Cort vicinity plus#

Here, we demonstrate that 7 d CORT treatment increases anxiety-like behavior and attenuates food-seeking behavior in a mildly aversive environment. The impact of chronic CORT on the mesolimbic system has not been elucidated. However, long-term CORT treatment causes cognitive impairments and neuropsychiatric disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT With widespread anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body, corticosteroids (CORT) have been used in a variety of therapeutic conditions. D2R signaling in the VTA might be a potential target to ameliorate chronic CORT-induced anxiety and reward-seeking deficits. Together, 7 d CORT treatment induces anxiety-like behavior and impairs food-seeking in a mildly aversive environment. Furthermore, sulpiride decreased anxiety-like behavior and rescued food-seeking behavior in mice with chronic CORT exposure. The D2R antagonist sulpiride restored decreased excitatory transmission and excitability of VTA dopamine neurons. Furthermore, chronic CORT increased somatodendritic dopamine concentration. We show that chronic CORT treatment decreased excitability and excitatory synaptic transmission onto VTA dopamine neurons. CORT treatment induced anxiety-like behavior as well as decreased food-seeking behaviors.

Cort vicinity plus#

We treated periadolescent male mice with vehicle, 1 d, or 7 d CORT in the drinking water, examined behavioral impacts with light/dark box, elevated plus maze, operant chamber, and open field tests, measured the effects of CORT on VTA dopamine neuronal activity using patch-clamp electrophysiology and dopamine concentration using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, and tested the effects of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) blockade by intra-VTA infusion of a D2R antagonist. However, the mechanism by which chronic CORT alters VTA dopamine neuronal activity is largely unknown. The VTA is a critical site in the mesocorticolimbic pathway and is responsible for motivation and reward-seeking behaviors. Chronic CORT treatment can cause mesocorticolimbic system dysfunctions, which are known to play a key role for the development of psychiatric disorders. Corticosteroids (CORT) have been widely used in anti-inflammatory medication.