Part 1. We demonstrated that intra-mPFC administration of the selective KOR agonist U69,593 decreased local DA overflow, but failed to modify DAT function in 3H DA uptake studies. Reverse dialysis of the KOR antagonist nor-Binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) enhanced mPFC DA overflow. Extracellular amino acid levels were also affected by KORs, as evidenced by U69,593 inhibition of the ability of the glutamate reuptake blocker, l-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate to elevate mPFC glutamate and GABA levels. Whole-cell recordings from mPFC layer V pyramidal neurons revealed that U69,593 decreased the frequency, but not amplitude, of mini EPSPs, an effect occluded by picrotoxin. To determine whether KOR regulation of mPFC DA overflow was mediated by KOR on DA terminals, we utilized a Cre recombinase-driven mouse line lacking KOR in DA neurons. In these mice, basal DA release or uptake was unaltered relative to controls, but the attenuation of mPFC DA overflow by local U69,593 was not observed, indicating KOR acts directly on mPFC DA terminals to locally inhibit DA levels. Conditioning procedures were then used to determine whether mPFC KOR signaling was necessary for KOR-mediated aversion. U69,593-mediated conditioned place aversion was blocked by intra-mPFC nor-BNI microinjection. These findings demonstrate that mPFC KORs negatively regulate DA and amino acid neurotransmission, and are necessary for KOR-mediated aversion (manuscript submitted to the Journal of Neuroscience). Part 2. Previously we demonstrated that exposure to a cocaine-associated environment increases mPFC GABA transmission by enhancing excitatory drive from the BLA and activation of AMPA/KA receptors on mPFC GABA neurons Chefer et al., 2011). In the present study in-vivo microdialysis was used to identify alterations in rat mPFC glutamate, GABA dopamine and norepinephrine overflows in response to cues previously associated with either saline or cocaine in situations of either low or high certainty of cocaine expectations. Neurotransmitter levels and locomotor activity (LMA) were assessed 24 hrs after the last conditioning session. Some animals were stressed by handling immediately prior to testing. Exposure to a cocaine-associated environment following fixed sequences of conditioning trials increased mPFC GABA overflow and decreased Glutamate/GABA ratio. Handling stress, which increased blood corticosterone levels, increased baseline Glutamate and GABA overflow in rats expecting cocaine administration. Introduction of the cocaine cues augmented GABA overflow and decreased the Glutamate/GABA ratio in these rats. When random sequences of conditioning trials were used and the certainty of cocaine expectation therefore was low, the same stress paradigm did not increase basal GABA levels. Contrary to the fixed sequence regimen, glutamate overflow and Glu/GABA ratio was increased by cocaine cues. Saline-associated cues did not alter Glu or GABA during either trial regimen. Conditioned hyperactivity in cocaine environment was observed in high expectations paradigm and following stress in low expectations paradigm. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate a neurochemical interaction between cocaine-associated environment, stress and cocaine expectation. The data suggest that changes in mPFC Glu/GABA equilibrium reflect certainty of cocaine administration and stress reveals the level of expectation before actual cue presentation (manuscript in preparation).

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$912,180
Indirect Cost
Name
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
Zip Code
Good, Cameron H; Hoffman, Alexander F; Hoffer, Barry J et al. (2011) Impaired nigrostriatal function precedes behavioral deficits in a genetic mitochondrial model of Parkinson's disease. FASEB J 25:1333-44
Chefer, Vladimir I; Wang, Ruizhong; Shippenberg, Toni S (2011) Basolateral amygdala-driven augmentation of medial prefrontal cortex GABAergic neurotransmission in response to environmental stimuli associated with cocaine administration. Neuropsychopharmacology 36:2018-29
Zapata, Agustin; Minney, Vicki L; Shippenberg, Toni S (2010) Shift from goal-directed to habitual cocaine seeking after prolonged experience in rats. J Neurosci 30:15457-63
Tejeda, Hugo A; Chefer, Vladimir I; Zapata, Agustin et al. (2010) The effects of kappa-opioid receptor ligands on prepulse inhibition and CRF-induced prepulse inhibition deficits in the rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 210:231-40
Oz, Murat; Libby, Therissa; Kivell, Bronwyn et al. (2010) Real-time, spatially resolved analysis of serotonin transporter activity and regulation using the fluorescent substrate, ASP+. J Neurochem 114:1019-29
Cassano, Tommaso; Gaetani, Silvana; Morgese, Maria Grazia et al. (2009) Monoaminergic changes in locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus following noradrenaline depletion. Neurochem Res 34:1417-26
Chefer, V I; Shippenberg, T S (2009) Augmentation of morphine-induced sensitization but reduction in morphine tolerance and reward in delta-opioid receptor knockout mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 34:887-98
Zapata, Agustin; Chefer, Vladimir I; Shippenberg, Toni S et al. (2009) Detection and quantification of neurotransmitters in dialysates. Curr Protoc Neurosci Chapter 7:Unit 7.4.1-30
Shippenberg, Toni S (2009) The dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor system: a new target for the treatment of addiction and affective disorders? Neuropsychopharmacology 34:247
Chefer, Vladimir I; Thompson, Alexis C; Zapata, Agustin et al. (2009) Overview of brain microdialysis. Curr Protoc Neurosci Chapter 7:Unit7.1

Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications