Inefficacy of N-acetylcysteine in mitigating cue-induced amphetamine-seeking

Glutamatergic imbalances are characteristic of SUDs. Astrocytic and neuronal transporters help regulate glutamate homeostasis and disruptions in this homeostasis engender SUD. The cysteine-glutamate exchanger (xCT) is primarily localized on astrocytes and maintains glutamate concentrations. This process is disrupted by cocaine use, and the therapeutic N-acetylcysteine (NAC) lowers cue-induced relapse to cocaine by restoring xCT function. However, little research has shown how these effects extend to other psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMP). Here, we assessed xCT expression following relapse to AMP cues, and if NAC can attenuate relapse via changes to astrocyte and xCT expression. We administered NAC (100 mg/kg ip) daily during a 14-day abstinence period following AMP (0.1 mg/kg/infusion; 2 h sessions) self-administration. Relapse was tested following one (WD 1) or 14 days (WD 14) of withdrawal. The overall number of astrocytes was also quantified within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (ACb). NAC failed to lower cue-induced AMP craving via cue-induced relapse and reinstatement testing. Cue-induced craving did not increase from WD 1 to WD 14. AMP-exposed rats had greater astrocyte counts in the mPFC and ACb when compared AMP-naïve rats. Repeated injection with NAC decreased xCT expression within the mPFC and ACb. Overall, these results suggest that NAC may be an ineffective treatment option for lowering cue-induced relapse to AMP. Further, the results suggest that stimulating xCT via NAC may not be an effective therapeutic approach for decreasing cue-seeking for AMP.