A functional eEF2K-eEF2 pathway in the NAc is critical for the expression of cocaine-induced psychomotor sensitisation and conditioned place preference.

ABSTRACT: Recent evidence links synaptic plasticity and mRNA translation, via the eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) and its only known substrate, eEF2. However, the involvement of the eEF2 pathway in cocaine-induced neuroadaptations and cocaine-induced behaviours is not known. Knock-in (KI) mice and shRNA were used to globally and specifically reduce eEF2K expression. Cocaine psychomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference were used to evaluate behavioural outcome. Changes in eEF2 phosphorylation were determined by western blot analyses. No effect was observed on the AMPA/NMDA receptor current ratio in the ventral tegmental area, 24 h after cocaine injection in eEF2K-KI mice compared with WT. However, development and expression of cocaine psychomotor sensitization were decreas

SUBMITTER: Beiser T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9626485 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature