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NMDA receptors in prelimbic cortex neurons projecting to paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus are associated with morphine withdrawal memory retrieval

CHU Chen-Shan^1,2, WEN Ya-Xian¹, SHEN Qian-Ru¹, LAI Bin¹, CHEN Ming¹, ZHENG Ping^1,*

¹State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China；²Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200023, China

Abstract

At present, the problem of drug addiction treatment mainly lies in the high relapse rate of drug addicts. Addictive drugs will bring users a strong sense of euphoria and promote drug seeking. Once the drug is withdrawn, there will be withdrawal symptoms such as strong negative emotions and uncomfortable physical reactions. The recurrence of context-induced withdrawal memory is an important reason for drug relapse. Our previous study has shown increased c-Fos expression in prelimbic cortex (PrL) neurons projecting to paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) (PrL^-PVT) during conditioned context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. However, whether PrL^-PVT neurons are involved in withdrawal memory retrieval and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we used conditioned place aversion (CPA) model combined with in vivo calcium signal recording, chemogenetics and nucleus drug injection methods to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of PrL^-PVT neurons in retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. The results showed that the calcium signals of PrL^-PVT neurons were significantly enhanced by withdrawal-related context; Inhibition of PrL^-PVT neurons blocked the conditioned context-induced morphine withdrawal memory retrieval; Activation of PrL^-PVT neurons caused animals to escape from the context; After the inhibition of NMDA receptors in the PrL, withdrawal-related context failed to increase c-Fos and Arc expressions in PrL^-PVT neurons. The above results suggest that NMDA receptors in PrL^-PVT neurons are associated with retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. This study is of great significance for further understanding the neural circuit mechanism of withdrawal memory retrieval as well as the intervention and prevention of drug relapse.

Key words: withdrawal memory; paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus; prelimbic cortex; NMDA receptor

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 郑平　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

CHU Chen-Shan, WEN Ya-Xian, SHEN Qian-Ru, LAI Bin, CHEN Ming, ZHENG Ping. NMDA receptors in prelimbic cortex neurons projecting to paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus are associated with morphine withdrawal memory retrieval. Acta Physiol Sin 2024; 76 (6): 917-926 (in Chinese with English abstract).