Cocaine self-administration alters brain NADH dehydrogenase mRNA levels.
Using differential display PCR, we identified a cDNA whose expression is altered in several brain regions in rats self-administering cocaine. The cDNA sequence corresponds to bases 13687-13723 of the rat NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 gene. Northern analysis indicated a 26% decrease in nucleus accumbens, a 305% increase in the ventral midbrain and no changes in the caudate putamen mRNA levels; changes were also noted in the hypothalamus and cerebellum. This is the first demonstration of an effect of cocaine self-administration on mitochondrial gene expression and suggests that regional metabolic changes elicited by cocaine may be relevant to and involved in its reinforcing properties.
Couceyro
P
P
Division of Neuroscience, Yerkes Regional Primate Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Shoaib
M
M
McCoy
M
M
Goldberg
S R
SR
Kuhar
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D012646:Self Administration; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase; D003042:Cocaine