Study highlights connections between addictive drugs and brain function in mice

Credit: (Image by Gregg Wildenberg, University of Chicago/Argonne National Laboratory.)

A connectomic analysis of the brains of mice treated with cocaine shows that dopamine axons undergo two major anatomical remodeling events: 1) axons increase the average number of branches they make (top image), 2) while simultaneously pruning, or removing, existing axons.

« Study highlights connections between addictive drugs and brain function in mice

Credit: (Image by Gregg Wildenberg, University of Chicago/Argonne National Laboratory.)

Dopamine axons (light blue) form local swellings, called varicosities, filled with vesicles (yellow spheres) that release dopamine. These swellings can form direct contact points with non-dopamine axons (red) and closely resemble spinules, structures that are believed to modulate neuronal activity.

« Study highlights connections between addictive drugs and brain function in mice

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