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Published on: November 6, 2018
Neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin expressed in medial prefrontal cortex neurons is not necessary for extinction
Ashley M Blouin1, Anna L Stern, Sungho Han
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. ablouin1@jhmi.edu
Abstract:
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a key role in extinction learning. Previously, we found that expression of a neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin (Narp) dominant-negative construct in the mPFC of mice blocked extinction of morphine-conditioned place preference. To further investigate the role of mPFC Narp in the extinction of drug seeking, we tested whether mPFC Narp is necessary for the extinction of heroin self-administration in rats. Specifically, we injected an adeno-associated viral vector expressing a dominant-negative form of Narp (NarpN) into the infralimbic region of the mPFC of rats and compared lever presses during extinction to those of rats injected with a control virus. In contrast to our previous study, we found that injection of NarpN did not affect extinction of heroin self-administration. Our findings suggest that mPFC Narp is necessary for extinction of opiate seeking in the Pavlovian-conditioned place preference paradigm but not in the operant paradigm of drug self-administration.
Insights
Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin (Narp) is crucial for opiate seeking extinction in some learning paradigms. However, mPFC Narp is not essential for extinguishing heroin self-administration behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is implicated in extinction learning.
- Previous research indicated a role for neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin (Narp) in the mPFC for morphine-conditioned place preference extinction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the necessity of mPFC Narp in the extinction of heroin self-administration.
- To determine if mPFC Narp's role in extinction is paradigm-specific.
Main Methods:
- Rats received viral vector injections of a dominant-negative Narp (NarpN) or control virus into the infralimbic mPFC.
- Lever pressing behavior during heroin self-administration extinction was compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Inhibition of mPFC Narp did not alter the extinction of heroin self-administration.
- This contrasts with previous findings on morphine-conditioned place preference extinction.
Conclusions:
- mPFC Narp is essential for extinction in Pavlovian-conditioned place preference paradigms.
- mPFC Narp is not required for extinction in operant drug self-administration paradigms.
- The role of mPFC Narp in extinction learning appears to be dependent on the specific behavioral task.
