Region-specific involvement of AMPA/Kainate receptors in Fos protein expression induced by cocaine-conditioned cues.
This study investigated the effects of the AMPA/Kainate receptor antagonist, NBQX, on cue-elicited cocaine-seeking behavior and concomitant changes in Fos protein expression. After cocaine self-administration training, rats underwent 24 days of abstinence during which they were exposed daily either to the self-administration environment with response-contingent cues previously paired with cocaine infusions available (Extinction group) or to an alternate environment (No Extinction group). Subsequently, rats were tested for cocaine-seeking behavior (i.e., operant responses without cocaine reinforcement) elicited by the cocaine-associated cues after pretreatment with either vehicle or NBQX (10 mg/kg, IP). NBQX markedly attenuated cue-elicited cocaine-seeking behavior relative to vehicle pretreatment in the No Extinction group and also decreased cue-elicited Fos protein expression in a region-specific manner in the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortices, basolateral amygdala, nucleus accumbens core, and dorsal caudate-putamen, suggesting involvement of AMPA glutamate systems in specific subregions of the neuronal circuitry activated by cocaine cues.
Zavala
Arturo R
AR
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, United States.
Browning
Jenny R
JR
Dickey
Erin D
ED
Biswas
Sudipta
S
Neisewander
Janet L
JL
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D003463:Cues; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012646:Self Administration; D013997:Time Factors
D003042:Cocaine; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos; D011810:Quinoxalines; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; C062865:2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline