The positive reinforcement provided by opiates have been considered as primary factors in promoting drug abuse and dependence. However, opiates also produce a host of """"""""negative"""""""" effects which can manifest both during opiate administration and which are particularly expressed during withdrawal. Withdrawal from opiates is unpleasant and may provide negative reinforcement and contribute to drug dependence. Thus, both positive and negative reinforcement are likely to contribute to the compulsive use of opioids, a critical feature of """"""""opioid addiction"""""""". The mechanisms by which opiates produce negative effects are unknown. Our preliminary data indicate that blockade of descending facilitation in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) prevents expression of somatic and autonomic signs of opiate withdrawal indicating that facilitatory outflow from the RVM is critical in mediating both nociceptive (i.e., opiate-induced hyperalgesia) and many nonnociceptive features of the withdrawal syndrome. We hypothesize that opiate-induced descending facilitation from the RVM and subsequent upregulation of spinal dynorphin are essential for the expression of many of the negative symptoms which comprise withdrawal from opiates. Mechanisms which underlie the expression of the withdrawal syndrome thus also represent mechanisms likely promote negative reinforcement which may contribute to opiate dependence, the continued use and abuse of opiates and drug seeking behavior. This hypothesis will be explored with four Specific Aims: First, we will characterize pronociceptive transmitters in the RVM in which can mediate naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Second, we will determine whether prevention of descending facilitation from the RVM prevents opiate-induced physical dependence (naloxone-induced or spontaneous withdrawal). Third, we will determine whether blockade of the pronociceptive actions of spinal dynorphin, or the bradykinin B2 receptor will prevent withdrawal. Fourth, we will determine if blockade of descending facilitation blocks withdrawal-induced aversion/negative reinforcement. These studies assess mechanisms which may contribute to negative reinforcement, drug dependence and abuse.

Public Health Relevance

This project explores the role of adapative changes elicited by opiates which may produce negative reinforcement and contribute to continued drug use and abuse. Understanding these mechanisms may lead to new strategies which may help to counter drug abuse.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01DA006284-21
Application #
8378121
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2012-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
21
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$246,054
Indirect Cost
$83,642
Name
University of Arizona
Department
Type
DUNS #
806345617
City
Tucson
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85721
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Mowlazadeh Haghighi, Saghar; Zhou, Yang; Dai, Jixun et al. (2018) Replacement of Arg with Nle and modified D-Phe in the core sequence of MSHs, Ac-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2, leads to hMC1R selectivity and pigmentation. Eur J Med Chem 151:815-823
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Cai, Minying; Marelli, Udaya Kiran; Mertz, Blake et al. (2017) Structural Insights into Selective Ligand-Receptor Interactions Leading to Receptor Inactivation Utilizing Selective Melanocortin 3 Receptor Antagonists. Biochemistry 56:4201-4209
Remesic, Michael; Lee, Yeon Sun; Hruby, Victor J (2016) Cyclic Opioid Peptides. Curr Med Chem 23:1288-303
Ramos-Colon, Cyf N; Lee, Yeon Sun; Remesic, Michael et al. (2016) Structure-Activity Relationships of [des-Arg7]Dynorphin A Analogues at the ? Opioid Receptor. J Med Chem 59:10291-10298
Hall, Sara M; Lee, Yeon Sun; Hruby, Victor J (2016) Dynorphin A analogs for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Future Med Chem 8:165-77
Deekonda, Srinivas; Cole, Jacob; Sunna, Sydney et al. (2016) Enkephalin analogues with N-phenyl-N-(piperidin-2-ylmethyl)propionamide derivatives: Synthesis and biological evaluations. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 26:222-7

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