PrescriptionopioidabuseisthefastestgrowingdrugproblemintheUnitedStates.Now,deathsfromoverdose of opioid pain relievers exceed those from all illegal drugs. Chronic opioid use induces opioid dependence, which is characterized by extremely unpleasant physiological and psychological symptoms after drug use is terminated.Opioiduserslearntoassociateopioidintakewithrelieffromnegativephysicalandaffectivestates. This maladaptive association might last long after withdrawal has terminated and underlie the drug cravings experience by many users after exposure to drug-associated cues or stressful life events. We have recently identified that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a prominent neuronal substrate mediating the physical signs and negative emotion accompanied with opioid withdrawal, which provide a unique opportunity to directly examine the contribution of withdrawal states to opioid-associated memories. In this application, we propose to use pathway specific optogenetic and pharmacogenetic manipulation (1) to determining roles of the PVT output pathways in the formation and maintenance of opioid-associated memories;? (2) to study morphine induced plasticity in each PVT pathway and impact of pathway silencing on this plasticity;? (3) we will combine pathway specific manipulation in the PVT, c-Fos iDISCO+, and light sheet fluorescent microscopy to mapping brain-wide network activities underlying opioid-associated memories. Our workwillinspirethedevelopmentofnovelstrategytotreatopioidabuse.
Opioids?potent euphoric effects and excessive withdrawal symptoms make themthe most commonlyabusedprescription drug. In this proposal, weuse viral, optogenetic,pharmacogenetic and electrophysiologicaltoolsandbehavioralassaysto examinetheanatomicalandfunctionalorganizationofa newlyidentifiedcircuitrythatmediateopioiddependence,anddelineatethecontributionofthiscircuitrytotheformationandmaintenanceofopioid-associatedmemories.Resultsfromproposeworkwill providenewinsightsforthedevelopmentofnovel drugsortherapeuticstrategiestotreatopioidabuse.
