Repeated intravenous administrations of teneurin-C terminal associated peptide (TCAP)-1 attenuates reinstatement of cocaine seeking by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in rats.

The teneurin c-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) have been implicated in the regulation of the stress response, possibly via a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related mechanism. We have previously shown that repeated intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of TCAP-1 attenuate the reinstatement of cocaine seeking by CRF in rats. Here, we determined whether intravenous (IV) administrations of TCAP-1 would likewise attenuate CRF-induced reinstatement, and whether this effect would vary depending on the rat's history of cocaine self administration.

A procedure for studying the footshock-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking in laboratory rats.

The most insidious aspect of drug addiction is the high propensity for relapse. Animal models of relapse, known as reinstatement procedures, have been used extensively to study the neurobiology and phenomenology of relapse to drug use. Although procedural variations have emerged over the past several decades, the most conventional reinstatement procedures are based on the drug self-administration (SA) model.

Central injections of noradrenaline induce reinstatement of cocaine seeking and increase c-fos mRNA expression in the extended amygdala.

We recently reported that central injections of noradrenaline (NA) induce reinstatement of cocaine seeking in rats. Here, we replicate and extend our finding to an additional dose of NA and show that it is associated with the induction of c-fos mRNA expression (a marker of neuronal activation) in functionally relevant brain regions, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and central nucleus of the amygdala.

Interaction between noradrenaline and corticotrophin-releasing factor in the reinstatement of cocaine seeking in the rat.

Rationale: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and noradrenaline (NA) have been shown in independent studies to mediate stress-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. To date, however, a functional interaction between the systems in reinstatement has not been demonstrated.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether CRF and NA systems can interact to influence reinstatement responding and, if so, in what direction the interaction occurs.

Footshock stress reinstates cocaine seeking in rats after extended post-stress delays.

Rationale: Exposure to footshock stress reinstates drug seeking in rats when tests for reinstatement are conducted immediately after termination of the stressor. It is not known, however, whether footshock is effective in inducing reinstatement if a post-stress delay is imposed before testing for reinstatement.

Objective: The objectives of the study were to determine for how long footshock remains effective in inducing the reinstatement of cocaine seeking if testing is delayed after termination of the stressor and to determine whether the context in which a post-stress delay is carried out influences the magnitude of reinstatement.

A role for corticotropin-releasing factor in the long-term expression of behavioral sensitization to cocaine.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) has been implicated in a number of the behavioral and biochemical effects of cocaine. We recently reported that central injections of CRF produce a potentiated locomotor response in animals that had been given repeated injections of cocaine up to 4 weeks earlier. We now report that with as few as 1 or 3 exposures to cocaine (total of 45 mg/kg, i.