title: Over-expression of the GluN2B subunit in the forebrain facilitates the acquisition of morphine-related positive and aversive memory in rats.
abstract: GluN2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain are known to have an important role in drug-associated learning and memory. Selective blockage of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors (GluN2B-NMDARs) has been shown to impair morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) without affecting natural reward-induced CPP. In the present study, GluN2B transgenic rats with over-expressed GluN2B-subunits in the forebrain were used to assess the susceptibility to CPP induced by morphine and natural rewards as well as to naloxone-induced conditioned place aversion (CPA). The results showed that GluN2B transgenic rats exhibited a relatively higher susceptibility to morphine-induced CPP and naloxone-induced CPA than their wild-type littermates did, while they retained the similar sensitivity as wild-type rats to CPP induced by natural reinforcers (food and sucrose). These findings suggest that increased level of GluN2B-NMDARs in forebrain facilitates formation of drug-related memory, but not that associated with natural rewards. GluN2B-NMDARs might be a potential target for the treatment of drug abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and National Health and Family Planning Commission, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Yijing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and National Health and Family Planning Commission, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xingjie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and National Health and Family Planning Commission, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and National Health and Family Planning Commission, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and National Health and Family Planning Commission, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and National Health and Family Planning Commission, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Jisheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and National Health and Family Planning Commission, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: clcui@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Cailian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005502:Food; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D055647:Rats, Transgenic; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012201:Reward; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D009294:Narcotics; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine
keywords: Conditioned place aversion; Conditioned place preference; GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor; Morphine; Naloxone