Abstract
Previous data demonstrate that L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) blockers, which bind to α 1 subunits of VGCC to suppress Ca 2+ entry into cells, inhibit the development of psychological dependence on drugs of abuse, suggesting the upregulation of L-type VGCC in the development of psychological dependence. However, there are few available data on changes of the auxiliary subunit α 2/δ modifying L-type VGCC under such conditions. We therefore investigated here the role of α 2/δ subunits of VGCCs in the brain of mouse after repeated treatment with morphine. The treatment with morphine increased α 2/δ subunit expression in the frontal cortex and the limbic forebrain of mice showing rewarding effect and sensitization to hyperlocomotion by morphine. The morphine-induced behavioral sensitization and place preference were also suppressed by gabapentin, which binds to an exofacial epitope of the α 2/δ auxiliary subunits of VGCCs. These findings indicate that the upregulation of α 2/δ subunit as well as α 1 subunits of VGCC in the frontal cortex and the limbic forebrain plays a critical role in development of morphine-induced rewarding effect and behavioral sensitization following neuronal plasticity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.