Hot Off the Press – March 27 , 2020.
The current study offers a mechanistic explanation for the protective effect of social interaction on incubation of craving in rodents, showing that it is mediated by the activation of neurons expressing the enzyme PKCδ the brain’s amygdala. The study also shows that activation of a peptide called somatostatin in the amygdala is critical for incubation of drug craving after forced abstinence in the homecage. The study also introduced novel viral tools that will allow other researchers to mechanistically study the role of PKCδ and somatostatin in learned and motivated behaviors related to drug use disorders, as well as other psychiatric disorders.
Publication Information
Abstinence-dependent dissociable central amygdala microcircuits control drug craving. Journal Article
In: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2019, ISSN: 1091-6490 (Electronic); 0027-8424 (Linking).