Neuroscience
-
Memory functions can be considerably affected by various life events and stress has shown to be a chief regulator. Different stress patterns have distinct effects on the overall functioning of the brain. Stress provokes inflammation not only in the periphery but also in the brain. ⋯ Results from the forced swim test, elevated plus maze test and Morris water maze test showed significant effects of NSAIDs. A significant decrease in plasma corticosterone and increased DA and 5-HT levels were observed in NSAID-treated dissimilar-stressed rats. This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of NSAIDs for dissimilar stress-induced depressive behaviors and impaired memory functions and related hormonal and neurochemical changes in the rat brain.
-
Habitual drug-seeking behavior is essential in the transition from recreational drug use to compulsive drug use and is regulated by the dopamine (DA) system of the dorsal striatum (DS). However, a comparative study of the two subtypes of DA receptors, D1 receptors (D1R) and D2 receptors (D2R), which have opposite regulatory functions, in habitual drug-seeking behavior is absent. Moreover, the effects of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) and the subtypes Cav1.2 and Cav1.3, which are downstream of D1R and D2R, respectively, on habitual drug-seeking behavior have yet to be revealed. ⋯ In addition, the total and membrane Cav1.2 and D1R in the DLS demonstrated higher expression, but the total and membrane Cav1.3 and D2R in the DMS demonstrated lower expression in well-established cocaine habitual behavior animals compared with non-established habitual behavior animals. These results suggested that upregulation of D1R-Cav1.2 signaling may enhance the function of the DLS and that inactivation of D2R-Cav1.3 caused depressed activity in the DMS during expression of habitual cocaine-seeking behavior. The imbalanced function between the DMS and DLS, which causes a shift from the DMS to the DLS, may mediate habitual behaviors.