2019
Cholinergic Receptor Blockade in the VTA Attenuates Cue-Induced Cocaine-Seeking and Reverses the Anxiogenic Effects of Forced Abstinence
Nunes EJ, Bitner L, Hughley SM, Small KM, Walton SN, Rupprecht LE, Addy NA. Cholinergic Receptor Blockade in the VTA Attenuates Cue-Induced Cocaine-Seeking and Reverses the Anxiogenic Effects of Forced Abstinence. Neuroscience 2019, 413: 252-263. PMID: 31271832, PMCID: PMC6661179, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.06.028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCue-induced cocaineAnxiety-related behaviorDrug relapseOpen arm timeCholinergic receptor blockadeCocaine abstinenceVentral tegmental areaSubstance abuseSelf-administer intravenous cocaineMuscarinic receptor antagonist scopolaminePeriod of abstinenceAnxiogenic effectsReceptor blockadeCholinergic mechanismsCocaine-naïve ratsNicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamineMale Sprague-Dawley ratsDrug abstinenceSprague-Dawley ratsDose-dependent increaseCocaine-naive ratsAntagonist scopolamineEPM behaviorSaline ratsAbstinence
2018
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