Cocaine induction of ERK proteins in dorsal striatum of Fischer rats

Cocaine is an addictive psychostimulant that induces fos and opioid gene expression by activating the dopamine receptors and the PKA pathways in dopamine D1 and a glutamate NMDA-dependent mechanisms in the striatum. In this study, we show that a single cocaine administration induces ERK phosphorylation in the caudate/putamen of Fischer rats. This increase in Phospho-ERK is diminished by pre-administration of SCH23390, or MK801 but not with pre-administration of eticlopride. Furthermore, this single cocaine administration does not alter the levels of phospho-CREB protein or CREB-DNA bindings in the caudate/putamen protein extracts but does increase phospho-Elk-1 protein levels in the same extracts.