dynorphins and Tobacco-Use-Disorder

Nicotine (NIC) regulates various cellular functions acting on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). And nAChR consists of ligand-gated cation channels with pentameric structure and composed of α and β subunits. In the central nervous system, α 4 β 2 and α 7 nAChRs are the most abundantly expressed as nAChR subtypes. There are several lines of evidence indicating that systemic administration of NIC elicits the release of endogenous opioids, such as, endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphins, in the brain. NIC exerts numerous acute effects, for example, antinociceptive effects and the activating effects of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In these effects, NIC-induced antinociception, but not HPA axis activation, was inhibited by opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (NLX), and was also suppressed in morphine tolerated mice, indicating the participation of the endogenous opioid system in NIC-induced antinociception, but not HPA axis activation. Moreover, NIC-induced antinociception was antagonized by both α 4 β 2 and α 7 nAChR antagonists, while NIC-induced HPA axis activation was antagonized by α 4 β 2 nAChR antagonist, but not by α 7 nAChR antagonist. These results suggest that the endogenous opioid system may not be located on the downstream of α 4 β 2 nAChR. On the other hand, NIC has substantial physical dependence liability. NLX elicits NIC withdrawal after repeated NIC administration evaluated by corticosterone increase as a withdrawal sign, and NLX-precipitated NIC withdrawal is inhibited by concomitant administration of other opioid receptor antagonist, naltrexone, indicating the participation of endogenous opioid system in the development of physical dependence on NIC. NLX-precipitated NIC withdrawal was also inhibited by concomitant administration of an α 7 nAChR antagonist, but not an α 4 β 2 nAChR antagonist. Taken together, these findings suggest that the endogenous opioid system may be located on the downstream of α 7 nAChR and participates in the development of physical dependence on NIC.

Topics: alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; Analgesics; Animals; Brain; Dynorphins; Endorphins; Enkephalins; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Mice; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Nicotine; Nociception; Opioid Peptides; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Tobacco Use Disorder

The chronic use of nicotine, the main psychoactive ingredient of tobacco smoking, alters diverse physiological processes and consequently generates physical dependence. To understand the impact of chronic nicotine on neuropeptides, which are potential molecules associated with dependence, we conducted qualitative and quantitative neuropeptidomics on the rat dorsal striatum, an important brain region implicated in the preoccupation/craving phase of drug dependence. We used extensive LC-FT-MS/MS analyses for neuropeptide identification and LC-FT-MS in conjunction with stable isotope addition for relative quantification. The treatment with chronic nicotine for 3 months led to moderate changes in the levels of endogenous dorsal striatum peptides. Five enkephalin opioid peptides were up-regulated, although no change was observed for dynorphin peptides. Specially, nicotine altered levels of nine non-opioid peptides derived from precursors, including somatostatin and cerebellin, which potentially modulate neurotransmitter release and energy metabolism. This broad but selective impact on the multiple peptidergic systems suggests that apart from the opioid peptides, several other peptidergic systems are involved in the preoccupation/craving phase of drug dependence. Our finding permits future evaluation of the neurochemical circuits modulated by chronic nicotine exposure and provides a number of novel molecules that could serve as potential therapeutic targets for treating drug dependence.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Chromatography, Liquid; Chronic Disease; Corpus Striatum; Dynorphins; Enkephalins; Gene Expression Regulation; Isotope Labeling; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuropeptides; Nicotine; Protein Precursors; Proteome; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Somatostatin; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Tobacco Use Disorder

We investigated the behavioral and molecular interactions between cocaine and nicotine, through evaluating locomotor activity, nicotine intravenous self-administration and gene expression. Locomotor sensitization was induced in male Wistar rats by repeated cocaine (20 mg/kg; i.p.) or saline injections once a day over 7 days. Three days after the last injection, rats were challenged with either saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg; i.p.) and the locomotor activity was measured. The very next day animals received either saline or nicotine (0.4 mg/kg; s.c.) and the locomotor cross-sensitization was tested. Animals were then prepared with intrajugular catheters for nicotine self-administration. Nicotine self-administration patterns were evaluated using fixed or progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement and a 24-h unlimited access binge. Immediately after the binge sessions animals were decapitated, the brains were removed and the nucleus accumbens was dissected. The dynorphin (DYN), μ-opioid receptor (mu opioid), neuropeptide Y (NPY), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-related tyrosine kinase B receptor (TrkB) and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRF-R1) gene expression were measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Pretreatment with cocaine caused sensitization of cocaine motor response and locomotor cross-sensitization with nicotine. In the self-administration experiments repeated cocaine administration caused an increase in the nicotine break point and nicotine intake during a 24 h binge session.

Topics: Animals; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Cocaine; Dynorphins; Gene Expression; Male; Motor Activity; Neuropeptide Y; Nicotine; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptor, trkB; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Risk Factors; Self Administration; Tobacco Use Disorder