A Novel Role for Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs) and Sox10 in Mediating Cellular and Behavioral Responses to Heroin

Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018 May;43(6):1385-1394. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.303. Epub 2017 Dec 20.

Abstract

Opiate abuse and addiction have become a worldwide epidemic with great societal and financial burdens, highlighting a critical need to understand the neurobiology of opiate addiction. Although several studies have focused on drug-dependent changes in neurons, the role of glia in opiate addiction remains largely unstudied. RNA sequencing pathway analysis from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of male rats revealed changes in several genes associated with oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation following heroin self-administration. Among these genes changed was Sox10, which is regulated, in part, by the chromatin remodeler BRG1/SMARCA4. To directly test the functional role of Sox10 in mediating heroin-induced behavioral plasticity, we selectively overexpressed Sox10 and BRG1 in the PFC. Overexpression of either Sox10 or BRG1 decreased the motivation to obtain heroin infusions in a progressive ratio test without altering the acquisition or maintenance of heroin self-administration. These data demonstrate a critical, and perhaps compensatory, role of Sox10 and BRG1 in oligodendrocytes in regulating the motivation for heroin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Drug-Seeking Behavior / drug effects
  • Drug-Seeking Behavior / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Heroin / administration & dosage*
  • Heroin Dependence / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Motivation / drug effects
  • Motivation / physiology
  • Narcotics / administration & dosage*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / drug effects
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / metabolism*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / drug effects
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reward
  • SOXE Transcription Factors / genetics
  • SOXE Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Self Administration
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Narcotics
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SOXE Transcription Factors
  • Sox10 protein, rat
  • Transcription Factors
  • Heroin
  • Smarca4 protein, rat
  • DNA Helicases