Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal Functions
Cocaine is one of the most consumed illegal drugs among (young) adults in the European Union and it exerts various acute and chronic negative effects on psychical and physical health. The central mechanism through which cocaine initially leads to improved performance, followed by addictive behavior,...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/4/577 |
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| author | Kristin Elfers Laura Menne Luca Colnaghi Susanne Hoppe Gemma Mazzuoli-Weber |
| author_facet | Kristin Elfers Laura Menne Luca Colnaghi Susanne Hoppe Gemma Mazzuoli-Weber |
| author_sort | Kristin Elfers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cocaine is one of the most consumed illegal drugs among (young) adults in the European Union and it exerts various acute and chronic negative effects on psychical and physical health. The central mechanism through which cocaine initially leads to improved performance, followed by addictive behavior, has already been intensively studied and includes effects on the homeostasis of the neurotransmitters dopamine, partly mediated via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and serotonin. However, effects on the peripheral nervous system, including the enteric nervous system, are much less understood, though a correlation between cocaine consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms has been reported. The aim of the present study was to gain more information on the effects of cocaine on enteric neuronal functions and the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, functional experiments using an organ bath, Ussing chamber and neuroimaging techniques were conducted on gastrointestinal tissues from guinea pigs. Key results obtained are that cocaine (1) exhibits a stimulating, non-neuronal effect on gastric antrum motility, (2) acutely (but not chronically) diminishes responses of primary cultured enteric neurons to nicotinic and serotonergic stimulation and (3) reversibly attenuates neuronal-mediated intestinal mucosal secretion. It can be concluded that cocaine, among its central effects, also alters enteric neuronal functions, providing potential explanations for the coexistence of cocaine abuse and gastrointestinal complaints. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:00:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d8e28b7d3694c6884c9c536453ad6d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:00:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d8e28b7d3694c6884c9c536453ad6d22023-11-16T19:44:18ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092023-02-0112457710.3390/cells12040577Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal FunctionsKristin Elfers0Laura Menne1Luca Colnaghi2Susanne Hoppe3Gemma Mazzuoli-Weber4Institute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, GermanyInstitute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, GermanyDivision of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, ItalyInstitute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, GermanyInstitute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, GermanyCocaine is one of the most consumed illegal drugs among (young) adults in the European Union and it exerts various acute and chronic negative effects on psychical and physical health. The central mechanism through which cocaine initially leads to improved performance, followed by addictive behavior, has already been intensively studied and includes effects on the homeostasis of the neurotransmitters dopamine, partly mediated via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and serotonin. However, effects on the peripheral nervous system, including the enteric nervous system, are much less understood, though a correlation between cocaine consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms has been reported. The aim of the present study was to gain more information on the effects of cocaine on enteric neuronal functions and the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, functional experiments using an organ bath, Ussing chamber and neuroimaging techniques were conducted on gastrointestinal tissues from guinea pigs. Key results obtained are that cocaine (1) exhibits a stimulating, non-neuronal effect on gastric antrum motility, (2) acutely (but not chronically) diminishes responses of primary cultured enteric neurons to nicotinic and serotonergic stimulation and (3) reversibly attenuates neuronal-mediated intestinal mucosal secretion. It can be concluded that cocaine, among its central effects, also alters enteric neuronal functions, providing potential explanations for the coexistence of cocaine abuse and gastrointestinal complaints.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/4/577cocaineenteric nervous systemnicotinic stimulationserotonergic stimulationRJR2429 |
| spellingShingle | Kristin Elfers Laura Menne Luca Colnaghi Susanne Hoppe Gemma Mazzuoli-Weber Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal Functions Cells cocaine enteric nervous system nicotinic stimulation serotonergic stimulation RJR2429 |
| title | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal Functions |
| title_full | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal Functions |
| title_fullStr | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal Functions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal Functions |
| title_short | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on Enteric Neuronal Functions |
| title_sort | short and long term effects of cocaine on enteric neuronal functions |
| topic | cocaine enteric nervous system nicotinic stimulation serotonergic stimulation RJR2429 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/4/577 |
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