Skip to Content
Merck
  • Atg5- and Atg7-dependent autophagy in dopaminergic neurons regulates cellular and behavioral responses to morphine.

Atg5- and Atg7-dependent autophagy in dopaminergic neurons regulates cellular and behavioral responses to morphine.

Autophagy (2017-07-20)
Ling-Yan Su, Rongcan Luo, Qianjin Liu, Jing-Ran Su, Lu-Xiu Yang, Yu-Qiang Ding, Lin Xu, Yong-Gang Yao
ABSTRACT

The molecular basis of chronic morphine exposure remains unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that macroautophagy/autophagy of dopaminergic neurons would mediate the alterations of neuronal dendritic morphology and behavioral responses induced by morphine. Chronic morphine exposure caused Atg5 (autophagy-related 5)- and Atg7 (autophagy-related 7)-dependent and dopaminergic neuron-specific autophagy resulting in decreased neuron dendritic spines and the onset of addictive behaviors. In cultured primary midbrain neurons, morphine treatment significantly reduced total dendritic length and complexity, and this effect could be reversed by knockdown of Atg5 or Atg7. Mice deficient for Atg5 or Atg7 specifically in the dopaminergic neurons were less sensitive to developing a morphine reward response, behavioral sensitization, analgesic tolerance and physical dependence compared to wild-type mice. Taken together, our findings suggested that the Atg5- and Atg7-dependent autophagy of dopaminergic neurons contributed to cellular and behavioral responses to morphine and may have implications for the future treatment of drug addiction.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Poly-L-ornithine solution, mol wt 30,000-70,000, 0.01%, sterile-filtered, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture
Pricing and availability is not currently available.
Sigma-Aldrich
3-Methyladenine, autophagy inhibitor
Pricing and availability is not currently available.
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 (MAP2) Antibody, Chemicon®, from rabbit
Pricing and availability is not currently available.
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Tyrosine Hydroxylase Antibody, clone LNC1, ascites fluid, clone LNC1, Chemicon®
Pricing and availability is not currently available.
Sigma-Aldrich
TWEEN® 20, viscous liquid
Pricing and availability is not currently available.
Sigma-Aldrich
Triton X-100, laboratory grade
Pricing and availability is not currently available.
Sigma-Aldrich
ECO TWEEN® 20, viscous liquid
Pricing and availability is not currently available.