title: Excessive Sensory Stimulation during Development Alters Neural Plasticity and Vulnerability to Cocaine in Mice.
abstract: Early life experiences affect the formation of neuronal networks, which can have a profound impact on brain function and behavior later in life. Previous work has shown that mice exposed to excessive sensory stimulation during development are hyperactive and novelty seeking, and display impaired cognition compared with controls. In this study, we addressed the issue of whether excessive sensory stimulation during development could alter behaviors related to addiction and underlying circuitry in CD-1 mice. We found that the reinforcing properties of cocaine were significantly enhanced in mice exposed to excessive sensory stimulation. Moreover, although these mice displayed hyperactivity that became more pronounced over time, they showed impaired persistence of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. These behavioral effects were associated with alterations in glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. Together, these findings suggest that excessive sensory stimulation in early life significantly alters drug reward and the neural circuits that regulate addiction and attention deficit hyperactivity. These observations highlight the consequences of early life experiences and may have important implications for children growing up in today's complex technological environment.
authors: Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington 98101.
authors: Shilpa
authors: S
authors: Ravinder
authors: Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington 98101.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: 0000-0003-0229-6047
authors: EA
authors: Donckels
authors: Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington 98101.
authors: Julian S B
authors: 0000-0002-5284-6863
authors: JS
authors: Ramirez
authors: Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98121; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195.
authors: Dimitri A
authors: DA
authors: Christakis
authors: Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98101; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195.
authors: Jan-Marino
authors: 0000-0002-5284-6863
authors: JM
authors: Ramirez
authors: Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98101; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195.
authors: Susan M
authors: SM
authors: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D055369:Miniature Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: amygdala; drug addiction; environment; mice; nucleus accumbens; sensory stimulation