The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway
Addy NA, Nunes EJ, Hughley SM, Small KM, Baracz SJ, Haight JL, Rajadhyaksha AM. The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018, 43: 2361-2372. PMID: 29773910, PMCID: PMC6180103, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0080-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsL-type calcium channelsCocaine relapseLever depressionVentral tegmental areaCocaine self-administration trainingOriginal training contextLight cue presentationSelf-administration trainingSubjective effectsCocaine-seeking behaviorTegmental areaBehavioral effectsCocaine's subjective effectsL-type calcium channel blockerCue presentationMale Sprague-Dawley ratsTraining contextCocaine cuesNucleus accumbens coreNatural rewardsDA receptor activationCalcium channel blockersSprague-Dawley ratsPhasic dopaminePotential therapeutic target