title: Role of the dopamine D3 receptor in reactivity to cocaine-associated cues in mice.
abstract: Environmental stimuli previously associated with drug effects can acquire secondary reinforcing properties, able to maintain drug-seeking behaviour or induce relapse. We have used a classical Pavlovian conditioning procedure to assess the role of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) in the expression of drug-conditioned responses. Mice repeatedly receiving cocaine in a particular environment distinct from home-cages displayed hyperlocomotion after subsequent exposure to the drug-paired environment. Cocaine-conditioned hyperactivity was inhibited by BP 897 or SB-277011-A, D3R-selective partial agonist and antagonist, respectively. D3R gene-targeted mice showed a trend towards an increase in cocaine cue-conditioned hyperactivity. BP 897 had no effect on reactivity to neutral or aversive cues. Cocaine-conditioned mice had increased levels of D3R mRNA and binding in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and transcripts of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a factor controlling D3R expression, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Cocaine had no effects on D3R or BDNF genes when administered in home-cages. Cocaine cue-conditioned c-fos expression was found in cortical areas, notably in the somatosensory cortex, where it was inhibited by BP 897, and in several regions belonging or linked to the limbic system. In conditioned mice, BP 897 inhibited c-fos expression in VTA and activated it in amygdala. These results demonstrate a modulation of reactivity to cocaine cues by the D3R, the expression of which is elevated in the NAc by the repeated association of drug effects with a particular context, through a BDNF-dependent mechanism. D3R-selective partial agonist or antagonist inhibit cocaine cue-conditioned activity possibly by normalizing exacerbated D3R function in the NAc, but our results also point to a possible participation of a pathway involving the VTA, amygdala and somatosensory cortex.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Neurobiologie et Pharmacologie Moléculaire (INSERM U 573), Centre Paul Broca, 75014 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le Foll
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Francès
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sokoloff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; C493594:Drd3 protein, mouse; D010879:Piperazines; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; C120565:BP 897; D003042:Cocaine