Transcriptional profile of brain region involved in habitual learning following methamphetamine self-administration and dopamine receptor antagonist

Methamphetamine (METH) is a powerful stimulant that has caused addiction (compulsive drug seeking and taking behavior) in millions of people world-wide. METH abuse is also associated with negative impact on the brain. One feature of addiction is uncontrollable drug seeking despite adverse consequences and becomes habitual. To mimic this in a rat model, rats with a history of METH use are given the opportunity to earn METH accompanied by aversive shocks on their feet. Rats that continue to take METH are shock-resistant (SR) and rats that reduce their METH intake are shock-sensitive (SS ).Rats that self-administered saline are controls (CT). Thereafter, rats were injected intraperitoneally with the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390. SCH23390 caused substantial reduction of METH taking in a dose-dependent fashion. Stopping SCH23390 administration led to re-emergence of compulsive METH taking in the shock-resistant rats.