Synaptic Zn²⁺ potentiates the effects of cocaine on striatal dopamine neurotransmission and behavior.

ABSTRACT: Cocaine binds to the dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) to regulate cocaine reward and seeking behavior. Zinc (Zn²⁺) also binds to the DAT, but the in vivo relevance of this interaction is unknown. We found that Zn²⁺ concentrations in postmortem brain (caudate) tissue from humans who died of cocaine overdose were significantly lower than in control subjects. Moreover, the level of striatal Zn²⁺ content in these subjects negatively correlated with plasma levels of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite indicative of recent use. In mice, repeated cocaine exposure increased synaptic Zn²⁺ concentrations in the caudate putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Cocaine-induced increases in Zn²⁺ were dependent on the Zn²⁺ transporter

SUBMITTER: Gomez JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8575899 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature