Article
Neurosciences
Yao Q. Wang, Yanhua H. Huang, Saju Balakrishnan, Lidong Liu, Yu Tian Wang, Eric J. Nestler, Oliver M. Schluter, Yan Dong
Summary: This study elucidates the dynamic interactions between AMPARs and NMDARs during the generation and maturation of silent synapses in the NAc after cocaine experience. The findings provide a mechanistic basis for manipulating new synaptic contacts and potentially new neural network patterns created by these synapses for therapeutic benefit.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li Zhu, Feifei Wu, Zhilan Yan, Lijun He, Shufei Wang, Haohao Hu, Eyleen L. K. Goh, Yingjie Zhu, Fanglin Guan, Teng Chen
Summary: The decreased expression of a novel microRNA, novel-m009C, is found to be implicated in the hyperlocomotion induced by METH. The study identifies dopamine receptors D1 and D2 as regulators of novel-m009C expression in the nucleus accumbens, and increasing the levels of novel-m009C attenuates the rewarding effects of METH. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism underlying METH addiction and suggest a potential treatment strategy targeting small non-coding RNAs.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Aram Parsegian, M. Julia Garcia-Fuster, Elaine Hebda-Bauer, Stanley. J. J. Watson, Shelly. B. B. Flagel, Huda Akil
Summary: Adolescent drug use affects addiction liability in adulthood, with variations depending on genetic background and cocaine exposure. This study explores the role of genetic rat models and epigenetic chromatin modifications in behavioral profiles and cocaine sensitization.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ming F. Lu, Qiang Fu, Tian Y. Qiu, Jian H. Yang, Qing H. Peng, Zhen Z. Hu
Summary: This study reveals a new mechanism by which pCaMKII-GABA(B)R signaling can promote psychostimulant-induced behavioral sensitization. It was found that GABA(B)R in the nucleus accumbens affects the development of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization by mediating its perinucleus internalization and membrane expression. Moreover, the membrane levels of GABA(B)R were decreased while the membrane expression of pCaMKII was increased after repeated cocaine treatment.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gang Li, Shijie Xu, Ung Gu Kang
Summary: Repeated administration of drugs of abuse leads to behavioral sensitization, which is also observed with MK-801, a NMDA receptor antagonist. This study investigated the characteristics of MK-801-induced behavioral sensitization and found that it occurred rapidly with only five consecutive treatments. The optimal dose for sensitization was identified, which corresponded to typical doses of abused NMDA antagonists. Changes were observed in the expression and phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunits after MK-801-induced behavioral sensitization.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
John G. Howland, Rutsuko Ito, Christopher C. Lapish, Franz R. Villaruel
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that the rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a crucial role in adapting behavior to changing information. The mPFC subregions, such as the dorsal and ventral mPFC, have specific functions in regulating action control and translating affective signals. However, these subregions also interact and influence each other in the modulation of adaptive behavior.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Taylor A. Stowe, Elizabeth G. Pitts, Amy C. Leach, Melody C. Iacino, Farr Niere, Benjamin Graul, Kimberly F. Raab-Graham, Jordan T. Yorgason, Mark J. Ferris
Summary: This study reveals the rhythmic mechanisms of rapid dopamine signals and cholinergic interneurons (CINs) in the rodent striatum, and how these rhythms influence conditioned responses to reward-associated cues. The findings suggest that the activity of dopamine signals and CINs is regulated by diurnal rhythms, which play a crucial role in learning and motivated behaviors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sanghoon Choi, Yijuan Du, David L. Wokosin, Steven M. Graves
Summary: This study found that repeated meth use resulted in dysfunction of the indirect pathway neurons in the dorsomedial striatum, with the severity of dysfunction dependent on the duration of abstinence. These findings have important implications for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of meth addiction.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
F. Carruzzo, A. O. Giarratana, L. del Puppo, S. Kaiser, P. N. Tobler, M. Kaliuzhna
Summary: A growing body of research has found that the ventral striatum is central to a network of brain regions involved in anticipating rewards in healthy controls. However, little is known about the functional connectivity of the ventral striatum in relation to reward anticipation in healthy controls. This study investigated reward anticipation in healthy individuals with different levels of schizotypy and found that the ventral striatum is connected to various regions in the brain during reward anticipation, suggesting its role in orchestrating goal-directed behavior.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Matthew B. Pomrenze, Daniel F. Cardozo Pinto, Peter A. Neumann, Pierre Llorach, Jason M. Tucciarone, Wade Morishita, Neir Eshel, Boris D. Heifets, Robert C. Malenka
Summary: Social isolation plays a major role in the current opioid addiction crisis. Research shows that sociability deficits during opioid withdrawal are linked to the activation of kappa opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens. Blocking the release of dynorphin from dorsal raphe neurons prevents these deficits, while optogenetic activation of these neurons reproduces sociability decreases. Deleting KORs from serotonin neurons prevents sociability deficits, but not from NAc neurons or dopamine neurons.
Article
Neurosciences
Klara Danielsson, Oona Lagstrom, Mia Ericson, Bo Soderpalm, Louise Adermark
Summary: The study suggests that repeated amphetamine exposure leads to selective effects on dopamine signaling in striatal subregions, explaining why tolerance develops towards the drug's rewarding effects but not its psychosis inducing properties.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amrita R. Nair, Steve W. C. Chang
Summary: This study further explores the role of oxytocin in maintaining social relationships and its interaction with the endocannabinoid system.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Pei-Pei Liu, Chih-Chang Chao, Ruey-Ming Liao
Summary: SKF83959 disrupts operant behaviors in rats in a dose-dependent manner by reducing response numbers, showing distinct behavioral profiles in different tasks. Changes in CaMKII-CREB signaling in various regions of the brain are associated with the altered behavior induced by the drug.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Kelle E. Nett, Alexa R. Zimbelman, Matthew S. McGregor, Vanessa Alizo Vera, Molly R. Harris, Ryan T. LaLumiere
Summary: Previous evidence suggests that the infralimbic cortex (IL) plays a role in inhibiting cocaine seeking behavior in rats. In this study, the researchers investigated whether IL activity and its outputs to the nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell) and amygdala are involved in encoding extinction contingencies following cocaine self-administration. They used optogenetic techniques to silence IL-NAshell or IL-amygdala activity after an unreinforced lever press during extinction training and found that inhibition of IL-NAshell or IL-amygdala activity impaired extinction retention.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Shunsuke Takagi, Darrick T. Balu, Joseph T. Coyle
Summary: The study found that the NMDAR antagonist MK801 and cocaine, drugs that enhance glutamate release, reduce the expression of SR and DAAO, while D-serine and antipsychotics do not regulate their protein levels. This suggests a new mechanism by which AMPAR activity regulates NMDAR function through D-serine availability.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rifka C. Derman, Carrie R. Ferrario
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Rifka C. Derman, Caroline E. Bass, Carrie R. Ferrario
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda France, Yanaira Alonso-Caraballo, Carrie Ferrario
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel D. Altshuler, Eddy S. Yang, Kristine T. Garcia, Ian R. Davis, Adedayo Olaniran, Meron Haile, Syrus Razavi, Xuan Li
Summary: This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying incubation of oxycodone craving in male rats, demonstrating that the orbitofrontal cortex plays a critical role in the incubation of opioid craving, similar to what has been observed in studies on heroin craving.
Article
Neurosciences
Yanaira Alonso-Caraballo, Tracy L. Fetterly, Emily T. Jorgensen, Allison M. Nieto, Travis E. Brown, Carrie R. Ferrario
Summary: CP-AMPARs in the nucleus accumbens mediate cue-triggered motivation for food and cocaine. Junk-food consumption increases silent synapses and subsequently increases CP-AMPAR levels in male rats, while it does not induce AMPAR plasticity in females but may instead alter NMDAR-mediated transmission. These studies reveal sex differences in the effects of junk-food on NAc synaptic plasticity.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
P. M. Dingess, Z. Zhang, B. A. Sorg, C. R. Ferrario, T. E. Brown
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Review
Psychology, Biological
Carrie R. Ferrario
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Tracy L. Fetterly, Max F. Oginsky, Allison M. Nieto, Yanaira Alonso-Caraballo, Zuleirys Santana-Rodriguez, Carrie R. Ferrario
Summary: Human fMRI studies indicate that insulin influences brain activity in regions related to reward and motivation, such as the nucleus accumbens. Insulin has concentration-dependent bidirectional effects on excitatory transmission in the NAc, with insulin receptor activation increasing transmission and IGF receptor activation decreasing transmission. Obesity leads to a loss of insulin receptor-mediated increase in excitatory transmission in the NAc, while preserving reductions in transmission mediated by IGF receptors.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Anne-Noel Samaha, Shaun Y. -S. Khoo, Carrie R. Ferrario, Terry E. Robinson
Summary: Repeated drug use can alter dopamine function, leading to addiction. Two main viewpoints exist: one suggests that drug use decreases dopamine neurotransmission, while the other argues that it enhances it. Recent evidence supports the latter view, with implications for addiction modeling and treatment.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2021)
Letter
Neurosciences
Terry E. Robinson, Shaun Y. -S. Khoo, Carrie R. Ferrario, Anne-Noel Samaha
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Carrie R. Ferrario, Julie E. Finnell
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Adedayo Olaniran, Kristine T. Garcia, Megan A. M. Burke, Hongyu Lin, Marco Venniro, Xuan Li
Summary: Deprivation of social interaction promotes social reward seeking in rodents. Single-housed rats earned more social rewards during social self-administration. Social isolation also promoted social seeking, regardless of housing conditions after social self-administration training. Neuronal activation of NAc shell is associated with social seeking after social isolation.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Carrie Ferrario
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Carrie Ferrario, Tracy Fetterly
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Carrie Ferrario, Tracy Fetterly, Max Oginsky, Allison Nieto, Yanaira Alonso-Caraballo