Figure 6: Selective inhibition of IL-17a signaling in the PFC is sufficient to reduce heroin seeking following forced abstinence.

(A) Experimental overview: rats underwent jugular vein catheterization and implantation of PFC cannula. Following recovery, rats underwent heroin SA, forced abstinence and a relapse test. 72 and 24 hours prior to the relapse test, rats received infusion of 50 ng/hemisphere of IL-17a antibody or an IgG control directly into the PFC. (B) Active and inactive lever responses during heroin SA, prior to PFC infusion of IL-17a antibody. (C, D) Heroin infusions made during heroin SA for all rats (C) and depiction of infusions for each treatment group after regrouping into balanced treatment groups (D). (E) Active lever presses during a 30 min relapse test for rats that received IL-17a antibody into the PFC and IgG controls. (F) Fos mRNA in the PFC of rats that received IL-17a antibody prior to a relapse test. (G) Pearson correlation of Fos mRNA expression with active lever responses during the relapse test for rats that received IL-17a antibody or IgG into the PFC prior to the relapse test. Error +/− S.E.M. *p<0.05. n=7–8/group.