ERK2 Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens Facilitates Stress Susceptibility and Cocaine Reinstatement.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Second-messenger signaling within the mesolimbic reward circuit plays a key role in the negative effects of stress and the underlying mechanisms that promote drug abuse. Because the nucleus accumbens (NAc) integrates reward valence, we investigated how ERK2 (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-2) signaling affects the development of stress-related comorbidities, including negative affect and drug sensitivity.

Methods

We assessed how chronic unpredictable stress influenced the phosphorylation of ERK2-signaling proteins within the NAc of male Sprague Dawley rats. Using a herpes simplex virus, we either upregulated or downregulated NAc ERK2 activation and evaluated behavioral responses to stress-eliciting stimuli (elevated plus maze, open field, forced swim

SUBMITTER: Parise LF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11786747 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature