Wireless optogenetic stimulation on the prelimbic to the nucleus accumbens core circuit attenuates cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization

• Published in: Neurobiology of disease 2024-12, Vol.203, p.106733, Article 106733
• Main Authors: Ku, Min Jeong, Kim, Choong Yeon, Park, Jong Woo, Lee, Seohyeon, Jeong, Eun Young, Jeong, Jae-Woong, Kim, Wha Young, Kim, Jeong-Hoon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Cocaine; Cocaine - pharmacology; Dendritic spine; Dendritic Spines - drug effects; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Locomotion - drug effects; Locomotion - physiology; Male; Neural Pathways - drug effects; Neural Pathways - physiology; Nucleus accumbens; Nucleus Accumbens - drug effects; Optogenetics; Optogenetics - methods; Prelimbic; Rats; Sensitization; Wireless Technology
• ISSN: 0969-9961; 1095-953X; 1095-953X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106733

Behavioral sensitization is defined as the heightened and persistent behavioral response to repeated drug exposure as a manifestation of drug craving. Psychomotor stimulants such as cocaine can induce strong behavioral sensitization. In this study, we explored the effects of optogenetic stimulation of the prelimbic (PL) to the nucleus accumbnes (NAc) core on the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization. Using wireless optogenetics, we selectively stimulated the PL-NAc core circuit, and assessed the effects of this treatment on cocaine-induced locomotor activity and accompanying changes in neuronal activation and dendritic spine density. Our findings revealed that optogenetic stimulation of the PL-NAc core circuit effectively suppressed the cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization, accompanied by a reduction in c-Fos expression within the NAc core. Moreover, optogenetic stimulation led to reduction in dendritic spine density, particularly thin and mushroom spine densities, in the NAc core. This study demonstrates that cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization can be regulated by optogenetic stimulation of the PL-NAc core circuit, providing insights into the crucial role of this circuit in psychomotor stimulant addiction. •Psychomotor stimulants such as cocaine can induce strong behavioral sensitization as a manifestation of drug craving.•Wireless optogenetic stimulation on the PL-NAc core circuit suppressed cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization.•Optogenetic stimulation led to reduction in thin and mushroom dendritic spine densities in the NAc core.