Sustained AAV-mediated overexpression of CRF in the central amygdala diminishes the depressive-like state associated with nicotine withdrawal

Smoking cessation leads to a dysphoric state and this increases the risk for relapse. Animal studies indicate that the dysphoric state associated with nicotine withdrawal is at least partly mediated by an increase in corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) release in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). In the present study, we investigated whether a sustained overexpression of CRF in the CeA affects the dysphoric-like state associated with nicotine withdrawal. To study brain reward function, rats were prepared with intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) electrodes in the medial forebrain bundle. An adeno-associated virus (AAV, pseudotype 2/5) was used to overexpress CRF or green fluorescent protein (GFP, control) in the CeA and minipumps were used to induce nicotine dependence. The AAV2/5-CRF vector induced a 40% increase in CRF protein and mRNA levels in the CeA. Administration of the nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine (precipitated withdrawal) or nicotine pump removal (spontaneous withdrawal) led to elevations in ICSS thresholds. Elevations in ICSS thresholds are indicative of a dysphoric-like state. The overexpression of CRF did not affect baseline ICSS thresholds but diminished the elevations in ICSS thresholds associated with precipitated and spontaneous nicotine withdrawal. The real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)–PCR analysis showed that the overexpression of CRF led to a decrease in CRF(1) mRNA levels and an increase in CRF(2) mRNA levels in the CeA. In conclusion, the overexpression of CRF in the CeA diminishes the dysphoric-like state associated with nicotine withdrawal and this might be driven by neuroadaptive changes in CRF(1) and CRF(2) receptor gene expression.