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A common limiter circuit for opioid choice and relapse identified in a rodent addiction model

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Listed:
  • Jasper A. Heinsbroek

    (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)

  • Giuseppe Giannotti

    (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
    University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)

  • Mitchel R. Mandel

    (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
    University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)

  • Megan Josey

    (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
    University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)

  • Gary Aston-Jones

    (Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences)

  • Morgan H. James

    (Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
    Rutgers University)

  • Jamie Peters

    (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
    University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)

Abstract

Activity in numerous brain regions drives heroin seeking, but no circuits that limit heroin seeking have been identified. Furthermore, the neural circuits controlling opioid choice are unknown. In this study, we examined the role of the infralimbic cortex (IL) to nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell) pathway during heroin choice and relapse. This model yielded subpopulations of heroin versus food preferring rats during choice, and choice was unrelated to subsequent relapse rates to heroin versus food cues, suggesting that choice and relapse are distinct behavioral constructs. Supporting this, inactivation of the IL with muscimol produced differential effects on opioid choice versus relapse. A pathway-specific chemogenetic approach revealed, however, that the IL-NAshell pathway acts as a common limiter of opioid choice and relapse. Furthermore, dendritic spines in IL-NAshell neurons encode distinct aspects of heroin versus food reinforcement. Thus, opioid choice and relapse share a common addiction-limiting circuit in the IL-NAshell pathway.

Suggested Citation

  • Jasper A. Heinsbroek & Giuseppe Giannotti & Mitchel R. Mandel & Megan Josey & Gary Aston-Jones & Morgan H. James & Jamie Peters, 2021. "A common limiter circuit for opioid choice and relapse identified in a rodent addiction model," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25080-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25080-x
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