Stress-induced relapse to cocaine seeking: roles for the CRF2 receptor and CRF-binding protein in the ventral tegmental area of the rat

摘要

Footshock reinstates cocaine seeking in cocaine-experienced rats by inducing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and glutamate release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and thus activating VTA dopaminergic neurons. Footshock-induced VTA glutamate release, dopamine activation and reinstatements are blocked by VTA administration of a α-helical CRF, a nonselective CRF receptor antagonist. The effects of selective CRF antagonists have not yet been reported.