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Cocaine abstinence induces emotional impairment and brain region-specific upregulation of the oxytocin receptor binding.

Georgiou, P; Zanos, P; Hourani, S; Kitchen, I; Bailey, A (2016) Cocaine abstinence induces emotional impairment and brain region-specific upregulation of the oxytocin receptor binding. European Journal of Neuroscience, 44 (7). pp. 2446-2454. ISSN 1460-9568 https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13348
SGUL Authors: Bailey, Alexis

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Abstract

The key problem in treating cocaine addiction is the maintenance of a drug-free state since negative emotional symptoms during abstinence often trigger relapse. The mechanisms underpinning the emotional dysregulation during abstinence are currently not well-understood. There is evidence suggesting a role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in the modulation of drug addiction processes. However, its involvement during long-term abstinence from cocaine use remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to behaviourally characterize a mouse model of long-term cocaine withdrawal and assess the effect of chronic cocaine administration and long-term cocaine abstinence on the central oxytocinergic system and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal-axis. Fourteen-day escalating-dose cocaine administration (3 x 15-30 mg/kg/day) and 14-day withdrawal increased plasma corticosterone levels and oxytocin receptor (OTR) binding in piriform cortex, lateral septum and amygdala. A specific cocaine withdrawal-induced increase in OTR binding was observed in the medial septum. These biochemical alterations occurred concomitantly with the emergence of memory impairment, contextual psychomotor sensitization and an anhedonic and anxiogenic phenotype during withdrawal. Our study established a clear relationship between cocaine abstinence and emotional impairment in a novel translationally-relevant model of cocaine withdrawal and demonstrated for the first time brain region-specific neuroadaptations of the oxytocin system, which may contribute to abstinence-induced negative emotional state. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Georgiou, P., Zanos, P., Hourani, S., Kitchen, I. and Bailey, A. (2016), Cocaine abstinence induces emotional impairment and brain region-specific upregulation of the oxytocin receptor binding. Eur J Neurosci. 44: 2446–2454, which has been published in final form at doi:10.1111/ejn.13348. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Keywords: anhedonia, anxiety, cocaine withdrawal, corticosterone, mice, Neurology & Neurosurgery, 1109 Neurosciences, 1702 Cognitive Science, 1701 Psychology
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Institute of Medical & Biomedical Education (IMBE)
Academic Structure > Institute of Medical & Biomedical Education (IMBE) > Centre for Biomedical Education (INMEBE)
Journal or Publication Title: European Journal of Neuroscience
ISSN: 1460-9568
Language: ENG
Dates:
DateEvent
2 October 2016Published
25 July 2016Published Online
18 July 2016Accepted
Publisher License: Publisher's own licence
Projects:
Project IDFunderFunder ID
RG120556Royal Societyhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000288
LSHM-CT2004-005166European Commissionhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780
PubMed ID: 27453431
Go to PubMed abstract
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/108102
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13348

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