Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2011 Dec;15(6):389-395. 10.4196/kjpp.2011.15.6.389.

Blockade of ERK Phosphorylation in the Nucleus Accumbens Inhibits the Expression of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization in Rats

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Physiology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Korea. jkim1@yuhs.ac

Abstract

Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as cocaine leads to the development of behavioral sensitization. Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK), an enzyme important for long-term neuronal plasticity, has been implicated in such effects of these drugs. Although the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is the site mediating the expression of behavioral sensitization by drugs of abuse, the precise role of ERK activation in this site has not been determined. In this study we demonstrate that blockade of ERK phosphorylation in the NAcc by a single bilateral microinjections of PD98059 (0.5 or 2.0micro g/side), or U0126 (0.1 or 1.0microg/side), into this site dose-dependently inhibited the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization when measured at day 7 following 6 consecutive daily cocaine injections (15 mg/kg, i.p.). Acute microinjection of either vehicle or PD98059 alone produced no different locomotor activity compared to saline control. Further, microinjection of PD98059 (2.0micro g/side) in the NAcc specifically lowered cocaine-induced increase of ERK phosphorylation levels in this site, while unaffecting p-38 protein levels. These results indicate that ERK activation in the NAcc is necessary for the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization, and further suggest that repeated cocaine evokes neuronal plasticity involving ERK pathway in this site leading to long-lasting behavioral changes.

Keyword

Cocaine; Behavioral sensitization; PD98059; U0126; Nucleus accumbens

MeSH Terms

Animals
Butadienes
Cocaine
Flavonoids
MAP Kinase Signaling System
Microinjections
Motor Activity
Negotiating
Neuronal Plasticity
Nitriles
Nucleus Accumbens
Phosphorylation
Phosphotransferases
Rats
Street Drugs
Butadienes
Cocaine
Flavonoids
Nitriles
Phosphotransferases
Street Drugs

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Blockade of ERK phosphorylation by a single microinjection of PD98059 in the NAcc inhibits the expression of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. (A) Animals were either saline or cocaine pre-exposed for 6 days. At day 7, their locomotor activity was observed after cocaine (15 mg/kg, IP) challenge injections preceded 30 min earlier by an acute single bilateral microinjection of either vehicle or PD98059 (0.5, 2.0µg/side) into the NAcc. Enhanced increase of locomotor activity in cocaine compared to saline pre-exposed animals was dose-dependently inhibited by PD98059 microinjection into the NAcc. Data are shown as group mean (+S.E.M.) total locomotor activity counts observed during the first 1 hour. Numbers of rats in each group are 6~7. Symbols indicate significant differences as revealed by post-hoc Scheffé comparisons following two-way between (microinjections) - within (pre-exposures) ANOVA. ***p<0.001, **p<0.01; significantly more counts in cocaine relative to saline pre-exposed animals. ††p<0.01; significant differences in cocaine pre-exposed animals when PD98059 (2.0µg/side) compared to vehicle was microinjected. (B) Time-course data are shown as group mean (+S.E.M.) locomotion activity counts for every 20 min time-bins obtained during the 2-hr test immediately after cocaine challenge injection. (C) Location of the microinjection cannula tips in the NAcc of rats included in the data analyses. Only rats with injection cannula tips located bilaterally in this site were included. No neuronal damage was observed other than that produced by the insertion of the cannulae. The line drawings are from Paxinos and Watson [15]. Numbers to the right indicate millimeters from bregma.

  • Fig. 2 Acute microinjection of vehicle or PD98059 alone into the NAcc produces no different levels of locomotor activity compared to saline control. Locomotor activity is observed after saline (IP) injections following bilateral microinjections of either saline or vehicle (70% DMSO), PD98059 (0.5, 2.0µg/side) into the NAcc. Data are shown as group mean (+S.E.M.) total locomotor activity counts observed for 1 hour (n=5/group).

  • Fig. 3 PD98059 in the NAcc lowers cocaine-induced increase of ERK phosphorylation levels in this site. Animals were either saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg) IP challenged following 30 min earlier microinjection of either vehicle or a single dose of PD98059 (2.0 µg/side). After 10 min, brains were removed and the NAcc tissues were punched out. Representative Western blots labeled with antibodies against phosphorylated and total ERK1/2 (A), and p-38 (B), were shown. Blots were scanned and the band intensities were quantified using densitometer. Values are normalized to β-actin and expressed as mean (+S.E.M.) (n=7 to 8/group) transformed to relative amounts of control (vehicle microinjection - saline IP) values. Symbols indicate significant differences as revealed by post-hoc Scheffé comparisons following two-way between (IP challenges) - within (microinjections) ANOVA. **p<0.01; significantly higher levels of p-ERK1/2 in cocaine relative to saline challenged animals. ††p<0.01; significant differences in cocaine challenged animals when PD98059 (2.0µg/side) compared to vehicle was microinjected. Other proteins examined showed no differences between groups.

  • Fig. 4 Blockade of ERK phosphorylation by a single microinjection of U0126 in the NAcc inhibits the expression of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. Animals were either saline or cocaine pre-exposed for 6 days. At day 7, their locomotor activity was observed after cocaine (15 mg/kg, IP) challenge injections preceded 30 min earlier by acute bilateral microinjections of either vehicle or U0126 (0.1, 1.0µg/side) into the NAcc. Enhanced increase of locomotor activity in cocaine compared to saline pre-exposed animals was dose-dependently inhibited by a single U0126 microinjection into the NAcc. Data are shown as group mean (+S.E.M.) total locomotor activity counts observed during the 1 hour. Numbers of rats in each group are 4~6. Symbols indicate significant differences as revealed by post-hoc Scheffé comparisons following two-way between (microinjections) - within (pre-exposures) ANOVA. **p<0.01; significantly more counts in cocaine relative to saline pre-exposed animals. †p<0.05; significant differences in cocaine pre-exposed animals when U0126 (1.0µg/side) compared to vehicle was microinjected.


Cited by  1 articles

Predominant D1 Receptors Involvement in the Over-expression of CART Peptides after Repeated Cocaine Administration
Zhenzhen Hu, Eun-Hye Oh, Yeon Bok Chung, Jin Tae Hong, Ki-Wan Oh
Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2015;19(2):89-97.    doi: 10.4196/kjpp.2015.19.2.89.


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