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
Intravenous Cocaine Self-Administration
Objective: To test the hypothesis that suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis enhances vulnerability to addiction and relapse using rat intravenous cocaine self-administration
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Equipment1
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Protocol Steps
Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis via cranial irradiation
Cranial irradiation performed before drug-taking to suppress adult hippocampal neurogenesis
Note: This intervention was performed prior to cocaine self-administration testing
View evidence from paper
“Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis via cranial irradiation before drug-taking significantly increased cocaine self-administration”
Fixed-ratio schedule cocaine self-administration
Rats perform operant responses on fixed-ratio schedule to self-administer cocaine intravenously
Note: Measures cocaine self-administration behavior on fixed-ratio schedule
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”
Progressive-ratio schedule cocaine self-administration
Rats perform operant responses on progressive-ratio schedule to self-administer cocaine intravenously
Note: Measures motivation for cocaine on progressive-ratio schedule
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
Evaluation of cocaine dose-response relationship following neurogenesis suppression
Note: Induced a vertical shift in the dose-response curve
View evidence from paper
“induced a vertical shift in the dose–response curve”
Sucrose self-administration control
Rats perform operant responses to self-administer sucrose as a control for general learning and motivation
Note: Sucrose self-administration was unchanged in irradiated rats, indicating no general enhancement of learning or motivation
View evidence from paper
“sucrose self-administration and locomotor activity were unchanged in irradiated rats”
Locomotor activity assessment
Measurement of locomotor activity as a control for general behavioral changes
Note: Locomotor activity was unchanged in irradiated rats
View evidence from paper
“sucrose self-administration and locomotor activity were unchanged in irradiated rats”
Extinction of drug-seeking behavior
Assessment of resistance to extinction of drug-seeking behavior when neurogenesis suppression occurred after drug-taking
Note: Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis after drug-taking significantly enhanced resistance to extinction
View evidence from paper
“Suppression of adult hippocampal neurogenesis after drug-taking significantly enhanced resistance to extinction of drug-seeking behavior”