The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway.

ABSTRACT: Previous preclinical and clinical investigations have focused on the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) as a potential therapeutic target for substance abuse. While some clinical studies have examined the ability of LTCC blockers to alter cocaine's subjective effects, very few LTCC studies have examined cocaine relapse. Here, we examined whether ventral tegmental area (VTA)-specific or systemic administration of the LTCC inhibitor, isradipine, altered cocaine-seeking behavior in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats first received 10 days of cocaine self-administration training (2 h sessions), where active lever depression resulted in delivery of a ∼0.5 mg/kg cocaine infusion paired with a tone + light cue. Rats then underwent 10 days of forced abstinence, without access to cocaine or cocaine c

SUBMITTER: Addy NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6180103 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature