Role of TrkB and TrkC in Cocaine-Induced Sensitization

有几个重要的原因，研究细胞和分子 重复精神兴奋剂行为效应的潜在机制 局首先，滥用可卡因等精神兴奋剂是一个主要问题， 医疗和社会问题。研究表明，神经生理学 与反复服用精神兴奋剂有关的适应性改变 对毒品的渴望第二，细胞的变化， 精神兴奋剂给药是神经元可塑性的一种形式。研究 精神兴奋剂诱导的神经元适应将更多地揭示 神经可塑性的机制。第三，研究分子 与精神兴奋剂接触相关的适应性变化将帮助我们理解 导致主观体验的神经机制，如快乐， 疼痛是神经科学领域最令人着迷的问题之一。 越来越多的证据表明，神经营养因子家族的生长因子发挥作用， 在精神兴奋剂的作用中起着重要作用。BDNF和NT-3 VTA的微注射已经被证明可以增强行为 可卡因的激活作用本文概述的研究目标是 一项提议是通过研究BDNF和NT-3的作用来扩展这些发现 受体，trkB和trkC，分别在可卡因诱导的行为 致敏具体而言，这将在以下两个方面实现： 阶段首先，大鼠将被注射急性和反复全身 注射可卡因和腹侧trkB和trkC蛋白水平 将测量被盖区（VTA）。第二，trkB和trkC受体将被 使用正义和反义在VTA中上调和下调 重组腺病毒载体。病毒治疗后，将给予大鼠 急性和反复全身注射可卡因。后续行为活动 将测量并切除VTA以检测酪氨酸的变化 羟化酶活性作为可卡因诱导的神经元可塑性的量度。

There are several important reasons for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the behavioral effects of repeated psychostimulant administration. First, abuse of psychostimulants such as cocaine is a major medical and social problem. Studies suggest that the neurophysiological adaptations associated with repeated psychostimulant administration contribute to drug craving. Second, the cellular changes underlying repeated psychostimulant administration are a form of neuronal plasticity. Studying the psychostimulant-induced neuronal adaptations will shed more light on the mechanisms of neuronal plasticity in general. Third, studying the molecular adaptations associated with psychostimulant exposure will help us to understand the neural mechanisms that lead to subjective experiences such as pleasure and pain, one of the most fascinating problems in the field of neuroscience. Growing evidence indicates that the neurotrophin family of growth factors plays an important role in the effects of psychostimulants. BDNF and NT-3 microinjections into the VTA have been shown to enhance the behavioral activating effects of cocaine. The goal of the research outlined in this proposal is to expand on these findings by studying the role of BDNF and NT-3 receptors, trkB and trkC respectively, in cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization. Specifically, this will be accomplished in the following two stages. First, rats will be injected with acute and repeated systemic injections of cocaine and levels of trkB and trkC protein in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) will be measured. Second, trkB and trkC receptors will be up-regulated and down-regulated in the VTA using sense and antisense recombinant adenovirus vectors. Following virus treatment, rats will be given acute and repeated systemic cocaine injections. Subsequent behavioral activity will be measured and the VTA will be excised to test for changes in tyrosine hydroxylase activity as a measure of cocaine-induced neuronal plasticity.