Source Paper
Cocaine Experience Establishes Control of Midbrain Glutamate and Dopamine by Corticotropin-Releasing Factor: A Role in Stress-Induced Relapse to Drug Seeking
Bin Wang, Yavin Shaham, Dawnya Zitzman, Soraya Azari, Roy A. Wise et al.
Journal of Neuroscience • 2005
Footshock Stress and Cocaine-Seeking Reinstatement
Objective: Assessment of footshock stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in cocaine-experienced versus naive rats, and investigation of the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in stress-induced relapse to drug seeking
Protocol Steps
Cocaine Experience Phase
Rats were given cocaine experience prior to stress testing
Note: One group received cocaine experience; control group remained naive
View evidence from paper
“in cocaine-experienced but not in cocaine-naive rats, this CRF acquires control over local glutamate release”
Footshock Stress Application
Footshock stress was administered to both cocaine-experienced and cocaine-naive rats to assess reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior
Note: Footshock stress triggers relapse to drug seeking in cocaine-experienced animals but not naive animals
View evidence from paper
“Footshock stress can reinstate cocaine-seeking behavior through a central action of the stress-associated neurohormone corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)”
Measurement of CRF Release in VTA
CRF release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was measured in response to footshock stress
Note: Footshock stress releases CRF in the VTA of rat brain
View evidence from paper
“footshock stress releases CRF in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the rat brain”
Assessment of Glutamate Release Control
Evaluation of whether CRF acquires control over local glutamate release in the VTA
Note: This neuroadaptation occurs only in cocaine-experienced rats, not in naive rats
View evidence from paper
“in cocaine-experienced but not in cocaine-naive rats, this CRF acquires control over local glutamate release”
Measurement of Dopamine System Activation
Assessment of mesocorticolimbic dopamine system activation in response to CRF-induced glutamate release
Note: CRF-induced glutamate release activates the dopamine system
View evidence from paper
“CRF-induced glutamate release activates the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system”
Observation of Drug-Seeking Behavior
Monitoring of cocaine-seeking behavior reinstatement in response to footshock stress
Note: Footshock stress triggers relapse to drug seeking through CRF-glutamate-dopamine circuitry
View evidence from paper
“through this circuitry, footshock stress triggers relapse to drug seeking in cocaine-experienced animals”