Objectives: Addiction is a chronic psychiatric disorders characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behaviors, however, the underlying brain circuits remains unclear. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have good efficacy and less side-effects in treating addiction. The study aims to explore the brain circuits underlying addiction and TCM therapy.
Methods: Adolescent cocaine exposed (ACE) and methamphetamine (METH) exposed mice models were established. Conditioned place preference (CPP) and elevated plus maze (EPM) is used to assess the drug-preferred behavior and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents, respectively. The chemico/optogenetics, path-clamp, fiber-photography and virus-tracing are used to observe brain circuits. The Gegen-Qinlian-Decoction (GQD) and electro-acupuncture (EA) are used to treat addiction.
Results: 1) Distinct cholinergic pathway from ChAT-positive neurons in external lateral parabrachial nucleus (eLPBChAT) are implicated in withdrawal anxiety and METH-reinstated CPP. GQD alleviates METH-reinstated CPP by targeting eLPBChAT. 2) Claustrum are involved in ACE-induced anxiety and susceptibility to drug with a specific anatomical region manner. EA treatment alleviates the anxiety by suppressing claustrum activation.
Conclusion: TCMs provide promising therapeutic approaches for treating addiction, recruiting different anatomical neuronal ensembles and circuits.