Neuroadaptations in the cellular and postsynaptic group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 and Homer proteins following extinction of cocaine self-administration

Neurosci Lett. 2009 Mar 13;452(2):167-71. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.12.028. Epub 2008 Dec 24.

Abstract

This study examined the role of group1 metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 and associated postsynaptic scaffolding protein Homer1b/c in behavioral plasticity after three withdrawal treatments from cocaine self-administration. Rats self-administered cocaine or saline for 14 days followed by a withdrawal period during which rats underwent extinction training, remained in their home cages, or were placed in the self-administration chambers in the absence of extinction. Subsequently, the tissue level and distribution of proteins in the synaptosomal fraction associated with the postsynaptic density were examined. Cocaine self-administration followed by home cage exposure reduced the mGluR5 protein in nucleus accumbens (NA) shell and dorsolateral striatum. While extinction training reduced mGluR5 protein in NAshell, NAcore and dorsolateral striatum did not display any change. The scaffolding protein PSD95 increased in NAcore of the extinguished animals. Extinction of drug seeking was associated with a significant decrease in the synaptosomal mGluR5 protein in NAshell and an increase in dorsolateral striatum, while that of NAcore was not modified. Interestingly, both Homer1b/c and PSD95 scaffolding proteins were decreased in the synaptosomal fraction after extinction training in NAshell but not NAcore. Extinguished drug-seeking behavior was also associated with an increase in the synaptosomal actin proteins in dorsolateral striatum. Therefore, extinction of cocaine seeking is associated with neuroadaptations in mGluR5 expression and distribution that are region-specific and consist of extinction-induced reversal of cocaine-induced adaptations as well as emergent extinction-induced alterations. Concurrent plasticity in the scaffolding proteins further suggests that mGluR5 receptor neuroadaptations may have implications for synaptic function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actins / drug effects
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Adaptation, Physiological / drug effects
  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects
  • Brain Chemistry / physiology
  • Carrier Proteins / drug effects*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / metabolism
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / physiopathology
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism
  • Corpus Striatum / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Extinction, Psychological / drug effects*
  • Extinction, Psychological / physiology
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Homer Scaffolding Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / drug effects
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / drug effects
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects
  • Nucleus Accumbens / metabolism
  • Nucleus Accumbens / physiopathology
  • Presynaptic Terminals / drug effects
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism
  • Self Administration
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Synaptosomes / drug effects
  • Synaptosomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Dlg4 protein, rat
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Grm5 protein, rat
  • Homer Scaffolding Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Cocaine