Optogenetics reveals a role for accumbal medium spiny neurons expressing dopamine D2 receptors in cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization
- Authors
- Song, Shelly Sooyun; Kang, Byeong Jun; Wen, Lei; Lee, Hyo Jin; Sim, Hye-ri; Kim, Tae Hyong; Yoon, Sehyoun; Yoon, Bong-June; Augustine, George J.; Baik, Ja-Hyun
- Issue Date
- 13-10월-2014
- Publisher
- FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
- Keywords
- optogenetics; medium spiny neurons; dopamine D2 receptors; cocaine; drug addiction
- Citation
- FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, v.8
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
- Volume
- 8
- URI
- https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/97103
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00336
- ISSN
- 1662-5153
- Abstract
- Long-lasting, drug-induced adaptations within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) have been proposed to contribute to drug-mediated addictive behaviors. Here we have used an optogenetic approach to examine the role of NAc medium spiny neurons (MSNs) expressing dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) in cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization. Adeno-associated viral vectors encoding channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) were delivered into the NAc of D2R-Cre transgenic mice. This allowed us to selectively photostimulate D2R-MSNs in NAc. D2R-MSNs form local inhibitory circuits, because photostimulation of D2R-MSN evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in neighboring MSNs. Photostimulation of NAc D2R-MSN in vivo affected neither the initiation nor the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization. However, photostimulation during the drug withdrawal period attenuated expression of cocaine induced behavioral sensitization. These results show that D2R-MSNs of NAc play a key role in withdrawal-induced plasticity and may contribute to relapse after cessation of drug abuse.
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Collections - College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology > Division of Life Sciences > 1. Journal Articles
- Graduate School > Department of Life Sciences > 1. Journal Articles
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