Effects of Methamphetamine Self-Administration and Extinction on Astrocyte Structure and Function in the Nucleus Accumbens Core.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes provide support for neurons, regulate metabolic processes, and influence neuronal communication in a variety of ways, including through the homeostatic regulation of glutamate. Following 2-h cocaine or methamphetamine self-administration (SA) and extinction, rodents display decreased levels of basal glutamate in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore), which transitions to elevated glutamate levels during drug seeking. We hypothesized that, like cocaine, this glutamate 'overflow' during methamphetamine seeking arises via decreased expression of the astroglial glutamate transporter GLT-1, and withdrawal of perisynaptic astroglial processes (PAPs) from synapses. As expected, methamphetamine self-administration and extinction decreased the level of contact made by PAPs in the NAcore, y

SUBMITTER: Siemsen BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6545487 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature