scholarly journals Neurobiology of nicotine dependence

2008 ◽  
Vol 363 (1507) ◽  
pp. 3159-3168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athina Markou
Keyword(s):  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Smoking Habit ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Nicotine Withdrawal ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Cholinergic Transmission ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Frontal Brain ◽  
Gaba Transmission

Nicotine is a psychoactive ingredient in tobacco that significantly contributes to the harmful tobacco smoking habit. Nicotine dependence is more prevalent than dependence on any other substance. Preclinical research in animal models of the various aspects of nicotine dependence suggests a critical role of glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), cholinergic and dopamine neurotransmitter interactions in the ventral tegmental area and possibly other brain sites, such as the central nucleus of the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, in the effects of nicotine. Specifically, decreasing glutamate transmission or increasing GABA transmission with pharmacological manipulations decreased the rewarding effects of nicotine and cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. Furthermore, early nicotine withdrawal is characterized by decreased function of presynaptic inhibitory metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptors and increased expression of postsynaptic glutamate receptor subunits in limbic and frontal brain sites, while protracted abstinence may be associated with increased glutamate response to stimuli associated with nicotine administration. Finally, adaptations in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function are also involved in nicotine dependence. These neuroadaptations probably develop to counteract the decreased glutamate and cholinergic transmission that is hypothesized to characterize early nicotine withdrawal. In conclusion, glutamate, GABA and cholinergic transmission in limbic and frontal brain sites are critically involved in nicotine dependence.

scholarly journals Alcohol dependence potentiates substance P/neurokinin-1 receptor signaling in the rat central nucleus of amygdala

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. eaaz1050
Author(s):  
S. Khom ◽  
T. Steinkellner ◽  
T. S. Hnasko ◽  
M. Roberto
Keyword(s):  
Substance P ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Gaba Release ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Neurokinin 1 Receptor ◽  
Neurokinin 1 ◽  
Gaba Transmission ◽  
Alcohol Dependent

Behavioral and clinical studies suggest a critical role of substance P (SP)/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) signaling in alcohol dependence. Here, we examined regulation of GABA transmission in the medial subdivision of the central amygdala (CeM) by the SP/NK-1R system, and its neuroadaptation following chronic alcohol exposure. In naïve rats, SP increased action potential–dependent GABA release, and the selective NK-1R antagonist L822429 decreased it, demonstrating SP regulation of CeM activity under basal conditions. SP induced a larger GABA release in alcohol-dependent rats accompanied by decreased NK-1R expression compared to naïve controls, suggesting NK-1R hypersensitivity which persisted during protracted alcohol withdrawal. The NK-1R antagonist blocked acute alcohol-induced GABA release in alcohol-dependent and withdrawn but not in naïve rats, indicating that dependence engages the SP/NK-1R system to mediate acute effects of alcohol. Collectively, we report long-lasting CeA NK-1R hypersensitivity corroborating that NK-1Rs are promising targets for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.

scholarly journals Aqueous Extract of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae Exerts Anxiolytic Effects during Nicotine Withdrawal via Improvement of Amygdaloid CRF/CRF1R Signaling

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changhong Gu ◽  
ZhengLin Zhao ◽  
Xiaodong Zhu ◽  
Tong Wu ◽  
Bong Hyo Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Extract ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Plasma Corticosterone ◽  
Nicotine Withdrawal ◽  
Corticotropin Releasing Factor ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
General Anxiety ◽  
Plus Maze

Anxiety during nicotine withdrawal (NicW) is a key risk factor for smoking relapse. Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS), which is a prototypical hypnotic-sedative herb in Oriental medicine, has been clinically used to treat insomnia and general anxiety disorders for thousands of years. Thus, the present study evaluated the effects of the aqueous extract of SZS (AESZS) on NicW-induced anxiety in male rats that received subcutaneous administrations of nicotine (Nic) (0.4 mg/kg, twice a day) for 7 d followed by 4 d of withdrawal. During NicW, the rats received four intragastric treatments of AESZS (60 mg/kg/d or 180 mg/kg/d). AESZS dose-dependently attenuated NicW-induced anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze (EPM) tests and 180 mg/kg/d AESZS inhibited NicW-induced increases in plasma corticosterone. Additionally, the protein and mRNA expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and CRF type 1 receptor (CRF1R) increased in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) during NicW, but these changes were suppressed by 180 mg/kg/d AESZS. A post-AESZS infusion of CRF into the CeA abolished the attenuation of anxiety by AESZS and 180 mg/kg/d AESZS suppressed NicW-induced increases in norepinephrine and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol levels in the CeA. The present results suggest that AESZS ameliorated NicW-induced anxiety via improvements in CRF/CRF1R and noradrenergic signaling in the CeA.

scholarly journals Glutamatergic Control Of A Pattern-Generating Central Nucleus In A Gymnotiform Fish

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Comas ◽  
Michel Borde
Keyword(s):  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Electric Organ ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Pacemaker Cells ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Vertebrate Model ◽  
Brainstem Slices ◽  
Descending Influences ◽  
Electric Organ Discharges

The activity of central pattern-generating networks (CPGs) may change under the control exerted by various neurotransmitters and modulators to adapt its behavioral outputs to different environmental demands. Although the mechanisms underlying this control have been well established in invertebrates, most of their synaptic and cellular bases are not yet well understood in vertebrates. Gymnotus omarorum, a pulse-type gymnotiform electric fish, provides a well-suited vertebrate model to investigate these mechanisms. G. omarorum emits rhythmic and stereotyped electric organ discharges (EODs), which function in both perception and communication, under the command of an electromotor CPG. This nucleus is composed of electrotonically coupled intrinsic pacemaker cells, which pace the rhythm, and bulbospinal projecting relay cells that contribute to organize the pattern of the muscle-derived effector activation that produce the EOD. Descending influences target CPG neurons to produce adaptive behavioral electromotor responses to different environmental challenges. We used electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques in brainstem slices of G. omarorum to investigate the underpinnings of the fast transmitter control of its electromotor CPG. We demonstrate that pacemaker, but not relay cells, are endowed with ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes. We also show that glutamatergic control of the CPG likely involves two types of synapses contacting pacemaker cells, one type containing both AMPAR-NMDAR receptors and the other one only-NMDAR. Fast neurotransmitter control of vertebrate CPGs seems to exploit the kinetics of the involved postsynaptic receptors to command different behavioral outputs. The prospect of common neural designs to control CPG activity in vertebrates is discussed.

scholarly journals The post-synaptic scaffolding protein tamalin regulates ligand-mediated trafficking of metabotropic glutamate receptors

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (25) ◽  
pp. 8575-8588
Author(s):  
Saurabh Pandey ◽  
Namrata Ramsakha ◽  
Rohan Sharma ◽  
Ravinder Gulia ◽  
Prachi Ojha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Protein Trafficking ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Scaffolding Protein ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group I Mglurs

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) play important roles in various neuronal functions and have also been implicated in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders like fragile X syndrome, autism, and others. mGluR trafficking not only plays important roles in controlling the spatiotemporal localization of these receptors in the cell but also regulates the activity of these receptors. Despite this obvious significance, the cellular machineries that control the trafficking of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in the central nervous system have not been studied in detail. The post-synaptic scaffolding protein tamalin has been shown to interact with group I mGluRs and also with many other proteins involved in protein trafficking in neurons. Using a molecular replacement approach in mouse hippocampal neurons, we show here that tamalin plays a critical role in the ligand-dependent internalization of mGluR1 and mGluR5, members of the group I mGluR family. Specifically, knockdown of endogenous tamalin inhibited the ligand-dependent internalization of these two receptors. Both N-terminal and C-terminal regions of tamalin played critical roles in mGluR1 endocytosis. Furthermore, we found that tamalin regulates mGluR1 internalization by interacting with S-SCAM, a protein that has been implicated in vesicular trafficking. Finally, we demonstrate that tamalin plays a critical role in mGluR-mediated internalization of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors, a process believed to be the cellular correlate for mGluR-dependent synaptic plasticity. Taken together, these findings reveal a mechanistic role of tamalin in the trafficking of group I mGluRs and suggest its physiological implications in the brain.

scholarly journals Binge Alcohol Drinking by Mice Requires Intact Group1 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Signaling Within the Central Nucleus of the Amygdale

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra K Cozzoli ◽  
Justin Courson ◽  
Melissa G Wroten ◽  
Daniel I Greentree ◽  
Emily N Lum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Receptor Signaling ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate

scholarly journals Nociceptin attenuates the escalation of oxycodone self-administration by normalizing CeA–GABA transmission in highly addicted rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 2140-2148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsida Kallupi ◽  
Lieselot L. G. Carrette ◽  
Jenni Kononoff ◽  
Leah C. Solberg Woods ◽  
Abraham A. Palmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Orphanin Fq ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Endogenous Opioid ◽  
Electrophysiological Recordings ◽  
Gaba Transmission

Approximately 25% of patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them, and 5 to 10% develop an opioid use disorder. Although the neurobiological target of opioids is well known, the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the development of addiction-like behaviors in some but not all individuals are poorly known. To address this issue, we used a unique outbred rat population (heterogeneous stock) that better models the behavioral and genetic diversity that is found in humans. We characterized individual differences in addiction-like behaviors using an addiction index that incorporates the key criteria of opioid use disorder: escalated intake, highly motivated responding, and hyperalgesia. Using in vitro electrophysiological recordings in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), we found that rats with high addiction-like behaviors (HA) exhibited a significant increase in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission compared with rats with low addiction-like behaviors (LA) and naive rats. The superfusion of CeA slices with nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (N/OFQ; 500 nM), an endogenous opioid-like peptide, normalized GABA transmission in HA rats. Intra-CeA levels of N/OFQ were lower in HA rats than in LA rats. Intra-CeA infusions of N/OFQ (1 μg per site) reversed the escalation of oxycodone self-administration in HA rats but not in LA rats. These results demonstrate that the downregulation of N/OFQ levels in the CeA may be responsible for hyper-GABAergic tone in the CeA that is observed in individuals who develop addiction-like behaviors. Based on these results, we hypothesize that small molecules that target the N/OFQ system might be useful for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Reliability of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale, and Tiffany Questionnaire for Smoking Urges in Smokers with and without Schizophrenia

2007 ◽  
Vol 86 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 278-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea H. Weinberger ◽  
Erin L. Reutenauer ◽  
Taryn M. Allen ◽  
Angelo Termine ◽  
Jennifer C. Vessicchio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Nicotine Withdrawal
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