was administered once daily and for 7 consecutive days at the doses of 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg (i.g.). Treatment with rac-BHFF resulted in an immediate, stable, and dose-related reduction in daily alcohol intake; the overall magnitude of reduction in alcohol intake averaged approximately 25%, 40%, and 65% in 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg rac-BHFF-treated rat groups, respectively. An increase in daily water intake fully compensated the reduction in alcohol intake, so that daily total fluid intake was unaffected by treatment with rac-BHFF. Daily food intake tended to be reduced only by the highest dose of rac-BHFF. These results complement closely with previous data indicating that (a) rac-BHFF suppressed operant, oral alcohol self-administration in sP rats and (b) the prototypic GABA(B) PAMs, CGP7930 and GS39783, reduced alcohol drinking in sP rats. However, while the reducing effect of CGP7930 and GS39783 on the daily alcohol intake tended to vanish after the first 2-3 days of treatment, the reducing effect of rac-BHFF on daily alcohol intake remained unchanged over the entire 7-day treatment period. These data strengthen the hypothesis that GABA(B) PAMs may represent a step forward in the search for GABA(B) receptor ligands with therapeutic potential for alcoholism.
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Agabio R, Maccioni P, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Froestl W, Colombo G. The development of medications for alcohol-use disorders targeting the GABAB receptor system. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 7:113-28. [PMID: 22574677 DOI: 10.2174/157488912800673137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Revised: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The present paper summarizes experimental and clinical data suggesting the therapeutic potential of the prototypic GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, for the treatment of alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). Numerous studies have reported baclofen-induced suppression of alcohol drinking, relapse-like drinking, and alcohol reinforcing, rewarding, stimulating, and motivational properties in rats and mice. The majority of clinical surveys conducted to date have demonstrated the capacity of baclofen to suppress alcohol consumption, craving for alcohol, and alcohol withdrawal symptomatology in alcohol-dependent patients. More recently, the discovery of a positive allosteric modulatory binding site, together with the synthesis of in vivo effective ligands, provided a new tool for pharmacological manipulations of the GABAB receptor. Accumulating lines of preclinical evidence suggest that positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs), such as GS39783, display a high therapeutic index and retain baclofen's capacity to suppress alcohol consumption and alcohol reinforcing and motivational properties. The present paper also summarizes the most relevant patents on GABAB receptor agonists and GABAB PAMs as possible pharmacotherapies for AUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Agabio
- Bernard B. Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, Italy
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Zaru A, Maccioni P, Riva A, Morazzoni P, Bombardelli E, Gessa GL, Carai MAM, Colombo G. Reducing effect of a combination of Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus extracts on operant self-administration of a chocolate-flavoured beverage in rats. Phytother Res 2012; 27:944-7. [PMID: 22899449 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.4814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Revised: 07/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Treatment with a rational combination of standardized extracts of Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus reduced food intake and glycemia in rats. The present study was designed to assess the effect of this extract combination and of each single extract in an experimental model of food craving, made up of rats displaying exaggerated seeking and taking behaviors for a chocolate-flavoured beverage. After training to lever-respond for the chocolate-flavoured beverage, rats were treated with vehicle, Phaseolus vulgaris extract alone (200 mg/kg), Cynara scolymus extract alone (400 mg/kg), or combination of Phaseolus vulgaris (200 mg/kg) and Cynara scolymus (400 mg/kg) extracts. The Phaseolus vulgaris extract and the extract combination exerted similar and substantial decrements in the number of lever-responses and amount of self-administered chocolate-flavoured beverage; conversely, the Cynara scolymus extract was totally ineffective. These results suggest that (i) the capacity of the extract combination to reduce the self-administration of the chocolate-flavoured beverage entirely relied on the Phaseolus vulgaris extract, (ii) Phaseolus vulgaris extract may interfere with the mechanisms regulating food-related addictive-like behaviors, and (iii) combinations of Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus extracts may possess a broad spectrum of activities, from treatment of metabolic syndrome to overweight, obesity, and possibly food-related addictive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Zaru
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, (CA), Italy
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Maccioni P, Zaru A, Loi B, Lobina C, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Capra A, Mugnaini C, Pasquini S, Corelli F, Hyytiä P, Lumeng L, Colombo G. Comparison of the effect of the GABAΒ receptor agonist, baclofen, and the positive allosteric modulator of the GABAB receptor, GS39783, on alcohol self-administration in 3 different lines of alcohol-preferring rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:1748-66. [PMID: 22486245 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01782.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Administration of the GABA(B) receptor agonist, baclofen, and positive allosteric modulator, GS39783, has been repeatedly reported to suppress multiple alcohol-related behaviors, including operant oral alcohol self-administration, in rats. This study was designed to compare the effect of baclofen and GS39783 on alcohol self-administration in 3 lines of selectively bred, alcohol-preferring rats: Indiana alcohol-preferring (P), Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP), and Alko Alcohol (AA). METHODS Rats of each line were initially trained to respond on a lever, on a fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement, to orally self-administer alcohol (15%, v/v) in daily 30-minute sessions. Once responding reached stable levels, rats were exposed to a sequence of experiments testing baclofen (0, 1, 1.7, and 3 mg/kg; i.p.) and GS39783 (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg; i.g.) on FR4 and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. Finally, to assess the specificity of baclofen and GS39783 action, rats were slightly food-deprived and trained to lever-respond for food pellets. RESULTS The rank of order of the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol was P>sP>AA rats. Under both FR and PR schedules of reinforcement, the rank of order of potency and efficacy of baclofen and GS39783 in suppressing alcohol self-administration was P>sP>AA rats. Only the highest dose of baclofen reduced lever-responding for food pellets; this effect was common to all 3 rat lines. Conversely, no dose of GS39783 altered lever-responding for food in any rat line. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that: (i) the strength of the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol differ among P, sP, and AA rats; (ii) the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol in P, sP, and AA rats are differentially sensitive to treatment with baclofen and GS39783; (iii) the heterogeneity in sensitivity to baclofen and GS39783 of alcohol self-administration in P, sP, and AA rats may resemble the differential effectiveness of pharmacotherapies among the different typologies of human alcoholics; and (iv) the GABA(B) receptor is part of the neural substrate mediating the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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Vinod KY, Maccioni P, Garcia-Gutierrez MS, Femenia T, Xie S, Carai MAM, Manzanares J, Cooper TB, Hungund BL, Colombo G. Innate difference in the endocannabinoid signaling and its modulation by alcohol consumption in alcohol-preferring sP rats. Addict Biol 2012; 17:62-75. [PMID: 21309960 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00299.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to examine whether genetically predetermined differences in components of the endocannabinoid system were present in the brain of Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and Sardinian alcohol-non-preferring (sNP) rats, a pair of rat lines selectively bred for opposite alcohol preference. The effects of acquisition and maintenance of alcohol drinking, alcohol withdrawal, and alcohol re-exposure on the endocannabinoid system was also assessed in the striatum of sP rats. The findings revealed significantly higher density of the CB1 receptors and levels of CB1 receptor mRNA, CB1 receptor-mediated G-protein coupling, and endocannabinoids in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum of alcohol-naive sP rats than sNP rats. A significantly lower expression of mFAAH enzyme was evident in the hippocampus of alcohol-naive sP rats. Alcohol drinking (during both acquisition and maintenance phases) in sP rats resulted in a significant reduction in striatal CB1 receptor-mediated G-protein coupling whereas alcohol withdrawal attenuated this effect. Alcohol consumption was also associated with markedly increased levels of endocannabinoids in the striatum. Co-administration of the CB1 receptor antagonist, rimonabant (SR141716A) reduced alcohol intake, and reversed alcohol-induced changes in CB1 receptor-mediated G-protein activation. These findings provided a new insight into a potential genetic basis of excessive alcohol consumption, suggesting innate differences in the endocannabinoid system might be associated with higher alcohol preference in sP rats. The data also indicate a modulation of CB1 receptor-mediated signaling following alcohol consumption, and further strengthen the potential of the endocannabinoid system as a target for the treatment of alcohol related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Yaragudri Vinod
- Division of Analytical Psychopharmacology, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
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