QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, November 22, 2006, 26(47):12308-12313; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3206-06.2006

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nogueira, L. Articles by Lavin, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nogueira, L. Articles by Lavin, A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Brief Communications
Long-Term Neuroadaptations Produced by Withdrawal from Repeated Cocaine Treatment: Role of Dopaminergic Receptors in Modulating Cortical Excitability

Lourdes Nogueira, Peter W. Kalivas, and Antonieta Lavin

Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Antonieta Lavin, Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425. Email: lavina{at}musc.edu

Dopamine (DA) modulates neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and is necessary for optimal cognitive function. Dopamine transmission in the PFC is also important for the behavioral adaptations produced by repeated exposure to cocaine. Therefore, we investigated the effects of repeated cocaine treatment followed by withdrawal (2–4 weeks) on the responsivity of cortical cells to electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and to systemic administration of DA D₁ or D₂ receptor antagonists. Cortical cells in cocaine- and saline-treated animals exhibited a similar decrease in excitability after the administration of D₁ receptor antagonists. In contrast, cortical neurons from cocaine-treated rats exhibited a lack of D₂-mediated regulation relative to saline rats. Furthermore, in contrast to saline-treated animals, VTA stimulation did not increase cortical excitability in the cocaine group. These data suggest that withdrawal from repeated cocaine administration elicits some long-term neuroadaptations in the PFC, including (1) reduced D₂-mediated regulation of cortical excitability, (2) reduced responsivity of cortical cells to phasic increases in DA, and (3) a trend toward an overall decrease in excitability of PFC neurons.

Key words: cocaine; prefrontal cortex; electrophysiology; excitability; dopaminergic receptors; in vivo

---

Received April 20, 2006; revised Oct. 12, 2006; accepted Oct. 12, 2006.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Antonieta Lavin, Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425. Email: lavina{at}musc.edu

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help