Inactivation of NMDAR and CaMKII signaling within the prelimbic cortex blocks incubated cocaine- and sucrose-craving.

ABSTRACT: The incubation of craving is a term coined to characterize the behavioral phenomenon wherein cue-elicited craving strengthens over a period of abstinence. Incubated cocaine-craving is mediated, at least in part, by increased glutamate release within the prelimbic cortex (PL). We hypothesized that this glutamate release stimulates NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) leading to calcium-dependent activation of CaMKII signaling that drives incubated craving. To test this hypothesis, adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer either IV cocaine or sucrose pellets (6h/day x10 days) and tested for cue-elicited cocaine- or sucrose-craving in early versus later (i.e. after incubation) withdrawal. Incubated cocaine-seeking was associated with increased CaMKII activit

SUBMITTER: Sanchez LLH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12338574 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature