Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of orbitofrontal cortex in rodent model of Methamphetamine-induced sensitization

Due to the complexity and diversity of the cellular changes, our understanding of the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning behavioral sensitization remains incomplete, particularly, the role of non-neuronal cells. Therefore, the present study explored the single-cell transcriptional changes in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) - a region implicated in decision-making and reward-related behaviors in a rodent model of methamphetamine-induced sensitization. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying dysfunction of microglial cells associated with the development of drug addiction. Animals included in current study were all 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were treated with 1 mg/kg METH or saline (intraperitoneal) for 7 days in the METH and saline groups, respectively. Then all rats were deeply anesthetized with pentobarbital (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and sacrificed, and the OFCs of four per group were rapidly removed and prepared for single nucleus isolation on ice. The nucleus-barcoded 3’ gene expression libraries were sequenced on an Illumina NovaSeq6000 system.