5-HT1A autoreceptor in dorsal raphe nucleus mediates sensitization of conditioned place preference to cocaine in mice experienced with chronic pain

Neuroreport. 2019 Jun 12;30(9):681-687. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001260.

Abstract

Chronic stress, including chronic neuropathic pain, cannot only induce depressive disorders but also enhance sensitization to addictive drugs. Ample evidence support the implication of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system in the enhanced sensitization to cocaine. However, mechanisms underpinning such an enhancement are still unclear. By using a neuropathic pain model and a combination of behavioral, neurochemical, and western blotting techniques, this study reveals that the mice experienced with chronic neuropathic pain express both depression-like disorders and significant conditioned place preference to cocaine. The conditioned place preference to cocaine and was abolished by administration of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist into the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). The expression of DRN 5-HT1A receptor was upregulated in mice experienced with chronic neuropathic pain. Moreover, such an upregulation was restored by repeated exposure to cocaine. The results reveal that DRN 5-HT1A receptor mediate the sensitization to cocaine in mice experienced with chronic pain and may be used as a new molecular target for therapeutic interventions to drug addiction influenced by chronic stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoreceptors / metabolism
  • Chronic Pain*
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology*
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Dorsal Raphe Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / metabolism*

Substances

  • Autoreceptors
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Htr1a protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • Cocaine