Invertebrate Models of Alcoholism

Scholz, Henrike; Mustard, Julie A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-28720-6_128

Cited by 22 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 116 publications

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“…Invertebrates, by virtue of their relatively small, well-understood nervous systems and/or easy-to-manipulate genomes, have a demonstrable role in elucidating the fundamental mechanisms mediating both normal function and functional disorders of the nervous system. Examples of the latter include studies of neurodegenerative disease, spinal muscular atrophy, addiction, pain, as well as seizures (Cymbalyuk et al 2002;Walters and Moroz 2009;Grice et al 2011;Parker et al 2011;Therisa and Desai 2011;Im and Galko 2012;Giachello et al 2013;Li and Le 2013;Scholz and Mustard 2013;Sovik and Barron 2013). Although there can be significant differences between vertebrates and invertebrates in terms of molecules that mediate nervous system function, even these differences can be an advantage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure-like behavior and neural hyperactivity in the medicinal leech

Hahn

Burrell

2015

Invert Neurosci

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This study examined the capacity of a known pro-epileptic drug, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), to elicit seizure-like activity in the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana. During in vivo experiments, PTZ elicited increased motor activity in a concentration-dependent manner with the highest concentration (10 mM) eliciting episodes of highly uncoordinated exploratory and swimming behavior. Co-application of the anti-epileptic drug, phenytoin, failed to reduce the absolute amount of PTZ-induced motor behavior, but was able to prevent expression of abnormal exploratory and swimming behaviors. During in vitro experiments in which extracellular recordings of connective nerve activity were made, bath application of 1 μM PTZ in Mg(2+)-free saline elicited a significant increase in spontaneous activity. This PTZ-induced increase in activity was completely inhibited by phenytoin. Interestingly, PTZ-induced hyperactivity was also blocked by co-application of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine. These findings suggest that the leech can be a useful system in which to study potential anti-epileptic treatments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure-like behavior and neural hyperactivity in the medicinal leech

Hahn

Burrell

2015

Invert Neurosci

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“…Given the limited capacity for gaining mechanistic insights from human studies, the use of model organisms is essential in comprehending AUD and related behaviors. Invertebrates such as Caenorhabditis elegans (nematodes) and Drosophila melanogaster (fruit/vinegar flies) are valuable research models for investigating the roles of individual genes and proteins in neurotransmission, particularly those associated with alcohol-induced behaviors and neuroplasticity [30,31]. Other invertebrate models such as Schmidtea mediterranea, Giradia tigrina (planaria), Apis mellifera (honey bees), and Orconectes rusticus (crayfish) have also been used as promising models to study alcohol-related behaviors; however, they have been studied more sporadically and with lesser molecular and mechanistic amenability [32][33][34].…”

Section: Invertebrates As a Model System To Study Audmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synaptic Mechanisms of Ethanol Tolerance and Neuroplasticity: Insights from Invertebrate Models

Bhandari,

Seguin,

Rothenfluh

2024

IJMS

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Alcohol tolerance is a neuroadaptive response that leads to a reduction in the effects of alcohol caused by previous exposure. Tolerance plays a critical role in the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) because it leads to the escalation of drinking and dependence. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol tolerance is therefore important for the development of effective therapeutics and for understanding addiction in general. This review explores the molecular basis of alcohol tolerance in invertebrate models, Drosophila and C. elegans, focusing on synaptic transmission. Both organisms exhibit biphasic responses to ethanol and develop tolerance similar to that of mammals. Furthermore, the availability of several genetic tools makes them a great candidate to study the molecular basis of ethanol response. Studies in invertebrate models show that tolerance involves conserved changes in the neurotransmitter systems, ion channels, and synaptic proteins. These neuroadaptive changes lead to a change in neuronal excitability, most likely to compensate for the enhanced inhibition by ethanol.

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“…Drug addiction (including ethanol addiction) belongs to the most important problems encountered in the domain of human mental health [2,15]. Insect species most frequently used in the research caried out to broaden our knowledge about the biological roots of drug addiction (including the experiments carried out to shed more light on behavioural and physiological effects of consumption of/exposure to ethanol) include, in particular, two species: the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) [6,10,11,13,14,16,17] and the honeybee (Apis mellifera) [9,12,13].…”

Section: Insect Models Used In the Research On Drug And Ethanol Addic...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experimental research carried out to shed more light on factors involved in the mediation of various aspects of human mental health and on biological correlates of mental disorders is carried out largely with the help of animal models [1][2][3]. Model animals used in that research include not only species relatively closely related to humans, such as non-human primates [4], but also laboratory rodents (mainly mice and rats, also genetically modified ones) [5,6], other vertebrates much less closely related to humans such as zebrafish (Danio rerio) [7,8], and, last but not least, various invertebrates, in particular solitary and social insects [6,[9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introduction 1the Role Of Animal Models In the Research On H...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Ethanol and Acetic acid on Behaviour of Extranidal Workers of the Narrow-Headed Ant Formica exsecta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) during a Field Experiment

Korczyńska,

Szczuka,

Urzykowska

et al. 2023

Animals

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Ethanol addiction belongs to the most important problems encountered in the domain of human mental health. The research on the behavioural effects of exposure to/consumption of ethanol are investigated largely with the help of animal models that also include insects, mainly fruit flies and honeybees. The effects of ethanol on ant behaviour remain, however, little known. In the present field study, we investigated the behaviour of workers of the narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta) displayed in the vicinity of cotton pads soaked in water or in water solutions of ethanol or acetic acid during 5 min tests (n = 30 tests in each group). Both ethanol and acetic acid induced significant modifications of ant locomotion, exploratory behaviour, self-grooming behaviour, and aggressive social behaviour. We confirmed that acetic acid is aversive for the ants, but ethanol enhances their exploratory behaviour. We also found out that field studies may document more types of responses to experimental compounds than laboratory ones, as the tested animals may also escape from aversive substances. Our findings documented a wide spectrum of behavioural effects of exposure to ethanol and acetic acid in a highly social animal species and broadened the general knowledge about behavioural responses to these compounds encountered in animals.

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Invertebrate Models of Alcoholism

Cited by 22 publications

References 116 publications

Pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure-like behavior and neural hyperactivity in the medicinal leech

Pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure-like behavior and neural hyperactivity in the medicinal leech

Synaptic Mechanisms of Ethanol Tolerance and Neuroplasticity: Insights from Invertebrate Models

The Effects of Ethanol and Acetic acid on Behaviour of Extranidal Workers of the Narrow-Headed Ant Formica exsecta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) during a Field Experiment

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