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Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Published on: February 18, 2016
Life events-induced decrease of corticosteroid type I receptors is associated with reduced corticosterone feedback
S Maccari1, P V Piazza, J M Deminière
1Laboratoire de Psychobiologie des Comportements Adaptatifs, INSERM U259, Bordeaux, France.
Brain Research
|April 26, 1991
Summary
Social stress increases vulnerability to amphetamine self-administration by reducing hippocampal corticosteroid receptors. This suggests a link between receptor changes and impaired stress response, impacting adaptive behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Social stress is known to alter behavior and neuroendocrine function.
- The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a crucial role in the stress response.
- Corticosteroid receptors in the hippocampus are involved in regulating the HPA axis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if social stress affects hippocampal corticosteroid receptor numbers.
- To determine the association between these receptor changes and vulnerability to amphetamine self-administration.
- To explore the role of the HPA axis in adaptive behavior modulation.
Main Methods:
- Rats were housed in either stable or unstable social conditions for 4 weeks.
- Hippocampal corticosteroid receptor levels were quantified.
- Plasma corticosterone levels after novelty exposure were measured.
- Vulnerability to acquire amphetamine self-administration was assessed.
Main Results:
- Animals in stable social conditions exhibited fewer hippocampal type I corticosteroid receptors.
- These animals showed a prolonged increase in plasma corticosterone after novelty exposure.
- Rats in stable conditions demonstrated higher vulnerability to amphetamine self-administration.
Conclusions:
- A decrease in hippocampal type I corticosteroid receptors may underlie impaired corticosterone feedback control in vulnerable animals.
- These findings highlight the HPA axis's role in modulating adaptive behaviors.
- Targeting corticosteroid receptors could offer new therapeutic strategies for behavioral disturbances.
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