Sequencing of specific VTA projection targets after repeated fentanyl exposure
The goal of this study was to identify fentanyl-induced transcriptional changes in ventral tegmental area neurons depending on their downstream projection target. Female and male mice expressing a Cre-dependent ribosomal HA tag (RiboTag) received retrograde Cre in medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and basal amygdala. Following 7 days of 2 mg/kg fentanyl or saline, we collected tissue punches containing VTA after 24 hr abstinence. We pooled three mice per sample, purified RNA from immunoprecipitated ribosomes, and performed RNAseq using the SMARTer Stranded Total RNA-Seq Kit v2- Pico input Mammalian from Takara.