ARC and BDNF expression after cocaine self ‐administration or cue‐induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking in adolescent and adult male rats

Recreational drug use peaks during adolescence, but rats taking cocaine as adolescents have lower levels of cue ‐induced reinstatement of drug‐seeking than adults, possibly explained by greater brain plasticity. Activity‐regulated cytoskeletal‐associated gene (Arc) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) mRNA expression in prelimbic cortex was generally higher in rats that initiated intravenous cocaine self‐administration as adolescents, compared with adults, as measured with in situ hybridization at three time points: after cocaine self‐administration and after 1‐ or 60‐day forced abstinence from cocaine. AbstractRecreational drug use peaks during adolescence. Our research with adolescent vs adult male rats, however, shows that rats taking cocaine as adolescents have lower levels of cue ‐induced reinstatement of drug‐seeking than adults, despite similar levels of intravenous (i.v.) cocaine self‐administration. Lower rates of reinstatement in younger rats could be explained by higher levels of brain plasticity. Two neuroplasticity‐related genes, activity‐regulated cytoskel etal‐associated gene (Arc) and brain ‐derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), influence cocaine self ‐administration and cue‐induced reinstatement. We tested whether reinstatement of cocaine seeking correlates with expression of these genes in reinforcement‐related brain regions. Adolescent and adult male rats (postnatal day 35 or 83‐95 at start) were allowed to acqu...
Source: Addiction Biology - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: SPECIAL ISSUE Source Type: research