Disulfiram Abrogates Morphine Tolerance-A Possible Role of µ-Opioid Receptor-Related G-Protein Activation in the Striatum.

One of the key strategies for effective pain management involves delaying analgesic tolerance. Early clinical reports indicate an extraordinary effectiveness of off-label disulfiram-an agent designed for alcohol use disorder-in potentiating opioid analgesia and abrogation of tolerance. Our study aimed to determine whether sustained µ-opioid signaling upon disulfiram exposure contributes to these phenomena.

Individual susceptibility or resistance to posttraumatic stress disorder-like behaviours.

The aim of this study was to explore the neurobiological background of individual susceptibility and resistance to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like behaviours. Rats were divided into susceptible, PTSD(+), and resistant, PTSD(-), groups based on freezing duration during exposure to aversive context and the time spent in the central area in open field test one week after threefold stress experience (modified single prolonged stress). PTSD(-) rats showed increased concentrations of corticosterone in plasma and changes in GAD67 expression: decreased in the infralimbic cortex (IL) and increased in the lateral amygdala (LA), dentate gyrus (DG), and CA1 area of the hippocampus.

Using anticipatory and drug-evoked appetitive ultrasonic vocalization for monitoring the rewarding effect of amphetamine in a rat model of drug self-administration.

Measuring ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) allows studying psychoactive drug use-related affective states in laboratory rats and may help understand changes underlying the progress of addictions. We aimed at finding an effective scheme for amphetamine self-administration training in rats, identifying factors affecting their anticipatory and drug-evoked, frequency-modulated 50-kHz USV responses, and verifying whether the rewarding action of amphetamine promotes current drug intake during the training. Therefore, we monitored amphetamine intake and anticipatory and drug-evoked USVs in two rat cohorts trained using two different training schemes.

A rat model to study maternal depression during pregnancy and postpartum periods, its comorbidity with cardiovascular diseases and neurodevelopmental impact in the offspring.

This study aimed to develop an animal model of human depression during pregnancy and lactation to examine the effect of maternal, perinatal depression on offspring development. Maternal depression during pregnancy affects up to 20% of women and is a risk factor for both the developmental and long-term health issues. It is often comorbid with the cardiovascular disease (CVD) that affects the uteroplacental circulation and impacts offspring development.

Differences in the dopaminergic reward system in rats that passively and actively behave in the Porsolt test.

The aim of the study was to assess appetitive responses and central dopaminergic neurotransmission in passive and active rats divided according to their immobility time in the Porsolt swim test and exposed to restraint stress. Passive rats had more episodes of appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalization (USV) during rat encounter after social isolation and spent significantly more time in the amphetamine-associated context in conditioned place preference test, compared to active rats. Restraint stress decreased sucrose preference, but increased appetitive vocalization and reinforced the conditioned place preference only in passive animals that was associated with increased dopamine concentration in the amygdala.