Exendin-4 enhances GLP-1 signaling and reduces anxiety-like behaviors in male heroin withdrawal mice

TL;DR

Exendin-4 reduces anxiety in mice during heroin withdrawal by affecting GLP-1 signaling in brain regions linked to emotional regulation.

Contribution

Exendin-4 treatment is shown to alleviate anxiety in heroin withdrawal by modulating GLP-1 signaling in the NTS-BLA circuit.

Findings

Heroin withdrawal increases GLP-1 signaling in the NTS-BLA circuit, which is associated with heightened anxiety.

Exendin-4 treatment reduces anxiety-like behaviors by downregulating GLP-1 signaling in this circuit.

GLP-1 receptors in the BLA may serve as potential targets for preventing heroin relapse.

Abstract

Anxiety and depression significantly contribute to heroin relapse, and addressing these issues could lower relapse rates. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) are involved in regulating these emotions, but the molecular mechanisms during heroin withdrawal are not yet understood. Subcutaneous injection of heroin into C57BL/6J mice to simulate chronic dependence, withdrawal, and Exendin-4 treatment. Assess anxiety and depression-like behaviors using open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). Analyze neuronal and protein expression changes in the BLA brain area with Western blotting (WB) and immunofluorescence staining. Heroin dependence reduces glutamatergic neurons in BLA without affecting anxiety and depression-like behaviors, due to the inhibitory effect of heroin reward. During withdrawal, GLP-1 secretion by the NTS rises, increasing c-Fos and GLP-1 receptor expression in glutamatergic neurons of BLA, linked to heightened anxiety but not depression. A 7-day treatment with Exendin-4 (2 µg/kg) alleviates anxiety in withdrawal mice by downregulating GLP-1 signaling in the NTS-BLA circuit, indicating GLP-1’s role in regulating anxiety during heroin withdrawal. GLP-1 receptors within BLA may serve as molecular targets for modulating emotional states, thereby offering empirical support for strategies aimed at preventing heroin relapse.

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