Repeated exposure to the κ-opioid receptor agonist salvinorin A modulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase and reward sensitivity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse and stress increase dynorphin, a κ opioid receptor (KOR) ligand, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Acute KOR activation produces dysphoria that might contribute to addictive behavior. How repeated KOR activation modulates reward circuitry is not understood.

Methods

We used intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), a method that provides a behavioral index of reward sensitivity, to measure the effects of repeated administration of the KOR agonist salvinorin A (salvA) (2 mg/kg) on the reward-potentiating effects of cocaine (5.0 mg/kg). In separate rats, we measured the effects of salvA on activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein, and c-Fos within th

SUBMITTER: Potter DN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3186866 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature