3' RNA-seq of five brain structures after repeated exposure to cocaine

At the core of addiction, drug experiences induce circuit-specific transcriptional adaptations to hijack the native mechanisms of neuroplasticity and promote maladaptive behaviors. In the present study, we utilized 3'-RNA-sequencing to define the transcriptional landscapes of five brain nuclei within the reward circuit following distinct cocaine experiences. We exposed mice to cocaine (20 mg/kg, IP), acutely (single exposure), repeatedly (5 daily exposures) as well as to a challenge cocaine (acute exposure after 21 days of abstinence following repeated cocaine). We then profiled transcription (applying 3'-RNAseq) within key brain structures of the reward circuitry: limbic cortex- medial prefrontal and cingulate together (LCtx), nucleus accumbens (NAc), dorsal striatum (DS), amygdala (Amy), and lateral hypothalamus (LH) at 0, 1, 2, 4 hrs following cocaine exposure. Overall design: 3' RNA-seq of transcriptional dynamics across five brain structures following acute, repeated and challenge exposure to cocaine.