Figure 1

Exposure to cocaine-related cues reinstated cocaine-seeking behavior and altered the AMPK signaling pathway in the NAc core. (A) The number of self-infusions during daily 3-h sessions increased in the cocaine self-administration groups but not in the saline groups (n = 8–9 per group). (B) Responding during daily 3-h extinction sessions decreased in the cocaine groups. (C,D) Average active and inactive nosepoke responding during a 30-min session (reinstatement) in which either no cue was presented (i.e., another extinction session; no test) or cue-induced reinstatement was induced by presentation of cocaine-associated cues (test). (E,F) Percentage of phosphorylated AMPK, phosphorylated p70s6k, phosphorylated ERK1/2, total AMPK, total p70s6k, and total ERK1/2 in the NAc core and shell relative to the saline-no test group and representative Western blots (n = 8 per group). The data are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, compared with saline no test group.