Progress on the molecular mechanisms of synaptic actin rearrangements in regulating morphine withdrawal induced aversive memory formation

The formation of aversive learning and memory attributes to the abnormal addictive behaviors, which leads to long-term adaptations such as synaptic transmission and neuronal architectural plasticity in addiction-related brain regions, and finally causes pathological memory formation. Researches show that the cytoskeletal actin rearrangements play a critical role in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of actin rearrangements regulated memory. Recently, our research group focused on the study of mechanisms of morphine withdrawal induced aversive memory formation, manifesting the involvement of cytoskeletal actin and its downstream effectors in regulation memory in vivo. This article will discuss the latest progress on the involvement of synaptic structural plasticity in regulating addictive drugs, especially opioid withdrawal induced aversive motivation formation, which would contribute to a better understanding of the molecular foundation of addictive behaviors, and provides us new ideas for addiction research and therapy.