Abstract
Other workers have established that cocaine injections increase the levels of dynorphin peptides in the caudate putamen and substantia nigra of the rat brain. Using a quantitative solution hybridization protection assay for mRNA, we detected a significant increase in the concentration of prodynorphin mRNA in caudate putamen extracts of rats injected with cocaine following a 'binge' administration pattern designed to mimic human cocaine abuse. Increased prodynorphin mRNA was observed at the earliest time-point studied (50 h) and the lowest dose (10 mg/kg/day) of cocaine tested and persisted through the 14 day period studied. No prodynorphin mRNA was detected in the substantia nigra.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Brain / drug effects
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Brain / metabolism*
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Caudate Nucleus / drug effects
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Caudate Nucleus / metabolism*
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Cocaine / administration & dosage
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Cocaine / pharmacology*
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Enkephalins / biosynthesis*
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Humans
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Male
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Organ Specificity
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Protein Precursors / biosynthesis*
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Putamen / drug effects
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Putamen / metabolism*
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RNA / metabolism
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
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Rats
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Rats, Inbred F344
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Substance-Related Disorders / metabolism*
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Time Factors
Substances
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Enkephalins
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Protein Precursors
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RNA, Messenger
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RNA
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preproenkephalin
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Cocaine