Nematodes feel a craving - Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study alcohol addiction

Zhu, Geng; Zhang, Fen; Li, Wei

doi:10.1007/s12264-014-1451-7

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…These genes are associated with neural function in the crustacean systems and could provide important new insights to understand the organization of circuits in the control of behaviors. Other recent studies (Søvik et al, 2014 ; Zhu et al, 2014 ; Davies et al, 2015 ; Grotewiel and Bettinger, 2015 ; Hawkins et al, 2015 ; Engleman et al, 2016 ) indicate that an invertebrate system is a powerful tool that can be used to investigate the neuroanatomical, molecular and behavioral processes underlying the addictive process. Highlighting these accomplishments is vital in showing how simpler model systems can lead to exploration and discovery in mammalian systems as well.…”

Section: Invertebrate Model Systems In Drug Addiction Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Sensitivity of the Crayfish Reward System to Mammalian Drugs of Abuse

et al. 2017

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The idea that addiction occurs when the brain is not able to differentiate whether specific reward circuits were triggered by adaptive natural rewards or falsely activated by addictive drugs exist in several models of drug addiction. The suitability of crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) for drug addiction research arises from developmental variation of growth, life span, reproduction, behavior and some quantitative traits, especially among isogenic mates reared in the same environment. This broad spectrum of traits makes it easier to analyze the effect of mammalian drugs of abuse in shaping behavioral phenotype. Moreover, the broad behavioral repertoire allows the investigation of self-reinforcing circuitries involving appetitive and exploratory motor behavior, while the step-wise alteration of the phenotype by metamorphosis allows accurate longitudinal analysis of different behavioral states. This paper reviews a series of recent experimental findings that evidence the suitability of crayfish as an invertebrate model system for the study of drug addiction. Results from these studies reveal that unconditioned exposure to mammalian drugs of abuse produces a variety of stereotyped behaviors. Moreover, if presented in the context of novelty, drugs directly stimulate exploration and appetitive motor patterns along with molecular processes for drug conditioned reward. Findings from these studies indicate the existence of drug sensitive circuitry in crayfish that facilitates exploratory behavior and appetitive motor patterns via increased incentive salience of environmental stimuli or by increasing exploratory motor patterns. This work demonstrates the potential of crayfish as a model system for research into the neural mechanisms of addiction, by contributing an evolutionary, comparative context to our understanding of natural reward as an important life-sustaining process.

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Section: Invertebrate Model Systems In Drug Addiction Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Sensitivity of the Crayfish Reward System to Mammalian Drugs of Abuse

et al. 2017

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“…production of more harmful intermediate products, such as acetaldehyde, which directly damages cells. Moreover, alcohol is known to inhibit normal signalling in the nervous system (Zhu, Zhang, & Li, 2014). In the current study, alcohol at low and high concentrations had differential effects on the total antioxidant capacity in nematodes, and therefore, the lifespan of nematodes was explored under the various concentrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of ethanol intake on anti-oxidant responses and the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans

et al. 2019

CyTA - Journal of Food

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The effects of alcohol stress on Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated. Nematodes were exposed to 1-5% alcohol, after which lifespan, movement, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes, cell apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated. Low concentrations of alcohol (1-2%) significantly enhanced total antioxidant capacity, along with an observable increase in normal locomotion. Total antioxidant activity was significantly lower at high (4-5%) than at low (1-2%) concentrations of alcohol. These results suggested that alcohol intake leads to an imbalance in oxidative defense in C. elegans. None of the groups administered alcohol displayed signs of apoptosis. Low concentrations of alcohol delayed decrepitude, promoted resistance to oxidative stress, and improved antioxidant capacity. However, nematodes could not withstand the oxidative stress induced by and toxicity of high alcohol concentrations, which eventually shortened their lifespan. This study provides a reference for the screening of drugs that reduce the side effects of alcohol. Efectos de la ingesta de etanol en las respuestas antioxidantes y la vida de Caenorhabditis elegans RESUMEN Se investigaron los efectos provocados por el estrés por alcohol en Caenorhabditis elegans. Los nematodos fueron expuestos a concentraciones de alcohol de 1 a 5%, después de lo cual se evaluaron la duración de vida, el movimiento, las especies reactivas de oxígeno, las enzimas antioxidantes, la apoptosis celular y la expresión de las proteínas relacionadas con la apoptosis. Las bajas concentraciones de alcohol (1-2%) produjeron un aumento significativo de la capacidad antioxidante total, además de un incremento observable en la locomoción normal. La actividad antioxidante total fue significativamente menor a concentraciones altas de alcohol (4-5%) en comparación con concentraciones bajas (1-2%). Estos resultados sugieren que la ingesta de alcohol conduce a un desequilibrio en la defensa oxidativa de C. elegans. Ninguno de los grupos a los que se administró alcohol mostró signos de apoptosis. Las bajas concentraciones de alcohol retrasaron la decrepitud, promovieron la resistencia al estrés oxidativo y mejoraron la capacidad antioxidante. Sin embargo, los nematodos no soportaron el estrés oxidativo inducido por la alta concentración de alcohol y tampoco su toxicidad, lo que finalmente acortó su vida. Este estudio proporciona una referencia para la detección de drogas que reducen los efectos secundarios del alcohol.

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“…The results suggest that these animals are susceptible to the incentive effect of these drugs of abuse. Moreover, they prefer drug-associated environments and learn to act to obtain their administration ( Søvik and Barron, 2013 ; Zhu et al, 2014 ; Engleman et al, 2016 ; Kaun and Rothenfluh, 2017 ; Huber et al, 2018 ). Thus, the addiction phenomenon seems to be rooted in psycho-neuro-behavioral functions that are very ancient from a phylogenetic perspective and are indeed related to the SEEKING/Exploration emotional disposition.…”

Section: The ML Da-seeking Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The SEEKING Drive and Its Fixation: A Neuro-Psycho-Evolutionary Approach to the Pathology of Addiction

Alcaro

Brennan

Conversi

2021

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Neuro-ethological studies conducted by Panksepp and his colleagues have provided an understanding of how the activity of the mesolimbic dopaminergic (ML DA) system leads to the emotional disposition to SEEK/Explore, which is involved in all appetitive motivated behavior and mental activity. In pathological addiction phenomena, this emotional disposition “fixes” itself on certain obsessive-compulsive habits, losing its versatility and its natural predisposition to spontaneous and unconditioned activation. Overall, the result is a consistent disinterest in everything that is not the object of addiction. From a neuro-psycho-evolutionary point of view, the predisposition to develop addictive behavior can be attributed to a loss of “functional autonomy” of the SEEKING/Explorative disposition. Indeed, as shown by animal and human studies, the tendency to be conditioned by situations and contexts that provide an immediate reward can be closely related to a deficit in the tonic endogenous activity of the ML DA-SEEKING system.

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Nematodes feel a craving - Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study alcohol addiction

Cited by 12 publications

References 47 publications

The Sensitivity of the Crayfish Reward System to Mammalian Drugs of Abuse

The Sensitivity of the Crayfish Reward System to Mammalian Drugs of Abuse

Effects of ethanol intake on anti-oxidant responses and the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans

The SEEKING Drive and Its Fixation: A Neuro-Psycho-Evolutionary Approach to the Pathology of Addiction

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