Biomaterial Database

Effects of excitotoxic lesions of the basolateral amygdala on cocaine-seeking behavior and cocaine conditioned place preference in rats. 2002

Rita A Fuchs, and Suzanne M Weber, and Heather J Rice, and Janet L Neisewander

Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA.

Incentive motivation for cocaine, elicited by cocaine-associated stimuli, is thought to be involved in craving and relapse. To examine the role of the basolateral amygdala complex (BLC) in this phenomenon, we assessed the effects of post-training BLC lesions on extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior and cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP) and the effects of pre-training BLC lesions on acquisition of cocaine-CPP. In Experiment 1, rats were first trained to self-administer cocaine and then received bilateral infusions of the excitotoxin, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA, 0.12 M; 0.3 microl/side), or vehicle into the BLC. They were then tested repeatedly for extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior (i.e. nonreinforced responses in the presence of cocaine-paired stimuli). Subsequently, they were trained and tested for acquisition of cocaine-CPP (i.e. increased time spent in a previously cocaine-paired, relative to a saline-paired, environment). Locomotion and compartment entries were also measured. In Experiment 2, rats were first trained and tested for cocaine-CPP, and then received NMDA or vehicle infusions into the BLC. Subsequently, they were tested repeatedly for extinction of cocaine-CPP. Post-training BLC lesions retarded extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior and cocaine-CPP, whereas pre-training lesions disrupted acquisition of cocaine-CPP. These effects did not appear to be related to changes in general activity. We suggest that pre-training BLC lesions disrupted acquisition of cocaine-CPP by impairing assignment of incentive value to cocaine-paired stimuli, whereas post-training BLC lesions disrupted extinction of cocaine-conditioned behaviors by impairing the assessment of the current incentive value of cocaine-paired stimuli.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D009498	Neurotoxins	Toxic substances from microorganisms, plants or animals that interfere with the functions of the nervous system. Most venoms contain neurotoxic substances. Myotoxins are included in this concept.	Alpha-Neurotoxin,Excitatory Neurotoxin,Excitotoxins,Myotoxin,Myotoxins,Neurotoxin,Alpha-Neurotoxins,Excitatory Neurotoxins,Excitotoxin,Alpha Neurotoxin,Alpha Neurotoxins,Neurotoxin, Excitatory,Neurotoxins, Excitatory
D003042	Cocaine	An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake.	Cocaine HCl,Cocaine Hydrochloride,HCl, Cocaine,Hydrochloride, Cocaine
D003213	Conditioning, Psychological	Simple form of learning involving the formation, strengthening, or weakening of an association between a stimulus and a response.	Conditioning, Psychology,Psychological Conditioning,Social Learning Theory,Social Learning Theories,Theory, Social Learning
D003714	Denervation	The resection or removal of the nerve to an organ or part.	Laser Neurectomy,Neurectomy,Peripheral Neurectomy,Radiofrequency Neurotomy,Denervations,Laser Neurectomies,Neurectomies,Neurectomies, Laser,Neurectomies, Peripheral,Neurectomy, Laser,Neurectomy, Peripheral,Neurotomies, Radiofrequency,Neurotomy, Radiofrequency,Peripheral Neurectomies,Radiofrequency Neurotomies
D004193	Discrimination Learning	Learning that is manifested in the ability to respond differentially to various stimuli.	Discriminative Learning,Discrimination Learnings,Discriminative Learnings,Learning, Discrimination,Learning, Discriminative
D005106	Exploratory Behavior	The tendency to explore or investigate a novel environment. It is considered a motivation not clearly distinguishable from curiosity.	Curiosity,Novelty-Seeking Behavior,Behavior, Exploratory,Behavior, Novelty-Seeking,Behaviors, Exploratory,Behaviors, Novelty-Seeking,Curiosities,Exploratory Behaviors,Novelty Seeking Behavior,Novelty-Seeking Behaviors
D005108	Extinction, Psychological	The procedure of presenting the conditioned stimulus without REINFORCEMENT to an organism previously conditioned. It refers also to the diminution of a conditioned response resulting from this procedure.	Psychological Extinction,Extinction (Psychology),Extinctions (Psychology),Extinctions, Psychological,Psychological Extinctions
D000679	Amygdala	Almond-shaped group of basal nuclei anterior to the INFERIOR HORN OF THE LATERAL VENTRICLE of the TEMPORAL LOBE. The amygdala is part of the limbic system.	Amygdaloid Body,Amygdaloid Nuclear Complex,Amygdaloid Nucleus,Archistriatum,Corpus Amygdaloideum,Intercalated Amygdaloid Nuclei,Massa Intercalata,Nucleus Amygdalae,Amygdalae, Nucleus,Amygdaloid Bodies,Amygdaloid Nuclear Complices,Amygdaloid Nuclei, Intercalated,Amygdaloid Nucleus, Intercalated,Amygdaloideum, Corpus,Amygdaloideums, Corpus,Archistriatums,Complex, Amygdaloid Nuclear,Complices, Amygdaloid Nuclear,Corpus Amygdaloideums,Intercalata, Massa,Intercalatas, Massa,Intercalated Amygdaloid Nucleus,Massa Intercalatas,Nuclear Complex, Amygdaloid,Nuclear Complices, Amygdaloid,Nuclei, Intercalated Amygdaloid,Nucleus, Amygdaloid,Nucleus, Intercalated Amygdaloid