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Silent synapses in selectively activated nucleus accumbens neurons following cocaine sensitization
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 13:39 authored by Eisuke KoyaEisuke Koya, Fabio C Cruz, Robert Ator, Sam A Golden, Alexander F Hoffman, Carl R Lupica, Bruce T HopeCocaine-induced alterations in synaptic glutamate function in nucleus accumbens are thought to mediate drug-related behaviors such as psychomotor sensitization. However, previous studies have examined global alterations in randomly selected accumbens neurons regardless of their activation state during cocaine-induced behavior. We recently found that a minority of strongly activated Fos-expressing accumbens neurons are necessary for cocaine-induced psychomotor sensitization, whereas the majority of accumbens neurons are less directly involved. We assessed synaptic alterations in these strongly activated accumbens neurons in Fos-GFP mice, which express a fusion protein of Fos and GFP in strongly activated neurons, and compared these alterations with those in surrounding non-activated neurons. Cocaine sensitization produced higher levels of 'silent synapses', which contained functional NMDA receptors and nonfunctional AMPA receptors only in GFP-positive neurons, 6–11 d after sensitization. Thus, distinct synaptic alterations are induced in the most strongly activated accumbens neurons that mediate psychomotor sensitization
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Publication status
- Published
Journal
Nature NeuroscienceISSN
1097-6256External DOI
Issue
11Volume
15Page range
1556-1562Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
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- No
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- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-11-14Usage metrics
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