WWW.JNEUROSCI.ORG
-
The Journal of Neuroscience
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
-


HOME
  |  
SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (135)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Beitner-Johnson, D.
Right arrow Articles by Nestler, E. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Beitner-Johnson, D.
Right arrow Articles by Nestler, E. J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 12, 2165-2176, Copyright © 1992 by Society for Neuroscience


ARTICLE

Neurofilament proteins and the mesolimbic dopamine system: common regulation by chronic morphine and chronic cocaine in the rat ventral tegmental area

D Beitner-Johnson, X Guitart and EJ Nestler
Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven 06508.

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its dopaminergic projections appear to mediate some of the rewarding properties of opiates, cocaine, and other drugs of abuse. In a previous study, we demonstrated that chronic morphine and cocaine exert common actions on tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis, in this dopaminergic brain reward region (Beitner-Johnson and Nestler, 1991). In the present study, we investigated the effects of chronic morphine and cocaine on other phosphoproteins in the VTA by back phosphorylation and two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis. It was found that a number of phosphoproteins, in addition to tyrosine hydroxylase, were regulated similarly by the two drug treatments in this brain region. Several of these morphine- and cocaine-regulated phosphoproteins were identified as neurofilament (NF) proteins. Chronic, but not acute, administration of either morphine or cocaine was found to decrease levels of the three NF proteins, NF-200 (NF-H), NF-160 (NF-M), and NF-68 (NF-L), by between 15% and 50% in the VTA by back phosphorylation, immunolabeling, and Coomassie blue staining. Such regulation of NF proteins was selective, in that no detectable changes were observed in the levels of eight other major cytoskeletal or cytoskeletal-associated proteins analyzed. Furthermore, NF levels were not altered by chronic treatment with either imipramine or haloperidol, two psychotropic drugs without reinforcing properties, or by chronic stress. Morphine and cocaine regulation of NFs showed regional specificity, as NF levels were not altered in the substantia nigra, or other parts of the brain or spinal cord, by these drug treatments. NFs are thought to function as determinants of neuronal morphology and to be associated with axonal transport. Thus, decreased NF levels in the VTA in response to chronic morphine and chronic cocaine could lead to drug-induced alterations in the structural and functional properties of this brain region, which may represent, in turn, part of a common biochemical basis of morphine and cocaine addiction and craving.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Exp. Biol.Home page
L. J. M. Kily, Y. C. M. Cowe, O. Hussain, S. Patel, S. McElwaine, F. E. Cotter, and C. H. Brennan
Gene expression changes in a zebrafish model of drug dependency suggest conservation of neuro-adaptation pathways
J. Exp. Biol., May 15, 2008; 211(10): 1623 - 1634.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
D. Martinez, R. Narendran, R. W. Foltin, M. Slifstein, D.-R. Hwang, A. Broft, Y. Huang, T. B. Cooper, M. W. Fischman, H. D. Kleber, et al.
Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release: Markedly Blunted in Cocaine Dependence and Predictive of the Choice to Self-Administer Cocaine
Am J Psychiatry, April 1, 2007; 164(4): 622 - 629.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cereb CortexHome page
I Ballesteros-Yanez, E Ambrosio, R Benavides-Piccione, J Perez, I Torres, M Miguens, C Garcia-Lecumberri, and J DeFelipe
The Effects of Morphine Self-Administration on Cortical Pyramidal Cell Structure in Addiction-Prone Lewis Rats
Cereb Cortex, January 1, 2007; 17(1): 238 - 249.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. H. Ahmed, R. Lutjens, L. D. van der Stap, D. Lekic, V. Romano-Spica, M. Morales, G. F. Koob, V. Repunte-Canonigo, and P. P. Sanna
Gene expression evidence for remodeling of lateral hypothalamic circuitry in cocaine addiction
PNAS, August 9, 2005; 102(32): 11533 - 11538.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
C. A. Bolanos, L. I. Perrotti, S. Edwards, A. J. Eisch, M. Barrot, V. G. Olson, D. S. Russell, R. L. Neve, and E. J. Nestler
Phospholipase C{gamma} in Distinct Regions of the Ventral Tegmental Area Differentially Modulates Mood-Related Behaviors
J. Neurosci., August 20, 2003; 23(20): 7569 - 7576.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Physiol. Rev.Home page
J. T. Williams, M. J. Christie, and O. Manzoni
Cellular and Synaptic Adaptations Mediating Opioid Dependence
Physiol Rev, January 1, 2001; 81(1): 299 - 343.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
F. Noble, M. Szücs, B. Kieffer, and B. P. Roques
Overexpression of Dynamin Is Induced by Chronic Stimulation of {micro}- but Not delta -Opioid Receptors: Relationships with {micro}-Related Morphine Dependence
Mol. Pharmacol., July 1, 2000; 58(1): 159 - 166.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
B. K. Tolliver, L. B. Ho, L. M. Fox, and S. P. Berger
Necessary Role for Ventral Tegmental Area Adenylate Cyclase and Protein Kinase A in Induction of Behavioral Sensitization to Intraventral Tegmental Area Amphetamine
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., April 1, 1999; 289(1): 38 - 47.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
M. Takahashi, R. Terwilliger, C. Lane, P. S. Mezes, M. Conti, and R. S. Duman
Chronic Antidepressant Administration Increases the Expression of cAMP-Specific Phosphodiesterase 4A and 4B Isoforms
J. Neurosci., January 15, 1999; 19(2): 610 - 618.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
V. A. Boundy, S. J. Gold, C. J. Messer, J. Chen, J. H. Son, T. H. Joh, and E. J. Nestler
Regulation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Promoter Activity by Chronic Morphine in TH9.0-LacZ Transgenic Mice
J. Neurosci., December 1, 1998; 18(23): 9989 - 9995.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
F. Noble and B. M. Cox
The Role of Dopaminergic Systems in Opioid Receptor Desensitization in Nucleus Accumbens and Caudate Putamen of Rat After Chronic Morphine Treatment
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., November 1, 1997; 283(2): 557 - 565.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
M. T. Berhow, N. Hiroi, and E. J. Nestler
Regulation of ERK (Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase), Part of the Neurotrophin Signal Transduction Cascade, in the Rat Mesolimbic Dopamine System by Chronic Exposure to Morphine or Cocaine
J. Neurosci., August 1, 1996; 16(15): 4707 - 4715.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeuroscientistHome page
E. J. Nestler
Review : Molecular Basis of Addictive States
Neuroscientist, July 1, 1995; 1(4): 212 - 220.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
C. Flores, A.-N. Samaha, and J. Stewart
Requirement of Endogenous Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor for Sensitization to Amphetamine
J. Neurosci., January 15, 2000; 20(2): RC55 - RC55.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



-
-

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help

-
Copyright 2009 by Society for Neuroscience ONLINE ISSN: 1529-2401
-