Exogenous SO2 donor treatment impairs reconsolidation of drug reward memory in mice.

Substance-related and addictive disorders (SRADs) are characterized by compulsive drug use and recurrent relapse. The persistence of pathological drug-related memories indisputably contributes to a high propensity to relapse. Hence, strategies to disrupt reconsolidation of drug reward memory are currently being pursued as potential anti-relapse interventions. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), acting as a potential gaseous molecule, endogenously derives from sulfur amino acid and can exert significant neural regulatory effects. However, the role of SO2 in reconsolidation of drug memory has not been determined. In the present study, we used morphine- or cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) mouse models with retrieval to investigate the effects of exogenous SO2 donor treatment on reconsolidation of drug reward memory. We found that administration of SO2 donor immediately after the retrieval impaired the expression of morphine or cocaine CPP. Furthermore, the exogenous SO2 donor treatment 6 h post-retrieval or in the absence of retrieval had no effect on drug reward memory and the expression of CPP. SO2 itself did not produce aversive effects nor did it acutely block morphine CPP. Our results indicate that exogenous SO2 impairs reconsolidation of drug reward memory rather than inhibits the expression of drug reward memory. As such, SO2 holds potential for the treatment and prevention of SRADs and should be studied further.

Neurobiological mechanisms and interventions in drug craving after withdrawal / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Drug dependence has been a severe social and health problem,which has caused serious economic losses and social disorder in China.The critical problem in drug dependence is repeated relapse even after detoxification.We have been contributed to the research of neurobiological mechanisms,clinical characteristics,and interventions of craving after withdrawal from addicting drugs.We have systemati-cally studied the change of drug seeking behavior and craving after withdrawal from cocaine,and further investigated the neural anatomic pathway,long-term neuroplasticity,and neural signal pathways which involved in the change of drug seeking behavior.According to the situation of dug abuse in China,we investigated the characteristics in the expression of incubation of craving after withdrawal from opiate.We have primarily found the neural anatomic pathways and neural plasticity mechanisms which contribute to the process.We have also demonstrated the psychological characteristics and neurobiological mechanisms of craving induced by opiate and its long-term maintenance resulting from learning and memory,chronobiology and imaging.Our findings have provided evidence for effective inventions on preventing relapse after abstinence in addicts.Abstract:SUMM ARY Drug dependence has been a severe social and health problem,which has caused serious e-conom ic losses and social d isorder in China.The critical problem in drug dependence is repeated relapse even after detoxification.W e have been contributed to the research of neurobiologicalmechanisms,clini-cal characteristics,and interventions of craving afterwithdrawal from add icting drugs.W e have systemati-cally stud ied the change of drug seeking behavior and craving afterwithdrawal from cocaine,and further investigated the neural anatom ic pathway,long-term neuroplasticity,and neural signal pathways which involved in the change of drug seeking behavior.Accord ing to the situation of dug abuse in China,we in-vestigated the characteristics in the expression of incubation of craving after withdrawal from opiate.W e have primarily found the neural anatom ic pathways and neural plasticity mechanisms which contribute to the process.W e have also demonstrated the psychological characteristics and neurobiologicalmechanisms of craving induced by opiate and its long-term maintenance resulting from learning and memory,chrono-biology and imaging.Our find ings have provided evidence for effective inventions on preventing relapse after abstinence in add icts.