'Binge' cocaine administration induces a sustained increase of prodynorphin mRNA in rat caudate-putamen.
Other workers have established that cocaine injections increase the levels of dynorphin peptides in the caudate putamen and substantia nigra of the rat brain. Using a quantitative solution hybridization protection assay for mRNA, we detected a significant increase in the concentration of prodynorphin mRNA in caudate putamen extracts of rats injected with cocaine following a 'binge' administration pattern designed to mimic human cocaine abuse. Increased prodynorphin mRNA was observed at the earliest time-point studied (50 h) and the lowest dose (10 mg/kg/day) of cocaine tested and persisted through the 14 day period studied. No prodynorphin mRNA was detected in the substantia nigra.
Spangler
R
R
Biology of Addictive Diseases Laboratory, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021.
Unterwald
E M
EM
Kreek
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011699:Putamen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; C033660:preproenkephalin; D003042:Cocaine