Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2017
Intermittent bilateral deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens shell reduces intravenous methamphetamine intake and seeking in Wistar rats.
OBJECTIVE There is increasing interest in neuromodulation for addiction. Methamphetamine abuse is a global health epidemic with no proven treatment. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of intermittent nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) deep brain stimulation (DBS) on operant methamphetamine intake and on methamphetamine seeking when stimulation is delivered in an environment different from that of drug use. ⋯ Compared with baseline drug responding, methamphetamine seeking was reduced (57%) in the DBS group but not in the sham group. CONCLUSIONS It is feasible to deliver noncontinuous DBS outside of the drug use environment with a resultant decrease in IV methamphetamine intake and seeking. The AcbSh is a neuroanatomical substrate for psychostimulant reinforcement and may be a target for intermittent neuromodulatory therapies that could be administered during brief periods of sobriety.