Functional correlates of heroin sensitization in the rat brain.
The aim of the study was to measure the changes in cerebral energy metabolism and c-fos mRNA expression following challenge with heroin in drug-naive rats and in animals previously sensitized to the drug. Acute heroin administration to drug naive-rats produced a generalized metabolic depression. In contrast, challenge with heroin in drug-sensitized rats produced selective metabolic increases in structures belonging to the basal ganglia. These changes were accompanied by increased c-fos mRNA expression in the caudate-putamen nucleus. These results demonstrate that the process of sensitization to heroin is coupled to functional changes that are confined to the subcortical motor circuits of the basal ganglia.
Pontieri
F E
FE
Department of Neuroscience, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Calò
L
L
Di Grezia
R
R
Orzi
F
F
Passarelli
F
F
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016762:Genes, fos; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011699:Putamen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D009294:Narcotics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003932:Heroin; D005947:Glucose