Brain-derived neurotrophic factors reduce cocaine relapse

Cocaine relapse can now be significantly reduced with the help of brainderived neurotrophic factor BDNF Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina MUSC found that Cocaine relapse was significantly reduced in a preclinical model when BDNF is applied to the nucleus accumbens deep in the brain immediately before the cocaineseeking behaviourWe discovered that a very common protein in the brain has an additional significant role in addiction relapse said a lead researcher AnaClara BobadillaThe nucleus accumbens is a tiny cluster of nerve cells deep in the brain Although small this region plays a critical role in rewardseeking behaviours It signals from other parts of the brain to drive rewardmotivated behavioursThe researchers found that BDNF has both a time and locationdependent beneficial role when administered before a cueinduced relapse eventIn the preclinical model of cocaine addiction rats were allowed to selfadminister cocaine while hearing an auditory cue The rats learned to associate the cue with the reward of cocaine and continue to selfadminister when hearing the cue In the extinction phase the rats were not allowed access to cocaine or the cue associated with the drugIn the last phase called reinstatement the rats seek out cocaine upon hearing the cue previously associated with cocaine administration The drugseeking behavior that the rats display is similar to how drug cues induce craving in humans and thus are more likely to relapse Examples of such cues are visiting a neighborhood in which drugs were previously bought or seeing a friend with whom they took drugsAddiction researchers are currently studying the function of proteins already present in the brain in an effort to find ways to overcome relapse in strong addictionsAs low serum BDNF levels are seen in cocainedependent patients compared to nonaddicts researchers sought a better understanding in regard to the connection between BDNF and cocaine relapseAn important aspect of this study is that while others have shown that BDNF is important for establishing the state of addiction we find that can also be used to reverse addiction said another researcher Peter KalivasThis exemplifies that the primary effect of BDNF is to promote changes in the brain and that this capacity to change the brain contributes to how people get addicted but also can be harnessed to remove brain pathologies such as drug addiction Kalivas addedThe findings show that applying BDNF to the nucleus accumbens immediately before the reinstatement phase when the rats are once again seeking cocaine due to cue exposure greatly reduces relapse The most exciting realization is that this protein has a very finetuned effect and can be timing dependent says Bobadilla This means that by changing the location of BDNF administration in the brain as well as the timing of the treatment it can have differing impacts on cocaine relapseThis discovery opens doors to further investigation with BDNF and the nucleus accumbens in particular as it is currently not known how BDNF suppresses cocaine addiction relapseThis finding also raises a question as to whether BDNF application in the nucleus accumbens or other brain regions can reduce other addictionsResearchers also found that the BDNF nucleus accumbens connection is included in the reward circuit but remains specific to drug rewards since BDNF did not stop foodseeking behaviours which also activate the reward circuitry This demonstrates that BDNFs inhibitory role in seeking is specific to drugs of abuseWhat we are doing with these studies is mapping the brain There are plenty of uncharted territories in our understanding of neurobiology and with this work we provided results to fill in one of those unknown questions added BobadillaThe study appears in the Addiction Biology journalCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Except for the change in the headline the story has been provided ASIS AS AVAILABLE without any verification or editing from our side Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever