title: Neurochemical correlates of relapse to d-amphetamine self-administration by rats induced by stimulation of the ventral subiculum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies show that electrical stimulation of the ventral subiculum (vSub) can reinstate drug-seeking behavior in rats following extinction. This study examined whether vSub stimulation could also evoke reinitiation of d-amphetamine (d-AMPH) self-administration during voluntary abstinence following a prolonged bout of drug intake. Dynamic changes in extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) and metabolites in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) during 48-h unlimited access to d-AMPH by rats were monitored. Neurochemical correlates of relapse to d-AMPH administration induced by vSub stimulation or by experimenter administered d-AMPH infusions were also examined during voluntary abstinence in separate experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vivo microdialysis using high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector (HPLC-EC) was used to monitor changes in DA and metabolite efflux in the NAc during a continuous access-abstinence-relapse cycle of d-AMPH self-administration in a 48-h test. The initial pattern of drug intake was associated with significant increases in DA efflux in the NAc. During the abstinence phase, DA efflux was near pre-session baseline values. Electrical stimulation at the vSub after 2 h of abstinence immediately induced a significant increase in DA efflux and reinstatement of drug self-administration behavior. Evoked DA release and responses on drug-paired lever induced by vSub stimulation were significantly greater than those induced by experimenter-administered d-AMPH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relapse to drug-taking behavior can be triggered by activation of the subicular glutamatergic pathway to the NAc. This study also confirmed that during abstinence the neurochemical response of the mesolimbic DA system to d-AMPH is attenuated and this can be reversed by vSub stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 2A1.
authors.forename: Pornnarin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taepavarapruk
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 2A1. aphillips@cortex.psych.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine