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Verification of a genetic locus for methamphetamine intake and the impact of morphine

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Abstract

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) on proximal chromosome (Chr) 10 accounts for > 50% of the genetic variance in methamphetamine (MA) intake in mice selectively bred for high (MAHDR) and low (MALDR) voluntary MA drinking. The µ-opioid receptor (MOP-r) gene, Oprm1, resides at the proximal end of Chr 10, and buprenorphine reduces MA intake in MAHDR mice. However, this drug has only partial agonist effects at MOP-r. We investigated the impact of a full MOP-r agonist, morphine, on MA intake and saccharin intake, measured MOP-r density and affinity in several brain regions of the MA drinking lines and their C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) progenitor strains, and measured MA intake in two congenic strains of mice to verify the QTL and reduce the QTL interval. Morphine reduced MA intake in the MAHDR line, but also reduced saccharin and total fluid intake. MOP-r density was lower in the medial prefrontal cortex of MAHDR, compared to MALDR, mice, but not in the nucleus accumbens or ventral midbrain; there were no MOP-r affinity differences. No significant differences in MOP-r density or affinity were found between the progenitor strains. Finally, Chr 10 congenic results were consistent with previous data suggesting that Oprm1 is not a quantitative trait gene, but is impacted by the gene network underlying MA intake. Stimulation of opioid pathways by a full agonist can reduce MA intake, but may also non-specifically affect consummatory behavior; thus, a partial agonist may be a better pharmacotherapeutic.

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Acknowledgements

The research presented here was supported by Department of Veterans Affairs Grants I01BX002106 and I01BX002758, National Institutes of Health Grants T32DA07262, P50DA018165, U01DA041579, and R24AA020245, and a National Institutes of Health-Veterans Affairs interagency agreement. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the views of the affiliated institutions or the funding agencies. We thank Harue Baba for her help with genotyping and data collection and Robert Johnson for his technical support with the receptor binding assays. We also thank Drs. Glenn Doyle and Thomas Ferraro for provision of the congenic mice from which we established our breeding stock for the current study.

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  1. Emily C. Eastwood

    Present address: Department of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, D4-100, 1100 Fairview Ave. N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Emily C. Eastwood, Amy J. Eshleman, Aaron Janowsky & Tamara J. Phillips

  2. Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Emily C. Eastwood, Aaron Janowsky & Tamara J. Phillips

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Amy J. Eshleman & Aaron Janowsky

  4. Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Amy J. Eshleman, Aaron Janowsky & Tamara J. Phillips

  5. VA Portland Health Care System, R & D 32, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Tamara J. Phillips

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  1. Emily C. Eastwood
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Correspondence to Tamara J. Phillips.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution at which the studies were conducted.

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Eastwood, E.C., Eshleman, A.J., Janowsky, A. et al. Verification of a genetic locus for methamphetamine intake and the impact of morphine. Mamm Genome 29, 260–272 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-017-9724-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-017-9724-5

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