title: Psychostimulant drugs increase glucose utilization in the shell of the rat nucleus accumbens.
abstract: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a heterogeneous area, divided into a 'shell' and a 'core' on the basis of morphological and histochemical criteria. Moreover, the two portions have different anatomical connections. In order to test whether the two portions of NAc are functionally distinct, we measured local cerebral glucose utilization in rats administered intravenously with cocaine (1 mg kg-1) or amphetamine (0.5 mg kg-1). The results of the study show that, at these dosages, both drugs increase glucose utilization in the shell, but not in the core of NAc. This differential effect might reflect functional differences between the two portions of NAc, probably relevant to the abuse liability of psychostimulants.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pontieri
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colangelo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Riccia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Passarelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orzi
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003720:Densitometry; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine; D005947:Glucose