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Cocaine withdrawal reduces dopamine transporter binding in the shell of the nucleus accumbens
Author(s) -
Pilotte Nancy S.,
Sharpe Lawrence G.,
Rountree Stephen D.,
Kuhar Michael J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2396(199601)22:1<87::aid-syn10>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - nucleus accumbens , olfactory tubercle , dopamine , dopamine transporter , caudate nucleus , ventral tegmental area , neurochemical , putamen , basal ganglia , neuroscience , chemistry , psychology , central nervous system , dopaminergic
We have previously shown that withdrawal from repeated, intermittent infusions ofcocaine in Lewis rats results in a long‐lasting reduction in dopamine transporter levels in thenucleus accumbens. The reduction is dose‐dependent, requires multiple injections as well asabout a 10‐day withdrawal period. In this investigation, we show that the decrease (34%)occurs in the shell rather than in the core of the nucleus accumbens, and that a second cycleof cocaine administration and withdrawal has no additional effect. Also, there were nochanges in transporter binding in the caudate putamen, the olfactory tubercle or the ventraltegmental area. These results indicate that the limbic portions of the nucleus accumbens areinvolved in neurochemical adaptations during withdrawal from cocaine. (This article is a USGovernment work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.) © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.