Dorsomedial prefrontal cortex neurons encode nicotine-cue associations
Roeland F Struik1,2, Nathan J Marchant1, Roel de Haan3
1Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Summary
Optogenetic inhibition of dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) neurons during nicotine cues increases nicotine seeking, suggesting dmPFC involvement in cue-associated reward value.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
Background:
- The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) role in nicotine use is not well understood.
- Investigating the dorsal (dmPFC) and ventral (vmPFC) mPFC's function in nicotine seeking is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the contribution of dmPFC and vmPFC neuronal activity to nicotine-cue-induced seeking and taking.
- To explore how mPFC activity changes during nicotine self-administration and extinction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized optogenetics (Arch3.0, ChR2) to manipulate dmPFC and vmPFC neuronal activity in rats during nicotine cue presentations.
- Trained Wistar rats to self-administer intravenous nicotine.
- Recorded dmPFC neuronal activity using in vivo electrophysiology during self-administration and extinction tests.
Main Results:
- Optogenetic inhibition of dmPFC neurons during nicotine cue presentation increased nicotine seeking.
- Inhibition of vmPFC neurons did not affect nicotine seeking or taking.
- dmPFC neuronal activity was more modulated by nicotine cues during extinction compared to self-administration.
Conclusions:
- Specific dmPFC neurons encode the incentive value of nicotine-associated cues.
- The dmPFC, but not vmPFC, plays a critical role in mediating cue-induced nicotine seeking.
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