Transcriptomic profiling of mouse amygdala during opioid dependence and withdrawal by single-cell RNA sequencing

The development of substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex process involving multiple neurocircuitries and brain regions. The amygdala is a region that mediates the withdrawal effect as well as anxiety and depression-like behaviors. However, the transcriptional changes in each cell type during SUD is largely unknown. Here we performed single-cell RNA sequencing and classified all cell types in the mouse amygdala under opioid dependence and withdrawal states. Our data revealed distinct changes in key biological processes, such as immune response, inflammation, synaptic transmission, and mitochondrial respiration in different cell populations. Dramatic differences were unraveled in the transcriptional profiles between dependence and withdrawal states. This report is the first single-cell RNA sequencing dataset from the amygdala under opioid dependence and withdrawal conditions, providing unique insights in understanding brain alterations during SUD, especially at the molecular and cellular levels. Overall design: Amygdala was dissected from naïve mice, opioid dependent and withdrawal mice. Total of 9 samples were analyzed with scRNA sequencing.