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GABA B receptor gene expression is not altered in cocaine‐sensitized rats
Author(s) -
Li Jinyuan,
Olinger Anthony B.,
Dassow Michael S.,
Abel Marc S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.10206
Subject(s) - receptor , gabaa receptor , in situ hybridization , saline , medicine , messenger rna , endocrinology , gene expression , sensitization , gaba receptor , biology , pharmacology , chemistry , gene , neuroscience , biochemistry
Recent behavioral and neurobiological data indicate that GABA B receptor transmission is involved in cocaine‐induced hyperactivity and reinforcement. GABA B receptor gene expression in cocaine‐sensitized rats was examined in this study. Rats were injected with cocaine (15 mg/kg, daily, i.p.) or saline for 5 consecutive days, and challenged with the same dose of cocaine after a 1‐, or 20‐day hiatus. The locomotor activities of rats were recorded after challenge, and the rats were killed 24 hr later. GABA B R1a, 1b, and GABA B R2 mRNA in discrete brain regions was detected by RPA and In Situ Hybridization; GABA B R1a protein was measured by Western blotting. Rats pretreated with cocaine developed a hyperactivity to the cocaine challenge after a 1‐day or 20‐day hiatus, but GABA B R subunit mRNA and GABA B R1a protein densities in the targeted regions showed no significant difference compared to those in control rats. These data indicate that GABA B receptor gene expression is not necessarily relevant to the behavioral sensitization of cocaine. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.