Increased Number and Activity of a Lateral Subpopulation of Hypothalamic Orexin/Hypocretin Neurons Underlies the Expression of an Addicted State in Rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The orexin (hypocretin) system is important for reward-driven motivation but has not been implicated in the expression of a multiphenotype addicted state.

Methods

Rats were assessed for economic demand for cocaine before and after 14 days of short access, long access, or intermittent access (IntA) to cocaine. Rats were also assessed for a number of other DSM-5-relevant addiction criteria following differential access conditions. Orexin system function was assessed by quantification of numbers and activity of orexin cells, pharmacological blockade of the orexin-1 receptor, and subregion-specific knockdown of orexin cell populations.

Results

IntA produced a cluster of addiction-like behaviors that closely recapitulate key diagnostic criteria for addiction to

SUBMITTER: James MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7528037 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature