Decreased methylation of the NK3 receptor coding gene (TACR3) after cocaine‐induced place preference in marmoset monkeys. (9th November 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barros, Marilia; Dempster, Emma L.; Illott, Nicholas; Chabrawi, Soha; Maior, Rafael S.; Tomaz, Carlos; De Souza Silva, Maria A.; Huston, Joseph P.; Mill, Jonathan; Müller, Christian P.
• Is Part Of: Addiction biology. Volume 18:Number 3(2013:May)
• Page Start: 452
• Page End: 454
• Publication Date: 2011-11-09
• Subjects: Cocaine -- conditioned place preference -- DNA methylation -- monkeys -- NK3‐receptor -- TACR3; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00409.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-6215

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic processes have been implicated in neuronal plasticity following repeated cocaine application. Here we measured DNA methylation at promoter CpG sites of the dopamine transporter ( DAT1 ) and serotonin transporter ( SERT ) and neurokinin3‐receptor (NK3‐R)‐receptor ( TACR3 ) coding genes in marmoset monkeys after repeated cocaine injections in a conditioned place preference paradigm. We found a decrease in DNA methylation at a specific CpG site in TACR3, but not DAT1 or SERT . Thus, TACR3 is a locus for DNA methylation changes in response to repeated cocaine administration and its establishment as a reinforcer, in support of other evidence implicating the NK3‐R in reinforcement‐ and addiction‐related processes.