Abstract
Cocaine and cocaine-associated cues elicit craving in addicts and reinstate cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. Craving and cocaine-seeking behavior may be mediated by withdrawal-induced changes in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the amygdala. To examine whether there are concomittant changes in cocaine-seeking behavior and extracellular DA levels during withdrawal, experimental rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.75 mg/kg IV). After 14 daily 3-hour training sessions, animals underwent either a 1-day, 1-week, or 1-month withdrawal period. Extracellular DA levels were assessed during baseline, extinction, cue reinstatement, and cocaine (15 mg/kg IP) reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior (i.e., defined as the difference in nonreinforced lever presses on an active minus inactive lever). Cocaine-seeking behavior became more intense during the course of cocaine withdrawal. Additionally, basal and cocaine-induced extracellular DA levels were enhanced after the 1-month withdrawal period. We suggest that the former may reflect a persistent elevation in tonic extracellular DA levels in the amygdala, whereas the latter may reflect a persistent elevation in phasic extracellular DA levels.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 48-59 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Neuropsychopharmacology |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1998 |
Keywords
- Amygdala
- Cocaine withdrawal
- Cocaine-seeking behavior
- Craving
- Dopamine
- Extinction
- Reinstatement
- Self-administration
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health