title: Formation of aversive memories associated with conditioned drug withdrawal requires BDNF expression in the amygdala in acute morphine-dependent rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in learning and memory in multiple brain areas. In the present study, we investigated the roles of BDNF in aversive memories associated with conditioned drug withdrawal in acute morphine-dependent rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conditioned place aversion (CPA) was induced in male SD rats exposed to a single dose of morphine (10 mg/kg, sc) followed by naloxone (0.3 mg/kg, sc). In some rats, BDNF receptor antagonist K252a (8.5 ng per side) or BDNF scavenger TrkB-FC (0.65 μg per side) was bilaterally microinjected into amygdala before naloxone injection. BDNF mRNA and protein expression levels in amygdala were detected after the behavior testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CPA behavior was induced in rats by the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal, which was accompanied by significantly increased levels of BDNF mRNA and protein in the amygdala. Bilateral microinjection of TrkB-FC or K252a into the amygdala completely blocked CPA behavior in the rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Formation of aversive memories associated with conditioned drug withdrawal in acute morphine-dependent rats requires BDNF expression in the amygdala.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yun-yue
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Jian-dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Jing-gen
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001348:Aversive Therapy; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000235:genetics*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; D020813:Receptor, trkB