title: Requisite Role of Basolateral Amygdala Glucocorticoid Receptor Stimulation in Drug Context-Induced Cocaine-Seeking Behavior.
abstract: Exposure to cocaine-associated stimuli triggers a robust rise in circulating glucocorticoid levels. Glucocorticoid receptors are richly expressed in the basolateral amygdala, a brain region that controls the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior upon exposure to a previously cocaine-paired environmental context. In the present study, we investigated whether glucocorticoid receptor stimulation in the basolateral amygdala is integral to drug context-induced motivation to seek cocaine in a rat model of drug relapse.
  
  
  
  Rats were trained to lever press for cocaine reinforcement in a distinct environmental context and were then given daily extinction training sessions in a different context. At test, the rats received bilateral glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (mifepristone; 3 or 10ng/hemisphere) or vehicle microinfusions into either the basolateral amygdala or the overlying posterior caudate-putamen (anatomical control region). Immediately thereafter, drug-seeking behavior (i.e., nonreinforced lever presses) was assessed in the previously cocaine-paired context and locomotor activity was assessed in a novel context.
  
  
  
  Intra-basolateral amygdala, but not intra-posterior caudate-putamen, mifepristone dose-dependently attenuated drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior relative to vehicle, such that responding was similar to that observed in the extinction context. In contrast, mifepristone treatment did not alter locomotor activity.
  
  
  
  These findings suggest that basolateral amygdala glucocorticoid receptor stimulation is necessary for drug context-induced motivation to seek cocaine.
authors: Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Pullman, WA (Ms Higginbotham and Dr Fuchs); Neurobiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (Ms Stringfield).
authors: Sierra J
authors: SJ
authors: Stringfield
authors: Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Pullman, WA (Ms Higginbotham and Dr Fuchs); Neurobiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (Ms Stringfield).
authors: Jessica A
authors: JA
authors: Higginbotham
authors: Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Pullman, WA (Ms Higginbotham and Dr Fuchs); Neurobiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (Ms Stringfield). ritafuchs@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors: Rita A
authors: RA
authors: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066272:Basolateral Nuclear Complex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003463:Cues; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D015735:Mifepristone
keywords: basolateral amygdala; corticosterone; glucocorticoid receptor; reinstatement