Alterations in Circular RNAs circOprm1 and circSerpini in the Striatum are Associated with Changes in Spatial Working Memory Performance after Morphine Dependence and Withdrawal in Rats

Modulating role of circRNAs and microRNAs in neurobiological changes induced by drug exposure remains unclear. We examined alterations in some circRNAs and microRNAs in the striatum after morphine dependence and withdrawal and their associations with the changes in spatial working memory performance. Male Wistar rats were used in which 10 days morphine exposure induced dependence. Withdrawal effects were assessed 30 days after stopping morphine exposure. Spatial working memory was assessed using a Y maze test on days 1 and 10 of the drug exposure and 30 days after withdrawal. The gene and protein expression were assessed after dependence and withdrawal. The results revealed that 10 days morphine exposure impaired working memory, which partially reinstated after withdrawal. After 10 days morphine exposure, significant increases in Oprm1 gene and OPRM1 protein levels were detected, which persisted even after withdrawal. The expression of circOprm1 and miR-339-3p decreased in the morphine-dependent group, but they returned to normal levels after withdrawal. The expression of Tlr4 gene and TLR4 protein levels decreased after dependence. While Tlr4 mRNA levels returned to normal after withdrawal, TLR4 protein levels remained lower than the control group. In the morphine-dependent group, both Serpini1 and circSerpini expression significantly increased, but they restored after withdrawal. Expression of miR-181b-3p , miR-181b-5p , miR-181c-3p , and miR-181c-5p decreased after dependence, but they reinstated after withdrawal. It can be concluded that circOprm1 and circSerpini via regulating the OPRM1 and TLR4 expression in the striatum are associated with the neuroadaptation underlying spatial working memory after both morphine dependence and withdrawal.