Psychostimulants and social behaviors.

Mounting evidence from animal models and human studies indicates that psychostimulants can significantly affect social behaviors. This is not surprising considering that the neural circuits underlying the regulation and expression of social behaviors are highly overlapped with those targeted by psychostimulants, which in most cases have strong rewarding and, consequently, addictive properties. In the present work, we provide an overview regarding the effects of illicit and prescription psychostimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, methylphenidate or modafinil, upon social behaviors such as social play, maternal behavior, aggression, pair bonding and social cognition and how psychostimulants in both animals and humans alter them. Finally, we discuss why these effects can vary depending on numerous variables such as the type of drug considered, acute versus long-term use, clinical versus recreational consumption, or the presence or absence of concomitant risk factors.

Early-life exposure to sex hormones promotes voluntary ethanol intake in adulthood. A vulnerability factor to drug addiction.

While there is extensive research on alcohol dependence, the factors that make an individual vulnerable to developing alcoholism haven't been explored much. In this study, we aim to investigate how neonatal exposure to sex hormones affects alcohol intake and the regulation of the mesolimbic pathway in adulthood. The study aimed to investigate the impact of neonatal exposure to a single dose of testosterone propionate (TP) or estradiol valerate (EV) on ethanol consumption in adult rats. The rats were subjected to a two-bottle free-choice paradigm, and the content of dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) was measured using HPLC-ED. The expression of critical DA-related proteins in the mesolimbic pathway was evaluated through RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Supraphysiological neonatal exposure to EV or TP resulted in increased ethanol intake over four weeks in adulthood. In addition, the DA and DOPAC content was reduced and increased in the NAcc of EV and TP-treated rats, and ß-endorphin content in the hypothalamus decreased in EV-treated rats. The VTA µ receptor and DA type 2 form short receptor (D2S) expression were significantly reduced in EV and TP male rats. Finally, in an extended 6-week protocol, the increase in ethanol consumption induced by EV was mitigated during the initial two hours post-naloxone injection. Neonatal exposure to sex hormones is a detrimental stimulus for the brain, which can facilitate the development of addictive behaviors, including alcohol use disorder.

Parental enriched environment: A look through key temporary windows.

Environmental enrichment is a widely used experimental manipulation that physically, cognitively and socially stimulates individuals. It has a great variety of long-term effects at neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and behavioral level; however, the influence of parental environmental enrichment during gestation and pregestation on the development of the offspring and on the mother's behavior has been poorly explored. This article presents a review of the literature from the year 2000 about the effects of maternal and paternal environmental enrichment on the behavioral, endocrine, and neural systems of offspring and parents. Relevant research terms were searched for on the biomedical databases, PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The data suggest that paternal/maternal environmental enrichment can profoundly affect the developmental trajectories of offspring through putative epigenetic mechanisms. Environmental enrichment presents as a promising therapeutic tool for human health interventions, especially to counteract the deleterious effects of impoverished and adverse growing conditions.

Effects of Early Life Exposure to Sex Hormones on Neurochemical and Behavioral Responses to Psychostimulants in Adulthood: Implications in Drug Addiction.

Early life exposure to sex hormones affects several brain areas involved in regulating locomotor and motivation behaviors. Our group has shown that neonatal exposure to testosterone propionate (TP) or estradiol valerate (EV) affected the brain dopamine (DA) system in adulthood. Here, we studied the long-lasting effects of neonatal exposure to sex hormones on behavioral and neurochemical responses to amphetamine (AMPH) and methylphenidate (MPD). Our results show that AMPH-induced locomotor activity was higher in female than male control rats. The conditioned place preference (CPP) to AMPH was only observed in EV male rats. In EV female rats, AMPH did not increase locomotor activity, but MPD-induced CPP was observed in control, EV and TP female rats. Using in vivo brain microdialysis, we observed that AMPH-induced extracellular DA levels were lower in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) of EV and TP female rats than control rats. In addition, MPD did not increase NAcc extracellular DA levels in EV rats. Using in vivo fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in striatum, MPD-induced DA reuptake was higher in EV than control rats. In summary, our results show that early life exposure to sex hormones modulates mesolimbic and nigrostriatal DA neurons producing opposite neurochemical effects induced by psychostimulant drugs in NAcc or striatum.

Modafinil Administration to Preadolescent Rat Impairs Non-Selective Attention, Frontal Cortex D2 Expression and Mesolimbic GABA Levels.

The misuse of psychostimulants is an increasing behavior among young people, highlighting in some countries the abuse of modafinil (MOD) as a neuropotentiator. However, several clinical trials are investigating MOD as an alternative pharmacological treatment for attentional deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. On the other hand, the early use of psychostimulants and the misdiagnosis rates in ADHD make it crucial to investigate the brain effects of this type of drug in young healthy individuals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of chronic MOD treatment on neurochemicals (γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate), dopamine receptor 2 (D2) expression and behavior (non-selective attention "NSA") in the mesocorticolimbic system of young healthy Sprague-Dawley rats. Preadolescent male rats were injected with MOD (75 mg/kg, i.p.) or a vehicle for 14 days (from postnatal day 22 to 35). At postnatal day 36, we measured the GLU and GABA contents and their extracellular levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In addition, the GLU and GABA contents were measured in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and D2 protein levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Chronic use of MOD during adolescence induces behavioral and neurochemical changes associated with the mesocorticolimbic system, such as a reduction in PFC D2 expression, VTA GABA levels and NSA. These results contribute to the understanding of the neurological effects of chronic MOD use on a young healthy brain.

Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Therapeutic Potential of Agonists and Antagonists.

Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hypothalamic neuropeptides classically associated with their regulatory role in reproduction, water homeostasis, and social behaviors. Interestingly, this role has expanded in recent years and has positioned these neuropeptides as therapeutic targets for various neuropsychiatric diseases such as autism, addiction, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety disorders. Due to the chemical-physical characteristics of these neuropeptides including short half-life, poor blood-brain barrier penetration, promiscuity for AVP and OT receptors (AVP-R, OT-R), novel ligands have been developed in recent decades. This review summarizes the role of OT and AVP in neuropsychiatric conditions, as well as the findings of different OT-R and AVP-R agonists and antagonists, used both at the preclinical and clinical level. Furthermore, we discuss their possible therapeutic potential for central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

Neonatal programming with sex hormones: Effect on expression of dopamine D1 receptor and neurotransmitters release in nucleus accumbens in adult male and female rats.

Steroid sex hormones produce physiological effects in reproductive and non-reproductive tissues, such as the brain. In the brain, sex hormones receptors are expressed in cortical, limbic and midbrain areas modulating memory, arousal, fear and motivation between other behaviors. One neurotransmitters system regulated by sex hormones is dopamine (DA), where during adulthood, sex hormones promote neurophysiological and behavioral effects on DA systems such as tuberoinfundibular (prolactin secretion), nigrostriatal (motor circuit regulation) and mesocorticolimbic (driving of motivated behavior). However, the long-term effects induced by neonatal exposure to sex hormones on DA release induced by D1 receptor activation and its expression in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) have not been fully studied. To answer this question, neurochemical, cellular and molecular techniques were used. The data show sex differences in NAcc DA extracellular levels induced by D1 receptor activation and protein content of this receptor in male and female control rats. In addition, neonatal programming with a single dose of TP increases the NAcc protein content of D1 receptors of adult male and female rats. Our results show new evidence related with sex differences that could explain the dependence to drug of abuse in males and females, which may be associated with increased reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse.

Vasopressin in the lateral septum decreases conditioned place preference to amphetamine and nucleus accumbens dopamine release.

The lateral septum (LS) is a limbic nucleus interconnected with several brain areas involved in the regulation of mood and reward. Vasopressin (AVP) is a neuropeptide that has been related to the effects of drugs of abuse, but its role in the addictive process is poorly understood. LS expresses a high density of AVP 1A receptors (V1A ). The aim of this work was to examine whether the modulation of LS AVP system affects the behavioral and neurochemical responses to amphetamine (AMPH) in male rats. Our results show that AMPH-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) produces a decrease in LS AVP content. Besides, we demonstrate that the microinjection of AVP in the LS impairs the expression of AMPH-induced CPP and that this effect is mediated by the activation of the V1A receptor in the LS. AVP microinjection in the LS elicited a decrease in neuronal activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in animals subjected to AMPH conditioning. Finally, AVP microinjection in the LS decreased dopamine (DA) release in the NAc. Overall, our data demonstrate that intra-LS AVP diminishes the expression of AMPH conditioning behavior while decreasing neuronal activity and DA release in the NAc. Presumably, the effects of AVP in the LS produce an inhibition of GABAergic projections to the VTA, increasing local inhibitory tone in this nucleus, which in turn reduces the activity of DA projections to NAc. Thus, these results contribute to the knowledge about the role of AVP in LS in regulating the reward circuit and addictive like behaviors.

Chronic modafinil administration to preadolescent rats impairs social play behavior and dopaminergic system.

Some clinical trials are investigating modafinil (Mod) as a treatment for attentional deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Mod increases dopamine (DA) levels in the reward system by blocking dopamine transporter (DAT). Social interactions are rewarding behaviors and evidence reveals the importance of reward circuitry in social interactions. Chronic psychostimulant treatments alter DA neurotransmission and associated behaviors. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of chronic Mod treatment during preadolescence on social play behavior, locomotor activity, and DA in nucleus accumbens (NAc). Preadolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with Mod (75 mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle for 14 days (PND22 to PND35). After that, we measured social play behavior, content and DA release in NAc by HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection, protein levels of DA type 2 receptor (D2) by Western blot and DA kinetic by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) in NAc. Regarding social play, the total number of pinning events decreased in the Mod group compared with the vehicle. The K+-stimulated DA release in NAc was significantly lower in Mod-treated rats compared with vehicle group. Also, Mod increases locomotor activity at the first injection, but this effect is almost completely lost at day 14 of Mod treatment. Chronic Mod treatment during preadolescence in rats impairs dopaminergic neurotransmission in NAc and decreases the capacity of rats to perceive rewarding effects of social play. Importantly, as Mod is being evaluated to treat ADHD in children and adolescents, potential effects on social behavior should be considered since this kind of behavior in this particular stage is crucial for neurodevelopment.

Programming of Dopaminergic Neurons by Early Exposure to Sex Hormones: Effects on Morphine-Induced Accumbens Dopamine Release, Reward, and Locomotor Behavior in Male and Female Rats.

Neonatal programming with sex hormones produces long-term functional changes in various tissues, including the brain. Previously, we demonstrated a higher content of dopamine and an increase in potassium-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of adult rats exposed to estradiol valerate. On the other hand, sex hormones also affect the opioid system increasing the expression of the µ opioid receptor and ß-endorphins. Here, we investigated if neonatal programming with sex hormones alters the response to morphine during adulthood in rats and predispose them to neurochemical, rewarding and behavioral activating effects. We examined the effects of neonatal exposure to a single dose of estradiol valerate or testosterone propionate on morphine-induced (5 mg/kg, i.v.) dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and morphine-induced (3 mg/kg, s.c.) locomotor activity and conditioned place preference when these rats were adults. Our results showed a significant increase in morphine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of rats that were exposed neonatally to estradiol compared with control rats. This effect was correlated with higher place preference and locomotor activity induced by morphine in adult rats neonatally exposed to estradiol valerate. However, the effect of morphine on dopamine release and behaviors was similar in rats treated with testosterone compared to control rats. Additionally, the expression of mu (µ) opioid receptor, dopamine receptor type 1 (D1) and dopamine receptor type 2 (D2) in the nucleus accumbens of adult rats was not different after treatment with sex hormones. Taken together, our results demonstrated an enhancement of pharmacological effects produced by morphine in rats neonatally programmed with estradiol valerate, suggesting that early exposure to sex hormones could represent a vulnerability factor in the development of addiction to opioid drugs such as morphine and heroin in adulthood.

Effects of alcohol and psychostimulants on the vasopressin system: behavioral implications.

Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease characterized by a compulsion to seek drugs, a loss of control with respect to drug consumption, and negative emotional states, including increased anxiety and irritability during withdrawal. Central vasopressin (AVP) and its receptors are involved in controlling social behavior, anxiety and reward, all of which are altered by drugs of abuse. Hypothalamic AVP neurons influence the stress response by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The extrahypothalamic AVP system, however, is commonly associated with social recognition, motivational and anxiety responses. The specific relationship between AVP and drugs of abuse has been rarely reviewed. Here, we provide an overview of the interaction between the brain AVP system and psychostimulants and alcohol. We focus on the effects of alcohol and psychostimulants on AVP regulation of the HPA axis, their effect on the brain AVP system and their behavioral implications, the influence of the AVP system on addictive behaviors, AVP's organizational effects on the brain and consequently on behavior, and we highlight clinical studies on the relation between the AVP system and drug addiction. Finally, we discuss the data to address areas that need further research to support clinical trials and prevent drug-related disorders. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Programming of Dopaminergic Neurons by Neonatal Sex Hormone Exposure: Effects on Dopamine Content and Tyrosine Hydroxylase Expression in Adult Male Rats.

We sought to determine the long-term changes produced by neonatal sex hormone administration on the functioning of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in adult male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously at postnatal day 1 and were assigned to the following experimental groups: TP (testosterone propionate of 1.0 mg/50 µL); DHT (dihydrotestosterone of 1.0 mg/50 µL); EV (estradiol valerate of 0.1 mg/50 µL); and control (sesame oil of 50 µL). At postnatal day 60, neurochemical studies were performed to determine dopamine content in substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area and dopamine release in nucleus accumbens. Molecular (mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase) and cellular (tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity) studies were also performed. We found increased dopamine content in substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area of TP and EV rats, in addition to increased dopamine release in nucleus accumbens. However, neonatal exposure to DHT, a nonaromatizable androgen, did not affect midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Correspondingly, compared to control rats, levels of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA and protein were significantly increased in TP and EV rats but not in DHT rats, as determined by qPCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Our results suggest an estrogenic mechanism involving increased tyrosine hydroxylase expression, either by direct estrogenic action or by aromatization of testosterone to estradiol in substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area.

Exposure to repeated immobilization stress inhibits cocaine-induced increase in dopamine extracellular levels in the rat ventral tegmental area.

A higher vulnerability to drug abuse has been observed in human studies of individuals exposed to chronic or persistent stress, as well as in animal models of drug abuse. Here, we explored the effect of repeated immobilization stress on cocaine-induced increase in dopamine extracellular levels in VTA and its regulation by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and GABA systems. Cocaine (10mg/Kg i.p.) induced an increase of VTA DA extracellular levels in control rats. However, this effect was not observed in repeated stress rats. Considering the evidence relating stress with CRF, we decided to perfuse CRF and CP-154526 (selective antagonist of CRF1 receptor) in the VTA of control and repeated stress rats, respectively. We observed that perfusion of 20µM CRF inhibited the increase of VTA DA extracellular levels induced by cocaine in control rats. Interestingly, we observed that in the presence of 10µM CP-154526, cocaine induced a significant increase of VTA DA extracellular levels in repeated stress rats. Regarding the role of VTA GABA neurotransmission, cocaine administration induced a significant increase in VTA GABA extracellular levels only in repeated stress rats. Consistently, cocaine was able to increase VTA DA extracellular levels in repeated stress rats when 100µM bicuculline, an antagonist of GABAA receptor, was perfused intra VTA. Thus, both CRF and GABA systems are involved in the lack of response to cocaine in the VTA of repeated stress rats. It is tempting to suggest that the loss of response in VTA dopaminergic neurons to cocaine, after repeated stress, is due to an interaction between CRF and GABA systems.

"How and when Chilean Pharmacology started to be experimental and became a science".

Pharmacology in Chile has about 75 years of history and from its beginning until today has grown exponentially. Today, pharmacology is taught in the biomedical careers of the main Chilean universities and research centers in pharmacology are in the north, central and south of Chile. This editorial offers an overview of the main milestones that have led to the consolidation of Chilean pharmacology in Latin America and the world.

Sex hormones and brain dopamine functions.

Sex hormones exert differential effects on a variety of sensitive tissues like the reproductive tract, gonads, liver, bone and adipose tissue, among others. In the brain, sex hormones act as neuroactive steroids regulating the function of neuroendocrine diencephalic structures like the hypothalamus. In addition, steroids can exert physiological effects upon cortical, limbic and midbrain structures, influencing different behaviors such as memory, learning, mood and reward. In the last three decades, the role of sex hormones on monoamine neurotransmitters in extra-hypothalamic areas related to motivated behaviors, learning and locomotion has been the focus of much research. The purpose of this thematic issue is to present the state of art concerning the effects of sex hormones on the neurochemical regulation of dopaminergic midbrain areas involved in neurobiological and pathological processes, such as addiction to drugs of abuse. We also discuss evidence of how neonatal exposure to sex hormones or endocrine disrupting chemicals can produce long-term changes on the neurochemical regulation of dopaminergic neurons in the limbic and midbrain areas.

Withdrawal from chronic amphetamine reduces dopamine transmission in the rat lateral septum.

The lateral septum (LS) is a brain nucleus implicated in the addictive process. This study investigated whether withdrawal from chronic amphetamine (AMPH) induces alterations in dopamine (DA) transmission within the LS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with AMPH (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) or saline during 14 days and thereafter subjected to 24 hr or 14 days of withdrawal. After these withdrawal periods, we measured DA extracellular levels by in vivo microdialysis, DA tissue levels, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) expression in the LS. Our results showed a significant decrease in K(+) -induced release of DA in the LS of AMPH-treated rats, 14 days after withdrawal compared with saline-treated rats. There were no significant differences in DA tissue content and TH expression. Interestingly, there was a decrease of LS VMAT2 expression in AMPH-treated rats, 14 days after withdrawal compared with saline-treated rats. This is the first neurochemical evidence showing that withdrawal from repeated AMPH administration decreases K(+) -induced DA release in the rat LS. Our results suggest that this decrease in DA releasability could be due to a decrease in DA vesicular uptake. The possibility that these neurochemical changes are associated with AMPH abstinence syndrome should be further explored.

Improving amphetamine therapeutic selectivity: N,N-dimethyl-MTA has dopaminergic effects and does not produce aortic contraction.

Amphetamine derivatives have therapeutic potential in diseases such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy and obesity. However, their prolonged use has been associated with cardiovascular toxicity and addiction. In recent years, we have studied the pharmacological effects of amphetamine derivatives such as methylthioamphetamine (MTA) and N,N-dimethyl-thioamphetamine, with the aim of improving their therapeutic selectivity. In this work, we show that similarly to MTA, N,N-dimethyl-thioamphetamine has effects on the dopamine system, producing a significant increase in extracellular levels of dopamine (as measured by in vivo brain microdialysis) and locomotor activity, which is a behavioural measure of dopaminergic activation. However, unlike MTA, N,N-dimethyl- thioamphetamine does not produce aortic contraction in vitro. Our results show that N,N-dimethyl-thioamphetamine is a drug that retains the dopaminergic effects of amphetamine derivatives but exhibits a lower potential for producing cardiovascular side effects.

Long-term loss of dopamine release mediated by CRF-1 receptors in the rat lateral septum after repeated cocaine administration.

The lateral septum (LS) is a brain nucleus associated to stress and drug addiction. Here we show that dopamine extracellular levels in the lateral septum are under the control of corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF). Reverse dialysis of 1µM stressin-1, a type 1 CRF receptor (CRF-R1) agonist, induced a significant increase of LS dopamine extracellular levels in saline-treated rats that was blocked by the co-perfusion of stressin-1 with CP-154526, a specific CRF-R1 antagonist. Repeated cocaine administration (15mg/kg; twice daily for 14 days) suppressed the increase in LS dopamine extracellular levels induced by CRF-R1 activation. This suppression was observed 24h, as well as 21 days after withdrawal from repeated cocaine administration. In addition, depolarization-induced dopamine release in the LS was significantly higher in cocaine-compared to saline-treated rats. Thus, our results show that the activation of CRF-R1 in the LS induces a significant increase in dopamine extracellular levels. Interestingly, repeated cocaine administration induces a long-term suppression of the CRF-R1 mediated dopamine release and a transient increase in dopamine releasability in the LS.

Sexual dimorphism in rats: effects of early maternal separation and variable chronic stress on pituitary-adrenal axis and behavior.

The pituitary-adrenal axis response is gender-dependent, showing lower activity in male rats. Furthermore, males showed low emotional behavior and females high emotionality when exposed to such chronic stress situations. The gender of an animal is a relevant factor in the development of responses to stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of early maternal separation on the pituitary-adrenal activity and emotional behavior of adult male and female rats subjected to chronic variable stress. Male and female Wistar rats were isolated 4.5 h daily, during the three first weeks of life. At 48 days of age, the rats were exposed to variable chronic stress (five different stressors during 24 days). Non-maternally separated and maternally separated males showed lower levels of ACTH compared to females (p<0.01). In male rats exposed to variable chronic stress, the maternally separated animals showed a diminution in the levels of ACTH and Corticosterone (p<0.05) compared to non-maternally separated rats. In the Open Field test, the maternally separated and non-maternally separated-stressed males showed lower emotional reactivity compared with female rats. This was indicated by increase in ambulation (p<0.05) and decrease in defecation (p<0.05). Male rats subjected to variable chronic stress presented low emotional behavior seen in their lower defecation (p<0.05). Stressed females displayed decreased ambulation (p<0.05) and increased defecation (p<0.05), showing high emotional reactivity after exposure to chronic stress. Maternally separated males showed higher emotionality after the exposure to chronic variable stress. This was indicated by decrease in ambulation (p<0.05), decrease in rearing (p<0.05) and increase in defecation (p<0.05). Thus, maternal separation and variable chronic stress caused long-term gender-dependent alterations in pituitary-adrenal activity and emotional behavior.