[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

Authors: *D. K. TAYLOR, K. KOTWICA, W. WAYMAN, G. RICHARD, C. WEIR, R.
HENDERSON, T. E. KOELTZOW;
Bradley Univ., Peoria, IL
Abstract: Previous studies indicate that social or environmental enrichment is sufficient to
influence spontaneous locomotor activity and various indices of dopamine function. The purpose
of the present study is to assess the impact of social (SE) or environmental enrichment (EE)
during development on the subsequent acquisition and reinstatement of operant cocaine selfadministration
behavior. Preliminary findings indicate that SE rats exhibited a reduced locomotor
response in an open field compared to rats in the EE and standard isolation (I) housing
conditions. Similarly, SE rats were resistant to the reinforcing effects of cocaine as measured by
the rate of cocaine self-administration acquisition, extinction and reinstatement. These findings
indicate that social enrichment may serve as a protective risk factor against the vulnerability to
addiction and relapse. On-going analysis aims to identify the neural correlates of SE that may
account for these findings.
Disclosures: D.K. Taylor , None; K. Kotwica, None; W. Wayman, None; G. Richard,
None; C. Weir, None; R. Henderson, None; T.E. Koeltzow, None.
Poster
298. Neural Mechanisms of Reward: Self-Administration and Opioid Modulation
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 298.7/TT40
Topic: F.03.d. Reward
Support: Whitehall Foundation
Title: Assessing the contributions of nucleus accumbens shell compartments to cocaine-seeking
behavior in rats from amphetamine microinfusion
Authors: *D. G. C. HILDEBRAND, A. TANG, K. M. MORIN, M. CHAN, J. R. STELLAR;
Dept. of Psychology, Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA
Abstract: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is known to play a key role in brain reward processes.
Most previous research has focused on two subregions of the NAc, the shell and the core. Recent
anatomical and biochemical studies in rats have revealed distinct compartments of the NAc shell.
Two particular areas of interest are the dorsal medial (DMS) and the intermediate zone (INT)
compartments because they differ in expression of the immediate-early gene c-Fos and the longacting
immediate-early gene ΓFosB after cocaine sensitization. These results suggest that each