Cocaine Induces Differential Circular RNAs Expression in Striatum

Circular RNA (circRNA) has recently emerged as a novel type of endogenous non-coding RNA. It plays natural microRNA sponge effect that represses the activity of corresponding miRNAs by binding with them, thus regulating gene expression. Recent studies demonstrate that circRNAs are significantly enriched in the brain and a disproportionate fraction of them is derived from host genes that code for synaptic proteins. In addition, studies have shown that microRNAs are involved in synaptic plasticity, memory formation and cocaine addiction. However, the role of circRNAs in cocaine reward is largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the expression profile of circRNAs in the striatum of mice after cocaine self-administration by using circRNA microarray analysis. circRNAs expression profile in the striatum from three mice after cocaine self-administration and three after saline-administration.