Eric Nunes, PhD
Research Scientist in PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies
Pulido-Saavedra A, Oliva H, Prudente T, Kitaneh R, Nunes E, Fogg C, Funaro M, Weleff J, Nia A, Angarita G. Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2025, 82: 49. PMID: 39833376, PMCID: PMC11747050, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05519-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disorderPreclinical studiesClinical studiesReview of preclinical studiesConditioned place preferenceOpioid self-administrationEffects of psychedelicsPreclinical in vivo studiesOpioid use disorder treatmentFrequency of administrationPlace preferencePotential therapeutic effectsSelf-administrationWithdrawal symptomsPreclinical findingsMechanism of actionSafety profilePain studiesPsychedelicsMethodological quality assessmentClinical evidenceCardiovascular riskOpioidWeb of Science
2024
L-type calcium channel regulation of depression, anxiety and anhedonia-related behavioral phenotypes following chronic stress exposure
Nunes E, Kebede N, Rajadhyaksha A, Addy N. L-type calcium channel regulation of depression, anxiety and anhedonia-related behavioral phenotypes following chronic stress exposure. Neuropharmacology 2024, 257: 110031. PMID: 38871116, PMCID: PMC11334593, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChronic unpredictable stressHome cage controlsElevated plus mazeForced swim testSucrose preference testCUS-induced decreaseChronic stress exposureImmobility timeStress exposureL-type calcium channelsDays of chronic unpredictable stressAnxiogenic-like behavioral responsesForced swim test immobility timeBehavioral responsesPre-existing mental health challengesAntidepressant-like responseOpen arm timeMood-related disordersRegulation of depressionExposure to chronic stressorsMale ratsL-type calcium channel blocker isradipineArm timePlus mazeSucrose preference
2023
Targeting the Actions of Muscarinic Receptors on Dopamine Systems: New Strategies for Treating Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Nunes E, Addy N, Conn P, Foster D. Targeting the Actions of Muscarinic Receptors on Dopamine Systems: New Strategies for Treating Neuropsychiatric Disorders. The Annual Review Of Pharmacology And Toxicology 2023, 64: 277-289. PMID: 37552895, PMCID: PMC10841102, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-051921-023858.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCholinergic neuronsMuscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypesDA neuron activityMidbrain DA neuronsAcetylcholine receptor subtypesMood-related disordersPotential clinical implicationsDA circuitryDA neuronsDA releaseMuscarinic receptorsCholinergic regulationReceptor subtypesDopamine systemNeuron activityClinical implicationsNeuropsychiatric disordersDopamine signalingNumerous disordersSubtypesNumerous receptorsDisordersNeuronsReceptorsPublication dateVentral tegmental area M5 muscarinic receptors mediate effort-choice responding and nucleus accumbens dopamine in a sex-specific manner
Nunes E, Kebede N, Haight J, Foster D, Lindsley C, Conn P, Addy N. Ventral tegmental area M5 muscarinic receptors mediate effort-choice responding and nucleus accumbens dopamine in a sex-specific manner. Journal Of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics 2023, 385: jpet-ar-2022-001438. PMID: 36828630, PMCID: PMC10108441, DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001438.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNucleus accumbens coreVentral tegmental areaM5 receptorsDA releaseMale ratsVTA infusionsDepressive disorderNucleus accumbensMuscarinic M5 receptorsSelective negative allosteric modulatorM5 muscarinic receptorsNegative allosteric modulatorsEffort-related choicePhasic DA releasePotential sex differencesSex-specific mannerACh toneVTA administrationCholinergic effectsMuscarinic receptorsFemale ratsTegmental areaPreclinical modelsDopamine releaseTherapeutic target
2022
L-type calcium channel regulation of dopamine activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway: Implications for substance use, mood disorders and co-morbidities
Nunes E, Addy N. L-type calcium channel regulation of dopamine activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway: Implications for substance use, mood disorders and co-morbidities. Neuropharmacology 2022, 224: 109336. PMID: 36414149, PMCID: PMC11215796, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109336.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsL-type calcium channelsVentral tegmental areaPre-clinical modelsTegmental areaSubstance useLTCC blockersMood disordersCalcium channelsCo-morbid psychiatric diagnosesDA neuronal activityVoltage-gated calcium channelsMood-related behaviorsSubstance use disordersCalcium channel regulationStress-induced plasticityAccumbens pathwayCardiac medicationsDopamine neuronsLTCC subtypesNeuronal activityNeuronal firingUse disordersPsychiatric diagnosisCalcium entryDopamine activityCholinergic and dopaminergic‐mediated motivated behavior in healthy states and in substance use and mood disorders
Nunes EJ, Kebede N, Bagdas D, Addy NA. Cholinergic and dopaminergic‐mediated motivated behavior in healthy states and in substance use and mood disorders. Journal Of The Experimental Analysis Of Behavior 2022, 117: 404-419. PMID: 35286712, PMCID: PMC9743782, DOI: 10.1002/jeab.747.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMood disordersSubstance useActivational componentsMotivated behaviorComorbid substance useMesolimbic dopamine systemDA releaseCholinergic activityCholinergic transmissionImportant neuromodulatorCholinergic dysregulationDA regulationDopamine systemDA signalingActivational aspectsDisease statesDisordersAversive stimuliPossible roleHealthy stateCholinergicAcetylcholineStimuliEtiologyIllness
2021
Evaluation of Flavor Effects on Oral Nicotine Liking and/or Disliking Using the Taste Reactivity Test in Rats
Bagdas D, Rupprecht LE, Nunes EJ, Schillinger E, Immanuel JJ, Addy NA. Evaluation of Flavor Effects on Oral Nicotine Liking and/or Disliking Using the Taste Reactivity Test in Rats. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2021, 24: 753-760. PMID: 34918123, PMCID: PMC8962681, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntab241.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTaste reactivity testOrosensory experienceAversive responsesAbuse liabilityAversive valueAversive reactionsHedonic responsesNicotine rewardTaking behaviorIntraoral cathetersImpact of mentholReactivity testOlfactory cuesOrofacial movementsDislikingLikingNicotine responseTaste stimuliSex-dependent mannerOral nicotineNicotine inducesNicotineCuesIngestive responsesExperience
2015
Dopamine/Adenosine Interactions Related to Tremor in Animal Models of Parkinsonism
Salamone J, Podurgiel S, Long L, Nunes E, Correa M. Dopamine/Adenosine Interactions Related to Tremor in Animal Models of Parkinsonism. Current Topics In Neurotoxicity 2015, 10: 149-162. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-20273-0_8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAdenosine A2A receptor antagonistTremulous jaw movementsA2A receptor antagonistsAdenosine A2A receptorsAnimal modelsReceptor antagonistA2A receptorsAdenosine A2A receptor knockout miceA2A receptor knockout miceTremulous jaw movement modelAnti-tremor effectJaw movementsReceptor knockout miceHuman clinical studiesAdenosine A2A antagonistsAntiparkinsonian effectsCholinomimetic stimulationOral tremorIntrastriatal injectionDopamine depletionCGS 21680Antiparkinsonian agentsDopamine antagonistsClinical studiesA2A antagonistsExamination of Rapid Dopamine Dynamics with Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry During Intra-oral Tastant Administration in Awake Rats
Wickham R, Park J, Nunes E, Addy N. Examination of Rapid Dopamine Dynamics with Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry During Intra-oral Tastant Administration in Awake Rats. Journal Of Visualized Experiments 2015 DOI: 10.3791/52468-v.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2014
The VMAT-2 Inhibitor Tetrabenazine Affects Effort-Related Decision Making in a Progressive Ratio/Chow Feeding Choice Task: Reversal with Antidepressant Drugs
Randall P, Lee C, Nunes E, Yohn S, Nowak V, Khan B, Shah P, Pandit S, Vemuri V, Makriyannis A, Baqi Y, Müller C, Correa M, Salamone J. The VMAT-2 Inhibitor Tetrabenazine Affects Effort-Related Decision Making in a Progressive Ratio/Chow Feeding Choice Task: Reversal with Antidepressant Drugs. PLOS ONE 2014, 9: e99320. PMID: 24937131, PMCID: PMC4061002, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099320.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntidepressive AgentsBenzazepinesBenzophenonesBupropionCannabinoid Receptor AntagonistsChoice BehaviorDepressionDopamine AntagonistsDrug Evaluation, PreclinicalFeeding BehaviorMaleNitrophenolsPyrazolesRats, Sprague-DawleySalicylamidesSelegilineTetrabenazineTolcaponeVesicular Monoamine Transport ProteinsXanthinesConceptsChow intakeAdenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3Vesicular monoamine transport (VMAT-2) inhibitor tetrabenazineCB1 receptor neutral antagonistsMAO-B inhibitor deprenylEffort-related decisionAppetite suppressant drugsVMAT-2 inhibitor tetrabenazineProgressive ratioDA antagonist haloperidolInhibitor tetrabenazineEffort-related effectsMSX-3High-carbohydrate foodsAntagonist haloperidolDepressed patientsMajor depressionAntidepressant drugsLab chowRodent modelsDepressive symptomsMotivational symptomsAnimal modelsSelective dopaminePsychomotor retardation