Histone H3 phosphoacetylation is critical for heroin-induced place preference

Abstract

We investigated the role of histone H3 phosphoacetylation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in heroin-conditioned place preference paradigm. Heroin could dose-dependently increase histone H3 phosphoacetylation specifically in the NAc and could enhance heroin place preference. Injection of trichostatin A into the NAc significantly augmented heroin-induced histone H3 phosphoacetylation and enhanced heroin place preference. Conversely, injection of MK-801 into the NAc attenuated histone H3 phosphoacetylation and reduced heroin place preference. These data suggest that histone H3 phosphoacetylation in the NAc may play a critical role in heroin addiction.

Microinjection of histone deacetylase inhibitor into the ventrolateral orbital cortex potentiates morphine induced behavioral sensitization

“…in a volume of 1 ml/kg Vanderschuren et al, 2001). TSA was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO, USA) and dissolved in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, diluted with saline) to obtain a solution of 165 μM (Sheng et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2012;Wang et al, 2015).…”

Epigenetic Signaling in Psychiatric Disorders

“…Opiate regulation of several target genes correlates with altered histone acetylation 138; 139 and inhibition of HDAC activity in NAc potentiates the rewarding effects of opiates 140 . Similar to cocaine, opiates induce SIRT1, although not SIRT2, in NAc and overexpression of either Sirt1 or Sirt2 in this region increases opiate reward 137 .…”

“…Much of our understanding of the role of histone methylation in drug addiction is informed by recent studies of two repressive histone methylation signatures, H3K9me2 and H3K9me3, both of which are decreased by cocaine and opiates in mouse NAc, effects recapitulated in human addicts 145; 140 . Both cocaine and morphine decrease expression of G9a and GLP, two HMTs that catalyze H3K9me2.…”

Multigenerational and transgenerational inheritance of drug exposure: The effects of alcohol, opiates, cocaine, marijuana, and nicotine

“…In rats, exposure to morphine increases acetylation of histone H3 lysine 14 (aceH3K14) in the NAc (Sheng et al, 2011) and basolateral amygdala (Wang et al, 2014b), a region critically involved in stimulus-reward associations (Everitt et al, 1999). Histone acetylation is associated with transcriptional activation (see Box 1).…”