Blockade of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in prelimbic cortex: impact on cocaine self-administration in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats following adolescent atomoxetine treatment

RATIONALE: Research with the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder demonstrated that chronic methylphenidate treatment during adolescence increased cocaine self-administration established during adulthood under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule. Compared to vehicle, chronic atomoxetine treatment during adolescence failed to increase cocaine self-administration under a PR schedule in adult SHR. OBJECTIVES: We determined if enhanced noradrenergic transmission at α2-adrenergic receptors within prefrontal cortex contributes to this neutral effect of adolescent atomoxetine treatment in adult SHR. METHODS: Following treatment from postnatal days 28–55 with atomoxetine (0.3 mg/kg) or vehicle, adult male SHR and control rats from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar (WIS) strains were trained to self-administer 0.3 mg/kg cocaine. Self-administration performance was evaluated under a PR schedule of cocaine delivery following infusion of the α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist idazoxan (0 and 10–56 μg/side) directly into prelimbic cortex. RESULTS: Adult SHR attained higher PR break points and had greater numbers of active lever responses and infusions than WKY and WIS. Idazoxan dose-dependently increased PR break points and active lever responses in SHR following adolescent atomoxetine vs. vehicle treatment. Behavioral changes were negligible after idazoxan pretreatment in SHR following adolescent vehicle or in WKY and WIS following adolescent atomoxetine or vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: α2-Adrenergic receptor blockade in prelimbic cortex of SHR masked the expected neutral effect of adolescent atomoxetine on adult cocaine self-administration behavior. Moreover, greater efficacy of acute idazoxan challenge in adult SHR after adolescent atomoxetine relative to vehicle is consistent with the idea that chronic atomoxetine may downregulate presynaptic α2A-adrenergic autoreceptors in SHR.National Institutes of Health grant DA011716. (DA011716 - National Institutes of Health)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5693724/Published versio

Hole-hole interaction in a strained Inx_xGa1−x_{1-x}As two dimensional system

The interaction correction to the conductivity of 2D hole gas in strained GaAs/In$_x$Ga$_{1-x}$As/GaAs quantum well structures was studied. It is shown that the Zeeman splitting, spin relaxation and ballistic contribution should be taking into account for reliable determination of the Fermi-liquid constant $F_0^\sigma$. The proper consideration of these effects allows us to describe both th temperature and magnetic field dependences of the conductivity and find the value of $F_0^\sigma$.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Caging phenomena in reactions: Femtosecond observation of coherent, collisional confinement

We report striking observations of coherent caging of iodine, above the B state dissociation threshold, by single collisions with rare gas atoms at room-temperature. Despite the random nature of the solute–solvent interaction, the caged population retains coherence of the initially prepared unbound wave packet. We discuss some new concepts regarding dynamical coherent caging and the one-atom cage effect

Conductivity of 2D many-component electron gas, partially-quantized by magnetic field

The 2D semimetal consisting of heavy holes and light electrons is studied. The consideration is based on assumption that electrons are quantized by magnetic field while holes remain classical. We assume also that the interaction between components is weak and the conversion between components is absent. The kinetic equation for holes colliding with quantized electrons is utilized. It has been stated that the inter-component friction and corresponding correction to the dissipative conductivity $\sigma_{xx}$ {\it do not vanish at zero temperature} due to degeneracy of the Landau levels. This correction arises when the Fermi level crosses the Landau level. The limits of kinetic equation applicability were found. We also study the situation of kinetic memory when particles repeatedly return to the points of their meeting.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Two regimes for effects of surface disorder on the zero-bias conductance peak of tunnel junctions involving d-wave superconductors

Impurity-induced quasiparticle bound states on a pair-breaking surface of a d-wave superconductor are theoretically described, taking into account hybridization of impurity- and surface-induced Andreev states. Further a theory for effects of surface disorder (of thin impurity surface layer) on the low-bias conductance of tunnel junctions is developed. We find a threshold $n_c$ for surface impurity concentration $n_S$, which separates the two regimes for surface impurity effects on the zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP). Below the threshold, surface impurities do not broaden the ZBCP, but effectively reduce its weight and generate impurity bands. For low $n_S$ impurity bands can be, in principle, resolved experimentally, being centered at energies of bound states induced by an isolated impurity on the surface. For larger $n_S$ impurity bands are distorted, move to lower energies and, beginning with the threshold concentration $n_S=n_c$, become centered at zero energy. With increasing $n_S$ above the threshold, the ZBCP is quickly destroyed in the case of strong scatterers, while it is gradually suppressed and broaden in the presence of weak impurity potentials. More realistic cases, taking into account additional broadening, not related to the surface disorder, are also considered.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Photocurrent in nanostructures with asymmetric antidots

The steady current induced by electromagnetic field in a 2D system with asymmetric scatterers is studied. The scatterers are assumed to be oriented cuts with one diffusive and another specular sides. Besides, the existence of isotropic impurity scatterers is assumed. This simple model simulates the lattice of half-disk which have been studied numerically recently. The model allows the exact solution in the framework of the kinetic equation. The static current response in the second order of electric field is obtained. The photogalvanic tensor contains both responses to linear and circular polarization of electromagnetic field. The model possesses non-analyticity with regards to the rate of impurity scattering.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Quasiclassical negative magnetoresistance of a 2D electron gas: interplay of strong scatterers and smooth disorder

We study the quasiclassical magnetotransport of non-interacting fermions in two dimensions moving in a random array of strong scatterers (antidots, impurities or defects) on the background of a smooth random potential. We demonstrate that the combination of the two types of disorder induces a novel mechanism leading to a strong negative magnetoresistance, followed by the saturation of the magnetoresistivity $\rho_{xx}(B)$ at a value determined solely by the smooth disorder. Experimental relevance to the transport in semiconductor heterostructures is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

On the effect of far impurities on the density of states of two-dimensional electron gas in a strong magnetic field

The effect of impurities situated at different distances from a two-dimensional electron gas on the density of states in a strong magnetic field is analyzed. Based on the exact result of Brezin, Gross, and Itzykson, we calculate the density of states in the whole energy range, assuming the Poisson distribution of impurities in the bulk. It is shown that in the case of small impurity concentration the density of states is qualitatively different from the model case when all impurities are located in the plane of the two-dimensional electron gas.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, submitted to JETP Letter