Repeated Cocaine Administration Increases Voltage-Sensitive Calcium Currents in Response to Membrane Depolarization in Medial Prefrontal Cortex Pyramidal Neurons

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0010-05.2005
• Publication Date: 2005-04-06T19:43:18Z
• Authors: Fernando J. Nasif; Xiu-Ti Hu; Francis J. White
• Keywords: Male; Nifedipine; Cesium; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; In Vitro Techniques; Calcium Channel Blockers; Kynurenic Acid; Drug Administration Schedule; Electric Stimulation; Membrane Potentials; GABA Antagonists; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Cadmium Chloride; Chlorides; Cocaine; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Animals; Calcium; Drug Interactions; Calcium Channels; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a critical role in cocaine addiction. However, evidence to elucidate how the mPFC is functionally involved addiction remains incomplete. Recent studies have revealed that repeated administration induces various neuroadaptations pyramidal neurons, including reduction voltage-gated K + currents (VGKCs) and possible increase voltage-sensitive Ca 2+ ( I ). Here, we performed both current-clamp recordings brain slices voltage-clamp freshly dissociated cells determine whether altered neurons after chronic treatment with short-term or long-term withdrawal. In addition, of VGKCs regulating generation plateau potential was also studied neurons. Repeated significantly prolonged duration evoked potentials increased whole-cell 3 d Selective blockade L-type channels by nifedipine not only threshold but reduced amplitude saline- cocaine-withdrawn there no significant difference threshold, duration, decreased between channels. Moreover, an observed, whereas persisted, 2-3 weeks These findings indicate exposure facilitates responsiveness , particularly via activated channels, excitatory stimuli rat