Contributions of nucleus accumbens core and shell GluR1 containing AMPA receptors in AMPA- and cocaine-primed reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior

• Published in: Brain research 2008-06, Vol.1215, p.173-182
• Main Authors: Ping, Ansong, Xi, Jinlei, Prasad, Balakrishna M, Wang, Mong-Heng, Kruzich, Paul J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid - administration & dosage; AMPA; Anatomical correlates of behavior; Animals; Appetitive Behavior - drug effects; Appetitive Behavior - physiology; Behavior, Addictive - metabolism; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cocaine - administration & dosage; Cocaine-Related Disorders - metabolism; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists - administration & dosage; Extinction; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GluR1; Intracranial; Male; Medical sciences; Microinjections; Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Neurotransmitter Agents - administration & dosage; Nucleus Accumbens - anatomy & histology; Nucleus Accumbens - drug effects; Nucleus Accumbens - metabolism; Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense - metabolism; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopharmacology; Rat; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Receptors, AMPA - drug effects; Receptors, AMPA - metabolism; Relapse; Self Administration
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.03.088

Abstract Glutamate signaling in the nucleus accumbens influences reinstatement of previously extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. Whether or not region specific glutamate signaling in the nucleus accumbens contributes to reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior is not known. We investigated whether directly stimulating ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) within the nucleus accumbens core or shell would differentially influence renewed cocaine-seeking behavior following extinction training. We also tested the hypothesis that GluR1 subunit (GluR1) containing alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionic acid (AMPA) receptors in the nucleus accumbens core and not the shell regulate reinstatement of previously extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior. Microinjection of AMPA into the nucleus accumbens shell and the nucleus accumbens core dose-dependently elicited significant cocaine-seeking behavior. Administration of antisense oligonucleotides (AS) directed against GluR1 subunit mRNA into the core and shell disrupted AMPA- and cocaine-primed reinstatement—with the most pronounced effects seen in the nucleus accumbens shell. These results demonstrate that GluRs in the nucleus accumbens core and shell influence AMPA- and cocaine-primed reinstatement, yet the nucleus accumbens shell exerts a prepotency over the nucleus accumbens core.