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Functional Neuroanatomic Analysis of the Response of the Nucleus Accumbens to Acute and Chronic Drugs of Abuse

Walsh, Ryan Robert
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1065700269

Abstract Details

2003, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Medicine : Interdisciplinary (Medical Science Scholars, Neuroscience).
The nucleus accumbens is a key limbic region implicated in mechanisms underlying reward and addiction. Evidence for involvement of the Nacc in responses to drugs of abuse (including cocaine and morphine) has partly come from studies using Fos as a marker for neuronal activation. While previous reports have consistently shown that Nacc neurons are activated following acute administration of cocaine, studies of morphine-induced activation have produced variable results. In the present study, we used two markers of neural activation, phosphorylation of the MAP-kinase, ERK, and expression of Fos, to investigate Nacc activation in response to either cocaine or morphine. In addition, we used a combination of retrograde tract tracing and immunocytochemistry to investigate whether activated Nacc neurons send projections to the ventral pallidum (VP), a major efferent target of the Nacc. Whereas cocaine induced neural activation at ten minutes, one hour, and two hours following drug administration, morphine only induced activation two hours following injection. Furthermore, while cocaine-activated neurons were present at all rostral-caudal Nacc levels, morphine-activated neurons were restricted to the rostral Nacc. Finally, cocaine induced activation of a subset of VP-projecting neurons in all rostral-caudal levels of the Nacc, while morphine did not. Thus, cocaine and morphine induce different temporal and regional patterns of activation in the Nacc, with cocaine producing more rapid and widespread activation than morphine. The only area of overlap in the patterns of activation produced by either drug was in the rostral Nacc, suggesting that this subdivision may be particularly important in reward and addiction.
Dr. Michael Lehman (Advisor)
83 p.
Biology, Neuroscience
accumbens; morphine; cocaine; ventral pallidum

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Walsh, R. R. (2003). Functional Neuroanatomic Analysis of the Response of the Nucleus Accumbens to Acute and Chronic Drugs of Abuse [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1065700269

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Walsh, Ryan. Functional Neuroanatomic Analysis of the Response of the Nucleus Accumbens to Acute and Chronic Drugs of Abuse. 2003. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1065700269.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Walsh, Ryan. "Functional Neuroanatomic Analysis of the Response of the Nucleus Accumbens to Acute and Chronic Drugs of Abuse." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2003. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1065700269

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2003, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.