Project Title: Cross-talk between oxytocin and the endocannabinoid system in regulating anxiety
Research overview. Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide secreted by the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and commonly associated with social behaviors, stress responses, and drug-addiction. Previous studies have shown that OT has anxiolytic properties associated with cues in a cocaine seeking behavior paradigm, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Clinical studies show that cocaine abuse has long-term effects in the brain reward circuitry of those who use it. These changes might be responsible for a high risk of relapse even after years of abstinence. Given the fact that persons, places, paraphernalia and stress can induce the drug relapse, cocaine abuse elicit strong memories with its use. Published data from the Maldonado lab showed a role for OT in modulating the anxiety behavior elicited by the drug-paired environment. One possible neuromodulatory substrate for this interaction is the endocannabinoid system (ECS), in particular the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) receptors. PR-CLIMB participants will help to determine the role of intranasal OT treatment in the anxiety response triggered by cue-elicited cocaine seeking behavior and to establish CB1 and TRPV1 receptors interactions with OT actions within the NAc and medial prefrontal cortex in the anxiety response triggered by cue-elicited cocaine seeking behavior. This will contribute to a more detailed understanding of the cross-talk between OT and ECS on the anxiety elicited by the drug-associated cues.
Skills/Techniques: PR-CLIMB participants will learn animal research skills, behavioral pharmacology paradigms, histology, western blots, and critical data analysis.
Skills/Techniques: PR-CLIMB participants will learn animal research skills, behavioral pharmacology paradigms, histology, western blots, and critical data analysis.