Psychology, Department of

 

ORCID IDs

Jian‐Jun Zhang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7526-7234

Date of this Version

2019

Citation

Zhang, J.J., Jiang, F.Z., Zheng, W., Duan, Y., Jin, S.B., Shen, F., Liang, J., Li, M., Sui, N. (2019). DNMT3a in the hippocampal CA1 is crucial in the acquisition of morphine self-administration in rats. Addiction Biology, pp 1-12.

doi: 10.1111/adb.12730

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30950138

Comments

Copyright © 2019 Society for the Study of Addiction; published by Wiley. Used by permission.

Abstract

Drug‐reinforced excessive operant responding is one fundamental feature of long-lasting addiction‐like behaviors and relapse in animals. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms responsible for the persistent drug‐specific (not natural rewards) operant behavior are not entirely clear. In this study, we demonstrate a key role for one of the de novo DNA methyltransferase, DNMT3a, in the acquisition of morphine self‐administration (SA) in rats. The expression of DNMT3a in the hippocampal CA1 region but not in the nucleus accumbens shell was significantly up‐regulated after 1‐ and 7‐day morphine SA (0.3 mg/kg/infusion) but not after the yoked morphine injection. On the other hand, saccharin SA did not affect the expression of DNMT3a or DNMT3b. DNMT inhibitor 5‐aza‐2‐deoxycytidine (5‐aza) microinjected into the hippocampal CA1 significantly attenuated the acquisition of morphine SA. Knockdown of DNMT3a also impaired the ability to acquire the morphine SA. Overall, these findings suggest that DNMT3a in the hippocampus plays an important role in the acquisition of morphine SA and may be a valid target to prevent the development of morphine addiction.

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