Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2013, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (5): 551-554.

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The effect of cocaine withdrawal on anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal neurogenesis of mice

LIU Ming-fei1, LI Juan1, GU Jing-jing1, CUI Meng-qing2, LI Liang-ping3, ZHANH Lu1   

  1. 1. Department of Pathophysiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515; 2.Outpatient Department, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515; 3. Neurosurgery Department of Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Guangzhou 510220, China
  • Received:2013-04-20 Online:2013-09-25 Published:2013-10-16

Abstract:

Objective To observe the effect of cocaine withdrawal after repeated cocaine administration on anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Method The Kuming mice were divided into two groups, with 9 in Group saline and 10 in Group cocaine. All mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline or cocaine (20 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days, then all mice were subject to abstinence for 48 hours after the final injection of cocaine or saline. The Open Field Test (OFT) and the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) were used to observe the level of anxiety-like behavior. For immuno?覲uorescence, mice were also divided into two groups, 5 in each group. After the final injection of cocaine or saline, mice received intraperitoneal injections of BrdU(20 mg/kg, per 12 hours)for 48 hours. 24 hours after the last injection of BrdU, mice were dissected and BrdU+/Dcx+ double labeled immuno?uorescence was carried out to observe the hippocampal neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Result The center-time in the OFT was significantly reduced in Group cocaine compared with Group saline(P<0.01). Mice received withdrawal from cocaine showed less open arm-entries and open arm-time in the EPM compared with that received withdrawal from saline(P<0.01). Immuno?覲uorescence revealed that the number of BrdU+/Dcx+ cells significantly decreased in Group cocaine compared with Group saline (P<0.01).  Conclusion  Cocaine withdrawal after repeated cocaine administration can induce anxiety-like behavior and inhibit neurogenesis, and the inhibited neurogenesis may play important role in cocaine withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behavior.

Key words: Cocaine withdrawal, Anxiety; , Neurogenesis, The Open Field Test, The Elevated Plus Maze

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