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Clonidine, an α2 adrenergic receptor agonist, disrupts reconsolidation of a cocaine-paired environmental memory

Authors :
Ellen M. Unterwald
Rachel R Denny
Source :
Behavioural Pharmacology
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2019.

Abstract

Environmental cues can elicit robust cocaine reward memories, contributing to relapse to cocaine abuse. Memories can be manipulated pharmacologically by interfering with reconsolidation after reactivation. Clonidine, an α2 noradrenergic receptor agonist, was tested for its ability to block reconsolidation of cocaine environmental-paired memory. Male Sprague-Dawley rats completed an 8-day cocaine place conditioning procedure to establish a cocaine place preference. Cocaine memory was reactivated by exposure to the cocaine-paired environment in a drug-free state, followed immediately by administration of clonidine (10 or 50 µg/kg) or vehicle. Cocaine place preference was retested 24 h and 1 week later. Clonidine significantly attenuated the previously established cocaine place preference when tested 1 or 7 days later. To investigate the generalizability of this effect to other drug classes, morphine conditioned place preference was tested. Clonidine administration after morphine memory reactivation did not significantly alter the expression of morphine place preference. These results suggest that clonidine can interfere with reconsolidation of cocaine memory and may be a useful approach to reduce relapse.

Details

ISSN :
09558810
Volume :
30
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Behavioural Pharmacology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....b7beb8fe4716dbbc54c1d1c664f0de90
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1097/fbp.0000000000000473