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, 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
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 activity
2018
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 2018, 43: 2361-2372. PMID: 29773910, PMCID: PMC6180103, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0080-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsL-type calcium channelsCocaine relapseLever depressionVentral tegmental areaCocaine self-administration trainingOriginal training contextLight cue presentationSelf-administration trainingSubjective effectsCocaine-seeking behaviorTegmental areaBehavioral effectsCocaine's subjective effectsL-type calcium channel blockerCue presentationMale Sprague-Dawley ratsTraining contextCocaine cuesNucleus accumbens coreNatural rewardsDA receptor activationCalcium channel blockersSprague-Dawley ratsPhasic dopaminePotential therapeutic target