The role of histone acetylation in the basolateral amygdala in morphine-associated memory in rats

Abstract

To examine the regulatory effect of histone acetylation on memory related molecules, 34 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control and basolateral amygdala (BLA) intracranial positioning operation groups. In the process of conditioned place preference (CPP) training, Trichostafin A (TSA) was administrated by the route of BLA and morphine was injected into enterocoelia with dimethyl sulfoxide or saline as control. Expression levels of H3K14 acetylation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in BLA were evaluated by Western blotting.The results showed that CPP could be established by intraperitoneal injection of morphine. Compared with control groups, a stronger place preference was established and expression of H3K14 acetylation and BDNF was significantly increased in the group treated with TSA and morphine. In addition, there was a synergistic effect between morphine and TSA. Our results suggested that the level of histone acetylation in BLA is associated with the formation of morphine memory in rats. Inhibition of the activity of histone deacetylases in BLA can promote the formation of cue-associated memory induced by morphine and the involvement of BDNF in BLA maybe was regulated by histone acetylation.