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Rationale: Opioid use during pregnancy can lead to negative infant health outcomes, including neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). NOWS comprises gastrointestinal, autonomic nervous system, and neurological dysfunction that manifest during spontaneous withdrawal. Variability in NOWS severity necessitates a more individualized treatment approach. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in neonatal mice are emitted in isolation as a stress response and are increased during opioid withdrawal, thus modeling a negative affective state that can be utilized to test new treatments., Objectives: We sought to identify the behavioral and USV profile, brainstem transcriptomic adaptations, and role of kappa opioid receptors in USVs during neonatal opioid withdrawal., Methods: We employed a third trimester-approximate opioid exposure model, where neonatal inbred FVB/NJ pups were injected twice-daily with morphine (10mg/kg, s.c.) or saline (0.9%, 20 ul/g, s.c.) from postnatal day(P) 1 to P14. This protocol induces reduced weight gain, hypothermia, thermal hyperalgesia, and increased USVs during spontaneous morphine withdrawal., Results: On P14, there were increased USV emissions and altered USV syllables during withdrawal, including an increase in Complex 3 syllables in FVB/NJ females (but not males). Brainstem bulk mRNA sequencing revealed an upregulation of the kappa opioid receptor (Oprk1), which contributes to withdrawal-induced dysphoria. The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist, nor-BNI (30 mg/kg, s.c.), significantly reduced USVs in FVB/NJ females, but not males during spontaneous morphine withdrawal. Furthermore, the KOR agonist, U50,488h (0.625 mg/kg, s.c.), was sufficient to increase USVs on P10 (both sexes) and P14 (females only) in FVB/NJ mice., Conclusions: We identified an elevated USV syllable, Complex 3, and a female-specific recruitment of the dynorphin/KOR system in increased USVs associated with neonatal opioid withdrawal severity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Adolescent sensitivity to alcohol is influenced by genetic background. Data from our laboratory suggested that adolescent C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice differed in susceptibility to alcohol-induced deficits in dorsal hippocampus-dependent contextual fear learning., Methods: To investigate the biological underpinnings of this strain difference, we examined dorsal hippocampus gene expression using RNA-sequencing after alcohol or saline administration followed by Pavlovian fear conditioning across male and female C57BL/6J and DBA/2J adolescents., Results: Strains exhibited dramatic differences in dorsal hippocampus gene expression. Specifically, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J strains differed by 3526 transcripts in males and 2675 transcripts in females. We identified pathways likely to be involved in mediating alcohol's effects on learning, including networks associated with Chrna7, a gene encoding the nicotinic cholinergic receptor alpha 7 subunit, and Fmr1, a gene encoding the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein., Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying strain differences in alcohol's effects on learning and suggest that different biological networks are recruited for learning based on genetics, sex, and alcohol exposure., (© 2024 The Author(s). Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Research Society on Alcohol.)

Opioid use disorder is heritable, yet its genetic etiology is largely unknown. C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NJ mouse substrains exhibit phenotypic diversity in the context of limited genetic diversity which together can facilitate genetic discovery. Here, we found C57BL/6NJ mice were less sensitive to oxycodone (OXY)-induced locomotor activation versus C57BL/6J mice in a conditioned place preference paradigm. Narrow-sense heritability was estimated at 0.22-0.31, implicating suitability for genetic analysis. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in an F2 cross identified a chromosome 1 QTL explaining 7-12% of the variance in OXY locomotion and anxiety-like withdrawal in the elevated plus maze. A second QTL for EPM withdrawal behavior on chromosome 5 near Gabra2 (alpha-2 subunit of GABA-A receptor) explained 9% of the variance. To narrow the chromosome 1 locus, we generated recombinant lines spanning 163-181 Mb, captured the QTL for OXY locomotor traits and withdrawal, and fine-mapped a 2.45-Mb region (170.16-172.61 Mb). Transcriptome analysis identified five, localized striatal cis-eQTL transcripts and two were confirmed at the protein level (KCNJ9, ATP1A2). Kcnj9 codes for a potassium channel (GIRK3) that is a major effector of mu opioid receptor signaling. Atp1a2 codes for a subunit of a Na+/K+ ATPase enzyme that regulates neuronal excitability and shows functional adaptations following chronic opioid administration. To summarize, we identified two candidate genes underlying the physiological and behavioral properties of opioids, with direct preclinical relevance to investigators employing these widely used substrains and clinical relevance to human genetic studies of opioid use disorder., Competing Interests: COMPETING INTERESTS The authors have nothing to disclose.

Sensitivity to the subjective reinforcing properties of opioids has a genetic component and can predict addiction liability of opioid compounds. We previously identified Zhx2 as a candidate gene underlying increased brain concentration of the oxycodone ( OXY ) metabolite oxymorphone ( OMOR ) in BALB/cJ ( J ) versus BALB/cByJ ( By ) females that could increase OXY state-dependent reward. A large structural intronic variant is associated with a robust reduction of Zhx2 expression in J mice, which we hypothesized enhances OMOR levels and OXY addiction-like behaviors. We tested this hypothesis by restoring the Zhx2 loss-of-function in Js ( MVKO ) and modeling the loss-of-function variant through knocking out the Zhx2 coding exon ( E3KO ) in Bys and assessing brain OXY metabolite levels and behavior. Consistent with our hypothesis, Zhx2 E3KO females showed an increase in brain OMOR levels and OXY-induced locomotor activity. However, contrary to our hypothesis, state-dependent expression of OXY-CPP was decreased in E3KO females and increased in E3KO males. We also overexpressed Zhx2 in the livers and brains of Js and observed Zhx2 overexpression in select brain regions that was associated with reduced OXY state-dependent learning. Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of E3KO mice identified astrocyte function, cell adhesion, extracellular matrix properties, and endothelial cell functions as pathways influencing brain OXY metabolite concentration and behavior. These results support Zhx2 as a quantitative trait gene underlying brain OMOR concentration that is associated with changes in OXY behavior and implicate potential quantitative trait mechanisms that together inform our overall understanding of Zhx2 in brain function., Competing Interests: COMPETING INTERESTS The authors have nothing to disclose.

Background: Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) significantly impacts patients' recovery and quality of life. Although environmental risk factors are well-established, genetic risk remains less understood., Methods: A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies followed by partitioned heritability was performed on 1350 individuals across five surgery types: hysterectomy, mastectomy, abdominal, hernia, and knee. In subsequent animal studies, withdrawal thresholds to evoked mechanical stimulation were measured in Rag1 null mutant and wild-type mice after plantar incision and laparotomy. Cell sorting by flow cytometry tracked recruitment of immune cell types., Results: We discovered 77 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) hits, distributed among 24 loci and 244 genes. Meta-analysis of all cohorts estimated a SNP-based narrow-sense heritability for CPSP at ∼39%, indicating a substantial genetic contribution. Partitioned heritability analysis across a wide variety of tissues revealed enrichment of heritability in immune system-related genes, particularly those associated with B and T cells. Rag1 null mutant mice lacking both T and B cells exhibited exacerbated and prolonged allodynia up to 42 days after surgery, which was rescued by B-cell transfer. Recruitment patterns of B cells but not T cells differed significantly during the first 7 days after injury in the footpad, lymph nodes, and dorsal root ganglia., Conclusions: These findings suggest a key protective role for the adaptive immune system in the development of chronic post-surgical pain., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, is a major contributor to the ongoing opioid epidemic. During adulthood, fentanyl is known to induce pronounced sleep and circadian disturbances during use and withdrawal. Children exposed to opioids in utero are likely to develop neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, and display sleep disturbances after birth. However, it is currently unknown how neonatal opioid withdrawal from fentanyl impacts sleep and circadian rhythms in mice later in life., Methods: To model neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, mice were treated with fentanyl from postnatal days 1 through 14, analogous to the third trimester of human gestation. After weaning, fentanyl and saline treated mice underwent non-invasive sleep and circadian rhythm monitoring during adolescence postnatal days 23 through 30., Results: Neonatal fentanyl exposure led to reduced duration of wake and a decrease in the number of bouts of non-rapid eye movement sleep. Further, neonatally exposed mice displayed an increase in the average duration of rapid eye movement sleep bouts, reflecting an overall increase in the percent time spent in rapid eye movement sleep across days., Conclusions: Neonatal fentanyl exposure leads to altered sleep-wake states during adolescence in mice.

Prenatal opioid exposure is a major health concern in the United States, with the incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) escalating in recent years. NOWS occurs upon cessation of in utero opioid exposure and is characterized by increased irritability, disrupted sleep patterns, high-pitched crying, and dysregulated feeding. The main pharmacological strategy for alleviating symptoms is treatment with replacement opioids. The neural mechanisms mediating NOWS and the long-term neurobehavioral effects are poorly understood. We used a third trimester-approximate model in which neonatal outbred pups (Carworth Farms White; CFW) were administered once-daily morphine (15 mg/kg, s.c.) from postnatal day (P) day 1 through P14 and were then assessed for behavioral and transcriptomic adaptations within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) on P15. We also investigated the long-term effects of perinatal morphine exposure on adult learning and reward sensitivity. We observed significant weight deficits, spontaneous thermal hyperalgesia, and altered ultrasonic vocalization (USV) profiles following repeated morphine and during spontaneous withdrawal. Transcriptome analysis of NAc from opioid-withdrawn P15 neonates via bulk mRNA sequencing identified an enrichment profile consistent with downregulation of myelin-associated transcripts. Despite the neonatal behavioral and molecular effects, there were no significant long-term effects of perinatal morphine exposure on adult spatial memory function in the Barnes Maze, emotional learning in fear conditioning, or in baseline or methamphetamine-potentiated reward sensitivity as measured via intracranial self-stimulation. Thus, the once daily third trimester-approximate exposure regimen, while inducing NOWS model traits and significant transcriptomic effects in neonates, had no significant long-term effects on adult behaviors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This work was supported by U01DA050243. We have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Management of pain post-surgery is crucial for tissue healing in both veterinary and human medicine. Overuse of some analgesics such as opioids may lead to addictions and worsen pain syndromes (opioid-induced hyperalgesia), while underuse of it may affect the welfare of the patient. Therefore, the importance of using surgery models in laboratory animals is increasing, with the goal of improving our understanding of pain neurobiology and developing safer analgesics., Methods: We compared the widely used plantar incision model with the laparotomy surgery model and measured pain-related behaviors using both spontaneous and evoked responses in female and male C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, we assessed conditioned place preference (CPP) and sucrose preference tests to measure pain-induced motivation for the analgesic ketoprofen and anhedonia-like behavior., Results: Laparotomized mice showed increased abdominal sensitivity while paw-incised mice showed increased paw thermal and mechanical sensitivity up to seven days post-surgery. Laparotomy surgery reduced all spontaneous behaviors in our study however this effect dissipated by 24 h post-laparotomy. On the other hand, paw incision only reduced the percentage of cage hanging in a sex-dependent manner at 6 h post-incision. We also showed that both surgery models increased conditioned place preference for ketoprofen while preference for sucrose was only reduced at 24 h post-laparotomy. Laporatomy, but not paw incision, induced a decrease in body weight at 24 h post-surgery. Neither surgery model affected fluid intake., Conclusion: Our results indicate that post-surgery hypersensitivity and behavioral deficits may differ by the incision site. Furthermore, factors associated with the surgery including length of the incision, duration of the anesthesia, and the layers that received stitches may affect subsequent spontaneous behaviors. These findings may help to improve drug development or the choice of the effective analgesic, depending on the surgery type., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Understanding the pharmacogenomics of opioid metabolism and behavior is vital to therapeutic success, as mutations can dramatically alter therapeutic efficacy and addiction liability. We found robust, sex-dependent BALB/c substrain differences in oxycodone behaviors and whole brain concentration of oxycodone metabolites. BALB/cJ females showed robust state-dependent oxycodone reward learning as measured via conditioned place preference when compared with the closely related BALB/cByJ substrain. Accordingly, BALB/cJ females also showed a robust increase in brain concentration of the inactive metabolite noroxycodone and the active metabolite oxymorphone compared with BALB/cByJ mice. Oxymorphone is a highly potent, full agonist at the mu opioid receptor that could enhance drug-induced interoception and state-dependent oxycodone reward learning. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in a BALB/c F2 reduced complexity cross revealed one major QTL on chromosome 15 underlying brain oxymorphone concentration that explained 32% of the female variance. BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ differ by fewer than 10,000 variants, which can greatly facilitate candidate gene/variant identification. Hippocampal and striatal cis-expression QTL (eQTL) and exon-level eQTL analysis identified Zhx2 , a candidate gene coding for a transcriptional repressor with a private BALB/cJ retroviral insertion that reduces Zhx2 expression and sex-dependent dysregulation of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Whole brain proteomics corroborated the Zhx2 eQTL and identified upregulated CYP2D11 that could increase brain oxymorphone in BALB/cJ females. To summarize, Zhx2 is a highly promising candidate gene underlying brain oxycodone metabolite levels. Future studies will validate Zhx2 and its site of action using reciprocal gene editing and tissue-specific viral manipulations in BALB/c substrains. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Our findings show that genetic variation can result in sex-specific alterations in whole brain concentration of a bioactive opioid metabolite after oxycodone administration, reinforcing the need for sex as a biological factor in pharmacogenomic studies. The cooccurrence of female-specific increased oxymorphone and state-dependent reward learning suggests that this minor yet potent and efficacious metabolite of oxycodone could increase opioid interoception and drug-cue associative learning of opioid reward, which has implications for cue-induced relapse of drug-seeking behavior and for precision pharmacogenetics., (Copyright © 2022 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)

Binge eating disorder (BED) is defined as chronic episodes of consuming large amounts of food in less than 2 h. Binge eating disorder poses a serious public health problem, as it increases the risk of obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Binge eating is a highly heritable trait; however, its genetic basis remains largely unexplored. We employed a mouse model for binge eating that focused on identifying heritable differences between inbred substrains in acute and escalated intake of sucrose-sweetened palatable food vs. unsweetened chow pellets in a limited, intermittent access paradigm. In the present study, we examined two genetically similar substrains of BALB/c mice for escalation in food consumption, incubation of craving after a no-food training period, and compulsive-like food consumption in an aversive context. BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ mice showed comparable levels of acute and escalated consumption of palatable food across training trials. Surprisingly, BALB/cByJ mice also showed binge-like eating of the unsweetened chow pellets similar to the escalation in palatable food intake of both substrains. Finally, we replicated the well-documented decrease in anxiety-like behavior in BALB/cByJ mice in the light-dark conflict test that likely contributed to greater palatable food intake than BALB/cJ in the light arena. To summarize, BALB/cByJ mice show binge-like eating in the presence and absence of sucrose. Possible explanations for the lack of selectivity in binge-like eating across diets (e.g., novelty preference, taste) are discussed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sena, Beierle, Richardson, Kantak and Bryant.)

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and deaths from drug overdoses have reached unprecedented levels. Given the enormous impact of the opioid crisis on public health, a more thorough, in-depth understanding of the consequences of opioids on the brain is required to develop novel interventions and pharmacological therapeutics. In the brain, the effects of opioids are far reaching, from genes to cells, synapses, circuits, and ultimately behavior. Accumulating evidence implicates a primary role for the extracellular matrix (ECM) in opioid-induced plasticity of synapses and circuits, and the development of dependence and addiction to opioids. As a network of proteins and polysaccharides, including cell adhesion molecules, proteases, and perineuronal nets, the ECM is intimately involved in both the formation and structural support of synapses. In the human brain, recent findings support an association between altered ECM signaling and OUD, particularly within the cortical and striatal circuits involved in cognition, reward, and craving. Furthermore, the ECM signaling proteins, including matrix metalloproteinases and proteoglycans, are directly involved in opioid seeking, craving, and relapse behaviors in rodent opioid models. Both the impact of opioids on the ECM and the role of ECM signaling proteins in opioid use disorder, may, in part, depend on biological sex. Here, we highlight the current evidence supporting sex-specific roles for ECM signaling proteins in the brain and their associations with OUD. We emphasize knowledge gaps and future directions to further investigate the potential of the ECM as a therapeutic target for the treatment of OUD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ray, Williams, Kuppe, Bryant and Logan.)

Prenatal exposure to addictive drugs can lead to placental epigenetic modifications, but a methylome-wide evaluation of placental DNA methylation changes after prenatal opioid exposure has not yet been performed. Placental tissue samples were collected at delivery from 19 opioid-exposed and 20 unexposed control full-term pregnancies. Placental DNA methylomes were profiled using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip. Differentially methylated CpG sites associated with opioid exposure were identified with a linear model using the ‘limma’ R package. To identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) spanning multiple CpG sites, the ‘DMRcate’ R package was used. The functions of genes mapped by differentially methylated CpG sites and DMRs were further annotated using Enrichr. Differentially methylated CpGs (n = 684, unadjusted p < 0.005 and |∆β| ≥ 0.05) were mapped to 258 genes (including PLD1, MGAM, and ALCS2). Differentially methylated regions (n = 199) were located in 174 genes (including KCNMA1). Enrichment analysis of the top differentially methylated CpG sites and regions indicated disrupted epigenetic regulation of genes involved in synaptic structure, chemical synaptic transmission, and nervous system development. Our findings imply that placental epigenetic changes due to prenatal opioid exposure could result in placental dysfunction, leading to abnormal fetal brain development and the symptoms of opioid withdrawal in neonates.

Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder) are a heterogeneous class of complex illnesses marked by weight and appetite dysregulation coupled with distinctive behavioral and psychological features. Our understanding of their genetics and neurobiology is evolving thanks to global cooperation on genome-wide association studies, neuroimaging, and animal models. Until now, however, these approaches have advanced the field in parallel, with inadequate cross-talk. This review covers overlapping advances in these key domains and encourages greater integration of hypotheses and findings to create a more unified science of eating disorders. We highlight ongoing and future work designed to identify implicated biological pathways that will inform staging models based on biology as well as targeted prevention and tailored intervention, and will galvanize interest in the development of pharmacologic agents that target the core biology of the illnesses, for which we currently have few effective pharmacotherapeutics., (© 2022. Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Thermal nociception involves the transmission of temperature-related noxious information from the periphery to the CNS and is a heritable trait that could predict transition to persistent pain. Rodent forward genetics complement human studies by controlling genetic complexity and environmental factors, analysis of end point tissue, and validation of variants on appropriate genetic backgrounds. Reduced complexity crosses between nearly identical inbred substrains with robust trait differences can greatly facilitate unbiased discovery of novel genes and variants. We found BALB/cByJ mice showed enhanced sensitivity on the 53.5°C hot plate and mechanical stimulation in the von Frey test compared to BALB/cJ mice and replicated decreased gross brain weight in BALB/cByJ versus BALB/cJ. We then identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 13 for hot plate sensitivity (LOD = 10.7; p < 0.001; peak = 56 Mb) and a QTL for brain weight on chromosome 5 (LOD = 8.7; p < 0.001). Expression QTL mapping of brain tissues identified H2afy (56.07 Mb) as the top transcript with the strongest association at the hot plate locus (FDR = 0.0002) and spliceome analysis identified differential exon usage within H2afy associated with the same locus. Whole brain proteomics further supported decreased H2AFY expression could underlie enhanced hot plate sensitivity, and identified ACADS as a candidate for reduced brain weight. To summarize, a BALB/c reduced complexity cross combined with multiple-omics approaches facilitated identification of candidate genes underlying thermal nociception and brain weight. These substrains provide a powerful, reciprocal platform for future validation of candidate variants.

Psychostimulant (methamphetamine, cocaine) use disorders have a genetic component that remains mostly unknown. We conducted genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity. To facilitate gene identification, we employed a Reduced Complexity Cross between closely related C57BL/6 mouse substrains and examined maximum speed and distance traveled over 30 min following methamphetamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.). For maximum methamphetamine-induced speed following the second and third administration, we identified a single genome-wide significant QTL on chromosome 11 that peaked near the Cyfip2 locus (LOD = 3.5, 4.2; peak = 21 cM [36 Mb]). For methamphetamine-induced distance traveled following the first and second administration, we identified a genome-wide significant QTL on chromosome 5 that peaked near a functional intronic indel in Gabra2 coding for the alpha-2 subunit of the GABA-A receptor (LOD = 3.6-5.2; peak = 34-35 cM [66-67 Mb]). Striatal cis-expression QTL mapping corroborated Gabra2 as a functional candidate gene underlying methamphetamine-induced distance traveled. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated correction of the mutant intronic deletion on the C57BL/6J background to the wild-type C57BL/6NJ allele was sufficient to reduce methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity toward the wild-type C57BL/6NJ-like level, thus validating the quantitative trait variant (QTV). These studies show the power and efficiency of Reduced Complexity Crosses in identifying causal variants underlying complex traits. Functionally restoring Gabra2 expression decreased methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity and supports preclinical and human genetic studies implicating the GABA-A receptor in psychostimulant addiction-relevant traits. Importantly, our findings have major implications for studying psychostimulants in the C57BL/6J strain-the gold standard strain in biomedical research., (© 2021 The Authors. Genes, Brain and Behavior published by International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The opioid epidemic led to an increase in the number of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) cases in infants born to opioid-dependent mothers. Hallmark features of NOWS include weight loss, severe irritability, respiratory problems, and sleep fragmentation. Mouse models provide an opportunity to identify brain mechanisms that contribute to NOWS. Neonatal outbred Swiss Webster Cartworth Farms White (CFW) mice were administered morphine (15 mg/kg, s.c.) twice daily from postnatal day 1 (P1) to P14, an approximation of the third trimester of human gestation. Female and male mice underwent behavioral testing on P7 and P14 to determine the impact of opioid exposure on anxiety and pain sensitivity. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and daily body weights were also recorded. Brainstems containing pons and medulla were collected during morphine withdrawal on P14 for RNA sequencing. Morphine induced weight loss from P2 to P14, which persisted during adolescence (P21) and adulthood (P50). USVs markedly increased at P7 in females, emerging earlier than males. On P7 and P14, both morphine-exposed female and male mice displayed hyperalgesia on the hot plate and tail-flick assays, with females showing greater hyperalgesia than males. Morphine-exposed mice exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior in the open-field arena on P21. Transcriptome analysis of the brainstem, an area implicated in opioid withdrawal and NOWS, identified pathways enriched for noradrenergic signaling in females and males. We also found sex-specific pathways related to mitochondrial function and neurodevelopment in females and circadian entrainment in males. Sex-specific transcriptomic neuroadaptations implicate unique neurobiological mechanisms underlying NOWS-like behaviors., (Copyright © 2021 Borrelli et al.)

Forward genetic mapping of F2 crosses between closely related substrains of inbred rodents - referred to as a reduced complexity cross (RCC) - is a relatively new strategy for accelerating the pace of gene discovery for complex traits, such as drug addiction. RCCs to date were generated in mice, but rats are thought to be optimal for addiction genetic studies. Based on past literature, one inbred Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat substrain, SHR/NCrl, is predicted to exhibit a distinct behavioral profile as it relates to cocaine self-administration traits relative to another substrain, SHR/NHsd. Direct substrain comparisons are a necessary first step before implementing an RCC. We evaluated model traits for cocaine addiction risk and cocaine self-administration behaviors using a longitudinal within-subjects design. Impulsive-like and compulsive-like traits were greater in SHR/NCrl than SHR/NHsd, as were reactivity to sucrose reward, sensitivity to acute psychostimulant effects of cocaine, and cocaine use studied under fixed-ratio and tandem schedules of cocaine self-administration. Compulsive-like behavior correlated with the acute psychostimulant effects of cocaine, which in turn correlated with cocaine taking under the tandem schedule. Compulsive-like behavior also was the best predictor of cocaine seeking responses. Heritability estimates indicated that 22 %-40 % of the variances for the above phenotypes can be explained by additive genetic factors, providing sufficient genetic variance to conduct genetic mapping in F2 crosses of SHR/NCrl and SHR/NHsd. These results provide compelling support for using an RCC approach in SHR substrains to uncover candidate genes and variants that are of relevance to cocaine use disorders., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, dose limiting, and long-lasting side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, no treatment has proven efficacious for this side effect. Rodent models play a crucial role in the discovery of new mechanisms underlying the initiation, progression, and recovery of CIPN and the potential discovery of new therapeutics. However, there is limited consistency in the dose, the sex, age, and genetic background of the animal used in these studies and the outcome measures used in evaluation of CIPN rely primarily on noxious and reflexive measures. The main objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive and systematic characterization of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice by using a battery of behavioral, sensory, electrophysiological, and morphometric measures in both sexes of the two widely used strains of mice, C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ. Mice received intraperitoneal injections of 3 or 30 mg/kg cumulative doses of oxaliplatin over the course of 2 weeks. Both doses induced long-term and time-dependent mechanical and cold hypersensitivity. Our results show that 30 mg/kg oxaliplatin reduced the locomotor activity in C57BL/6J mice, and C57BL/6J females showed anxiety-like behavior one-week post completion of treatment. In the same dose group, BALB/cJ males and females sustained a larger decrease in sucrose preference than either male or female C57BL/6J mice. Both strains failed to show significant changes in burrowing and nesting behaviors. Two clinically relevant assessments of changes to the peripheral nerve fibers, nerve conduction and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) were evaluated. Only BALB/cJ females showed significant reduction in the nerve conduction amplitude 1 week after 30 mg/kg oxaliplatin regimen. Moreover, this dose of the chemo agent reduced the IENF density in both sexes and strains. Our findings suggest that mouse strain, sex, and assay type should be carefully considered when assessing the effects of oxaliplatin and potential therapeutic interventions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Warncke, Toma, Meade, Park, Thompson, Caillaud, Bigbee, Bryant and Damaj.)

Rationale: Methamphetamine (MA) addiction is a major public health issue in the USA, with a poorly understood genetic component. We previously identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (Hnrnph1; H1) as a quantitative trait gene underlying sensitivity to MA-induced behavioral sensitivity. Mice heterozygous for a frameshift deletion in the first coding exon of H1 (H1 +/- ) showed reduced MA phenotypes including oral self-administration, locomotor activity, dopamine release, and dose-dependent differences in MA conditioned place preference. However, the effects of H1 +/- on innate and MA-modulated reward sensitivity are not known., Objectives: We examined innate reward sensitivity and facilitation by MA in H1 +/- mice via intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS)., Methods: We used intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) of the medial forebrain bundle to assess shifts in reward sensitivity following acute, ascending doses of MA (0.5-4.0 mg/kg, i.p.) using a within-subjects design. We also assessed video-recorded behaviors during ICSS testing sessions., Results: H1 +/- mice displayed reduced normalized maximum response rates in response to MA. H1 +/- females had lower normalized M50 values compared to wild-type females, suggesting enhanced reward facilitation by MA. Finally, regardless of genotype, there was a dose-dependent reduction in distance to the response wheel following MA administration, providing an additional measure of MA-induced reward-driven behavior., Conclusions: H1 +/- mice displayed a complex ICSS phenotype following MA, displaying indications of both blunted reward magnitude (lower normalized maximum response rates) and enhanced reward sensitivity specific to H1 +/- females (lower normalized M50 values).

Cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent signaling is highly implicated in the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorder (AUD), with evidence supporting the efficacy of inhibiting the cAMP hydrolyzing enzyme phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) as a therapeutic strategy for drinking reduction. Off-target emetic effects associated with non-selective PDE4 inhibitors has prompted the development of selective PDE4 isozyme inhibitors for treating neuropsychiatric conditions. Herein, we examined the effect of a selective PDE4B inhibitor A33 (0-1.0 mg/kg) on alcohol drinking in both female and male mice from two genetically distinct C57BL/6 substrains. Under two different binge-drinking procedures, A33 pretreatment reduced alcohol intake in male and female mice of both substrains. In both drinking studies, there was no evidence for carry-over effects the next day; however, we did observe some sign of tolerance to A33's effect on alcohol intake upon repeated, intermittent, treatment (5 injections of 1.0 mg/kg, every other day). Pretreatment with 1.0 mg/kg of A33 augmented sucrose intake by C57BL/6NJ, but not C57BL/6J, mice. In mice with a prior history of A33 pretreatment during alcohol-drinking, A33 (1.0 mg/kg) did not alter spontaneous locomotor activity or basal motor coordination, nor did it alter alcohol's effects on motor activity, coordination or sedation. In a distinct cohort of alcohol-naïve mice, acute pretreatment with 1.0 mg/kg of A33 did not alter motor performance on a rotarod and reduced sensitivity to the acute intoxicating effects of alcohol. These data provide the first evidence that selective PDE4B inhibition is an effective strategy for reducing excessive alcohol intake in murine models of binge drinking, with minimal off-target effects. Despite reducing sensitivity to acute alcohol intoxication, PDE4B inhibition reduces binge alcohol drinking, without influencing behavioral sensitivity to alcohol in alcohol-experienced mice. Furthermore, A33 is equally effective in males and females and exerts a quantitatively similar reduction in alcohol intake in mice with a genetic predisposition for high versus moderate alcohol preference. Such findings further support the safety and potential clinical utility of targeting PDE4 for treating AUD.

Binge eating is a heritable trait associated with eating disorders and refers to the rapid consumption of a large quantity of energy-dense food that is, associated with loss of control and negative affect. Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States; however, the genetic basis is unknown. We previously identified robust mouse inbred strain differences between C57BL/6J and DBA/2J in binge-like eating of sweetened palatable food in an intermittent access, conditioned place preference paradigm. To map the genetic basis of changes in body weight and binge-like eating (BLE) and to identify candidate genes, we conducted quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis in 128 C57BL/6J x DBA/2J-F2 mice combined with PheQTL and trait covariance analysis in GeneNetwork2 using legacy BXD-RI trait datasets. We identified a QTL on Chromosome 18 influencing changes in body weight across days in females (log of the odds [LOD] = 6.3; 1.5-LOD: 3-12 cM) that contains the candidate gene Zeb1. We also identified a sex-combined QTL influencing initial palatable food intake on Chromosome 5 (LOD = 5.8; 1.5-LOD: 21-28 cM) that contains the candidate gene Lcorl and a second QTL influencing escalated palatable food intake on Chromosome 6 in males (LOD = 5.4; 1.5-LOD: 50-59 cM) that contains the candidate genes Adipor2 and Plxnd1. Finally, we identified a suggestive QTL in females for slope of BLE on distal Chromosome 18 (LOD = 4.1; p = 0.055; 1.5-LOD: 23-35 cM). Future studies will use BXD-RI strains to fine map loci and support candidate gene nomination for gene editing., (© 2021 International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Hnrnph1 is a validated quantitative trait gene for methamphetamine behavioral sensitivity that encodes for heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (hnRNP H1). This RNA-binding protein is involved in all stages of RNA metabolism that impacts mesocorticolimbic dopamine neurotransmission to influence addiction-related behavior., Methods: We characterized the alcohol behavioral phenotypes of mice heterozygous for a deletion in the first coding exon of Hnrnph1 (Hnrnph1+/-). We examined alcohol intake under both continuous- and limited-access procedures, as well as alcohol-induced place-conditioning. Follow-up studies examined genotypic differences in the psychomotor-activating and sedative-hypnotic effects of acute and repeated alcohol, and a behavioral test battery was employed to determine the effects of Hnrnph1 deletion on the manifestation of negative affect during alcohol withdrawal., Results: Relative to wild-type (WT) controls, Hnrnph1+/- males exhibited blunted intake of high alcohol concentrations under both drinking procedures. Hnrnph1 deletion did not impact the conditioned rewarding properties of low-dose alcohol, but reversed the conditioned place-aversion elicited by higher alcohol doses (2 and 4 g/kg), with more robust effects in male versus female mice. No genotypic differences were observed for alcohol-induced locomotor activity. Hnrnph1+/- mice exhibited a modest increase in sensitivity to alcohol's sedative-hypnotic effects, but did not differ from WT mice with regard to tolerance to alcohol's sedative-hypnotic effects or alcohol metabolism, Inconsistent effects of Hnrnph1 deletion were observed in models for withdrawal-induced negative affect., Conclusions: These data identify Hnrnph1 as a novel, male-selective, driver of alcohol consumption and high-dose alcohol aversion that is potentially relevant to the neurobiology of alcohol abuse and alcoholism., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and opioid-related deaths remain a major public health concern in the United States. Both environmental and genetic factors influence risk for OUD. We previously identified Hnrnph1 as a quantitative trait gene underlying the stimulant, rewarding, and reinforcing properties of methamphetamine. Prior work shows that hnRNP H1, the RNA-binding protein encoded by Hnrnph1, post-transcriptionally regulates Oprm1 (mu opioid receptor gene)-the primary molecular target for the therapeutic and addictive properties of opioids. Because genetic variants can exert pleiotropic effects on behaviors induced by multiple drugs of abuse, in the current study, we tested the hypothesis that Hnrnph1 mutants would show reduced behavioral sensitivity to the mu opioid receptor agonist fentanyl. Hnrnph1 mutants showed reduced sensitivity to fentanyl-induced locomotor activity, along with a female-specific reduction in, and a male-specific induction of, locomotor sensitization following three, daily injections (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.). Hnrnph1 mutants also required a higher dose of fentanyl to exhibit opioid reward as measured via conditioned place preference (CPP). Male Hnrnph1 mutants showed reduced fentanyl reinforcement. Hnrnph1 mutants also showed reduced sucrose motivation, suggesting a reward deficit. No genotypic differences were observed in baseline thermal nociception, fentanyl-induced antinociception, physical or negative affective signs of opioid dependence, or in sensorimotor gating. In the context of our prior work, these findings suggest that Hnrnph1 dysfunction exerts a selective role in reducing the addiction liability to drugs of abuse (opioids and psychostimulants), which could provide new biological pathways to improve their therapeutic profiles., (© 2020 International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Understanding the mechanisms underpinning individual variance in addiction vulnerability requires the development of validated, high-throughput screens. In a prior study of a large sample of male isogenic C57BL/6J mice, the direction and magnitude of methamphetamine (MA)-induced place-conditioning predicts the propensity to acquire oral MA self-administration, as well as the efficacy of MA to serve as a reinforcer. The present study examined whether or not such a predictive relationship also exists in females. Adult C57BL/6J females underwent a 4-day MA place-conditioning paradigm (once daily injections of 2 mg/kg) and were then trained to nose-poke for delivery of a 20 mg/L MA solution under increasing schedules of reinforcement, followed by dose-response testing (5-400 mg/L MA). Akin to males, 53 % of the females exhibited a conditioned place-preference, while 32 % of the mice were MA-neutral and 15 % exhibited a conditioned place-aversion. However, unlike males, the place-conditioning phenotype did not transfer to MA-reinforced nose-poking behavior under operant-conditioning procedures, with 400 mg/L MA intake being inversely correlated place-conditioning. While only one MA-conditioning dose has been assayed to date, these data indicate that sex does not significantly shift the proportion of C57BL/6J mice that perceive MA's interoceptive effects as positive, neutral or aversive. However, a sex difference appears to exist regarding the predictive relationship between the motivational valence of MA and subsequent drug-taking behavior; females exhibit MA-taking behavior and reinforcement, despite their initial perception of the stimulant interoceptive effects as positive, neutral or negative., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Genetically diverse inbred strains are frequently used in quantitative trait mapping to identify sequence variants underlying trait variation. Poor locus resolution and high genetic complexity impede variant discovery. As a solution, we explore reduced complexity crosses (RCCs) between phenotypically divergent, yet genetically similar, rodent substrains. RCCs accelerate functional variant discovery via decreasing the number of segregating variants by orders of magnitude. The simplified genetic architecture of RCCs often permit immediate identification of causal variants or rapid fine-mapping of broad loci to smaller intervals. Whole-genome sequences of substrains make RCCs possible by supporting the development of array- and targeted sequencing-based genotyping platforms, coupled with rapid genome editing for variant validation. In summary, RCCs enhance discovery-based genetics of complex traits., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Substantial evidence from preclinical models of pain suggests that basal and noxious nociceptive sensitivity, as well as antinociceptive responses to drugs, show significant heritability. Individual differences to these responses have been observed across species from rodents to humans. The use of closely related C57BL/6 inbred mouse substrains can facilitate gene mapping of acute nociceptive behaviors in preclinical pain models. In this study, we investigated behavioral differences between C57BL/6 J (B6 J) and C57BL/6 N (B6 N) substrains in the formalin test, a widely used tonic inflammatory pain model, using a battery of pain-related phenotypes, including reflexive tests, nesting, voluntary wheel running, sucrose preference and anxiety-like behavior in the light/dark test at two different time points (1-h and 24-h). Our results show that these substrains did not differ in reflexive thermal and mechanical responses at the 1-h time point. However, B6 N substrain mice showed increased sensitivity to spontaneous pain-like behaviors. In addition, B6 N substrain continued to show higher levels of mechanical hypersensitivity compared to controls at 24-h. indicating that mechanical hypersensitivity is a more persistent pain-related phenotype induced by formalin. Finally, no sex differences were observed in our outcome measures. Our results provide a comprehensive behavioral testing paradigm in response to an inflammatory agent for future mouse genetic studies in pain., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Binge eating is a heritable symptom of eating disorders with an unknown genetic etiology. Rodent models for binge-like eating (BLE) of palatable food permit the study of genetic and biological mechanisms. We previously genetically mapped a coding mutation in Cyfip2 associated with increased BLE of sweetened palatable food in the C57BL/6NJ versus C57BL/6J substrain. The increase in BLE in C57BL/6NJ mice was associated with a decrease in transcription of genes enriched for myelination in the striatum. Here, we tested the hypothesis that decreasing myelin levels with the demyelinating agent cuprizone would enhance BLE. Mice were treated with a 0.3% cuprizone home cage diet for two weeks. Cuprizone induced similar weight loss in both substrains and sexes that recovered within 48 h after removal of cuprizone. Following a three-week recovery period, mice were trained for BLE in an intermittent, limited access procedure. Surprisingly, cuprizone significantly reduced BLE in male but not female C57BL/6NJ mice while having no effect in C57BL/6J mice. Cuprizone also reduced myelin basic protein (MBP) at seven weeks post-cuprizone removal while having no effect on myelin-associated glycoprotein at this time point. C57BL/6NJ mice also showed less MBP than C57BL/6J mice. There were no statistical interactions of Treatment with Sex on MBP levels, indicating that differences in MBP reduction are unlikely to account for sex differences in BLE. To summarize, cuprizone induced an unexpected, significant reduction in BLE in C57BL/6NJ males, which could indicate genotype-dependent sex differences in the biological mechanisms of BLE., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We previously identified a 210 kb region on chromosome 11 (50.37-50.58 Mb, mm10) containing two protein-coding genes (Hnrnph1, Rufy1) that was necessary for reduced methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity in C57BL/6J congenic mice harboring DBA/2J polymorphisms. Gene editing of a small deletion in the first coding exon supported Hnrnph1 as a quantitative trait gene. We have since shown that Hnrnph1 mutants also exhibit reduced methamphetamine-induced reward, reinforcement, and dopamine release. However, the quantitative trait variants (QTVs) that modulate Hnrnph1 function at the molecular level are not known. Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms and seven indels distinguish C57BL/6J from DBA/2J within Hnrnph1, including four variants within the 5' untranslated region (UTR). Here, we show that a 114 kb introgressed region containing Hnrnph1 and Rufy1 was sufficient to cause a decrease in MA-induced locomotor activity. Gene-level transcriptome analysis of striatal tissue from 114 kb congenics vs Hnrnph1 mutants identified a nearly perfect correlation of fold-change in expression for those differentially expressed genes that were common to both mouse lines, indicating functionally similar effects on the transcriptome and behavior. Exon-level analysis (including noncoding exons) revealed decreased 5' UTR usage of Hnrnph1 and immunoblot analysis identified a corresponding decrease in hnRNP H protein in 114 kb congenic mice. Molecular cloning of the Hnrnph1 5' UTR containing all four variants (but none of them individually) upstream of a reporter induced a decrease in reporter signal in both HEK293 and N2a cells, thus, identifying a set of QTVs underlying molecular regulation of Hnrnph1., (© 2020 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.)

Problems associated with the abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants, including methamphetamine (MA), pose serious health and socioeconomic issues world-wide. While it is well-established that MA's psychopharmacological effects involve interactions with monoamine neurotransmission, accumulating evidence from animal models implicates dysregulated glutamate in MA addiction vulnerability and use disorder. Recently, we discovered an association between genetic vulnerability to MA-taking and increased expression of the glutamate receptor scaffolding protein Homer2 within both the shell and core subregions of the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and demonstrated a necessary role for Homer2 within the shell subregion in MA reward and reinforcement in mice. This report extends our earlier work by interrogating the functional relevance of Homer2 within the NAC core for the conditioned rewarding and reinforcing properties of MA. C57BL/6J mice with a virus-mediated knockdown of Homer2b expression within the NAC core were first tested for the development and expression of a MA-induced conditioned place-preference/CPP (four pairings of 2 mg/kg MA) and then were trained to self-administer oral MA under operant-conditioning procedures (5-80 mg/L). Homer2b knockdown in the NAC core augmented a MA-CPP and shifted the dose-response function for MA-reinforced responding, above control levels. To determine whether Homer2b within NAC subregions played an active role in regulating MA reward and reinforcement, we characterized the MA phenotype of constitutive Homer2 knockout (KO) mice and then assayed the effects of virus-mediated overexpression of Homer2b within the NAC shell and core of wild-type and KO mice. In line with the results of NAC core knockdown, Homer2 deletion potentiated MA-induced CPP, MA-reinforced responding and intake, as well as both cue- and MA-primed reinstatement of MA-seeking following extinction. However, there was no effect of Homer2b overexpression within the NAC core or the shell on the KO phenotype. These data provide new evidence indicating a globally suppressive role for Homer2 in MA-seeking and MA-taking but argue against specific NAC subregions as the neural loci through which Homer2 actively regulates MA addiction-related behaviors., (Copyright © 2020 Brown, Fultz, Ferdousian, Rogers, Lustig, Page, Shahin, Flaherty, Von Jonquieres, Bryant, Kippin and Szumlinski.)

Methamphetamine (MA) and alcohol use disorders exhibit a high degree of co-morbidity and sequential alcohol-MA mixing increases risk for co-abuse. Recently, we reported greater MA-conditioned reward in male C57BL/6J mice with a prior history of binge alcohol-drinking (14 days of 2-hour access to 5, 10, 20 and 40% alcohol). As female mice tend to binge-drink more alcohol than males and females tend to be more sensitive than males to the psychomotor-activating properties of MA, we first characterized the effects of binge-drinking upon MA-induced place-conditioning (four pairings of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg IP) in females and then incorporated our prior data to analyze for sex differences in MA-conditioned reward. Prior binge-drinking history did not significantly affect locomotor hyperactivity or its sensitization in female mice. However, the dose-response function for place-conditioning was shifted to the left of water-drinking controls, indicating an increase in sensitivity to MA-conditioned reward. The examination of sex differences revealed no sex differences in alcohol intake, although females exhibited greater MA-induced locomotor stimulation than males, irrespective of their prior drinking history. No statistically significant sex difference was apparent for the potentiation of MA-conditioned reward produced by prior binge-drinking history. If relevant to humans, these data argue that both males and females with a prior binge-drinking history are similarly vulnerable to MA abuse and it remains to be determined whether or not the neural substrates underpinning this increased vulnerability reflect common or sex-specific adaptations in reward-related brain regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interest:The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Individual variation in the addiction liability of amphetamines has a heritable genetic component. We previously identified Hnrnph1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1) as a quantitative trait gene underlying decreased methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity in mice. Here, we showed that mice (both females and males) with a heterozygous mutation in the first coding exon of Hnrnph1 (H1 +/- ) showed reduced methamphetamine reinforcement and intake and dose-dependent changes in methamphetamine reward as measured via conditioned place preference. Furthermore, H1 +/- mice showed a robust decrease in methamphetamine-induced dopamine release in the NAc with no change in baseline extracellular dopamine, striatal whole-tissue dopamine, dopamine transporter protein, dopamine uptake, or striatal methamphetamine and amphetamine metabolite levels. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot staining of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and their forebrain projections for TH did not reveal any major changes in staining intensity, cell number, or forebrain puncta counts. Surprisingly, there was a twofold increase in hnRNP H protein in the striatal synaptosome of H1 +/- mice with no change in whole-tissue levels. To gain insight into the mechanisms linking increased synaptic hnRNP H with decreased methamphetamine-induced dopamine release and behaviors, synaptosomal proteomic analysis identified an increased baseline abundance of several mitochondrial complex I and V proteins that rapidly decreased at 30 min after methamphetamine administration in H1 +/- mice. In contrast, the much lower level of basal synaptosomal mitochondrial proteins in WT mice showed a rapid increase. We conclude that H1 +/- decreases methamphetamine-induced dopamine release, reward, and reinforcement and induces dynamic changes in basal and methamphetamine-induced synaptic mitochondrial function. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Methamphetamine dependence is a significant public health concern with no FDA-approved treatment. We discovered a role for the RNA binding protein hnRNP H in methamphetamine reward and reinforcement. Hnrnph1 mutation also blunted methamphetamine-induced dopamine release in the NAc, a key neurochemical event contributing to methamphetamine addiction liability. Finally, Hnrnph1 mutants showed a marked increase in basal level of synaptosomal hnRNP H and mitochondrial proteins that decreased in response to methamphetamine, whereas WT mice showed a methamphetamine-induced increase in synaptosomal mitochondrial proteins. Thus, we identified a potential role for hnRNP H in basal and dynamic mitochondrial function that informs methamphetamine-induced cellular adaptations associated with reduced addiction liability., (Copyright © 2020 the authors.)

Binge eating (BE) is a heritable trait associated with eating disorders and involves episodes of rapid, large amounts of food consumption. We previously identified cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 2 ( Cyfip2 ) as a genetic factor underlying compulsive-like BE in mice. CYFIP2 is a homolog of CYFIP1 which is one of four paternally-deleted genes in patients with Type I Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a neurodevelopmental disorder whereby 70% of cases involve paternal 15q11-q13 deletion. PWS symptoms include hyperphagia, obesity (if untreated), cognitive deficits, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. We tested whether Cyfip1 haploinsufficiency (+/-) would enhance compulsive-like behavior and palatable food (PF) intake in a parental origin- and sex-dependent manner on two Cyfip2 genetic backgrounds, including the BE-prone C57BL/6N ( Cyfip2 N/N ) background and the BE-resistant C57BL/6J ( Cyfip2 J/J ) background. Cyfip1 +/- mice showed increased compulsive-like behavior on both backgrounds and increased PF intake on the Cyfip2 N/N background. In contrast, maternal Cyfip1 haploinsufficiency on the BE-resistant Cyfip2 J/J background induced a robust escalation in PF intake in wild-type Cyfip1 J/J males while having no effect in Cyfip1 J/- males. Notably, induction of behavioral phenotypes in wild-type males following maternal Fmr1 +/- has previously been reported. In the hypothalamus, there was a paternally-enhanced reduction in CYFIP1 protein whereas in the nucleus accumbens, there was a maternally-enhanced reduction in CYFIP1 protein. Nochange in FMR1 protein (FMRP) was observed in Cyfip1 +/- mice, regardless of parental origin. To summarize, Cyfip1 haploinsufficiency increased compulsive-like behavior and induced genetic background-dependent, sex-dependent, and parent-of-origin-dependent effects on PF consumption and CYFIP1 expression that could have relevance for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders., (Copyright © 2019 Babbs et al.)

GABA type-A (GABA-A) receptors containing the α2 subunit (GABRA2) are expressed in most brain regions and are critical in modulating inhibitory synaptic function. Genetic variation at the GABRA2 locus has been implicated in epilepsy, affective and psychiatric disorders, alcoholism and drug abuse. Gabra2 expression varies as a function of genotype and is modulated by sequence variants in several brain structures and populations, including F2 crosses originating from C57BL/6J (B6J) and the BXD recombinant inbred family derived from B6J and DBA/2J. Here we demonstrate a global reduction of GABRA2 brain protein and mRNA in the B6J strain relative to other inbred strains, and identify and validate the causal mutation in B6J. The mutation is a single base pair deletion located in an intron adjacent to a splice acceptor site that only occurs in the B6J reference genome. The deletion became fixed in B6J between 1976 and 1991 and is now pervasive in many engineered lines, BXD strains generated after 1991, the Collaborative Cross, and the majority of consomic lines. Repair of the deletion using CRISPR- Cas9 -mediated gene editing on a B6J genetic background completely restored brain levels of GABRA2 protein and mRNA. Comparison of transcript expression in hippocampus, cortex, and striatum between B6J and repaired genotypes revealed alterations in GABA-A receptor subunit expression, especially in striatum. These results suggest that naturally occurring variation in GABRA2 levels between B6J and other substrains or inbred strains may also explain strain differences in anxiety-like or alcohol and drug response traits related to striatal function. Characterization of the B6J private mutation in the Gabra2 gene is of critical importance to molecular genetic studies in neurobiological research because this strain is widely used to generate genetically engineered mice and murine genetic populations, and is the most widely utilized strain for evaluation of anxiety-like, depression-like, pain, epilepsy, and drug response traits that may be partly modulated by GABRA2 function.

Sensitivity to different pain modalities has a genetic basis that remains largely unknown. Employing closely related inbred mouse substrains can facilitate gene mapping of nociceptive behaviors in preclinical pain models. We previously reported enhanced sensitivity to acute thermal nociception in C57BL/6J (B6J) versus C57BL/6N (B6N) substrains. Here, we expanded on nociceptive phenotypes and observed an increase in formalin-induced inflammatory nociceptive behaviors and paw diameter in B6J versus B6N mice (Charles River Laboratories). No strain differences were observed in mechanical or thermal hypersensitivity or in edema following the Complete Freund's Adjuvant model of inflammatory pain, indicating specificity in the inflammatory nociceptive stimulus. In the chronic constrictive nerve injury, a model of neuropathic pain, no strain differences were observed in baseline mechanical threshold or in mechanical hypersensitivity up to one month post-chronic constrictive nerve injury. We replicated the enhanced thermal nociception in the 52.5°C hot plate test in B6J versus B6N mice from The Jackson Laboratory. Using a B6J × B6N-F2 cross (N = 164), we mapped a major quantitative trait locus underlying hot plate sensitivity to chromosome 7 that peaked at 26 Mb (log of the odds [LOD] = 3.81, p < 0.01; 8.74 Mb-36.50 Mb) that was more pronounced in males. Genes containing expression quantitative trait loci associated with the peak nociceptive marker that are implicated in pain and inflammation include Ryr1, Cyp2a5, Pou2f2, Clip3, Sirt2, Actn4, and Ltbp4 (false discovery rate < 0.05). Future studies involving positional cloning and gene editing will determine the quantitative trait gene(s) and potential pleiotropy of this locus across pain modalities.

Binge eating (BE) is a heritable symptom of eating disorders associated with anxiety, depression, malnutrition, and obesity. Genetic analysis of BE could facilitate therapeutic discovery. We used an intermittent, limited access BE paradigm involving sweetened palatable food (PF) to examine genetic differences in BE, conditioned food reward, and compulsive-like eating between C57BL/6J (B6J) and DBA/2J (D2J) inbred mouse strains. D2J mice showed a robust escalation in intake and conditioned place preference for the PF-paired side. D2J mice also showed a unique style of compulsive-like eating in the light/dark conflict test where they rapidly hoarded and consumed PF in the preferred unlit environment. BE and compulsive-like eating exhibited narrow-sense heritability estimates between 56 and 73%. To gain insight into the genetic basis, we phenotyped and genotyped a small cohort of 133 B6J × D2J-F 2 mice at the peak location of three quantitative trait loci (QTL) previously identified in F 2 mice for sweet taste (chromosome 4: 156 Mb), bitter taste (chromosome 6: 133 Mb) and behavioral sensitivity to drugs of abuse (chromosome 11: 50 Mb). The D2J allele on chromosome 6 was associated with greater PF intake on training days and greater compulsive-like PF intake, but only in males, suggesting that decreased bitter taste may increase BE in males. The D2J allele on chromosome 11 was associated with an increase in final PF intake and slope of escalation across days. Future studies employing larger crosses and genetic reference panels comprising B6J and D2J alleles will identify causal genes and neurobiological mechanisms., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

RNA binding proteins are a diverse class of proteins that regulate all aspects of RNA metabolism. Accumulating studies indicate that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins are associated with cellular adaptations in response to drugs of abuse. We recently mapped and validated heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (Hnrnph1) as a quantitative trait gene underlying differential behavioral sensitivity to methamphetamine. The molecular mechanisms by which hnRNP H1 alters methamphetamine behaviors are unknown but could involve pre- and/or post-synaptic changes in protein localization and function. Methamphetamine initiates post-synaptic D1 dopamine receptor signaling indirectly by binding to pre-synaptic dopamine transporters and vesicular monoamine transporters of midbrain dopaminergic neurons which triggers reverse transport and accumulation of dopamine at the synapse. Here, we examined changes in neuronal localization of hnRNP H in primary rat cortical neurons that express dopamine receptors that can be modulated by the D1 or D2 dopamine receptor agonists SKF38393 and (-)-Quinpirole HCl, respectively. Basal immunostaining of hnRNP H was localized primarily to the nucleus. D1 dopamine receptor activation induced an increase in hnRNP H nuclear immunostaining as detected by immunocytochemistry with a C-domain directed antibody containing epitope near the glycine-rich domain but not with an N-domain specific antibody. Although there was no change in hnRNP H protein in the nucleus or cytoplasm, there was a decrease in Hnrnph1 transcript following D1 receptor stimulation. Taken together, these results suggest that D1 receptor activation increases availability of the hnRNP H C-terminal epitope, which could potentially reflect changes in protein-protein interactions. Thus, D1 receptor signaling could represent a key molecular post-synaptic event linking Hnrnph1 polymorphisms to drug-induced behavior., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Emerging studies suggest a role for tau in regulating the biology of RNA binding proteins (RBPs). We now show that reducing the RBP T-cell intracellular antigen 1 (TIA1) in vivo protects against neurodegeneration and prolongs survival in transgenic P301S Tau mice. Biochemical fractionation shows co-enrichment and co-localization of tau oligomers and RBPs in transgenic P301S Tau mice. Reducing TIA1 decreased the number and size of granules co-localizing with stress granule markers. Decreasing TIA1 also inhibited the accumulation of tau oligomers at the expense of increasing neurofibrillary tangles. Despite the increase in neurofibrillary tangles, TIA1 reduction increased neuronal survival and rescued behavioral deficits and lifespan. These data provide in vivo evidence that TIA1 plays a key role in mediating toxicity and further suggest that RBPs direct the pathway of tau aggregation and the resulting neurodegeneration. We propose a model in which dysfunction of the translational stress response leads to tau-mediated pathology.

Genetic and pharmacological studies indicate that casein kinase 1 epsilon (Csnk1e) contributes to psychostimulant, opioid, and ethanol motivated behaviors. We previously used pharmacological inhibition to demonstrate that Csnk1e negatively regulates the locomotor stimulant properties of opioids and psychostimulants. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Csnk1e negatively regulates opioid and psychostimulant reward using genetic inhibition and the conditioned place preference assay in Csnk1e knockout mice. Similar to pharmacological inhibition, Csnk1e knockout mice showed enhanced opioid-induced locomotor activity with the mu opioid receptor agonist fentanyl (0.2 mg/kg i.p.) as well as enhanced sensitivity to low-dose fentanyl reward (0.05 mg/kg). Interestingly, female knockout mice also showed a markedly greater escalation in consumption of sweetened palatable food - a behavioral pattern consistent with binge eating that also depends on mu opioid receptor activation. No difference was observed in fentanyl analgesia in the 52.5°C hot plate assay (0-0.4 mg/kg), naloxone conditioned place aversion (4 mg/kg), or methamphetamine conditioned place preference (0-4 mg/kg). To identify molecular adaptations associated with increased drug and food behaviors in knockout mice, we completed transcriptome analysis via mRNA sequencing of the striatum. Enrichment analysis identified terms associated with myelination and axon guidance and pathway analysis identified a differentially expressed gene set predicted to be regulated by the Wnt signaling transcription factor, Tcf7l2. To summarize, Csnk1e deletion increased mu opioid receptor-dependent behaviors, supporting previous studies indicating an endogenous negative regulatory role of Csnk1e in opioid behavior., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society.)

Background: Eating disorders are lethal and heritable; however, the underlying genetic factors are unknown. Binge eating is a highly heritable trait associated with eating disorders that is comorbid with mood and substance use disorders. Therefore, understanding its genetic basis will inform therapeutic development that could improve several comorbid neuropsychiatric conditions., Methods: We assessed binge eating in closely related C57BL/6 mouse substrains and in an F 2 cross to identify quantitative trait loci associated with binge eating. We used gene targeting to validate candidate genetic factors. Finally, we used transcriptome analysis of the striatum via messenger RNA sequencing to identify the premorbid transcriptome and the binge-induced transcriptome to inform molecular mechanisms mediating binge eating susceptibility and establishment., Results: C57BL/6NJ but not C57BL/6J mice showed rapid and robust escalation in palatable food consumption. We mapped a single genome-wide significant quantitative trait locus on chromosome 11 (logarithm of the odds = 7.4) to a missense mutation in cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 2 (Cyfip2). We validated Cyfip2 as a major genetic factor underlying binge eating in heterozygous knockout mice on a C57BL/6N background that showed reduced binge eating toward a wild-type C57BL/6J-like level. Transcriptome analysis of premorbid genetic risk identified the enrichment terms morphine addiction and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, whereas binge eating resulted in the downregulation of a gene set enriched for decreased myelination, oligodendrocyte differentiation, and expression., Conclusions: We identified Cyfip2 as a major significant genetic factor underlying binge eating and provide a behavioral paradigm for future genome-wide association studies in populations with increased genetic complexity., (Copyright © 2016 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mechanical sensitivity is commonly affected in chronic pain and other neurological disorders. To discover mechanisms of individual differences in punctate mechanosensation, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of the response to von Frey monofilament stimulation in BXD recombinant inbred (BXD) mice. Significant loci were detected on mouse chromosome (Chr) 5 and 15, indicating the location of underlying polymorphisms that cause heritable variation in von Frey response. Convergent evidence from public gene expression data implicates candidate genes within the loci: von Frey thresholds were strongly correlated with baseline expression of Cacna2d1, Ift27 and Csnk1e in multiple brain regions of BXD strains. Systemic gabapentin and PF-670462, which target the protein products of Cacna2d1 and Csnk1e, respectively, significantly increased von Frey thresholds in a genotype-dependent manner in progenitors and BXD strains. Real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed differential expression of Cacna2d1 and Csnk1e in multiple brain regions in progenitors and showed differential expression of Cacna2d1 and Csnk1e in the dorsal root ganglia of the progenitors and BXD strains grouped by QTL genotype. Thus, linkage mapping, transcript covariance and pharmacological testing suggest that genetic variation affecting Cacna2d1 and Csnk1e may contribute to individual differences in von Frey filament response. This study implicates Cacna2d1 and Ift27 in basal mechanosensation in line with their previously suspected role in mechanical hypersensitivity. Csnk1e is implicated for von Frey response for the first time. Further investigation is warranted to identify the specific polymorphisms involved and assess the relevance of these findings to clinical conditions of disturbed mechanosensation., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society.)

Addiction to psychostimulants such as Methamphetamine (MA) is a significant public health issue in the United States and currently, there are no FDA approved pharmacological interventions. Previously, using short term-selected mouse lines for high and low MA sensitivity that were derived from an F2 cross between C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) strains, we identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome (chr) 11 that influenced sensitivity to MA-induced locomotor activity (D2 < B6). Using interval-specific murine congenic lines containing various D2 allelic segments on a B6 background, we fine mapped the QTL to a 206 kb critical interval on chromosome 11. To investigate the neurobiological mechanism by which this QTL decreases MA sensitivity, we conducted transcriptome analysis in a 10 Mb congenic mouse (chromosome 11: 50-60 Mb) on whole-striatum brain tissue punches compared to wild-type B6 littermate controls [1]. The data from this study can be found in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE66366).

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression defines the neurobiological mechanisms that bridge genetic and environmental risk factors with neurobehavioral dysfunction underlying the addictions. More than 1000 genes in the eukaryotic genome code for multifunctional RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that can regulate all levels of RNA biogenesis. More than 50% of these RBPs are expressed in the brain where they regulate alternative splicing, transport, localization, stability and translation of RNAs during development and adulthood. Dysfunction of RBPs can exert global effects on their targetomes that underlie neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases as well as neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Here, we consider the evidence that RBPs influence key molecular targets, neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity and neurobehavioral dysfunction underlying the addictions. Increasingly well-powered genome-wide association studies in humans and mammalian model organisms combined with ever more precise transcriptomic and proteomic approaches will continue to uncover novel and possibly selective roles for RBPs in the addictions. Key challenges include identifying the biological functions of the dynamic RBP targetomes from specific cell types throughout subcellular space (e.g. the nuclear spliceome vs. the synaptic translatome) and time and manipulating RBP programs through post-transcriptional modifications to prevent or reverse aberrant neurodevelopment and plasticity underlying the addictions., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society.)

Psychostimulant addiction is a heritable substance use disorder; however its genetic basis is almost entirely unknown. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in mice offers a complementary approach to human genome-wide association studies and can facilitate environment control, statistical power, novel gene discovery, and neurobiological mechanisms. We used interval-specific congenic mouse lines carrying various segments of chromosome 11 from the DBA/2J strain on an isogenic C57BL/6J background to positionally clone a 206 kb QTL (50,185,512-50,391,845 bp) that was causally associated with a reduction in the locomotor stimulant response to methamphetamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.; DBA/2J < C57BL/6J)-a non-contingent, drug-induced behavior that is associated with stimulation of the dopaminergic reward circuitry. This chromosomal region contained only two protein coding genes-heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein, H1 (Hnrnph1) and RUN and FYVE domain-containing 1 (Rufy1). Transcriptome analysis via mRNA sequencing in the striatum implicated a neurobiological mechanism involving a reduction in mesolimbic innervation and striatal neurotransmission. For instance, Nr4a2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 2), a transcription factor crucial for midbrain dopaminergic neuron development, exhibited a 2.1-fold decrease in expression (DBA/2J < C57BL/6J; p 4.2 x 10-15). Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs)-mediated introduction of frameshift deletions in the first coding exon of Hnrnph1, but not Rufy1, recapitulated the reduced methamphetamine behavioral response, thus identifying Hnrnph1 as a quantitative trait gene for methamphetamine sensitivity. These results define a novel contribution of Hnrnph1 to neurobehavioral dysfunction associated with dopaminergic neurotransmission. These findings could have implications for understanding the genetic basis of methamphetamine addiction in humans and the development of novel therapeutics for prevention and treatment of substance abuse and possibly other psychiatric disorders.

Drug liking vs. drug disliking is a subjective motivational measure in humans that assesses the addiction liability of drugs. Variation in this trait is hypothesized to influence vulnerability vs. resilience toward substance abuse disorders and likely contains a genetic component. In rodents and humans, conditioned place preference (CPP)/aversion (CPA) is a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm whereby a learned preference for the drug-paired environment is used to infer drug liking whereas a learned avoidance or aversion is used to infer drug disliking. C57BL/6 inbred mouse substrains are nearly genetically identical, yet demonstrate robust differences in addiction-relevant behaviors, including locomotor sensitization to cocaine and consumption of ethanol. Here, we tested the hypothesis that B6 substrains would demonstrate differences in the rewarding properties of the mu opioid receptor agonist oxycodone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and the aversive properties of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Both substrains showed similar degrees of oxycodone-induced CPP; however, there was a three-fold enhancement of naloxone-induced CPA in agonist-naïve C57BL/6J relative to C57Bl/6NJ mice. Exploratory factor analysis of CPP and CPA identified unique factors that explain variance in behavioral expression of reward vs. aversion. "Conditioned Opioid-Like Behavior" was a reward-based factor whereby drug-free locomotor variables resembling opioid treatment co-varied with the degree of CPP. "Avoidance and Freezing" was an aversion-based factor, whereby the increase in the number of freezing bouts co-varied with the degree of aversion. These results provide new insight into the behavioral architecture of the motivational properties of opioids. Future studies will use quantitative trait locus mapping in B6 substrains to identify novel genetic factors that contribute to the marked strain difference in NAL-CPA.

The rewarding property of opioids likely contributes to their abuse potential. Therefore, determining the genetic basis of opioid reward could aid in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of opioid addiction, provided that it is a heritable trait. Here, we characterized the rewarding property of the widely abused prescription opioid oxycodone (OXY) in the conditioned place preference (CPP) assay using LG/J and SM/J parental inbred mouse strains and 17 parent-offspring families of a LG/J × SM/J F47 /F48 advanced intercross line (AIL). Following OXY training (5 mg/kg, i.p.), SM/J mice and AIL mice, but not LG/J mice, showed an increase in preference for the OXY-paired side, suggesting a genetic basis for OXY-CPP. SM/J mice showed greater locomotor activity than LG/J mice in response to both saline and OXY. LG/J, SM/J, and AIL mice all exhibited robust OXY-induced locomotor sensitization. Narrow-sense heritability (h(2) ) estimates of the phenotypes using linear regression and maximum likelihood estimation showed good agreement (r = 0.91). OXY-CPP was clearly not a heritable trait whereas drug-free- and OXY-induced locomotor activity and sensitization were significantly and sometimes highly heritable (h(2)  = 0.30-0.84). Interestingly, the number of transitions between the saline- and OXY-paired sides emerged as a reliably heritable trait following OXY training (h(2)  = 0.46-0.66) and could represent a genetic component of drug-seeking behavior. Thus, although OXY-CPP does not appear to be amenable to genome-wide quantitative trait locus mapping, this protocol will be useful for mapping other traits potentially relevant to opioid abuse., (© 2012 The Authors, Addiction Biology © 2012 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Study Objectives: Efforts to identify the genetic basis of mammalian sleep have included quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and gene targeting of known core circadian clock genes. We combined three different genetic approaches to identify and test a positional candidate sleep gene - the circadian gene casein kinase 1 epsilon (Csnk1e), which is located in a QTL we identified for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep on chromosome 15., Measurements and Results: Using electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) recordings, baseline sleep was examined in a 12-h light:12-h dark (LD 12:12) cycle in mice of seven genotypes, including Csnk1e(tau/tau) and Csnk1e(-/-) mutant mice, Csnk1e (B6.D2) and Csnk1e (D2.B6) congenic mice, and their respective wild-type littermate control mice. Additionally, Csnk1e(tau/tau) and wild-type mice were examined in constant darkness (DD). Csnk1e(tau/tau) mutant mice and both Csnk1e (B6.D2) and Csnk1e (D2.B6) congenic mice showed significantly higher proportion of sleep time spent in REM sleep during the dark period than wild-type controls - the original phenotype for which the QTL on chromosome 15 was identified. This phenotype persisted in Csnk1e(tau/tau) mice while under free-running DD conditions. Other sleep phenotypes observed in Csnk1e(tau/tau) mice and congenics included a decreased number of bouts of nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and an increased average NREM sleep bout duration., Conclusions: These results demonstrate a role for Csnk1e in regulating not only the timing of sleep, but also the REM sleep amount and NREM sleep architecture, and support Csnk1e as a causal gene in the sleep QTL on chromosome 15.