Fig. 7: NPAS4 blocks cocaine conditioning-induced dendritic spine growth and strengthening of prelimbic cortical inputs onto NAc D2-MSNs. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: NPAS4 blocks cocaine conditioning-induced dendritic spine growth and strengthening of prelimbic cortical inputs onto NAc D2-MSNs.

From: NPAS4 supports cocaine-conditioned cues in rodents by controlling the cell type-specific activation balance in the nucleus accumbens

Fig. 7

A Timeline for behavior and dendritic spine labeling. B Representative images of dendritic spines on NAc D2-MSNs. C Quantification of spine density on D2-MSNs after cocaine (n = 27 and 36 dendritic segments/group from 4 mice/group, p = 0.0068) and saline CPP (n = 42 and 27 dendritic segments/group from 3 mice/group). D Timeline for cocaine CPP experiment inhibiting the PrL-NAc core circuit and (E) behavioral results following cocaine CPP (n = 7, 8 mice/group; two-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons, df = 26, p = 0.0035). F Experimental design for stimulating mPFC afferents to NAc MSNs. G Timeline of cocaine CPP before electrophysiology. H Evoked EPSCs onto D1-MSNs and (I) D2-MSNs from the mPFC after NPAS4 knockdown in the corresponding cell type (two-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons; D1-Cre mice: shScram n = 13 and 9 cells/group, shNpas4 n = 18 and 12 cells/group; D2-Cre mice: shScram n = 14 and 12 cells/group, shNpas4 n = 8 cells/group, p = 0.0009, 0.0046). J Graphical illustration showing the effects of NAc shNpas4D2 on MSN activity, dendritic spine density, excitatory transmission from the mPFC, and subsequent cocaine-seeking. Data shown are mean ± SEM; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. Source data are provided in the Source Data file.

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