Skip to main content
Log in

Basolateral amygdala inactivation abolishes conditioned stimulus- and heroin-induced reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior in rats

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rationale: Drug-paired stimuli elicit drug craving and relapse in addicts and drug-seeking behavior in rats. The functional integrity of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is necessary for reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior elicited by cocaine-conditioned stimuli, but not by cocaine itself. It is unclear, however, whether the BLA plays a similar role in reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior. Objectives: To this end, we examined the effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-induced inactivation of the BLA on conditioned and heroin-primed reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior. Methods: Rats were trained to press a lever for IV infusions of heroin (maintenance dose of 25 µg/infusion) paired with presentations of a light-tone stimulus complex during daily 3-h sessions. Responding was then allowed to extinguish prior to reinstatement testing. Reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior (i.e. lever pressing in the absence of heroin reinforcement) was measured in the presence of response-contingent presentation of the heroin-paired stimulus complex alone and then following TTX (5 ng/0.5 µl per side) or vehicle infused into the BLA. In a separate group of rats, reinstatement was measured after saline injection (SC) and then following heroin priming (0.25 mg/kg, SC) with TTX or vehicle infused into the BLA. Results: Both response contingent presentation of the stimulus complex and heroin priming significantly reinstated extinguished heroin-seeking behavior, and BLA inactivation abolished the ability of the heroin-paired stimuli and of heroin priming to reinstate responding. Conclusions: These findings suggests that the BLA is a critical component of the neural circuitry that mediates conditioned and heroin-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior. Furthermore, different neural substrates may mediate drug-primed relapse to cocaine versus heroin-seeking behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Electronic Publication

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fuchs, R.A., See, R.E. Basolateral amygdala inactivation abolishes conditioned stimulus- and heroin-induced reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior in rats. Psychopharmacology 160, 425–433 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-001-0997-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-001-0997-7

Navigation