Deletion of the GluR5 subunit of kainate receptors affects cocaine sensitivity and preference. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • We have demonstrated previously that mice expressing a constitutive deletion of the kainate receptor subunit GluR5 (GluR5 KO) do not differ from wildtype (WT) littermates of a congenic C57BL/6 background with regard to both the development of morphine physical dependence as measured by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs and to morphine reward as revealed by the expression of conditioned place preference (CPP). However, unlike WT, GluR5 KO mice fail to develop antinociceptive tolerance following repeated systemic morphine administration. In this report, we examined the impact of GluR5 deletion on cocaine-mediated CPP and locomotor sensitization. Expression of CPP was evident in WT mice following repeated daily administration of 20mg/kg (but not 10mg/kg) i.p. cocaine. Interestingly, GluR5 KO mice exhibited enhanced cocaine preference as compared with WT mice at both 10 and 20mg/kg doses. In addition, while GluR5 KO mice did not differ from WT with respect to baseline locomotor activity, mutant mice demonstrated increased locomotor hyperactivity versus WT mice after repeated injection of 15mg/kg i.p. cocaine. Collectively, these data indicate that GluR5 appears to negatively modulate some psychostimulant and rewarding properties of cocaine, as demonstrated by heightened sensitization and salience in mutant mice.

publication date

  • October 28, 2009

Research

keywords

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Choice Behavior
  • Cocaine
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2815225

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 72249098175

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.10.071

PubMed ID

  • 19878705

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 468

issue

  • 3