[Intra-nucleus accumbens shell injection of baclofen blocks the reconsolidation of conditioned place preference in morphine-addicted mice]

Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2020 Apr 25;72(2):255-261.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Preclinical studies suggest that the GABAB receptor is a potential target for treatment of substance use disorders. Baclofen (BLF), a prototypical GABAB receptor agonist, is the only specific GABAB receptor agonist available for application in clinical addiction treatment. The nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) is a key node in the circuit that controls reward-directed behavior. However, the relationship between GABAB receptors in the AcbSh and memory reconsolidation was unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intra-AcbSh injection of BLF on the reconsolidation of morphine reward memory. Male C57BL/6J mice were used to establish morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) model and carry out morphine reward memory retrieval and activation experiment. The effects of intra-AcbSh injection of BLF on morphine-induced CPP, reinstatement of CPP and locomotor activity were observed after environmental cues activating morphine reward memory. The results showed that intra-AcbSh injection of BLF (0.06 nmol/0.2 μL/side or 0.12 nmol/0.2 μL/side), rather than vehicle or BLF (0.01 nmol/0.2 μL/side), following morphine reward memory retrieval abolished morphine-induced CPP by disrupting its reconsolidation in mice. Moreover, this effect persisted for more than 14 days, which was not reversed by a morphine priming injection. Furthermore, intra-AcbSh injection of BLF without morphine reward memory retrieval had no effect on morphine-associated reward memory. Interestingly, administration of BLF into the AcbSh had no effect on the locomotor activity of mice during testing phase. Based on these results, we concluded that intra-AcbSh injection of BLF following morphine reward memory could erase morphine-induced CPP by disrupting its reconsolidation. Activating GABAB receptor in AcbSh during drug memory reconsolidation may be a potential approach to prevent drug relapse.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Baclofen / administration & dosage*
  • Conditioning, Classical*
  • GABA-B Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Locomotion
  • Male
  • Memory
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Morphine*
  • Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders*
  • Reward

Substances

  • GABA-B Receptor Agonists
  • Morphine
  • Baclofen