Source Paper
Reduction of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis Confers Vulnerability in an Animal Model of Cocaine Addiction
Michele A. Noonan, Sarah E. Bulin, Dwain C. Fuller, Amelia J. Eisch
Journal of Neuroscience • 2010
Extinction of Drug-Seeking Behavior
Objective: To test the hypothesis that suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis enhances vulnerability to addiction and resistance to extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior in rats
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Cranial irradiation treatment
Suppress adult hippocampal neurogenesis via cranial irradiation before drug-taking phase
Note: Applied before cocaine self-administration begins
View evidence from paper
“Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis via cranial irradiation before drug-taking significantly increased cocaine self-administration”
Cocaine self-administration on fixed-ratio schedule
Rats perform intravenous cocaine self-administration on fixed-ratio schedule
Note: Measures cocaine self-administration behavior
View evidence from paper
“Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis via cranial irradiation before drug-taking significantly increased cocaine self-administration on both fixed-ratio and progressive-ratio schedules”
Cocaine self-administration on progressive-ratio schedule
Rats perform intravenous cocaine self-administration on progressive-ratio schedule
Note: Measures motivation for cocaine
View evidence from paper
“Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis via cranial irradiation before drug-taking significantly increased cocaine self-administration on both fixed-ratio and progressive-ratio schedules”
Dose-response curve assessment
Assess dose-response relationship for cocaine self-administration
Note: Induced a vertical shift in the dose-response curve in irradiated rats
View evidence from paper
“as well as induced a vertical shift in the dose–response curve”
Sucrose self-administration control
Assess sucrose self-administration as control for general learning and motivation
Note: Unchanged in irradiated rats, indicating specific effect on cocaine-seeking
View evidence from paper
“This was not a general enhancement of learning, motivation, or locomotion, because sucrose self-administration and locomotor activity were unchanged in irradiated rats”
Locomotor activity assessment
Measure locomotor activity as control for general activity changes
Note: Unchanged in irradiated rats
View evidence from paper
“This was not a general enhancement of learning, motivation, or locomotion, because sucrose self-administration and locomotor activity were unchanged in irradiated rats”
Post-drug-taking cranial irradiation
Apply cranial irradiation after drug-taking phase to suppress hippocampal neurogenesis
Note: Applied after cocaine self-administration training
View evidence from paper
“Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis after drug-taking significantly enhanced resistance to extinction of drug-seeking behavior”
Extinction testing
Test resistance to extinction of drug-seeking behavior following post-drug-taking irradiation
Note: Measures persistence of drug-seeking behavior when cocaine is no longer available
View evidence from paper
“Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis after drug-taking significantly enhanced resistance to extinction of drug-seeking behavior”