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Cocaine regulates MEF2 to control synaptic and behavioral plasticity.

Suprabha Pulipparacharuvil1, William Renthal, Carly F Hale

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9127, USA.

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Cocaine alters brain cell structure and behavior by affecting myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcription factors. Reduced MEF2 activity increases cell spine density, while increased MEF2 activity enhances behavioral sensitization to cocaine.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Repeated cocaine exposure leads to behavioral sensitization and increased dendritic spine density in the nucleus accumbens (NAc).
  • The role of transcription factors in mediating these cocaine-induced neuroplastic changes remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcription factors in cocaine-induced structural plasticity and behavioral sensitization.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which cocaine regulates MEF2 activity in the NAc.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo studies examining the effects of cocaine on MEF2 activity, dendritic spine density, and behavioral responses.
  • Investigating the roles of cAMP, regulator of calmodulin signaling (RCS), and calcineurin in modulating MEF2 activity.

Main Results:

  • Cocaine exposure suppresses striatal MEF2 activity, partly via cAMP, RCS, and calcineurin pathways.
  • Reduced MEF2 activity in the NAc is necessary for cocaine-induced increases in dendritic spine density.
  • Conversely, increased MEF2 activity blocks spine density increases but enhances behavioral sensitization to cocaine.

Conclusions:

  • MEF2 transcription factors are critical regulators of structural synapse plasticity and behavioral responses to cocaine.
  • Modulation of MEF2 activity in the NAc influences both synaptic structure and drug-seeking behavior.
  • Decreased MEF2 activity and increased spine density may represent a compensatory mechanism against long-lasting maladaptive cocaine behaviors.