Distinctive Roles of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in Anterior Agranular Insular and Basolateral Amygdala in Reconsolidation of Aversive Memory Associated with Morphine in Rats

Authors

Peng Liu, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jianjun Zhang, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ming Li, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Nan Sui, Chinese Academy of Sciences, BeijingFollow

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Front. Behav. Neurosci. 10:50.

Comments

Copyright © 2016 Liu, Zhang, Li and Sui.

Open access

doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00050

Abstract

5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza), an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), has been implicated in aversive memory and the function of brain region involved in processing emotion. However, little is known about the role of 5-aza in the reconsolidation of opiate withdrawal memory. In the present study, using the morphinenaloxone induced conditioned place aversion (CPA) model in rats, we injected 5-aza into agranular insular (AI), granular insular (GI), basolateral amygdala (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA) immediately after the memory retrieval and tested the behavioral consequences at 24 h, 7 and 14 days after retrieval test. We found that 5-aza injection into AI disrupted the reconsolidation of morphine-associated withdrawal memory, but 5-aza injection into GI had no impact on the reconsolidation. Meanwhile, 5-aza injection into BLA but not CeA attenuated the withdrawal memory trace 14 days later. However, 5-aza administration to rats, in the absence of memory reactivation, had no effect on morphine-associated withdrawal memory. These findings suggest that 5-aza interferes with the reconsolidation of opiate withdrawal memory, and the roles of insular and amygdala in reconsolidation are distinctive.