Evaluation of the 5-HT(2C) receptor drugs RO 60-0175, WAY 161503 and mirtazepine in a preclinical model of comorbidity of depression and cocaine addiction

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data indicate a high rate of comorbidity of depression and cocaine use disorder (CUD). The role of serotonin 2C (5-HT(2C)) receptors in the mechanisms responsible for the coexistence of depression and CUD was not investigated. METHODS: We combined bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (OBX), an animal model of depression, with intravenous cocaine self-administration and extinction/reinstatement in male rats to investigate two 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists (Ro 60-0175 (RO) and WAY 161503 (WAY)) and the 5-HT(2C)-receptor preferring antagonist mirtazapine (MIR; an antidepressant), with the goal of determining whether these drugs alter cocaine-induced reinforcement and seeking behaviors. Additionally, neurochemical analyses were performed following cocaine self-administration and its abstinence period in the brain structures in OBX rats and SHAM-operated controls. RESULTS: Acute administration of RO reduced, while WAY non-significantly attenuated cocaine reinforcement in both rat phenotypes. Moreover, RO or WAY protected against cocaine-seeking behavior after acute or after repeated drug administration during extinction training in OBX and SHAM rats. By contrast, acutely administered MIR did not alter cocaine reinforcement in both rat phenotypes, while it’s acute (but not repeated) pretreatment reduced cocaine-seeking in OBX and SHAM rats. In neurochemical analyses, cocaine reinforcement increased 5-HT(2C) receptor levels in the ventral hippocampus; a preexisting depression-like phenotype enhanced this effect. The 10-daily cocaine abstinence reduced 5-HT(2C) receptor expression in the dorsolateral striatum, while the coexistence of depression and CUD enhanced local receptor expression. CONCLUSION: The results support a key role of 5-HT(2C) receptors for treating CUD and comorbid depression and CUD. They may be backs the further research of pharmacological strategies with drug targeting receptors. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43440-022-00428-2.