AUTHOR=Hong Qingxiao , Xu Wenjin , Lin Zi , Liu Jing , Chen Weisheng , Zhu Huaqiang , Lai Miaojun , Zhuang Dingding , Xu Zemin , Fu Dan , Zhou Wenhua , Liu Huifen TITLE=Role of GABRD Gene Methylation in the Nucleus Accumbens in Heroin-Seeking Behavior in Rats JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.612200 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.612200 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=
Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation play important roles in regulating gene expression and may mediate neuroplasticity and lead to drug-induced aberrant behaviors. Although several brain regions and neurobiological mechanisms have been suggested to be involved in these processes, there is remarkably little known about the effects of DNA methylation on heroin-seeking behavior. Using a Sprague-Dawley rat model, we show that heroin self-administration resulted in gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit delta (GABRD) gene hypomethylation, which was associated with transcriptional upregulation of GABRD in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Systemic