title: Role for D-serine within the ventral tegmental area in the development of cocaine's sensitization.
abstract: Repeated exposure to cocaine results in motor sensitization that, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), is associated to enhanced glutamate release, which in turn leads to enhanced calcium levels in dopaminergic neurons. Calcium influx activates calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases such as CaMKII. D-Serine could participate on these effects, and the objective was to discern the role of VTA D-serine after a sensitizing regimen of cocaine (10 mg/kg daily), and to discern consequent expression changes in CaMKII and its activated form. For this purpose, D-serine, sodium benzoate (inhibitor of D-amino acid oxidase, the degradating enzyme of D-serine), and 7-chlorokynurenate (inhibitor of the glycine site of NMDA receptors) were injected into the VTA (in either the induction or expression phase of sensitization), and activation state of CaMKII was assessed through blotting. The findings indicated that intra-VTA administration of D-serine (5 mM) and sodium benzoate (100 and 200 microg/microl) during the induction phase (not expression) reliably augmented the expression of behavioral sensitization to cocaine, providing evidence that D-serine in the VTA participates in the initiation of motor sensitization to this psychostimulant drug. Intra-VTA infusions of D-serine, sodium benzoate and 7-chlorokynurenate did not elicit a motor effect of their own. Confirming the important role of NMDA receptors and their activation at the glycine site, the employment of 7-chlorokynurenate (2 and 5 microg/microl) led to blocking of the development of sensitization to cocaine. CaMKII within the VTA was found to participate in D-serine's effects because this kinase, that is activated after repeated cocaine, was further activated after co-treatment with D-serine or sodium benzoate. Besides CaMKII activity was otherwise reduced by 7-chlorokynurenate.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia Medica, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain. efespejo@us.es
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Espejo
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramiro-Fuentes
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Portavella
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno-Paublete
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012694:Serine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012694:Serine; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D007736:Kynurenic Acid; D003042:Cocaine; C057013:7-chlorokynurenic acid