Neural Changes Developed during the Extinction of Cocaine Self-Administration Behavior

Pharmaceuticals

Alejandro Higuera-Matas¹  Miguel Miguens²  Nuria del Olmo³  Carmen Garc໚-Lecumberri¹ 

[1] Department of Psychobiology, School of Psychology, UNED, C/Juan del Rosal 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain; E-Mail:;Department of Basic Psychology I, School of Psychology, UNED, C/Juan del Rosal 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain; E-Mail:;Department of Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, School of Pharmacy, San Pablo-CEU University, Urb. Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain; E-Mail:

关键词: cocaine self-administration;    extinction;    neuroadaptive changes;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ph4101315

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The high rate of recidivism in cocaine addiction after prolonged periods of abstinence poses a significant problem for the effective treatment of this condition. Moreover, the neurobiological basis of this relapse phenomenon remains poorly understood. In this review, we will discuss the evidence currently available regarding the neurobiological changes during the extinction of cocaine self-administration. Specifically, we will focus on alterations in the dopaminergic, opioidergic, glutamatergic, cholinergic, serotoninergic and CRF systems described in self-administration experiments and extinction studies after chronic cocaine administration. We will also discuss the differences related to contingent versus non-contingent cocaine administration, which highlights the importance of environmental cues on drug effects and extinction. The findings discussed in this review may aid the development of more effective therapeutic approaches to treat cocaine relapse.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.