Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2013, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (5): 547-550.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of heroin withdrawal and relapse on the expression of TH and DβH in the neurons of VTA and NAc regions of rat brain

LI Yi-Xin, LIANG Wen-Mei, HONG Yan, XIA Bai-Juan, ZHANG Pu   

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Guiyang Medical College, Guiyang 550004, China
  • Received:2013-05-20 Online:2013-09-25 Published:2013-10-16

Abstract:

Objective  To investigate the effect of the heroin withdrawal and relapse on the expression of TH and DβH in the ventral tegmental area(VTA) and nucleus accumbens(NAc) regions, and explore the adjustment mechanism and the relationship between dopamine(DA) and norepinephrine(NE). Methods 63 adult, male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (NCG), saline control group (SCG) and experiment group (EG). Experiment group was subdivided into: heroin withdrawal group (HWG), methadone detoxication group (MDG) and heroin relapse group (HRG). Brain tissues were excised after models were set up. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to test the expression of TH and DβH in the VTA and NAc regions. Results (1) TH-immunoreactive neurons expressed more TH in the VTA and NAc regions from HWG and HDG rats than that from SCG and NCG rats. After methadone detoxication, the expression of TH became normal. (2) DβH-immunoreactive neurons expressed more DβH in HWG and less DβH in MDG and HRG compared with SCG and NCG. Conclusions There is interaction between TH and DβH in the neurons of VTA and NAc regions during heroin withdrawal, methadone detoxication and heroin relapse period, and these two substances are important neurotransmitters which produce rewarding effect.

Key words: Heroin, Ventral tegmental area, Nucleus accumbens, TH, DβH

CLC Number: