Microglia and opioid withdrawal

Drug addiction is a neurological disorder characterized by compulsive use and relapse. The use of opioids to treat pain has become a global health problem due to their abuse. Current therapies act on neurons but have not reduced relapses highlighting the need for new therapeutic targets. Since drugs alter glial function microglia could represent a promising target. This study evaluated their involvement in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in aversive behaviors associated with opioid withdrawal syndrome by analyzing the expression of the marker IBA-1. The conditioned place aversion (CPA) paradigm and a reconditioning protocol were used as a behavioral therapy model. The results showed a mild microglial activation in the VTA during withdrawal which partially disappears after extinction suggesting microglia as a possible therapeutic target in addiction.