Cocaine and Amphetamine Related Transcript (CART) Inhibits Context Induced Reinstatement of Reward Seeking

We studied the role of cocaine and amphetamine related transcript (CART) in regulating context induced reinstatement (renewal) of reward seeking. Rats were trained to respond for alcoholic beer in context A before extinction in context B. Rats were tested for responding in context A (ABA) and context B (ABB). Intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of the active fragment CART55-102 but not the inactive fragment CARTI-27 before test prevented ABA renewal of extinguished responding. ICV CART55-102 had no effect on responding in the extinction context (ABB). ICV CART55-102 also altered the profile of behavioral responses observed on test in the training (ABA) but not extinction (ABB) context. These results identify a novel role for CART in preventing reinstatement of reward seeking.