Oxytocin treatment in the prelimbic cortex reduces relapse to methamphetamine-seeking and is associated with reduced activity in the rostral nucleus accumbens core.

摘要: Abstract Addiction to the psychostimulant Methamphetamine (METH) is characterised by high rates of relapse. Currently there are no approved effective pharmacotherapies for METH dependence. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXY) potently reduces METH-seeking behaviours in rodent models relapse and now being used clinical trials treat drug-dependent individuals. However, OXY administration humans may be impeded its poor penetration brain. Therefore, identification neural mechanisms which guide development improved OXY-based therapies addiction. Systemic associated with attenuated METH-induced activity prelimbic cortex (PrL); a key brain region exerts control over much reward addiction circuitry. it not known whether acts directly PrL cause reductions drug-seeking downstream activity. present study sought determine infused into cue-induced METH-primed reinstatement neuronal nucleus accumbens core (NAcc). Male Sprague Dawley rats underwent intravenous self-administration, extinction, subsequent tests. was bilaterally prior (0, 1 μg/side) 0.33, 1.0, 3.0 μg/side). Finally, we quantified cFos immunofluorescence NAcc as proxy following infusion reinstatement. significantly reduced both Additionally, intra-PrL expression rostral but caudal pole NAcc. These findings demonstrate action reducing circuit. Furthermore, these results suggest that therapeutic effects systemically administered on involve PrL-NAc pathway.