Preventing cocaine rooted neuroplasticity

描述(由申请人提供)： 该应用程序的主要目标是检查戒断期间和可卡因恢复后突触活动的变化，并寻求为成瘾背后的分子和细胞变化提供进一步的洞察。申请书中概述的研究将使用电生理学来检验我们的假设。具体地说，目标1将描述伏隔核神经元群体对前额叶皮质刺激的生理反应。目标2的目的是确定在戒断和注射可卡因后，半胱氨酸/谷氨酸交换和第二类代谢性谷氨酸受体在介导突触传递中的作用。大鼠将接受自我注射可卡因的训练，并经历14-21天的戒断期。另一组大鼠将扮演带轭的生理盐水对照组。在戒断期末，将刺激mPFC谷氨酸能传出，并在伏核核心进行现场记录。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary goal of the application is to examine changes in synaptic activity that occur during withdrawal and following cocaine primed reinstatement, and seeks to provide further insight into molecular and cellular alterations that underlie addiction. The studies outlined within the application will use electrophysiology to examine our hypotheses. Specifically, Aim 1 will characterize the physiological response of populations of neurons in the nucleus accumbens to prefrontal cortical stimulation. The goal of Aim 2 is to determine the role of cystine/glutamate exchange and group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in mediating synaptic transmission during withdrawal and following a cocaine priming injection. Rats will be trained to self administer cocaine and undergo a 14-21 day withdrawal period. A different group of rats will act yoked saline controls. At the end of the withdrawal period, mPFC glutamatergic efferents will be stimulated and field recordings measured in the core of the nucleus accumbens.