Despite a wealth of data indicating that opioids can modulate the immune system, little is known regarding the neural mechanisms that underlie the immune alterations induced by drug related cues. The current proposal seeks to further establish and extend our recent finding that environmental stimuli that had been previously associated with heroin delivery elicit immune alterations similar to those observed with actual heroin use. More specifically, we have demonstrated that heroin associated environmental stimuli induce alterations in the induction of nitric oxide similar to those observed with heroin. This proposal seeks to elucidate the role of the cholinergic system within the basolateral amygdala in these effects.
Specific Aim I tests the hypothesis that the conditioned effects of heroin on nitric oxide expression are mediated through the basolateral amygdala.
Specific Aim II tests the hypothesis that the alterations in nitric oxide production seen with exposure to a previously drug-associated environment involve the cholinergic system within the basolateral amygdala.
Specific Aim Ml tests whether the conditioned effects of heroin on nitric oxide production will be evident in a live infection and whether antagonism of cholinergic receptors within the basolateral amygdala will reverse these alterations. Collectively, the proposed studies will provide innovative and important new data regarding the neural mechanisms underlying the immunomodulation elicited by drug related cues. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31DA021467-02
Application #
7298599
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Avila, Albert
Project Start
2006-09-26
Project End
2009-09-25
Budget Start
2007-09-26
Budget End
2008-09-25
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$28,798
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Szczytkowski, Jennifer L; Lysle, Donald T (2010) Dopamine D1 receptors within the basolateral amygdala mediate heroin-induced conditioned immunomodulation. J Neuroimmunol 226:38-47
Szczytkowski, Jennifer L; Lysle, Donald T (2008) Conditioned effects of heroin on proinflammatory mediators require the basolateral amygdala. Eur J Neurosci 28:1867-76
Szczytkowski, Jennifer L; Lysle, Donald T (2007) Conditioned effects of heroin on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the rat are susceptible to extinction and latent inhibition. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 191:879-89