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Psychostimulant sensitization: differential changes in accumbal shell and core dopamine
C Cadoni1, M Solinas, G Di Chiara
1Department of Toxicology and CNR Center for Neuropharmacology, University of Cagliari, Viale Diaz 182-09126, Cagliari, Italy.
European Journal of Pharmacology
|February 5, 2000
Summary
Behavioral sensitization to amphetamine and cocaine alters dopamine transmission differently in the nucleus accumbens core and shell. These findings suggest reciprocal changes in dopamine responses contribute to sensitization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- The nucleus accumbens, a key brain region in reward processing, is divided into shell and core compartments.
- Previous research indicated morphine-induced behavioral sensitization alters dopamine transmission differentially between these compartments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of amphetamine and cocaine sensitization on dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell and core.
- To determine if sensitization to psychostimulants results in reciprocal changes in dopamine signaling within these nucleus accumbens subregions.
Main Methods:
- Rats were sensitized to amphetamine or cocaine through repeated administration.
- Microdialysis was employed to measure dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens core and shell following acute drug challenges.
- Behavioral sensitization was confirmed in response to challenge doses of amphetamine and cocaine.
Main Results:
- Amphetamine sensitization increased dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens core but not the shell.
- Cocaine sensitization enhanced dopamine transmission in the core only at a lower challenge dose.
- In the shell, cocaine sensitization showed no change at the lower dose and a reduction at the higher dose.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral sensitization to amphetamine and cocaine induces distinct alterations in dopamine transmission within the nucleus accumbens core and shell.
- These region-specific changes in dopamine signaling suggest a complex interplay between the nucleus accumbens compartments in the development of psychostimulant sensitization.