title: Argon blocks the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine through antagonism at the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 and mu-opioid receptor in the nucleus accumbens.
abstract: We investigated the effects of the noble gas argon on the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine and amphetamine-induced changes in dopamine release and mu-opioid neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. We found (1) argon blocked the increase in carrier-mediated dopamine release induced by amphetamine in brain slices, but, in contrast, potentiated the decrease in KCl-evoked dopamine release induced by amphetamine, thereby suggesting that argon inhibited the vesicular monoamine transporter-2; (2) argon blocked the expression of locomotor and mu-opioid neurotransmission sensitization induced by repeated amphetamine administration in a short-term model of sensitization in rats; (3) argon decreased the maximal number of binding sites and increased the dissociation constant of mu-receptors in membrane preparations, thereby indicating that argon is a mu-receptor antagonist; (4) argon blocked the expression of locomotor sensitization and context-dependent locomotor activity induced by repeated administration of amphetamine in a long-term model of sensitization. Taken together, these data indicate that argon could be of potential interest for treating drug addiction and dependence.
authors.affiliation: 1] Centre de Recherche Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, CSSS Alphonse-Desjardins, Lévis, QC, Canada [2] Département d'Anesthésiologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: 1] ISTCT UMR 6301, CEA DSV/I2BM, LDM-TEP Group, Caen, France [2] ISTCT UMR 6301, CNRS, Caen, France [3] ISTCT UMR 6301, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Normandie-Université, Caen, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhilly
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Normandie-Université, Caen, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Degoulet
authors.affiliation: 1] ISTCT UMR 6301, CEA DSV/I2BM, LDM-TEP Group, Caen, France [2] ISTCT UMR 6301, CNRS, Caen, France [3] ISTCT UMR 6301, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Normandie-Université, Caen, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poisnel
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meckler
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vallée
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: J-É
authors.initials: JÉ
authors.lastname: Blatteau
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Risso
authors.affiliation: Air Liquide, Centre de Recherche Claude-Delorme, Paris-Saclay, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemaire
authors.affiliation: 1] ISTCT UMR 6301, CEA DSV/I2BM, LDM-TEP Group, Caen, France [2] ISTCT UMR 6301, CNRS, Caen, France [3] ISTCT UMR 6301, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Normandie-Université, Caen, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Debruyne
authors.affiliation: 1] Département d'Anesthésiologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada [2] Faculté de Médecine, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Normandie-Université, Caen, France [3] Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Abraini
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001128:Argon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059333:Central Nervous System Sensitization / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; C493454:Slc18a2 protein, rat; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins; D001128:Argon; D000661:Amphetamine; D004298:Dopamine