The proposed experiments are directed toward an understanding of the neuroanatomical and neurochemical substrates of the long-lasting behavioral, cognitive, physiological, and neurobiological consequences of chronic cocaine abuse. This phenomenon, called behavioral sensitization is a complex process that can be significantly influenced by a number of non-pharmacological variables including the presence of conditioned environmental cues. Conditioned effects are also thought to be important determinants of human drug abuse, particularly in such phenomena as drug craving and relapse. The effects of conditioned environmental cues on repeated cocaine administration most likely are mediated by neuronal circuits different from those that mediate the unconditioned consequences of repeated administration. The proposed experiments are designed to characterize further the neuroanatomical substrates of behavioral sensitization with a specific focus on the influence of conditioned cues in this process. Specifically, the quantitative 2-[14C]deoxyglucose autoradiographic method will be used to identify in rats 1) the brain regions that mediate cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in the presence and absence of conditioned environmental stimuli, 2) the dose-dependent effects of repeated cocaine administration, 3) the time course of development of conditioned behavioral sensitization, and 4) the persistence of the effects of conditioned behavioral sensitization following withdrawal from cocaine treatment. A second goal of the proposed studies is to determine the neurochemical changes that underlie the changes in functional activity observed in the metabolic mapping studies. First, quantitative receptor autoradiography will be used to measure alterations in dopaminergic and opioid receptor systems. Measurements of receptor density will be made in the same animals used in the 2-deoxyglucose studies, permitting the systematic evaluation of the effects of dose, duration of treatment, presence of conditioned cues, and length of time following withdrawal from drug treatment on receptor number. Second, in vivo microdialysis will be used to measure the effects of repeated cocaine administration in the presence of conditioned environmental cues on concentrations of extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. The relationship between dopamine concentrations and rates of glucose utilization in this nucleus will be investigated by combining 2-deoxyglucose and in vivo microdialysis measures in rats chronically treated with cocaine. These studies have important implications for the understanding of the long term sequelae of chronic cocaine abuse. Furthermore, they will provide a more comprehensive analysis of the role of conditioned environmental cues in chronic drug abuse and may provide a more extensive basis for the development of behavioral and pharmacological strategies for treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA007522-03
Application #
2120024
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRCD (17))
Project Start
1991-12-15
Project End
1996-11-30
Budget Start
1994-02-01
Budget End
1994-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041418799
City
Winston-Salem
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27106
Letchworth, S R; Daunais, J B; Hedgecock, A A et al. (1997) Effects of chronic cocaine administration on dopamine transporter mRNA and protein in the rat. Brain Res 750:214-22
Martin, T J; Miller Jr, M; Dworkin, S I et al. (1997) Alteration of local cerebral glucose utilization following intravenous administration of heroin in Fischer 344 rats. Brain Res 755:313-8
Daunais, J B; Hart, S L; Hedgecock-Rowe, A et al. (1997) Alterations in behavior and opioid gene expression induced by the novel tropane analog WF-31. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 50:293-304
Porrino, L J; Miller, M; Hedgecock, A A et al. (1997) Local cerebral metabolic effects of the novel cocaine analog, WF-31: comparisons to fluoxetine. Synapse 27:26-35
Lyons, D; Porrino, L J (1997) Dopamine depletion in the rostral nucleus accumbens alters the cerebral metabolic response to cocaine in the rat. Brain Res 753:69-79
Porrino, L J; Davies, H M; Childers, S R (1995) Behavioral and local cerebral metabolic effects of the novel tropane analog, 2 beta-propanoyl-3 beta-(4-tolyl)-tropane. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 272:901-10
Porrino, L J; Migliarese, K; Davies, H M et al. (1994) Behavioral effects of the novel tropane analog, 2 beta-propanoyl-3 beta-(4-toluyl)-tropane (PTT). Life Sci 54:PL511-7
Porrino, L J; Williams-Hemby, L; Davies, H M (1994) Metabolic mapping methods for the identification of the neural substrates of the effects of novel tropane analogs. NIDA Res Monogr 138:71-86
Porrino, L J (1993) Functional consequences of acute cocaine treatment depend on route of administration. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 112:343-51