Optogenetic inhibition of cocaine seeking in rats

Addict Biol. 2013 Jan;18(1):50-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2012.00479.x. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

Abstract

Inhibitory optogenetics was used to examine the roles of the prelimbic cortex (PL), the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) and the PL projections to the NAcore in the reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Rats were microinjected into the PL or NAcore with an adeno-associated virus containing halorhodopsin or archaerhodopsin. After 12 days of cocaine self-administration, followed by extinction training, animals underwent reinstatement testing along with the presence/absence of optically induced inhibition via laser light. Bilateral optical inhibition of the PL, NAcore or the PL fibers in the NAcore inhibited the reinstatement of cocaine seeking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Archaeal Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Cocaine / administration & dosage*
  • Dependovirus
  • Drug-Seeking Behavior / physiology*
  • Extinction, Psychological
  • Halorhodopsins / administration & dosage
  • Microinjections
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology*
  • Nucleus Accumbens / physiopathology*
  • Optogenetics / methods*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Proton Pumps / administration & dosage
  • Rats
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Self Administration

Substances

  • Archaeal Proteins
  • Halorhodopsins
  • Proton Pumps
  • archaerhodopsin protein, Archaea
  • Cocaine