Blockade of the 5-HT transporter contributes to the behavioural, neuronal and molecular effects of cocaine.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The psychostimulant cocaine induces complex molecular, cellular and behavioural responses as a consequence of inhibiting presynaptic dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-HT transporters. To elucidate 5-HT transporter (SERT)-specific contributions to cocaine action, we evaluated cocaine effects in the SERT Met172 knock-in mouse, which expresses a SERT coding substitution that eliminates high-affinity cocaine recognition.

Experimental approach

We measured the effects of SERT Met172 on cocaine antagonism of 5-HT re-uptake using ex vivo synaptosome preparations and in vivo microdialysis. We assessed SERT dependence of cocaine actions behaviourally through acute and chronic locomotor activation, sensitization, conditioned place preference (CPP) and oral cocaine co

SUBMITTER: Simmler LD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5522997 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature