Dopamine D1 receptor antagonism in the prelimbic cortex blocks the reinstatement of heroin-seeking in an animal model of relapse.
In brain regions that have been implicated in the reinstatement of drug-seeking, the prelimbic cortex has emerged as a critical regulator of relapse behaviours. Here, the effects of prelimbic cortex dopamine (DA) D(1) receptor antagonism on drug-seeking produced by heroin-paired cues, or by a single priming dose of heroin are examined. Rats lever-pressed daily for i.v. heroin discretely paired with a conditioned stimulus during 3-h sessions for a period of 2 wk, followed by extinction and reinstatement of drug-seeking by previously heroin-paired cues (tone+light) or heroin-priming injections (0.25 mg/kg) in the absence of heroin reinforcement. Intracranial infusion of the DA D(1) receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 (0.02-2.0 microg/side), into the prelimbic cortex potently and dose dependently attenuated heroin-seeking in response to either cue presentations or a priming dose of heroin. These results suggest that DA D1 receptors regulate prefrontal cortex pathways necessary for the reinstatement of heroin-seeking.
See
Ronald E
RE
Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
D001552:Benzazepines; D009294:Narcotics; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; C534628:SCH 23390; D003932:Heroin