Large-scale effects of opioids and cannabinoids on neural circuit dynamics in the awake brain
Speaker: Dr Zsolt Lenkei
Research Director at INSERM
Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Paris, France
Title: Large-scale effects of opioids and cannabinoids on neural circuit dynamics in the awake brain
Abstract: Imaging ‘fingerprints’ of drug action on activation and functional connectivity in the awake mouse brain, a major preclinical model organism, is important both for mechanistic understanding of neuronal drug modulation and for developing and validating novel pharmacological compounds of therapeutic value. Here we used a novel pharmacological functional ultrasound (Pharmaco-fUS) imaging approach, a recently established minimally-invasive, specific and sensitive brain imaging modality, in awake and behaving mouse cohorts. We report that the major opioid compounds morphine and fentanyl produce robust and reproducible changes in dynamic brain activation and connectivity patterns - i.e. functional pharmaco-fUS fingerprints. These fingerprints are dose-dependent, correlated with known pharmacodynamic patterns and sensitive to pharmacological or genetic inactivation. Specifically, we show that opioid drugs robustly disrupt functional thalamocortical connectivity. We also show that functional connectivity and brain perfusion fingerprints are selectively correlated with distinct behavioural read-outs, such as analgesia, locomotion, respiration and analgesia. In conclusion, we propose that the functional fingerprints of neuropsychiatric drugs have a predictive value and may help to accelerate both academic research and drug development.
About Neuroscience Seminars
Neuroscience seminars at the QBI play a major role in the advancement of neuroscience in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal of these seminars is to promote excellence in neuroscience through the exchange of ideas, establishing new collaborations and augmenting partnerships already in place.
Seminars in the QBI Auditorium on Level 7 are held on Wednesdays at 12-1pm, which are sometimes simulcast on Zoom (with approval from the speaker). We also occassionally hold seminars from international speakers via Zoom. The days and times of these seminars will vary depending on the time zone of the speaker. Please see each seminar listed below for details.
