Wednesday, July 2, 2025 7/2/2025

Metabotropic glutamate regulation of synaptic rewiring in opioid addiction

Award Number: F32DA048579
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2022

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Metabotropic glutamate regulation of synaptic rewiring in opioid addiction - Project Summary The development of opioids tolerance and dependence represents a major social and economic burden globally. Opioids exert their effect by the activation of opioid receptors in the mesolimbic system to produce pleasurable effects and relieve pain. Of the three known opioid receptors, the mu type (MOR) is broadly expressed throughout the reward circuit of the brain where both dopaminergic neurons and glutamatergic neurons have been identified as critical components for the opioids reward, dependence, tolerance and withdrawal. Our long-term goal is to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of opioids on synaptic transmission and plasticity within reward-related neural circuits. Neuroadaptations of ionotropic glutamate receptors occur in response to persistent opioid exposure and emerging evidences suggest that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are also active regulators of MOR actions. mGluRs regulate neurotransmitter release to ensure basal ganglia homeostasis and available data support a role for mGluRs to reduce the release of glutamate that is produced during drug-seeking behaviors. Receptors belonging to group III (mGluR4/7/8) are distributed within the reward circuitry on glutamatergic corticostriatal afferents and GABAergic striatopallidal neurons. Preliminary data in our lab provided evidences that mGluR III type receptors form complexes with extracellular leucine-rich repeats fibronectin type-3 domain protein, Elfn1. This trans- synaptic protein is selectively expressed in cholinergic interneurons of the striatum and its elimination increases rewarding effects of morphine. Here I propose to investigate the functions of Elfn1 proteins and their involvement in the synaptic rewiring of striatal circuits that occurs during repetitive opioid exposure. I will use a combination of whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology and behavioral studies to pursue the following aims: In Aim 1 I will identify the subtype of mGluRs at presynaptic terminals interacting with Elfn1 proteins and characterize the synaptic properties of Elfn1 expressing neurons within specific neuronal circuits of the reward system. In Aim 2 I will examine the involvement of Elfn1-mGluRs complexes in the regulation of rewards properties of opioids and investigate their contribution to the synaptic rewiring associated with opioid exposure. The proposed studies will provide the causality between mGluRs modulation of synaptic plasticity in Elfn1-expressing neurons and the behavioral adaptations occurring with opioid exposure, greatly broadening the knowledge of opioid plasticity. Moreover, this research has the potential to identify novel cellular targets for the rewarding effects of opioids, and facilitate the search for better treatments for opioid addiction.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2021	SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	130 SCRIPPS WAY	JUPITER	FL	33458	PALM BEACH	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	5/15/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $77,142 )
2021	2021	SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	130 SCRIPPS WAY	JUPITER	FL	33458	PALM BEACH	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	8/4/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$77,142
														Subtotal = $77,142

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $73,650 )
2020	2020	SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	130 SCRIPPS WAY	JUPITER	FL	33458	PALM BEACH	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	3/25/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$73,650
														Subtotal = $73,650

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $67,730 )
2019	2019	SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	130 SCRIPPS WAY	JUPITER	FL	33458	PALM BEACH	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	1	3/7/2019	NEW	$0
2019	2019	SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	130 SCRIPPS WAY	JUPITER	FL	33458	PALM BEACH	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	3/7/2019	NEW	$67,730
														Subtotal = $67,730

Grand Total All Awards = $218,522

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Metabotropic glutamate regulation of synaptic rewiring in opioid addiction

Award Number: F32DA048579

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2022

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer