2017
Menthol disrupts nicotine’s psychostimulant properties in an age and sex-dependent manner in C57BL/6J mice
Fait BW, Thompson DC, Mose TN, Jatlow P, Jordt SE, Picciotto MR, Mineur YS. Menthol disrupts nicotine’s psychostimulant properties in an age and sex-dependent manner in C57BL/6J mice. Behavioural Brain Research 2017, 334: 72-77. PMID: 28743602, PMCID: PMC5580257, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.07.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdult male miceNicotine intakeMale micePsychostimulant effectsPsychostimulant propertiesHome cage locomotor activitySex-dependent mannerSex-dependent mechanismsBlood levelsAdolescent miceFemale miceLocomotor stimulationLocomotor activityNicotine sensitivityAge groupsE-cigarettesMiceIntakeSignificant decreaseNicotineAgeSexBehavioral changesAdultsSpecific mechanisms
2012
The Synaptic Adhesion Molecule SynCAM 1 Contributes to Cocaine Effects on Synapse Structure and Psychostimulant Behavior
Giza JI, Jung Y, Jeffrey RA, Neugebauer NM, Picciotto MR, Biederer T. The Synaptic Adhesion Molecule SynCAM 1 Contributes to Cocaine Effects on Synapse Structure and Psychostimulant Behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology 2012, 38: 628-638. PMID: 23169347, PMCID: PMC3572459, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2012.226.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNucleus accumbensDrugs of abuseSynCAM 1Cocaine effectsSynapse structureMushroom-type spinesExcitatory synapse numberMedium spiny neuronsAddiction-related behaviorsKO miceSpiny neuronsStubby spinesSynapse numberAdhesion molecule proteinsExcitatory synapsesCocaine administrationTrans-synaptic interactionsKnockout micePsychostimulant effectsNAc synapsesStructural remodelingTherapeutic interventionsSynaptic cleftPsychostimulant cocaineSynapse development
2011
Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice
Abizaid A, Mineur YS, Roth RH, Elsworth JD, Sleeman MW, Picciotto MR, Horvath TL. Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice. Neuroscience 2011, 192: 500-506. PMID: 21699961, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGhrelin KO miceWT miceDopamine releaseLocomotor activityBehavioral effectsDopamine metabolite concentrationsGhrelin-deficient miceLocomotor-stimulating effectsDopamine cell activityEffects of cocaineMesolimbic dopaminergic systemWild-type littermatesOrexigenic hormoneChronic injectionsDopamine utilizationDaily injectionsStriatal dopamineMesolimbic systemWT littermatesDopaminergic systemDaily cocaineFood intakeRewarding effectsPsychostimulant effectsLocomotor response