Fig. 3: Enhanced GABAergic tone from the RMTg during conditioning to cocaine attenuates changes in PERK, GluA1ps845, and GluA1ps831 in the NAc.
All rats were euthanized 45 min after the RePP test. Then, their NAc was taken out and homogenized. Samples were resolved by SDS-PAGE, and WB membranes were probed with the appropriate antibodies. A The bar histograms depict the level of ERK divided by Actin, no significant difference was found (P > 0.05), as determined by a two-way ANOVA test [FOPTIC STIMULATION (1,8) = 1.456, P > 0.05, FGROUP (1,8) = 2.635, P > 0.05, FINTERACTION (1,8) = 5.095, P > 0.05, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test]. (n = 3 for all groups). B The bar histograms depict the level of pERK (Thr202/Tyr204) divided by ERK protein, rats treated with cocaine (15 mg/kg) displayed significantly higher values compared to all other groups (P < 0.05), as determined by a two-way ANOVA test [FOPTIC STIMULATION (1,20) = 4.809, P < 0.05, FGROUP (1,20) = 6.547, P < 0.05, FINTERACTION (1,20) = 4.335, P = 0.0504, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test]. (n = 5, 6, 7, and 6 for saline–, saline +, cocaine–, and cocaine+ groups, respectively). C The bar histograms depict the level of GluA1 divided by Actin, no significant difference was found [FOPTIC STIMULATION (1,10) = 3.39, P > 0.05, FGROUP (1,10) = 1.603, P > 0.05, FINTERACTION (1,10) = 1.605, P > 0.05, two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test]. (n = 3 for saline groups, n = 4 for cocaine groups). D The bar histograms depict the level of GluA1ps845 divided by GluA1 protein, rats treated with cocaine (15 mg/kg) displayed significantly higher values compared to all other groups (P < 0.05), as determined by a two-way ANOVA test [FOPTIC STIMULATION (1,9) = 4.275, P > 0.05, FGROUP (1,9) = 13.35, P < 0.01, FINTERACTION (1,9) = 6.738, P < 0.05, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test]. (n = 3, 3, 4, and 3 for saline–, saline+, cocaine–, and cocaine+ groups, respectively). E The bar histograms depict the level of GluA1ps831 divided by GluA1 protein, rats treated with cocaine (15 mg/kg) without optic stimulation displayed significantly higher values compared to all other groups (P < 0.05), as determined by a two-way ANOVA test. [FOPTIC STIMULATION (1,10) = 6.500, P < 0.05, FGROUP (1,10) = 5.396, P < 0.05, FINTERACTION (1,10) = 4.019, P > 0.05, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test]. (n = 3 for the saline groups, n = 4 for the cocaine groups). (Off refers to –optic stimulation, whereas On refers to +optic stimulation).
