Table I.
Induction of ΔFosB in brain by drugs of abuse
| Brain region | Control | Cocaine | Morphine | Δ9-THC | Ethanol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefrontal cortex | − | ++ | +++ | ++ | +++ |
| Dorsal striatum | + | +++ | ++++ | ++ | ++++ |
| Nucleus accumbens | |||||
| Core | + | +++ | +++ | +++ | ++++ |
| Shell | + | +++ | +++ | ++ | ++ |
| Lateral septum | − | + | − | − | + |
| Medial septum | − | − | − | − | − |
| BNST | − | + | + | + | ++ |
| IPAC | − | ++ | + | ++ | +++ |
| Hippocampus | |||||
| Dentate gyrus | + | +++ | +++ | +++ | + |
| CA1 | − | +++ | + | + | ++ |
| CA3 | − | ++ | ++ | + | ++ |
| Amygdala | |||||
| Basolateral | − | +++ | ++ | ++ | + |
| Central | − | +++ | ++ | ++ | + |
| Medial | − | + | + | + | + |
| PAG | − | + | + | − | + |
| VTA | − | + | − | − | − |
| SN | − | − | − | − | − |
A semi-quantitative analysis of levels of ΔFosB in several representative brain regions under control conditions and after chronic administration of four prototypical drugs of abuse is shown. The data were derived from the analysis of multiple tissue sections from at least four rats in each treatment group. ΔFosB levels were rated using the following scale: −, <100 ΔFosB + nuclei/mm2; +, <200 ΔFosB nuclei; ++, <300 ΔFosB + nuclei; +++, <400 ΔFosB + nuclei; ++++, ≥400 ΔFosB + nuclei. BNST, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; IPAC, interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure; PAG, periaqueductal gray; VTA, ventral tegmental area; SN, substantia nigra.