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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
07:51
A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
Insulin modulates cocaine-sensitive monoamine transporter function and impulsive behavior
Anton N M Schoffelmeer1, Benjamin Drukarch, Taco J De Vries
1Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. anm.schoffelmeer@vumc.nl
Summary
Insulin impacts dopamine transporter function in the brain, affecting impulsivity and potentially offering new targets for treating addictive behaviors by modulating monoamine neurotransmission.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Insulin influences dopamine transporter (DAT) function.
- Tyrosine kinase receptors activated by insulin may modulate drug effects.
- The role of insulin in monoamine transporter regulation and behavior is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of insulin on monoamine release and cocaine efficacy in the rat nucleus accumbens.
- To examine insulin's role in modulating motor impulsivity.
- To explore insulin signaling as a potential therapeutic target for inhibitory control deficits.
Main Methods:
- Electrically evoked monoamine release was measured in rat nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex slices.
- Effects of insulin and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 on monoamine release were assessed.
- Behavioral experiments involved intracranial insulin administration and the five-choice serial reaction time task.
Main Results:
- Insulin reduced dopamine release but potentiated cocaine's effect on release in the nucleus accumbens.
- These effects were abolished by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, indicating insulin receptor involvement.
- Insulin reduced impulsivity and enhanced cocaine's effect on impulsivity in behavioral tasks.
Conclusions:
- Insulin presynaptically regulates cocaine-sensitive monoamine transporter function in the nucleus accumbens.
- Insulin signaling modulates impulsivity, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for addictive behaviors.
- Insulin signaling proteins may be targets for treating deficits in inhibitory control.
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