Epigenetically modified nucleotides in chronic heroin and cocaine treated mice

•Determination of modified bases in liver and brain of cocaine or heroin treated mice.•Global 5-methylcytosine levels are unaffected by heroin or cocaine administration.•5-Hydroxymethylcytosine levels are reduced in the liver by cocaine administration.•Elucidation of epigenetic phenomena may lead to more effective treatment options.

Epigenetic changes include the addition of a methyl group to the 5′ carbon of the cytosine ring, known as DNA methylation, which results in the generation of the fifth DNA base, namely 5-methylcytosine. During active or passive demethylation, an intermediate modified base is formed, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine.We have currently quantified 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in the liver and brain of mice treated with cocaine or heroin, using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Our results show that global 5-methylcytosine levels are not affected by heroin or cocaine administration, neither in the liver nor in the brain. However, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels are reduced in the liver following cocaine administration, while they are not affected by cocaine in the brain or by heroin administration in the liver and the brain.Elucidation of the epigenetic phenomena that takes place with respect to drug abuse and addiction, via quantitative analysis of different modified bases, may enable a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and may lead to more personalized and effective treatment options.