Essential role of protein kinase C in morphine-induced rewarding memory.
Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in intra-cellular signal transduction in various physiological and pathological processes including substance abuse. In the present study, the role of PKC in morphine-induced rewarding memory was investigated using the conditioned place preference (CPP) model. We found a significant translocation of PKCs from cytosol to membrane component in nucleus accumbens (NAc) of morphine-conditioned rats in a dose-dependent manner. The translocation was reduced gradually with the maintenance of morphine-induced CPP. Specifically, the protein level of PKCγ in membrane of the NAc was increased in morphine CPP rats, and decreased during the attenuation of morphine-induced CPP, while the protein level of PKCγ in cytosol of the NAc showed an opposite change. Furthermore, the PKC translocation inhibitor γV5-3 impaired the morphine-induced CPP when microinjected into the NAc. These findings indicated that PKC, especially the γ isoform, is essential for the acquisition and maintenance of morphine-associated reward memory. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.
Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, PR China.
Xingjie
X
Ping
Yaoying
Y
Ma
Yijing
Y
Li
Chong
C
Qi
Xiaowei
X
Sun
Xiufang
X
Lv
Cailian
C
Cui
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012201:Reward
D009294:Narcotics; D009020:Morphine; D011493:Protein Kinase C