title: Synaptic adaptations in the nucleus accumbens caused by experiences linked to relapse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Excitatory synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) regulates the reinstatement of drug seeking, an animal model of relapse in human drug addicts. However, the functional adaptations at NAc synapses that mediate reinstatement are not clearly understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the behavioral responses of mice to cocaine administration by measuring locomotor stimulation and the acquisition, extinction, and reinstatement of conditioned place preference. Synaptic function was then examined by preparing acute brain slices and performing whole cell voltage-clamp recordings from individual medium spiny neurons in the NAc shell.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We find that reduced excitatory synaptic strength in the NAc shell is a common functional adaptation induced by multiple experiences known to cause reinstatement, including stress and drug re-exposure. The same synaptic adaptation is observed shortly after reinstatement of conditioned place preference by a cocaine priming injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This common synaptic modification associated with stress, drug re-exposure, and reinstatement defines a potential synaptic gateway to relapse.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: Saïd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kourrich
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D012008:Recurrence; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine