Article
Neurosciences
Hojjatollah Alaei, Mozhgan Ghobadi Pour
Summary: The VTA plays a key role in processing psychological dependency, opioid reinforcement, and opiate-related associative reward. The study found that 150 mu A VTA electrical stimulation could suppress 5 mg/kg morphine-induced CPP. Additionally, intra-VTA administration of Lidocaine significantly decreased the acquisition phase of 5 mg/kg morphine-induced CPP, which was reversed in the reinstatement test. These findings are important for understanding mesolimbic nervous system connections and may lead to new ways to reduce the rewarding effects of morphine.
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Claudia Calpe-Lopez, Ani Gasparyan, Francisco Navarrete, Jorge Manzanares, Jose Minarro, Maria A. Aguilar
Summary: The study found that CBD may reduce reinstatement of seeking cocaine in mice, and CBD itself does not induce reinstatement but can block the reinstating effects of cocaine priming and social defeat. Furthermore, cocaine priming increased the gene expression of DAT in the ventral tegmental area, which was completely reversed by CBD.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Wei Xu, Yuman He, Jiamei Zhang, Hongchun Li, Xuemei Wan, Menglu Li, Yonghai Wang, Rui Xu, Haoluo Zhang, Yanping Dai, Haxiaoyu Liu, Linhong Jiang, Ying Zhao, Xiaobo Cen
Summary: The study demonstrates that simvastatin can prevent the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference without affecting its acquisition, likely due to its administration during extinction phase. Lipidomic analysis reveals that the nucleus accumbens is the most affected brain region by simvastatin, with alterations in fatty acids, phospholipids, and triacylglycerol metabolism. Simvastatin reverses most effects on phospholipids induced by cocaine and reshapes lipid metabolic pathways in specific brain regions, ultimately facilitating cocaine extinction and preventing relapse.
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Lisha Deng, Zheng Chu, Baijia Li, Peng Liu, Gang Lei, Liu Yang, Leile Zhang, Shaofu Li, Yiming Wang, Yonghui Dang
Summary: The study found that injection of BDNF-adeno-associated viral vector in the VTA attenuated morphine-induced CPP with synergistic changes in BDNF/TrkB/CREB concentrations in the VTA and NAc in the CPP acquisition and recurrence phases, but the attenuation was lower in the extinction phase with different changes in molecules downstream of BDNF.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grazyna Jerzemowska, Karolina Plucinska, Aleksandra Piwka, Magdalena Podlacha, Jolanta Orzel-Gryglewska
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the role of opioid receptors (OR) in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) in regulating motivated behaviors. They found that activation and blocking of OR in the PPN affected behavioral and neuronal activity, modulating the reward system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinjian Zhang, Kiyoyuki Kitaichi, Akihiro Mouri, Xinzhu Zhou, Toshitaka Nabeshima, Kiyofumi Yamada, Taku Nagai
Summary: Although opioids have clinical benefits as analgesics, their misuse and addiction are on the rise. This study investigated the optimal ratio of an opioid and the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, in abuse-deterrent formulations. The conditioned place preference test showed that naloxone effectively inhibited the rewarding effects induced by opioids. The study suggests that the ratio of naloxone with opioids can serve as an index for developing abuse-deterrent formulations.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ferdos Zamanirad, Mojdeh Fattahi, Haleh Amirteymori, Zahra Mousavi, Abbas Haghparast
Summary: Targeting the orexin system, particularly in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), has been shown to be a promising approach for treating drug addiction. Modulating the orexin system in the VTA can facilitate the extinction process of drug-related memories and prevent their relapse.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Saurabh S. Kokane, Brandon D. Butler, Josimar Hernandez Antonio, Ross J. Armant, Adam C. Hoch, Clinton S. Coelho, Blake N. Brady, Houda H. Chamseddine, Linda I. Perrotti
Summary: Women show a faster progression, increased consumption, more positive subjective effects, and higher relapse rates during abstinence in cocaine addiction. Estradiol is a key mediator of these effects, and ERK1/2 and mTOR play a role in the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
J. Daniel Obray, Christina A. Small, Emily K. Baldwin, Eun Young Jang, Jin Gyeom Lee, Chae Ha Yang, Jordan T. Yorgason, Scott C. Steffensen
Summary: This study found that peripherally administered dopamine can enhance dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens and modulate related behaviors. Dopamine subtype-2 receptors are involved in this process and can influence dopamine neuron activity.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Olga Rodriguez-Borillo, Lorena Rosello-Jimenez, Julian Guarque-Chabrera, Maria Palau-Batet, Isis Gil-Miravet, Raul Pastor, Marta Miquel, Laura Font
Summary: After cocaine exposure, increased cFos activity was observed in the granular cell layer at the top of the posterior vermis (lobules VIII and IX) in mice, and this activity was positively correlated with cFos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that certain regions of the cerebellum may be involved in the regulation of cocaine-conditioned behavior.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica A. Babb, Nicholas J. Constantino, Gary B. Kaplan, Elena H. Chartoff
Summary: This study investigates the effects of sex and female hormonal status on the conditioned reward of oxycodone in rats. The results show that both male and female rats exhibit conditioned reward to oxycodone at similar doses. Increasing the length of conditioning sessions does not have a significant effect on sex, but results in lower magnitude of conditioned reward expression. Importantly, the stage of the female estrous cycle significantly influences oxycodone conditioned reward expression.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Laila Asth, Lia P. Iglesias, Rayssa C. Brianis, Anna P. Marcal, Nicia P. Soares, Daniele C. Aguiar, Fabricio A. Moreira
Summary: This study examined the effects of monoamine stabilizers and aripiprazole on cocaine-induced behaviors. The results showed that aripiprazole could prevent cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion, but also impaired spontaneous locomotion, while (-)-OSU6162 had a minor effect. (-)-OSU6162 also played a role in preventing the acquisition of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference.
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Xuhong Li, Yuqian Zheng, Xiaoxuan Zhao, Ruisi Cui, Xinwang Li
Summary: Opioid use disorder results from functional defects in the brain reward loop. RMTg M3 receptors and dopamine D1 receptors play important roles in regulating opioid reward. Activation of RMTg M3 receptors can counteract the rewarding effects of morphine, and dopamine activity in VTA and NAcS may be involved.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Prableen K. Singh, Kabirullah Lutfy
Summary: The study found differences in cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) between male and female mice lacking beta-endorphin, with gender-related distinctions in CPP reinstatement. The results suggest a functional role for beta-endorphin in cocaine-induced CPP and reinstatement.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
E. Liu, Kunkun Pang, Min Liu, Xu Tan, Zhaofang Hang, Shouhong Mu, Weikai Han, Qingwei Yue, Stefano Comai, Jinhao Sun
Summary: The brain circuit between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens lateral shell (NAcLat) plays a crucial role in methamphetamine addiction. By isolating and profiling dopamine (DA) neurons in the VTA-NAcLat circuit of MA-treated mice, researchers discovered that downregulation of KCNQ genes, encoding Kv7 channel proteins, was associated with addiction. Activation of Kv7.2/3 and Kv7.4 channels attenuated MA-induced addiction behaviors by reducing neuronal excitability and dopamine release.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)