Cocaine experience abolishes the motivation suppressing effect of CRF in the ventral midbrain

• DOI: 10.1111/adb.12837
• Publication Date: 2019-11-12T10:33:18Z
• Authors: Idaira Oliva; Melissa M. Donate; Merridee J. Lefner; Matthew J. Wanat
• Keywords: Male; Motivation; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Dopamine; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Ventral Tegmental Area; Self Administration; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Cocaine; Reward; Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Stress, Psychological

Abstract Stress affects dopamine‐dependent behaviors in part through the actions of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) ventral tegmental area (VTA). For example, acute stress engages CRF signaling VTA to suppress motivation work for food rewards. In contrast, promotes drug‐seeking behavior VTA. These diverging behavioral effects food‐ and drug‐based tasks could indicate that modulates goal‐directed a reinforcer‐specific manner. Alternatively, prior drug experience functionally alter how regulates behavior. To address these possibilities, we examined intra‐VTA injections influenced cocaine intake whether alters Our results demonstrate had no effect on when self‐administering under progressive ratio reinforcement schedule. We also found history either contingent or noncontingent infusions abolished capacity reduce Furthermore, voltammetry recordings nucleus accumbens illustrate cocaine‐evoked dopamine release. collectively exposure abused substances neuropeptides act within influence motivated