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addictive diseases
To test this hypothesis, Dr. Chen and his research team trained adult male
rats to self-administer cocaine on a seek-take chain schedule for about 2
months. After this period, they were exposed to foot shock punishment
during self-administration. Researchers observed both a shock-resistant
group (continued to self-administer despite shocks) and a shock-sensitive
group (suspended all cocaine-seeking when shocked) before performing ex
vivo studies of deep-layer pyramidal neurons in the prelimbic area. Results
showed that neurons in the prelimbic area of cocaine-experienced rats
showed significant decreases in membrane excitability compared to cocainenave rats. Furthermore, this effect was more pronounced in shock-resistant
rats than in shock-sensitive rats.
The research team also used in vivo optogenetic stimulation to rescue
cocaine-induced hypoactivity in the prelimbic area in the shock-resistant
rats. Dr. Chens findings showed that prolonged cocaine self-administration
decreased excitability in prelimbic neurons, which may contribute to
compulsive cocaine-seeking behaviors.
I would conduct this kind of experiments using other drugs of abuse, such as
heroin, methamphetamines, and opioids in order to understand the circuits
that mediate those drugs taking behavior.
In the first place, the research team would need three rats, one for each
drug. The procedure of optogenetics could be permanently altering the
behaviour of animals, so the number of subjects that are used is reduced.
However, the optogenetics technique is not known to induce pain to animal
subjects.