Thesis
2-ARACHIDONOYLGLYCEROL, BUT NOT ANANDAMIDE, IN THE BASOLATERAL AMYGDALA MODULATES THE STRENGTH OF COCAINE-PAIRED CONTEXTUAL MEMORIES
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007184
Abstract
A major impediment in treating substance use disorder (SUD) is craving following exposure to drug-associated environmental cues. Exposure to a cocaine-predictive context can trigger the retrieval of cocaine-associated memories. When cocaine-associated memories are recalled, they become unstable and need to be reconsolidated to persist. Memory reconsolidation is dependent on several mechanisms, including de novo protein synthesis and synaptic plasticity. Manipulations that disrupt unstable cocaine memories or impede their reconsolidation have been shown to reduce drug-seeking behavior; however, little is known about the mechanisms regulating drug memory strength. Therefore, understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of drug memory maintenance remains of great importance, with the long-term goal of identifying treatment approaches to prevent cocaine relapse. To that end, this thesis evaluated the roles of 2-arachidonoglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA) in contextual drug-memory reconsolidation using an instrumental model of context-induced cocaine relapse. The 2-AG and AEA systems were probed by enzyme inhibitor manipulations that targeted 2-AG or AEA synthesis or
degradation in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Chapter One provides background information and outlines the rationale for this investigation. Chapter Two outlines the design and methodology of the experiments in this study. Chapter Three describes the behavioral effects of enzyme inhibitor manipulation. Chapter Four includes a summary of the findings and discusses their significance in the context of the literature on memory reconsolidation. Overall, this thesis provides evidence in support of the argument that 2-AG, but not AEA, signaling in the BLA regulates contextual cocaine-associated memory strength. This outcome suggests that 2-AG may be a viable therapeutic target for relapse prevention in individuals with cocaine use disorder.
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Details
- Title
- 2-ARACHIDONOYLGLYCEROL, BUT NOT ANANDAMIDE, IN THE BASOLATERAL AMYGDALA MODULATES THE STRENGTH OF COCAINE-PAIRED CONTEXTUAL MEMORIES
- Creators
- Robert Christian
- Contributors
- Rita A Fuchs Lokensgard (Chair)Ryan J McLaughlin (Committee Member)Kisten Delevich (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Program in Neuroscience
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 92
- Identifiers
- 99901195201601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis