Region-Specific Reductions in Morphometric Properties and Synaptic Colocalization of Astrocytes Following Cocaine Self-Administration and Extinction.

ABSTRACT: While much is known about the effects of cocaine use on the cellular structure and function of neurons and synapses within the brain's reward circuitry, relatively little is known about the effects of cocaine on astrocytes. Given the significant role that astrocytes play in modulating neuronal and synaptic function, this lack of knowledge regarding the role of astroglial adaptations in the neuropathology of drug abuse represents an important investigative need. We recently showed that astrocytes within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core exhibit decreased volume, surface area, and synaptic colocalization following cocaine self-administration and extinction, compared to NAc astrocytes from saline-administering animals (Scofield et al., 2016b). However, it is unknown whether these cocaine-depen

SUBMITTER: Testen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6096402 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature