Nii Addy, PhD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Our research examines the neurobiological mechanisms of reinforcement learning and motivational control and seeks to identify how these mechanisms are altered in psychiatric illnesses. We are currently investigating the neurobiological processes that underlie the ability of drugs of abuse, reward-associated cues, or ongoing stressors to modulate behavior. In this work, we use an integrative methodological approach that incorporates in vivo electrochemistry (fast scan cyclic voltammetry), rodent behavioral models, cellular and molecular tools, and newly incorporated electrophysiology tools to examine the role of cholinergic, dopaminergic and L-type calcium channel (LTCC) mechanisms in substance use disorders (SUD), mood disorders, and comorbid SUDs and mood disorders.
Our findings show that midbrain cholinergic and LTCC mechanisms powerfully regulate cue-induced drug-seeking behavior and mood disorder-related behavioral phenotypes. Further, our work suggests that LTCCs and cholinergic receptors may serve as potential therapeutic targets for SUDs and mood disorders, like major depressive disorder (MDD). In other work, we are also examining the ability of tobacco product flavor constituents to alter nicotine reward, nicotine aversion, nicotine choice and taking behavior, and nicotine reinforcement through regulation of phasic dopamine signaling. The goals of our research are to provide new insight into the mechanistic bases of complex behaviors associated with psychiatric illness, to inform FDA policy decisions regarding the regulation of flavor constituents in tobacco products, and to identify novel therapeutic targets to treat psychiatric disorders,
Specialized terms: Neurobiology of addiction; In vivo electrochemistry; Behavioral pharmacology; Systems neuroscience; Neurotransmission; Signal transduction
Coauthors
Research Interests
Behavioral Sciences; Electrochemistry; Neurobiology; Psychiatry; Signal Transduction; Substance-Related Disorders
Selected Publications
- Examining the role of muscarinic M5 receptors in VTA cholinergic modulation of depressive-like and anxiety-related behaviors in rats.Nunes EJ, Rupprecht LE, Foster DJ, Lindsley CW, Conn PJ, Addy NA. Examining the role of muscarinic M5 receptors in VTA cholinergic modulation of depressive-like and anxiety-related behaviors in rats. Neuropharmacology 2020, 171: 108089. PMID: 32268153, PMCID: PMC7313677, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108089.
- Cholinergic Receptor Blockade in the VTA Attenuates Cue-Induced Cocaine-Seeking and Reverses the Anxiogenic Effects of Forced Abstinence.Nunes EJ, Bitner L, Hughley SM, Small KM, Walton SN, Rupprecht LE, Addy NA. Cholinergic Receptor Blockade in the VTA Attenuates Cue-Induced Cocaine-Seeking and Reverses the Anxiogenic Effects of Forced Abstinence. Neuroscience 2019, 413: 252-263. PMID: 31271832, PMCID: PMC6661179, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.06.028.
- The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway.Addy NA, Nunes EJ, Hughley SM, Small KM, Baracz SJ, Haight JL, Rajadhyaksha AM. The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway. Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication Of The American College Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2018, 43: 2361-2372. PMID: 29773910, PMCID: PMC6180103, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0080-2.
- Evaluating oral flavorant effects on nicotine self-administration behavior and phasic dopamine signaling.Wickham RJ, Nunes EJ, Hughley S, Silva P, Walton SN, Park J, Addy NA. Evaluating oral flavorant effects on nicotine self-administration behavior and phasic dopamine signaling. Neuropharmacology 2018, 128: 33-42. PMID: 28943284, PMCID: PMC5714675, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.09.029.
- Enhancing VTA Cav1.3 L-type Ca2+ channel activity promotes cocaine and mood-related behaviors via overlapping AMPA receptor mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens.Martínez-Rivera A, Hao J, Tropea TF, Giordano TP, Kosovsky M, Rice RC, Lee A, Huganir RL, Striessnig J, Addy NA, Han S, Rajadhyaksha AM. Enhancing VTA Cav1.3 L-type Ca2+ channel activity promotes cocaine and mood-related behaviors via overlapping AMPA receptor mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens. Molecular Psychiatry 2017, 22: 1735-1745. PMID: 28194001, PMCID: PMC5555837, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.9.
- Ventral tegmental area muscarinic receptors modulate depression and anxiety-related behaviors in rats.Small KM, Nunes E, Hughley S, Addy NA. Ventral tegmental area muscarinic receptors modulate depression and anxiety-related behaviors in rats. Neuroscience Letters 2016, 616: 80-5. PMID: 26828299, PMCID: PMC4798862, DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.01.057.