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01-05-2018 | Original Article

Adolescent cocaine exposure induces prolonged synaptic modifications in medial prefrontal cortex of adult rats

Authors: Wei Zhu, Xuhui Ge, Peng Gao, Min Li, Yun Guan, Xiaowei Guan

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 4/2018

Abstract

Substance used during adolescent period increases the risk of psychiatric disorders in later life, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesize that synaptic remodeling and changes of homeostasis in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) following adolescent cocaine exposure may last for a long time, and these modifications may contribute to behavioral deficiencies in adulthood. To address this hypothesis, rats were exposed to cocaine hydrochloride from postnatal day 28 (P28) to P42. When reared to adulthood, rats were subjected to behavioral tests. On P75 and P76, cocaine-experienced rats exhibited increased locomotive and anxiety-like behaviors, as well as impaired non-selective attention. In the cocaine-experienced rats, both levels of synapse-related proteins (synapsin I and PSD-95) and density of synapse and dendrite spine in mPFC were significantly decreased when compared to controls. Unexpected, the expression of molecules related to oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis showed no significant changes in mPFC following adolescent cocaine exposure. These findings suggested that adolescent exposure to cocaine induce long-term modification on synapses in mPFC, which might contribute to long-term behavioral outcomes in adulthood.

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Title: Adolescent cocaine exposure induces prolonged synaptic modifications in medial prefrontal cortex of adult rats
Authors: Wei Zhu
Xuhui Ge
Peng Gao
Min Li
Yun Guan
Xiaowei Guan
Publication date: 01-05-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Brain Structure and Function / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-017-1590-0

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Adolescent cocaine exposure induces prolonged synaptic modifications in medial prefrontal cortex of adult rats

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Abstract

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