RATIONALE: Cocaine addiction is associated with high rates of relapse, and stress has been identified as a major risk factor. We have previously demonstrated that acupuncture reduces drug self-administration and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain structure implicated in stress-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of acupuncture on footshock-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking and the expression of c-Fos and the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the NAc, used as markers of neuronal activation in conditions of stress-induced reinstatement to cocaine. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (1.0 mg/kg) for 14 days, followed by extinction and then footshock stress. Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmen (HT7) points for 1 min after footshock stress. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Acute footshock stress reinstated cocaine-seeking behavior and enhanced c-Fos expression and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) activation in the NAc shell in cocaine pre-exposed rats. On the other hand, acupuncture at HT7, but not at control point (LI5), markedly reduced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking (86.5 % inhibition vs. control value), c-Fos expression (81.7% inhibition), and pCREB activation (79.3% inhibition) in the NAc shell. These results suggest that acupuncture attenuates stress-induced relapse by regulating neuronal activation in the NAc shell.
RATIONALE: Cocaine addiction is associated with high rates of relapse, and stress has been identified as a major risk factor. We have previously demonstrated that acupuncture reduces drug self-administration and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain structure implicated in stress-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of acupuncture on footshock-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking and the expression of c-Fos and the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the NAc, used as markers of neuronal activation in conditions of stress-induced reinstatement to cocaine. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (1.0 mg/kg) for 14 days, followed by extinction and then footshock stress. Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmen (HT7) points for 1 min after footshock stress. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Acute footshock stress reinstated cocaine-seeking behavior and enhanced c-Fos expression and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) activation in the NAc shell in cocaine pre-exposed rats. On the other hand, acupuncture at HT7, but not at control point (LI5), markedly reduced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking (86.5 % inhibition vs. control value), c-Fos expression (81.7% inhibition), and pCREB activation (79.3% inhibition) in the NAc shell. These results suggest that acupuncture attenuates stress-induced relapse by regulating neuronal activation in the NAc shell.
Authors: Tae Young Yang; Eun Young Jang; Yeonhee Ryu; Gyu Won Lee; Eun Byeol Lee; Suchan Chang; Jong Han Lee; Jin Suk Koo; Chae Ha Yang; Hee Young Kim Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2017-12-11 Impact factor: 3.659
Authors: Suchan Chang; Yeonhee Ryu; Young Seob Gwak; Nam Jun Kim; Jin Mook Kim; Jun Yeon Lee; Seol Ah Kim; Bong Hyo Lee; Scott C Steffensen; Eun Young Jang; Chae Ha Yang; Hee Young Kim Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2017-07-13 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: DanBi Ahn; Han Byeol Jang; Suchan Chang; Hyung Kyu Kim; Yeonhee Ryu; Bong Hyo Lee; Sang Chan Kim; Kyle B Bills; Scott C Steffensen; Yu Fan; Hee Young Kim Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Seol Ah Kim; Bong Hyo Lee; Jong Han Bae; Kwang Joong Kim; Scott C Steffensen; Yeon-Hee Ryu; Joong Woo Leem; Chae Ha Yang; Hee Young Kim Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-11-18 Impact factor: 3.240