Preconception ethanol exposure changes anxiety, depressive and checking-like behavior and alter the expression levels of MAO-B in male offspring.

Alcohol use, which alters the epigenome, increases the probability that it could affect subsequent generations, even if they were never directly exposed to ethanol or even in utero. We explored the effects of parental ethanol exposure before conception on behavioral changes in the offspring. Considering the role of Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) in dopamine turnover in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its influence on behavior, and taking into account that ethanol exposure could alter MAO-B, we assessed the protein levels in the offspring.

The effect of morphine administration on GluN3B NMDA receptor subunit mRNA expression in rat brain.

Opioid addiction is critically dependent on the activation of N‑methyl‑D‑aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are widely found in the mesocorticolimbic system. Meanwhile, opioid addiction may affect the expression level of NMDA receptor subunits. The existence of GluN3 subunits in the NMDA receptor's tetramer structure reduces the excitatory current of the receptor channel.

Alcohol: Epigenome alteration and inter/transgenerational effect.

While DNA serves as the fundamental genetic blueprint for an organism, it is not a static entity. Gene expression, the process by which genetic information is utilized to create functional products like proteins, can be modulated by a diverse range of environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNAs, play a pivotal role in mediating the intricate interplay between the environment and gene expression.

Does Morphine Exposure Before Gestation Change Anxiety-Like Behavior During Morphine Dependence in Male Wistar Rats?

Background: Anxiety is one of the comorbid disorders of opioid addiction, which leads to opioid abuse or persuades people to engage in opioid abuse. Evidence revealed that morphine exposure before conception changes the offspring's phenotype. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of morphine dependence and abstinence on anxiety-like behavior in morphine-exposed and drug-naïve offspring.

The role of lateral habenula NMDA receptors in tramadol-induced conditioning.

The role of the lateral habenula (LHb) as a hub for receiving and relaying signals from the limbic system to serotonergic, dopaminergic, and norepinephrinergic regions in the brainstem makes this area a critical region in the control of reward and addiction. Behavioral evidence reveals the vital role of the LHb in negative symptoms during withdrawal. In this investigation, we study the role of the LHb N-Methyl D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the modulation of tramadol reward.

Effect of tramadol on apoptosis and synaptogenesis in hippocampal neurons: The possible role of µ-opioid receptor.

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid with centrally acting analgesic activity that alleviates moderate to severe pain and treats withdrawal symptoms of the other opioids. Like other opioid drugs, tramadol abuse has adverse effects on central nervous system components. Chronic administration of tramadol induces maladaptive plasticity in brain structures responsible for cognitive function, such as the hippocampus.

Inter/Transgenerational Effects of Drugs of Abuse: A Scoping Review.

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder that makes it a global problem. Genetics and environmental factors are the two most important factors that make someone vulnerable to drug addiction. Investigations in the past decade highlighted the role of epigenetics in the inter/transgenerational inheritance of drug addiction.

Tramadol Treatment Induces Change in Phospho-Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Response Element-Binding Protein and Delta and Mu Opioid Receptors within Hippocampus and Amygdala Areas of Rat Brain.

Background: Tramadol induces its unique effects through opioid pathways, but the exact mechanism is not known. The study aims to evaluate changes in the level of mu-opioid receptor (µOR), delta-opioid receptor (δOR), and phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (p-CREB) in the hippocampus (HPC) and amygdala (AL) areas of tramadol-treated rats.

Methods: For this purpose, a total of 36 male rats were divided into two main groups for chronic or acute tramadol exposure.

Exercise can restore behavioural and molecular changes of intergenerational morphine effects.

In our previous studies, the offspring of morphine-exposed parents (MEO) showed pharmacological tolerance to the morphine's reinforcing effect. According to the role of exercise in treatment of morphine addiction, the current study was designed to utilize exercise to improve the effect of parental morphine exposure on the morphine's reinforcing effect. Male and female rats received morphine for 10 days and were drug-free for another 10 days.

Tannic acid protects aged brain against cerebral hypoperfusion via modulation of Nrf2 and inflammatory pathways.

Current study purposed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Tannic Acid (TA) on mild chronic cerebral hypoperfusion model in rats. Male Wistar rats were subjected to permanent Unilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion (UCCAO), followed by TA treatment (0.05% w/v) in drinking water for one month.

Effects of Morphine and Maternal Care on Behaviors and Protein Expression of Male Offspring.

Genes and environment interact during development to alter gene expression and behavior. Parental morphine exposure before conception has devastating effects on the offspring. In the present study, we evaluated the role of maternal care in the intergenerational effect of maternal morphine exposure.

Comparison and interaction of morphine and CB1 agonist conditioned place preference in the rat model of early life stress.

Early life stress (ELS) disrupts brain development and subsequently affects physical and psychological health. ELS has been associated with an increased risk of relapse and inadequate treatment response in addicted patients. The current study was designed to find the effect of ELS on the rewarding effect of morphine and cannabinoid and their interaction.

The role of cannabinoid 1 receptor in the nucleus accumbens on tramadol induced conditioning and reinstatement.

Aims: Previous investigations demonstrated that tramadol, as a painkiller, similar to morphine induces tolerance and dependence. Furthermore, the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) located in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a critical role in morphine-induced conditioning. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the role of NAc CB1R in tramadol induced conditioning and reinstatement.

Toxic effect of calcium/calmodulin kinase II on anxiety behavior, neuronal firing and plasticity in the male offspring of morphine-abstinent rats.

Studies have shown that epigenetic changes such as alteration in histone acetylation and DNA methylation in various brain regions play an essential role in anxiety behavior. According to the critical role of calcium/calmodulin protein kinaseII (CaMKII) in these processes, the present study examined the effect of CaMKII inhibitor (KN93) on neuronal activity and level of c-fos in the amygdala and nucleus accumbens (NAC) in the offspring of morphine-exposed parents. Adult male and female Wistar rats received morphine orally (for 21 days).

Alteration of orexin-A and PKCα in the postmortem brain of pure-opioid and multi-drug abusers.

Finding changes induced by the drug of abuse is one of the most important approaches to design new drugs for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). Postmortem study is the most reliable method for detecting alteration in the brain of SUD patients. Recently, the role of orexinergic system in SUD is in consideration.

Beneficial effects of physical activity on depressive and OCD-like behaviors in the male offspring of morphine-abstinent rats.

The role of parental morphine exposure before gestation on mood disorder in the offspring was well described. Besides, physical activity can improve the symptoms of mood disorders. So, the current study aimed to investigate the role of physical activity on depressive and OCD-like behaviors induced by parental morphine exposure.

Therapeutic potential of stem cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are caused by a loss of neurons within the peripheral or central nervous system. Inadequate repairability in the central nervous system and failure of treatments are the significant hurdles for several neurological diseases. The regenerative potential of stem cells drew the attention of researchers to cell-based therapy for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Altered D2 receptor and transcription factor EB expression in offspring of aggressive male rats, along with having depressive and anxiety-like behaviors.

Materials And Methods: In this study we have evaluated the behavioral mood variations, and expression of DR-D2 and TFEB genes in the amygdala and PFC of aggressive male rats' offspring.

Results: Anxiety and depression-like behaviors were observed, but intra-ventricle injection of DR-D2 antagonist (Sulpiride) has shown to be efficient in reducing negative behavioral changes in offspring. Furthermore, DR-D2 gene expression was increased in the amygdala and PFC of aggressive male rats' offspring, which the injection of Sulpiride decreased it significantly.

Morphine Exposure and Enhanced Depression-like Behaviour Confronting Chronic Stress in Adult Male Offspring Rat.

Introduction: Opioid addiction is an important concern in the World. Reports demonstrate that substance use disorder could influence genetic and environmental factors, and children of addicts have a higher rate of psychopathology. In this study, we investigated depression-like behavior among offspring of morphine-exposed rat parents.

Correlation among the Behavioral Features in the Offspring of Morphine-Abstinent Rats.

Background: Critical analysis of new evidence in medical sciences relies on statistics in terms of correlation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation coefficients among the behavioral features in the offspring of morphine-abstinent parent(s).

Methods: The offspring of rats with various parental morphine-exposure were divided into four groups including offspring with healthy parents (CTL), offspring with paternal morphine-abstinent (PMA) parent, offspring with maternal morphine-abstinent (MMA) parent, and offspring with both morphine-abstinent (BMA) parents.

Effect of morphine exposure on novel object memory of the offspring: The role of histone H3 and ΔFosB.

It has been demonstrated that alteration in histone acetylation in the regions of the brain involved in the reward which may have an important role in morphine addiction. It is well established that epigenetic changes prior to birth influence the function and development of the brain. The current study was designed to evaluate changes in novel object memory, histone acetylation and ΔFosB in the brain of the offspring of morphine-withdrawn parents.

Oxidative stress enzymes are changed in opioid abusers and multidrug abusers.

The current study was designed to measure malondialdehyde level (MDA), super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity and COX-2 protein level in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of drug-abusers. A total of 101 male drug abusers and 13 control subjects were gathered from the Iranian Legal Medicine center, Kahrizak, Tehran. Kind of death was determined by forensic pathologists, and the kind of drugs of abuse was detected using hair analysis.

Transgenerational influence of parental morphine exposure on pain perception, anxiety-like behavior and passive avoidance memory among male and female offspring of Wistar rats.

Accumulating evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in the formation and maintenance of memory within the brain. Moreover, the effect of parental drug-exposure before gestation on behavioral state of offspring has been little studied. The main objective of the current study is to evaluate the effect of parental morphine exposure on avoidance memory, morphine preference and anxiety-like behavior of offspring.

Evaluation of dynorphin and kappa-opioid receptor level in the human blood lymphocytes and plasma: Possible role as a biomarker in severe opioid use disorder.

Background: The dynorphin (DYN)/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system plays an important role in the development of addiction, and dysregulation of this system could lead to abnormal activity in the reward pathway. It has been reported that the expression state of the neurotransmitters and their receptors in the brain is reflected in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs).

Methods: We have evaluated the PBLs and plasma samples of four groups: 1) subjects with severe opioid use disorder (SOD), 2) methadone-maintenance treated (MMT) individuals, 3) long-term abstinent subjects having former SOD, and 4) healthy control subjects (n = 20 in each group).

Parental morphine exposure affects repetitive grooming actions and marble burying behavior in the offspring: Potential relevance for obsessive-compulsive like behavior.

Family, adoption and twin studies have highlighted the significant role of heritable influences on individual differences in opioid addiction. Meanwhile, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder wherein the individual experiences recurring thoughts that cause irrational fears and anxiety. In the present study, adult male and female rats received morphine solution for 21 days and were drug-free for 10 days.