IBCN   20355
INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA CELULAR Y NEUROCIENCIA "PROFESOR EDUARDO DE ROBERTIS"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Blockade of D1/D5 dopaminergic receptors in the VTA promotes the persistence of weak appetitive memories
Autor/es:
MICAELA ANAHÍ HERNANDEZ; FERNANDO CASTILLO DÍAZ; JORGE H MEDINA; VALENTINA DE CASTRO; TOMÁS CAPELLÁ
Reunión:
Congreso; XXXII CONGRESO ANUAL SAN 2017; 2017
Resumen:
Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons innervate the hippocampus and DA neurotransmission has been shown to modulate synaptic plasticity and memory. Dopaminergic inputs to the dorsal hippocampus are involved in the persistence of cocaine-associated memory 12 h after a single dose of cocaine. In this study we use a conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm in rats using cocaine as a positive reward to analyze which are the structures involved in the persistence of this memory from the first exposure to the drug. Behavioral experiments were carried out with dopaminergic receptor agonists (SKF 38393) and antagonists (SCH 23390) infusions into the VTA, nucleus accumbens (NAcc) or medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). We found that the blockade of the D1/D5 dopamine receptors in the VTA promotes the durability of a weak memory when it is infused at 12 h or immediately after conditioning. We also found that the neural activity in the NAcc is necessary for the formation of the memory from the beginning. In addition, mPFC may not be involved in this type of appetitive memory. Lastly, we wanted to test whether the VTA is involved in the maintenance of other types of appetitive memories. To do that we developed a food-CPP protocol in which animals were conditioned with food instead of drug. Same results as with cocaine were obtained showing that the memory persistence of appetitive tasks is due to the activation of neural circuits involving VTA.