Median and Dorsal Raphe Serotonergic Neurons Control Moderate Versus Compulsive Cocaine Intake.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reduced expression of the serotonin transporter (SERT) promotes anxiety and cocaine intake in both humans and rats. We tested the hypothesis that median raphe nucleus (MRN) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) serotonergic projections differentially mediate these phenotypes.

Methods

We used virally mediated RNA interference to locally downregulate SERT expression and compared the results with those of constitutive SERT knockout. Rats were allowed either short access (ShA) (1 hour) or long access (LgA) (6 hours) to cocaine self-administration to model moderate versus compulsive-like cocaine taking.

Results

SERT knockdown in the MRN increased cocaine intake selectively under ShA conditions and, like ShA cocaine self-administration, reduced corticotropin-releasing f

SUBMITTER: Verheij MMM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5960600 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature