Extinction of Heroin Seeking Does Not Require the Infralimbic Cortex or Its Projections to the Nucleus Accumbens Shell or Amygdala.

ABSTRACT: Evidence indicates that the activity of the infralimbic cortex (IL), as well as its projections to the nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell) and amygdala, following an unreinforced lever press is critical for cocaine extinction learning and retention. It is unclear whether the same neural circuitry is involved in extinction encoding for other classes of addictive drugs, including opioids. In this study, we used a behaviour-controlled optogenetic approach in female and male Sprague-Dawley rats to examine the role of the IL and its projections in the extinction of heroin seeking. Rats first underwent 12+ days of 6- or 3-h heroin self-administration sessions, followed by 12 days of extinction training. Optogenetic inhibition of the IL, IL-NAshell or IL-amygdala pathway was given for 20 s immediat

SUBMITTER: McGregor MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12538630 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature