Different projection neurons of basolateral amygdala participate in the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory with diverse molecular pathways

Abstract

Context-induced retrieval of drug withdrawal memory is one of the important reasons for drug relapses. Previous studies have shown that different projection neurons in different brain regions or in the same brain region such as the basolateral amygdala (BLA) participate in context-induced retrieval of drug withdrawal memory. However, whether these different projection neurons participate in the retrieval of drug withdrawal memory with same or different molecular pathways remains a topic for research. The present results showed that (1) BLA neurons projecting to the prelimbic cortex (BLA^-PrL) and BLA neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (BLA^-NAc) participated in context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (2) there was an increase in the expression of Arc and pERK in BLA^-NAc neurons, but not in BLA^-PrL neurons during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (3) pERK was the upstream molecule of Arc, whereas D1 receptor was the upstream molecule of pERK in BLA^-NAc neurons during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (4) D1 receptors also strengthened AMPA receptors, but not NMDA receptors, -mediated glutamatergic input to BLA^-NAc neurons via pERK during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. These results suggest that different projection neurons of the BLA participate in the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory with diverse molecular pathways.