Brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling modulates cocaine induction of reward-associated ultrasonic vocalization in rats.

ABSTRACT: Cocaine exhibits high liability for inducing addictive behaviors, but the mechanisms of neuroplasticity underlying the behavioral effects remain unclear. As a crucial mediator of neuroplasticity in diverse functional models, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) could contribute to the mechanisms of addiction-related neuroplasticity. Here, we addressed the hypothesis that cocaine increases synaptic dopamine, which induces BDNF protein expression to initiate addiction-related behavior in the rat. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure BDNF protein expression in rat striatal tissues. For behavioral readout, we used a noninvasive measurement system to measure the emission of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalization (USV), a response that correlates with electrical brain stimulation

SUBMITTER: Williams SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2812116 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature