NMDA receptors in the nucleus accumbens modulate intravenous cocaine but not heroin self-administration in the rat |
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Authors: | Luigi Pulvirenti Rafael Maldonado-Lopez George F. Koob |
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Affiliation: | Department of Neuropharmacology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037. |
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Abstract: | The role of endogenous glutamate neurotransmission within the nucleus accumbens in the modulation of intravenous (i.v.) cocaine and heroin self-administration in rats was analyzed. APV (2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid), a blocker of glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type, was microinfused within the nucleus accumbens of the ventral striatum of rats trained to lever press for i.v. cocaine or heroin self-administration. APV, at the dose of 1.5 and 3.0 micrograms/side, reduced the rewarding value of cocaine while it left heroin self-administration unaffected. These results suggest that integrity of NMDA receptor function within the nucleus accumbens may be of importance for the maintenance of i.v. cocaine, but not heroin self-administration in rats. |
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Keywords: | Cocaine Intravenous self-administration Glutamate Nucleus accumbens Reward |
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