Knockout of ERK1 enhances cocaine-evoked immediate early gene expression and behavioral plasticity

Ferguson, Susan M., Fasano, Stefania ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3696-7139, Yang, Pengwei, Brambilla, Riccardo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3569-5706 and Robinson, Terry E. 2006. Knockout of ERK1 enhances cocaine-evoked immediate early gene expression and behavioral plasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology , pp. 2660-2668. 10.1038/sj.npp.1301014

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

The ability of cocaine to produce lasting neural adaptations in mesocorticolimbic brain regions is thought to promote drug seeking and facilitate addiction in humans. The Ras-controlled Raf-MEK-ERK protein kinase signaling cascade has been implicated in the behavioral and neurobiological actions of cocaine in animals. However, these pharmacological studies have not been able to determine the specific role of the two predominant isoforms of ERK (ERK1 and ERK2) in these processes. We report here that deletion of the ERK1 isoform, which leads to increased ERK2 stimulus-dependent signaling, facilitates the development of cocaine-induced psychomotor sensitization and the acquisition of a cocaine conditioned place preference. Conversely, pharmacological blockade of ERK signaling attenuates the development of psychomotor sensitization to cocaine. Finally, cocaine-evoked gene expression in mesocorticolimbic brain regions is potentiated in ERK1-deficient mice. Thus, alterations in ERK signaling influence both the neurobiological impact of cocaine and its ability to produce enduring forms of drug experience-dependent behavioral plasticity. Our results suggest that enhanced ERK2 signaling following repeated drug exposure may facilitate the development of forms of cocaine-induced plasticity that contribute to addiction.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dopamine; psychostimulants; glutamate; striatum; in situ hybridization; mouse
ISSN:	0893-133X
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2022 10:04
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/1129

Citation Data

Cited 88 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item