Abstract
Using in vivo single-unit recording, we compared in rats the effects of continuous infusion and once-a-day injections of cocaine on the activity of single putative dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. After a 7-day withdrawal, we determined: (1) the number of spontaneously active neurons and their bursting patterns and (2) sensitivity of these neurons to intravenous quinpirole. In the substantia nigra, continuous cocaine infusion reduced the number of neurons without affecting the bursting patterns; daily injections were without effects. In the ventral tegmental area, continuous infusion reduced the bursting activity without affecting the number of neurons, whereas infections increased number of neurons without changes in the bursting pattern. Acute sulpiride normalized all the changes in both cell body areas. The quinpirole sensitivity was selectively increased in the nigral neurons following withdrawal from continuous infusion. Possible role of D2/autoreceptor mechanisms in these changes is discussed. © 1998 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gao, WY., Lee, T., King, G. et al. Alterations in Baseline Activity and Quinpirole Sensitivity in Putative Dopamine Neurons in the Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area after Withdrawal from Cocaine Pretreatment. Neuropsychopharmacol 18, 222–232 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0893-133X(97)00132-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0893-133X(97)00132-2
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Interruption of continuous opioid exposure exacerbates drug-evoked adaptations in the mesolimbic dopamine system
Neuropsychopharmacology (2020)
-
Dopamine and addiction: what have we learned from 40 years of research
Journal of Neural Transmission (2019)
-
Episodic Withdrawal Promotes Psychomotor Sensitization to Morphine
Neuropsychopharmacology (2010)
-
Reduced Dopamine Terminal Function and Insensitivity to Cocaine Following Cocaine Binge Self-Administration and Deprivation
Neuropsychopharmacology (2005)
-
Impulse activity of midbrain dopamine neurons modulates drug-seeking behavior
Psychopharmacology (2003)