Neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin expressed in medial prefrontal cortex neurons is not necessary for extinction of heroin self-administration

Behav Pharmacol. 2013 Aug;24(4):332-6. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0b013e328363367b.

Abstract

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a key role in extinction learning. Previously, we found that expression of a neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin (Narp) dominant-negative construct in the mPFC of mice blocked extinction of morphine-conditioned place preference. To further investigate the role of mPFC Narp in the extinction of drug seeking, we tested whether mPFC Narp is necessary for the extinction of heroin self-administration in rats. Specifically, we injected an adeno-associated viral vector expressing a dominant-negative form of Narp (NarpN) into the infralimbic region of the mPFC of rats and compared lever presses during extinction to those of rats injected with a control virus. In contrast to our previous study, we found that injection of NarpN did not affect extinction of heroin self-administration. Our findings suggest that mPFC Narp is necessary for extinction of opiate seeking in the Pavlovian-conditioned place preference paradigm but not in the operant paradigm of drug self-administration.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • C-Reactive Protein / genetics
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects
  • Dependovirus / genetics
  • Extinction, Psychological / drug effects*
  • Heroin / administration & dosage*
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Narcotics / administration & dosage*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / cytology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Self Administration
  • Time Factors
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Narcotics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • neuronal pentraxin
  • yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria
  • Heroin
  • C-Reactive Protein