Depleting adult dentate gyrus neurogenesis increases cocaine-seeking behavior.
Mol Psychiatry. 2018-03-05; 24(2): 312-320
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0038-0
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Deroche-Gamonet V(1)(2), Revest JM(1)(2), Fiancette JF(1)(2), Balado E(1)(2),Koehl M(2)(3), Grosjean N(2)(3), Abrous DN(4)(5), Piazza PV(1)(2).
Author information:
(1)Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathology of addiction and traumatic memories
group, INSERM U1215, 33077, Bordeaux, France.
(2)Université de Bordeaux, 33077, Bordeaux, France.
(3)Neurocentre Magendie, Neurogenesis and physiopathology group, INSERM U1215,
33077, Bordeaux, France.
(4)Université de Bordeaux, 33077, Bordeaux, France. .
(5)Neurocentre Magendie, Neurogenesis and physiopathology group, INSERM U1215,
33077, Bordeaux, France. .
The hippocampus is the main locus for adult dentate gyrus (DG) neurogenesis. A
number of studies have shown that aberrant DG neurogenesis correlates with many
neuropsychiatric disorders, including drug addiction. Although clear causal
relationships have been established between DG neurogenesis and memory
dysfunction or mood-related disorders, evidence of the causal role of DG
neurogenesis in drug-seeking behaviors has not been established. Here we assessed
the role of new DG neurons in cocaine self-administration using an inducible
transgenic approach that selectively depletes adult DG neurogenesis. Our results
show that transgenic mice with decreased adult DG neurogenesis exhibit increased
motivation to self-administer cocaine and a higher seeking response to
cocaine-related cues. These results identify adult hippocampal neurogenesis as a
key factor in vulnerability to cocaine addiction.