Question

Blocking which receptors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) will reduce dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) as well as cue-induced relapse to cocaine-seeking behaviours?

Select one:

a. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

b. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

c. Both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

d. Both AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors

e. NMDA glutamate receptors

Answer 1

Solution: e.NMDA glutamate receptors

Explanation:

Research shows that self-administration of cocaine (chronic use) increases AMPA glutamate receptors in the VTA which also involves the upregulation of NMDA receptor activity and cocaine-seeking behavior. Again, while blocking NMDA receptor functions, the AMPA receptor upregulation is also blocked but it also produces a paradoxical enhancement in AMPA responsiveness along with relapse to cocaine-seeking behavior. Thus, targeting the NMDA receptors may produce the adverse effect of cocaine addiction.