Association of contextual cues with morphine reward increases neural and synaptic plasticity in the ventral hippocampus of rats

In conclusion, we show that morphine‐induced reward‐related memory is associated with neural and synaptic plasticity changes in the ventral hippocampus. Such neural changes could underlie context‐induced drug relapse. Increased number of Ki67 and DCX positive neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus was found in the morphine‐induced conditioned place preference. Dendritic spine density of the dentate gyrus granule cells and CA1 pyramidal neurons were significantly increased in CPP‐morphine group. BDNF and TrkB mRNA levels in the ventral hippocampus of CPP‐morphine group were increased. Ki67, DCX positive cells, and spine density were significantly correlated with conditioned place preference scores.
Source: Addiction Biology - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research