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Cannabinoid Receptor Involvement In Stress-Induced Cocaine Reinstatement: Potential Interaction With Noradrenergic Pathways, Linda K. Vaughn, John R. Mantsch, Oliver Vranjkovic, G. Stroh, M. Lacourt, M. Kreutter, Cecilia J. Hillard

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

This study examined the role of endocannabinoid signaling in stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking and explored the interaction between noradrenergic and endocannabinergic systems in the process. A well-validated preclinical model for human relapse, the rodent conditioned place preference assay, was used. Cocaine-induced place preference was established in C57BL/6 mice using injections of 15 mg/kg cocaine. Following extinction of preference for the cocaine-paired environment, reinstatement of place preference was determined following 6 min of swim stress or cocaine injection (15 mg/kg, i.p.). The role of endocannabinoid signaling was studied using the cannabinoid antagonist AM-251 (3 mg/kg, i.p.). Another cohort of mice …