Differential Involvement of the Core and Shell Subregions of the Nucleus Accumbens in Conditioned Cue-induced Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking in Rats

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2004 May 13

PMID 15138757

Citations 145

Authors

Rita A Fuchs

K Allison Evans

Macon C Parker

Ronald E See

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rationale: The nucleus accumbens (NAC) is theorized to be a critical element of the neural circuitry that mediates relapse to cocaine seeking. Evidence suggests that the NAC is a functionally heterogeneous structure, and the core (NACc) and shell (NACs) regions of the NAC may play a differential role in stimulus-induced motivated behavior. Thus, determination of the involvement of NAC subregions in conditioned cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking is warranted.

Objectives: The present study compared the effects of GABA agonist-induced inactivation of the NACc versus NACs on conditioned cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking behavior.

Methods: Rats were trained to lever press for cocaine infusions (0.20 mg/infusion, IV) paired with presentations of a light-tone stimulus complex. Responding was then allowed to extinguish prior to reinstatement testing. Reinstatement of cocaine seeking (i.e. responses on the previously cocaine-paired lever) was measured in the presence of response-contingent presentation of the light-tone stimulus complex following microinfusion of muscimol+baclofen (Mus+Bac, 0.1/1.0 mM, respectively, 0.3 microl/side) or vehicle into the NACc or NACs. The effects of these manipulations on locomotor activity were also examined.

Results: Mus+Bac-induced inactivation of the NACc abolished, whereas inactivation of the NACs failed to alter, conditioned cue-induced reinstatement of operant responding relative to vehicle pretreatment. Time course analyses of the effects of these manipulations on locomotion versus operant responding confirmed that the effects of Mus+Bac on reinstatement were not due to suppression of general activity.

Conclusions: The functional integrity of the NACc, but not the NACs, is necessary for conditioned cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking behavior.

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